Location
The La Encantada Silver Mine is located in northern Mexico, 708 km northeast of Torreon, Coahuila. Access to the mine is via a road from Muzquiz to Boquillas del Cármen, Coahuila. This route consists of a 165 km paved road and a 45 km dirt road, taking approximately 2.5 hours to travel. Nearby infrastructures include an airstrip, housing, offices, ancillary buildings, laboratory, restaurant, general store and a recreation facility.
Operating Highlights
| La Encantada Production Results | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore Processes/Tonnes Milled and Leached | 966,392 | 1,025,172 | 1,004,144 | 860,613 | 916,894 | 916,894 |
| Average Silver Grade (g/tonne) | 121 | 123 | 130 | 162 | 146 | 95 |
| Recovery (%) | 73% | 76% | 77% | 88% | 74% | 57% |
| Total Silver Ounces Produced | 2,718,856 | 3,091,349 | 3,241,556 | 3,505,953 | 3,083,410 | 1,603,740 |
| Gold Ounces Produced | 321 | 413 | 460 | 241 | 190 | 89 |
| Total Production - Ounces Silver Equivalent | 2,745,622 | 3,125,761 | 3,274,798 | 3,526,776 | 3,099,717 | 1,610,895 |
| Underground Development (m) | 2,372 | 2,556 | 3,305 | 3,674 | 5,444 | 6,078 |
| Diamond Drilling (m) | 3,812 | 10,021 | 15,373 | 18,611 | 17,739 | 19,461 |
Mining & Milling Operations
The processing mill has undergone several improvements over the years. The plant was further upgraded in 2015 with the installations of a new 12' x 24' ball mill, tertiary crusher, two vibrating screens and a series of conveyor belts.
A fully functional 1,000 tpd flotation mill is also located at La Encantada. Historically, this flotation mill was the primary method of silver production over the past 30 years; however, with the cyanidation plant now operating at full capacity, production of lead concentrate through the flotation circuit was suspended in June 2010 and the circuit is currently in care-and-maintenance.
Local Geology, Mineralization & Ore Types
The mineralogy of the deposits at La Encantada is predominantly iron oxides, carbonates and lead sulphates with high concentrations of silver (argentite and native silver) values as the result of an oxidation process and enrichment in a known vertical range of more than 400 meters. Beneath the elevation 1,600 meters, there is a presence of sulphides of Pb-Ag-Zn in the SW part of the La Encantada mine (La Morena ore-bodies).
For more detailed geological information readers are encouraged to review the Company's most recent NI 43-101 Technical Report (PDF).
The Reserves/Resources inventories are reported in NI 43-101 Technical Reports published periodically by the Company. The complete report can be viewed in the Reserves/Resources section or on SEDAR.
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