Sierra Madre has increased daily throughput at La Guitarra from its previous 500-tonne level to as high as 672 tonnes per day, a 34% increase before the first phase of its expansion is complete.
The company is targeting 750 to 800 tonnes per day under Phase I, followed by 1,200 to 1,500 tonnes per day under Phase II. A refurbished ball mill is rated at 900 tonnes per day, while a new head crusher and modifications to the primary crusher are expected to take the circuit beyond the initial target.
The mill may not be the hardest part of the expansion.
Feeding it consistently requires enough developed mining faces, equipment, haulage capacity and correctly blended material from Guitarra, Coloso and Nazareno.
Sierra Madre completed 1,188 metres of underground development during Q2, almost double the 591 metres completed a year earlier. Coloso is being dewatered toward deeper, higher-grade blocks, while Nazareno entered full production from its long-hole stopes in late April.
Q2 also showed why this underground work matters. Silver and gold grades remained relatively stable, but recoveries declined to 73.58% and 67.97%, respectively, as the plant processed a changing blend of material from three mining areas. Costs also increased while more production came from development drives and lower-grade material outside the resource.
The company has constructed an on-site metallurgical laboratory to improve blending, while the additional development should provide more flexibility over where plant feed comes from.
Reaching 672 tonnes per day shows that the processing circuit can handle more material. The more important test is whether the mine can sustain higher throughput while maintaining grade, improving recoveries and controlling unit costs.
That will determine whether the expansion produces more profitable ounces or simply processes more tonnes.
Source:
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311774/Sierra-Madre-Reports-Solid-Q2-2026-Financial-Results-Advances-Growth-Plans
