|  Life
of the mine
On the basis of the current production pace, the inventory of the reserves
and resources having been listed on December 31, 2002 estimates the life of the
mine at 15 years. The prospecting works carried out concurrently with exploitation
are designed to extend such a duration.
Mining
methods
Imiter I
The downstream part of the deposit is exploited in the underground through the
Cut-and-Fill method which allows the recovery of 97% of imbedded metal.
The combination of underground and surface mining methods makes it possible to
supply the processing plant at a rate ranging between 400 and 500 t/day.
Imiter II
The Cut-and-Fill method makes it possible to achieve a production pace ranging
between 800 and 900 tons/day.
The Imiter Site is distinguished by the characteristics of its ore :
- an average grade exceeding 500 g Ag./t.
- Silver is native (not mingled with other ores like zinc, lead or copper)
With these characteristics, the Imiter Site ranks among the five unique mining
sites in the world.
Processing
SMI produces 99.5% pure metallic silver ingots thanks to a process involving
three stages :
- extraction of ore which is an entirely mechanized operation involving blasting;
- ore processing through several stages : crushing, grinding, grain-size analysis,
flotation, cyaniding, precipitation;
- leaching and/or smelting which is the last stage in the process produces
ingots and anodes.
For the execution of these different stages, the SMI is equipped with a set
of tools and technical facilities among which are tow ore-processing plants, a
smelting plant, a leaching circuit, an analysis laboratory and a maintenance workshop.
SMI-manufactured silver is delivered upon order of the customer in the form of
anodes of 10 kg, ingots or shots.
The amounts produced during the last four years range between 180 and 200 tons
a year, with an average of 200 tons (par fixed in the mining program).
The silver-recovery rate exceeds 90% in the Imiter Site.
Silver production totaled 220 000 kg in 2002.
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