PERTH (miningweekly.com) – A scoping study into the restart of operations at the Plomosas base metals mine, in Mexico, has proved positive for ASX-listed Consolidated Zinc.

The study focused on mining the Tres Amigos resource using existing infrastructure, while optimising and drilling to expand the remaining resource to provide a higher-grade mill feed between the second and third year of operations.

The Tres Amigos portion of the resource is estimated to host about 544 000 t, grading 11.2% zinc, 2.1% lead and 13.9 g/t silver, with 10% of this resource classified as indicated.

Consolidated Zinc prioritised this resource owing to its proximity to the surface, the ability to immediately access the ore through existing infrastructure, the high metallurgical recoveries that had previously been identified, and the quality concentrate that testwork had established could be obtained.

“Our goals over the last 10 months have been to complete a resource upgrade and deliver a positive scoping study, and I’m delighted that we have been able to achieve these objectives,” said Consolidated Zinc MD Will Dix.

“We are confident our strong technical understanding of the project, given our access to the ore, existing plant and previous successful concentrate production, will enable us to secure the funding necessary to advance the project.”

Dix said on Friday that the company’s strategy moving forward was focused on optimising the study outputs through the addition of new ore sources from within the Plomosas mine area, and completing the permitting required to start construction and production.

“As the company moves from the exploration to development and production phase, we are reviewing our organisational structure to reflect the new requirements. An element of this is strengthening the mining and metallurgical skill set both at board and management level, and the search for people to fill these roles has commenced,” he added.