Overview
| Status | Temporary Suspension |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
- Heap leach
- Carbon in solution (CIS)
- Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
| Mine Life | 6 years (as of Jan 1, 2018) |
Pucamarca is one of the world’s most profitable gold mines, due to its low production cost and operational efficiency. |
Source:
p. 19
Mainly dedicated to exploration, exploitation and treatment of ore deposits, MINSUR is a leader in the international tin market. It entered the gold market through the Pucamarca mine, which initiated operations in February 2013.
Processing Technologies
- Heap leach
- Carbon in solution (CIS)
- Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
Source:
Summary:
Crushing: During this stage of the production process the size of ore from the mine is reduced to less than 5 inches. In addition, lime is added to achieve protective alkalinity.
Leaching: The crushed ore is moved to the leaching pad and is deposited in an area of 10,000 m2 to extract the metal from the rock using a solution of 200 ppm sodium cyanide giving an average consumption of 0.12 kg/ton of ore.
Subsequently the gold-rich solution is collected by the drain pipes placed on the geomembrane, which are protected by a 1.5 inch layer of crushed rock (“Overliner”) on the pad. This solution is sent to the PLS pool (pregnant leach solution).
ADR Plant – Active carbon absorption: The rich solution from the PLS pool is pumped to 5 beds of activated carbon, where the metal values are adsorbed. The impoverished solution is
discharged into the sludge tank, where the concentration of NaCN is adjusted to 200 ppm and then pumped into the leaching heaps, thu ........
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| 0.59 | 0.57 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | |
|
Gold
|
Recovery Rate, %
| | | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
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Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Gold
|
oz
| ...... | ...... | 100,010 | 105,659 | 120,924 | 105,939 |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Tonnes milled
| ...... | ...... | ...... | 7,692,322 t | 7,839,602 t | 5,933,665 t |
|
Daily milling capacity
| ...... | ...... | ...... | | 21,000 t | |
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Reserves at December 31, 2018:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
14.6 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.52 g/t
|
243.4 koz
|
|
Probable
|
19.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.5 g/t
|
308.1 koz
|
|
Measured
|
26.1 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.44 g/t
|
366.2 koz
|
|
Indicated
|
27.8 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.43 g/t
|
383 koz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
53.9 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.43 g/t
|
749.2 koz
|
|
Inferred
|
6.8 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.28 g/t
|
61.4 koz
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| | Commodity | Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Cash costs
|
Gold
|
USD
|
......
|
......
|
338 / oz
|
313 / oz
|
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Operating Costs:
| | Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Total operating costs ($/t milled)
|
USD
| 5.5 | 4.4 | 4.33 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 6.2 |
Financials:
| | Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Capital expenditures
|
M USD
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
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Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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Aerial view:
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