Name of the Mine
Bulyanhulu mine.
Location
North-west Tanzania, in the Kahama district of the Shinyanga region.
Mine Owner/s
Barrick Gold (84%), and the government of Tanzania the balance.
Brief Description
Bulyanhulu is a narrow-vein gold mine containing gold, silver and copper mineralisation in sulphides.
Brief History
Bulyanhulu started commercial production in 2001.
Primary Metals/Minerals
Gold.
Secondary Metals/Minerals
Silver and copper.
Geology/Mineralisation
The mine is situated within the prolific Lake Victoria Goldfields of Tanzania, characterised by structurally controlled gold mineralisation associated with Archean greenstone belts. Gold mineralisation primarily occurs within quartz veins hosted in metamorphic rocks, with associated minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite.
Reserves
As at December 31, 2023, Bulyanhulu has proven and probable reserves of 18-million tonnes grading 6.05 g/t gold.
Resources
Total measured resources as of December 31, 2023, were estimated at 3.5-million tonnes grading 7.8 g/t gold. Indicated resources were estimated at 25-million tonnes grading 6.5 g/t gold. Inferred resources were estimated at 17-million tonnes grading 7.6 g/t gold.
Type of Mine
Underground.
Mining Method
Bulyanhulu uses mechanised mining methods.
Major Infrastructure/Equipment
The mine comprises an underground mine, a process plant, waste rock dumps, tailings containment, water management ponds and associated facilities.
Prospects
Barrick and chemical technologies provider Draslovka announced a partnership in mid-2023 whereby Barrick would trial and use the GlyCat technology at the Bulyanhulu mine and conduct a broader testing programme spanning multiple mining sites in 2024.
The GlyCat pilot programme resulted in a drop of 80% in cyanide consumption and improved gold recoveries, compared with traditional cyanidation.
Contact Details
Barrick Gold (Tanzania)
Tel +255 22 216 4200
Email investor@barrick.com
Sources
Barrick Gold. Website: https://www.barrick.com/
Barrick Gold. Annual Report 2022.
Barrick Gold. Mineral reserves & resource as at December 31, 2023 (February 8, 2024).