Books (November 30, 1987)

A new worldwide reference book on open-pit gold operations, titled Gold-Silver Bulk-Tonnage Deposits, has been published by Minobras Mining Services and Research, P.O. Box 1620, Fallbrook, Calif., 92028. Price of the book is $115(US).

The publisher says the book contains descriptions of over 250 mines, deposits and occurrences in 27 countries. It points out that future gold mine production is likely from bulk-tonnage operations, with new or expanded open- pit gold mines planned or under development in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Brazil, Chile, Guyana, China, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Minobras says although gold mine production increased worldwide by an estimated 11% from 1985 to 1986, much larger percentage increases were achieved in the U.S. and Australia, with new open-pit mines accounting for most of the increased production.

Gold mine production in the U.S., for instance, increased dramatically, by 48%, from 2.5 million oz in 1985, to 3.7 million oz in 1986.

Nevada was the largest gold- producing state, followed by California, South Dakota and Montana. In 1986, for example, mines in the Carlin gold belt of Nevada (Carlin, Gold Quarry, Maggie Creek, Blue Star and Bootstrap), produced 474,000 oz gold. Next in line was Fortitude, Nev., with 259,000 oz.

Numerous new open-pit mines are being developed for start-up in the U.S., including: Carson Hill (70,000 oz) and Jamestown (Sonora), (130,000 oz), both in California, Ridgeway S.C (133,000 oz), Montana Tunnels (106,000 oz) in Montana, and Big Springs (60,000 oz), Quinto (52,000 oz), Crofoot (50,000 oz), Getchell (150,000 oz) and Rawhide (87,000 oz), all in Nevada.

In 1986 Australian gold mine production was 2.4 million oz, for an increase of 33%, attributed to new open-pit mines which came on-line. Leading production areas were Queensland and Western Australia, together accounting for 86% of Australia’s gold output.