San Martin Silver Mine
Overview
-P.jpg) Tanks at San Martin |
Although the mine has been in continuous production since 1983, with an annual production of approximately 1.1 million silver ounces (in the form of doré bars), the area has never been explored using modern techniques. After acquiring the site in 2006, First Majestic identified an opportunity to make the necessary investments in development, exploration and mill improvements to increase the NI 43-101 compliant silver resources and to increase silver production.
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Location
 Conveyor system from primary crusher |
The San Martin Silver Mine is located 250 km north of Guadalajara city in Jalisco State, Mexico. Drive time from the city to the mine is approximately four to five hours, or about 45 minutes by charter plane. San Martin is also near the small town of San Martin de Bolanos, which is just 7.9 km to the east. San Martin de Bolanos has a population of about 3,500 and the mine is a major contributor to the economy of the community.
San Martín de Bolaños offers retail, medical (including General and Seguro Social hospitals), educational (including Jr. and High School), and communications facilities; however, major facilities, including an International Airport, are located in the cities of Guadalajara, Zacatecas and Aguascalientes.
Mining & Milling Operations
Having undergone several improvements since the site was acquired in 2006, San Martin's 950 tpd cyanidation mill is running at full capacity. Production at San Martin consists of silver doré bars with gold credits. The mill at San Martin is currently undergoing an expansion process to increase the capacity to 1,300 tpd. Other elements of the modernization program included two new induction furnaces with two new filter presses, which were completed in 2011 and are now fully operational. These improvements are having a positive impact on overall production, quality of doré and total cash costs. Further improvements also included new leaching tanks and new thickeners.
Operating Highlights
| San Martin Production Results | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ore Processed/ Tonnes Milled | 286,206 | 286,758 | 264,449 |
| Average Silver Grade (g/tonne) | 136 | 147 | 168 |
| Recovery (%) | 76% | 78% | 79% |
| Total Silver Ounces Produced | 957,195 | 1,055,745 | 1,125,514 |
| Gold Ounces Produced | 1,323 | 1,097 | 1,665 |
| Total Production - Ounces Silver Equivalent | 1,027,920 | 1,105,837 | 1,230,037 |
| Underground Development (m) | 8,473 | 7,831 | 5,840 |
| Diamond Drilling (m) | 35,037 | 19,569 | 8,483 |
 Underground at San Martin |
Local Geology, Mineralization & Ore Types
San Martin is situated above the base of the western graben escarpment. The mine is centered on the Zuloaga Vein, which is by far the most extensively developed vein in the district, having accounted for approximately one-half of all silver production.
For more detailed geological information, readers are encouraged to review the Company's most recent NI 43-101 report (PDF, 12.27 Mb) on the San Martin Silver Mine.
Reserves & Resources
The Reserves/Resources inventories are reported in NI 43-101 Technical Reports published periodically by the Company. The complete report can be viewed in the Reserves/Resources section or on SEDAR.
View of the operating ball mills |
San Martin Silver Mine |
Mining Claims |
Leaching tanks at San Martin |
Underground Exploration |
Induction Furnace |
