The North Mara Mine is situated within the Mara Greenstone Belt. The underlying geology comprises felsic and mafic volcanics intercalated with sediments which are intruded by various granitoid and gabbroic plutonic rocks. Tertiary volcanic lava flows partially cover the underlying Archaean geology and the ore bodies are structurally controlled, shear-hosted lode gold deposits. There are several types of gold mineralisation including shear-zone-related quartz vein and disseminated gold.

The mine is a combined open pit and underground operation from two deposits, Gokona (underground) and Nyabirama (open pit).

At Gokona, Acacia utilizes an existing exploration decline for initial access to the planned underground mine. Two major declines are included in the mine plan.

The mining method utilised in the operation is Long Hole Open Stoping (“LHOS”) with Cemented Aggregate Fill (“CAF”).

Both oxide and sulphide reserves are mined and processed by conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) technology.

The ore is hauled in 80 tonne dump trucks up to the Run of Mine (ROM) pad at Nyabirama. The ore is drawn out of the ROM bin and fed onto a vibrating grizzly screen by means of an apron feeder. The undersize material passes through the grizzly onto a conveyor belt while the oversize material passes through a jaw crusher which discharges onto the same conveyor belt. The ore is fed onto a banana screen via a two tier conveyor system. The undersize from the banana screen passes onto a conveyor belt which feeds the SAG mill feed stock pile while the oversize material is fed into a secondary cone crusher. The crushed ore from the secondary stockpile is tipped onto the SAG feed stockpile.

The ore is drawn from underneath the SAG mill feed stockpile onto the SAG mill feed conveyor belt by means of three vibrating feeders. It is fed into the SAG mill for primary g ........