Ore is mined from the Company’s permitted mineral reserve areas:
- The San Bartolomé mine (“pallacos”).
- Dump areas at Tatasi-Portugalete and El Asiento.
The project utilizes conventional surface mining methods to extract colluvial, and alluvial materials mine dumps, oxide and sulfide tailings and other materials named pallacos and sucus and troceras (collectively, the “pallacos”), which have been identified in the Huacajchi, Santa Rita, Diablo (Norte and Sureste areas – now referred to as Antuco) - Pallacos Areas.
An exclusive mineral purchase contract is in place between Manquiri and RALP Compañía Minera, S.R.L., a private, Bolivian mining company (“RALP”). The contractual rights held by Manquiri are for processing of 108,000 tonnes of silver- and gold-bearing material being mined by RALP.
The current mine plan is designed with 5 m benches and 2 m berms. Additional 5 m wide safety berms were included in the design when the slope height exceeds 25 m.
Dump areas at Tatasi-Portugalete and El Asiento will be fully reclaimed in 2 m slices in a top-down sequence. If internal operational slopes are required, the angle of repose of 37° will be considered.
The mining strategy adopted by Manquiri is a mixed between an owner operation and contracted:
• In the pallacos areas Manquiri operates the loading with owned excavators of 2.4 / 2.6 m3 and auxiliary operations (bulldozers and motor graders) and the hauling o ........
