| Company | GCGS |
| Date | 2021 |
| Region | Bolivia |
| Commodities | Gold, Silver |
| Status | Operating |
Executive Summary
This section of the 2021 Prefeasibility Study Update details the recovery methods employed at the Maria Dama process plant operated by GCGS. The plant processes ore from the Providencia, El Silencio, Sandra K, and Carla mines, as well as mineral from small mining units, at a design capacity of 1,500 tonnes per day. The processing circuit includes crushing, grinding, gravity concentration, gold flotation, cyanidation of the flotation concentrate, Merrill-Crowe precipitation, and refining to produce a final doré product. Hydrogen peroxide is utilized for cyanide detoxification.
Historical production data from 2002 to 2020 indicates significant growth in ore tonnes processed and gold production. Between 2018 and 2020, the plant processed between 369,836 and 468,597 tonnes of ore annually, with gold production ranging from 192,953 to 214,036 ounces. Gold recoveries during this recent period were consistent, ranging from 95.2% to 95.9%. The plant operates with a focus on high recovery rates through a combination of gravity and flotation methods followed by cyanidation.
Operating costs for the plant averaged US$24.42 per tonne of ore processed in 2019 and US$25.34 per tonne in 2020. Major cost drivers include maintenance (25%), electrical power (21%), and consumables (16%). The process plant consumes various reagents including copper sulfate, frothers, collectors, sodium cyanide, lime, and zinc dust, with specific flux compositions used for smelting the precipitate and gravity concentrate.
Website: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8312788/
Report Date: 2021
Region: Bolivia
Project Status: Operating
Commodity: Gold, Silver
Throughput:
Mine Life:
Mine Type:
Ore type:
