The El Peñón gold-silver mine, located in Chile’s Antofagasta Region and operated by Pan American Silver Corp., is a high-grade underground operation producing doré bars. With a nominal capacity of 1.533 Mtpa, it processed 3,711 tpd in early 2024 using advanced cyanide leaching and Merrill-Crowe precipitation.
- Processing Circuit: Crushing → Grinding/Pre-Leach Thickening → Leaching → CCD Solution Recovery → Clarification/Zinc Precipitation → Refining → Tailings Filtering
- Throughput: 3,711 tpd (H1 2024), nominal capacity of 1.533 Mtpa
- Key Equipment: 950x1250mm jaw crusher, SAG/ball mill circuit, 4 CCD thickeners, vacuum belt filters
- Recovery Methods: 75% extraction in SAG mill leaching, Merrill-Crowe precipitation for final recovery
- Water/Energy Use: 0.28 m³/t water, 46.3 kW/dmt energy (avg. H1 2024)
- Key Reagents: Sodium cyanide (2.94 kg/t), zinc (3.44 kg/kg Au+Ag), oxygen (0.28 m³/t)
- Tailings: Filtered to 20% moisture, transported to TSF 2km from plant
- Final Product: 165kg doré bars with 99%+ precious metal content
Source: Pan American Silver Corp.
