The Mina Proaño is an underground silver mine located in central Mexico.
It is one of the largest and most profitable silver mines in the world. The mine is located in the suburbs of the city of Fresnillo, Zacatecas; so the mine is also known as Fresnillo Mine. The mining operation is carried out by Peñoles, a company based in Mexico City, which is the largest silver-producing mining company in the world. In 2004, Proaño Mine produced nearly 32 million troy ounces (995,000 kg) of silver.
Silver mining at Fresnillo dates back to 1550. Being quite common in large-scale mining operations, especially silver mining, which uses large amounts of cyanide, there have been claims against mine-related pollution , as in the case of contamination of water sources, increase in rates of diseases of cattle and people, and increases in air pollution. This particular mine has been awarded ISO 14000 certification for its environmental and equipment management processes and has received a "Clean Industry Registration" from Mexican authorities. The mining company has also established an "ecological park", which is basically a sanctuary for more than a hundred species of mammals, birds and reptiles. This park, established in 2004, was designed as a public area (Parque los Jales) and includes lakes, paths and open areas for physical relaxation and exercise. The park was established on previously occupied lands by clusters of tailings and ponds.
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