Engineering and Mining Journal - Whether the market is copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, lead/zinc, PGM, diamonds or other commodities, E&MJ takes the lead in projecting trends, following development and reporting on the most efficient operating pr
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GOLD MINERS ROUNDUP
equivalent production at Cerro Corona, in Peru, was adversely impacted by lower copper prices relative to the gold price. The company experienced an interrup- tion in South African production in July that occurred during the five day national indus- trial action over the wage negotiation process. During the second quarter of 2011, two significant seismic related accidents at the Kloof Driefontein complex resulted in production stoppages due to safety interven- tions. In the Australasia Region, production was affected by a week-long, unplanned mill-outage at St Ives. Remedial actions in respect of the seismic-related accidents and the unplanned mill-outage were satisfactori- ly completed during the latter part of the second quarter of 2011.
Newcrest Dewaters Pits After a Tough Second Half Newcrest Mining Ltd. recently reduced gold production guidance to 2.4–2.6 mil- lion oz/y due to continuing production dis- ruptions at Cadia Valley and Lihir, and lower feed grades and recoveries at Telfer. This is around 6% below the original mini- mum guidance level. Increased costs at Gosowong resulting from a higher exchange rates and additional costs associated with a tragic helicopter accident in August are expected to be offset by lower than planned site costs at Cadia Valley and Telfer.
Top Gold Mines (2011) Location
Yanacocha Grasberg Goldstrike Cortez Hills Veladero
Lagunas Norte Lihir
Driefontein* Kupol
Boddington Red Lake Telfer Kloof* Kumtor Ahafo
Olimpiada Porgera
Cadia Valley
Mponeng South Paracatu
Peñasquito Ok Tedi
Peru
Indonesia USA USA
Argentina Peru PNG
Kalgoorlie (Super Pit) Australia Tarkwa
Ghana
South Africa Russia
Australia Canada
Australia
South Africa Kyrgystan Ghana Russia PNG
Australia
South Africa Brazil
Mexico PNG
30 E&MJ; • FEBRUARY 2012
Newcrest's two major projects at Lihir and Cadia Valley remain on schedule and within budget. At Lihir, production for the first two quarters of FY 2011-12 is expect- ed to be approximately 100,000 oz lower than planned and it is unlikely this pro- duction will be recovered during the remainder of this financial year. The lower production is a result of the extended time required to complete the total plant shut down during August and the extreme rain- fall during September which impeded pro- duction from high grade positions in the open-pit until mid-November. Water pump- ing capacity in the pit has now been dou- bled with a further upgrade planned soon. At Telfer, production for the first two quarters is expected to be approximately 50,000 oz lower than planned which is unlikely to be recovered this financial year. Mill throughput rates have been in line with plan, according to Newcrest, however lower feed grades and material movement from main dome open-pit, coupled with lower metallurgical recoveries associated with the commencement of west dome ore feed have impacted production. The scheduled commissioning of Jamieson Cells in January and planned installation of an Isa Mill later in FY2011/12 are expect- ed to improve ore recoveries. Cadia Valley production for the second half of 2011 is expected to be approxi-
Prod '11e Type
OP
OP/UG OP OP OP OP OP OP OP UG
OP/UG OP UG
OP/UG UG OP OP OP OP
OP/UG UG OP OP OP
Prod
0,741 0,622 NA NA
0,583 0,566 0,566 NA NA NA NA
0,425 0,417
1,469 1,786 1,240 1,140 1,120 0,808 0,791 0,788 0,740 0,739 0,739 0,728 0,703 NA
0,611 0,600 0,545 0,466 0,546 NA
0,532 0,482 NA
0,486 '10
000 oz 000 oz 000 oz 1,302 1,272 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
2,057 2,568 1,360 0,518 0,611 1,000 0,853 0,672 0,721 0,710 0,926 NA
0,623 0,629 0,567 0,525 0,546 0,598 0,580 0,532 0,520 0,354 NA
0,516
mately 30,000 oz lower than planned, primarily due to a ground slip in the open- pit and heavy rainfall. The slip occurred low on the south-east wall of the open-pit and blocked a turn on the haul road pre- venting access to the bottom of the pit. Access to the pit has been re-established. The pit needed to be dewatered and min- ing was expected to resume in mid- January 2012. The mill continues to operate at capacity using low grade stock- piles. The company says recovery of the lost production is unlikely.
The Lihir Million Ounce Plant Upgrade (MOPU) is progressing to plan. A major tie- in to the existing process was completed in August. There are no major project plant shut downs scheduled at Lihir during the remainder of the 2011/12 financial year. A new 70 MW fuel oil power plant was energized in November and is now supply- ing power from the first two of its 9 MW generating sets. This has occurred to plan and commences the sequential start-up of the expansion project during calendar year 2012. The new crushing circuit is expect- ed to be energized in February, followed by the milling circuit and the new oxygen plant and autoclaves which enable design throughput to be achieved. The project remains within budget (US$1.3 billion) and on time for completion by the end of calendar year 2012.
Prod '09 000 oz
22,400 NA
12,600 14,500 11,300 06,600 30,000 07,600 15,300 17200 02,482 21,000 04,120 14,100 77,900 01,441 09,100 NA
07,800 24,000 NA
18,485 11,800 05,755
Reserves Owners
Newmont (51%), Buenaventura (44%) Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Barrick Barrick Barrick Barrick
Newcrest Mining
Barrick (50%), Newmont (50%) Gold Fields Gold Fields Kinross
Newmont Goldcorp Newcrest
Gold Fields Centerra Newmont
Polyus Gold
Barrick (95%) Newcrest
AngloGold Ashanti Kinross
Goldcorp SDPL, PNG, Inmet www.e-mj.com
