JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Vancouver-based Goldcorp has completed the construction of a second sulphide processing line at its Peñasquito mine in Mexico.

The second 50 000-t/d line achieved mechanical completion ahead of its previously expected third-quarter completion date, the gold miner, led by Chuck Jeannes, announced on Tuesday.

The first line was started up last year and regularly operates at its designed daily throughput of 50 000 t.

Goldcorp reported that the combined process plant throughput had reached more than 86 400 t/d in the first days of commissioning and ramp-up of the second line.

Line two alone has reached a peak daily throughput of over 52 000 t.

Jeannes said that Goldcorp remained on schedule for third-quarter commercial production at the mine in Zacatecas, while full production ramp-up to its 130 000-t/d capacity remained on track for early next year.

Goldcorp would complete the construction of a 30 000-t/d high pressure grinding roll circuit (HPGR) before the end of 2010.

"Most of the components for the HPGR circuit are on site with mechanical completion expected during the fourth quarter."

Over a 22-year life, the Peñasquito mine would produce a yearly average of 500 000 oz of gold, 28-million ounces of silver, 450-million pounds of zinc, and 200-million pounds of lead after reaching its full design capacity.

For 2010, Peñasquito would deliver 180 000 oz of gold as the proportion of higher-quality sulphide ore increased.

The mine would be Mexico's largest openpit operation.

"The Peñasquito project team has achieved every critical milestone throughout the mine's three-year construction period, and the completion of line two ahead of schedule is the latest example of the impressive pace of development there," commented Jeannes.

Goldcorp plans to increase its output by 50% over the next five years to some 3,8-million ounces of gold.

The company is the world's second biggest gold miner by market capitalisation, and owns mines in Canada, Argentina, the US, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.

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