Pirquitas mine begins commercial production (08 Dec 2009)

Silver Standard Resources’ Pirquitas silver-tin-zinc mine in Argentina commenced commercial production of silver on 1 December 2009 and tin production is expected to follow shortly.  At full production the mine will produce 10 million ounces of silver and 2,500 tonnes per year of tin-in-concentrate.  The US$230 million project has a mine life of over 14 years and will employ 550 people.

Rwanda joint ventures to boost mining sector (08 Dec 2009)

Rwanda’s government is currently in joint ventures with international mining corporations to boost the country’s nascent mining sector.  Mauritius-based Kivu Resources owns an 81% stake in a 35-year lease through its local subsidiary Gatumba Mining Rwanda Holdings.  South Africa’s Umlhaba Mining is involved in the extraction of cassiterite (tin ore) in Rutongo mines in which the government owns a 49% stake.

Currently, most of Rwanda’s mineral production comes from artisanal mines.

Huanuni to construct tailings dam (07 Dec 2009)

Bolivian state tin miner Expresa Minera Huanuni (EMH) will invest US$2 million to build a tailings dam in Oruro.  Until now waste from the concentrator has been discharged into a local river from which members of the local community scavenge tin not recovered at the mill.

The mine’s production of tin-in-concentrate in January to September this year rose by 12% year-on-year to 6,408 tonnes.


(Source:  ITRI 14 Dec 2009)

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