Confirmed and possible reserves for the underground mine are roughly 6.4 million tonnes at 1.02% copper, 1.83% zinc, 34.43 g/t silver, 0.36 g/t gold and 0.43% lead, for 142.7 million lb. of copper, 255.7 million lb. zinc, 7.03 million oz. silver, 70,000 oz. gold and 59.9 million lb. lead.
Useful resource totals for Bolivar amounted to 18.4 million tonnes grading 0.76% copper, 15.29 g/t silver and 0.25 g/t gold within the measured and indicated portion, and 12.1 million tonnes grading 0.72% copper, 12.21 g/t silver and 0.19 g/t gold inferred.
Bolivar’s whole reserves are roughly 5.6 million tonnes at 0.77% copper, 16.83 g/t silver and 0.28 g/t gold, containing 94.7 million lb. copper, 3.02 million oz. silver and 50,000 oz. gold.
In keeping with Ernesto Balarezo, Sierra Metals’ CEO, these up to date NI 43-101-compliant mineral reserves and assets affirm the lengthy manufacturing historical past of each belongings.
“We now have a transparent path ahead and the inspiration in place to boost and to maximise the returns of the expansion initiatives that we have now deliberate at our mines,” Balarezo stated.
Lifetime of mine (LOM) is estimated at 5 years for Yauricocha and three for Bolivar from the brand new reserve base. LOM would increase to eight and 10 years respectively if M+I assets are used, and 10 and 7 years respectively when utilizing inferred assets.
Constant useful resource alternative
At Bolivar, the corporate changed and elevated mineral assets mined in 2023, and with over 8,000 metres of mine improvement deliberate in 2024, it expects to proceed to switch mineral assets mined via exploration actions.
At Yauricocha, mine improvement is at the moment underway beneath the 1120 stage, with full manufacturing focused by the fourth quarter of 2024. Sierra expects to switch and enhance mineral assets as soon as it begins mining actions in that portion of the ore physique with systematic infill drilling efforts.
Acquired in 2011, Yauricocha represents Sierra Metals’ flagship operation, with over 70 years of steady manufacturing. Bolivar is a a lot newer operation, recording its first full yr of economic manufacturing in 2012.
Shares of Sierra Metals have been down 1.1% at C$0.85 apiece by 11:00 a.m. ET Tuesday, giving the Toronto-based copper miner a market capitalization of C$177.9 million ($130m).