La Negra Production

Since 2007, the La Negra mill went through three consecutive processing capacity expansions from 1,000tpd in 2007 to 1,500tpd in June 2010, to 2,500tpd in April 2012 and to 3,000tpd processing capacity in April 2013.

Production grades and tonnages at La Negra vary during the course of operations owing to many factors including the number of working faces and development headings, equipment maintenance, ventilation and safety requirements as well as the need to stockpile and blend different types of mineralization from up to 12 different zones. Since the start of mining operations in 2007 La Negra consistently mines mineralization that is not included in current resource estimates, the amount of which can vary from 15 to 45% of tonnage mined on a quarter-by-quarter basis.  Mine management will pursue extensions of known mineralization as well as new zones when mineral types and mining conditions are more favourable and profitable than within the “published resource” areas.

La Negra is producing silver, copper, zinc and Lead in the form of a metal concentrate. Production has increased considerably since 2010 to a total of 3.7 million ounces of Silver equivalent produced in 2014.

Silver Equivalent Production (mm oz)