For their El Domo-Curipamba copper-gold project, Canadian mining firms Adventus Mining and Salazar Resources, successfully obtained a Certificate of No Affect on Water from Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Water.
This permit is considered a milestone certificate. It will allow the two companies to carry out the project’s infrastructure at a site with both surface and ground water resources.
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The construction of the El Domo-Curipamba copper-gold project is expected to start in the second quarter of next year. The developers intend to continue working to get all the licenses and authorizations needed.
The use of infrastructure linked to explosive storage has also been authorized by the local municipality and fire department for the project. The Joint Command of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces must first provide these clearances before the final authorization may be secured.
The design review and positive technical report provided by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Energy and Mines marked the final step of the last stage of the tailings dam construction. The Agency of Regulation and Control is currently reviewing this design.
The El Domo-Curipamba copper-gold project ownership
Following the completion of the investment and feasibility milestones, Adventus currently holds a 75% share of the project. In order to acquire an interest in the project, it entered into an agreement in 2017.
Adventus exercised its option to acquire a 75% share in the project in December 2021. This occurred after spending around $25 million on feasibility studies as well as fulfilling several developmental obligations. Salazar owns the remaining 25% of the interest.
About 150 kilometers from Guayaquil, the project is situated in central Ecuador. It covers around 21,500 hectares (215 km2) and has seven concessions.
El Domo is an 800 m x 400 m volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit. Mineralization at this deposit starts at 30 meters below the surface.
It has produced the following results: 23.17% zinc, 2.68% zinc, 19.67 g/t gold, 6.4 grams per ton (g/t) gold, 24.02 m at 5.41% copper, 8.16 m at 2.17% copper, 58.6 g/t silver, 0.15 percent lead, 4.01% lead, and 229 g/t silver.
