Tag Archives: Sierra Gorda

DMC Mining adds Boart Longyear LF160 coring rig and FREEDOM Loader to Sierra Gorda fleet

28th July 2023Base metals, Mine operation news, Mineral exploration, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining servicesBoart Longyear, copper, DMC Mining, FL262 FREEDOM LOADER, KGHM, LF160, molybdenum, Sierra Gorda, South32Daniel Gleeson

DMC Mining Services says it has added a Boart Longyear LF™160 surface coring drill rig to its equipment arsenal at the Sierra Gorda copper-molybdenum mine in Chile, adding to the four pieces of equipment it already has on site.

The LF™160 is a surface diamond exploration rig with up to 1,800 m of NQ capability. This tool enhances safety and increases productivity by allowing 100% hands-free drilling when operating in conjunction with the FL262 FREEDOM™ rod handler, and is also CE Certified, DMC says. It is equipped with an inner tube that will allow drillers to retrieve a full 6-m inner tube out of the rod string using the wireline winch, according to FLSmidth.

DMC’s contract at Sierra Gorda, owned 55% by KGHM 55% and 45% by South32, was one of five new agreements it was awarded at the end of 2019. It is also carrying out work at KGHM’s Franke mine, in the Antofagasta region of Chile.

Austin wins three-year truck body/bucket support contract from KGHM Sierra Gorda mine

7th September 2021Base metals, Equipment maintenance, Mine operation news, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining servicesAustin Engineering, Chile, copper, KGHM, molybdenum, Sierra Gorda, truck bodiesDaniel Gleeson

Austin Engineering says it has strengthened its partnership with KGHM’s Sierra Gorda Mining (SGM) by securing a three-year truck body and bucket support contract with the operation in Chile.

Austin said: “Winning the competitive contract exemplifies the high level of confidence SGM has in Austin as their long-term partner of choice to support such critical mining assets.

“Our ongoing transformation from Austin 1.0 to 2.0 and the efficiencies being delivered as a result, was key to improving our South American team, to not only compete, but win such a long-term contract.”

Austin Engineering recently concluded a strategic review of its business that identified opportunities to cut “significant costs from the business while increasing output through adopting more advanced manufacturing techniques”, Austin CEO and Managing Director, David Singleton, said.

The Sierra Gorda copper-molybdenum mine is in the Atacama Desert, in the Antofagasta region, of Chile. It is located at an altitude of around 1,700 m and has a minimum annual average daily ore processing figure of 130,000 t.

DMC Mining invests in new Sandvik, Herrenknecht equipment for Chile projects

15th April 2020Base metals, Explosives and blasting, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining techniquesboxhole boring, Chile, contract miner, copper, DMC Mining Services, Franke, Herrenknecht, KGHM, Sandvik, Sierra GordaDaniel Gleeson

DMC Mining Services says it is ramping up activity in Chile, after being awarded five new contracts at the end of 2019.

One of North America’s premier underground contractors, DMC recently secured work at KGHM’s Franke and Sierra Gorda mines, in the Antofagasta region, in addition to a boxhole boring assignment at Codelco’s El Teniente mine, near Rancagua.

To ensure maximum reliability and performance for its clients, the company has invested in new equipment, it said.

For its drilling project at the open-pit Franke mine, two truck mounted Sandvik DE712 diamond drills have been delivered to site. Two additional units, Sandvik DE881 multi-purpose drills, will follow in order to increase drilling capability for this project and an additional project at Sierra Gorda, a 110,000 t/d of ore open-pit operation, it said.

For the boxhole boring project at Codelco’s El Teniente mine, the biggest underground copper mine in the world, DMC has taken delivery of a Herrenknecht BBM1500 boxhole boring machine. Two additional BBR1500 units are on order, which include back-reaming capability to create larger diameter raises, it said.

DMC said: “We are proud of the progress our Chilean team has accomplished over several short months, and that our clients can always rely on DMC’s dedication, expertise and professionalism on any project, no matter where in the world we work.”

As its Chile team ramps up on these new projects, DMC is establishing a turnkey, comprehensive operation ready to serve not only new Chile clients, but all of the South American mining industry – with raiseboring, shaft sinking, underground mining and engineering capabilities – it said.

Metso keeps Sierra Gorda analysers on stream

9th March 2020Base metals, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining softwarecopper, Edgardo Chiappa, Giuseppe Campanelli, KGHM, METS, Metso, molybdenum, Sierra Gorda, Sumitomo Corporation, Sumitomo Metal MiningDaniel Gleeson

Metso says it is continuing to deliver a significant performance solutions contract at KGHM’s majority-owned Sierra Gorda copper-molybdenum mine, in Chile.

The services provided include preventive maintenance and calibration of Sierra Gorda’s eight on-stream analysers. The particle size analysers and chemical composition analysers, which are a core portion of the mine’s flotation process, play a vital role in controlling and optimising process performance, according to Metso.

As part of this agreement, Metso’s responsibilities include performing maintenance of the sample handling system, as well as the maintenance and calibration of the analysers. The two-year contract, which commenced in February 2019, includes daily, weekly and monthly tasks as well as stringent key performance indicators, it said. In this performance contract, Metso is evaluated on the ability to increase uptime and measurement accuracy.

Sierra Gorda is a joint venture project currently controlled by KGHM Polska Miedź SA (55%), Sumitomo Metal Mining (31.5%) and Sumitomo Corp (13.5%). Mining processes include ore blasting, loading and transport by haul trucks to a processing plant with an average throughout of 110,000 t/d of ore, where it is subjected to crushing and grinding processes. A plant with molybdenum concentrate separation is used for ore flotation.

Edgardo Chiappa, Plant Manager, Sierra Gorda SCM, KGHM Polska Miedz & Sumitomo Joint Venture, said: “The service provided by the Metso team demonstrates true professionalism, collaboration and teamwork. They have delivered high availability and accuracy of our on-stream analysers, consisting of Courier and PSI technology (both Outotec products). This has allowed for more timely operational decisions, aiding us in maximising process performance.

“We are really satisfied with the work Metso has delivered and look forward to our continued partnership.”

Giuseppe Campanelli, President, Minerals Services, Metso, said the company was proud to have had the opportunity to not only continue, but deepen, its partnership with Sierra Gorda.

“We greatly value this relationship as well as the confidence that they have shown in our ability to service such a key piece of their process,” he said.

Metso has been systematically expanding its service offering in the Chile and Pacific Rim mining markets, with the service organisation’s ability to deliver and sustain performance improvements within the mining industry based on this additional focus on maintenance, technology and process expertise.