The La Camorra unit refers to our Venezuelan operating properties and exploration projects. The Mina Isidora mine is currently operating, where production commenced with completion of pre-production development there during 2006. We reached the end of the known mine life at the La Camorra mine in June 2007, and production for the La Camorra unit has transitioned primarily to Mina Isidora. Ore from Mina Isidora is shipped to the mill at the La Camorra mine for processing.
The mill uses a conventional carbon-in-leach process. The ore is crushed with a three-stage system consisting of a primary jaw crusher with secondary and tertiary cone crusher with a triple-deck vibrating screen. The grinding circuit includes a primary and a secondary ball mill. The ground ore is mixed with a cyanide solution and clarified, followed by countercurrent carbon-in-leach gold adsorption. The carbon is then stripped and the gold recovered and poured into gold bars for shipment to a third-party refiner. Mill recovery averages approximately 95%.
All mill equipment, infrastructure and facilities are in good condition. The mill was constructed in 1994 and has been periodically upgraded. The mill is capable of processing approximately 700 tons per day.
During 2004, we started a custom-milling program for small mining cooperatives working in the area of La Camorra and Mina Isidora mines. The cooperatives sell their ore to us for further processing at our La Camorra mill. We also process gold-bearing sands purchased from local suppliers.