Top 10 biggest gold mines in the United States - report

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(Kitco News) - Kitco ranked the biggest gold operations in the United States by production in 2020.

1. Carlin. 1,665 koz.
Barrick’s Carlin is the world’s second largest and the US’ largest gold operation. On July 1, 2019, Barrick’s Goldstrike (including 60% share of South Arturo) and Newmont’s Carlin were contributed to Nevada Gold Mines and are now referred to as Carlin. This gigantic integrated operation located west of the city of Elko on the geologic feature known as the Carlin Trend. Stretching 56km (35mi), the Carlin Trend was first prospected by Newmont geologists John Livermore and Alan Coope in 1965.

2. Cortez. 799 koz.
Cortez gold mine is a large gold mining and processing facility in Lander and Eureka County, Nevada, United States, located approximately 75 miles (120 km) southwest of Elko and comprises the Pipeline and South Pipeline deposits and the Cortez Hills deposit. Pipeline and South Pipeline are open pit mines, while Cortez Hills is an underground and open pit mining operation. On July 1, 2019, Cortez was contributed to Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture between Barrick and Newmont.

3. Turquoise Ridge. 537 koz.
Barrick’s Turquoise Ridge mine is a gold and silver mine located in Humboldt county, Nevada at an elevation of 5,610 feet. Turquoise Ridge is a part of Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture between Barrick and Newmont.

4. Round Mountain. 324 koz.
Kinross’ Round Mountain is an open-pit mine located in Nevada. Round Mountain uses conventional open-pit mining methods and processes ore by mill and heap leach. Kinross began operating the mine in 2003, and it has since become a continuous improvement leader in the company’s portfolio. Round Mountain poured its 15 millionth ounce in 2018. In 2019, Round Mountain poured its first gold bar from the Phase W project.

5. Cripple Creek and Victor. 272 koz.
Newmont's Cripple Creek & Victor Mine (CC&V) is located in Teller County, Colorado, southwest of Pikes Peak. CC&V was formed as an operating company for mining operations in 1976, with mining in its Cresson Project starting in 1995. CC&V’s modern, high-tech operations allow for responsible surface mining of various ore types. The majority of the ore is processed in a zero-discharge, valley-type, leach pad to recover gold and silver. In 2015 CC&V commissioned a rod, ball, and flotation mill which processes CC&V’s higher grade, non-oxidized ore.

6. Long Canyon. 261 koz.
Barrick’s Long Canyon mine, located south of Interstate 80 between Wells and West Wendover, Nevada, has been operating as an open surface pit mine since early 2016. Long Canyon is a part of Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture between Barrick and Newmont.

7. Fort Knox. 238 koz.
Fort Knox is one of Kinross’ largest producing mines and a centre of excellence for the company as one of the few cold weather heap leach facilities in the world. In 2019, the site poured its eighth millionth ounce of gold, over 20 years into its mine life. In 2020, Kinross acquired Manh Choh (formerly Peak Gold) – a project expected to commence production in 2024 and process ore at Fort Knox.

8. Marigold. 234 koz.
Marigold mine is located in Humboldt and Lander County, Nevada, United States on the Battle Mountain-Eureka trend. SSR Mining completed the acquisition of Marigold on April 4, 2014 and published an updated technical report in July 2018. In production since 1989, Marigold is a large run-of-mine heap leach operation with several open pits, waste rock stockpiles, leach pads, a carbon absorption facility, and a carbon processing and gold refining facility.

9. Phoenix. 205 koz.
Barrick’s Phoenix property is comprised of the Phoenix operations and the Lone Tree operations. Phoenix is an open pit mine in operation since 2006. Lone Tree is an open pit mine in operation since 1991. Phoenix is a part of Nevada Gold Mines, a joint venture between Barrick and Newmont.

10. Bald Mountain. 191 koz.
Bald Mountain is an open-pit mine with a large estimated mineral resource base located in Nevada along the southern extension of the prolific Carlin trend, and was acquired by Kinross in January 2016. In October 2018, Kinross acquired the remaining 50% of the Bald Mountain joint venture zone from Barrick Gold to consolidate ownership. The mine is a strong fit with Kinross’ portfolio and provides opportunities to leverage Kinross' open-pit heap leach expertise. The company expects to continue to develop Bald Mountain’s upside potential.

Top 10 biggest gold mines in the US in 2020

By Vladimir Basov

For Kitco News

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vbasov@kitco.com

www.kitco.com