Zinc-focused miner Trevali Mining expected construction of its Peruvian Santander zinc/lead/silver mine to be complete by the end of the year, when commissioning was expected to start.
The company on Wednesday said in a construction update that construction of the 2 000 t/d plant was progressing well. To date, the mills were installed, the flotation building erected and the flotation cells installed, the crusher and zinc and lead thickener foundations had been completed, and new steel for the mill and crusher buildings was on site and were being erected.
Further, sealing of the tailings dam was ongoing and mineral stockpile preparation was advanced.
Merit Consultants International supervised the construction of the processing plant by Lima-based specialist construction firm Cempro Tech on behalf of the Santander project development team, which comprised a joint development between Trevali and Glencore International.
The company said mining contractors JRC Ingenieros had advanced underground development on the three Magistral deposits with three crews fully staffed and equipped. All key underground service and support facilities were in place, namely water, air, underground offices and training rooms, a lamp-room, various explosive magazines and equipment shops.
The company expected about 95 000 t of mineralised material grading 5.61% zinc, 0.65% lead and 1.65 oz/t of silver would be stockpiled and available for mill commissioning by the end of the year.
Glencore in March bought a 7.8% share in Trevali, which also owns a zinc mine in New Brunswick.
The company’s shares climbed 6.32% to C$1.01 apiece on the TSX on Wednesday.
Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
