Loma Blanca is exploited using open pit mining methods: trucks, backdiggers and loaders. In first place, walls are removed to let the mineral exposed, which can reach 50 meters thick. After extraction, the mineral is transported in trucks to the drying beds adjoining the mine.

 

The material, after drying for 10 to 15 days, is piled up to feed the concentration plant located beside the mine. Each of the three main types of mineral is treated separately in order to ensure product specifications and optimize plant yield. The mineral is first sized and then taken to the magnetic separation phase for clay and iron removal. The resulting concentrate is then trucked to the calcination plant.

 

The calcination plant is located in Palpalá, in San Salvador de Jujuy (Capital city of the province), it comprises 8-hectare bordering the Provincial Highway N°1 and the General Belgrano railway line.

 

At Palpalá, the concentrate is treated trough calcination in order to obtain final products containing  50% to 60% B2O3.

 

Products are packed in 600/900 kg big bags or 25/50 kg bags for further dispatch.

QUALITY CONTROL

 

In order to ensure high quality standards and a permanent control of all products, we operate our own laboratories at Palpalá and Loma Blanca. In both laboratories, industry standard tests are carried out for all specifications. Both laboratories work 24 hours a day monitoring the complete production. Our methods and results are regularly tested in external laboratories.

 

PBA is committed to elaborating a consistent and high quality product .  This goal is achieved working  everyday in a continuous enhancement process.

 

ENVIRONMENT

 

Calcination and magnetic separation processes are non-aggressive to the environment. Our process  is not water contaminant unlike  other borate refining methods.

 

Even so, environmental controls and monitoring are carried out both in everyday work and in the long term planning.