Name: San Sebastian mine.
Location: Durango, Mexico.
Mine Owner/s: Hecla Mining Company.
Brief Description: San Sebastian is a silver and gold mine. Hecla’s concession holdings at San Sebastian are located in the middle of the prolific Mexican silver belt and cover 42 000 ha. Within this land position is the Francine, Middle and Don Sergio-Andrea vein systems, and the Hugh zone, as well as multiple prospective exploration targets.
Brief History: Hecla has owned the San Sebastian property since 1999.
Mining started at the San Sebastian deposit in December 2015.
Primary Metals/Minerals: Silver.
Secondary Metals/Minerals: Gold.
Geology/Mineralisation: Mineralisation in the district is structurally controlled and hosted in sedimentary rocks.
The mining technique focuses on shallow, near-surface pits on the East Francine, Middle and North veins, targeting high-grade material. Near-surface material is weathered, and should be easily excavated.
Reserves: Total proven and probable reserves at December 31, 2019, were estimated at 100 000 t grading 8.8 oz/t silver and 0.08 oz/t of gold.
Resources: Total measured and indicated resources as at December 31, 2019, were estimated at 2.85-million tonnes grading 6.3 oz/t silver and 0.05 oz/t gold.
Mining Method: Hecla is using a contractor for mining operations.
Major Infrastructure and Equipment: Infrastructure includes the underground mine portal and development, a water supply system, maintenance shop, warehouse, laboratory, leased mill and related improvements, and various offices.
Hecla has secured the use of a Merrill-Crowe processing plant, which it previously owned, near Velardeña, in the state of Durango, in Mexico.
The mill is a conventional leach, counter-current decantation and Merrill Crowe precipitation circuit capable of processing up to about 550 t/d, depending on ore hardness. The precious metal precipitate is smelted and refined into doré, and is then shipped to a third-party refiner.
Prospects: Hecla is working towards a decision to develop the Hugh zone, which could increase San Sebastian’s mine life. It is also continuing to explore the recently discovered El Toro vein.
Contact Details:
Hecla Mining Co
Email hmc-info@hecla-mining.com
Website https://www.hecla-mining.com