Overview
Status | Temporary Suspension |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
- Copper
- Molybdenum
- Gold
- Silver
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
|
On-Site Camp |
yes |
Mine Life | 20 years (as of Jan 1, 2020) |
Located in southern Peru, Las Bambas is one of the world's largest copper mines with world class high grade copper assets.
Due to safety concerns, Las Bambas will be unable to continue copper production as of 20 April 2022 (Peru time). MMG remains committed to working closely with the Government of Peru and the community members to deliver its commitments and to engage in transparent and constructive dialogue with the aim of reaching an enduring agreement. |
Latest News | MMG Ltd.: Las Bambas update April 19, 2022 |
Source:
p. 23
Company | Interest | Ownership |
CITIC Metal Co. Ltd
|
15 %
|
Indirect
|
Guoxin International Investment Co. Ltd
|
22.5 %
|
Indirect
|
MMG Ltd.
(operator)
|
62.5 %
|
Indirect
|
Las Bambas is a joint venture project between the operator MMG (62.5%), a wholly owned subsidiary of Guoxin International Investment Co. Ltd (22.5%) and CITIC Metal Co. Ltd (15.0%).
Source:
Summary:
Las Bambas is located in a belt of Cu (Mo-Au) skarn deposits associated with porphyry type systems situated in south-eastern Peru. This metallogenic belt is controlled by the Andahuaylas-Yauri Batholith of Eocene- Oligocene age, which is emplaced in Mesozoic sedimentary units, with the Ferrobamba Formation (Lower-to-Upper Cretaceous) being of greatest mineralising importance.
The porphyry style mineralisation occurs in quartz-monzonite to granodiorite rocks. Hypogene copper sulphides are the main copper bearing minerals with minor occurrence of supergene copper oxides and carbonates near surface. The intrusive rocks of the batholith in contact with the Ferrobamba limestones gave rise to contact metamorphism and, in certain locations, skarn bodies with Cu (Mo-Au) mineralisation.
Source:
p.37, 46, 50
Summary:
Mining of the Las Bambas deposits is undertaken by open pit method, which is expected to continue throughout the life of mine. Large scale mining equipment including 300 tonne trucks and 100 tonne electric face shovels are used for material movement.
The mining method selected for the Las Bambas operation is open cut mining, which enables bulk mining of these large low to moderate grade mineral deposits that are outcropping to sub-cropping. Three deposits, Ferrobamba, Chalcobamba and Sulfobamba are each mined in separate open pits. Mining is by way of conventional truck and shovel operation. This method and selected mining equipment are appropriate for these deposits.
In the pit, the minimum mining width is 70m; the Selective Mining Unit (SMU) has been set at 20m x 20m x 15m.
Source:
Summary:
The metallurgical process is a conventional froth flotation concentrator and thickener to produce two separate Cu and Mo concentrates and is appropriate for the style of mineralization.
Metallurgical Copper concentration process comprises the following activities; Crushing, Grinding and Flotation, producing copper and molybdenum concentrates. Copper concentrates contain gold and silver as byproducts.
The ore is crushed and transported on a 5.5-kilometre overland conveyor to a conventional flotation plant where copper concentrate is produced, then to a molybdenum plant for further processing. Concentrate is then transported by truck and rail to the Port of Matarani in the Arequipa region, where it is shipped to customers worldwide.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Copper
|
Head Grade, %
| 0.79 | 0.84 | 0.9 | 1.05 | 0.93 |
Copper
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 87 | 88.1 | 86.2 | 84.3 | 77.1 |
Copper
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| 34.8 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 38.1 | 36 |
Molybdenum
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| 47.5 | 47 | 48.9 | 49.2 | |
Molybdenum
|
Recovery Rate, %
| | | 79.5 | 80.1 | |
Production:
Commodity | Product | Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Copper
|
Metal in concentrate
|
t
| 310,000-330,000 ^ | 311,020 | 382,518 | 385,299 | 453,749 | 330,227 |
Copper
|
Concentrate
|
kt
| | 893 | 994 | 1,018 | 1,192 | 926 |
Molybdenum
|
Metal in concentrate
|
t
| | 3,167 | 1,783 | 1,961 | 1,431 | |
Molybdenum
|
Concentrate
|
kt
| | 6.7 | 3.8 | 4 | 2.9 | |
Gold
|
Payable metal
|
oz
| | 72,860 | 91,439 | 107,850 | 129,724 | |
Silver
|
Payable metal
|
oz
| | 4,092,872 | 4,581,714 | 5,483,796 | 6,350,308 | |
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Ore tonnes mined
| 57,999,845 t | 51,653,616 t | 57,439,971 t | 52,873,113 t | 46,910,080 t |
Waste
| 137,484,467 t | 128,286,976 t | 115,709,415 t | | |
Tonnes milled
| 45,184,395 t | 51,283,371 t | 49,443,867 t | 51,497,642 t | 46,502,808 t |
Reserves at June 30, 2020:
The Mineral Reserves are reported above a range of cut-offs based on material type and ore body. Ferrobamba Primary Copper - 0.18% to 0.21% Cu cut-off grade based on rock type and recovery; Chalcobamba Primary Copper - 0.21% to 0.30% Cu cut-off grade based on rock type and recovery; Sulfobamba Primary Copper - 0.23% to 0.27% Cu cut-off grade based on rock type and recovery.
The Mineral Resources are reported above a range of cut-offs based on material type and ore body. The cut-off grades range from 0.16% Cu cut-off grade for hypogene material to 0.19% Cu for marble/calc-silicate hosted material and 0.17% Cu for breccia at Ferrobamba. Oxide material has been reported above a 1% Cu cut-off grade.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven & Probable
|
867 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.65 %
|
5,631 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
867 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
191 ppm
|
165 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
858 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.05 g/t
|
1.3 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
867 Mt
|
Silver
|
2.9 g/t
|
81 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
1,429 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.63 %
|
8,982 kt
|
Total Resource
|
1,410 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
177 ppm
|
249 kt
|
Total Resource
|
1,410 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.04 g/t
|
1.9 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
1,410 Mt
|
Silver
|
2.91 g/t
|
132 M oz
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
C1 cash costs
|
Copper
|
USD
|
1.15 / lb ^†
|
1 / lb†
|
0.99 / lb†
|
1.18 / lb†
|
0.99 / lb†
|
1.02 / lb†
|
^ Guidance / Forecast.
† Net of By-Product.
Financials:
| Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Revenue
|
M USD
| 2,079 | 2,013 | 2,579 |
2,937
|
1,224
|
EBIT
|
M USD
| 500.8 | 540.7 | 699.7 |
1,151
|
405.2
|
EBITDA
|
M USD
| 1,196 | 1,237 | 1,341 |
1,741
|
655
|
Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
Drilling & Blasting Superintendent
|
Derly Sandy Vizcarra Arias
|
|
May 23, 2022
|
General Manager
|
Edgardo Orderique
|
|
May 30, 2021
|
Maintenance Manager
|
Manuel Valverde
|
|
May 30, 2021
|
Maintenance Superintendent
|
Henry Rondon
|
|
May 30, 2021
|
Mine Operations Superintendent
|
Abdon Guillen Medina
|
|
May 30, 2021
|
Operational Readiness Manager
|
Eric Ruiz
|
|
May 30, 2021
|
Plant Manager
|
Edgar Canta
|
|
May 23, 2022
|
Staff:
Employees | Contractors | Total Workforce | Year |
2,205
|
4,164
|
6,369
|
2020
|
1,792
|
3,999
|
5,791
|
2019
|
1,900
|
6,800
|
8,700
|
2018
|
1,726
|
6,568
|
8,294
|
2017
|
|
|
9,134
|
2016
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
News: