Natalka Gold project

 gold mine  Add category

A Gold project in Russia owned by Polyus Gold. The deposit was discovered in 1944. Mining of ore and production of gold at the deposit started in 1945. Until 2004, ore was principally extracted through underground mining. Ore was processed using the gravity and flotation method with amalgamation of gravity concentrate and hydrometallurgical processing of flotation concentrate, amalgamation tails and gravity products. Despite considerable reserves, the average output of the deposit did not exceed 1,500 kg of gold per year.

In July 2008 the Company launched a pilot plant at the Natalka deposit with a capacity of 120 - 130 k tonnes of ore per annum which is designed to work out and test core technical decisions for the projected Natalka mill.

During 2010, startup work at the Natalka deposit was conducted in several threads: obtaining approval of design documentation for the Natalka gold deposit mining and processing facility construction project from the federal authorities; validation of production processes at the pilot mill; pre-mining grade control drilling, etc.

The mine is planned to start at 10Mtpa with expansions in phase 2 till 20Mtpa and in phase 3 until 40Mtpa.