Operations

Brazil - C1 Santa Luz

The C1 Santa Luz project is located within Yamana’s 180,000 hectares of mineral claims on the Rio Itapicuru Greenstone Belt, approximately 60 kilometres north of the Fazenda Brasileiro mine and 160 kilometres east of the Jacobina mine. Yamana has advanced C1 Santa Luz from a grassroots exploration prospect to an advanced development stage project.


Project Status

Immediate Development – construction decision made

Planned Mining Method

Planned as a conventional open-pit mine with processing through a floatation and CIL circuit and throughput of 2.5 million tonnes per year or 6,800 tonnes per day. 


Highlights

  • Construction decision made mid- 2009 based on improved economics and a longer mine life.
  • At year end, proven and probable gold mineral reserves increased by 264,000 ounces.
  • The mine life for the project was increased from the initial feasibility study estimate of approximately seven years to 10 years.
  • Average annual gold production is estimated at approximately 104,000 ounces for an initial mine life of 10 years with production expected to exceed 130,000 ounces in the first two full years of production. 
  • Permitting is currently in progress and construction is on track to begin in mid-2010.

 

Estimated Production Start

2012

Expected Annual Production

Approximately 104,000 ounces of gold


Initial Mine Life

10 years 

Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources

(at December 31, 2009)
Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves
  • 23.8 million tonnes grading 1.55 g/t gold containing 1.2 million ounces of gold

Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources (exclusive of reserves)
  • 22.0 million tonnes grading 1.57 g/t gold containing  1.11 million ounces of gold

Inferred Mineral Resources (exclusive of reserves)
  • 4.83 million tonnes grading 1.40 g/t gold containing 217,000 ounces gold


For further information please see Yamana’s mineral reserves and resources estimates