Mining Intelligence and News
Mexico

Las Encinas Mine

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Summary

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Iron Ore
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
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Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotLas Encinas produces iron ore pellets and magnetite concentrate and operates the Aquila and Palomas open pit mines located in Michoacán and Jalisco, respectively. Las Encinas' facilities include three crushing plants (located close to each of the Aquila, the El Encino and the Palomas mines), and a concentration and pelletizing plant located in Alzada.

At the El Encino mine, operations have been suspended. The crushing and transfer facilities remain active. Las Encinas buys the iron ore from time to time from other local concessionaires.

The security situation in Aquila has worsened, and Las Encinas idled its mining operation during the first half of 2023.

Las Encinas' capital expenditures in 2024 are mainly related to preparation works at new iron ore bodies in the Palomas and Aquila mines, the completion of a new flotation system at the Alzada facility and progress made in the expansion of tailings dam capacity.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Ternium S.A 100 % Indirect
Ternium has a 100% interest in Las Encinas, an iron ore production facility.

Las Encinas S.A. de C.V. is a Mexican corporation which holds a 100% by Ternium S.A.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Skarn

Summary:

The Las Encinas operates the Aquila and Palomas open pit mines.

Aquila is a mine composed predominantly of magnetite with a hematite roof and sulphides and silicates gangue. The form of mineralization is massive and disseminated (mineralized hornfels, endoeskarn), with mineralized gaps. The mine site is hosted along a large failure line and between the contact of an intrusive diorite and limestone, and the shape of the deposit is slightly amorphous, crossed by a countless number of dams and mainly controlled by geological structures.

Palomas is a skarn mine with calcareous-pelitic ferrous type. It is formed by massive, and bordered by disseminated mineral. The bodies are disposed in concordant tabular horizons with a northwest and southeast-oriented pseudo stratification and northeast-oriented dip. The mineralization is predominantly magnetite and the gangue mineral is composed of garnet, pyrite and calcite. The surrounding rocks are skarn (calcareous protolyte, clayey calcareous and Cretaceous sandy) or hornfels (clayey protolyte). The stratigraphic sequence is affected by dyke intrusions of monzonitic and granite composition.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Commodity Production

CommodityUnits202420232022202120202019201820172016
Iron Ore Mt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1.91.81.81.9
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate & pellets.

Operational metrics

Metrics202420232022202120202019201820172016
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe2.3 Mt2.7 Mt2.8 Mt3.1 Mt

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Mine Financials

Units20242023202220212020201920182017
Capital expenditures M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 50   10   19  

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 27, 2025

Workforce

Aerial view:

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