Morro Agudo

Morro Agudo

Mine

Zinc and Lead

Type

Open Pit and Underground Mine

Plant Capacity

3.4 ktpd

Ownership

100%

Location

Brazil

Location

The Morro Agudo Complex consists of an underground and open pit polymetallic mine, wholly owned by Nexa Brazil, located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, as well as three deposits along what is known as the Ambrosia Trend (Ambrosia Sul, Ambrosia Norte, and Bonsucesso). The Ambrosia Trend deposits are situated about 15 to 20km northeast of Paracatu.

Overview

Operations began in 1988 and, in 2022, the Morro Agudo mine produced approximately 18.7 thousand tonnes of zinc contained in concentrates and 6.2 thousand tonnes of lead contained in concentrates. The ore mill feed material is treated at a concentrate plant that has a processing capacity of 3.4 thousand tonnes per day.

 

2022 2021 2020
Treated ore kt 1,017 982 1,181
Grade
Zinc % 2.06 2.05 2.41
Lead % 0.85 0.73 0.49
Production | metal contained
Zinc kt 18.7 17.3 25.2
Lead kt 6.2 4.7 4.0
Silver MMoz 0.0 0.0 0.003
Cash Cost, net of by-product credits US$/t 2,160.5 1,844.1 1,726.9
Cash Cost, net of by-product credits US$/lb 0.98 0.85 0.78
CAPEX US$ mm 6.8 7.6 9.0

 

Geology and Exploration

Exploration activities conducted to date have included geological mapping; rock chip, pan concentrate, stream sediment, and soil sampling; airborne and ground geophysical surveys and drilling. In 2022, the brownfield exploration program was conducted to expand the mineralized zone of the Bonsucesso project to the north and in depth, confirming zinc and lead mineralization along the strike and opening the potential to further extend the mineralized bodies. In the exploratory drilling program, the drilling confirmed the presence of mineralization in the Poções target, 4 km from Bonsucesso and proved potential for mineralization expansion of the Ambrosia trend. In addition, Nexa performed an additional 6.8 km of diamond drilling in the Morro Agudo mine with the purpose of Mineral Resources definition.

In 2022, mineral exploration activities in Morro Agudo focused on the search for new mineral deposits in regions close to the unit that enable the extraction of ore and its processing at the Morro Agudo plant to extend the life of mine.