Newmont Gold
Muruntau Heap Leach Project
Uzbekistan
The Muruntau mine is located in the Kyzylkum desert of the Central
Asian Republic of Uzbekistan. The mine has been producing gold
since 1967, processing about 20 million tonnes of ore per year.
In 1993, Newmont Gold entered into a joint venture with the State
Committee for Geology of the Uzbek Republic, and Navoi Mining
and Metallurgical Combinat, to apply heap leaching technology
for recovery of gold from the low grade ores classified by Muruntau
as unsuitable for milling. The Joint Venture applied to the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for project financing.
Roberts & Schaefer Company was selected by EBRD to perform
due diligence for the project. On completion of financing, Roberts
& Schaefer Company was requested to continue with the project
as Technical Agent for EBRD; to review and advise the participating
banks on all technical and cost elements associated with the ongoing
project.
The facility processes approximately 14 million tonnes of ore
per year. A secondary, tertiary, and quaternary crushing system
produces a 6-mesh product for optimum gold recovery. The processed
ore is stacked on the heap with an array of moveable "grasshopper"
conveyors. Conventional leaching technology and leach pad construction
are employed, with a Merrill-Crowe plant for extraction of gold
from the pregnant solution.
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