Overview
The Huachocolpa Uno Mine operates a 1,800 tpd polymetallic processing plant in Peru’s Huancavelica Province, currently undergoing expansion to 2,500 tpd capacity. The concentrator produces copper, lead, and zinc concentrates through a complex selective flotation circuit handling lead-silver-zinc-copper mineralization.
Key Process Stages
- Crushing: Three-stage crushing circuit with 24″x36″ jaw crusher, 4-1/4′ Symons cone crusher, and vibrating screens producing 0.5″ material
- Grinding: Dual circuit system with:
- Circuit A: 8’x10′ ball mill + 6’x6′ ball mill + 5’x5′ ball mill with Derrick screens and hydrocyclones
- Circuit B: 5’x10′ rod mill + 5’x6′ ball mill + 4’x8′ ball mill with D10 hydrocyclones
- Bulk Flotation: SK-240 (8m³) and OK-30 (30m³) cells for Cu-Pb-Ag bulk concentrate
- Separation Circuit: SUB A-24 (2.8m³) and SP-18 (1.8m³) cells for Pb/Cu differential flotation
- Zinc Circuit: OK-30 cells and DR-300 (8.5m³) scavengers producing final Zn concentrate
- Concentrate Handling: Andritz filter presses (31-plate) achieving 5.5-7.5% moisture content
- Tailings: 85’x10′ thickener with cyclones for coarse/fine separation and future paste fill plans
Critical Data
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Current Throughput | 1,800 tpd (expanding to 2,500 tpd) |
| Water Consumption | 66.49 L/s (41.8 L/s grinding) |
| Power Consumption | 29.45 kWh/t (47,768 kW total) |
| Grinding Energy | 43.67% of total power |
| Key Reagents | Sodium cyanide (0.07 kg/t), Xanthate Z-11 (0.55 kg/t), Lime (1 kg/t) |
| Workforce | 110 employees + 21 contractors |
Expansion Features
The 2,500 tpd expansion includes:
- Increased water treatment capacity (120 L/s)
- New paste fill plant for tailings utilization
- Equipment upgrades across all circuits
