The Coyote Gold Mine is a gold mine located in the remote Tanami Desert in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The mine, processing plant and camp are 17 km west of the Northern Territory border. The mine was closed in 2013 and placed in care and maintenance.

Coyote is located on the land of the Tjurabalan people, the traditional owners of the area.Gold mine brings new opportunities to the Tanami Desert ABC Rural published 2006-06-05, retrieved 2009-08-15 Tanami and the Tjurabalan people signed a native title agreement in 2005 to have a mining lease granted. This also included a commitment to employ a number of Tjurabalan people.New gold mine set for official opening ABC News published 2006-05-24, retrieved 2009-08-15

History Serious exploration for resources, especially gold, was carried out in the region from early 2000 by a number of companies, specifically AngloGold, Newmont, Tanami Gold and Otter Gold Mines.The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page 152-153 Some of the area of the Coyote mine was part of an exploration lease owned by AngloGold.The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page 79

Tanami Gold acquired the tenement in November 2003 from AngloGold for A$14 million in cash and shares.Coyote Acquisition Tanami published: 24 November 2003, accessed: 26 January 2010 AngloGold, in turn, had acquired it when it took over Acacia Resources in January 2000.Minedex website Tanami – Coyote search result, 26 January 2010

The mine was opened on 24 May 2006 by the Governor-General of Australia, Michael Jeffery, after a 12-year planning phase.Official Opening At Coyote Minebox.com, published 2006-05-16, retrieved 2009-08-15 It initially had a production target of 60,000 ounces per year.New Coyote gold mine is howling along Ferret.com.au, published 2006-05-23, retrieved 2009-08-15Big opening for Tanami Gold’s Coyote Mining international, published 2006-05-23, retrieved 2009-08-15

In October 2006, Tanami had to temporarily suspend mining to cut costs as its treatment facility experienced difficulties in the commissioning. Mining Top News, published 2006, retrieved 2009-08-15 In late 2006, Tanami was in talks with Monarch Gold Mining in regards to a merger, but talks were later called off amid concerns that the treatment plant at Coyote would need further investment.Monarch, Tanami may revisit merger next year The Australian, published 2006-12-09, retrieved 2009-08-15

In January 2007, the Coyote Pit 2 was flooded in a major rain event. Mining was resumed in Pit 1 in April 2007.

With the financial crisis in 2008, Tanami had to borrow $7.7 million to continue its mining operation at Coyote.Tanami Gold in $7.7m bailout Northern Territory News published 2008-09-26, retrieved 2009-08-15

In 2008–09, ore was mined in the Coyote Open Pit 1 and 2 as well as the Gonzales lode underground operation. Once the Coyote pit will be exhausted, which is scheduled for September 2009, two other open pits will be mined, the Kookaburra and Sandpiper pits.

On 23 April 2013, The West Australian reported the Coyote project was one of the State's highest-cost producers, pouring gold at basic costs of $1220/oz. The mine went into care and maintenance shortly after that retrenching 150 employees.150 jobs to go as gold mine shuts Mining News, published 2013-04-24, retrieved 2014-10-14

Tanami Gold placed the Coyote mine into care and maintenance in late April 2013, citing falling gold prices, rising cost and equipment failures as the reason.

In October 2017, Northern Star Resources purchased the mine for A$4 million from Tanami Gold. Tanami Gold had previously offered the mine to ABM Resources, who had an option to buy it between 2014 and 2016 but ultimately declined.

Under Northern Star, the Coyote Gold Mine is part of the larger Tanami Project, which spans mining leases in both Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

In June 2022 the mine was sold to Black Cat Syndicate as part of a package of assets which also included the Paulsens Gold Mine. Exploration was recommenced and the facility is expected to be restored and returned to operation.

Production Production of the mine: Quarter Production Grade Cost per ounce March 2007 2,981 ounces June 2007 1,718 ounces Total 2006–07 September 2007 6,051 ounces 3.27 g/t December 2007 11,779 ounces A$ 709 March 2008 6,122 ounces 3.38 g/t A$1,029 June 2008 5,799 ounces 3.37 g/t Total 2007–08 29,751 ounces September 2008 4,261 ounces 5.8 g/t December 2008 3,952 ounces 2.9 g/t March 2009 5,971 ounces 6.1 g/t June 2009 9,136 ounces 6.0 g/t Total 2008–09 23,320 ounces 5.1 g/t September 2009Tanami Gold quarterly report September 2009 Tanami, published: October 2009, accessed: 26 January 2010 12,821 ounces 5.5 g/t A$660 December 2009Quarterly Report for the period ending 30 June 2010 Tanami, published: 29 July 2010, accessed: 29 July 2010 11,783 ounces 7.6 g/t March 2010 10,456 ounces 6.7 g/t A$672 June 2010 12,900 ounces 7.5 g/t A$655 Total 2009–10 47,960 ounces 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 30,216 ounces 5.03 g/t 2013–present inactive

References

External links

Coyote Minedex