Wattle Dam Gold Mine
The Wattle Dam Gold Mine is a gold mine located 25 km south west of Kambalda, Western Australia.
Location | |
---|---|
![]() ![]() Wattle Dam Gold Mine Location in Australia | |
Location | Kambalda |
State | Western Australia |
Country | Australia |
Coordinates | 31°37′S 121°48′E |
Production | |
Production | 16,283 |
Financial year | 2008-09 |
History | |
Opened | March 2006 |
Owner | |
Company | Ramelius Resources |
Website | www |
It is currently owned by Ramelius Resources. Ramelius, listed at the Australian Securities Exchange since 2003, discovered Wattle Dam in 2005 and began mining the deposit in 2006.[1]
Ore from Wattle Dam is not treated on site but rather taken to the company's Burbanks Treatment Plant, 8 km south of Coolgardie,[2] near the Burbanks Gold Mine which is owned by Barra Resources Limited.
Ramelius has made headlines in 2009 when it became engaged in a bitter dispute with Avoca Resources Limited over conflicting takeover bids for Dioro Exploration NL.[3][4] Avoca eventually had to drop its bid for Dioro,[5] having reached a 44.85% interest in Dioro at the close of the offer on 20 August, short of the 50% needed.[6] Ramelius's offer for the company closes on 8 February 2010. Avoca made a renewed takeover offer for the company in late December 2009.[7] Avoca eventually succeeded in its bid for Dioro and, on 21 April 2010, Dioro was delisted from the ASX.[8]
Ramelius purchased the Hill 50 Gold Mine from Harmony Gold for A$40 million in July 2010.[9]
History
![](../I/Gold_mines_Kalgoorlie.jpg.webp)
Ramelius discovered the deposit in 2005 and began mining in March 2006. After two periods of open-pit mining in 2006 and 2008–09, underground development commenced in May 2009. The company expects high grade underground ore to be available for milling in December 2009.[10]
The ore is treated at the Burbanks Treatment Plant, which is located 65 km from Wattle Dam. Ramelius purchased the plant in November 2006 for A$2.8 million. Ramelius spent a further $1.3 million on refurbishing the facility, which has a capacity to treat up to 180,000 tonnes of ore per annum.[2] When not used for Wattle Dam ore, the facility toll treats third party ore, for example from July to September 2009.[11] Before the purchase of Burbanks, Ramelius had its ore treated at the plant of the Higginsville Gold Mine, owned by Avoca Resources.[12]
Production
Production of the mine:
Year | Production | Grade | Cost per ounce |
2005-06[13] | 4,190 ounces | g/t | A$ |
2006-07[12] | 16,963 ounces | 8.36 g/t | A$ |
2007-08[14] | 16,154 ounces | 5.25 g/t | A$ |
2008-09[11] | 16,283 ounces | 3.74 g/t | A$ |
Sources
- The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, Louthean Media Pty Ltd, Editor: Ross Louthean
- Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 2008 Page 34: Principal Mineral and Petroleum Producers - Gold
References
- Ramelius website - Company Overview accessed: 6 September 2009
- Ramelius website - Burbanks Treatment Plant accessed: 6 September 2009
- Response to Dioro’s 8th Supplementary Target’s Statement Avoca Resources announcement, published: 17 August 2009, accessed: 6 September 2009
- Ramelius shares rise on strong gold results news.com.au, published: 10 August 2009, accessed: 6 September 2009
- Avoca's bid for Dioro beaten by Ramelius offer business.watoday.com.au, published: 30 July 2009, accessed: 6 September 2009
- Avoca reaches 44.85% at close of Offer for Dioro Avoca Resources announcement, published: 17 August 2009, accessed: 6 September 2009
- NOTICE OF INTENTION TO MAKE A NEW TAKEOVER OFFER FROM AVOCA AND UPDATE ON RAMELIUS’S AMENDED OFFER Dioro ASX announcement, published: 4 January 2010, accessed: 6 January 2010
- Removal from Official List Dioro ASX announcement, published: 21 April 2010, accessed: 7 May 2010
- Quarterly report June 2010 Ramelius ASX announcement, published: 23 July 2010, accessed: 29 July 2010
- Ramelius website - Wattle Dam accessed: 6 September 2009
- Ramelius quarterly report June 2009 accessed: 6 September 2009
- Ramelius annual report 2007 accessed: 6 September 2009
- Ramelius quarterly report June 2006 accessed: 6 September 2009
- Ramelius annual report 2008 accessed: 6 September 2009
External links
- Place Names Search Results - Wattle Dam Geoscience Australia website
- Ramelius website - Wattle Dam operation
- Wattle dam gold mine ABC rural report on the mine with pictures
- Ramelius Resources at Yahoo!7 Finance