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Mexico
Ermitaño (Ermitano) Expansion Mine (Santa Elena)

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 Location:
150 km NE from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

  Regional Office:

Pueblo Banamichi
Sonora, Mexico
84880
Phone  ...  Subscription required
Fax01(662) 285 7357
WebsiteWeb
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
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  • Production
  • Reserves
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  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeUnderground
Commodities
  • Silver
  • Gold
Mining Method
  • Longitudinal open stoping
  • Longhole stoping
  • Avoca
  • Backfill
Production Start...
Mine Life2027
Industrial trials at Santa Elena’s Ermitaño project started in Q4 2021. The first doré gold-silver pour from development stockpiles occurred November 11, 2021, at the Santa Elena mill and commercial production is expected in Q1 2022.


Owners

Source: p. 39
CompanyInterestOwnership
First Majestic Silver Corp. 100 % Indirect
Nusantara de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (operator) 100 % Direct
The mine is owned and operated by Nusantara de Mexico S.A. de C.V., which is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of First Majestic Silver Corp.

Contractors

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Deposit Type

  • Vein / narrow vein
  • Breccia pipe / Stockwork
  • Epithermal
  • Volcanic hosted


Summary:

The Ermitaño project gold and silver deposits form as prominent east–west-trending veins and associated breccias in sub-aerial felsic volcanic rocks. The Ermitaño Vein is delineated by drilling along an 1,850 m strike length and vertically over 550 m, starting at surface.

The regional geology and the form, textures, alteration, and mineralization observed to date within the Ermitaño deposit are diagnostic of low-sulphidation epithermal mineralization. The Ermitaño Vein is hosted in a sequence of volcanic lavas and tuffs and displays epithermal minerals and textures.

Exploration programs that use a low-sulphidation epithermal model are considered appropriate for the Santa Elena and Ermitaño areas. First Majestic is using geochemical and geophysical surveys, and field X-ray fluorescence analyzers and spectrometers as part of its ongoing regional exploration program. Mapping, rock chip sampling and drilling of vein outcrops remain the primary exploration tools at Santa Elena and the Ermitaño project.

Mineralizing fluids are interpreted to have used the Ermitaño Fault as a conduit to form the Ermitaño Vein and sub-parallel tertiary veins which drilling has delineated over 1,800 m along strike and 550 m down dip. The vein is best developed where the structure cuts the older brittle volcanic rocks, where the older volcanic rocks are juxtaposed with younger brittle volcanic rocks, and where the structure shows deflection.

A four-stage vein ........


Mining Methods

  • Longitudinal open stoping
  • Longhole stoping
  • Avoca
  • Backfill


Summary:

The Santa Elena mine operation consists of the Santa Elena underground mine and the Ermitaño project. Mining activities are conducted by both First Majestic and contractor personnel. The Santa Elena and the Ermitaño deposits vary in dip, thickness, and geotechnical conditions along strike and dip. Multiple mining methods are required to achieve the maximum efficient extraction of mineralized material at site. Three well-established methods were selected for mining extraction at Santa Elena:
• Longitudinal longhole stoping;
• Avoca;
• Cut-and-fill.

The Avoca mining method was selected for the Ermitaño project.

Site geology at the Ermitaño project consists of Late Cretaceous andesite and rhyolite volcanic rocks dipping 10° to 45° east-northeast with mineralization hosted by major structures. The geology and mineralization are similar to the Santa Elena deposit located 8 km to the northwest. Low sulphidation epithermal gold and silver mineralization is hosted in the steeply dipping, east trending Ermitaño Fault and other subparallel secondary structures. Vein assemblages consist of massive, banded, bladed, and stockwork quartz, calcite, and adularia. The veins are commonly brecciated and associated with argillic alteration.

Based on the configuration of the deposit, longhole open stoping was selected as the mining method. Three variations of longhole open stoping were considered, driven by economics: Avoca longhole stoping wit ........


Crushing and Grinding
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Processing

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Summary:

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Production:

CommodityUnitsLOM (Projected)
Silver M oz 4.9
Gold koz  ......  Subscription required
All production numbers are expressed as metal in ore.


Reserves at June 30, 2021:
The Mineral Resources for the Ermitaño project are reported assuming underground mining methods and a cut-off grade of 135 g/t Ag-Eq.

CategoryTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Proven 59 kt Silver 16 g/t 30 koz
Proven 59 kt Gold 3.11 g/t 5.9 koz
Proven 59 kt Silver Equivalent 314 g/t 600 koz
Probable 2,775 kt Silver 54 g/t 4,850 koz
Probable 2,775 kt Gold 3.71 g/t 330.9 koz
Probable 2,775 kt Silver Equivalent 412 g/t 36,750 koz
Proven & Probable 2,835 kt Silver 54 g/t 4,880 koz
Proven & Probable 2,835 kt Gold 3.69 g/t 336.7 koz
Proven & Probable 2,835 kt Silver Equivalent 410 g/t 37,340 koz
Measured 58 kt Silver 21 g/t 40 koz
Measured 58 kt Gold 4 g/t 8 koz
Measured 58 kt Silver Equivalent 408 g/t 770 koz
Indicated 2,901 kt Silver 61.2 g/t 5,710 koz
Indicated 2,901 kt Gold 4.3 g/t 398 koz
Indicated 2,901 kt Silver Equivalent 474 g/t 44,270 koz
Inferred 5,072 kt Silver 64.8 g/t 10,560 koz
Inferred 5,072 kt Gold 2.7 g/t 440 koz
Inferred 5,072 kt Silver Equivalent 326 g/t 53,150 koz



Heavy Mobile Equipment as of June 30, 2021:
HME TypeModelSizeQuantity
Drill ....................... Subscription required 120 HP ....................... Subscription required
Drill ....................... Subscription required 80 HP ....................... Subscription required
Drill (long hole) ....................... Subscription required 180 HP ....................... Subscription required
Jumbo ....................... Subscription required
Loader ....................... Subscription required 355 HP ....................... Subscription required
Loader ....................... Subscription required 370 HP ....................... Subscription required
Truck (underground) ....................... Subscription required 545 HP ....................... Subscription required
Truck (underground) ....................... Subscription required 545 HP ....................... Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 8, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 8, 2022
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Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
................................... Subscription required 2021
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Subscription required - Subscription is required.

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