Mudslide damages plant at Costa Rica Glencairn mine

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Glencairn Gold Corp's GGG.TO Bellavista mine in Costa Rica, closed over environmental concerns, suffered a landslide that damaged its recovery plant after heavy rain, the Canadian company said on Wednesday.

The open pit mine, which produces about 50,000 ounces of gold a year, had shut down in July after strong rains caused ground movements and raised fears of leaks from its cyanide leach pads.

No employees were injured in the landslide and no cyanide was released into the environment, the Toronto-based company said in a statement.

Although the slide caused significant damage to the plant, Glencairn said it expects to salvage major equipment. It said the landslide impact would probably not affect the scope of its previously announced impairment charge of $40 million to $50 million on its Bellavista assets.

(Reporting by John McPhaul)