The Glencore-controlled company has identified some 13.5 million tonnes of resources in the Puagjanca sector which could feed the Alpamarca plant for more than 10 years.

Alpamarca can process 1Mtpy of mineral and produced 1.5 million ounces of silver, 8,000t of zinc and 6,000t of lead in 2018.

Elsewhere in the region, most of which is over 4,500m above sea level, the company aims to complete a prefeasibility study in 2020 for the Carhuacayán deposit, some 20km from Alpamarca.

With other orebodies identified within trucking distance of the Alpamrca plant, the company may consider increasing its treatment capacity to 5,000 tonnes per day.

Glencore owns 63% of Volcan's class A voting shares.