Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit / Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Sub-level caving
- Transverse stoping
- Longitudinal retreat
|
Processing |
- Gravity separation
- Concentrate leach
- Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Elution
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
Mine Life | 15 years (as of Jan 1, 2018) |
Latest News | Barrick Gold Corp.: Two Decades Of Value Delivery And Partnership In Mali July 21, 2019 |
Source:
Company | Interest | Ownership |
Government of Mali
|
20 %
|
Indirect
|
Barrick Gold Corp.
|
80 %
|
Indirect
|
Societe des Mines de Loulo SA
|
100 %
|
Direct
|
Societe des Mines de Gounkoto
|
100 %
|
Direct
|
Société des Mines de Loulo SA (Loulo) owns the Loulo gold mine and Société des Mines de Gounkoto (Gounkoto) owns the Gounkoto gold mine. Both Loulo and Gounkoto are owned by Barrick (80%) and the State of Mali (20%).
Deposit Type
- Breccia pipe / Stockwork
- Mesothermal
Source:
p.71-84
Summary:
The Loulo and Gounkoto deposits can be classified as a typical shear hosted Birimian style mesothermal gold deposits.
The Loulo project area is characterised by a sequence of sandstone, limestones and greywackes which are truncated by three major north to NE trending shear zones. Two major mineralised bodies have been discovered within the Project area, Gara and Yalea. Several other satellite deposits are also present.
Yalea is located in a north-south striking, steeply dipping package of metasedimentary rocks. Host lithologies at Yalea (from west to east) comprise of quartzite/grey in the hanging wall, with tectonic breccias in the north. Immediately above the main body of mineralisation is thin (0 m to 5 m) sequence of banded schistose greyish limestone, with alternating white and grey calcitic layers and dark grey to black phyllite units. The main mineralised body is a hydrothermally brecciated argillaceous pink quartzite that becomes more argillaceous (and less altered) towards the footwall. A higher grade ‘Purple Patch’ zone is observed in a dilatational strain transfer zone formed as the dip of the mineralised package steepens forming hydraulic breccias. The footwall package is a thick sequence of argillaceous quartzite and black sandstone. This sedimentary package is intruded locally by thin (0.1 m to 2 m) acid intrusives of mostly granitic composition. The country rocks are also cross cut by a late EW dolerite dyke that is generally sub-horizontal, with a gentle southward plunge.
Gara is located 6 km NNW of the Yalea deposit and is hosted within 800 m long tourmaline sandstone/greywacke unit which outcrops on surface as black quartzite forming small (10 m) topographic highs. The host lithologies are (from west to east): chemical (limestone or carbonate altered) sediments and alternating argillitic and quarzitic bands (argillaceous quartzite or SQR) in the hanging wall, mineralised quartz tourmaline (QT) ranging from 5 m to 20 m thick (average 15 m) and a coarse to medium grained greywacke unit in the footwall. The sedimentary package is also cross cut by three unmineralised late EW dolerite sub-horizontal dykes that plunge shallowly from north to south.
Mining Methods
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Sub-level caving
- Transverse stoping
- Longitudinal retreat
Source:
p.27-28
Summary:
The Loulo Permit are comprised of the Baboto open pit, Loulo 3 open pit, and the Gara West open pit. Baboto oxide and free dig transition ore is scheduled to be mined in 2018, however the rest of the Baboto open pit fresh ore and the other pits will be mined from 2024 onwards, after the larger Gounkoto open pit is depleted. The production from these pits has not been extensively detailed. Randgold intends to use the same contractor that has already mined part of the Baboto open pit, so the fleet requirement is known. The Loulo 3 open pit was mined previously in 2013 and the eastern push back forms the remaining Ore Reserve. Both Loulo 3 and Gara West open pits will use the same equipment as they are timed to be mined consecutively.
Gounkoto is an on-going operation that applies selective mining. Ore is classified as either Full Grade Ore (FGO), delivered to primary crushers, or Marginal Ore (MO), which is stockpiled close to the primary crushers, and blended with the FGO to provide a consistent feed grade. The Gounkoto mining plan has been sequenced in such a way that the south pit will be mined out in advance of the north pit. This will allow the waste mined from the north pit to be backfilled into the south pit resulting in a shorter haul than the conventional route of tramming out of the pit and onto a waste dump. This, however, means excess ore must be mined in 2019 and stockpiled to ensure the plant feed requirements are maintained during the waste pushback mining in years 2020 to 2022.
Open pit mining is conducted by the contractor Gounkoto Mining Services (GMS), a local subsidiary of DTP Terrassement, using either free-dig or conventional drill, blast, load, and haul methods.
The Yalea and Gara underground mines are currently operating and are accessed via portals located in open pits and a box cut. The declines were originally developed as twin declines. One decline containing a conveyor and the second decline is used for mobile equipment access. The lower part of the mines has been developed as single declines with truck haulage up to crushers which feed ore and waste onto the conveyors.
Three mining methods are used at the Yalea and Gara underground mines. They are long hole transverse open stoping; long hole longitudinal retreat open stoping; and stoping under rock fill (SURF). SURF mining is planned to be introduced in the weathered areas of Yalea South Upper.
The SURF method is planned for the portion of Yalea South Upper that has weathered transition or saprolite present in the mineralised zone, or the immediate hanging wall. The method will be used is expected to provide a more consistent production in the less competent ground.
From an operational perspective SURF is very similar to longitudinal sub level caving (SLC). The exception is that in SURF waste rock is tipped into the stope to fill mined voids and prevent caving of the hanging wall. In contrast SLC works by the hanging wall caving to fill the mined void.
Source:
p.281-282
Processing
- Gravity separation
- Concentrate leach
- Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Elution
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
The Loulo processing plant uses a conventional carbon in leach (CIL) gold extraction process with a budget throughput in 2017 of 4.8 Mt, which is in line with the plant design capacity.
Since 2014 multiple optimisation projects have been undertaken, resulting in increased throughput and improved recoveries. It is expected that the improvement initiatives will continue but are considered part of operations and not necessarily confined to capital projects. The expected throughputs and recoveries are based on historical metallurgical testwork and the actual operational performance.
The upgraded process plant remains a conventional crushing, milling, gravity, CIL, and tailings disposal circuit. It will process an average of 580 tph using the following circuits:
• Crushing – three stage crushing for the hard rock sulphide ores and a single stage roll toothed crusher for the soft weathered oxide ores.
• Milling – one primary mill (7 MW); two identical single stage ball mills (4.5 MW), one scat conveyor system is inserted to return all mills scats back to primary mill via a cone crusher.
• Gravity - four centrifugal primary concentrators followed by two intensive leach reactors to treat primary concentrates.
• CIL recovery process.
• Zadra elution process.
• Electrowinning.
• Tailings pumping/deposition split between slime dam and paste plant.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Gold
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 92 | 92.3 | 92.7 | 91 | 90.1 |
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| 4.9 | 4.3 | 5 | 5 | 4.8 |
Production:
Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Gold
|
koz
| 650 ^ | 715 | 660 | 730 | 707 | 630 |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.
^ Guidance / Forecast.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total tonnes mined
| 40,240 kt | 38,658 kt | 34,965 kt | 37,776 kt | 31,360 kt |
Waste
| 33,979 kt | | | | |
Stripping / waste ratio
| 9.97 | | | | |
Tonnes processed
| 4,226 kt | 5,154 kt | 4,918 kt | 4,875 kt | 4,543 kt |
Ore tonnes mined
| | 7,021 kt | 5,028 kt | 4,804 kt | 4,513 kt |
Annual processing capacity
| | | 4.8 Mt | | |
Reserves at December 31, 2019:
The Numbers in the Annual Report 2019 are given on 80% basis.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven
|
21.25 Mt
|
Gold
|
3.83 g/t
|
2.63 M oz
|
Probable
|
35 Mt
|
Gold
|
4.77 g/t
|
5.37 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
56.25 Mt
|
Gold
|
4.41 g/t
|
8 M oz
|
Measured
|
30 Mt
|
Gold
|
4.09 g/t
|
4 M oz
|
Indicated
|
45 Mt
|
Gold
|
4.69 g/t
|
6.75 M oz
|
Inferred
|
18.75 Mt
|
Gold
|
3.9 g/t
|
2.38 M oz
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Cash costs
|
Gold
|
USD
|
|
|
|
468 / oz
|
489 / oz
|
606 / oz
|
Total cash costs
|
Gold
|
USD
|
645 / oz ^
|
634 / oz
|
|
|
|
|
Total cash costs (sold)
|
Gold
|
USD
|
|
|
609 / oz
|
543 / oz
|
563 / oz
|
675 / oz
|
All-in sustaining costs (AISC)
|
Gold
|
USD
|
995 / oz ^
|
886 / oz
|
|
|
|
|
All-in costs
|
Gold
|
USD
|
|
891 / oz
|
|
|
|
|
^ Guidance / Forecast.
Operating Costs:
| Units | 2019 |
OP mining costs ($/t mined)
|
USD
| 3.28 |
UG mining costs ($/t mined)
|
USD
| 57.6 |
Processing costs ($/t milled)
|
USD
| 20.6 |
Financials:
| Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Sustaining costs
|
M USD
| 133 | | | |
|
Capital expenditures
|
M USD
| 136 | | | |
|
Revenue
|
M USD
| 806 | 844.22 | 911.45 | 881.53 |
724.17
|
Operating Income
|
M USD
| 190 | 247.47 | 363.61 | |
|
EBITDA
|
M USD
| 426 | | | |
|
Heavy Mobile Equipment as of December 31, 2017:
Source:
p.258
HME Type | Model | Size | Quantity | Status |
Backhoe
|
Liebherr 970
|
8 cu. m
|
2
|
Proposed
|
Dozer (crawler)
|
Caterpillar D9
|
|
9
|
Existing
|
Dozer (rubber tire)
|
Caterpillar 834H
|
|
2
|
Existing
|
Drill
|
Sandvik DD421
|
|
5
|
Existing
|
Drill
|
|
115 mm
|
2
|
Proposed
|
Drill
|
|
165 mm
|
2
|
Proposed
|
Drill
|
Schramm T450B
|
|
1
|
Proposed
|
Drill
|
Atlas Copco ROC L8
|
|
2
|
Existing
|
Drill
|
Atlas Copco DM30
|
|
9
|
Existing
|
Drill
|
Atlas Copco ROC L8 RC
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Drill
|
Atlas Copco SMARTROC60
|
|
6
|
Existing
|
Drill (long hole)
|
Sandvik DL421
|
|
4
|
Existing
|
Excavator
|
Liebherr EX9350
|
|
5
|
Existing
|
Excavator
|
Liebherr EX9250
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Excavator
|
Komatsu PC800
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Excavator
|
Komatsu PC350
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Excavator
|
Caterpillar 390D
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Excavator
|
Caterpillar 336
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Grader
|
Komatsu GD850
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Grader
|
Caterpillar 16M
|
|
2
|
Existing
|
Loader
|
Komatsu WA470
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Loader
|
Caterpillar 988
|
|
2
|
Existing
|
Loader
|
Caterpillar 980K
|
|
1
|
Proposed
|
Load-Haul-Dump (LHD)
|
Sandvik LH621i
|
|
11
|
Existing
|
Truck (dump)
|
Volvo A45G
|
40 t
|
8
|
Proposed
|
Truck (haul)
|
Volvo FMX 440
|
33 cu. m
|
5
|
Proposed
|
Truck (haul)
|
Komatsu HD785
|
|
7
|
Existing
|
Truck (haul)
|
Caterpillar 777D
|
|
14
|
Existing
|
Truck (haul)
|
Caterpillar 777F
|
|
16
|
Existing
|
Truck (haul)
|
Caterpillar 777G
|
|
1
|
Existing
|
Truck (water)
|
Caterpillar 773
|
|
3
|
Existing
|
Underground truck
|
Sandvik TH663
|
|
11
|
Existing
|
Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
General Manager
|
Abbas Cheick Coulibaly
|
|
Jul 24, 2020
|
Metallurgical Superintendent
|
Lassine Diabate
|
|
Jul 24, 2020
|
Mineral Resource Manager
|
Sekou Diallo
|
|
Jul 24, 2020
|
Mining / Technical Services Manager
|
Chris Nyoni
|
|
Jul 24, 2020
|
Mining Manager
|
Coulibaly Adama Bouba
|
|
Jul 24, 2020
|
Production Manager
|
Moussa balla Magassouba
|
|
Jul 24, 2020
|
Underground Mine Manager
|
Cheick Sangare
|
|
Jul 24, 2020
|
Staff:
Employees | Contractors | Total Workforce | Year |
2,097
|
2,463
|
4,560
|
2019
|
2,084
|
2,309
|
4,393
|
2018
|
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