SAN DIMAS

PROJECT SUMMARY

History | Employees

Site photo of San Dimas

San Dimas consists of three mines, Tayoltita, Santa Rita and the Central Block (which includes the San Antonio mine).  All mine production is processed through the Tayoltita mill.  The San Dimas properties are surveyed and contained in a contiguous block that covers an area of 22,468 hectares.  

All of the San Dimas mines are underground operations using mechanized cut-and-fill mining methods. After milling, cyanidation, precipitation and smelting, dore bars are poured and then transported to refineries in Mexico, United States and Europe. Since this operation was purchased (by Wheaton River, now Goldcorp) in June 2002, a major capital investment program was introduced that will increase production, upgrade tailing management and achieve a lower cost structure in the future. 

The San Dimas gold-silver deposit is one of the most significant precious metal deposits in Mexico in a very large (15 km x 15 km) mining district.  Historical production from the San Dimas district is estimated at 655 million ounces of silver and 9.33 million ounces of gold, affirming it as a world class epithermal mining province.

The Tayoltita mine is the oldest operating mine in the San Dimas area.  The main access is a 4.4 kilometre tunnes from a portal approximately three kilometres to the northeast of the Tayoltita mill site.  The Santa Rita mine main access is by adit approximately three kilometres to the northeast of teh Tayoltita mill site.  The mining method employes cut-and-fill mining on vein mineralization.  The San Antonio/Central Block site includes a mill and some limited accomodation for teh workforce. The mill operation was shutdown in November 2003 and all milling consolidated at the expanded Tayoltita mill facility.

History

Luismin has a long history of mining in Mexico, with some of the current operations dating back to the 1890s. Luismin has an experienced management team and a proven record of increasing production while maintaining reserves over long periods of time.

The San Dimas deposit was first mined in 1757 and was continuously worked by the Spanish until 1810, at the start of the Mexican War of Independence. 

The long history of continuous mining at San Dimas and the known occurrence of the mineral veins have overridden the need to prove up reserves for many years ahead. Consequently, the true potential of the deposits are neither fully realized nor reflected in the stated reserves and resources.

Wheaton River Minerals Ltd purchased the San Dimas operations in June 2002.  After its merger with Goldcorp in 2005, the company has commenced a major capital investment program that will increase production, upgrade tailing management and achieve a lower cost structure in the future.

In November 2003, Luismin acquired Nukay as part of the Los Filos project deal.  In Nukay, first operations in the area are reported between 1938 and 1940 when mining was suspended. Operations resumed in 1946 and closed again in 1961.  Production during the 15-year period is reported to be about 500,000 tonnes averaging 18 grams per tonne gold.

In 1983 the claim block was leased to a newly-formed operating company, Minera Nukay.  Open pit mining of the Nukay deposit began in January 1984 with waste removal and mining from the upper benches.  The mine was developed on five-metre benches with front-end loaders and trucks.

In 1987 the Nukay mill, a 100-tonne per day cyanide leach Merrill-Crowe operation, was built near Mezcala,  the plant was expanded to 350 tonnes per day in 1994 and was expanded again in 1997 to 400 tonnes per day.  Production from the La Aguita open pit mine commenced in May 1995.  Underground development of the Subida mine began in August 1995; ore production commenced in August 1996.  Development of the Independencia deposit was initiated in 2001.

Employees

Luismin provides a variety of training programs to update employees’ skills and maintain a multi skilled workforce.

An initiative implemented was the ‘Miner Women’ project. This project aims to employ more female workers in all areas of the operation.  Initially, women are being recruited and trained as specialized machinery operators, especially for LHD equipment and electro hydraulic Jumbos.

In 2006, Luismin extended the program to other departments.  The scheme will open up new opportunities for women from the local community.  This will improve their status in the family and community, and improve their quality of life.   They will become significant financial contributors or, in some cases, the sole supporter of the family unit.

Professional technical education at National College to train high skilled operators

Employee working on environmental management at Luismin