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Argentina
Agua Rica Project (Alumbrera Mine)

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 Location:
80 km NE from Belen, Argentina

  Project Contacts:
Esmeralda 819, C, 2,
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Phone  ...  Subscription required
WebsiteWeb
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
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  • Reserves
  • Costs & Financials
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StagePermitting
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Molybdenum
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Processing
  • Gravity separation
  • Flotation
Mine Life28 years (as of Jan 1, 2019)
On March 7, 2019, the Company announced that it had signed an integration agreement with Glencore plc and Goldcorp Inc. pursuant to which the Agua Rica Project would be developed and operated using the existing infrastructure and facilities of Minera Alumbrera Limited, which owns the Alumbrera Mine.

18 December 2020 - Glencore notes the announcement by Yamana relating to the integration of the Agua Rica project with the Alumbrera mine, plant and infrastructure. Going forward, the integrated project will be known as the MARA Project.
Latest NewsYamana Gold Announces the Completion of the Integration of the Agua Rica Project and the Alumbrera Plant...     December 18, 2020


Owners & OPERATOR

Source: p. 107
CompanyInterestOwnership
Yamana Gold Inc. 100 % Indirect
Minera Agua Rica LLC Sucursal Argentina (operator) 100 % Direct

Deposit Type

  • Porphyry
  • Epithermal
  • Breccia pipe / Stockwork


Summary:

During exploration of the deposit, NNO geologists identified several different ore types at Agua Rica that were formalised into a classification system for block modelling and resource estimation. In general terms, these ore types fall within three main categories that in turn can be related to the evolutionary history of mineralization on the property, the interpreted geological model, and the style of the mineralization:

Stage 1: Early porphyry mineralization associated with the Seca and Trampeadero porphyries: quartz stockwork and disseminations of pyrite, molybdenite, chalcopyrite, and rare bornite and pyrrhotite;

Stage 2: An overprinting epithermal event carrying precious metals and copper sulphosalts and best exemplified in the central Quebrada Minas breccia body that separates the Seca and Trampeadero porphyries, and in the Trampeadero porphyry itself;

Stage 3: Supergene enrichment of hypogene copper mineralization forming an extensive blanket of higher copper values, now partially eroded into remnants on both sides of Quebrada Minas.

These three stages and deposit types form the basis for Agua Rica’s resource and are found within three principal zones, namely Seca Norte on the west and Trampeadero on the east with Quebrada Minas breccia in the centre, all combining to form an elongated zone measuring ~2.75 kms long (east- west) by ~2.5 km wide (north-south). The principal characteristics of these three bodies are summarised as follows:

Seca Norte: An enriched porphyry sequence of Cu- Mo-Au, with a core rich in Cu-Mo flanked by a halo of Mo to the south and west. In area, measures ~400m by 400m over a vertical interval of ~500m (level 3,400m to below 2,950m);

Quebrada Minas: Dominated by epithermal sulphides within a funnel-shaped hydrothermal breccia unit that formed the conduit for deep-seated hydrothermal fluids. Outcrops in Quebrada Minas, measures ~300m by 300m between approximately level 3,000m to ~2,500m;

Trampeadero: Forming the eastern third of the deposit, displays both epithermal and porphyry styles of mineralization. Occurs over a vertical interval of 300m as an elongated unit 500m east- west by 400m north-south.

Ore types at Agua Rica have been formalized by NNO into a classification system that reflects both mineralogy and metallurgy. Classifications in the latest, 176-hole geological model are based principally on:

• Contaminant elements, principally on the basis of the As-bearing mineral, enargite;

• Mineralogy: for example primary and secondary copper minerals
• Mineralogical texture: for example, coarse versus finer-grained covellite;

• Alteration: based on variations in clay facies alteration products.

A total of 13 ore type zones were classified using this scheme, and can be summarised as follows:

Major “Dirty” Ore Types: occur principally in the Trampeadero and Quebrada Minas zones with dominant mineralogy consisting of covellite, chalcocite, digenite, and enargite with minor sphalerite and galena, and abundant molybdenite locally (for example on the eastern fringe of the zone);

Major “Clean” Ore Types: generally confined to the Seca porphyry unit: covellite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, and digenite. Locally abundant molybdenite.

These two ore types comprise over 80% of the mineralization at Agua Rica with the balance made up of Minor “Clean” and “Dirty” Ore Types within the three mineralized zones.The elements of economic interest at Agua Rica are Cu, Mo, Au and Ag, although some 70% of the value lies in Cu, depending on recovery and metal prices. Molybdenum is the most significant by-product. The contaminant elements of As, Pb and Zn are also present in quantities sufficient to be of local concern.


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader


Summary:

The PFS for the integrated project considers the Agua Rica deposit will be mined via a conventional high tonnage truck and shovel open pit operation. Average life of mine material moved is expected to be approximately 108 million tonnes per year, with ore feed of 40 million tonnes per year and average life of mine strip ratio of 1.66.

Ore extracted from the mine will be transported from the open pit by truck to the primary crusher area and then transported via a conventional conveyor to the existing Alumbrera processing plant. To route the overland conveyor system, approximately 5.2 kilometres of tunnel development will be required. The conveyor extends 35 kilometres to the Alumbrera process plant, where it will feed the existing stacker conveyor via a new transfer station.


Crushing and Grinding


Processing

  • Gravity separation
  • Flotation

Flow Sheet: Subscription required

Summary:

The processing plant produces three products: a copper flotation concentrate containing the major gold credit, Dore bullion from gravity recovery of coarser free gold, and molybdenum concentrates.

Molybdenum concentrates are trucked to Chile for processing. Copper and gold concentrates are pumped through a pipeline over the Nevados del Aconquija mountains to the province of Tucuman. The concentrates are transported by rail to Alumbrera’s port facility in Puerto General San Martin, located near Rosario in the province of Santa Fe. The concentrate is then shipped overseas for refining.


Projected Production:

CommodityUnitsAvg. Annual
Gold koz 107
Copper Equivalent M lbs  ......  Subscription required
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics
Stripping / waste ratio  ......  Subscription required
Daily ore mining rate  ......  Subscription required
Annual processing rate  ......  Subscription required
Annual mining rate  ......  Subscription required
* According to 2019 study.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at June 30, 2019:

CategoryTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Proven 587,200 kt Copper 0.57 % 4,779 M lbs
Proven 587,200 kt Molybdenum 0.03 % 279 M lbs
Proven 587,200 kt Gold 0.25 g/t 4,720 koz
Proven 587,200 kt Silver 3.02 g/t 57,014 koz
Probable 517,600 kt Copper 0.43 % 4,450 M lbs
Probable 517,600 kt Molybdenum 342 % 342 M lbs
Probable 517,600 kt Gold 0.16 g/t 2,663 koz
Probable 517,600 kt Silver 2.63 g/t 43,766 koz
Proven & Probable 1,104,800 kt Copper 0.48 % 11,829 M lbs
Proven & Probable 1,104,800 kt Molybdenum 0.03 % 731 M lbs
Proven & Probable 1,104,800 kt Gold 0.21 g/t 7,382 koz
Proven & Probable 1,104,800 kt Silver 2.84 g/t 100,781 koz
Measured 53,600 kt Copper 0.22 % 260 M lbs
Measured 53,600 kt Molybdenum 0.02 % 24 M lbs
Measured 53,600 kt Gold 0.13 g/t 224 koz
Measured 53,600 kt Silver 1.55 g/t 2,671 koz
Indicated 206,300 kt Copper 0.3 % 1,364 M lbs
Indicated 206,300 kt Molybdenum 0.03 % 136 M lbs
Indicated 206,300 kt Gold 0.11 g/t 730 koz
Indicated 206,300 kt Silver 1.8 g/t 12,337 koz
Measured & Indicated 259,900 kt Copper 0.28 % 1,624 M lbs
Measured & Indicated 259,900 kt Molybdenum 0.03 % 160 M lbs
Measured & Indicated 259,900 kt Gold 0.11 g/t 954 koz
Measured & Indicated 259,900 kt Silver 1.8 g/t 15,008 koz
Inferred 742,900 kt Copper 0.23 % 3,767 M lbs
Inferred 742,900 kt Molybdenum 0.03 % 491 M lbs
Inferred 742,900 kt Gold 0.09 g/t 2,150 koz
Inferred 742,900 kt Silver 1.62 g/t 38,693 koz

Commodity Production Costs:

CommodityUnitsAverage
Cash costs Copper USD  ......  Subscription required *
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Copper USD  ......  Subscription required *
Assumed price Molybdenum USD  ......  Subscription required *
Assumed price Copper USD  ......  Subscription required *
Assumed price Silver USD  ......  Subscription required *
Assumed price Gold USD  ......  Subscription required *
* According to 2019 study / presentation.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Operating Costs:

Units2019
OP mining costs ($/t milled) USD 4.87 *
Processing costs ($/t milled) USD  ......  Subscription required
Total operating costs ($/t milled) USD  ......  Subscription required
* According to 2019 study.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

2019 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscription required
Sustaining CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscription required
After-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscription required
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Heavy Mobile Equipment:

Subscription required - Subscription is required.


Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2018
................................... Subscription required 2018
Corporate Presentation 2008
Feasibility Study Report 2006
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

News:

NewsDate
Yamana Gold Announces the Completion of the Integration of the Agua Rica Project and the Alumbrera Plant... December 18, 2020
Yamana Gold Announces a Positive PFS with an Impressive and Increased NPV of $1.9 Billion and an Increased After-Tax IRR of 19.7% for the Long Life Integrated Agua Rica Copper-Gold Project July 19, 2019

Aerial view:

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