has two orebodies: La Tapada (the largest, with estimated reserves of 445 million tons and a law of 0434% copper) and Tia Maria (with estimated reserves of 193 million tons and a law of 0304%). That makes a total of almost 640 million tonnes of mineral reserves, with an average grade of 0.39% copper. In addition, there is gold (approximately 0.16 grams per tonne).
have two open pits, one in each body. After passing through the crusher plant, the ore is subjected to a leaching process, after which they enter, thanks to a conveyor belt 18 km long, to a solvent extraction plant and plating for recovery metal. There are copper cathodes produce high purity (99.999%).
The environmental impact study is finished, being at the stage of knowledge among the populations involved and expected to be approved by the Ministry Energy and Mines approximately in the second quarter of 2011. Then it would start building the mine and its operation would take place in late 2012 or early 2013, producing about 120 thousand tons of copper cathodes. Its lifespan is estimated at 20 years.
water needs will be met by building a desalination plant, which used as input to seawater.
In a first stage, carried out between 2012 and 2024, will operate the block La Tapada. In the second, to develop between 2024 and 2030, will operate the block Aunt Mary.
The mine belongs to the Southern Copper (whose shareholders Grupo Mexico is the majority), the project will invest $ 934 million.
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