San Julian silver-gold mine contributed 23.7% to total silver production and generated 14.2% of total adjusted revenue (2023).
The San Julián silver-gold project is a cornerstone of our current and future production goals. The geological potential identified in the region thus far may be sufficient to establish a new mining district in the future. The San Julián project includes construction of two plants: i) a dynamic leaching plant to treat ore from the veins and ii) a flotation plant with 6,000 tpd capacity to process ore from the disseminated body.
Overview
Asset: | San Julián |
|---|---|
Ownership: | 100% Fresnillo plc |
Location: | Chihuahua/Durango border |
Commodity: | Silver/Gold |
Operational since: | 2H16 (Vein System) / 2Q17 (Disseminated Ore Body) |
Facilities: | Underground mine, flotation plant and a dynamic leaching plant |
Workforce: | 792 employees, 1,256 contractors |
Life of Mine: | 3.8 Veins (2022: 4.8), 1.1 Disseminated Ore Body (2022: 2.8) |
Mine Production
4Q24 | 3Q24 | % change | 4Q23 | % change | FY24 | FY23 | % change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ore processed: - Veins (t) | 329,250 | 314,786 | 4.6 | 291,661 | 12.9 | 1,236,682 | 1,142,309 | 8.3 |
One processed: - DOB (t) | 158,077 | 435,804 | (63.7) | 525,081 | (69.9) | 1,554,108 | 2,073,847 | (25.1) |
Total Production San Julian | ||||||||
Gold (oz) | 13,573 | 12,412 | 9.4 | 11,034 | 23.0 | 51,413 | 44,487 | 15.6 |
Silver (koz) | 2,683 | 2,997 | (10.5) | 3,156 | (15.0) | 11,836 | 13,349 | (11.3) |
Production: Veins | ||||||||
Gold (g/t) | 13,394 | 11,914 | 12.4 | 10,117 | 32.4 | 49,633 | 41,009 | 21.0 |
Silver (g/t) | 2,287 | 2,095 | 9.2 | 1,719 | 33.0 | 8,443 | 5,559 | 51.9 |
Production: DOB | ||||||||
Gold (g/t) | 179 | 498 | (64.1) | 918 | (80.5) | 1,779 | 3,478 | (48.8) |
Silver (g/t) | 396 | 902 | (56.1) | 1,437 | (72.4) | 3,393 | 7,791 | (56.4) |
Lead (t) | 372 | 1,068 | (65.2) | 1,332 | (72.1) | 3,704 | 6,843 | (45.9) |
Zinc (t) | 1,466 | 3,763 | (61.0) | 3,362 | (56.4) | 11,942 | 14,410 | (17.1) |
Ore grades: Veins | ||||||||
Gold (g/t) | 1.31 | 1.24 | 5.6 | 1.13 | 15.9 | 1.31 | 1.17 | 12.0 |
Silver (g/t) | 234 | 226 | 3.5 | 200 | 17.0 | 232 | 166 | 39.8 |
Ore grades: DOB | ||||||||
Gold (g/t) | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0 | 0.08 | (25.0) | 0.06 | 0.08 | (25.0) |
Silver (g/t) | 91 | 77 | 18.2 | 100 | (9.0) | 81 | 136 | (40.4) |
Lead (%) | 0.39 | 0.34 | 14.7 | 0.33 | 18.2 | 0.33 | 0.43 | (23.3) |
Zinc (%) | 1.25 | 1.14 | 9.6 | 0.86 | 45.3 | 1.04 | 0.94 | 10.6 |
Production Highlights
44,487
Gold (oz)
(FY23)
% (4.8) Change
13,349
Silver (koz)
(FY23)
% (6.3) Change
Financial Highlights
406.4
Adjusted Revenue
(US$m, FY23)
158.7
Segment Profit
(US$m, FY23)
74.8
Capital Expenditure
(US$m, FY23)
30.0
Exploration
(US$m, FY23)
4Q24 Production Report
San Julián Veins
-
Quarterly and full year gold and silver production increased vs. all comparative periods mainly due to increased volume of ore processed as a result of the timely preparation of stopes and implementation of an operational plant optimisation programme, which increased processing capacity. Higher gold and silver ore grades at the San Antonio, La Dura, Eliza and Última Tierra areas, together with improved dilution control in wider veins, also contributed to increase in quarterly and full year gold and silver production.
-
Silver and gold ore grades in 2025 are expected to be in the ranges of 200-220 g/t and 1.10-1.30 g/t respectively.
San Julián Disseminated Ore Body (DOB)
-
Quarterly and full year silver production decreased vs. all comparative periods due to the gradual decrease in production at this mine and the unforeseen geotechnical behavior of the ore body as it approached the end of its mine life. Mining activities concluded in November 2024 as per previous guidance.
- Despite geotechnical issues in DOB, consolidated production surpassed targets and costs came in below budget.
