| Company | Capstone |
| Date | 2024 |
| Region | Chile |
| Commodities | Copper, Iron, Gold |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Throughput | 65 kt/d nominal, 75 kt/d max |
| Mine Life | 19 years (2029-2047) |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
The Santo Domingo Project is a feasibility study for a copper and iron mining operation located in Chile. The project is designed to process ore at a nominal rate of 65,000 tonnes per day, with the capability to sustain up to 75,000 tonnes per day during early mine life when processing softer ore. The primary commodities recovered are copper concentrate and magnetite concentrate, with potential future production of pyrite concentrate. The mine life is projected to span from 2029 to 2047, with peak production occurring in the first five years.
The mineral processing plant utilizes a comprehensive flowsheet involving crushing, grinding, flotation, and magnetic separation. Primary crushing is achieved via a gyratory crusher, followed by an autogenous grinding (AG) circuit with ball mill and pebble crusher configuration. Copper recovery employs conventional mechanical rougher flotation cells followed by Jameson cell cleaner circuits. Iron recovery is handled through a dedicated magnetic separation plant utilizing wet counter-rotation magnetic drums and hydro-separation to produce two grades of magnetite concentrate.
Water management is supported by a desalination plant located at the port, delivering desalinated water to the mine site and port facilities. Concentrates are dewatered and filtered before transport; copper concentrate is trucked to the port for stockpiling and shipping, while magnetite concentrate is transported via pipeline to the port for filtration and stockpiling. The design includes allowances for future pyrite flotation and recovery from the copper circuit tails, though this is not included in the current financial analysis.
Processing Profile
- Crushing: 60″ x 89″ Gyratory Crusher
- Milling: 40′ x 25′ AG Mill, 23′ x 32′ Ball Mill, Pebble Crusher
- Flotation: Mechanical Rougher, Jameson Cell Cleaners
- Magnetic Separation: Wet Counter-Rotation Drums, Hydro-separation
- Thickening: High-Rate Thickeners
- Filtration: Pressure Filters (Copper), Ceramic Disc Filters (Magnetite)
Reports
Website: https://capstonecopper.com/operations/santo-domingo/
Report Date: 2024
Region: Chile
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Copper, Iron, Gold
Throughput: 65 kt/d nominal, 75 kt/d max
Mine Life: 19 years (2029-2047)
Mine Type: Open Pit
Ore type:
Technical report and processing history
The following archived source profiles have been consolidated here to preserve the project’s processing history and study context.
Santo Domingo Project — 2020 Technical Report
Santo Domingo Project — 2020 Technical Report
| Company | Capstone Mining |
| Date | 2020 |
| Region | Atacama Region, Chile |
| Commodities | Copper, Iron, Gold |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Throughput | 65,000 t/d |
| Mine Life | 18 years |
| Status | Development |
Executive Summary
The Santo Domingo Project is a development-stage open-pit mine located in Region III, Chile, operated by Capstone Mining. The project focuses on the extraction and processing of copper and iron ore, with minor gold recovery. The mine plan anticipates an 18-year life of mine with an initial throughput of 65,000 tonnes per day, reducing to 60,000 tonnes per day nominally after the first five years. The ore body consists of magnetite and hematite iron ores alongside copper sulphides, classified by magnetic susceptibility.
The processing plant utilizes a conventional crushing and grinding circuit followed by parallel copper flotation and magnetic separation circuits. Primary crushing is achieved via a gyratory crusher, feeding a Direct SAG (DSAG) mill and ball mills in closed circuit. Copper recovery is performed through a multi-stage mechanical forced air flotation circuit, while iron recovery utilizes Low Intensity Magnetic Separation (LIMS) with rougher and cleaner stages. Both concentrates undergo thickening and filtration before transport to the port.
Infrastructure includes a dedicated port at Punta Roca Blanca for concentrate shipment, with magnetite transported via pipeline and copper concentrate via truck. Water supply is secured through a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) desalination contract. The project has received critical permits including the Closure Plan and Early Works Permit, with construction expected to commence following the approval of environmental sectorial permits.
Website: https://capstonecopper.com/operations/santo-domingo/
Report Date: 2020
Region: Atacama Region, Chile
Project Status: Development
Commodity: Copper, Iron, Gold
Throughput: 65,000 t/d
Mine Life: 18 years
Mine Type: Open Pit
Ore type:
