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Polar Star Mining Corporation (TSX:PSR) announced the beginning of production at its Chépica epithermal gold-silver-copper mine in central Chile.
As quoted in the press release:
Since May 2011, Polar Star has been refurbishing the mine, process plant and tailings facility and has re-engineered existing equipment to improve throughput and optimize metal recoveries.
The final phase of the commissioning of the crushers, ball mill and floatation circuit commenced on October 23, 2011 and was completed two days later, when the plant commenced 24-hour operations.
During the refurbishment, modifications were made to the existing plant and flow sheet. The addition of new equipment doubled the capacity of the crushing circuit and increased the nameplate capacity of the ball mill from 200 to 250 tonnes per day.
In the recovery section, the addition of a Falcon concentrator will remove free gold, estimated at over 50% of contained gold from preliminary test work. Gold shaking tables will be used for final cleaning and the recovered free gold will be smelted onsite to produce doré. The doré will be shipped to North America for refining and sale at prevailing market prices.
Polar Star President and CEO, Doug Willock said:
“The start of production at Chépica is a decisive milestone for Polar Star” “Few mining companies are able to make the transition from exploration to production. Our ability to produce is a testament to the breadth of skills and experience in the company that will also serve us well as we continue to develop our large portfolio of world class projects in Chile. The cash flow we generate from Chépica will be used, in part, to advance exploration at Montezuma and to build our financial resources.”
Click here to read the Polar Star Mining (TSX:PSR) press release.