July 2014
MODERN MINING
45
MINING IN AFRICA
ture
Arrival of the ball mill –shipped from Durban – at New Liberty.
earthworks were virtually complete and the
civils well advanced. It added that the first
steel erection commenced in May and was
progressing on schedule with the gold room
and screen circuits 90 % complete, the pri-
mary crusher 75 % complete and the CIL
tank bases and shells 30 % complete.
Aureus says its expects mill installation
and plant civil construction to be complete
in Q4 2014 with open-pit mining operations
beginning in Q1 2015.
The arrival of the ball mill, which is
17½ x 23½ foot unit, marks a milestone for
the project. The mass of the complete ball
mill installation, in a ready-to-run state, is
approximately 250 tonnes and its power
consumption will be 3 500 kW. The name-
plate capacity of the ball mill is 145,5 t/h. It
was transported by sea from Durban in South
Africa to the port of Monrovia in Liberia and
then by road from Monrovia to the New
Liberty site. The shipment also included
other large items such as the Joest vibratory
screens as well as plant steelwork.
On May 12, 2014, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,
President of Liberia, visited the New Liberty
project accompanied by a government del-
egation including representatives from
the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy.
The presidential party was given a tour of
the project and a presentation on Aureus’
Corporate and Social Responsibility initia-
tives. The delegation commended Aureus on
the progress made to date and the sustain-
able employment and training opportunities
that the project has provided to the local
communities.
The New Liberty deposit – a high-grade,
Archean, shear-hosted gold deposit with
well-defined alteration and sulphide min-
eralogy – was originally identified by small
scale artisanal miners. Early work in 1998
was undertaken by Mano River Resources
(a predecessor of African Aura and subse-
quently Aureus Mining) who followed up on
the artisanal sites. In 1999 the discovery hole
KGD2 was drilled, recovering 12,8 g/t over
16 m. Progress on the project was disrupted
by the civil war in Liberia but from 2009
onwards serious exploration work started
on the property.
Aureus Mining Inc was formed in 2011
from a split of African Aura and finance was
raised. Progress since then has been rapid
with the DFS being completed in 2013 and
the first concrete pour on site taking place in
October 2013.
Photos courtesy of Aureus Mining
