Metso will supply crushing, screening, grinding and filtration equipment to Aguas Teñidas mine, belonging to Trafigura Mining Group, in southwest Spain. The delivery will be completed during the second quarter of 2014. Metso has been closely involved in the Aguas Teñidas expansion project since the beginning, both on process design and sizing of the comminution and minerals processing equipment. Its delivery comprises a new tertiary crushing plant system with two HP4 cone crushers, one MF 3.6 x 8.5 DD mining screen, conveyors and all ancillaries.

In addition, the delivery includes two 15.5’ x 27’ 3,000 kW ball mills, ten SMD-355 E new-generation stirred media detritors and two VPA 1530-60 filters for dewatering of the zinc and lead concentrates. For the new tertiary crushing plant system, Metso’s delivery includes basic and detailed engineering projects, the complete crushing system with erection and commissioning.

The 2.2 Mt/y underground mine and concentrator produces copper, zinc and lead concentrates, also containing limited amounts of gold and silver. The mine’s owner, Trafigura Mining Group, is planning to invest over €300 million in the asset over the next two years, creating one of the largest mining operations in Spain. As a result of this expansion, the life of the mine is expected to be extended to 15 years.

Recent exploration has discovered sufficient further ore to justify expansion. Because of this, a new treatment plant will be built over the next 24 months. The new plant can process twice the current amount of ore each year. The ore is exported from the ports of Huelva and Algeciras to northern Europe.

Aguas Teñidas, located on the Spanish side of the 250 km long Iberian Pyrite Belt, is an active mining district since Phoenician times, over 2,500 years ago.