Wattle Dam Gold Mine

The Wattle Dam Gold Mine is a gold mine located 25 km south west of Kambalda, Western Australia.

Wattle Dam
Location
Wattle Dam Gold Mine
Location in Australia
LocationKambalda
StateWestern Australia
CountryAustralia
Coordinates31°37′S 121°48′E
Production
Production16,283
Financial year2008-09
History
OpenedMarch 2006
Owner
CompanyRamelius Resources
Websitewww.rameliusresources.com.au/company_overview.8.html

It is currently owned by Ramelius Resources. Ramelius, listed at the Australian Securities Exchange since 2003, discovered Wattle Dam in 2005 and begun 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
Gold mines in the Kalgoorlie region

Ramelius discovered the deposit in 2005 and begun 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
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References
  1. Ramelius website - Company Overview accessed: 6 September 2009
  2. Ramelius website - Burbanks Treatment Plant accessed: 6 September 2009
  3. Response to Dioro’s 8th Supplementary Target’s Statement Avoca Resources announcement, published: 17 August 2009, accessed: 6 September 2009
  4. Ramelius shares rise on strong gold results news.com.au, published: 10 August 2009, accessed: 6 September 2009
  5. Avoca's bid for Dioro beaten by Ramelius offer business.watoday.com.au, published: 30 July 2009, accessed: 6 September 2009
  6. Avoca reaches 44.85% at close of Offer for Dioro Avoca Resources announcement, published: 17 August 2009, accessed: 6 September 2009
  7. 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
  8. Removal from Official List Dioro ASX announcement, published: 21 April 2010, accessed: 7 May 2010
  9. Quarterly report June 2010 Ramelius ASX announcement, published: 23 July 2010, accessed: 29 July 2010
  10. Ramelius website - Wattle Dam accessed: 6 September 2009
  11. Ramelius quarterly report June 2009 accessed: 6 September 2009
  12. Ramelius annual report 2007 accessed: 6 September 2009
  13. Ramelius quarterly report June 2006 accessed: 6 September 2009
  14. Ramelius annual report 2008 accessed: 6 September 2009
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