The Salamanca project is made up of three distinct deposits which will be mined independently of each other, namely:
-Retortillo (including the Santidad satellite deposit);
-Zona 7; and
-Alameda.

Zona 7
The mineralised zone is a 2-3km scale fold structure with the dominant strike direction being NNE-SSW. Despite the general dip of the host geological units and structures ranging from 50-80°, the mineralised zone is interpreted to be sub-horizontal to shallowly dipping due to the nature of the mineralisation processes.

The uranium mineralisation is hosted within Lower Cambrian metasediments adjacent to granite. The mineralisation typically occurs as a sub-horizontal to shallowly dipping layer occurring between surface and 100m depth, although mineralisation has been recorded to a maximum depth of 217m. The style of the uranium mineralisation includes veins, stockwork and disseminated mineralisation in joint/fracture filling associated with brittle deformation. Uraninite and coffinite are the primary uranium minerals. Secondary uranium mineralisation is developed in "supergene-like" tabular zones corresponding to the depth of weathering. Most of the mineralisation is hosted within partially weathered and unweathered metasediment. This deposit falls into the category defined by the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) as Vein Type, Sub Type Iberian Type.

Retortillo
The mineralisation at Retortillo covers a 6km s ........

The Salamanca project is made up of three distinct deposits which will be mined independently of each other, namely:
- Retortillo (including the Santidad satellite deposit);
- Zona 7; and
- Alameda.

Retortillo and Zona 7 will be mined sequentially with ore being processed in a common processing facility while Alameda will be mined in parallel with the other sites.

All of the deposits being considered are shallow (ranging between 0m to 160m depth below surface) and massive. Due to the depth and geometry of the deposit, the selected mining method is conventional drill blast truck and shovel open pit mining. Strip ratios will vary per deposit as follows:
-Retortillo: 2.47 tonnes of waste per tonne of ore;
-Santidad: 1.36 tonnes of waste per tonne of ore;
-Zona 7: 1.13 tonnes of waste per tonne of ore;
-Alameda: 1.08 tonnes of waste per tonne of ore.

Retortillo
The deposit is shallow (between 0 to 140m) and massive, the pre-strip is therefore low with a stripping ratio 2.2 (t to t). Due to the depth and geometry of the deposit, the selected mining method is Open Pit mining ensuring a good recovery of the deposit. Some of the pre-strip material will be used as construction material. Access to the pit will be by conventional open pit ramps, 25m in width that enables access for 100 t trucks.

Zona 7
The deposit is shallow (between 0 to 100m) and massive, the pre-strip is therefore low with a stri ........

At Zona 7 only a primary crushing circuit will be required. The crushed ore will be conveyed ten kilometres to the process plant located at Retortillo. The secondary crushing circuit at Retortillo will be upgraded to include a tertiary stage.

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