The Carlin gold mine in Nevada went into operation in 1965. The concept of “Carlin-type” gold deposits are named after the mine. The first large deposit of this type was discovered at the mine: sediment-hosted hydrothermal disseminated gold-pyrite impregnation deposits – or, more simply put, microscopically small deposits in which the particles of the precious metal are bound in carbonate rock, also called “invisible gold”. Deposits of this type are mainly found in Nevada and Utah, and the designation “Carlin-type” was soon applied to other gold mines in the region.
The original Carlin gold mine yielded a full 51 tons of gold in 2020 and only slightly less in 2021 at 49.2 tons. Operated both via open pit and underground, it measures roughly 2,000 x 500 metres. Owner Newport Mining Company estimates the Carlin mine reserves at about 120 tons after more than 50 years of active mining. Even if the original Carlin mine ceases operations in the foreseeable future, gold mining in the region will continue unabatedly across various Carlin-type mines. To this end, the two mining groups Newport Mining Company and Barrick Gold launched a joint venture in 2019, in which Barrick Gold continues to lead gold production in Nevada with a majority share of 61.5 per cent.
The Nevada Gold Complex created in the joint venture includes the original Carlin gold mine and the two Carlin-type mines “Goldstrike” and “Cortez”. Together, they represent the most productive mining complex in the world with an output of 115.8 tons in 2021. As it is the cumulative output of several mines, the Nevada Gold Complex is not ranked among the most productive individual mines.
According to xetra-gold.com. Source of photo: internet
