Ciénega (incl. San Ramón satellite)

Ciénega is our most polymetallic mine, contributing almost 8.3% to total gold production and over 10.9% to total silver production. The mine generated 9.5% of total adjusted revenue during 2020.

Ownership: 100% Fresnillo plc
Location: Durango
Commodity: Gold, Silver
Operational since: 1992
Facilities: Underground mine, flotation and leaching plant
Workforce: 527 employees, 937 contractors
Milling Capacity: 4,000 tpd / 1,340,000 tpy
Mine Life: 3.4 years (2019: 3.9)

Quarterly Production

 

2Q21

1Q21

% change

2Q20

Ore processed (t)

333,959

326,163

2.4

331,543
         

Production

       

Gold (oz)

12,406

14,289

(13.2)

15,948

Silver (koz)

1,425

1,299

9.7

1,573

Lead (t)

964

1,227

(21.4)

1,489

Zinc (t)

1,669

1,973

(15.4)

2,324
         

Ore grades

        

Gold (g/t)

1.24

1.45

(14.6)

1.61

Silver (g/t)

154

145

6.0

172

Lead %

0.49

0.59

(18.1)

0.69

Zinc %

0.91

1.07

(14.3)

1.19

Annual Production

AR20 Cienega Mine Kpis 

12020 reserves as of 31 May 2020.  22020 resources as of 31 May 2020.

AR20 Cienega Mine Financial Performance 

History

1987

Drilling commenced

1992

Construction commenced

1995

First full year of production, with 300,000 tpy capacity

Production

Gold (oz)

64,101 (FY20) % (2.3) Change

Silver (koz)

5,762 (FY20) % (0.6) Change

Lead (t)

6,112 (FY20) % 4.7 Change

Zinc (t)

9,263 (FY20) % 3.1 Change

Financial Highlights

Adjusted Revenue (US$m, FY20)

248.3 % 21.3 Change

Segment Profit (US$m, FY20)

129.5 % 52.5 Change

Captial Expenditure (US$m, FY20)

35.1 % (39.7) Change

Exploration (US$m, FY20)

6.5 % (62.0) Change

2Q21

  • Quarterly gold production decreased 13.2% vs. 1Q21 due to a lower ore grade as higher volumes of ore were extracted from the Western area of the Ciénega mine, which has a higher silver content.

  • Quarterly silver production increased 9.7% vs. 1Q21 due to a higher ore grade as mentioned above and, to a lesser extent, an increase in the volume of ore processed resulting from efficiency gains in the maintenance programme.

  • Quarterly and first half gold and silver production decreased vs. 2Q20 and 1H20, due to the lower ore grades year on-year, in line with the mine sequence.

  • The gold and silver ore grades for 2021 are expected to remain in the range of 1.30-1.40 g/t and 150-160 g/t respectively.

2021 Objectives

  • Continue strict cost control. 
  • Continue the exploration programme in the district, increasing resources and reserves.
  • Begin construction of the fourth tailings dam.