Silver Standard Resources said that it will start producing tin concentrates at its Pirquitas silver-tin-zinc mine project in Argentina in the second quarter of this year. The mine started commercial production of silver on 1 December last year and produced 1.1 million ounces in 2009. At full capacity the mine will produce 10 M oz of silver and 2,500 tpy of tin-in-concentrate, but latest public estimates of production in 2010 are 7 M oz of silver and 900 tonnes of tin.

In a statement announcing the company’s fourth quarter and full year 2009 results, Silver Standard said “The tin circuit is commissioned and will be operated when suitable material is available in Q2 2010.” The mill at the operation has been running at above design capacity recently and is expected to be treating sulphide ore from the open pit mine at full capacity from the next quarter.