Cerro Lindo
Mine
Zinc, Copper, Lead, Silver and Gold
Type
Underground Mine
Plant Capacity
21.0 ktpd
Ownership
83.55% (1)
Location
Peru
¹The ownership percentage is attributable to Nexa Resources.
The Cerro Lindo mine is an underground, polymetallic mine located in the Chavín District, Chincha Province, Peru, approximately 268 km southeast of Lima and 60 km from the coast. Access from Lima is available via the paved Pan American Highway south to Chincha, and then via an unpaved road up the Topará River valley to the mine site. Internal roadways connect the various mine site components.
Operations began in 2007 and, in 2024, the Cerro Lindo mine produced approximately 86.2 thousand tonnes of zinc contained in concentrates, 29.9 thousand tonnes of copper contained in concentrates, 13.9 thousand tonnes of lead contained in concentrates, 4,268.0 thousand ounces of silver contained in concentrates and 4.9 thousand ounces of gold contained in concentrates. The ore is treated at a concentrate plant that has a processing capacity to 21.0 thousand tonnes of ore per day.
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treated ore | kt | 6,080 | 5,991 | 6,236 |
| Grade | ||||
| Zinc | % | 1.62 | 1.51 | 1.55 |
| Copper | % | 0.58 | 0.57 | 0.61 |
| Lead | % | 0.31 | 0.31 | 0.33 |
| Silver | oz/t | 0.93 | 0.80 | 0.89 |
| Gold | oz/t | 0.003 | 0.002 | 0.002 |
| Production | metal contained | ||||
| Zinc | kt | 86.2 | 78.2 | 84.4 |
| Copper | kt | 29.9 | 28.6 | 32.8 |
| Lead | kt | 13.9 | 13.0 | 15.6 |
| Silver | MMoz | 4.3 | 3.5 | 4.1 |
| Gold | koz | 4.9 | 3.4 | 4.1 |
| Cash Cost, net of by-product credits | US$/t | (1,014.1) | (136.6) | (561.4) |
| Cash Cost, net of by-product credits | US$/lb | (0.46) | (0.06) | (0.25) |
| CAPEX | US$ mm | 49.0 | 43.3 | 42.5 |
Cerro Lindo is classified as a volcanogenic massive sulfide (“VMS”) deposit. The Cerro Lindo deposit is 1,500 meters long, 1,000 meters wide, and has a current vertical development of 470 meters below the surface. Mineralization consists of at least 10 discrete mineralized zones. The Cerro Lindo deposit comprises lens‑shaped massive bodies, composed of pyrite (50.0% to 90.0%), yellow sphalerite, brown sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and minor galena. Significant barite is present mainly in the upper portions of the deposit. A secondary‑enrichment zone, composed of chalcocite and covellite, has formed near the surface where massive sulfides have oxidized. Silver‑rich powdery barite remains at the surface as a relic of sulfide oxidation and leaching.
In 2024, mineral exploration in Cerro Lindo focused on extending known orebodies, particularly OB-8B and OB-8C, located southeast of the mine, and investigating potential new mineralized zones. Exploration efforts also targeted the Patahuasi Millay geophysical anomaly, which was the main focus of exploration drilling in 2024 and resulted in its transition to an early-stage greenfield target. Drill holes at the Pucasalla target and its extensions indicated the presence of sulfide zones but without significant results. Drilling activities also continued at the Puca Punta target. Despite some delays caused by weather and operational challenges, significant progress was made in advancing the exploration program.
During 2024, we completed approximately 25.4 km of diamond drilling in 25 drill holes with 4 drill holes currently in progress that are expected to be concluded in 2025, divided between surface and underground exploration drills. By the end of 2024, we had achieved key milestones, including significant advancements in extending known orebodies and evolving the exploratory drilling program.
During 2025, we expect to complete a total of 7.6 km of exploratory drilling. Our goals are to continue extending known orebodies, including OB-8C, and to construct new access and platforms to support the exploratory drilling program.
