Precious metals miner Santacruz Silver reported a considerable rise in lead and zinc production last year.
Zinc production in 2019 rose by 5,849mt to 7,383mt compared to the 1,534mt produced the year before. Lead output also increased by 1,830mt to 2,537mt, a significant increase over the 697mt produced in 2018. Of total output in 2019, Santacruz produced 1,060mt of lead and 3,504mt of zinc during the fourth quarter.
The company attributed increased output across all the metals it mines—including silver and gold, which it primarily mines, and its first copper output—to acquiring Carrizal Mining and the operational rights to Zimapan Mine, both of which are located in Mexico. Carlos Silva, Santacruz Silver’s chief operating officer, credited the growth in overall production to increased annual output at its Veta Grande and Rosario mines.
Santacruz reported copper output for the first time, derived mainly from its Zimapan project. The company produced 798mt of copper in 2019, 482mt of which was mined in the fourth quarter.