Nexa Says Cerro Lindo Is Peru’s First Block-Caving Mine

By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-08-07 16:36:32 | Updated at 2026-08-08 13:51:48 21 hours ago

Peru · Mining

Key Facts

—The milestone. Nexa Resources says Cerro Lindo is the first mine in Peru to implement large-scale block caving.

—The start. Operations began in an initial section at the end of the second quarter and reached regular operation in July 2026.

—The method. Workers undercut a large ore column so gravity and rock pressure fracture it; broken ore is drawn through collection points below.

—The technology. Teleoperated loaders, real-time geotechnical instruments and microseismic monitoring reduce employee exposure in production and caving zones.

—The goal. Nexa expects lower unit costs, continuous extraction, access to deeper ore and reduced use of explosives and water.

—The backdrop. Nexa reported second-quarter net income of US$98 million and adjusted EBITDA of US$286 million, up 78% year on year.

Nexa Resources has begun block-caving production at Cerro Lindo in Peru’s Ica region, introducing a high-volume underground method that the company says has never before been used by a Peruvian mine.

Load-haul-dump machine operating in an underground mine

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How Block Caving Changes Cerro Lindo

Block caving is designed for large ore bodies at depth. Instead of repeatedly drilling and blasting small sections, miners undercut the base of an extensive column. Gravity and induced rock stresses fracture the ore, which then descends in a controlled flow to drawpoints on a lower extraction level.

Nexa began using the method in an initial sector of Cerro Lindo at the end of the second quarter and said regular operation was reached in July. The second quarter therefore did not include a full period at regular operation.

The company describes Cerro Lindo as Peru’s first mine to implement block caving. That national-first designation is a Nexa statement; the operational start itself is also documented in the company’s earnings filing with Peru’s securities regulator.

Lower Costs, Deeper Ore and New Risks

The economic case rests on scale. Once the cave is established, ore can move continuously without the continuous drilling and blasting required by conventional sublevel stoping. Nexa expects lower unit costs and improved efficiency as the caving footprint expands.

The method may also make deeper, lower-grade but high-volume areas economical. Nexa says that could add mineral to the mine plan and support a longer operating life. It expects better access to copper-rich zones, an important point after group copper production fell 31% year on year to 6,300 tonnes in the second quarter.

Block caving is not a simple efficiency upgrade. Its central challenge is geomechanical: engineers must model how the rock mass fractures, moves and interacts with surrounding workings. Nexa has deployed teleoperated scoop trams, real-time geotechnical instrumentation and microseismic monitoring to manage that process and keep workers away from active caving zones.

Why Cerro Lindo Matters to Nexa

Cerro Lindo is a polymetallic underground operation in the Chincha area of Peru’s Ica region. It produces zinc, copper, lead and silver concentrates and is a major part of Nexa’s integrated mining-and-smelting portfolio in Latin America.

The operational milestone arrives during a stronger financial quarter. Nexa reported US$908 million in net revenue, up 28% from a year earlier, and US$98 million in net income, compared with US$13 million in the second quarter of 2025. Adjusted EBITDA rose 78% to US$286 million.

Higher zinc prices, by-product contributions, lower costs and the recovery of Peruvian operations drove the improvement. Across Nexa’s mining portfolio, treated ore volumes increased 11% from the first quarter. Zinc production across Nexa rose 8% year on year to 79,000 tonnes, while copper output declined.

Why This Matters for Peru

Peru is already a global copper, zinc and silver supplier, but productivity at mature underground mines depends increasingly on technology, automation and access to deeper mineralization. Cerro Lindo gives the industry a domestic test of a method used at very large underground deposits elsewhere.

If the cave performs as designed, other operators may study the model for deposits that are too deep or too low-grade for conventional stoping. The relevant proof will not be the inauguration itself but sustained recovery, predictable dilution, stable ground behavior, safety performance and unit-cost reductions over several quarters.

What to Watch Next

Ramp-up. Nexa must expand from the initial sector without disrupting the rest of Cerro Lindo’s underground production.

Unit costs. Quarterly reporting should show whether continuous extraction delivers the savings projected by management.

Copper grades. Access to higher-grade zones will be tested against the recent decline in copper production.

Geotechnical performance. Cave propagation, dilution, recovery and microseismic data will determine whether the method can scale safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is block caving?

It is a large-scale underground mining method that undercuts an ore column and uses gravity and rock pressure to fracture and move ore toward drawpoints below.

Where is Cerro Lindo?

Cerro Lindo is an underground polymetallic mine in the Chincha area of Peru’s Ica region.

Is Cerro Lindo Peru’s first block-caving mine?

Nexa says it is the first Peruvian mining operation to implement the method. The national-first designation comes from the company.

Why did Nexa adopt block caving?

Nexa expects lower unit costs, continuous extraction, better access to deep high-volume ore and less worker exposure in active mining zones.

When did regular operation begin?

Nexa said block caving started at the end of the second quarter and reached regular operation in July 2026.