Minefinders Corp. reported in late
October 2008 that it had initiated leaching
operations at its newly developed
Dolores gold mine in Chihuahua, Mexico,
and three weeks later that the first gold
and silver had been poured at the project.
The crushing rate had reached 15,000
mt/d and was expected to increase to
design capacity of 18,000 mt/d as minor
commissioning issues were addressed.
The processing facilities, mining operations,
and support facilities, including the
warehouse, assay lab and office complex,
were fully operational, and maintenance
facilities were nearing completion.
The operation is expected to have a
mine life of more than 15 years as an
open-pit mine, with additional potential
as a high-grade underground mine in the
future. The open-pit mine currently has
99.3 million mt of proven and probable
reserves, containing 2.44 million oz of
gold and 126.6 million oz of silver.
Additional resources being considered for
underground development occur at depth
below the designed pit bottom and in
several peripheral structures.
As featured in Womp 08 Vol 10 - www.womp-int.com