Kirkalocka Gold Mine

Kirkalocka

Location
Kirkalocka Gold Mine Location in Western Australia
Location	Mount Magnet
State	Western Australia
Country	Australia
Coordinates	28°40′32″S 117°45′43″E
Production
Production	0
Financial year	2020–21
History
Opened	2002
Active	2002–2008 2019–2021
Owner
Company	Adaman Resources
Year of acquisition	2018

The Kirkalocka Gold Mine is an active gold mine located 70 km south of Mount Magnet, Western Australia. The mine had been placed in care and maintenance in 2008^[1][2] but reopened for a brief period between 2018 and 2021. The mine's owner, Adaman Resources, was placed into administration in May 2021.

It was named after the nearby Kirkalocka sheep station.

History

Gold mines in the Mid West region

Exploration at Kirkalocka has been carried out by a number of companies, including Sons of Gwalia, before Equigold Limited acquired the area in 2001.^[2][3]

Equigold, after constructing a plant, commenced mining in September 2002. Over the next six years, the company extracted 307,621 ounces of gold from the deposit, at a grade of 1.52 g/t. Equigold finished mining in October 2005, and continued milling broken ore stockpiles until 14 August 2008.^[4] The mine was placed in care and maintenance in September 2008.^[2][5]

Equigold Limited sold the Kirkalocka tenements to Mount Magnet South NL in April 2008.^[6] The Kirkalocka plant, with associated infrastructure, was acquired by Mount Magnet South in a separate transaction in March 2009.^[7]

In November 2015, Kirkalocka was sold to Minjar Gold Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Shandong Tyan Home Co Ltd, a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.^{[8][9][10][11]}

The mine was purchased from Minjar Gold by a private company, Adaman Resources in 2017 for A$12 million.^[12] Adaman recommenced mining in late 2018.^[13] Adaman entered voluntary administration in May 2021, with the company believed to owe creditors more than A$100 million.^[14] Administrators Cor Cordis announced a refinancing of the company in August 2021.^[15]

Production

Production of the mine:

Year	Production	Grade	Cost per ounce
2002–03[16]	45,375 oz	1.64 g/t	A$359
2003–04[17]	67,454 oz	1.74 g/t	A$341
2004–05[18]	59,367 oz	1.94 g/t	A$399
2005–06[19]	47,638 oz	1.39 g/t	A$384
2006–07[19]	37,472 oz	1.07 g/t	A$432
2007–08[4][11]	42,589 oz	1.06 g/t	A$423
2008–09[11]	7,726 oz	1.26 g/t	A$292
2005–2018	inactive
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–present	inactive

References

1. MINEDEX website - Kirkalocka search result Archived 2008-09-11 at the Wayback Machine accessed: 31 July 2010
2. Kirkalocka Gold Project Mount Magnet South website, accessed: 31 July 2010
3. The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page: 99
4. "Half year ended 31 December 2007" (PDF), ASX Announcements, Equigold NL, 25 February 2008, retrieved 7 March 2017
5. "Fourth quarter production report to 31 December 2008" (PDF). ASX Announcements. Lihir Gold Limited. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
6. Kirkalocka site overview Lihir Gold website, accessed: 31 July 2010
7. Kirkalocka Plant Acquisition Mount Magnet South ASX announcement, published: 16 March 2009, accessed: 31 July 2010
8. "Sale of Kirkalocka Gold Project - Completion" (PDF). ASX Announcements. Mount Magnet South Limited. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
9. "Kirkalocka". Minjar Gold. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
10. "Parent company". Minjar Gold. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
11. "Third Quarter Production Report to 30 September 2008" (PDF). ASXAnnouncements. Lihir Gold Limited. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
12. Chiat, Josh (17 May 2018). "Big-name buyers see Kirkalocka as new Thunderbox". The West Australian. Perth. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
13. "Western Australia's principal resources projects, 2018-19" (PDF). www.dmp.wa.gov.au. Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
14. Szabo, Richard (May 2021). "Mining company collapses after reportedly racking up huge debt". Queensland Mining & Energie. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
15. "COR CORDIS DELIVERS ANOTHER MAJOR MINING TRANSACTION – ADAMAN RESOURCES GROUP". www.corcordis.com.au. Cor Cordis. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
16. "Annual Report 2003" (PDF). ASX announcements. Equigold NL. 22 October 2003. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
17. "Annual Report 2004" (PDF). ASX Announcements. Equigold Limited. 13 October 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
18. "Annual Report 2005" (PDF). ASX Announcements. Equigold Limited. 20 October 2005. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
19. Preliminary Final Report Equigold ASX announcement, published: 3 August 2007, accessed: 31 July 2010

Bibliography

• Louthean, Ross (ed.). The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition. Louthean Media Pty Ltd.

External links

• MINEDEX website: Kirkalocka Database of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety