Written by Jose Diaz
Located in San José del Sitio, Chihuahua, Mexico, Los Gatos Mine has embraced innovation and efficiency since beginning underground operations in 2022. At the heart of their backfilling strategy lies a robust paste plant equipped with two Schwing Bioset KSP 220 XL piston pumps, built to meet the demanding needs of modern mining.
The Los Gatos paste plant was designed to deliver a high-solids slurry with a concentration of 70% solids by weight and cement content ranging from 4% to 10%, tailored to the geotechnical requirements of each stope. Initially, underground operations began with an uphill (ascending) fill method, but the system’s flexibility and the reliability of the pumping equipment have allowed the operation to successfully transition to a cut-and-fill method, optimizing ore recovery and stope stability.
The performance of the KSP 220 XL pumps has been central to this success, enabling continuous 140-hour campaigns that support the delivery of up to 101,000 tonnes of paste backfill per month. This consistent pumping capacity is crucial for maintaining ground stability and ensuring the safety and sustainability of the mining operation.
The included image shows the two powerful KSP 220 XL pumps in service at the Los Gatos paste plant, operating reliably in the challenging and dusty environment typical of mining paste applications.
With this setup, Los Gatos Mine not only boosts its underground production capabilities but also sets a benchmark for paste backfill practices in the Mexican mining industry. Schwing Bioset is proud to support this success, delivering pumping solutions that drive performance, reliability, and growth in today’s most demanding mining environments.