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Dolores Mine - Sierra Madre
A New Mid-Tier Gold & Silver Producer - Mexico
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Minefinders targets first pour mid-July after blockade at Mexico mine
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By: Liezel Hill
Published on 9th June 2008
Vancouver-based Minefinders Corporation now expects to pour the first metal at its Dolores gold and silver mine, in Mexico, in mid-July, after an illegal blockade on an access road to the site briefly delayed construction activities and operations.
The company had planned to achieve the first gold and silver pour late this month, but halted work at the operation when the blockade was established towards the end of May.
The road was reopened on June 5, after government officials held talks with the protesters, allowing Mindefinders to resume mining and processing operations at Dolores.
The company expects to produce some 40 000 oz of gold and 1-million ounces of silver this year from the mine.
Production is expected to ramp up to 128 000 oz of gold and 3-million ounces of silver in 2009, and 129 000 oz of gold and 4-million ounces of silver in 2010.
Mining is already approaching a sustained rate of some 100 000 t/d, and over 7-million tons of ore and waste material have been mined to date.
“Despite the delay of the first gold and silver pour due to the illegal blockade, the commissioning at Dolores is progressing well with construction and operating costs consistent with those reported in the company’s [previous] economic forecast and reserve update,” said president and CEO Mark Bailey.
The company said it would continue to facilitate talks with the group responsible for the blockade, but emphasised that most of the people involved were believed to be from outside of the region, rather than from local communities.
The firm has spent about $160-million on Dolores, its most advanced project, and expects to spend an additional $32-million this year.
The Dolores project contains proven and probable reserves of 2,44-million ounces of gold and 126,6-million ounces of silver, with exploration upside and an open pit mine life of over 15 years.
Minefinders also plans to complete a preliminary feasibility study in 2008 on the potential for the addition of a flotation mill to enhance recoveries from high-grade ore in the open pit, to process additional underground ore and to increase production capacity.
The company had planned to achieve the first gold and silver pour late this month, but halted work at the operation when the blockade was established towards the end of May.
The road was reopened on June 5, after government officials held talks with the protesters, allowing Mindefinders to resume mining and processing operations at Dolores.
The company expects to produce some 40 000 oz of gold and 1-million ounces of silver this year from the mine.
Production is expected to ramp up to 128 000 oz of gold and 3-million ounces of silver in 2009, and 129 000 oz of gold and 4-million ounces of silver in 2010.
Mining is already approaching a sustained rate of some 100 000 t/d, and over 7-million tons of ore and waste material have been mined to date.
“Despite the delay of the first gold and silver pour due to the illegal blockade, the commissioning at Dolores is progressing well with construction and operating costs consistent with those reported in the company’s [previous] economic forecast and reserve update,” said president and CEO Mark Bailey.
The company said it would continue to facilitate talks with the group responsible for the blockade, but emphasised that most of the people involved were believed to be from outside of the region, rather than from local communities.
The firm has spent about $160-million on Dolores, its most advanced project, and expects to spend an additional $32-million this year.
The Dolores project contains proven and probable reserves of 2,44-million ounces of gold and 126,6-million ounces of silver, with exploration upside and an open pit mine life of over 15 years.
Minefinders also plans to complete a preliminary feasibility study in 2008 on the potential for the addition of a flotation mill to enhance recoveries from high-grade ore in the open pit, to process additional underground ore and to increase production capacity.
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