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Burkina Faso

Bissa Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Gold
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
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SnapshotBissa mine is a part of Bissa-Bouly Operation.

In light of the sanctions and ongoing regulatory actions, Nord Gold PLC's production numbers for the year 2022 are not available.
Related AssetBissa-Bouly Operation

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Government of Burkina Faso 10 % Indirect
Nord Gold plc 90 % Indirect
Bissa Gold SA (operator) 100 % Direct
Nord Gold plc. owns 90% interest in the Bissa and Bouly mines through Bissa Gold SA and the remaining 10% is owned by the government of Burkina Faso.

Deposit type

  • Vein / narrow vein

Summary:

The Bissa and Bouly gold deposits all occur within an approximate 90 km NW-SE zone, comprising Birimian volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Boromo greenstone belt. The belt consists of mafic volcanic rock, minor felsic volcanic rock and extensive sedimentary units, intruded by Eburnean granitoids, all of which have undergone incipient to low greenschist facies metamorphism (Huot and Sattran, 1987).

The Bissa Hill, SW, IOSE, Z51, Z52 and Boken Zandkom deposits all fall within an approximate 9km NE-SW oriented corridor (“the Bissa-Zandkom corridor”) in the northeastern portion of the Boromo greenstone belt. This corridor comprises a series of interbedded argillaceousarenaceous sediments, alongside sequences of mafic volcanic rock. The thick metasedimentary sequence represents the principal host to mineralisation. Structurally, the lithological assemblage at Bissa-Zandkom appears to be tightly folded, with a broad NE to ENE trend, and is offset by several large-scale faults that trend NW-SE. At least two phases of deformation can be identified at the mine-scale, including an earlier D1 and later D2, resulting in a re-folded fold sequence.

Mineralisation at the Bissa and Bouly deposits is primarily orogenic and structurally controlled, with a secondary lithological control. The most significant mineralised zones are associated with anastomosing networks of quartz and quartz-carbonate veins (or stacked, parallel “arrays” of veins) developed within major brittle-ductile shear zones. Two main types of mineralised veins are recognised within the deposits of the Bissa-Zandkom corridor; namely a) the main gold-bearing quartz veins in the central part of steep shear zones, which are often axial planar shears; and b) complex vein systems of gently inclined and steep extensional fractures, developed both within the shear zones barren wall rocks, and along folded bedding planes and lithological contacts. Similar mineralisation styles are observed across the Bissa-Bouly deposits.

Gold mineralisation is most commonly developed in either quartz-sulphide veining ± carbonates and tourmaline, or disseminated and fracture filling sulphides and magnetite. Across most deposits, the primary sulphide species is pyrite, with minor chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite and very rare native gold.

Boken Zandkom, IOSE, SW, Bissa Hill and Yimiougou all strike NE-SW, dipping moderatelysteeply to the NW. Bouly, Z51 and Z52 are also NE-SW striking, but dip steeply to the SE. All of the deposits of the Bissa-Zandkom corridor have a moderate north-easterly mineralisation plunge. Trends associated with the satellite deposits of Zinigma, Samtenga, Ronguen and Gougre are varied.

As is typical in the region, the Bissa and Bouly deposits are variably oxidised. The oxidation sequence typically comprises a thin (0 to 20 m) lateritic layer at surface, which overlies a welldeveloped oxidised saprolitic zone. This normally progresses into a transitional zone, comprising a mixture of saprolite and fresh bedrock, with un-altered fresh rock typically around 50 m to 125 m below surface. Secondary enrichment of gold within the laterite layer is common.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits2021202020192018201720162015
Gold koz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe152155196186235
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.

Operational metrics

Metrics202020192018201720162015
Annual processing capacity  ....  Subscribe
Stripping / waste ratio  ....  Subscribe7 5 5.2 8.79 4.5
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe5,494 kt5,184 kt6,254 kt3,948 kt4,545 kt
Waste  ....  Subscribe37,626 kt36,496 kt31,272 kt
Total tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe43,120 kt41,680 kt37,526 kt
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe4,750 kt4,861 kt4,184 kt4,097 kt

Production Costs

CommodityUnits20202019
Total cash costs Gold USD  ....  Subscribe 883 / oz **  
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Gold USD  ....  Subscribe 1,209 / oz **  
** Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs

Currency20202019201820172016
Processing costs ($/t milled) USD 9.36  9.58  8.93  8.54  9.75  

Financials

Units2020201920182017
Sustaining costs M USD  ....  Subscribe 49.5   54   33.2  
Capital expenditures M USD  ....  Subscribe 68.7   61.4   35.7  
Revenue M USD  ....  Subscribe 208.6   197.4   246.5  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 3, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 3, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 3, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 4, 2023

EmployeesYear
...... Subscription required 2016
...... Subscription required 2015

Aerial view:

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