Open pit mining is carried out using conventional drill, blast, load, and haul surface mining methods. Mining of the main pits is carried out by a mining contractor, Gounkoto Mining Services (GMS). Mining operations are carried out seven days per week, three shifts per day, utilising four shift crews.
From 2022 onwards, open pit production will be from Gounkoto, Yalea South, Gara West, Loulo 3, Faraba, and Baboto. The Gara main pit and northern portion of the Yalea pit are completely mined out. A pushback on the southern portion of Yalea is planned for 2023 in the life of mine (LOM) and is reported as Yalea South. The average LOM strip ratio is 15.0. Approximately 23.7 Mt of ore and 356.6 Mt of waste will be mined over the LOM from the combined open pit operations. Enough capacity is available for planned waste, and some in-pit dumping is planned where possible.
The upper levels of the open pits are usually in weathered material, which typically is free digging material. Once fresh (un-weathered) rock is encountered, drilling and blasting is required.
Emulsion explosives are supplied as a down-the-hole service by the mine’s explosive contractor Maxam.
Ten-metre benches are used in both the free dig material in the upper levels and in the harder ground that requires drilling and blasting. The 10 m benches containing ore are excavated in three flitches of equal height.
Mining is done with Liebherr 9350 excavators equipped ........