List of active gold mines in Western Australia

List of active gold mines in Western Australia

Position of Western Australia within Australia highlighted
Location
State Western Australia
Country Australia
Regulatory authority
Authority Department of Mines and Petroleum
Website Official website
Production
Commodity Gold
Production Increase 4.6 million ounces (142,519 kg)
Value Increase A$5.7 billion
Employees Increase 16,686
Year 2009[1]

This is a list of the major gold mines in Western Australia.

Western Australia produced approximately 50% of all Australian mineral and petroleum sales, which made up 89% of the state's merchandise exports in 2008.[2] In 2008, gold was ranked fifth in the list of resources exported by Western Australia in regard to value, behind iron ore, crude oil, alumina and LNG, with a value of A$4.4 billion.[2] In 2008, the state produced 4,200,000 ounces of gold, or 131.421 tonnes. All up, in 2008, Western Australian gold mines employed 14,459 people on their mine sites.[2]

By 2008-09, gold had jumped into fourth spot in regard to export value with a value of A$5.2 billion, overtaking alumina. The average gold price was US$874 per ounce in 2008–09, or A$1,171 per ounce, which was 28 per cent higher than the previous year.[3]


List of active mines

This is a list of gold mines in Western Australia which are active, were recently active or are scheduled for production in the near future:

Mine Owner Location Region Production
(troy ounces)		 Period [1] Source
Agnew Gold Mine Gold Fields Leinster Goldfields-Esperance 192,100 (2008–09)
Boddington Gold Mine Newmont Boddington Peel none (2009) [2]
BrightStar Gold Mine A1 Minerals Limited Laverton Goldfields-Esperance 14,287 (2010–11) [10]
Bronzewing Gold Mine Navigator Resources Limited Wiluna Mid West 75,423 (2010–11) [13]
Burbanks Gold Mine Barra Resources Limited Coolgardie Goldfields-Esperance 17,840 (2006–07) [3]
Carosue Dam Gold Mine Saracen Mineral Holdings Laverton Goldfields-Esperance 111,163 (2010–11) [5]
Coolgardie Gold Mine Focus Minerals Limited Coolgardie Goldfields-Esperance 72,832 (2010–11)
Coyote Gold Mine Tanami Gold NL Tanami Desert Kimberley 47,960 (2009–10) [6]
Daisy Milano Gold Mine Silverlake Resources Kalgoorlie Goldfields-Esperance 66,671 (2009–10)
Darlot-Centenary Gold Mine Barrick Gold Leonora Goldfields-Esperance 352,000 (2009) [7]
Edna May Gold Mine Evolution Mining Westonia Wheatbelt none (2009–10)
Frog's Leg Gold Mine La Mancha Resources (51%)

Avoca Resources Limited (49%)

 Kalgoorlie Goldfields-Esperance 85,600 (2008–09) [8]

Golden Grove Mine Minerals and Metals Group Mount Magnet Mid West 47,755 (2008) [9]
Granny Smith Gold Mine Barrick Gold Laverton Goldfields-Esperance 352,000 (2009) [7]
Gwalia Gold Mine St Barbara Limited Leonora Goldfields-Esperance 82,795 (2008–09)
Higginsville Gold Mine Avoca Resources Limited Higginsville Goldfields-Esperance 131,227 (2008–09)
Jundee Gold Mine Newmont Wiluna Mid West 412,300 (2009)
Kalgoorlie Super Pit Gold Mine Barrick Gold (50%)

Newmont (50%)

 Kalgoorlie Goldfields-Esperance 690,000 (2009)

Kanowna Belle Gold Mine Barrick Gold Kalgoorlie Goldfields-Esperance 284,000 (2009)
Laverton Gold Mine Crescent Gold Limited Laverton Goldfields-Esperance 73,474 (2009–10) [11]
Lawlers Gold Mine Barrick Gold Leinster Goldfields-Esperance 352,000 (2009) [7]
Marvel Loch Gold Mine St Barbara Limited Marvel Loch Wheatbelt 156,105 (2008–09)
Mount Morgans Gold Mine Range River Gold Laverton Goldfields-Esperance 6,088 (2009–10) [4]
Norseman Gold Mine Norseman Gold Plc Norseman Goldfields-Esperance 80,753 (2008–09)
Paddington Gold Mine Norton Gold Fields Limited Kalgoorlie Goldfields-Esperance 140,436 (2009–10)
Paulsens Gold Mine Northern Star Resources Pannawonica Pilbara 75,089 (2009)
Plutonic Gold Mine Barrick Gold Meekatharra Mid West 144,000 (2009)
Randalls Gold Mine Integra Mining Limited Kalgoorlie Goldfields-Esperance 54,766 (2010–11) [14]
Sandstone Gold Mine Troy Resources NL Sandstone Mid West 29,885 (2009–10)
South Kalgoorlie Gold Mine Avoca Resources Limited Kalgoorlie Goldfields-Esperance 34,766 (2008–09) [8]
St Ives Gold Mine Gold Fields Kambalda Goldfields-Esperance 428,300 (2008–09)
Sunrise Dam Gold Mine AngloGold Ashanti Laverton Goldfields-Esperance 401,000 (2009)
Telfer Mine Newcrest Mining Limited Telfer Pilbara 688,909 (2009–10)
Wattle Dam Gold Mine Ramelius Resources Kambalda Goldfields-Esperance 16,283 (2008–09)
White Foil Gold Mine La Mancha Resources Kalgoorlie Goldfields-Esperance none (2008–09) [12]

Notes

Gold mines in the Mid West region
  • ^[1] Some companies work on Calendar year (2008) (mostly non-Australian companies), others on Fiscal year (2008–09).
  • ^[2] Gold production commenced 24 May 2010.[4]
  • ^[3] Having mined Burbanks in 2006-07 and finished production in August that year, the company has resumed mining on 22 June 2009.[5]
  • ^[4] Purchased from Barrick in May 2009 the mine has reopened in December 2009.
  • ^[5] Production to commence in March 2010.
  • ^[6] The Coyote Gold Mine is located in the remote Tanami Desert. The mine is however only 10 km from the Northern Territory/Western Australian border and has holdings on both sides of the border.[6]
  • ^[7] Combined result for Darlot, Granny Smith and Lawlers.
  • ^[8] Dioro's fiscal year finishes on 31 August. Figures for Frog's Leg are calculated on Dioro's share of production.
  • ^[9] OZ Minerals has sold the mine to the China Minmetals Corporation in June 2009, production figures are for under OZ Minerals.[7]
  • ^[10] Construction of the plant is nearing completion and the mine is scheduled to open in late 2009.[8]
  • ^[11] Operations at the mine were suspended on 7 July 2008 but mining resumed in August 2009 with ore to be treated at the nearby Granny Smith mine.
  • ^[12] Having previously been mined in 2002-03, the mine is scheduled to resume production in March 2010.[9]
  • ^[13] View Resources went into administration on 8 February 2008, the mine ceasing operation on that date. View had only reopened the mine in April 2007, after a plant refurbishment. Production figure for fourth quarter 2007 only.[10] In April 2009, Navigator Resources announced its intention to purchase the mine and recommence mining in January 2010.[11] The acquisition of Bronzwing was completed on 1 October 2009 and Navigator set the date for first gold production to April 2010.[12]
  • ^[14] Integra purchased the 1.35Mtpa New Celebration processing mill in May 2006 for $3 million. Mining began in 2010, with the mill being relocated to Salt Creek, which is part of Integras Randalls Gold Project.[13][14]

List of mines in care and maintenance

This is a list of gold mines in Western Australia which are currently under care and maintenance with no specific date of reopening:

Mine Owner Location Region Production
(troy ounces)		 Period [1] Source
Bluebird Gold Mine Reed Resources Meekatharra Mid-West 32,145 (2007–08) [2]
Burnakura Gold Mine ATW Gold Corporation Meekatharra Mid-West 2,641 (2009) [11]
Davyhurst Gold Mine Swan Gold Mining Davyhurst Goldfields-Esperance 18,392 (2007–08) [4]
Fortnum Gold Mine Grosvenor Gold Pty Limited Peak Hill Mid West 25,000 (2006–07) [5]
Gidgee Gold Mine Panoramic Resources Sandstone Mid West 42,000 (2004) [6]
Gullewa Gold Mine ATW Gold Corporation Wurarga Mid-West [7]
Hill 50 Gold Mine Ramelius Resources Mount Magnet Mid West 224,797 (2007) [8]
Indee Gold Mine Range River Gold Port Hedland Pilbara 1,022 (2008–09) [9]
Kirkalocka Gold Mine Mount Magnet South NL Mount Magnet Mid West 9,400 (2008) [10]
Mandilla Gold Mine Anglo Australian Resources NL Kambalda Goldfields-Esperance 20,619 (2006–07) [12]
Minjar Gold Mine Golden Stallion Resources Yalgoo Mid West
Mount Ida Gold Mine Swan Gold Mining Menzies Goldfields-Esperance 1,646 (2007–08) [14]
Tarmoola Gold Mine St Barbara Limited Leonora Goldfields-Esperance inactive (2008–09) [3]
Thunderbox Gold Mine Norilsk Nickel Leinster Goldfields-Esperance [15]

Notes

Gold mines in the Kalgoorlie - Leonora region
  • ^[1] Some companies work on Calendar year (2008) (mostly non-Australian companies), others on Fiscal year (2008–09).
  • ^[2] Purchased in 2011 from Mercator Gold PLC, the company's mining assets around Meekatharra consist of the Bluebird mine and mill and a number of other satellite pits.[15] Mining resumed in October 2007, but Mercator was forced to go into administration 9 October 2008. Reed Resources plans to reopen the mine by late 2012.[16]
  • ^[3] The Tarmoola mine was part of the Sons of Gwalia acquisition by St Barbara. The mine was closed in September 2004, after a pit wall failure in February 2004.[17]
  • ^[4] Monarch purchased Davyhurst in November 2005 and commenced production in June 2007. Operations were suspended on 14 June 2008 and on 12 July 2008, Monarch went into administration. A deal struck with Stirling Resources Limited in June 2009 could see the mine reopen in 2010. Production figures for July 2007 to March 2008 only.[18]
  • ^[5] The Fortnum mine closed in April 2007, having only reopened in July 2006, when the then-owner Gleneagle Gold Limited went into receivership.[19] It was sold to Eagle Gold Mines Limited in 13 December 2007,[20] which, in turn, went into receivership in 2009, now renamed Grosvenor Gold Pty. Limited. The future of the mine remains uncertain. Approximate figure for the period from July 2006 to April 2007, calculated from gold sales of A$21,000,000 at an average of A$800 per ounce in this time.
  • ^[6] Originally part of APEX's three-mine strategy, whereby ore was to be transported from Gidgee and Youanmi to Wiluna to be treated there. The start up of the mining at this two locations was however been delayed numerous times. APEX purchased Gidgee from Legend Mining Limited in August 2007,[21] the mine having last been operational in March 2005 and since been in care and maintenance,[22] and sold it to Panoramic Resources in February 2011.[23]
  • ^[7] Purchased in April 2008, the mine remains in care and maintenance.[24]
  • ^[8] Harmony placed Hill 50 into care and maintenance in December 2007. After being unable to sell the mine, Harmony conducted a study in regard to carrying out mining at Hill 50 once more. It is currently considering the option of consolidating historic resources into one large super pit, rather than to carry out costly underground mining. Harmony expects the study to be completed in the third quarter of 2010.[25] Production figures are for Harmony's combined Australian operations.
  • ^[9] Placed in care and maintenance.
  • ^[10] The mine was acquired by Lihir Gold Limited through a merger with Equigold NL in June 2008. In August 2008, the mine finished production, was placed in care and maintenance and then sold on to Mount Magnet South NL.[26] Production figures for Lihir Gold ownership period only.
  • ^[11] Purchased in October 2007, ATW has resumed mining at Burnakura on 4 March 2009. Figures are for the period from 4 March to 31 May 2009.[24] In October 2009, the mine was returned to a care and maintenance status because of rising costs and operational difficulties.[27]
  • ^[12] The mine operated from July 2006 to April 2007, with milling continuing until October 2007. Absolute figure for the duration of operation of the mine from July 2006 to October 2007.
  • ^[13] Mount Gibson was mined from 1986 to 1998 and purchased by Legend from Oroya Mining Limited in 2005.
  • ^[14] Monarch purchased Mount Ida and commenced production in 2007. On 12 July 2008, Monarch went into administration, ending operations at the mine. A deal struck with Stirling Resources Limited in June 2009 could see the mine reopen in 2010.[18] New owners, Swan Gold Mining, plans to reopen Davyhurst in May 2010 and Mt Ida in October of the same year.[28] Figures for July 2007 to March 2008.
  • ^[15] Mine in care and maintenance, having been in production from 2002 to 2007,[29] its infrastructure was used for the Waterloo Nickel Mine, which is also now in care and maintenance.

List of advanced mining projects

This is a list of gold mine projects in Western Australia which are currently in an advanced state of planning or construction:[1]

Mine Owner Location Region Future production
(troy ounces per annum)		 Start Source
Duketon Gold Mine Regis Resources Limited Laverton Goldfields-Esperance 110,000 - 145,000 2010 [2]
Fortitude Gold Mine Midas Resources Limited Laverton Goldfields-Esperance
Tropicana Gold Mine AngloGold Ashanti (70%)

Independence Group NL (30%)

 Great Victoria Desert Goldfields-Esperance 350,000 - 400,000 2013 [3]

Notes

  • ^[1] As shown on the "Major Resources Projects Western Australia 2008" map, published by the Department of Industry and Resources.
  • ^[2] Construction at the Duketon - Moolart Well deposit was supposed to start in late 2009 while first production is scheduled for one year later.[30]
  • ^[3] Construction of the remote Tropicana mine is scheduled to begin in 2010 and the mine is expected to start production in 2013.[31][32]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gold mines in Western Australia.

Sources

References

  1. ↑ Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistic Digest 2009 Department of Mines and Petroleum website, accessed: 28 November 2010
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Western Australian 2008 Statistics Digest retrieved 2009-08-06
  3. ↑ Western Australian Resources Industry Continues to Grow – Overview 2008-09 Department of Mines and Petroleum website, accessed: 14 January 2010
  4. ↑ Gold Production Begins A1 minerals ASX announcement, published: 24 May 2010, accessed: 29 July 2010
  5. ↑ Burbanks Recommences Gold Production Barra Resources website, retrieved 2009-08-05
  6. ↑ Place Names Search Results - Tanami Australian Government website, accessed: 23 March 2009
  7. ↑ OZ Minerals’ Golden Grove mill shut for 3 to 4 weeks Mining Journal, retrieved 2009-08-04
  8. ↑ Brightstar Gold Project Development Update A1 website, published: 31 August 2009, accessed: 7 September 2009
  9. ↑ White Foil La Mancha website, accessed: 31 January 2010
  10. ↑ Quarterly report View Resources View Resources website, retrieved 2009-08-05
  11. ↑ Bronzewing acquisition targets imminent gold production Navigator Resources announcement, published 2009-04-02, retrieved 2009-08-06
  12. ↑ RENOUNCEABLE RIGHTS ISSUE SHORTFALL Navigator Resources ASX announcement, published: 11 December 2009, accessed: 15 December 2009
  13. ↑ "RANDALLS GOLD PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY". Integra Mining Limited. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  14. ↑ "Projects Overview". Integra Mining Limited. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  15. ↑ Proposed Meekatharra Asset Acquisition from St Barbara Mines Limited Mercator website, published 2005-11-05, retrieved 2009-08-05
  16. ↑ Reed to re-start WA gold mine in 2012 news.ninemsn.com.au, published: 31 March 2011, accessed: 14 April 2011
  17. ↑ St Barbara annual report 2005 accessed: 7 February 2010
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Monarch creditors accept proposal from Stirling ASX announcement, published 2009-o7-01, retrieved 2009-08-05
  19. ↑ Buyers circling Gleneagle thewest.com.au, published 2007-05-04, retrieved 2009-08-05
  20. ↑ Gleneagle annual report 2007 Gleneagle Gold website, retrieved 2009-08-05
  21. ↑ Legend Settles Gidgee Gold Project Sale With APEX Legend website, published 2007-08-13, retrieved 2009-08-05
  22. ↑ Legend annual report 2004 Legend website, retrieved 2009-08-05
  23. ↑ Kimberley nickel miner seeing gold ABC Rural, published: 28 February 2011, accessed: 18 March 2011
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Interim Financial Statements, Q1, 31 May 2009 ATW website, retrieved 2009-08-05
  25. ↑ Mt Magnet Harmony website, accessed: 18 January 2010
  26. ↑ Kirkalocka site overview Lihir Gold website, retrieved 2009-08-05
  27. ↑ ATW website: Burnakura back on care and maintenance published: 7 October 2009
  28. ↑ Swan to commence mining in May Swan Gold ASX announcement, published: 25 March 2010, accessed: 25 April 2010
  29. ↑ Thunderbox is as good as gold ferret.com.au, published 2003-02-27, retrieved 2009-08-06
  30. ↑ Duketon Gold Project to Proceed Regis ASX announcement, published: 14 April 2009, accessed: 26 January 2010
  31. ↑ AngloGold sees q1 '13 for Tropicana gold mine starting industrysearch.com.au, published: 28 July 2009, accessed: 7 September 2009
  32. ↑ Tropicana Project Overview AngloGold website, accessed: 7 September 2009

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