The Carosue Dam Gold Mine is a gold mine located south of Laverton, Western Australia.
Carosue Dam was previously owned by the now defunct mining company Sons of Gwalia Limited.The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page 520 Purchased in 2005, the mine was placed into care and maintenance by new owners St Barbara in June 2005 and sold to Saracen Mineral Holdings in February 2006. Saracen reopened the mine in early 2010. It is now owned and operated by Northern Star Resources after a merger with Saracen in 2021.
History
Located within the South Laverton gold field, situated 120 km north east of Kalgoorlie, the processing plant at Carosue Dam was constructed and commissioned in 2000, then owned by Pacmin Mining. In October 2001, it was acquired by Sons of Gwalia.MINEDEX on the Web accessed: 4 September 2009 During its five-year operation until June 2005, the mine produced over 700,000 ounces of gold.Saracen website - Plant and Infrastructure accessed: 4 September 2009
Sons of Gwalia went into administration on 30 August 2004 and the company's gold mining operations were sold to St Barbara Limited in March 2005 for A$38 million, having been valued by the Sons of Gwalia directors at A$120 million. It was one of four gold mines sold to St Barbara in this deal, the other three being the Marvel Loch Gold Mine, the Tarmoola Gold Mine and the Gwalia Gold Mine.Sons of Gwalia Limited at delisted.com.au accessed: 3 September 2009St Barbara Mines Limited - Lodgment of Open Briefing published: 28 June 2005, accessed: 3 September 2009The West Australian, published 16 March 2005, accessed: 3 September 2009
After the collapse of Sons of Gwalia in 2004, the mine continued producing but was placed in care and maintenance by St Barbara three months after its purchase.
In October 2005, St Barbara announced the sale of Carosue Dam to Saracen for A$19.4 million in cash and shares. St Barbara acquired a 20% interest in Saracens through this transaction.St Barbara annual report 2006 accessed: 4 September 2009
With the purchase of the mine by Saracen, the new owners developed a two-staged plan to reopen the mine in 2010. After a period of open pit mining, lasting for three to five years, the second stage will also include an underground operation.Saracens website - Operations - Stage 2 accessed: 4 September 2009
On 15 June 2009 Saracen announced that the mine would be connected to the Western Power grid through a 90 km power line rather than being supplied by diesel generators on site. This line, scheduled to be completed in late 2010, is estimated to cost between $10 and 15 million but should provide the company with savings in the range of $50 to 100 per ounce of gold produced.Carosue Dam Operations - Mains power supply Saracens website, published: 15 June 2009, accessed: 5 September 2009
In November 2009, Saracen announced that the $7 million construction project at the mine had been finished and plant commissioning had started. Gold production was scheduled to begin in February 2010,Carosue Dam plant commissioning commenced Gold production expected in February 2010 ASX announcement, published: 30 November 2009, accessed: 27 December 2009 with the first gold pour announced on 29 January 2010.First Gold Pour at the Carosue Dam Operations Saracens ASX announcement, published: 29 January 2010, accessed: 30 January 2010
In October 2020, a merger between Northern Star Resources and Saracen Metal Holdings was proposed and completed in February 2021 when Saracen was de-listed from the Australian Securities Exchange.
As of 2022, the mine operated by Northern Star Resources as an underground and surface operation.
A 5MW solar power station was commissioned in June 2022 to reduce the mine's emissions by over 5600 tonnes per year.
Production Production of the mine:The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page 77Sons of Gwalia annual report 2003 accessed: 12 January 2010Sons of Gwalia fourth quarter report 2004 accessed: 12 January 2010Quarterly Activities Report June 2010 Saracen ASX announcement, published: 29 July 2010, accessed: 5 August 2011Quarterly Activities Report June 2011 Saracen ASX announcement, published: 28 July 2011, accessed: 5 August 2011 Year Production Grade Cost per ounce 2001 121, 161 ounces 1.76 g/t A$345 2002 95,144 ounces 1.8 g/t A$388 2002–03 139,894 ounces A$426 2003–04 172,388 ounces A$387 2005 29,528 ounces 3.28 g/t A$349 2005–09 inactive 2009–10 25,036 ounces A$654 2010–11 111,163 ounces A$738 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 157,191 ounces 2.3 g/t A$1,067 2016–17 155,970 ounces 2.14 g/t A$1,413 2017–18 171,301 ounces 2.3 g/t A$1,199 2018–19 2019–20 203,280 ounces 3.2 g/t A$1,263 2020–21 232,276 ounces 3.1 g/t A$1,311 2021–22 237,625 ounces 2.1 g/t A$1,785 2022–23 243,246 ounces 2.2 g/t A$1,885
Notes
2002 results for January to September only. 28 March to 30 June period only.
References
Bibliography
External links
MINEDEX website: Carosue Dam - Khartoum Database of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety