Description
During the 1940s and 1950s, the mineral potential of the area was explored albeit only by means of shallow digs. The project was inactive since 1983, but years later, between 1990 and 1992, a detailed interpretation of the data was performed, showing potential exceeding 30 million tons of ore with 5% lead-zinc content.
Formal exploration work began in July 1994, and geological and geophysical studies of the area were reviewed in December of the same year. With the compilation of this information, a model and form of the reserve was developed, resulting in approval of a comprehensive exploratory drilling plan presented in December 1994.
In May 2020, a temporary, indefinite suspension of operations in this unit was declared, because it had ceased to be profitable owing to high overhead, the low grade of the ore, hardness and depth of the mineral strata, coupled with low prices of zinc.
Key Information
- Location: Morelos, Zacatecas
- Ownership: 100% Peñoles
- In operation: 2001-2020
- Facilities: Underground mine and beneficiation plant
- Production: Primarily zinc and silver. Produces zinc, lead and copper concentrates.
- Type of deposit: Underground mantle and veins of sedimentary exhalative origin
- Installed capacity: 2.7 million tons/year of milled ore
- Used capacity: 87%*
- Reserves: 14.9 million tons of ore*
- Mine Life: 6 years*
* Figures to December 2021
Production in 2020
664 kton
Ore milled
-71.7% with respect to the previous year196 koz
Silver
-73.8% with respect to the previous year2,350 ton
Lead
-73.6% with respect to the previous year11,001 ton
Zinc
-73.5% with respect to the previous year253 ton
Copper
-71.8% with respect to the previous yearOur mines location
