Mt Morgans processing plant
Photo by: Dacian Gold
Name of the Mine
Mt Morgans Gold Operation (MMGO).
Location
About 25 km west of Laverton and about 750 km north-east of Perth, in Western Australia.
Mine Owner/s
Dacian Gold.
Brief Description
MMGO comprises a carbon-in-leach treatment plant, the Jupiter openpits and the Westralia underground mining areas.
Jupiter consists of the Heffernans, Doublejay and Saddle subpits.
The Ganymede deposit represents a potential new additional ore source within the Jupiter complex.
The Mt Morgans hard-rock processing plant is the only operating mill of size in the region not owned by a mining major.
Mt Morgans has a mine life to 2027.
Brief History
Dacian poured first gold from Mt Morgans in April 2018 after a rapid 11-month construction period.
Primary Metals/Minerals
Gold.
Secondary Metals/Minerals
None stated.
Geology/Mineralisation
The Jupiter deposit comprises structurally controlled mesothermal gold mineralisation related to syenite intrusions within altered basalt.
At Jupiter’s Heffernans, Doublejay and Ganymede deposits, multiple wide intersections point to bulk stockwork mineralisation within the syenite and on the basalt contact. Syenites are known to have an extensive vertical profile from surface with associated mineralisation.
The Westralia deposits feature sedimentary packages comprising mainly banded iron formation (BIF), but also include chert, mudstone, shales, conglomerate and minor felsic volcaniclastic rocks. Gold mineralisation is associated with microscopic quartz carbonate veinlets within BIF. BIF functions as the primary host for mineralisation, although other rock types, including basalt, porphyry intrusive and ultramafic, might also be mineralised in smaller volumes and with less continuity.
Reserves
Total proven and probable reserves as at June 30, 2021, were estimated at 11.3-million tonnes grading 1.1 g/t gold.
Resources
Total mineral resources as at June 30, 2021, were estimated at 32.41-million tonnes grading 1.75 g/t gold.
Mining Method
Mechanised openpit mining and top-down longhole stoping, with pillars for the underground operations.
Major Infrastructure/Equipment
Dacian Gold maintains significant infrastructure at MMGO through its large openpit, extensive underground investment and 2.5-million-tonne-a-year processing plant.
Prospects
Dacian continues to ramp up its exploration activities as it looks to discover the next generation of deposits at Mt Morgans.
Contact Details
Dacian Gold
Tel +61 9 6323 9000
Email info@daciangold.com.au
Website https://www.daciangold.com.au/
Sources
Dacian Gold. Annual Report 2021.
Dacian Gold. Website: https://www.daciangold.com.au/ [accessed June 29, 2022].
Mining Data Online. Website: https://miningdataonline.com/property/606/Mt-Morgans-Operation.aspx [accessed June 29, 2022].