The Big Bell Gold Mine is a gold mine located at Big Bell, 24 km north-west of Cue, Western Australia.MINEDEX website - Cue / Aragon search result accessed: 6 February 2010 The mine was owned and operated by Harmony Gold at the time of its closure in June 2003, having produced 2.6 million ounces (73.7 metric tons) of gold during its lifetime, but was sold to Aragon Resources Limited in January 2010.Acquisition of Cue Gold Project Completed Aragon Resources announcement, published: 19 January 2010, accessed: 6 February 2010
The mine was, for a short time in 2008, owned by Monarch Gold Mining Company Ltd., who went into administration in June 2008.Monarch Gold Mining Company Limited (MON) delisted.com.au, accessed: 15 January 2010 Big Bell never entered production under Monarch's ownership.
The mine is owned by Westgold and part of its Cue Gold Operations.
History
The historical Big Bell mine produced 730,000 ounces (20.7 metric tons) of gold at 4.04 g/t from 1904 to 1955.The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003–2004 Edition, page: 69, accessed: 6 February 2010 The mine was a very big, low grade ore deposit at Paton's Find, and was developed by the Premier Gold Mining Company in the 1930s. With the closure of the mine in the mid-1950s, the town of Big Bell declined and was virtually deserted.History of country town names - B Landgate accessed: 6 February 2010
The mine reopened in the 1980s, then owned jointly by Australian Consolidated Minerals and Placer Pacific, having been described as Australia's biggest unexploited gold deposit at the time.Big Bell Gold Mine May Be The First Casualty Of Proposed Tax Sydney Morning Herald 9 June 1986, accessed: 6 February 2010
The mine was later owned by Normandy Mining until October 1999, when New Hampton Goldfields Limited acquired Big Bell for $12 million in cash and $17 million in shares.NDY`s ann: Sale of Big Bell Normandy Mining ASX announcement, published: 8 October 1999, accessed: 6 February 2010 New Hampton was taken over by Harmony Gold in April 2001 for A$54 million.Copy of letter despatch to HNG Shareholders by Harmony Gold New Hampton ASX announcement, published: 8 January 2001, accessed: 6 February 2010
Harmony closed the mine in June 2003, having found previous assessments of the grade at Big Bell over optimistic and making mining the deposits thereby unprofitable.Harmony annual report 2003 accessed: 20 January 2010
The Big Bell processing plant was removed from January 2007 onwards, for a cost of A$5.2 million and transported to Westonia, to become part of the new Edna May Gold Mine.Annual Financial Report 2007 Catalpa Resources, published: 28 September 2007, accessed: 6 February 2010
Monarch Gold purchased the mine from Harmony in November 2007 in a deal that saw the company acquire: Hill 50, Big Bell, St George, Star and the Great Fingall deposits for $65 million.MONARCH ACQUIRES HILL 50 GOLD Monarch ASX announcement, published: 8 November 2007, accessed: 18 January 2010 Monarch already owned the Mount Ida and the Davyhurst Gold Mine, which had both recently entered production at the time.
Monarch was to take possession of the mine on 1 April 2008 and complete the financial transaction on 30 June 2008,Monarch finalizes Mt Magnet Purchase Agreement Monarch ASX announcement, published: 4 February 2008, accessed: 18 January 2010 but failed to make the final payment before entering administration, despite receiving improved sales conditions and a cash-cost reduction.Harmony and Monarch renegotiate sale Harmony news release, published: 8 July 2008, accessed: 18 January 2010
Monarch appointed Pitcher Partners as voluntary administrators on 10 July 2008, with all mining operations thereby being put on hold. Big Bell thereby returned to Harmony's ownership, Harmony not having received the final payment of the sale.Sale agreement between Harmony and Monarch Gold terminated Harmony news release, published: 1 August 2008, accessed: 18 January 2010
In January 2010, the mine was sold to Aragon Resources for $3 million,Aragon to Purchase Fulcrum and 1.5Moz Resource Aragon Resources announcement, published: 23 November 2009, accessed: 6 February 2010 who chose to rename the project to "Murchison Bell". The mine was initially sold to Fulcrum Resources, which was quickly acquired by Aragon.
Aragon Resources Limited was acquired by Westgold in May 2011, with the Big Bell mine falling under their Central Murchison Gold Project.
Operation Following three years of rehabilitation and refurbishment, in 2020 ore extraction restarted. Ore from the Big Bell underground mine is processed at the Tuckabianna plant. To reduce emissions and cost from its diesel generators, a hybrid energy system with gas turbines, solar power and a grid forming battery began operating in 2024.
Fatality Rodney George Criddle, a Jumbo operator at Big Bell, died on 2 September 2000 in an underground rock fall. The underground operations of the mine were closed until 15 September following the accident. Another man Anthony John Hyde was injured.Progress Report - Big Bell New Hampton ASX announcement, published: 11 September 2000, accessed: 6 February 2010Big Bell rock fall account at mining inquest ABC News, published: 14 May 2002, accessed: 6 February 2010
Production Annual production of the mine:Normandy Mining Ltd - 1999 Mine-by-Mine Operating Results accessed: 14 February 2010 Year Production - ounces (metric tons) Grade Cost per ounce 1998-99 140,396 (4) 2.93 g/t US$300 2000 423,355 (12) 2.85 g/t A$419 2001 169,342 (4.8) 2.8 g/t A$417 2002 71,676 (2) 2.34 g/t 2003 509,654 (14.5) 2.22 g/t 2003–2020 inactive 2020–21 82,086 (2.3) 2.3 g/t A$1,222 2021–22 204,937 (5.8) 2.5 g/t A$1,748
Notes
Combined result for the Murchison Operations consisted of the Meekatharra Gold Operation and the Cue Gold Operation. The Meekatharra Gold Operation consists of the Paddy’s Flat, South Emu-Triton and Bluebird underground mines and the surface operations at Five Mile Well, Maid Marion, Albury Heath and Aladdin open pits. The Cue Gold Operation consists of the Big Bell underground mine as its primary producer, supplemented by the Comet underground mine. Figures for January to June 2002 only. Result for Harmony's combined Australian operations, consisting of Big Bell, the South Kalgoorlie Gold Mine, the Hill 50 Gold Mine and the Gidgee Gold Mine (sold in December 2003).
References
Bibliography
External links
Cue Gold - Central Murchison Minedex The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Seismicity at Big Bell Mine By: M. H. Turner & J. R. Player