Starcore International Mines (TSX:SAM) COO Salvador García says the company will continue to produce profitable ounces with multiple sources of ore requiring different processing methods, after releasing production results at the San Martin Mine in Mexico.
In the first fiscal quarter ended October 2025, San Martin produced 51,960 tonnes at grades of 1.33 grams per tonne gold and 14.48g/t silver with an overall recovery of 77.17% gold and 49.30% silver.
In the previous quarter, San Martin produced 54,247 tonnes at grades of 1.47g/t gold and 12.88g/t silver.
During this period, the company’s metal production was lower than the previous quarter due to two main issues.
Starcore says the first issue during the October quarter was the presence of clay in the ore, which causes a preg-robbing effect where the clay traps some of the gold, reducing recovery.
The second issue was that fine particles of activated carbon mixed with the pulp sent to the desorption process. These carbon fines absorbed gold and silver from the ore, which further lowered overall recovery rates.
To address the clay-related issue, Starcore optimised the use of the carbon-in-lead plant to improve gold recovery.
Starcore International Mines is focused on precious metals production in Mexico.
The San Martin Mine, operating since 1993, currently operates at 850 tonnes per day. The mine is an underground epithermal gold deposit with gold quartz-based limestone and has an average gold grade of 2.31g/t and 18g/t silver.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Starcore International Mines
