Overview
| Status | Closing / Closed |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Production Start | ...  |
In 2020, a new and final extension of the closure plan until 2023 was approved. Kinross estimates the net present value of future cash outflows for site reclamation and remediation costs at Maricunga under IFRS as at December 31, 2022, at approximately $104.9 million. |
Source:
p. 46
| Company | Interest | Ownership |
|
Kinross Gold Corp.
|
100 %
|
Indirect
|
|
Compania Minera Maricunga S.A.
(operator)
|
100 %
|
Direct
|
The Maricunga heap leach mine, formerly known as the Refugio mine, is owned and operated by CMM.
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- Porphyry
- Breccia pipe / Stockwork
Summary:
Gold mineralization at Maricunga has been interpreted to be porphyry style gold systems.
The Verde and Pancho gold deposits at Maricunga occur in the Maricunga Gold Belt of the high Andes in northern Chile.
The Maricunga volcanic-intrusive complex is exposed over an area of 12 km2 and consists of andesitic to dacitic domes, flows, and breccias that are intruded by subvolcanic porphyries and breccias (Muntean 1998).
At Verde West, gold mineralization is centered about an elliptical porphyry plug measuring 175 by 100 m and oriented at N30°W. At Verde East, the porphyry plug measures 130 by 80 m and is oriented at N35°E. The porphyries occur within a sequence of intermediate tuffs, porphyries and breccias that are the host rocks to the gold mineralization. Lithological interpretation at Verde has identified six major lithologic units. These are:
• Post mineral intrusives (barren);
• Mineralized post mineral intrusives;
• Verde breccia;
• Dacite porphyry;
• Dacite tuffs;
• Laguna tuff (barren).
The most favourable ore hosts are the Verde Breccia and Dacite Porphyry units. The dacite porphyry is a volcanic to hypabyssal intrusive rock with 20% to 40% plagioclase phenocrysts in a fine-grained matrix. It contains phenocrysts of biotite, hornblende, and sparse quartz. The unit is the best host for stockwork veining, with some portions containing up to 20% quartz-magnetite ± pyrite veinlets.
Summary:
Maricunga is an open pit mine. The ore is transported by haul truck to the three-stage crusher and then to the heap leach pad.
As a result of the suspension of mining and crushing activities at Maricunga in the fourth quarter of 2019, no ore was mined or processed in 2022 and 2021. No further production is expected while Maricunga continues to sell its remaining finished metals inventories.
The Maricunga gold recovery process consists of a single-line primary crushing, fine crushing (secondary and tertiary).
The plant can process 48,000 tonnes per day of dry Maricunga ore. The crushing plant product is approximately 80% passing 12 millimetres.
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Production:
As a result of the suspension of mining and crushing activities at Maricunga, there was no new ore mined and processed in both 2020 and 2019. Production continued through 2019 as ounces continued to be recovered from the heap leach pads until the fourth quarter of 2019 when production activities transitioned to care and maintenance.
| Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Gold Equivalent
|
oz
| ...... | ...... | 60,066 | 91,127 | 175,532 | 212,155 |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Ore tonnes mined
| 6,059 kt | 12,261 kt | 16,900 kt |
|
Tonnes processed
| 6,508 kt | 12,790 kt | 16,018 kt |
|
Daily milling capacity
| | 48,000 kt | 40,000 t |
|
Annual milling capacity
| | | 14 Mt |
Reserves at December 31, 2022:
Mineral resources are estimated using appropriate cut-off grades based on a gold price of $1,700.00 per ounce and a silver price of $21.30 per ounce.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Measured
|
64,728 kt
|
Gold
|
0.7 g/t
|
1,521 koz
|
|
Indicated
|
221,602 kt
|
Gold
|
0.7 g/t
|
4,688 koz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
286,330 kt
|
Gold
|
0.7 g/t
|
6,209 koz
|
|
Inferred
|
174,847 kt
|
Gold
|
0.6 g/t
|
3,097 koz
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| | Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Cash costs (sold)
|
Gold Equivalent
|
USD
|
......
|
......
|
730 / oz
|
482 / oz
|
827 / oz
|
Financials:
| | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Capital expenditures
|
M USD
| | |
|
1.5
|
5.1
|
|
Revenue
|
M USD
| ...... | ...... |
113.6
|
52
|
219.4
|
|
Operating Income
|
M USD
| ...... | ...... |
45.1
|
21.3
|
-150.6
|
|
Gross profit
|
M USD
| | ...... |
43.9
|
27.5
|
-99.8
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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