This prefeasibility study report presents the proposed processing route for the San Bartolomé mine and the FDF silver recovery project in Bolivia, based on metallurgical testwork and historical operating data.
Report context
The preliminary feasibility study technical report for the San Bartolomé Mine in Bolivia has an effective date of December 1, 2023, and a report date of February 6, 2024. The report was prepared for Andean Precious Metals Corp. The report addresses the San Bartolomé process plant and the FDF silver recovery project, along with contracted material from Tollojchi, Alta Vista, and Paca deposits.
Processing route
San Bartolomé Process Plant
The San Bartolomé process plant is an existing facility that has been in operation. The process description is outlined in Section 17.1.1 of the report. The plant processes run-of-mine ore and purchased ore. The report documents historical process plant performance in Section 17.1.2 and describes plant sampling and metallurgical accounting procedures in Section 17.1.3.
FDF Silver Recovery Project
The FDF silver recovery project is a proposed facility designed to process material from the FDF deposit. The process description is provided in Section 17.2.1 of the report. The FDF project includes processing of fines material classified as the +140-mesh fraction, with recovery estimates for this fraction reported in Section 17.3.2.
Metallurgical Testwork
Metallurgical testing was conducted by multiple parties to support the process design. The APM metallurgical test work is documented in Section 13.2.1. Additional test work was performed by Bradken Linings, described in Section 13.2.2, and by SGS, described in Section 13.2.3. Comminution testing is referenced in Section 13.1. SRK provided comments on the metallurgical test programs in Section 13.3.
Recovery Estimates
Recovery estimates are presented for run-of-mine and purchased ore in Section 17.3.1. The recovery estimate for the FDF fines (+140-mesh fraction) is reported in Section 17.3.2.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Process plant type | Existing facility | Historical operations |
| FDF project status | Proposed design | Prefeasibility study |
| Feed sources | RoM ore, purchased ore, FDF fines | Design and historical |
| FDF fines fraction | +140-mesh | Proposed classification |
| Comminution testwork | Conducted | Laboratory testwork |
| Metallurgical test programs | APM, Bradken Linings, SGS | Laboratory testwork |
| Plant sampling | Active | Historical operations |
| Metallurgical accounting | Active | Historical operations |
Project website: https://andeanpm.com/
Project website: https://andeanpm.com/san-bartolome/
Technical qualifications
The report is a preliminary feasibility study (prefeasibility study) technical report. The mineral processing and metallurgical testing sections (Section 13) are based on testwork programs and the report notes that these are preliminary in nature. The recovery methods described in Section 17 include both existing plant operations and proposed designs that have not been constructed. The report states that the FDF silver recovery project is a proposed project, meaning the process description represents a design concept rather than an operating facility.
Source: Preliminary Feasibility Study Technical Report San Bartolomé Mine Bolivia, Effective Date: December 1, 2023, Report Date: February 6, 2024, Sections 1.9, 13, 17.
