Barrick's Carlin, which is the second-largest in the world and the largest gold mining company in the US, reached 373,000 ounces of gold production in the first quarter of 2021. This is 9% lower than in the first quarter of 2020. The reason for the percentage decline is mainly due to the low productivity of the kiln, as well as the high carbon content, which also negatively affected the total content of the raw materials due to mixing.
Another mine, Barrick's Cortez, takes second place. Gold production was 163,000 ounces in the first quarter of 2021, which is also short by 22% compared to the first quarter of 2020 due to a reduction in production at all processing enterprises. The production of kilns was lower, which is mainly due to lower volumes of ore processed at the Cortez Hills Underground, as well as lower grades, which was partially offset by an increase in the number of processed refractory dumps in open pits.
The next mine, Barrick's Turquoise Ridge, comes in third. Gold production in the first quarter of 2021 was 149,000 ounces. This is 9% higher than in the first quarter of 2020, as a result of the higher productivity of the Sage autoclave. The increase in production at the Turquoise Ridge underground in the first quarter of 2021 was largely offset by the Vista underground collapse, which was repaired during the quarter. A major overhaul of the Sage autoclave is scheduled for the second quarter of 2021.
Meanwhile, mining activities during the quarter at the Kinross' Round Mountain gold mine, the fourth-largest gold mine in the United States, were affected by precautions taken after a comprehensive monitoring system detected a shift in the north wall of the quarry. The delayed mining in the area delayed access to Phase W ore and affected production and cost per ounce during the quarter. As a result, the mine produced 74,000 ounces of gold in the first quarter of 2021, which is 12% less than in the first quarter of 2020.
The Marigold SSR Mining mine was ranked fifth. In the first quarter, the mine produced 67,936 ounces of gold, which is 16% more than in the first quarter of 2020. The mine produced 23.8 million tons of material, despite the planned shutdown of the largest excavator for 35 days.
Let's take a look at the full list:
