PPX Mining has retained Asesores y Consultores Mineros S.A. to aid in a modified environmental impact study application that would bring its plant at the Callanquitas mine at the Igor 4 concession in northern Peru to fruition.
The current permit for the facility at the gold-silver asset allows for the construction of a heap leach beneficiation plant. However, after a careful inhouse review, officials said, it has opted to modify the plant configuration to a grind-tank leach plant as it will permit higher recoveries from the Callanquitas ore.
Since 2016, the mine has been operated by Proyectos La Patagonia S.A.C. at approximately 3,000 tons monthly at an average gold grade of 9 g/t.
“The plant to be permitted will have a nominal capacity of 350 tons per day and will consist of a two stage crushing, ball milling, cyanide leaching in tanks, followed by solid separation, using countercurrent decantation and precipitation of gold and silver using zinc powder, the so called Merrill Crowe process,” it said.
“This process will be used as the silver grade in the mine increases with depth and recovery of silver using activated carbon becomes no longer economically viable.”
PPX has also engaged Metallurgical Testing Services E.I.R.L to assist in the preparation of a conceptual flowsheet, mass balances and process description, all of which will be used to prepare a revised EIA application.
“This is the first step in converting our existing mining operation into an integrated gold-silver one,” CEO John Thomas said.
“It will eliminate high toll treatment and transport costs that will translate into higher profitability and higher production levels.”
Igor is the company’s flagship project. It is located in the eastern La Libertad Department.Source: PPX Mining