The current open pit mining operation at the Riotinto Copper Project (PRT) is focused on the Cerro Colorado deposit, including Filón Sur and Filón Norte orebodies. Adjacent deposits to Cerro Colorado are San Dionisio, which has been historically mined by underground (Alfredo Mine) and open pit (Atalaya open cast) methods, and Planes-San Antonio further East. The latter was fully mined underground, but production was never started at San Antonio.
Mining operations at the Riotinto Project site were restarted in June 2015 at Cerro Colorado deposit using conventional open-pit mining methods. Mining benches are on 10-m vertical intervals. Contractors’small- to medium-scale mining equipment is used to execute the development plan, including rock drills capable of drilling 102- to 127-mm-diameter blast holes, hydraulic excavators with bucket capacities of 6-14 m3 , off-highway trucks with 91-tonnes payload capacity, and suitably sized support equipment.
Atalaya Mining is presently using mining contractorsfor all excavation work, including drilling and blasting, through the joint venture UTE Riotinto.
Basic Pit Design Parameters:
- Bench height - 10 m;
- Haul road width (including ditch & safety berm) - 26 m;
- Internal ramp gradient - 10%;
- Minimum pushback width - 45 m.
Mine Production Schedule
Mill feed target of 15 Mtpa was assumed for all the periods (years). Stripping requirements had been adjusted for eac ........
