Approximately 2,600 ha of land were covered with tailings along a 40 km stretch of river channels. The Spanish environmental authorities promptly diverted the flow away from the Donana National Park, which was not affected. Concentrations of lead, zinc and copper in soils and sediments meet the Spanish authorities criteria for safety. Water quality has improved rapidly, fish have returned and aquatic life is recovering. Los Frailes zinc, copper, lead silver mine is approximately 45km west of Seville in southern Spain, on the southeast edge of the Iberian Pyrite Belt.
Blasted ore is loaded using mining shovels into haul trucks for transport to the primary crusher.
The Los Frailes open-pit mine.