Mining Intelligence and News
Mexico

Guadalupe Production Center (Royal Mines) Complex

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit & Underground
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Silver
  • Lead
  • Zinc
  • Gold
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
  • Blast Hole Stoping
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotThe Guadalupe Production Centre (Guadalupe Plant) processes mineral from the Royal Mines of Zacualpan Silver-Gold District, namely from Guadalupe, San Ramon, Cuchara, Alacran underground mines and the Veta Negra open pit mine (all within close proximity).

First commercial mining at the Alacran Gold-Silver Mine was in March 2023. In late October 2023 production was temporarily suspended and metallurgical studies initiated to improve gold recoveries. Recent production was from the San Margarito Vein.
Related Asset

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
IMPACT Silver Corp. 100 % Indirect
Royal Mines of Zacualpan district is 100% owned by IMPACT Silver Corp.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Epithermal
  • Vein / narrow vein

Summary:

The Guadalupe Production Centre is located in the Royal Mines of Zacualpan Silver District, Mexico.

Zacualpan is one of the oldest mining districts in North America with Spanish Colonial mining dating back to at least 1527. In 1531, it was the first mining district in the Americas to be given the title of 'Royal Mines' of Zacualpan by proclamation under the Spanish Crown.

Silver mineralization at Zacualpan is of the class known as silver-rich intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein deposits. Many of the largest and best known silver mines in Mexico belong to this class including mines San Ramon Mine, Mirasol Mine, Cuchara-Oscar Mine and others.

These deposits occur as veins and less commonly as breccia bodies and disseminations or stockworks. Mineralization usually consists of pyrite with variable sphalerite, galena and various silver and gold minerals in a dominantly quartz and carbonate matrix. Vertical extent of economic mineralization averages about 300m but is known to vary from 100m to 960m.

Most economic mineralization in the Zacualpan Mining District is associated with northwest and north-south trending vein structures. These vein structures can often be traced for many kilometers across the district but economic mineralization occurs as mineralized shoots in structurally favourable sections along the trace of the vein structures. The main ore shoots mined over the last 30 years have dimensions of 2-6m in width, 30-150m in length and 230-300m in vertical extent. The most common structurally favourable location for development of such ore shoots is the intersection of northwest and north-south trending vein structures. A second structurally favourable location is on flexures in vein structures.

Another important ore control is host rock. Almost all economic mineralization in the district is hosted by intermediate to mafic volcanics especially andesite and related competent host rocks. Where ore shoots pass into shale or schist, the veins often dissipate into small stringer veins. At the Cuchara Mine early near surface mining of the main ore shoot in andesite ceased when it entered a shale horizon and dissipated. Later operators excavated through the shale back into andesite below and encountered the large well mineralized shoot that has been the subject of extensive mining in modern times.

IMPACT Silver personnel have catalogued over 100 mineral prospects on the Royal Mines of Zacualpan property. They range from small veins to active mining operations.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits202320222021202020192018201720162015
Silver oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe664,056743,950907,848952,768950,059
Lead t  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe275329481434450
Gold oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe367469540511495
Zinc t 42266
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate.

Operational metrics

Metrics202320222021202020192018201720162015
Daily milling capacity  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Daily processing rate  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe386 t475 t532 t500 t467 t
Tonnes milled  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe140,878 t173,217 t194,266 t183,032 t170,509 t

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Operating Costs

Currency2023202220212020201920182017
Direct operating costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Financials

Units2023202220212020201920182017
Revenue M CAD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 13.3   13.1   15.4  
Operating Income M CAD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -2.3   -4.8   -3.9  
Pre-tax Income M CAD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -4.1  
After-tax Income M CAD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -4.9   -5.1   -4.6  
EBITDA M CAD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -3.8   -1.4   -1.8  
Operating Cash Flow M CAD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -0.9   -2.3   0.2  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNamePhoneEmailProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ........... Subscription required ........... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 5, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 5, 2024

EmployeesYear
...... Subscription required 2016

Aerial view:

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