Highland Developing Mayskoye in Russia’s Far Northeast


Aerial view of Mayskoye gold property in northeast Russia. Highland Gold is targeting a 2010 production
startup date following commencement of construction in June. (Photo courtesy of Highland Gold Mining)
Highland Gold Mining announced in mid- June 2008 that it is proceeding with construction of its Mayskoye project in the Chukotka region of Russia’s far northeast. At full production beginning in 2010, Mayskoye is slated to produce between 250,000 and 275,000 oz/y of gold over a mine life of more than 12 years. Capital cost to develop the project is expected to be between $500 million and $550 million.

In its first year of operation, Mayskoye will mine oxide ores from a small open-pit and the upper levels of the deposit and process these ores by standard cyanide leaching. After the first full year of operation, an underground mine will begin to produce refractory sulphide ores. A flotation circuit will be added to the mill to produce a sulphide concentrate, which will be oxidized using Biomin’s BIOX technology ahead of cyanide leaching.

The underground mine will be accessed via adit on its upper levels and twin declines on its lower levels. Mine production is planned at 850,000 mt/y of ore.

Aker Solutions has the Mayskoye EPCM contract. Engineering and procurement is being handled out of Aker’s Melbourne, Australia, office. Major longlead- time equipment, including the SAG mill and initial mining equipment, has already been ordered. Site preparation work was scheduled to begin during the third quarter of 2008.

Access and supply to the Mayskoye project are via the seasonal (May to October) Arctic seaport of Pevek, which also has an airport suitable for all types of aircraft. The deposit is 187 km from Pevek by road via Komsomolsky, a small mining center 58 km northwest of Mayskoye. The road from Pevek to Komsomolsky is of adequate all-weather standard, but the Komsomolsky- Mayskoye road is temporary and will require upgrading.

The physiography of the region is Arctic desert/tundra, with rolling topography to a maximum elevation of 450 m and typical wildlife and vegetation. The climate is harsh, with winter temperatures below -30°C and rarely above 10°C during summer.

As featured in Womp 08 Vol 6 - www.womp-int.com