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Burkina Faso
Essakane Mine (Essakane (CIL, HL) Project)

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 Location:
30 km S from Markoye, Burkina Faso

  Regional Office:
Sector 13, street 13.16, door 72
09 P.O.Box 11
Ouagadougou
Burkina Faso
09
Phone  ...  Subscription required
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Costs & Financials
  • Fleet
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Gold
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Processing
  • Gravity separation
  • Intensive Cyanidation Reactor (ICR)
  • Shaker table
  • Centrifugal concentrator
  • Filter press plant
  • Carbon re-activation kiln
  • Smelting
  • Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
  • Carbon in leach (CIL)
  • Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
  • Elution
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
  • Cyanide (reagent)
Mine Life2027
Latest NewsIAMGOLD Form 40-F Filed on EDGAR; AIF Filed on SEDAR     February 24, 2022


Owners

Source: p. 10,103
CompanyInterestOwnership
Government of Burkina Faso 10 % Indirect
IAMGOLD Corp. 90 % Indirect
Essakane S.A. (operator) 100 % Direct
IamGold owns 90% of the outstanding shares of IMG Essakane, while the Government of Burkina Faso has a 10% free-carried interest in the outstanding shares of IMG Essakane. IMG Essakane means IamGold Essakane S.A., the Company’s 90% subsidiary, established under the laws of Burkina Faso.

Deposit Type

  • Orogenic
  • Vein / narrow vein
  • Hydrothermal


Summary:

Essakane is situated in the Paleoproterozoic Oudalan-Gorouol greenstone belt in northeast Burkina Faso. The local stratigraphy can be subdivided into a succession of lower-greenschist facies meta- sediments (argillites, arenites and volcaniclastics), conglomerate and subordinate felsic volcanics, and an overlying Tarkwaian-like succession comprised of siliciclastic meta-sediments and conglomerate. Each succession contains intercalated mafic intrusive units that collectively comprise up to 40% of the total stratigraphic section.

The region preserves evidence for at least two regional deformational events. D1 structural elements such as the Essakane host anticline are refolded by a series of North-Northeast-trending F2 folds. Later localized deformation occurs near the margin of a calc-alkaline batholith in the south of Essakane. The Markoye fault trends North-Northeast through the western portion of Essakane and separates the Paleoproterozoic rocks from an older granite-gneiss terrane to the west.

The Korizéna prospect is situated approximately 10 kilometres west of the Essakane deposit and is the southern continuity of the Gossey deposit. Both have similar geology.

The geology of the Gossey deposit includes sequences of detrital sedimentary rocks (quartz-arenites, quartz- feldspathic sandstones, fine to microconglomeratic lithic sandstones with polygenic clasts, lithic sandstones with pelitic fragments, greywackes, argillites/ graphitic siltstones) interbedded with igneous rocks (gabbro, diorite, gabbro-diorite, andesite) mainly arranged as sills and dykes (Allou et al. 2013). Structurally, this prospect is controlled by the Markoye fault especially its branch named the Gossey- Korizéna shear zone. The Markoye fault is a regional structure close to the prospect characterized by a predominantly NNE-SSW reverse directional sinistral shear corridor. The main deformation structures observed on this corridor are schistosity and shear planes. The effect of weathering makes it very difficult to measure these in the field. These measurements were mainly carried out on the oriented core and confirmed that the schistosity planes were parallel to the stratification. A more detailed analysis of these planes (stratification and schistosity) by zone reveals a progressive flexure of the orientations, going from the NNE-SSW with dipping an average 60° east in the north, towards the NE-SW with a dip subvertical and slightly inclined westwards to the south (Allou et al. 2013). In addition to this schistosity, other structures are observed: asymmetrical sheared quartz veins (boudins), tension veins arranged in echelon and sigmoid clasts. This corridor is also marked by quartz veins of decametric size and oriented from N10° to N40°. Sometimes these veins are parallel to the shear corridor and have a brecciated structure characterized by crushed quartz taken from siliceous cement.

Mineralization
The EMZ deposit is an orogenic gold deposit characterized by quartz-carbonate stockwork vein arrays and is hosted by folded turbidite succession of arenite and argillite. Gold occurs as free particles within the veins and is also intergrown with arsenopyrite +/- tourmaline on vein margins or in the host rocks. The gold particles occur without sulphides in the weathered saprolite. The gold is free-milling in all associations. The vein arrays are complex and consist of: (i) early bedding parallel laminated quartz veins, (ii) late steep extensional quartz veins, and (iii) pressure solution cleavage (with pressure solution seams normal and parallel to bedding).

Alteration in the host arenite unit typically consists of a sericite > carbonate > silica ± albite ± arsenopyrite ± pyrite assemblage. Arsenopyrite and pyrite occur within and adjacent to quartz veins or are disseminated throughout areas of wall rock alteration. Traces of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, galena and hematite can occur with the arsenopyrite. Gold occurs as free particles within the veins and also as intergrowths in arsenopyrite on vein margins or in the host rocks.

The Gossey deposit mineralization is mainly hosted in sandstone to conglomeratic sedimentary formations along contacts with basic to intermediate intrusive dykes, and rarely within these intrusive units. Gold mineralization is also associated with quartz-vein (brecciated, banded, sheared, and as boudins) systems present in highly silicified zones and accompanied by sulphides.

At the Wafaka deposit, gold mineralization appears to be controlled by a series of shear zones and occurs in a network of parallel fracture systems associated with calcite and quartz within strongly deformed and hydrothermally altered turbidite rocks. The contact between the sedimentary sequences and the dioritic intrusion (dykes and sills) sometimes contains gold.

Drill cutting and core observations have confirmed that the gold mineralization in the Falagountou West deposit is structurally controlled, hosted in sheared and brecciated zones in the hanging wall contacts between sedimentary and intrusive rocks along a north-northwest to north trend. Gold is associated with quartz veins and is found disseminated in the wall rock as well. There is a strong spatial relationship between the gold mineralization structures and the swarm of intrusive dykes that intrude the sedimentary sequence, suggesting that part of the fluid responsible for the gold deposition may have been exsolved from the dioritic magma during its emplacement. The alteration assemblage encountered is silica-calcite- chlorite. Pyrite and arsenopyrite are the main sulphide minerals observed to date, both in sedimentary rocks and in the dioritic dykes.

The Lao deposit is the southern extension of EMZ. The geological setting of this deposit is almost similar to EMZ. It is composed of alternating sequence of argillite and arenite intercalated by intermediate to mafic sills and crossed by some late dolerites dykes. The main structure seems to be a North-East dipping recumbent fold. The gold mineralization is associated with zones of complex networks of fractures systems filled by quartz and quartz-carbonate. The hydrothermal alteration is composed of silica, carbonate and sometime chlorite and epidote. Also pyrite is observed associated to gold.


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader


Summary:

Mining is carried out using a conventional drill, blast, load, and haul surface mining method with an owner fleet. Approximately 12.95 Mt of ore at an average grade of 1.31 g/t Au for a total of 457,286 oz of gold were produced in 2021. Currently the mining plans are limited to the Essakane main pit and its Gorouol satellite pit.

The Falagountou, Wafaka, EMZ North satellite pits that provided additional ore and operational flexibility are currently mined out. The North satellite pit is currently being used as a reservoir while the Wafaka and Falagountou pits are currently undergoing final closure studies.

Various ore stockpiles, sorted per type (saprolite, transition, or fresh rock) and grade (marginal, low, and high grade), are located to the west of the main pit, just north of the primary crusher.


Crushing and Grinding
Flow Sheet: Source
Crusher / Mill TypeModelSizePowerQuantity
Gyratory crusher 1
Cone crusher 1 MW 1
Pebble crusher 2
SAG mill 7 MW 2
Ball mill 7 MW 2

Summary:

The ore is crushed in a gyratory crusher and in a cone crusher. The crushed ore is stockpiled either in a pile for Line A or Line B. The ore is reclaimed with apron feeders and feeds SAG mills on each line. The pebbles from the SAG mills are diverted to their respective pebble crusher in closed circuit. The ore passing through the SAG mill discharge screen feeds a pack of cyclones. Cyclone underflow returns to the ball mill. Cyclone overflow is sent to the preleach thickener. A portion of cyclone underflow goes to the gravity concentrators (two on each line).


Processing

  • Gravity separation
  • Intensive Cyanidation Reactor (ICR)
  • Shaker table
  • Centrifugal concentrator
  • Filter press plant
  • Carbon re-activation kiln
  • Smelting
  • Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
  • Carbon in leach (CIL)
  • Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
  • Elution
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
  • Cyanide (reagent)

Flow Sheet: Subscription required

Summary:

Ore is currently processed using two stages of crushing, SAG, ball mill grinding, pebble crusher grinding (SABC), gravity concentration, and a CIL gold plant. The 2008 updated financial statements proposed a process plant throughput rate of 7.5 Mtpa. During construction, some debottlenecking improvements were made to the design, resulting in a revised nameplate capacity of 9.0 Mtpa based on processing 100% saprolite ore. Due to further operational improvements, plant throughput has increased beyond the constructed design capacity.

Fresh rock CIL plant feed has gradually increased from 2012 onwards. To maintain gold production levels, with increasing proportions of fresh rock in the CIL plant feed, an expansion was completed in 2014. The objective was to double the fresh rock processing capacity from 5.4 Mtpa on a 100% fresh rock basis to 10.8 Mtpa.

The CIL plant expansion was commissioned in February 2014, and effectively doubled the fresh rock processing capacity ........

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameter2021202020192018201720162015
Gold Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required91908992
Gold Head Grade, g/t  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required1.181.071.221.24

Production:

CommodityUnits2022202120202019201820172016
Gold koz  ......  Subscription required ^  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required450432419
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré. ^ Guidance / Forecast.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics202120202019201820172016
Total tonnes mined  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required56,307 kt50,691 kt47,508 kt46,904 kt
Ore tonnes mined  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required17,702 kt13,866 kt11,811 kt10,921 kt
Waste  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required38,605 kt36,825 kt35,697 kt35,983 kt
Tonnes milled  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required13,373 kt13,031 kt13,891 kt12,006 kt
Stripping / waste ratio  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required2.2 2.7 3 3.3
Annual processing capacity  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required10.8 Mt10.8 Mt
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at December 31, 2021:
Essakane Mineral Reserves have been estimated using a $1300/oz gold price and Mineral Resources have been estimated using a $1500/oz gold price.

CategoryTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Proven 32,930 kt Gold 0.5 g/t 503 koz
Probable 62,532 kt Gold 1.1 g/t 2,114 koz
Proven & Probable 95,462 kt Gold 0.9 g/t 2,617 koz
Measured 32,930 kt Gold 0.5 g/t 503 koz
Indicated 75,665 kt Gold 1.1 g/t 2,720 koz
Inferred 7,872 kt Gold 1.5 g/t 373 koz

Commodity Production Costs:

CommodityUnits2021202020192018201720162015
Cash costs Gold USD  ......  Subscription required†  ......  Subscription required† 663 / oz† 686 / oz† 615 / oz† 762 / oz†
Total cash costs (sold) Gold USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Total cash costs Gold USD  ......  Subscription required†  ......  Subscription required† 718 / oz† 738 / oz† 668 / oz† 808 / oz†
All-in sustaining costs (sold) Gold USD  ......  Subscription required†  ......  Subscription required†  ......  Subscription required† 1,002 / oz† 957 / oz† 977 / oz† 1,010 / oz†
† Net of By-Product.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Financials:

Units2022202120202019201820172016
Capital expenditures (planned) M USD  ......  Subscription required
Sustaining costs M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required102.5   68.3   117.2  
Growth Capital M USD  ......  Subscription required
Capital expenditures M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required158.2   82.4   118  
Revenue M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required564.1   547.4   529.1  
Operating Income M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required84   74.7   116.3  
Subscription required - Subscription is required


Heavy Mobile Equipment as of January 31, 2020:
HME TypeModelQuantity
Bulldozer ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Bulldozer ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Dozer (rubber tire) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Dozer (rubber tire) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Drill ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Drill (blasthole) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Excavator ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Excavator ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Excavator ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Grader ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Loader ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Loader ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Shovel ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 25, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 25, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 25, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 25, 2022
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Staff:

EmployeesYear
Subscription required 2020

Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
Corporate Presentation 2022
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
Management Discussion & Analysis 2018
Pre-Feasibility Study Report 2018
Press Release 2018
Press Release 2018
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2018
Annual Report 2017
Management Discussion & Analysis 2017
Fact Sheet 2016
Management Discussion & Analysis 2016
Technical Report 2016
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

News:

NewsDate
IAMGOLD Form 40-F Filed on EDGAR; AIF Filed on SEDAR February 24, 2022
IAMGOLD Announces Updated Strategic Focus & Asset Portfolio Optimization, Preliminary 2021 Operational Results & 2022 Guidance, Cote Q4 Activities and Rosebel Update January 12, 2022
IAMGOLD Reports 39% Increase in Reserves at Essakane Based on Heap Leach Pre-Feasibility Study and Higher Grade Intercepts, Increasing Future Average Annual Production to 480,000 Ounces June 5, 2018

Aerial view:

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