Samira Hill Gold Mine
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | Téra department |
| Country | Niger |
The Samira Hill Gold Mine is a Gold mine in Téra department of the Tillabéri Region in Niger. Opened in late 2004, it is the first industrial scale gold mine in the nation, and while operated by a Canadian/Moroccan consortia, the government of Niger owns both a %20 stake in its operation, which functions under government concession. The mine, and the possibility that other gold concessions will follow, is projected to be a important component of future export revenue for the West African state.
Mining in Tera
Exploitable deposits of gold have long been known to exist in Niger in the region between the Niger River and the border with Burkina Faso, and artisinal gold mining has previously taken place in the area.[1] The Namaga concession upon which the Mine was built, was auctioned in 2000 in the hopes it would be the first mine to produce gold from the Tera greenstone belt which surrounds Koma Bangou, the country’s largest artisanal mining site.[1]
SML consortia
The mine is operated by SML (Societe des Mines du Liptako), a joint venture between Moroccan Societe Semafo Inc[2] and Canadian Etruscan Resources Incorporated. Both companies own 80% (40% - 40%) of SML and the Government of Niger holds a 20% stake. [3]
Production
On 5 October 2004, President Mamadou Tandja announced the official opening of the Samira Hill Gold Mine, and the first Nigerien gold ingot was presented to him. This marked a historical moment for Niger as the Samira Hill Gold Mine represents the first commercial gold production in the country.[4]
The first year’s production is predicted to be 135,000 troy ounces (4,200 kg; 9,260 lb avoirdupois) of gold at a cash value of USD 177 per ounce ($5.70/g). The mine reserves for the Samira Hill mine total 10,073,626 tons at an average grade of 2.21 grams per ton from which 618,000 troy ounces (19,200 kg; 42,400 lb) will be recovered over a 6 year mine life. SML believes to have a number of significant gold deposits within what is now recognized as the gold belt known as the "Samira Horizon", which is located between Gotheye and Ouallam.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Background Note:Niger, United States State Department, Bureau of Public Affairs: Electronic Information and Publications Office. Bureau of African Affairs. September 2008. This article incorporates text from this U.S. government source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Company Profile for SEMAFO (CA;SMF)". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
- ^ Carlin Resources - Significant gold assays from Tera Project- Niger Business Wire, April 1, 1997
Gold and Uranium Exploration in Republic of Niger, West Africa, March 2007. - ^ Thomas R. Yager, Omayra Bermúdez-Lugo, Philip M. Mobbs, Harold R. Newman, and David R. Wilburn. http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2005/myb3-sum-2005-africa.pdf "The Mineral Industries of Africa"]. 2005 Minerals Yearbook. U.S. Geological Survey (August 2007). This article incorporates text from this U.S. government source, which is in the public domain.