Responsible Mining Solutions and Atico Mining Corp. Complete Commissioning and Ramp-Up of the El Roble Mine’s Integrated Tailings Dewatering Facility New process plant to transition the El Roble mine from conventional tailings management to “dry-stacking”
Responsible Mining Solutions and Atico Mining Corp. Complete
Commissioning and Ramp-Up of the El Roble Mine’s Integrated Tailings
Dewatering Facility
New process plant to transition the El Roble mine from conventional tailings management to “dry-stacking”
operations
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 13, 2022 -- Responsible Mining Solutions Corp. (RMS) and Atico Mining Corporation
(the “Company” or “Atico”) (TSX.V: ATY | OTCQX: ATCMF) RMS and Atico jointly announce that they have successfully
completed the commissioning and hand-over of the Integrated Tailings Dewatering Plant (“ITDS”) designed to receive flotation
tailings from the El Roble mill and processing facilities. Please refer to Figure 01, for a visual overview of the plant.
Figure 1 - El Roble, ITDS during Construction
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The ITDS, completed in Aug-2021, has been operational for four (4) months supporting i) Optimizing the existing tailings
storage volumes, and ii) deferral of capital expenditures attributed to the construction of additional tailings storage facility
expansion.
This project was successfully delivered amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and constitutes 3-years of conceptual, feasibility
engineering and extensive testwork campaigns. The ITDS is designed to process 1,200 tonnes per day (D.S.) of copper
flotation tailings materials, increasing the density from 60-65% w/w solids to 88% w/w solids. This process allows for a geo-
technically stable and competent filter-cake to be transferred via truck-and-haul methods to the final disposal location adjacent
to the project.
A video of the process and final product can be viewed here.
The ITDS consists of the following:
• A tailings pipeline extension from the mill and processing facilities;
• A filter-plant utilizing modular, open-frame construction techniques;
• Field services, tankage for slurry, process water, filtrate, effluent management;
• A containerized Motor-Control-Centre (“MCC”);
• A reagent handling plant for filtration membrane cleaning;
• A single, CX5-80 ceramic disc vacuum filter;
• Filter-cake chute, transfer weigh-conveyor and incline stacking conveyor;
• Filter-cake load-out and truck station;
Primary solid-liquid separation of the tailings is undertaken by a ceramic disc vacuum filter, which has approx. an 80% savings
in total energy consumption (tonnes filtered/kWh) compared to conventional alternatives. This guiding design principle, of
minimizing environmental impact, is the common thread throughout the project.
The efforts to transition El Roble’s tailings management strategy to “dry-stacking” falls in line with the industry paradigm shift
to identify safer, economical alternatives to handle waste from mineral processing activities including the International Council
on Mining and Metal’s new Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management , and the Global Mineral Professionals Alliance
(incl. the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy) Global Action on Tailings
This project also reduces the reliance of El Roble operations on external freshwater resources, by recycling 75% of mill
process water without losses to the environment through seepage and evaporation.
Delivered by two industry-leading Canadian companies and with financial support by Export Development Canada (“EDC”), this
project is a Colombian-first, a significant technical accomplishment, and a testament to the maturity and forward-thinking of
the Canadian mining Clean-Tech ecosystem.
To celebrate the completion of this project, RMS and Atico had the honour of hosting a Canadian trade mission, including the
Mining Suppliers Association of Canada, the Trade Commissioners Service and the Canadian Embassy in Colombia to the El
Roble mine in Nov-2021.
Figure 2 – Ambassador Marianick Tremblay, at the El Roble Mine
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This project represents the commitment of Atico’s management team in investing smart capital in the El Roble mine to ensure
long-term viability of its mining and mineral recovery operations. It is also further evidence of their commitment to the
surrounding community of Carmen de Atrato and ensuring the health and happiness of those who live there.
Figure 1 Figure 2
A virtual 3D fly-through of the project can be viewed here.
About Atico Mining Corporation
Atico is a growth-oriented Company, focused on exploring, developing and mining copper and gold projects in Latin America.
The Company generates significant cash flow through the operation of the El Roble mine and is developing its high-grade La
Plata VMS project in Ecuador. The Company is also pursuing additional acquisition of advanced stage opportunities. For more
information, please visit www.aticomining.com.
ON BEHALF OF RMS
Cameron Stockman
Director
Responsible Mining Solutions Corp.
M: +1 (778) 840-2773
ON BEHALF OF THE ATICO BOARD
Fernando E. Ganoza
CEO
Atico Mining Corporation
Trading symbols: TSX.V: ATY | OTCQX: ATCMF
Investor Relations
Igor Dutina
Tel: +1.604.633.9022
Disclaimer:
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The securities
being offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
‘‘U.S. Securities Act’’), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the
account or benefit of, a "U.S. person" (as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act) unless pursuant to an exemption
therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an
offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This announcement includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation the potential benefits of the
ITDS, are forward-looking statements. Forward- looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on
certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual
results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results
and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs; the need to
obtain additional financing to maintain its interest in and/or explore and develop the Company’s mineral projects; uncertainty of
meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company’s mineral projects; the world-wide economic and social impact of
COVID-19 is managed and the duration and extent of the coronavirus pandemic is minimized or not long-term; disruptions
related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other health and safety issues, or the responses of governments, communities, the
Company and others to such pandemic or other issues; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading “Risk
Factors” in the management's discussion and analysis of the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 filed
with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements contained in
this release represent our expectations as of the date of this release. We disclaim any intention or obligation or undertaking to
update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required under applicable securities laws.
©2021 Responsible Mining Solutions Corp. All rights reserved. "Responsible Mining Solutions” and “RMS” are trademarks of
Responsible Mining Solutions Corp.
El Roble, ITDS during Construction
Ambassador Marianick Tremblay, at the El Roble Mine