Goldcorp also reported that construction of Peñasquito’s second sulphide process line was under way and progressing toward planned completion in the third quarter of 2010. Many of the components for the second line were already on site, including the wrap-around drive motor for the SAG mill and the motors for the two ball mills. The mill shells for both the SAG and ball mills arrived in Mexico in early July and were en-route to the site.

The two sulphide process lines have designed capacities of 50,000 mt/d, each. Following completion of a high-pressure grinding roll circuit, Peñasquito throughput is expected to reach 130,000 mt/d in the fourth quarter of 2010.

At the mine, 57 300-mt haul trucks have been commissioned and are operating in conjunction with four electric shovels. The mining rate as of mid-July was averaging more than 500,000 mt/d.

Peñasquito is planned to ramp up to eventual production of about 500,000 oz/y of gold, 30 million oz/y of silver, and 400 million lb/y of zinc over a mine life currently estimated at 22 years.