Overview
Cote d’Ivoire has considerable gold reserves, however, civil unrest in the country resulted in complete shutdown of most exploration and mining activities in the country towards the end of 2002, although a number of companies were beginning to show interest in the resumption of operations in the first part of 2004.
During 1999-2000, a total of 269,267 t of ore was stacked for treatment, resulting in the production of 43,410 oz of gold. Nearby additional resource potential was identified in a 14 km-long anomalous zone. Gold production increased to some 55,000 oz/y following the completion of a crushing and agglomerating plant relocation and expansion project. However, rebel attacks towards the end of 2002 forced the mine to close.
French based Cogema purchased Newmont Australia’s share (51%) of the Ity gold mine that produced approximately 64 000oz of gold at an average cash cost of $143/oz during 1999. It y is an opencast heap leach operation situated approximately 30km northwest of the capital Abidjan and is currently the country’s largest gold mine. The remaining 49% in the mine is owned by state run Société d’Etat pour le Developpment Minier de la Ivory Coast (Sodemi).
The Angovia mine, located 300km north of Abidjan is operated by CMA, a 90% owned subsidiary of French Cogema. The mine was opened in July 1999 and produces 50 000 oz gold each year.
Other major gold mines are the Afema mine situated in the southeast, which was put on care-and-maintenance in 2001 due to the current gold price. The state mining company Sodemi and Eden Roc Mineral Corporation jointly own Afema. Afema produced approximately 935 kg of gold annually.
Etruscan Resources acquired the Agbaou gold deposit that is located northwest of Abidjan. An initial resource of approximately 850 000 oz gold has been outlined from saprolitic and lateritic hosted ores. The mine is expected to begin production in 2001 at an annual capacity of 90 000 oz per year. Etruscan now has a 88.4% interest in Goldivoire SARL, holders of the Agbaiu, Sirasso and Loho permits in Côte de Ivoire.
Near the end of 2003 Australian Equigold NL started drilling the Bonikro Gold Deposit, where an indicated and inferred resource of 25 Mt grading 1.6 g/t has been delineated for an estimated 1.3 Moz gold. Equigold is operating in the country through its 93% owned subsidiary Equigold Cote d’Ivoire SA (“ECDI”).
In the northern part of the country, the Australian junior, Afminex, has been exploring the Korhogo and Tengrela gold prospects. Five significant gold anomalies have been identified at Tengrela, close to the Malian border, with those at Sissingue and Kanakono extending over distances of 6 km and 5.2 km respectively.
Organisations (4)
Randgold Resources (Cote d’Ivoire) Ltd, Société d’Etat pour le Developpment Minier de la Ivory Coast, Societé des Mines d’Ity, Societe Miniere Ivorienne :[ Add More ]
Facilities (10)
Afema, Agbaou, Angovia, Bobi-Toubabouko, Ity, Seguela, Tongon, Tortiya, Touba Biankouma, Touba-Sipilou
