Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Carbon re-activation kiln
- Smelting
- Calcining
- Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Elution
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
Mine Life | 2042 |
Open pit mining operations at Sukhaybarat were recommenced in 2014. In addition to the open pit gold mine, a carbon in leach processing plant has been built at Sukhaybarat, which processes ore transported from the Bulghah mine, in addition to the ore mined at Sukhaybarat. |
Source:
p. 136
Ma’aden Gold and Base Metals company (MGBM) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Maaden Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Ma’aden), operates six gold mines in Saudi Arabia: AdDuwayhi, Mahd Ad Dhahab, Al Amar, Bulghah, Sukhaybarat and As Suq.
Summary:
Gold mineralization occurs in the contact zone between Idah Suite (diorite, tonalite) and sediments altered into Murdama. Gold mineralization is associated with quartz veins with minor arsenopyrite and pyrite. These lens-shaped veins are usually rough-grained. The sulphuric minerals are often found in vein margins and underground tonalite rocks of the Idah Suite (630-610 million years). High rates of gold are found in quartz veins (up to approximately 6 grams per ton) in the diorite rock injections.
Summary:
Sukhaybarat is an open pit gold mine with a CIL processing plant. High grade ore from the mine is processed on site. Low grade ore is transported by truck to Bulghah mine for heap leach processing.
Flow Sheet:
Crusher / Mill Type | Model | Size | Power | Quantity |
Jaw crusher
|
|
|
|
1
|
Cone crusher
|
|
|
|
2
|
Ball mill
|
|
|
|
1
|
Rod mill
|
|
|
|
1
|
Summary:
RoM ore is crushed in a three stage crushing circuit comprising a primary jaw crusher, a secondary crusher operating in open circuit and a tertiary crusher operating in closed circuit. The crushing circuit reduces ore to -10mm and feeds the stockpile ahead of rod and ball milling which further reduces the ore to 75% passing 75µm.
Processing
- Carbon re-activation kiln
- Smelting
- Calcining
- Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Elution
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
The Sukhaybarat Plant comprises a conventional milling-CIL-elution and electrowinning circuit to produce gold in doré form. The plant treats loaded carbon from the adsorption circuit at the Bulghah Plant.
All slurry from the milling circuit feeds a seven stage CIL circuit and loaded carbon is combined with the loaded carbon from Bulghah ahead of the acid wash in the elution column. The eluted carbon is returned to the carbon regeneration kiln prior to returning to the CIL circuit. The eluate containing the precious metal is then processed through electrowinning and smelted in an induction furnace to produce 17kg to 20kg doré bars.
Mill tailings are pumped to a tailings pond located to the south of the plant site and a new tailings dam facility has been developed on site to the north of the two existing facilities.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Gold
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 68 | 85.6 | 84.6 | 85 | 84.5 |
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| | 1.83 | 1.73 | 1.76 | 1.9 |
Production:
Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Gold
|
oz
| ......  | ......  | 15,704 | 13,089 | 12,126 | 9,004 | 2,687 |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Ore tonnes mined
| 533,700 t | 685,422 t | 406,549 t | 206,306 t |
Waste
| 3,341,218 t | 2,399,395 t | | |
Tonnes milled
| 681,511 t | 677,234 t | 655,586 t | 631,025 t |
Reserves at December 31, 2020:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal | Recoverable Metal |
Probable
|
17.1 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.1 g/t
|
0.61 M oz
|
0.41 M oz
|
Indicated
|
19.1 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.3 g/t
|
|
|
Inferred
|
1.6 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.2 g/t
|
|
|
Total Resource
|
20.8 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.3 g/t
|
0.84 M oz
|
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | 2014 |
Cash costs
|
Gold
|
USD
|
1,197 / oz†
|
† Net of By-Product.
Financials:
| Units | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Capital expenditures
|
M SAR
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
M SAR
|
61.6
|
56
|
39.2
|
Gross profit
|
M SAR
|
|
|
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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Aerial view:
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