Peñasquito

The Peñasquito mine is Mexico’s largest gold producer, and delivered a record production of 860,300 ounces in 2015. Goldcorp estimates that in 2016 gold production will dwindle to between 520,000 and 580,000 ounces due to mining in the lower-grade area of the pit. The operation is also expected to produce 22-24 million ounces of silver, a total of 375-400 million pounds of zinc, and 145-155 million pounds of lead. It consists of two open pits, Peñasco and Chile Colorado, located in Zacatecas, 14km east of Mazapil. Peñasquito boasts accessibility to roads, power, and adept personnel thanks to the area’s lengthy mining record. The mine is nestled along the eastern Mexican fold belt that contains carbonate and Mesozoic clastic sedimentary units. It lies upon two funnel-shaped diatreme breccia pipes that dwell into Cretaceous clastic units and overlay a Tertiary felsic intrusive complex. The property exhibits veinlets, and minimal fractures that encompass minerals such as electrum, sphalerite, galena, and various sulfosalts. As an open pit mine, Peñasquito utilizes a flotation and grinding processing method supported by two 50,000t/d sulphide lines, and a 30,000t/d high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) circuit. It has a milling capacity of 130,000t/d. The operation has also adopted the “Pyrite Leach Project”, which envisions utilizing zinc flotation circuit tails to leach a pyrite concentrate that can save gold and silver from being lost inside the tailings facility. The investment is expected to be approved by mid-2016, and the project should be in production by the end of 2018.

When it comes to environmental regulations, Peñasquito not only complies with a Waste Comprehensive Plan, a Single Environmental License, and the Annual Operation Certificate and Management Plan for the Reproduction of the White-Tailed Deer, it also incorporates a National Environmental Audit Program. Furthermore, the company has rescued more than 448,000 plants, of which 18,000 were endangered cactus species. Its nursery additionally harvests an estimated 3 million plants per year that will be used in future reclamation work. Peñasquito is a socially responsible mine as it perpetuates a solid relationship with surrounding communities and local authorities. Its policies ensure employment opportunities for state residents, with 75 percent of Peñasquito’s employees from Zacatecas. Through scholarships, adult education programs, and the construction of a Technical School (CONALEP) that provides mechanical and electrical training with student housing, the mine is extremely socially conscious. Health care is equally supported in coordination with the Youth Integration Center (CIJ) that grants seminars on specific topics.