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Honduras - El Mochito
The El Mochito mine is located in northwest Honduras, near the town of Las Vegas ( view map). The closest major city is San Pedro Sula, the commercial centre of the country, approximately 88 kilometres northeast of the mine.
The El Mochito mine was originally discovered in 1938. In 1943, Rosario Resources Corporation purchased the property and production began in 1948. In September 1987, American Pacific Mining Corporation (AMPAC) purchased the mine and in March 1990, Breakwater acquired AMPAC.
The El Mochito mine is accessed by an 870 metre service shaft and a 780 metre production shaft. El Mochito utilizes a combination of mining methods dependent upon the size, geometry and geotechnical considerations of the various zones. Mechanized Post Pillar Cut and Fill is the predominant mining method used in chimney type settings throughout El Mochito but is also used in Manto areas where possible. Post Pillar Open Stoping is used in shallow dipping mantos where the height of the zone is no more than 2 cuts. Conventional narrow vein cut-and-fill and shrinkage stoping is practiced in the higher-grade areas throughout the upper mine.
Summary of Mineral Reserves and Resources
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31 December, 2007 |
31 December, 2006 |
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Tonnes
(000s) |
Zn
(%) |
Pb
(%) |
Ag
g/t |
Tonnes
(000s) |
Zn
(%) |
Pb
(%) |
Ag
g/t |
|
Proven and Probable Reserves |
2,535 |
6.0 |
2.2 |
72 |
2,899 |
6.1 |
2.7 |
89 |
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Measured and Indicated Resources |
3,009 |
6.4 |
2.4 |
79 |
3,199 |
6.7 |
2.8 |
97 |
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Inferred Resources |
1,821 |
5.8 |
2.2 |
67 |
2,480 |
5.7 |
2.3 |
75 |
For the December 31, 2007 mineral reserve estimates, metal prices, including premiums, used to determine economic viability were US$1.12/lb. zinc, C$/US$ exchange rate of 1.09, US$600/oz. gold, US$12.00/oz. silver, US$2.55/lb. copper and US$0.54/lb. lead.
Zinc/lead/silver mineralization at El Mochito occurs in sedimentary rocks of Cretaceous age and belongs to the economically important class of high-temperature replacement zinc/lead deposits in carbonates. Carbonates are particularly susceptible to replacement by acid hydrothermal solutions which, in the case of El Mochito, have deposited skarn minerals such as garnet, epidote and pyroxene together with sulfides of iron, zinc and lead.
The El Mochito mine has a long history of replenishing mineral resources and mineral reserves, and has excellent exploration potential adjacent to mine workings and elsewhere on the property.
The mill is a conventional, differential sulfide flotation mill capable of processing 2,300 tonnes per day of ore, producing separate zinc and lead concentrates. The process consists of crushing, grinding, flotation, concentrate dewatering and tailings disposal.
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Year Ended December 31 |
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
Ore Milled (Tonnes)
Zinc (%)
Lead (%)
Silver (g/t) |
607,583
5.4
2.1
102 |
690,243
6.0
2.1
92 |
700,190
6.7
1.8
87 |
Concentrate Production
Zinc (tonnes)
Recovery (%)
Grade (%)
Lead (tonnes)
Recovery (%)
Grade (%) |
56,205
88.9
52.0
15,470
78.6
66.0
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72,413
90.4
52.0
17,263
81.0
68.2
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81,296
91.7
52.5
15,329
80.9
68.4
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Metal in Concentrates
Zinc (tonnes)
Lead (tonnes)
Silver (ounces)
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37,646
11,775
1,769,456
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42,698
10,488
1,723,825
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Breakwater has accelerated its development and exploration programs in various sectors of the mine on targets with the most promise to increase reserves and resources.
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