The mine was capital-constrained, mining was subcontracted at a high cost, and leaching was undertaken on a run-of-mine basis with poor metallurgical recoveries. In the context of low copper prices prevailing during the financial crisis, the mine suspended operations in 2008.
Invecture Group made a tender offer for Frontera that was successfully concluded in May 2009
Invecture Group invested over $450m to convert the Piedras Verdes Mine from a run-of-mine heap leach operation to multiple process streams, increasing production and reducing unit costs.
Kupari Metals built a floatation plant adjacent to the Piedras Verdes deposit and started operations in 4Q12, which allowed Frontera the ability to optimize the value of certain ore types which offering better economics when processed by flotation.
From 1Q20 through 2Q21, Piedras Verdes was placed on Care and Maintenance in the context of the Covid pandemic and low copper prices. During this time, much test work was undertaken and significant operational improvements were identified, analyzed, and implemented.
Expanded the mineral reserve from 628kt of contained copper to 934 kt with a combination of exploration drilling and developing an NSR-driven block model at $3.50/lb copper.
In 1Q22 we expanded the capacity of the leach crushing, screening, and conveying system to operate at 36 ktpd, enabling improved recoveries and kinetics, with higher throughput to agglomeration.
Developing the engineering for agitated tank leaching of 18Mt tails over ten years at an average CuSEQ grade of 0.13%.
In 1Q21, we Installed two agglomerators with a capacity of 24 ktpd to improve metallurgical recoveries by creating robust agglomerate pellets with uniform leach characteristics from screened fines with acid and raffinate to enhance leach recoveries and kinetics, eliminate the loss of contained copper in slimes confined to tails by the screw slurry classification system, and reduce water consumption.
Optimizing acid consumption with continuous remote monitoring of heap leach solution chemistry and selective acid addition by section of the leach pad.
Internally developing a mobile fleet dispatch system that optimizes operations, enables real time monitoring of equipment productivity and automates data capture for multiple systems.
We developed a mobile fleet dispatch system that optimizes operations, enables real-time monitoring of equipment productivity, and automates data capture for multiple systems.
Selectively implement heap leach aeration, maximizing copper recovery, kinetics, and acid generation.