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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-06-058035.txt : 20061129
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-06-058035.hdr.sgml : 20061129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060829181813
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-06-058035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060829

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHERN COPPER CORP/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001001838
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL MINING [1000]
		IRS NUMBER:				133849074
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11811 NORTH TATUM BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2500
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85028
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(602) 977-6595

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11811 NORTH TATUM BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2500
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85028

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SOUTHERN PERU COPPER CORP/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960726

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SOUTHERN PERU COPPER HOLDING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19951006
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
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<TEXT>
<html>

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<body lang="EN-US">

<div>

<p align="center" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold;">MILBANK,
TWEED, HADLEY &amp; M</font></b><b><u><font size="1" style="font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold;position:relative;top:-4.0pt;">c</font></u></b><b><font size="4" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CLOY LLP</font><br>
</b><b><font size="3" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1 Chase Manhattan Plaza<br>
New York, NY 10005-1413</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:18.0pt 0pt 12.0pt 180.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August 30, 2006</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mr. H. Roger Schwall<br>
Assistant Director<br>
Securities and Exchange Commission<br>
Washington, DC 20549</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Times New Roman;width:100.0%;">
 <tr style="page-break-inside:avoid;">
  <td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:8.92%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><!-- SET mrlNoTableShading --></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:4.96%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Re:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="86%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:86.12%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Southern Copper Corporation</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr style="page-break-inside:avoid;">
  <td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:8.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:4.96%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="86%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:86.12%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-K for Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
  2005</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr style="page-break-inside:avoid;">
  <td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:8.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:4.96%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="86%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:86.12%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Filed March 13, 2006</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr style="page-break-inside:avoid;">
  <td width="8%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:8.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:4.96%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="86%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:86.12%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">File No.&nbsp;001-14066</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dear Mr. Schwall:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On
behalf of our client Southern Copper Corporation (&#147;SCC&#148;), we submit this
response to your letter dated June 2, 2006 relating to the above-referenced
filing.&#160; To assist in the review of this
response, we will precede each response with a copy (in bold type) of the
comment as stated in your letter.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In
response to the Staff&#146;s comments, SCC has amended its Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (the &#147;2005 Form 10-K&#148;), originally
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2006 and amended
on Form 10-K/A on March 28, 2006.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Engineering
Comments</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">General</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><font style="font-weight:bold;">For the property(s), please provide the disclosures as required by </font>Item 102 of regulation S-K. In particular, provide:</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>The location and means of
access to the property(s).</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>A brief description of the rock formations and mineralization of
existing or potential economic significance on the property(s).</b></p>

<br><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="center">

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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>The details as to
modernization and physical condition of the plant and equipment, including
subsurface improvements and equipment.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Provide a description of
major equipment and other infrastructure facilities.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>The current state of
exploration of the property(s).</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>The source of power and
water that can be utilized at the property(s).</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">See
Instruction 1 to that item.</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Cuajone</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the Cuajone
property on pages 12 through 14.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Cuajone property, disclosure regarding Cuajone&#146;s source of power is already
included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section from the Form 10-K
is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Peru, electric power for our
operating facilities is generated by two thermal electric plants owned and
operated by Energ&#237;a del Sur, S.A. (&#147;Enersur&#148;), a diesel and waste heat boilers
plant located adjacent to the Ilo smelter and a coal plant located south of
Ilo.&#160; Power generation capacity for
Peruvian operations is currently 344 megawatts.&#160;
In addition, we have 9 megawatts of power generation capacity from two
small hydro-generating installations at Cuajone.&#160; Power is distributed over a 224-kilometer
closed loop transmission circuit.&#160; We
obtain fuel in Peru principally from the Exxon Mobil Corporation.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Cuajone property, disclosure regarding Cuajone&#146;s source of water is already
included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section from the Form 10-K
is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Peru, we have water
concessions for well fields at Huaitire, Vizcachas and Titijones and surface
water rights from the Suches lake, which together are sufficient to supply the
needs of our two operating mine sites at Toquepala and Cuajone.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Toquepala</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the Toquepala
property on pages 14 through 16.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Toquepala property, disclosure regarding Toquepala&#146;s source of power is
already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section from the
Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Peru, electric power for our
operating facilities is generated by two thermal electric plants owned and
operated by Energ&#237;a del Sur, S.A. (&#147;Enersur&#148;), a diesel and waste heat boilers
plant located adjacent to the Ilo smelter and a coal plant located south of
Ilo.&#160; Power generation capacity for
Peruvian operations is currently 344 megawatts.&#160;
In addition, we have 9 megawatts of power generation capacity from two
small hydro-generating installations at Cuajone.&#160; Power is distributed over a 224-kilometer
closed loop transmission circuit.&#160; We
obtain fuel in Peru principally from the Exxon Mobil Corporation.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Toquepala property, disclosure regarding Toquepala&#146;s source of water is already
included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section from the Form 10-K
is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Peru, we have water
concessions for well fields at Huaitire, Vizcachas and Titijones and surface
water rights from the Suches lake, which together are sufficient to supply the
needs of our two operating mine sites at Toquepala and Cuajone.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ilo</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the Ilo property
on pages 16 through 18.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Ilo property, disclosure regarding Ilo&#146;s source of power is already
included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section from the Form 10-K
is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Peru, electric power for our
operating facilities is generated by two thermal electric plants owned and operated
by Energ&#237;a del Sur, S.A. (&#147;Enersur&#148;), a diesel and waste heat boilers plant
located adjacent to the Ilo smelter and a coal plant located south of Ilo.&#160; Power generation capacity for Peruvian
operations is currently 344 megawatts.&#160;
In addition, we have 9 megawatts of power generation capacity from two
small hydro-generating installations at Cuajone.&#160; Power is distributed over a 224-kilometer
closed loop transmission circuit.&#160; We
obtain fuel in Peru principally from the Exxon Mobil Corporation.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Ilo property, disclosure regarding Ilo&#146;s source of water is already
included in the Form 10-K on 39. The relevant section from the Form 10-K is set
out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;At Ilo, we have desalinization
plants that produce water for industrial and domestic use that we believe are
sufficient for our current and projected needs.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Cananea</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the Cananea
property on pages 19 through 22.</font></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Cananea property, disclosure regarding Cananea&#146;s source of power is already
included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section from the Form 10-K
is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is used as the main energy source at each mining complex we
operate, is either purchased from the Comisi&#243;n Federal de Electricidad (the
Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state electrical power producer,
or steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by recovering energy from the
flash furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160;
Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari,
Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999, permits us to import natural gas
from the United States into Mexico at market prices and thereby reduce
operational costs.&#160; A contract with
PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed price for a portion of our
natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Cananea property, disclosure regarding Cananea&#146;s source of water is already
included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40. The relevant section from the
Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability zones with different fees per unit of volume according to each
zone.&#160; All of our operations have one or
several water concessions and, with the exception of Mexicana de Cobre, pump
out the required water from one or several wells. Mexicana de Cobre pumps water
from the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and plants.&#160; At our Cananea facility, we maintain our own
wells and pay the CNA for water measured by usage.&#160; Water conservation committees have been
established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a yearly
basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">La Caridad</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the La Caridad
property on pages 22 through 26.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the La Caridad property, disclosure regarding La Caridad&#146;s source of power is
already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section from the
Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is used as the main energy source at each mining complex we
operate, is either </font></i></p>


 <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:24.0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman">4</font></p> <br><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="center">

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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">purchased from the Comisi&#243;n
Federal de Electricidad (the Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state
electrical power producer, or steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by
recovering energy from the flash furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160; Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between
Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari, Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999,
permits us to import natural gas from the United States into Mexico at market
prices and thereby reduce operational costs.&#160;
A contract with PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed
price for a portion of our natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the La Caridad property, disclosure regarding La Caridad&#146;s source of water is
already included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40. The relevant section
from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability zones with different fees per unit of volume according to each
zone.&#160; All of our operations have one or
several water concessions and, with the exception of Mexicana de Cobre, pump
out the required water from one or several wells. Mexicana de Cobre pumps water
from the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and plants&#133;&#160; Water conservation committees have been
established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a yearly
basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">IMMSA &#151; Charcas</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the IMMSA -
Charcas property on pages 26 through 27.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - Charcas property, disclosure regarding IMMSA - Charcas&#146; source of
power is already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section
from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is used as the main energy source at each mining complex we
operate, is either purchased from the Comisi&#243;n Federal de Electricidad (the
Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state electrical power producer,
or steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by recovering energy from the
flash furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160;
Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari,
Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999, permits us to import natural gas
from the United States into Mexico at market prices and thereby reduce
operational costs.&#160; A contract with
PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed price for a portion of our
natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>


 <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:24.0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman">5</font></p> <br><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="center">

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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - Charcas property, disclosure regarding IMMSA &#151; Charcas&#146; source of
water is already included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40. The relevant
section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability zones with different fees per unit of volume according to each
zone.&#160; All of our operations have one or
several water concessions and, with the exception of Mexicana de Cobre, pump
out the required water from one or several wells. Mexicana de Cobre pumps water
from the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and plants&#133;&#160; Water conservation committees have been
established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a yearly
basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">IMMSA &#151; Santa Barbara</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the IMMSA &#151; Santa
Barbara property on pages 28 through 29.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - Santa Barbara property, disclosure regarding IMMSA - Santa Barbara&#146;s
source of power is already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant
section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is used as the main energy source at each mining complex we
operate, is either purchased from the Comisi&#243;n Federal de Electricidad (the
Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state electrical power producer,
or steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by recovering energy from the
flash furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160;
Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari,
Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999, permits us to import natural gas
from the United States into Mexico at market prices and thereby reduce
operational costs.&#160; A contract with
PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed price for a portion of our
natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - Santa Barbara property, disclosure regarding IMMSA &#151; Santa Barbara&#146;s
source of water is already included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40.
The relevant section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability zones with different fees per unit of volume according to each
zone.&#160; All of our</font></i></p>


 <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:24.0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman">6</font></p> <br><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="center">

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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">operations have one or several
water concessions and, with the exception of Mexicana de Cobre, pump out the
required water from one or several wells. Mexicana de Cobre pumps water from
the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and plants&#133;&#160; Water conservation committees have been
established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a yearly
basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">IMMSA &#151; San Martin </font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the IMMSA &#151; San
Martin property on pages 29 through 30.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - San Martin property, disclosure regarding IMMSA - San Martin&#146;s
source of power is already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant
section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is used as the main energy source at each mining complex we
operate, is either purchased from the Comisi&#243;n Federal de Electricidad (the
Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state electrical power producer,
or steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by recovering energy from the
flash furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160;
Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari,
Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999, permits us to import natural gas
from the United States into Mexico at market prices and thereby reduce
operational costs.&#160; A contract with
PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed price for a portion of our
natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - San Martin property, disclosure regarding IMMSA &#151; San Martin&#146;s
source of water is already included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40.
The relevant section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability zones with different fees per unit of volume according to each
zone.&#160; All of our operations have one or
several water concessions and, with the exception of Mexicana de Cobre, pump
out the required water from one or several wells. Mexicana de Cobre pumps water
from the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and plants&#133;&#160; Water conservation committees have been
established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a yearly
basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>


 <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:24.0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman">7</font></p> <br><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="center">

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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;"><font style="text-decoration:none;">&nbsp;</font></font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">IMMSA &#151; Santa Eulalia</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the IMMSA &#151; Santa
Eulalia property on pages 30 through 31.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - Santa Eulalia property, disclosure regarding IMMSA - Santa Eulalia&#146;s
source of power is already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant
section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is used as the main energy source at each mining complex we
operate, is either purchased from the Comisi&#243;n Federal de Electricidad (the
Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state electrical power producer,
or steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by recovering energy from the
flash furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160;
Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari,
Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999, permits us to import natural gas
from the United States into Mexico at market prices and thereby reduce
operational costs.&#160; A contract with
PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed price for a portion of our
natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - Santa Eulalia property, disclosure regarding IMMSA &#151; Santa Eulalia&#146;s
source of water is already included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40.
The relevant section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability zones with different fees per unit of volume according to each
zone.&#160; All of our operations have one or
several water concessions and, with the exception of Mexicana de Cobre, pump
out the required water from one or several wells. Mexicana de Cobre pumps water
from the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and plants&#133;&#160; Water conservation committees have been
established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a yearly
basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">IMMSA &#151; Taxco</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the IMMSA &#151; Taxco
property on pages 31 through 32.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - Taxco property, disclosure regarding IMMSA - Taxco&#146;s source of
power is already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section
from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is</font></i></p>


 <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:24.0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman">8</font></p> <br><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="center">

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 <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"></p>


<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#160;used as the main energy source at each mining
complex we operate, is either purchased from the Comisi&#243;n Federal de
Electricidad (the Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state electrical
power producer, or steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by recovering
energy from the flash furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160; Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between
Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari, Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999,
permits us to import natural gas from the United States into Mexico at market
prices and thereby reduce operational costs.&#160;
A contract with PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed
price for a portion of our natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the IMMSA - Taxco property, disclosure regarding IMMSA &#151; Taxco&#146;s source of
water is already included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40. The relevant
section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability zones with different fees per unit of volume according to each
zone.&#160; All of our operations have one or
several water concessions and, with the exception of Mexicana de Cobre, pump
out the required water from one or several wells. Mexicana de Cobre pumps water
from the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and plants&#133;&#160; Water conservation committees have been
established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a yearly
basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">San Luis Potosi</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the San Luis
Potosi facilities on pages 33 through 34.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the San Luis Potosi facilities, disclosure regarding San Luis Potosi&#146;s source
of power is already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section
from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is used as the main energy source at each mining complex we
operate, is either purchased from the Comisi&#243;n Federal de Electricidad (the
Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state electrical power producer,
or steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by recovering energy from the flash
furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160;
Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari,
Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999, permits us to import natural gas
from the United States into Mexico at market prices and thereby reduce
operational costs.&#160; A contract with
PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed price for a portion of our
natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>


 <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:24.0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman">9</font></p>
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<div>
 <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the San Luis Potosi facilities, disclosure regarding San Luis Potosi&#146;s source
of water is already included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40. The
relevant section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability zones with different fees per unit of volume according to each
zone.&#160; All of our operations have one or
several water concessions and, with the exception of Mexicana de Cobre, pump
out the required water from one or several wells. Mexicana de Cobre pumps water
from the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and plants&#133;&#160; Water conservation committees have been
established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a yearly
basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Nueva Rosita</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the Nueva Rosita
property on pages 34 through 35.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Nueva Rosita property, disclosure regarding Nueva Rosita&#146;s source of power
is already included in the Form 10-K on page 39. The relevant section from the
Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, fuel is purchased
directly or indirectly from Petr&#243;leos Mexicanos, (&#147;PEMEX&#148;), the state oil
monopoly.&#160; Electricity for our Mexican
operations, which is used as the main energy source at each mining complex we
operate, is either purchased from the Comisi&#243;n Federal de Electricidad (the
Federal Electricity Commission, or CFE), the state electrical power producer, or
steam-generated at Mexcobre&#146;s smelter by recovering energy from the flash
furnace through a waste heat boiler&#133;&#160;
Mexcobre&#146;s natural gas pipeline (between Douglas, Arizona and Nacozari,
Sonora) that began operating in May&nbsp;1999, permits us to import natural gas
from the United States into Mexico at market prices and thereby reduce
operational costs.&#160; A contract with
PEMEX, provides us with the option of using a fixed price for a portion of our
natural gas purchases.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with
the Nueva Rosita property, disclosure regarding Nueva Rosita&#146;s source of water
is already included in the Form 10-K on pages 39 through 40. The relevant
section from the Form 10-K is set out below:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;In Mexico, water is a national
property and industries not connected to a public services water supply must
obtain a water concession from Comisi&#243;n Nacional del Agua (the &#147;National Water
Commission&#148;, or &#147;CNA&#148;).&#160; Water usage fees
are established in the Ley Federal Derechos, which distinguishes several
availability</font></i></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#160;zones with different fees per unit of volume
according to each zone.&#160; All of our
operations have one or several water concessions and, with the exception of
Mexicana de Cobre, pump out the required water from one or several wells. Mexicana
de Cobre pumps water from the La Angostura dam, which is close to the mine and
plants&#133;&#160; Water conservation committees
have been established in each plant in order to conserve and recycle
water.&#160; Water usage fees are updated on a
yearly basis and have been increasing in recent years.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Insert a small-scale map showing the location and access to the
property, as required by Instruction </font>3(B) of Rule 102 of Regulation S-K. Please note the index maps included with the filing do
illustrate the mine and processing facility locations with regard to national
boundaries. The SEC&#146;s EDGAR program
now accepts Adobe PDF files and digital maps,
so please include these maps in any amendments that are uploaded to EDGAR. It is relatively
easy to include automatic links at the appropriate locations within the
document to GIF or JPEG files, which will allow the
figures and/or diagrams to appear in the right location when the document is
viewed on the Internet. Maps and drawings should include:</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>A </b><b>legend or explanation
showing, by means of pattern or symbol, every pattern or symbol used on the map
or drawing.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>A </b><b>graphical bar scale should
be included. Additional representations of scale such as &#147;one inch equals one
mile&#148; may be utilized provided the original scale of the map has not been
altered.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>A north </b><b>arrow.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>An </b><b>index map showing where
the property is situated in relationship to the state or province, etc., in
which it was located.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>A </b><b><font style="font-weight:bold;">title of the map or
drawing, and the date on which it was </font>drawn.</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>In the event interpretive data is submitted in conjunction with any
map, the identity of the geologist or engineer that prepared such data.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Any drawing </font>should be simple enough or of sufficiently large scale to clearly
show all features on the drawing. For more information, please consult the EDGAR manual, and if addition
assistance is required, please
call Filer Support at
202-942-8900.</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added a map showing the location and access of the
Peruvian mines and processing facilities on page 12.&#160; SCC has also added a map showing the location
of the Mexican mines and processing facilities on page 18, and a map showing
the location and access to the Cananea and La Caridad mines and facilities on
page 19.&#160; In lieu of providing maps
showing access </font></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">to each of the five IMMSA
facilities, SCC has included the following narrative description of the access
routes to these individual facilities in the Form 10-K:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Charcas (Page 26):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The Charcas mining complex is
located 111 kilometers north of the city of San Luis Potosi in the State of San
Luis Potosi, Mexico.&#160; Charcas is
connected to the state capital by a paved highway of 130 km.&#160; 14 km from the southeast of the Charcas
complex is the &#147;Los Charcos&#148; railroad station which connects with the
Mexico-Laredo railway.&#160; Also, there is a
paved road which connects Charcas to the city of Matehuala through federal
highway no. 57 which begins at the northeast of the Charcas town site.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Santa Barbara (Page 28):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The Santa Barbara mining complex
is located approximately 26 kilometers southwest of the city of Hidalgo del
Parral in southern Chihuahua, Mexico.&#160;
The area can be reached via paved road from Hidalgo del Parral, a city
on federal highway 45, which provides all essential services.&#160; Chihuahua, the state capital is located 250
km north of the Santa Barbara complex.&#160;
Additionally, El Paso on the Texas border is located 600 km north of
Santa Barbara.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">San Martin (Page 29):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The San Martin mining complex is
located in the municipality of Sombrerete in the western part of the state of
Zacatecas, Mexico, approximately 101 kilometers southeast of the city of
Durango and 9 km east of the Durango State boundary. Access to the property is
via federal highway no. 45 between the cities of Durango and Zacatecas.&#160; A paved six kilometer road connects the mine
and town of San Martin with the highway.&#160;
The city of Sombrerete is about 16 kilometers east of the property.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Santa Eulalia (Page 30):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The mining district of Santa
Eulalia is located in the central part of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico,
approximately 26 kilometers east of the city of Chihuahua.&#160; This district covers approximately 48 square
kilometers and is divided into three fields: east field, central field and west
field.&#160; The west field and the east
field, in which the principal mines of the complex are found, are separated by
6 kilometers.&#160; The Buena Tierra mine is
located in the west field and the San Antonio mine is located in the east
field&#133;The district of Santa Eulalia is connected to the city of Chihuahua by a
paved road (highway no. 45), at a distance of 10 km there is a paved detour to
Aquiles Serdan and Francisco Portillo (also known as Santo Domingo) where the
Company&#146;s offices and the Buena Tierra mine are located. Access to the Buena
Tierra mine and San Antonio mine is through an 11 km unpaved road.&#148;</font></i></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Taxco (Page 31):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The Taxco mining complex is
located on the outskirts of the city of Taxco in the northern part of Guerrero
State, Mexico, approximately 71 kilometers from the city of Cuernavaca Morelos
where access through the highway to the complex is possible.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Peruvian Operations - Cuajone and
Toquepala, Page </font>11</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Please add the annual operating days to both tables or restate with the
total annual tonnage mined and milled. In addition, please include the total
tonnage mined, the leach material mined tonnage &amp; grade, and the estimated
leach recovery as you do for your reserve statements. Please clarify whether
the copper and molybdenum grades are total copper or sulfide copper, total
molybdenum or molybdenum disulfide values. You state the mill feed cutoff made
is defined as greater than 0.40% copper (sulfide or oxide). However the status
of material between 0.25% and 0.40% TCu </font>is not specified. Is it
stockpiled and leached? If so, what is the cutoff grade? In addition, please
disclose your sources of water?</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with Cuajone on pages
12 through 13, and in connection with Toquepala on pages 14 through 16.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection to
Cuajone&#146;s and Toquepala&#146;s water sources please refer to SCC&#146;s response to
Question 1 above.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Peruvian Operations - Processing
Facilities - Ilo, Page 12</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Please add the amounts of concentrate smelted, sulfuric acid produced,
anode sales quantity and average anode price received. Also include the average
price received for gold, silver, selenium, and sulfuric acid. This information
may be placed in a table for ease of viewing. In addition please provide a map
of the Peruvian operations showing the facility locations, roads, railroads,
and port facilities.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with Ilo on page
17.&#160; Please note that the Ilo processing
facilities produced blister copper in 2003, 2004 and 2005 instead of anode
copper.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Please note that
SCC does not believe it necessary to amend the Form 10-K to include the average
price for selenium and sulfuric acid for the Ilo smelter plant since SCC
considers these amounts immaterial.&#160; For
the years 2005, 2004, and 2003, selenium and sulfuric acid in aggregate
represented approximately 0.53%, 0.61% and 0.70% respectively of SCC&#146;s Peruvian
operation sales.</font></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added a map showing the location and access of the
Peruvian mines and processing facilities, including Ilo, on page 12.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Mexican Open Pit Unit - Cananea
and La Caridad, Page 13</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">5.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Please add the </font>annual operating
days to both tables or restate with the total annual tonnage mined and milled.
In addition, please include the total tonnage mined, the leach material mined
tonnage &amp; grade, and the leach recovery as you do for your reserve
statements. Please clarify whether the copper and molybdenum grades are copper or total copper values,
molybdenum or molybdenum disulfide values and state your molybdenum recoveries.
You state the mill feed grade is greater than 0.38% copper at Cananea and 0.30
% copper at La Caridad. However the material between 0.15% and 0.25% at Cananea
and the material between 0.15% and 0.25% at La Caridad is leached. Please state
the status of the material between these two cutoff grades. Is this
material stockpiled and leached? If so, what are the respective cutoff grades?
Describe is your sources of water and power?</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with Cananea on pages
20 through 22, and in connection with La Caridad on pages 22 through 24.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection to
Cananea&#146;s and La Caridad&#146;s water sources please refer to SCC&#146;s response to
Question 1 above.</font></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Mexican
Open </font></u></b><b><u style="font-weight:bold;">Pit Unit - Processing
Facilities - La Caridad, Page 15</u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">6.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Please add the amounts of concentrate sales &amp; price received, anode
sales and price received and the average rod sale price or premium. In addition
include the anode blister copper grade and average smelter recovery. Also
please include the average price received for gold, silver, </font>and sulfuric acid. This information
may be placed in a table for ease of viewing. Please provide a map of the
Mexican open pit operations showing the facility locations, roads, and
railroads.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with La Caridad on page
25.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SCC has added a
map showing the location of the Mexican mines and processing facilities on page
18, and a map showing the location and access to the Cananea and La Caridad
mines and facilities on page 19.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Mexican I</font>MMSA Unit, Page 16</font></u></b></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">7.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Please add the annual operating days to both tables or restate with the
total annual tonnage mined and milled. In addition include the ore grades for
copper, zinc, and lead, as these are your principal salable products. Please
include the mill metallurgical recoveries for copper, lead, and zinc. Please
state the copper, lead, and zinc concentrate tonnages produced and the average
grade. Please provide the average sales price for the lead concentrate sold.
Please note for the purposes of these tables, summarize the mines providing
feed material to each concentrator.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with IMMSA on page 26,
in connection with Charcas on page 27,&#160;
in connection with Santa Barbara on page 29, in connection with San
Martin on page 30, in connection with Santa Eulalia on page 31, and in
connection with Taxco on page 32.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SCC has not
provided the average sales price for lead concentrates since lead concentrates
were not sold by SCC.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Please note that
SCC has not summarized the mines providing feed material to each concentrator
since SCC&#146;s disclosure is broken up by mine and usually each mine provides feed
material to its own concentrator. Santa Barbara and Taxco are the only
concentrators that receive feed material from more than one mine.&#160; Santa Barbara receives feed material from
four different mines in its complex. Taxco receives feed material from three
different mines in its complex.&#160; SCC has
not included this information because SCC believes these mines are immaterial.
Further, SCC&#146;s management administers these mines as part of their respective
complexes and not separately.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman"><font style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Mexican I</font>MMSA Unit - Processing facilities -
San Luis Potosi, Page 18</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">8.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Please provide a three year table of the copper concentrates smelted.
In addition include the anode blister copper grades and average copper smelter
recoveries. Please state where these modes are further refined or sold. Please
state the zinc concentrate tonnage treated in the zinc refinery, the average
price received for arsenic trioxide, cadmium, silver, gold, and sulfuric acid.
Please provide a three-year table of the Nueva Rosita coal mined, average BTU
content, average percent sulfur, the clean coal produced, and tonnage coke
produced. </font>All this
information may be placed in a table for ease of viewing. Please state your
water sources.&#160; Please provide a map of
the Mexican IMMSA operations
showing the facility locations, roads, and railroads.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the San Luis
Potosi copper smelter on pages 33 through 34, in connection with the San Luis
Potosi zinc refinery on page 34, and in connection with Nueva Rosita on page
35.</font></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Please note that
SCC does not believe it necessary to amend the Form 10-K to include the average
price realized for arsenic trioxide, cadmium, gold, and sulfuric acid for the
San Luis Potosi copper refinery since SCC considers these amounts
immaterial.&#160; For the years 2005, 2004,
and 2003, arsenic trioxide, cadmium, gold, and sulfuric acid sales in aggregate
represented approximately 2.1%, 2.4% and 2.9% respectively of the IMMSA sales.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection to
the San Luis Potosi copper smelter&#146;s,&#160;
San Luis Potosi zinc refinery&#146;s and Nueva Rosita&#146;s water sources please
refer to SCC&#146;s response to Question 1 above.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SCC has added a
map showing the location of the Mexican mines and processing facilities on page
18. In lieu of providing maps showing access to each of the five IMMSA
facilities, SCC has included the following narrative description of the access
routes to these individual facilities in the Form 10-K:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Charcas (Page 26):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The Charcas mining complex is
located 111 kilometers north of the city of San Luis Potosi in the State of San
Luis Potosi, Mexico.&#160; Charcas is
connected to the state capital by a paved highway of 130 km.&#160; 14 km from the southeast of the Charcas
complex is the &#147;Los Charcos&#148; railroad station which connects with the
Mexico-Laredo railway.&#160; Also, there is a
paved road which connects Charcas to the city of Matehuala through federal
highway no. 57 which begins at the northeast of the Charcas town site.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Santa Barbara (Page 28):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The Santa Barbara mining complex
is located approximately 26 kilometers southwest of the city of Hidalgo del Parral
in southern Chihuahua, Mexico.&#160; The area
can be reached via paved road from Hidalgo del Parral, a city on federal
highway 45, which provides all essential services.&#160; Chihuahua, the state capital is located 250
km north of the Santa Barbara complex.&#160;
Additionally, El Paso on the Texas border is located 600 km north of
Santa Barbara.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">San Martin (Page 29):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The San Martin mining complex is
located in the municipality of Sombrerete in the western part of the state of
Zacatecas, Mexico, approximately 101 kilometers southeast of the city of
Durango and 9 km east of the Durango State boundary. Access to the property is
via federal highway no. 45 between the cities of Durango and Zacatecas.&#160; A paved six kilometer road connects the mine
and town of San Martin with the highway.&#160;
The city of Sombrerete is about 16 kilometers east of the property.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Santa Eulalia (Page 30):</font></u></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The mining district of Santa
Eulalia is located in the central part of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico,
approximately 26 kilometers east of the city of Chihuahua.&#160; This district covers approximately 48 square
kilometers and is divided into three fields: east field, central field and west
field.&#160; The west field and the east
field, in which the principal mines of the complex are found, are separated by
6 kilometers.&#160; The Buena Tierra mine is
located in the west field and the San Antonio mine is located in the east
field&#133;The district of Santa Eulalia is connected to the city of Chihuahua by a
paved road (highway no. 45), at a distance of 10 km there is a paved detour to
Aquiles Serdan and Francisco Portillo (also known as Santo Domingo) where the
Company&#146;s offices and the Buena Tierra mine are located. Access to the Buena
Tierra mine and San Antonio mine is through an 11 km unpaved road.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Taxco (Page 31):</font></u></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;The Taxco mining complex is
located on the outskirts of the city of Taxco in the northern part of Guerrero
State, Mexico, approximately 71 kilometers from the city of Cuernavaca Morelos
where access through the highway to the complex is possible.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Mexico - El Arco, Page 20</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">9.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Please remove the reference to ore as in sulfide ore. Ore implies this
material has demonstrated economic viability.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has deleted the reference to ore on page 36. The paragraph
now reads as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;El Arco.&#160; The El Arco site is located in the state of
Baja California in Mexico. Preliminary investigations of the El Arco site
indicate a mineral deposit of 846 million tons of sulfide with average copper
grades of 0.51% and 0.14 grams of gold per ton, and 170 million tons of leach
materials with average copper grades of 0.56%.&#160;
Currently we are in the process of identifying water sources for a
leaching operation.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Mexico &#151; Angangueo, Page 20</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Please remove the reference to ore as in million tons of ore. Ore
implies this material has demonstrated economic viability.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has deleted the reference to ore on page 36. The paragraph
now reads as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;Angangueo.&#160; The Angangueo site is located in the state of
Michoac&#225;n in Mexico.&#160; A mineral deposit
of 13 million tons has been identified with diamond drilling.&#160; The mineral deposit contains 0.16 grams of
gold and 262 grams of silver per ton, and is comprised of 0.79% lead, 0.97%
copper and 3.5% zinc.&#160; During 2005, we
received</font></i></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&nbsp;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#160;the approval for our environmental impact
study and we are in the process of obtaining land use approval.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Mexico &#151; Buenavista, Page 20</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">11.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Please remove the reference to ore as in million tons of ore. Ore
implies this material has demonstrated economic viability.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has deleted the reference to ore on page 36. The paragraph
now reads as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;Buenavista.&#160; The Buenavista project site is located in the
state of Sonora in Mexico, adjacent to the Cananea ore body.&#160; Drilling and metallurgical studies have shown
that the site contains a mineral deposit of 36 million tons containing 29 grams
of silver, 0.69% of copper and 3.3% of zinc per ton.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Available Information, Page 25</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">12.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><font style="font-weight:bold;">Please change the address for the SEC&#146;s public reading room to 100 </font>F Street, Washington, D.C. 20549.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has changed the address on page 41. The section now reads
as follows:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">&#147;We file annual, quarterly and
current reports, proxy statements and other information with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (&#147;SEC&#148;). You may read and copy any document
we file at the SEC&#146;s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, Washington, D.C.
20549.&#148;</font></i></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;page-break-after:avoid;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Copper &amp; Molybdenum Reserves by Site, Page 42</font></u></b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">13.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Please clearly state these are proven &amp; probable reserves and
define the criteria for this distinction as compared to mineralized material.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with information on the
copper and molybdenum the reserves on pages 56 through 60.</font></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">14.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>Please provide the lead and zinc reserve tonnages and grades for the
IMMSA Unit. Explain how the IMMSA copper reserves increase when the copper
price is reduced from USD$1.261 to 90 cents.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the
Staff&#146;s comments SCC has added disclosure in connection with the lead and zinc
reserve tonnages and grades for the IMMSA Unit on pages 58 and 60.&#160; SCC has amended the table on page 60
utilizing the same criteria used to report at $1.261.</font></p>


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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">15.</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>In connection with responding to our comments, please provide, in
writing, a statement from the company acknowledging that:</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filing;</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments
do not foreclose the Securities and Exchange Commission&#160; (the &#147;Commission&#148;) with taking any action
with respect to the filing; and</b></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b>the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any
proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal
securities laws of the United States.</b></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;text-indent:36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">SCC has advised us
that it hereby acknowledges the following:</font></p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>SCC is
responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing;</p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>staff comments
or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the
Securities and Exchange Commission&#160; (the &#147;Commission&#148;)
with taking any action with respect to the filing; and</p>

<p style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Symbol" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#183;</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>SCC may not
assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the
Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United
States.</p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-family:Times New Roman;width:100.0%;">
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  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><!-- SET mrlNoTableShading --></p>
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  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Very truly yours,</font></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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 <tr style="page-break-inside:avoid;">
  <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:47.56%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:5.36%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="47%" valign="top" style="padding:0pt .7pt 0pt 0pt;width:47.08%;">
  <p style="margin:0pt 0pt .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Michael L. Fitzgerald</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt 36.0pt;text-indent:-36.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">cc:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Southern Copper Corporation</font></p>

<p style="margin:0pt 0pt 12.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>


 <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:24.0pt 0pt .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Times New Roman">19</font></p>
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