Mining Intelligence and News
Kazakhstan

Varvara Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Copper
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
  • Dragline
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotVarvara deposit is a part of Varvara Hub.
Related AssetVarvara hub Operation

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Polymetal International plc 100 % Indirect
Polymetal International plc holds Varvara through its 100% subsidiary Varvarinskoye JSC.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Skarn

Summary:

The mineralized bodies at Varvarinskoye are classic gold-copper skarn types that are primarily contained within the eastern side of the local fault and are associated with the border between geological formations. Copper-gold porphyry is overlaid with quartz-sulphide gold veins and scarn to produce very complex and geometrically complicated zones of economic mineralisation. Mineralisation is discontinuous over a strike length of 4 km and is divided into five zones.

The main primary copper mineral is chalcopyrite with some bornite. The gold is mostly in free form and associated with pyrites and other sulphides. A hallow oxidation zone occurs within 10 to 50 m below the surface. In this part of the Varvara deposit, copper is mostly represented by oxide minerals not amenable to conventional flotation.

Based on mineralogy and metallurgical characteristics, all mineralisation is divided into four types based on the degree of oxidation and copper grade:

1.primary gold (copper less than 0.2 per cent.);
2.primary copper (with gold present);
3.oxide gold (copper less than 0.1 per cent.);
4.oxide copper (with gold present).

Types 1 and 3 are processed through the leaching circuit and are known as leach ore. Type 2 is processed through the flotation circuit and is known as float ore. Type 4 is currently stockpiled separately and not processed.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

Combined production numbers are reported under Varvara hub Operation

Operational metrics

Metrics20182017
Ore tonnes mined 870 kt1,261 kt
Waste 7.2 Mt9.6 Mt

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 8, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 14, 2023

Aerial view:

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