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Laverton Gold Mine

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Coordinates: 28°37′16″S 122°29′23″E / 28.62111°S 122.48972°E / -28.62111; 122.48972
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Location
Laverton Gold Mine is located in Western Australia
Laverton Gold Mine
Laverton Gold Mine
Location in Western Australia
LocationLaverton
StateWestern Australia
CountryAustralia
Coordinates28°37′16″S 122°29′23″E / 28.62111°S 122.48972°E / -28.62111; 122.48972
Production
ProductsGold
Production0[1]
Financial year2020–21
History
Active–1998
2007–2008
2009–2013
Owner
CompanyFocus Minerals
Websitewww.focusminerals.com.au
Year of acquisition2012
Map

The Laverton Gold Mine is a gold mine 9 km east of Laverton, Western Australia. It was formerly owned by Crescent Gold Limited, under whom it recommenced mining in August 2009, after having been shut for just over one year,[2] but has been owned by Focus Minerals since 2012. The mine is sometimes also referred to as the Barnicoat Gold Mine, named after its processing facility.

The mine is located on the native title of the Wongatha Aboriginal people, whom Crescent signed a Land Access Agreement with on 2 March 2005. In exchange for access, Crescent granted the representative of the Wongatha, the Wongatha Claim Group, up to 350,000 Crescent shares and between 0.2 and 0.4% in royalties of the future gold production.[3] A similar agreement between the Wongatha and the owners of the BrightStar Gold Mine had taken place in 2004.[4]

History

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The mine was owned by Sons of Gwalia, who closed it in 1998. Sons of Gwalia sold the mine in July 2002 to Focus Technologies Limited for A$2.68 million,[5] who changed their name to Apollo Gold Mining in December 2002.[6]

In June 2004, Apollo changed its name to Crescent Gold Limited.[7]

The mine reopened after commissioning in March 2007, with the plant upgrade having finished in August 2007.[8] Mining ceased once more on 7 July 2008, the official reason being that Crescent was to review the operation.[9] Crescent incurred a loss of A$28.8 million for the 2007-08 financial year, leaving the company with A$50 million in cash in hand.[10]

In February 2009, Crescent and Barrick Gold signed a memorandum of understanding in regards to ore from Laverton being processed at Barrick's Granny Smith Gold Mine rather than Crescent's Barnicoat processing facility, which would remain in care and maintenance.[11][12]

Mining and haulage operations re-commenced in August 2009, with ore to be processed at the processing plant of Granny Smith, 20 km away.[2]

A first gold pour at Granny Smith from Crescent's ore was announced on 21 October 2009.[13]

Focus Minerals Limited, owner of the Coolgardie Gold Mine, placed a friendly takeover offer for Crescent Gold Limited in June 2011 which would place Focus 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. Previous to the offer, Focus had already supplied the struggling Crescent with A$13 million in loans.[14][15] After takeover of the mine by Focus Minerals, mining at Laverton continued, with ore continuing to be processed at Granny Smith,[16] until operations were suspended in May 2013.[17]

Focus Minerals carried out exploration at Laverton and its other operation, the Coolgardie 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.[1]

Production

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Annual production figures of the mine:[18][10][19][16][17][20]

Year Production Grade Cost per ounce
1994–95 36,952 ounces 1.5 g/t
1995–96 36,897 ounces 1.28 g/t
1996–97 33,786 ounces 1.02 g/t
1997–98 47,494 ounces 1.54 g/t
1998–2006 inactive
2006–07 7,400 ounces
2007–08 56,195 ounces
2008–09 inactive
2009–10 73,474 ounces 1.43 g/t
2010–11
2011–12 86,673 ounces
2012–13 81,191 ounces
2013–present inactive

References

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  1. ^ a b "Focus Minerals Annual report 2021" (PDF). www.asx.com.au. Focus Minerals. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b Laverton Gold Project Crescent website, accessed: 28 January 2010
  3. ^ Native Title - Historic Agreement Crescent ASX announcement, published: 2 March 2005, accessed: 28 January 2010
  4. ^ A1 reaches agreement with Native title Claimants A1 minerals ASX announcement, published: 22 July 2004, accessed: 11 January 2010
  5. ^ Acquisition Agreement North Laverton Western Australia Focus ASX announcement, published: 16 August 2002, accessed: 28 January 2010
  6. ^ The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page: 104, accessed: 28 January 2010
  7. ^ CRESCENT GOLD LIMITED (CRE) delisted.com.au, accessed: 28 January 2010
  8. ^ Strategic Operational Review Crescent ASX announcement, published: 7 July 2008, accessed: 28 January 2010
  9. ^ Annual Financial Report 2009 - Crescent Gold Ltd published: 30 September 2009, accessed: 28 January 2010
  10. ^ a b Annual Financial Report - 30 June 2008 published: 30 September 2008, accessed: 28 January 2010
  11. ^ Crescent signs MOU with subsidiaries of Barrick Gold Corp. Crescent ASX announcement, published: 24 February 2009, accessed: 28 January 2010
  12. ^ Deal paves way for Laverton gold mining ABC News, published: 22 June 2009, accessed: 28 January 2010
  13. ^ Crescent Gold Inaugural Gold Pour Under the OPA Crescent ASX announcement, published: 28 October 2009, accessed: 28 January 2010
  14. ^ Focus and Crescent in merger deal The Sydney Morning Herald, published: 21 June 2011, accessed: 17 August 2011
  15. ^ Focus Mineral makes friendly bid for Crescent Gold The Australian, published: 21 June 2011, accessed: 17 August 2011
  16. ^ a b "Focus Minerals Annual report 2012" (PDF). www.asx.com.au. Focus Minerals. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Focus Minerals Annual report 2013" (PDF). www.asx.com.au. Focus Minerals. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  18. ^ Acquisition Agreement North Laverton Western Australia - Part B Focus ASX announcement, published: 16 August 2002, accessed: 28 January 2010
  19. ^ Quarterly Activities report June 2010 Crescent ASX announcement, published: 30 June 2010, accessed: 17 August 2011
  20. ^ "Focus Minerals Quarterly report June 2013" (PDF). www.asx.com.au. Focus Minerals. Retrieved 26 April 2022.

Bibliography

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  • Louthean, Ross (ed.). The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition. Louthean Media Pty Ltd.
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