Equinox Gold announces good progress with Aurizona construction

Posted by Paul Moore on 14th June 2018

Equinox Gold Corp has provided an update on construction progress at its Aurizona Gold Mine in Brazil. Construction remains on schedule to pour gold by late 2018 with the expectation of producing on average 136,000 ounces of gold per year, and construction spending is tracking in-line with the $146 million project budget. Construction and mining progress so far includes:

  • More than 2,000 days with no lost-time incidents
  • Overall project is 55% complete and EPCM (engineering, procurement and construction management) activities are 70% complete
  • Plant construction is 45% complete and progressing on a number of areas including grinding, crushing, leaching, the thickener, and installation of agitators in the CIP circuit
  • Concrete work is 70% complete
  • Engineering is complete

The concrete foundations and pedestals for the SAG and ball mills are complete and ready for mill installation, which is expected to commence at the end of June. Concrete work is underway in the surge bin area, 90% complete in the leaching and thickening areas and 50% complete in the crusher area. Structural steel erection in the grinding area has commenced and the thickener tank is 90% complete. Refurbishment of the existing CIP circuit and detox tanks is complete while refurbishment of other equipment such as pumps, agitators, screens and motors is 90% complete.

Engineering is complete and all major contracts have been awarded, including the mining fuel supply contract and the construction contract for electrical and instrumentation installation. Overall procurement of equipment and materials is 70% complete, all major purchase orders have been awarded and the majority of equipment will have been delivered to site by the end of August. More than 80% of the anticipated 1,230 tonnes of structural steel is on site.

Pre-production mining activities, focused on removing waste from two locations in the Piaba pit and developing access roads, commenced in mid-April and are progressing on schedule. The mining contractor, Brazil’s U&M Mineração e Construção S/A  has removed more than 600,000 t of waste to date and roadwork is underway in preparation for ore mining in Q3 2018.