Overview
Stage | Restarting |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Breast mining
- Cut & Fill
- Shrinkage stoping
|
Processing |
- Flotation
- Carbon in pulp (CIP)
- Roasting
|
Vatukoula Gold Mines is currently pursuing a strategy of refurbishment and development at this prolific gold producing mine. Applying modern mining techniques and equipment in the mining process will assist in restoring production to historic rates of 100,000 ounces of gold per annum. The Company is currently progressing full underground and surface mining exploration drill programmes with the intention of increasing the information available on the current gold resources as an aid to more efficient planning. |
Deposit Type
- Epithermal
- Vein / narrow vein
Summary:
Vatukoula is a low-sulphidation epithermal gold vein deposit associated with alkaline type igneous rocks in a volcanic setting, typical of several other major gold mines in the southwest Pacific region including Grasberg, Porgera and Lihir. Post caldera collapsing (a critical genetic feature) was the formation of a north-westerly shear system transecting the caldera, with flatly dipping structures within the peripheral basalts resulting from tectonic resettling. Gold mineralisation is thought to have been set downbetween 3 and 7 million years ago, post-dating magmatism by around 400,000 years. As currently understood, the vast majority of the gold at Vatukoula is located within a two square kilometre fractured block, largely in the form of gold in arsenopyrite. However between 10 and 50% of the gold is in the form of precious metal tellurides. In terms of exploration it is known highlevel epithermal mineralisation and alteration occur up to 4km from the Emperor gold mine, in an area which has a demonstrable present day hydraulic connection with the mine.
Typically, gold mineralization occurs within steeply dipping dykes and shears, flat-dipping structures (sub 45°), known locally as “flatmakes”, and the intersection of two or more structures, referred to as “shatter zones”. An estimated 7Moz (8.5Moz pre mined resources assuming an 80% extraction rate) of gold has been extracted since mining operations commenced.
Gold bearing veins range from 1cm to 1.2m, at times dramatically over relatively short distances. Annualised gold grades have historicallly ranged from 5.5g/t to 9.5g/t Au. Historically, mining continued along the mineralised “flatmake”, absorbing good grade and poor.
Mining Methods
- Breast mining
- Cut & Fill
- Shrinkage stoping
Summary:
The Mine is a long established underground gold mine. There are a total of nine shafts in the Mine, but only four are being used other than for ventilation; the Smith & Phillip Shaft for hoisting ore, the Cayzer Shaft for men and materials and a Decline Shaft for access for the rubber tyred mine fleet.
The mining operations use conventional labour intensive stopping methods together with trackless ground handling and haulage followed by skip hoisting via the vertical shafts. Stopping will be a mixture of Long Wall Breast, Shrinkage and Cut and Fill.
Processing Technologies
- Flotation
- Carbon in pulp (CIP)
- Roasting
Summary:
Infrastructure at the Vatukoula Gold Mine includes assay labs, an independent power station, workshops and administrative offices.
Processing Plant - At the Mine site there is a seven hundred thousand tonne per annum processing facility, which includes crushing, grinding, flotation, roaster, CIP and tailings dams.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2013 | 2012 |
Gold
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 75.6 | 78.6 |
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| ......  | ......  |
- Subscription is required.
Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | 2013 | 2012 |
Gold
|
oz
| 39,858 | 53,152 |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2013 | 2012 |
Total tonnes mined
| 397,995 t | 477,089 t |
Tonnes processed
| 428,978 t | 479,524 t |
Reserves at December 31, 2013:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven
|
0.64 Mt
|
Gold
|
8.14 g/t
|
0.17 M oz
|
Probable
|
2.37 Mt
|
Gold
|
7.66 g/t
|
0.58 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
3.01 Mt
|
Gold
|
7.768 g/t
|
0.75 M oz
|
Measured
|
7.6 Mt
|
Gold
|
6.1 g/t
|
1.5 M oz
|
Indicated
|
4.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
8.8 g/t
|
1.2 M oz
|
Inferred
|
9.1 Mt
|
Gold
|
4.6 g/t
|
1.4 M oz
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | 2013 |
Cash costs
|
Gold
|
USD
|
1,606 / oz
|
Selling price
|
Gold
|
USD
|
1,537 / oz
|
Financials:
| Units | 2013 |
Revenue
|
M GBP
|
39.1
|
EBITDA
|
M GBP
|
-8.98
|
Operating Cash Flow
|
M GBP
|
-0.07
|
Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
.......................
|
.......................
|
|
Nov 13, 2018
|
- 'Supplier or 'Investor' subscription is required.
Staff:
Employees | Year |
|
2013
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
- Subscription is required.