Argentina Underground Gold Mining in Gualcamayo

Drilling has found Gualcamayo could also have an underground mining operation. The expected minimum life of Gualcamayo is nine years and is expected to increase to 13 years as QDD Lower West reserves start contributing.

Gualcamayo gold mine is an open-pit heap-leach mine 270km from San Juan, Argentina. It consists of Quebrada del Diablo (QDD), Magdalena and Amelia Ines satellite deposits (AIM) and QDD Lower West underground zone mineral deposits.

Yamana Gold is the owner and operator of the mine. Construction of Gualcamayo was substantially completed in less than 20 months following the receipt of a positive feasibility study and the start of construction in August 2007.

Processing of ore began in late December 2008 and Yamana declared commercial production on 1 July 2009.

Gualcamayo employs about 1,200 people, including contract and direct workers from local communities. In September 2009 the mine was officially inaugurated, which coincided with its first quarter of commercial production.