Morro Velho
Encyclopedia
Morro Velho, also called AngloGold Ashanti Brasil Mineração, after its current owner AngloGold Ashanti
, is a complex of gold mine
s located near the city of Nova Lima
in the Minas Gerais
state of Brazil
.
It is one of two mining operations of the company in Brazil, the other being the Serra Grande Gold Mine
.
In 2008, the Brazilian operations contributed 8% to the company's overall production.
have been in operation since 1835, making it the world's oldest continuously worked mine. Some of the mines' works are over 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) deep underground. Although Morro Velho's main production is gold
, silver
, arsenic
, and other minerals are also extracted at the mining complex.
Despite closing of the Minha Velha and Engenho D'Água mines in 2003 and 2004, gold production has increased over the past three years, with 240,000 ounces (6,800 kilograms) of gold produced in 2004 at an average recovered ore grade of 0.222 ounces per ton (7.62 grams per metric ton). Cash costs of production totaled $133 per ounce, with the mine realizing adjusted operating profit of $45 million.
In 2009, the mine employed close to 3,000 people, 2,250 of those being permanent staff.
AngloGold Ashanti
AngloGold Ashanti Limited is a global gold mining company. It was formed in 2004 by the merger of AngloGold and the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation.AngloGold Ashanti Limited is now a global gold producer with 21 operations on four continents...
, is a complex of gold mine
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:...
s located near the city of Nova Lima
Nova Lima
Nova Lima is a city in the Minas Gerais state of Brazil, located close to the state's capital, Belo Horizonte. Its 2001 population was estimated at 66,700. The city is home to several mines, including the Morro Velho, Mostardas], and Rio de Peixe mines. A number of minerals are extracted from...
in the Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
state of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
It is one of two mining operations of the company in Brazil, the other being the Serra Grande Gold Mine
Serra Grande Gold Mine
The Serra Grande Gold Mine is a gold mine located 5 km from Crixás, in the Goiás state of Brazil. It is jointly owned by AngloGold Ashanti and Kinross Gold Corporation, who are equal partners. The mine is operated by AngloGold Ashanti but revenue is spread evenly between the two companies.In...
.
In 2008, the Brazilian operations contributed 8% to the company's overall production.
History
The minesMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
have been in operation since 1835, making it the world's oldest continuously worked mine. Some of the mines' works are over 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) deep underground. Although Morro Velho's main production is gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
, and other minerals are also extracted at the mining complex.
Despite closing of the Minha Velha and Engenho D'Água mines in 2003 and 2004, gold production has increased over the past three years, with 240,000 ounces (6,800 kilograms) of gold produced in 2004 at an average recovered ore grade of 0.222 ounces per ton (7.62 grams per metric ton). Cash costs of production totaled $133 per ounce, with the mine realizing adjusted operating profit of $45 million.
In 2009, the mine employed close to 3,000 people, 2,250 of those being permanent staff.
Production
Recent production figures of the mine were:| Year | Production (ounces) | Grade | Cost per ounce |
| 2003 | 228,000 | 6.84 g/t | US$ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... 141 |
| 2004 | 240,000 | 7.85 g/t | US$ 133 |
| 2005 | 250,000 | 7.27 g/t | US$ 169 |
| 2006 | 242,000 | 7.60 g/t | US$ 195 |
| 2007 | 317,000 | 7.48 g/t | US$ 233 |
| 2008 | 320,000 | 7.62 g/t | US$ 300 |
| 2009 | 329,000 | 7.02 g/t | US$ 339 |
| 2010 |