Photo by: McEwen Mining
Name of the Mine
San José mine.
Location
Santa Cruz province, Argentina.
Mine Owner/s
The mine is a partnership between Hochschild Mining Argentina (51%), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hochschild Mining, and McEwen Mining (49%).
Brief Description
The San José mine is an operating underground mine exploiting epithermal silver/gold and gold/silver vein deposits.
Brief History
The mine has been in commercial production for 14 years and is estimated to continue producing gold and silver until 2027.
Primary Metals/Minerals
Silver and gold.
Secondary Metals/Minerals
None stated.
Geology/Mineralisation
The San José property is located in the north-west corner of the Deseado Massif, where Jurassic bimodal volcanics host numerous quartz veins bearing gold and silver.
The Jurassic Bajo Pobre formation is the main host for gold and silver mineralisation, where veins are characteristically developed in competent andesite flows at the Huevos Verdes, Frea and Kospi deposits on the San José property and, to a lesser extent, in volcaniclastic units.
Mineralisation in the San José area occurs as low-sulphidation epithermal quartz veins, breccias and stockwork systems accompanying normal-sinistral faults. The main structural trend of fault and vein systems on the property is north-west to north-north-west, together with less prominent east-striking and north- to north-east striking faults and veins.
Reserves
Total proven and probable reserves as at December 31, 2021, were estimated at 762 315 t grading 342 g/t silver and 5.7 g/t gold.
Resources
Total measured and indicated resources as at December 31, 2021, were estimated at 1.4-million tonnes grading 427 g/t silver and 7.04 g/t gold. Inferred mineral resources were estimated at 937 890 grading 332 g/t silver and 5.22 g/t gold.
Mining Method
Underground, using mechanised cut-and-fill mining methods.
Major Mine Infrastructure/Equipment
The mine uses scooptrams, and jacklegs (pneumatic rock drills) or single-boom jumbos to exploit the San José deposits.
The mine has a conventional crushing, grinding and flotation mill, as well as leaching and foundry facilities.
Prospects
The life-of-mine continues to be updated as exploration advances and reserve estimates are renewed.
Contact Details
Hochschild Mining
Tel +44 203 709 3260
Email info@hocplc.com
McEwen Mining
Tel +1 647 258 0395
Email info@mcewenmining.com
Sources
Hochschild Mining. Website: https://www.hochschildmining.com/.
Hochschild Mining results for the year ended December 31, 2021.
McEwen Mining. Website: https://www.mcewenmining.com/.
McEwen Mining. Technical report on the San José silver/gold mine, Santa Cruz, Argentina (August 15, 2014).