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| Location: |
Spain |
| Ownership: |
70% |
| Type of mine: |
open pit |
| Type of ore body: |
volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit |
| Primary metal: |
copper |
| End product: |
copper cathode |
| Mining method: |
open pit |
| Expected mine life: |
2009 – 2023 |
| Average reserve grades: |
copper – 6.2% |
| Infrastructure: |
well maintained all-weather paved roads provide excellent access to the site |
| Employees: |
215 |
| Contractors: |
1,076 |
As at December 31, 2008.
Las Cruces is one of the highest grade unmined copper deposits in the world. Its location in Andalucia, Spain, provides access to all the infrastructure needed to develop a state-of-the-art mining project that adheres to the highest environmental standards. High grades and modern extraction technology should enable Las Cruces to become one of the lowest cost copper producers in the world.
Key project statistics (estimated)*
Mine production
|
|
| Proven and probable reserves |
17.6 million tonnes |
| Average copper grade |
6.2 percent |
Life-of-mine contained copper
|
1.1 million tonnes |
Mine life
|
15 years |
Annual processing capacity
|
1.3 million tonnes |
Average annual waste mined
|
10 million tonnes |
| Strip ratio |
12.7 : 1
|
| Recoveries |
|
| Average ore recovery factor |
97% |
| Average metallurgical recovery |
91.4% |
| Copper production |
|
| Annual production |
72,000 tonnes |
| Life-of-mine production |
996,000 tonnes |
| Costs |
|
| Capital costs |
€504 million
|
| Life-of-mine operating costs |
€1,076 million
|
| Unit cash operating cost |
€0.48 per pound
|
* As at December 31, 2008.
Las Cruces is designed to mine approximately 1.3 million tonnes of ore a year at a very high grade and recover over 90 percent copper, using leaching and electrowinning technology to produce copper cathode. The plant is designed to produce approximately 72,000 tonnes of copper cathode per year which is shipped as a final product.
Las Cruces is designed to be an ultra-modern, low-cost operation. When it is fully operational, it will almost double our copper production while serving as a model for environmentally sound operations.
quick links
Download the Las Cruces section from our first quarter press release for the most recent update.
Download the Las Cruces section from our 2008 annual review.
Leucadia National Corporation
Inmet and Leucadia National Corporation hold interests in Las Cruces
Las Cruces 2007 sustainability report
(PDF English - 2,669 kB)
Latest news
Access any of our news releases in this section
April 29, 2009
Inmet Mining Announces Resumption of Mining at Las Cruces
July 10, 2008
Las Cruces Experiences Ground Movement at Process Residue Storage Facility
June 9, 2008
Inmet Mining provides update on Las Cruces Project
May 13, 2008
Cobre Las Cruces Receives Notice of Suspension of Authorization for Dewatering and Re-injection System
April 30, 2008
Spanish Water Authority Expresses Concerns Regarding Las Cruces Dewatering and Reinjection System