This report describes the mineral processing facilities at the Dolores property in Chihuahua, Mexico, incorporating both a heap leach flow sheet and a pulp agglomeration flow sheet, as of 31 December 2016.
Report context
This technical report for the Dolores property, Chihuahua, Mexico, has an effective date of 31 December 2016 and was prepared for Pan American Silver Corp. in March 2017. The report covers the mineral processing and recovery methods employed at the operation, including historic plant design, and metallurgical testing conducted from 2012 to 2016.
Processing route
Heap leach flow sheet
The heap leach flow sheet is described as part of the existing processing facilities at Dolores. The report presents this as an established processing route at the operation, though specific flowsheet details beyond its identification are not provided in the available text.
Pulp agglomeration flow sheet
The pulp agglomeration flow sheet represents the other major processing route at the property. This section of the report includes plant design information and equipment specifications. The design parameters and equipment details are presented as part of the existing plant configuration at the effective date.
Metallurgical testing (2012 to 2016)
Pulp agglomeration study
A pulp agglomeration study was conducted as part of the testing program between 2012 and 2016. This study investigated the pulp agglomeration process for the Dolores ore.
Cyanide leaching tests
Cyanide leaching tests were performed during the 2012 to 2016 period as part of the metallurgical testwork program.
Comminution and pilot plant tests
Comminution testing and pilot plant tests were carried out as part of the metallurgical characterization work. These tests provided data for process design and performance evaluation.
Load/permeability tests
Load and permeability tests were conducted to assess the heap leach performance characteristics of the ore.
Metallurgical recovery model
Heap leach
A metallurgical recovery model was developed for the heap leach process. This model is used to estimate recovery performance for the heap leach operation.
Pulp agglomeration
A separate metallurgical recovery model was developed for the pulp agglomeration process. This model provides recovery estimates for the pulp agglomeration processing route.
Material issues and deleterious elements
The report identifies material issues and deleterious elements that affect the metallurgical processing of Dolores ore. These factors are considered in the processing and recovery evaluations.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Basis | Value / Description |
|---|---|---|
| Processing methods | Design/operating | Heap leach and pulp agglomeration |
| Metallurgical testing period | Testwork | 2012 to 2016 |
| Testing types | Testwork | Pulp agglomeration study, cyanide leaching tests, comminution tests, pilot plant tests, load/permeability tests |
| Recovery models | Design/operating | Heap leach model and pulp agglomeration model |
| Material issues | Testwork | Identified deleterious elements affecting processing |
Project website: https://panamericansilver.com/
Technical qualifications
The report includes the following specific limitations. The mineral processing and recovery methods section does not provide detailed flowsheet configurations beyond the identification of heap leach and pulp agglomeration routes. Specific equipment capacities, throughput rates, and recovery percentages are not included in the available processing sections. The metallurgical testing results are presented without detailed numerical performance data in the sections provided. Plant design information for the pulp agglomeration flow sheet is referenced but specific design criteria and equipment specifications beyond general description are not detailed in the available text.
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Source: Technical Report for the Dolores Property, Chihuahua, Mexico, effective date 31 December 2016, prepared for Pan American Silver Corp., March 2017. Relevant sections: 1.7 Mineral processing and recovery methods; 13 Mineral processing and metallurgical testing; 17 Recovery methods.
