First Majestic Silver produced the first silver at its new Del Toro silver mine in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, in January 2013. Initial production at Del Toro is from a 1,000-mt/d flotation circuit, which is expected to achieve commercial production by April. A 1,000-mt/d cyanidation circuit is scheduled for completion by mid-year 2013.
First Majestic also remains on schedule to double Del Toro mill throughput to 4,000 mt/d (2,000 mt/d flotation and 2,000 mt/d cyanidation) by the third quarter of 2014, when it will become the company’s largest operation, producing 6 million oz/y of silver and significant amounts of lead and zinc.
Three underground mines—San Juan, Perseverancia/San Nicolas and Dolores—deliver ore to the Del Toro processing plant.
First Majestic has four other producing silver mines in Mexico: La Parrilla, San Martin, La Encantada and La Guitarra. Del Toro is located 60 km southeast of La Parrilla.
First Majestic produced 9.1 million silver equivalent oz during 2012 (8.3 million oz of silver) and is forecasting production of 12.3 million to 13 million silver equivalent oz (11.1 million to 11.7 million oz of silver) during 2013.
First Majestic President and CEO Keith Neumeyer said, “The start-up of the Del Toro silver mine marks a very important milestone for First Majestic. This year, the company will celebrate its 10-year anniversary by breaking through 10 million oz of silver production as a result of Del Toro coming on stream.”
