South32 revealed in its quarterly production and earnings report this week that it will be placing its Cerro Matoso nickel operation in Colombia under a strategic review following a reduction in prices paired with a production shortfall. The complex’s payable nickel production in 2H23 was 18.3 million tonnes, down 10%, despite the miner’s outlook of 40.5Mt full-year while eyeing higher…
Read MoreCategory: Latin America
Latin Metals acquires Argentina project
Canadian-based Latin Metals has confirmed its acquisition of the 68,000-hectare Terraza copper project in the Juyay province of Argentina. Latin Metals’ is a first mover in exploring sediment-hosted copper deposits in this emerging belt and, with this acquisition, increases its ground holding to more than 500,000 hectares. “Latin Metals’ exploration efforts in northwest Argentina are focused on understanding and unlocking…
Read MoreLights on at Serra Verde
Commercial production of mixed rare earth concentrate (MREC) has commenced from Phase 1 of the Pela Ema deposit at the Serra Verde complex in Minaçu, Goiás State, Brazil. Once ramped up to full production, Serra Verde is expected to produce at least 5,000 tonnes per year of rare earth oxide. MREC samples have already been accepted by major customers, and…
Read MoreCodelco makes deal with supervisors union
Chile’s state-owned Codelco has reached an agreement on a new contract with the union representing supervisors at its Chuquicamata copper mine, reported Reuters. “Codelco appreciates and values the dialogue and shared vision of the reality experienced by the company and, in particular, Chuquicamata,” said the miner, who did not specify the financial details of the contract. The agreement, noted Codelco,…
Read MoreFLSmidth delivering ball mills, HPGRs to South American site
Following a long-standing relationship with an unidentified customer, FLSmidth confirmed it has received an order to supply comminution technologies to a leading copper miner in South America for their new greenfield concentrator. The order is valued at approximately DKK 380 million and was booked in Q124. The equipment is due to be delivered in 2025. The order includes the delivery…
Read MoreGold Fields delays first gold at Salares Norte
While it first estimated the start of gold in early 2023, Gold Fields has again confirmed a delay in the first production at its Salares Norte project in Chile, citing delays in pre-commissioning and commissioning activities. The Johannesburg company said it is now eyeing April 2024 for first gold, and it has already adjusted its whole-year volumes down to between…
Read MoreCommissioning kicks off at Capstone’s Mantoverde
Canadian copper-focused developer Capstone Copper has confirmed the start of commissioning activities at its Mantoverde development project (MDP) in Chile. First ore was introduced to the primary crusher on 29 November. Mantoverde said it will continue to systematically commission the concentrator plant and is on track to reach nameplate production levels of 32,000 tonnes per day by mid-2024. “We just…
Read MoreAntofagasta approves second Centinela concentrator
Copper miner Antofagasta has approved, after extensive review, a multi billion-dollar expansion of its Centinela operation in Chile, including a second concentrator that will add an estimated 170,000 copper equivalent tonnes annually. Initial construction and critical path works for the Centinela Second Concentrator project will begin immediately, with full construction expected to commence after definitive project finance documents have been…
Read MoreCodelco strikes deals with three unions
Chilean miner Codelco said it reached contract agreements with three unions, putting off the risk of a strike at the state-run company, reported Reuters. Codelco attained an early agreement with two unions at its Ventanas division, a copper refinery in the town of Ventanas. The 36-month contract offers were accepted by more than 70% of those who voted. In Santiago,…
Read MoreWealth Minerals, BASF join forces on Chilean lithium projects
Wealth Minerals said it has agreed to begin a collaboration with chemical giant BASF to begin a collaboration for the development of extraction, processing and refining operations for lithium and other substances in the Atacama and Ollagüe Salt Flats in northern Chile. “We are very pleased to partner with BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, in order to develop an…
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