The Coolgardie Gold Mine is a gold mine located at Coolgardie, Western Australia, currently owned by Focus Minerals Limited. The mine and its Three Mile Hill Processing Plant has been in care and maintenance since June 2013.
History
Historically, more than 2.6 million ounces of gold have been produced from the Coolgardie gold belt since mining commenced in 1892.Focus Minerals website accessed: 7 September 2009
In the recent past, mining in Coolgardie was carried out by Goldfan, a wholly owned subsidiary of parent company Herald Resources Limited beginning in 1990 with the commissioning of the Three Mile Hill gold processing plant, which ceased production in 1999, but resumed mining in July 2002 after discovering high-grade ore at its Empress deposit.The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page: 78Coolgardie gold mine back online ABC News, published: 26 July 2002, accessed: 7 September 2009 In 2003, Herald sold 50% of its interest at Coolgardie to MPI/Pittston for A$3.475 million.Herald annual report 2003 accessed: 7 September 2009
In February 2005, Herald Resources sold their remaining mining leases to the Redemption Joint Venture, a partnership of Austminex and Matador. During 2005, Austminex changed its name to Focus Minerals while Matador merged with Committee Bay Resources. The sale was completed in August 2005,Focus quarterly report September 2005 accessed: 7 September 2009 and the mine closed.
The mine became fully owned by Focus Minerals in May 2008, when the former bought Canadian partner Committee Bay Resources out of the Redemption Joint Venture for A$36.6 million.Focus unveils $64m strategy to buyout Cooolgardie gold JV mineweb.com, published: 7 March 2008, accessed: 7 September 2009
In its current incarnation, under Focus Minerals, the mine once more resumed production in April 2008, now mining the high-grade Perseverance deposit, after achieving good drilling results.Beacon shines on Barlee drill The Australian, published: 31 March 2008, accessed: 7 September 2009 Focus had caused an uproar in Coolgardie in July 2007, when the local shire took objection to a prospecting application from the company because it believed it took in the town site.Miner plays down Coolgardie drilling concerns ABC News, published: 27 July 2007, accessed: 7 September 2009
After initially treating its ore at the Higginsville Mining-owned Greenfields plant, Focus is transitioning processing to its 100% owned Three Mile Hill facility located close by. In May 2009, Como Engineers began an extensive refurbishment program at Three Mile Hill, which was completed in December 2009. While the basic milling circuit remained the same, significant upgrades took place with the removal and replacement of the three crushers, the installation of a Gekko & Falcon gravity circuit and the installation of new elution, carbon regeneration and gold smelting areas.
Commissioning began in December 2009, with the first bar of gold poured on 13 January 2010. On 27 January Focus announced it would toll-treat ore from the White Foil Gold Mine, owned by La Mancha, in 2010.La Mancha Toll Treatment Agreement Focus ASX website, published: 27 January 2010, accessed: 30 January 2010
Focus placed a friendly takeover offer for Crescent Gold Limited, owner of the Laverton Gold Mine, in June 2011, which would place the company in the top-five of the Australian gold producers with an annual production of 230,000 ounces. The bid values Crescent at A$66 million.Focus and Crescent in merger deal The Sydney Morning Herald, published: 21 June 2011, accessed: 17 August 2011Focus Mineral makes friendly bid for Crescent Gold The Australian, published: 21 June 2011, accessed: 17 August 2011
Focus Minerals suspended operations of the mine in June 2013 and placed it into care and maintenance.
Focus Minerals carried out exploration at Coolgardie and its other operation, the Laverton Gold Mine, shut at the same time, following termination of mining. In the 2021 calendar year, it spent A$12.5 million on exploration at the two sites. In December 2021 the company approved a plan to resume mining at Coolgardie but no such plan had been made for the Laverton mine at this point.
Production Annual production of the mine:Herald annual report 2004 accessed: 7 September 2009Herald annual report 2005 accessed: 7 September 2009Focus quarterly report June 2008 accessed: 7 September 2009Focus quarterly report June 2009 accessed: 7 September 2009Quarterly Activities Report June 2010 Focus ASX announcement, published: 29 July 2010, accessed: 29 July 2010Quarterly Activities Report June 2011 Focus ASX announcement, published: 29 July 2011, accessed: 15 August 2011Quarterly Activities report June 2010 Crescent ASX announcement, published: 30 June 2010, accessed: 17 August 2011 Year Production Grade Cost per ounce 1997 97,910 ounces 2.36 g/t A$440 1998 55,073 ounces 1.42 g/t A$440 1999 8,213 ounces 0.9 g/t A$498 1999–2002 inactive 2002–03 23,030 ounces 1.97 g/t A$ 2003–04 66,852 ounces 2.51 g/t A$500 2004–05 64,670 ounces 2.44 g/t A$478 2005–2008 inactive 2007–08 4,456 ounces 9 g/t A$467 2008–09 41,401 ounces 5.43 g/t A$603 2009–10 62,300 ounces 3.7 g/t A$792 2010–11 72,832 ounces 2011–12 89,959 ounces 2012–13 58,629 ounces 2013–present inactive
References
Bibliography
External links
MINEDEX website: Coolgardie Gold / Focus Database of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety