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| Location: |
Spain |
| Ownership: |
100% |
| 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 – 2022 |
| Average reserve grades: |
copper – 6.2% |
| Infrastructure: |
well maintained all-weather paved roads provide excellent access to the site |
| Employees: |
261 |
| Contractors: |
710 |
As at June 30, 2012
Las Cruces is an open pit mining operation and process plant located in the Sevilla Province of Southern Spain that uses 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 final product. We have a 100 percent interest in Las Cruces.
Targets and Results
| |
three months ended
December 31
|
year ended
December 31
|
|
(100 percent)
|
2012 |
2011 |
change |
2012 |
2011 |
change |
| Tonnes of ore processed (000's) |
276 |
231 |
+19% |
1,082 |
776 |
+39% |
| Copper grades (percent) |
6.9 |
6.9 |
- |
7.1 |
6.5 |
+9% |
| Plant recoveries (percent) |
90 |
86 |
+5% |
88 |
84 |
+5% |
| Copper cathode production (tonnes) |
17,300 |
14,100 |
+23% |
67,700 |
42,100 |
+61% |
Cost per pound of cathode produced
|
$1.14 |
$1.21 |
-6% |
$1.12 |
$1.54 |
-27% |
quick links
Download the Las Cruces section from our fourth quarter press release for the most recent update.
Download the Las Cruces section from our 2011 annual report.
Latest news
Access any of our news releases in this section
December 15, 2010
Inmet Mining Closes Leucadia Transaction Consolidating Ownership of Cobre Las Cruces
November 29, 2010
Inmet Mining to Consolidate Ownership of Cobre Las Cruces to 100 Percent
June 3, 2009
Inmet Announces First Copper Production at the Las Cruces Mine
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