Zamora to boost output

The Campanillas gold operation in southeastern Ecuador will undergo a five-fold expansion.

Zamora Gold (ZMRA-C) has purchased a 3-by-4-metre ball mill, a cone crusher, eight cyclones and six new flotation cells, all of which is designed to increase daily plant capacity to 750 tonnes.

Currently, the flotation-leach mill is processing 130 tonnes per day at an average grade of 5.4 grams gold per tonne. In the first quarter, 430 oz. gold were produced at recoveries of 92%.

The new milling equipment should be installed by November of this year.

Zamora is funding the US$1-million expansion through loans from its majority shareholder, Compania Minera Gribipe.

Zamora controls 35,000 ha in the Nambija area, where it is attempting to increase gold reserves on the Campanillas and Nambija I concessions. It is also exploring the porphyry copper potential of the Mina Real concessions, south of Nambija.

Vista Gold (VGZ-X) holds a 25% interest in Zamora Gold, which is active in Ecuador’s Nambija district.