The Huaron operation processes approximately one million tonnes per annum through a 3,200 tonnes per day selective flotation mill producing silver-bearing copper, lead, and zinc concentrates.
Report context
This technical report, effective October 30, 2022, provides an update on the Huaron property, an underground silver-copper-lead-zinc mine located in the Huayllay district of the province of Pasco in the Central Highlands of Peru. Pan American Silver Corp., through its wholly-owned subsidiary Pan American Silver Huaron S.A., is the 100% owner of the property and mining concessions. The report replaces the previous technical report with an effective date of June 30, 2014. Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves were depleted for mining as of June 30, 2022.
Processing route
Crushing
The mill flowsheet begins with three-stage crushing of the ore.
Grinding and classification
Following crushing, the ore is processed through ball mill grinding and classification.
Flotation
Selective froth flotation is used to produce silver in copper, lead, and zinc concentrates. The process is described as selective flotation of the ore to concentrates.
Thickening and filtering
The concentrates are thickened and filtered.
Tailings storage
A portion of the tailings from the process are cycloned to produce sand for backfill material for the underground mining operation. The fines and the remaining tailings are deposited into a tailings impoundment facility. Studies for expansion of the existing tailings storage facility are underway, including engineering design for filtered-stacked tailings.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Mill throughput | 3,200 tonnes per day | Design capacity |
| Annual throughput | Approximately one million tonnes per annum | Operating plan |
| Power consumption | Approximately 66 million kilowatt hours per year | Historical operating data |
| Crushing stages | Three-stage | Design |
| Grinding | Ball mill | Design |
| Flotation | Selective froth flotation | Design |
| Concentrate products | Silver in copper, lead, and zinc concentrates | Design |
| Tailings management | Cycloning for backfill sand; impoundment for fines and remainder | Design |
Project website: https://www.realtor.ca/on/huron-county/real-estate
Technical qualifications
The report states that increasing costs and taxation and lower metal prices will have a negative impact on the quantity of Mineral Reserve estimates. The authors note there are no known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other factors or risks that could materially affect the development of the Mineral Resources.
The report identifies that studies for expansion of the existing tailings storage facility are currently underway, including engineering design for filtered-stacked tailings. No further recommendations are made by the report authors at this time.
Source: Technical Report for the Huaron Property, Pasco, Peru, effective date October 30, 2022.
