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Harmony Gold (mining)
Encyclopedia
Harmony Gold is the third largest gold mining
company in South Africa , the 12th largest in the world (2009) and the 5th largest gold producer in the world. Harmony and its subsidiaries conduct underground and surface gold mining and related activities, including exploration, processing, smelting
and refining
. During the fiscal year ended 8 October 2004 (fiscal 2004), the company processed approximately 33.955 million ton
s of ore
and sold 3,225,187 ounces (100,376.7 kg) of gold. It also has operations in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Canada. The company owns a number of mines including Elandskraal mine
and Phakisa Mine.
was acquired by Harmony through the take over of New Hampton Goldfields Limited in April 2001 for A$54 million. Harmony closed the mine in June 2003, having found previous assesements of the grade at Big Bell over optimistic and making mining the deposits thereby unprofitable. In January 2010, the mine was sold to Aragon Resources Limited, who chose to rename the project to Murchison Bell.
in November 2003 to Legend Mining for A$6.5 million.
at Mount Magnet
, in care and maintenance since December 2007, was acquired by Harmony in 2002 when the company took over Hill 50 Gold. Harmony sold the operation to Monarch Gold Mining in late 2007, but Monarch was unable to complete the transaction and went into administration in July 2008. After being unable to re-sell the mine, Harmony conducted a study in regards to carrying out mining at Hill 50 once more. It is currently considering the option of consolidating historic resources into one large super pit, rather than to carry out costly underground mining. Harmony expects the study to be completed in the third quarter of 2010.
became part of Harmony with the take over of Hill 50 Gold. Harmony sold the mine to Dioro Exploration NL and the later settled the purchase of the mine on 30 November 2007. Harmony received A$45 million for the operations, of which $25 million were in cash while the remainder was paid in Dioro shares.
. The mine is approximately 210 km north-north-west of Port Moresby
, and 90 km south-southwest of Lae
. It is operated by Morobe Mining Joint Ventures, a 50:50 joint venture between Harmony and Newcrest Mining
.
, made from 18 carat South African gold, mined from the area where The Lord of the Rings
author J. R. R. Tolkien
was born. Their version of the ring, also inscribed with elvish script, sold in a variety of sizes in various jewellery stores throughout South Africa and directly through their website to anyone in the world who wanted one and could afford the $250 asking price.
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
company in South Africa , the 12th largest in the world (2009) and the 5th largest gold producer in the world. Harmony and its subsidiaries conduct underground and surface gold mining and related activities, including exploration, processing, smelting
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
and refining
Refining
Refining is the process of purification of a substance or a form. The term is usually used of a natural resource that is almost in a usable form, but which is more useful in its pure form. For instance, most types of natural petroleum will burn straight from the ground, but it will burn poorly...
. During the fiscal year ended 8 October 2004 (fiscal 2004), the company processed approximately 33.955 million ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s of ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
and sold 3,225,187 ounces (100,376.7 kg) of gold. It also has operations in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Canada. The company owns a number of mines including Elandskraal mine
Elandskraal mine
Kusasalethu is a gold mine on the West Wits Line near Carletonville, Gauteng, South Africa, and 75 km west of Johannesburg. The Deelkraal Section of the mine is situated about 5km to the west at .-Overview:The mine is owned by the Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd...
and Phakisa Mine.
Big Bell Gold Mine
The Big Bell Gold MineBig Bell Gold Mine
The Big Bell Gold Mine is a gold mine located at Big Bell, 24 km north-west of Cue, Western Australia. The mine was owned and operated by Harmony Gold at the time of its closure in June 2003, having produced 2.6 million ounces of gold during its lifetime, but was sold to Aragon Resources...
was acquired by Harmony through the take over of New Hampton Goldfields Limited in April 2001 for A$54 million. Harmony closed the mine in June 2003, having found previous assesements of the grade at Big Bell over optimistic and making mining the deposits thereby unprofitable. In January 2010, the mine was sold to Aragon Resources Limited, who chose to rename the project to Murchison Bell.
Gidgee Gold Mine
Acquired through the take over of Abelle Limited in April 2003, Harmony sold on the Gidgee Gold MineGidgee Gold Mine
The Gidgee Gold Mine is a gold mine in Western Australia, 82 km north of the town of Sandstone. The mine was, until recently, owned by APEX Minerals NL, but purchased by Panoramic Resources in February 2011. The mine is currently in care and maintenance....
in November 2003 to Legend Mining for A$6.5 million.
Hill 50 Gold Mine
The Hill 50 Gold MineHill 50 Gold Mine
The Hill 50 Gold Mine is a gold mine located 4 km north-west of Mount Magnet, Western Australia. The mine was, until July 2010, owned by Harmony Gold and had been placed in care and maintenance since 2007...
at Mount Magnet
Mount Magnet, Western Australia
Mount Magnet is an old Western Australian gold rush town. The name was chosen during exploration of the region due to an isolated hill 5 km north west of the town current townsite. This hill has an extremely high iron content and affected the compasses of explorers...
, in care and maintenance since December 2007, was acquired by Harmony in 2002 when the company took over Hill 50 Gold. Harmony sold the operation to Monarch Gold Mining in late 2007, but Monarch was unable to complete the transaction and went into administration in July 2008. After being unable to re-sell the mine, Harmony conducted a study in regards to carrying out mining at Hill 50 once more. It is currently considering the option of consolidating historic resources into one large super pit, rather than to carry out costly underground mining. Harmony expects the study to be completed in the third quarter of 2010.
South Kalgoorlie Gold Mine
The South Kalgoorlie Gold MineSouth Kalgoorlie Gold Mine
The South Kalgoorlie Gold Mine is a gold mine located south-west of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The mine is sometimes also referred to as South Kal Mines - New Celebration, being a merger of the former New Celebration Gold Mine and the Jubilee Gold Mine, which were combined in 2002.It was...
became part of Harmony with the take over of Hill 50 Gold. Harmony sold the mine to Dioro Exploration NL and the later settled the purchase of the mine on 30 November 2007. Harmony received A$45 million for the operations, of which $25 million were in cash while the remainder was paid in Dioro shares.
Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley is an open-pit, gold-silver mine and processing plant in Morobe ProvinceMorobe Province
Morobe Province is a province on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital, and largest city, is Lae. The province covers 34,500 km², including 719 km² maritime area, with a population of 539,725...
. The mine is approximately 210 km north-north-west of Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, and 90 km south-southwest of Lae
Lae
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast...
. It is operated by Morobe Mining Joint Ventures, a 50:50 joint venture between Harmony and Newcrest Mining
Newcrest Mining
Newcrest Mining Limited engages in the exploration, development, mining and sale of gold and gold-copper concentrate. Newcrest is an Australian based Company which initially incorporated in Victoria in 1980. Today it has become Australia’s leading gold mining company...
.
Illegal miner deaths
In late May to early June 2009 63 illegal miners died in a Free State, South Africa mine owned by Harmony Gold.http://www.harmony.co.za/im/press_display.asp?pressId=161Popular culture
In South Africa, Harmony Gold secured a license to sell a replica of the One RingOne Ring
The One Ring is a fictional artifact that appears as the central plot element in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy novels. It is described in an earlier story, The Hobbit , as a magic ring of invisibility. The sequel The Lord of the Rings describes its powers as being more encompassing than...
, made from 18 carat South African gold, mined from the area where The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
author J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
was born. Their version of the ring, also inscribed with elvish script, sold in a variety of sizes in various jewellery stores throughout South Africa and directly through their website to anyone in the world who wanted one and could afford the $250 asking price.