(Shown with the Oxide Open Pit Final Stage)
Orla Mining announced positive results of a preliminary economic assessment for the underground project at its Camino Rojo mine located in Zacatecas, Mexico. The PEA evaluates the technical and economic potential of a standalone, underground development project beneath the existing open-pit heap leach operation.
“A multi-year program of drilling and test work underpins this initial underground expansion study, highlighting the potential opportunity beyond the current oxide heap leach operation. The work represents an important milestone as the project advances towards a future construction decision,” said Jason Simpson, Orla chief executive officer.
“Supported by a solid base case PEA and with the deposit remaining open in Zone 22, the project offers continued growth potential and the basis for a multi-decade mining complex in Mexico.”
The PEA outlines a pathway to the development of an underground mining operation supported by its own crushing, grinding, and flotation circuits producing saleable concentrates. Average annual gold production over the first 10 years is projected to be 215,000 ounces, with an expected average all-in sustaining cost of $1,304 per payable ounce of gold.
A phased de-risking program through 2026 will advance optimization studies, exploration decline development, and staged underground drilling to build technical and resource confidence ahead of a construction decision.
Orla Mining intends to complete a pre-feasibility study for the project in 2027.