Ciénega (incl. San Ramón satellite)
Ciénega has long been classified a gold mine, with more recent years becoming a strong secondary profile in silver.
| Ownership: |
100% Fresnillo plc |
| Location: |
Durango |
| Commodity: |
Gold, Silver |
| Operational since: |
1992 |
| Facilities: |
Underground mine, flotation and leaching plant |
| Workforce: |
513 employees, 544 contractors |
| Milling Capacity: |
4,000 tpd / 1,340,000 tpy |
| Mine Life: |
6.8 years (2017: 6.9) |
Quarterly Production
| |
2Q19
|
1Q19
|
% change
|
2Q18
|
|
Ore processed (t)
|
329,117
|
320,990
|
2.5
|
330,879
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Production
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold (oz)
|
15,075
|
14,681
|
2.7
|
16,689
|
|
Silver (koz)
|
1,457
|
1,463
|
-0.4
|
1,518
|
|
Lead (t)
|
1,353
|
981
|
37.9
|
1,352
|
|
Zinc (t)
|
2,130
|
1,712
|
24.4
|
1,231
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Ore grades
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold (g/t)
|
1.57
|
1.53
|
2.6
|
1.65
|
|
Silver (g/t)
|
162
|
165
|
-1.8
|
166
|
|
Lead %
|
0.64
|
0.49
|
30.6
|
0.67
|
|
Zinc %
|
1.10
|
0.89
|
23.6
|
0.77
|
History
1992
Construction commenced
1995
First full year of production, with 300,000 tpy capacity
Production
Gold
(oz)
66,869
(FY18)
% (7.1) Change
Silver
(koz)
5,999
(FY18)
% 11.2 Change
Lead
(t)
4,799
(FY18)
% (24.2) Change
Zinc
(t)
5,892
(FY18)
% (16.4) Change
Financial Highlights
Adjusted Revenue
(US$m, FY18)
187.1
% (5.6) Change
Segment Profit
(US$m, FY18)
79.2
% (18.4) Change
Captial Expenditure
(US$m, FY18)
72.9
% 56.8 Change
Exploration
(US$m, FY18)
22.9
% 38.8 Change
Highlights - 2Q19
-
Quarterly gold production increased 2.7% vs. 1Q19 due to higher volume of ore processed resulting from efficiency gains in the maintenance programme, and a slightly higher ore grade.
-
Quarterly and first half gold production decreased 9.7% and 10.0% vs. 2Q18 and 1H18 respectively driven by lower ore grades resulting from the natural depletion of high ore grade areas in the deeper levels at Las Casas and East Taspana. A lower recovery rate also impacted quarterly and first half gold production.
-
Silver production decreased 4.0% vs. 2Q18 mainly due to lower ore grade at Las Casas and Rosario Transversal.
-
First half silver production increased 5.9% vs. 1H18 driven by a higher ore grade driven by the access to higher silver ore grade areas, particularly at Rosario.
-
Expected gold ore grade in 2019 remains in the range of 1.60-1.70 g/t and silver ore grade is still anticipated to be between 150-160 g/t.
2018 - Summary
-
Contribution from the Taspana satellite mine increased from 15,000 to 30,000 tonnes per month while exploration continued, and the access ramp reached 1,473 metres.
-
Construction of the third tailings dam, a downstream structure, continued, and is expected to be concluded in early 2019, in combination with the conclusion of the installation of a high compact thickener to optimise water consumption.
-
Concluded a PEA for a 2,000 tpd expansion of the beneficiation plant at Ciénega – further evaluation required.
-
One contractor company hired to develop new areas during the year.
Performance Targets - 2019
- Conduct an updated economic assessment for the expansion of the beneficiation plant at the Ciénega plant
- Intensify exploration at the Rosario Transversal fault and commence exploration to the west of the San Ramón vein
- Conclude the construction of the third tailings dam
- Secure permits and begin engineering for the fourth tailings dam
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