Name and Location
Los Pumas manganese project, Chile.

Client
Southern Hemisphere Mining.

Project Description
The Los Pumas project contains a measured and indicated resource comprising 18.3-million tonnes grading 7.6% manganese and inferred resource of 5.4-million tonnes grading 8.6% manganese.

A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed on the project in 2011, envisaged a project development producing 300 000 t/y of manganese product over an initial seven-year mine life.

According to the PEA, the resource will be mined by conventional openpit methods, and has the advantage of a low waste-to-resource ratio of about 0.9:1.

The resource will be hauled to an on-site process plant, comprising a crushing circuit and dense media separation circuits.

Value
$74.3-million.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Southern Hemisphere has received approval for the environmental-impact statement at the Los Pumas project, clearing the way for development of the project to proceed in the future, should market conditions justify it.

While Southern Hemisphere has progressed low-level work on the project, current manganese market conditions have reduced the priority of the project in the company’s exploration and development plans, given its strong focus on copper/gold exploration in Chile with its key alliance partners, Lundin Mining Corporation and Anglo American.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Southern Hemisphere Mining, tel +61 8 9481 2122 or email admin@shmining.com.au.