Telfer mine
{{Short description|Mine located at Telfer, Western Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Telfer Mine
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Western Australia
| pushpin_label = Telfer Mine
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Western Australia
| coordinates = {{coord|21|42|30|S|122|13|40|E|region:AU-WA|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| place = Telfer
| subdivision_type = State
| state/province = Western Australia
| country = Australia
| owner = Greatland Gold
| official website = {{url|https://greatlandgold.com/assets/telfer/}}
| acquisition year = {{start date|2024}}
| products = Gold, copper, silver
| amount =
{{plainlist|
- Gold: 349,000 troy ounces
- Copper: 17,000 tonnes
- Silver: 208,000 ounces
}}
| opening year = 1977
| active years = 1977–2000, 2003–present
| closing year =
| type = Underground, open pit
| module = {{Infobox mapframe
|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|stroke-width=3
|marker=industrial
|marker-colour=#1F2F57
|zoom=7
}}
}}
The Telfer Mine is a gold, copper and silver mine located at Telfer on the land of the Martu people,{{rp|7}} in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. It is owned by Greatland Gold, having been acquired from the previous owner, Newmont, in December 2024.{{cite web|url=https://greatlandgold.com/assets/telfer/|title=Telfer|publisher=Greatland Gold|accessdate=28 March 2025}}
The mine was discovered by Newmont in 1972. However, Jean-Paul Turcaud, a French prospector, disputes this claim to this day.[https://web.archive.org/web/20111127123147/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/stories/s28534.htm The Golden Riddle: Finder's Keepers?] ABC Radio National, produced by Bronwyn Adcock, broadcast: 6 June 1999, accessed: 27 January 2010. Archived from [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/stories/s28534.htm the original] on 27 November 2011[http://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/articles/Newcrest-Mining-Limited-NCM/Newcrest-s-Great-Sandy-speculation.cfm?articleID=10000844 Newcrest's Great Sandy speculation] The Intelligent Investor, published: 13 April 2005, accessed: 27 January 2010
In the 2019–2020 financial year, the Telfer mine produced {{convert|393,164|ozt|t|1|order=flip|abbr=off}} of gold, {{convert|16000|t|e6lb|abbr=off}} of copper and {{convert|164,000|ozt|t|1|order=flip|abbr=off}} of silver.{{cite web |title=Full Year Results FY20 |url=https://www.newcrest.com/sites/default/files/2020-08/200814_Newcrest%20FY20%20Full%20Year%20Results%20-%20Results%20Release_0.pdf |publisher=Newcrest Mining |access-date=24 June 2021 |location=Melbourne, Victoria |page=7 |date=14 August 2020}}
At 31 December 2020, measured and indicated mineral resources were {{convert|3.4|e6ozt|t|order=flip|abbr=off}} of gold and {{convert|0.36|e6t|e9lb|abbr=off}} of copper, and proved and probable ore reserves were {{convert|1.1|e6ozt|t|order=flip|abbr=off}} of gold and {{convert|0.17|e6t|e6lb|abbr=off}} of copper.{{cite web |title=Annual Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Statement - as at 31 December 2020 |url=https://www.newcrest.com/sites/default/files/2021-02/210211_Newcrest%20Resources%20and%20Reserves%20Statement.pdf |publisher=Newcrest Mining |access-date=24 June 2021 |location=Melbourne, Victoria |date=11 February 2021}}
History
=Discovery=
Newmont first made a claim to the deposit in 1972.The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page 128, accessed: 27 January 2010 However this claim is disputed by Jean-Paul Turcaud to this date. Turcaud claims he found the Telfer deposit two years before Newcrest did. In the early 1980s, Turcaud reached a settlement, accepting $25,000 from Newmont's head office in New York City but continued his claim, demanding a Royal Commission.[http://www.tnet.com.au/~warrigal/grule.html The Golden Rule] Book review, author: Bob Sheppard, {{ISBN|0-85905-311-3}}, accessed: 27 January 2010
The official story of the discovery states that the deposit was found by Day Dawn Minerals, a small exploration company, who did not stake a claim either. One of the company's geologists, a man called Ronnie Thomson, then moved on to work for Newmont, in which position he informed David Tyrwhitt, then exploration manager for the company in Western Australia, about the promising gold samples that had been found. Newmont paid Day Dawn $15,000 for the maps of the deposit and Tyrwhitt staked out the claim in May 1972.
=First mining period 1977 to 2000=
The mine opened in 1977 as a joint venture between BHP and Newmont. In 1990, a merger between BHP Gold and Newmont resulted in the creation of Newcrest, with ownership of the Telfer Mine now lying with Newcrest.{{Cite news|title=Marco Zolezzi, general manager, Telfer gold mine, Western Australia |publisher=Australian Mining |date=15 September 2004}}[http://www.newcrest.com.au//history.asp History of NCM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302063335/http://www.newcrest.com.au/history.asp |date=2 March 2010 }} Newcrest website, accessed: 27 January 2010 The Telfer gold mine was expanded in 1991,{{Cite news|title= Elsewhere in precious metals... the second phase of the development |publisher=Metals Week |date=11 March 1991 |page=8}} and in June 1995, the mine reserves were {{convert|3.8|e6ozt|t|1||order=flip|abbr=off}}, with resources at {{convert|7.3|e6ozt|t|1||order=flip|abbr=off}}. The annual production was {{convert|370,000|to|380,000|ozt|t|1||order=flip|abbr=off}} of ore.{{Cite news|title=Newcrest upbeat on Telfer mine |publisher= Reuters News |date=21 June 1996}} In 1997, the mine reached the milestone of having produced {{convert|5|e6ozt|t|1||order=flip|abbr=off}} of gold. Open cut mining was suspended in August 2000 due to high operating costs. The closure of the mine came one year ahead of schedule as production of underground ore was well below mill capacity and therefore not viable. High production costs were primarily caused by the presence of cyanide soluble copper in the open pit ore. Newcrest then focused on exploratory drilling for new minerals.
=Second mining period from 2002=
In 2002, Newcrest Mining announced a new redevelopment project worth $1 billion,{{cite news|title= Newcrest cold on Telfer raising |newspaper=The West Australian |date=25 March 2002 |page=28}} after discovering new mineral areas and a reserve base of some {{convert|19|e6ozt|t|1||order=flip|abbr=off}} of gold and {{convert|640|e3t|e9lb|abbr=off}} of copper.{{cite news|first=John |last=Phaceas |title= Newcrest nod to invest $1b in Telfer |newspaper=The West Australian |date=20 November 2002 |page=61}} The redevelopment expanded underground mining areas, deepened open pits, constructed a processing plant and power station, and built a new gas supply line from Port Hedland.{{Cite news|title=Newcrest gets expansion nod |publisher=ABC News |date=20 August 2002}} The Telfer mine is not connected to the Western Australian power grid but instead produces its own power from natural gas via a {{convert|450|km}} purpose built pipeline. The power station on site is able to produce 138 MW of power.[http://www.newcrest.com.au//operations.asp?category=6 Operations - Telfer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122052644/http://www.newcrest.com.au/operations.asp?category=6 |date=22 January 2010 }} Newcrest website, accessed: 27 January 2010 The focus changed from open pit mining to underground mining, and Telfer became one of Australia's largest gold mines, second only to Kalgoorlie's Super Pit until Boddington Gold Mine reopened in 2009.{{Cite news|first=Greg |last=Peel |title=Tantalising Telfer |publisher=FN Arena |date=16 November 2007}}
The mine reopened in November 2004, after commissioning of the processing plant and, initially as an open cut mine, from March 2006 also with an underground operation.
In January 2008, Newcrest Mining lowered the mine's annual gold output targets. Newcrest said, "At Telfer, mechanical availability of the open pit mining fleet and the processing of harder ores are impacting the expected production profile for the full year. Telfer site cash costs are expected to [rise] over guidance by 8-9 per cent."{{Cite news|first=Rebecca |last=Le May |title= Miner loses friends as Telfer costs jump |work=Finance |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=25 January 2008 |page=62}} In June, the mine was affected by the statewide gas crisis caused by an explosion at Varanus Island. The mine lost {{convert|20|to|25|e3ozt|kg|0||order=flip|abbr=off}} of gold output for June.{{Cite news|first=Dionne |last=Thompson |title= Newcrest's Telfer gold output down 25,000 oz on Apache gas stoppage |publisher=Metal Bulletin |date=27 June 2008}} Newcrest obtained interim gas supply from Woodside Petroleum until August, when gas supply from Varanus Island resumed.{{cite news|title=Telfer gas supply back to normal |url=http://news.smh.com.au/business/telfer-gas-supply-back-to-normal-20080819-3xyz.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=19 August 2008 |accessdate=3 September 2008}}
Newcrest was forced to cut job numbers from 1,400 to around 1,000 in late 2008, during the financial crises, to reduce costs.[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/newcrest-to-slash-mine-jobs/story-e6frg9do-1111117836793 Newcrest to slash mine jobs at its Telfer mine] The Australian, published: 24 October 2008, accessed: 27 January 2010
Mining is carried out at the Main Dome open pit and the underground operations below. The West Dome pit is being mined again.
On 4 December 2013 a contractor was killed at the mine, being crushed by pipe work.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-04/man-dies-at-newcrest-telfer-mine-in-western-australia/5135494 Worker killed at Newcrest's Telfer mine in WA north] Australian Broadcasting Corporation, published: 4 December 2013, accessed: 31 December 2013
On 4 December 2024, Greatland Gold acquired a 100% stake in the mine.
Production
Production figures for the mine:{{cite web |title=Newcrest Mining Quarterly Report June 2018 |url=https://www.newcrest.com/sites/default/files/2019-11/180726_Newcrest%20June%202018%20Quarterly%20Report.pdf |website=www.newcrest.com |publisher=Newcrest |accessdate=19 April 2022}}{{cite web |title=Newcrest Mining Quarterly Report June 2019 |url=https://www.newcrest.com/sites/default/files/2019-11/190725_Newcrest%20June%202019%20Quarterly%20Report.pdf |website=www.newcrest.com |publisher=Newcrest |accessdate=19 April 2022}}{{cite web |title=Newcrest Mining Quarterly Report June 2021 |url=https://www.newcrest.com/sites/default/files/2021-07/210722_Newcrest%20June%202021%20Quarterly%20Report.pdf |website=www.newcrest.com |publisher=Newcrest |accessdate=19 April 2022}}{{cite web |title=Newcrest Mining Annual Report 2021 |url=https://www.newcrest.com/sites/default/files/2021-09/20393_Newcrest_AR_2021.pdf |website=www.newcrest.com |publisher=Newcrest |accessdate=19 April 2022}}{{cite web |title=Newcrest Mining Annual Report 2022 |url=https://www.newcrest.com/sites/default/files/2022-11/221004_Annual%20Report%202022_0.pdf |website=www.newcrest.com |publisher=Newcrest |accessdate=19 April 2022}}{{cite web |title=Newcrest Mining Annual Report 2023 |url=https://www.newcrest.com/sites/default/files/2023-09/230921_Annual%20Report%202023_0.pdf |website=www.newcrest.com |publisher=Newcrest |accessdate=24 February 2024}}
=Gold=
Annual gold production of the mine:
| class="wikitable" |
| style="text-align:center; background:#daa520;"
! Year ! Production ! Grade ! Cost per ounce |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 1999 | 314,295 ounces | 1.33 g/t | A$390 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2000 | 176,000 ounces | 1.62 g/t | A$494 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2001–2003 | colspan=3| inactive |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2004–05 | 218,000 ounces | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2005–06 | 650,000 ounces | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2006–07 | 627,000 ounces | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2007–08 | 590,000 ounces | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2008–09 | 629,108 ounces | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2009–10 | 688,909 ounces | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2010–11 | | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2011–12 | | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2012–13 | | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2013–14 | 536,342 ounces | 0.90 g/t | $A1,005 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2014–15 | 520,309 ounces | na g/t | $A791 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2015–16 | 462,461 ounces | na g/t | $A967 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2016–17 | 386,242 ounces | 0.70 g/t | A$1,178 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2017–18 | 425,536 ounces | 0.71 g/t | A$1,262 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2018–19 | 451,991 ounces | 0.72 g/t | A$1,253 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2019–20 | 393,164 ounces | 0.90 g/t | A$1,281 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2020–21 | 416,138 ounces | 0.89 g/t | A$1,473 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2021–22 | 407,550 ounces | 0.73 g/t | A$1,388 |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2021–22 | 349,000 ounces | | A$1,633 |
=Copper=
Annual copper production of the mine:
| class="wikitable" |
| style="text-align:center; background:#daa520;"
! Year ! Production ! Grade ! Cost |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2004–05 | 25,000 tonnes | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2005–06 | 38,000 tonnes | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2006–07 | 28,000 tonnes | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2007–08 | 27,000 tonnes | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2008–09 | 32,905 tonnes | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2009–10 | 34,815 tonnes | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2010–11 | | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2011–12 | | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2012–13 | | | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2013–14 | 43,619 tonnes | 0.16% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2014–15 | 23,119 tonnes | na% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2015–16 | 18,940 tonnes | na% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2016–17 | 20,136 tonnes | 0.14% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2017–18 | 16,212 tonnes | 0.10% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2018–19 | 15,025 tonnes | 0.09% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2019–20 | 16,278 tonnes | 0.14% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2020–21 | 13,177 tonnes | 0.11% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2021–22 | 13,904 tonnes | 0.09% | |
| style="text-align:center;"
| 2022–23 | 17,000 tonnes | | |
References
{{reflist |refs=
|archive-date=2020-07-12 |access-date=2010-01-27 }}
}}
=Bibliography=
- {{Cite book| editor-first=Ross |editor-last=Louthean |title=The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition | publisher=Louthean Media Pty Ltd| location= }}
External links
- {{Official website|https://operations.newmont.com/australia/telfer}}
- [https://minedex.dmirs.wa.gov.au/Web/projects/details/73bfe816-3d67-4cd4-804a-526fa26b4257 MINEDEX website: Telfer / Newcrest] Database of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
{{Active Gold Mines in Western Australia}}
Category:1977 establishments in Australia
Category:Copper mines in Western Australia
Category:Gold mines in Western Australia
Category:Shire of East Pilbara
Category:Silver mines in Western Australia