Detour Lake was the largest gold mine in Canada in Q3 2021; top 10 local mines up production 12% – report

Gold & Silver

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(Kitco News) – Kirkland Lake Gold’s Detour Lake mine was the largest gold operation in Canada in Q3 2021 by production. The top 10 domestic gold mines increased output by 12% in Q3 2021. 

Kitco ranked the top 10 largest gold mines in Canada in Q3 2021 based on publicly reported production figures.

Kirkland Lake Gold’s Detour Lake mine was the largest gold mine in Canada in Q3 2021 and achieved record quarterly production of 189,233 ounces. The 189,233 ounces of production was 35% higher than the 140,067 ounces produced in Q3 2020 and increased 14% from the previous quarterly record of 165,880 ounces in Q2 2021. The increase in production quarter over quarter mainly reflected a 5% increase in tonnes processed as well as an 8% improvement in the average grade with mining during the quarter focused largely on high-grade areas as part of the Phase 2 mining plan.

Jointly owned by Yamana Gold and Agnico Eagle, Canadian Malartic was the second largest gold mine in Canada in Q3 2021. Canadian Malartic had a strong third quarter in line with plan, after an exceptional second quarter due to higher grade, delivering quarterly production of 174 koz that exceeded plan. Third quarter results benefited from higher grade and recoveries compared to the third quarter of 2020 from ore deeper in the Malartic pit, with overall production greatly exceeding the comparative period by 14% due to the prior year’s COVID-related temporary challenges.

Gold production at Canada’s third-largest LaRonde gold operation – owned by Agnico Eagle – increased by 7% to 107 koz in the third quarter of 2021 when compared to the prior-year period primarily as a result of higher gold grades, partially offset by lower throughput levels. A higher proportion of the ore milled was sourced from the West mine leading to higher gold grades in the quarter. 

At another Agnico Eagle’s Meliadine mine that sits fourth, gold production in the third quarter of 2021 of 97 koz (including pre-commercial production at the Tiriganiaq open pit) was virtually unchanged when compared to the prior-year period. 

Production at Canada’s fifth-largest Pretium’s Brucejack mine was 91 koz of gold in the third quarter of 2021, up 5% from 86 koz in the third quarter of 2020. Higher production reflects the increased tonnes milled in the period and the reduction in gold remaining in-circuit from 7,718 ounces at June 30, 2021 to 1,677 ounces at September 30, 2021, partially offset by lower head grade.



In the third quarter of 2021, gold production at Agnico Eagle’s Meadowbank mine increased by 20% to 90 koz when compared to the prior-year period primarily due to the higher mining rate and mill throughput, and higher gold grades with the deepening of the pit and the contribution from the IVR open pit. The higher throughput in the third quarter of 2021 resulted from solid mill performance and good ore grinding properties.

Gold production at Newmont’s Porcupine mine decreased 9% to 73 koz in Q3 2021 primarily due to lower ore grade milled, partially offset by higher throughput.

New Gold’s Rainy River mine produced 58,557 ounces of gold in Q3 2021, a decrease of 7% compared to the prior-year period due to lower tonnes milled.

Gold production at Newmont’s Eleonore mine of 56 koz in Q3 2021 decreased 2% primarily due to lower throughput due to labor shortages, partially offset by higher ore grade milled.

Victoria Gold’s Eagle Gold mine produced 55,827 ounces of gold in Q3 2021 compared to 35,312 ounces of gold production in Q3 2020. The 58% increase in gold production is attributed to the increase in ore mined and stacked along with higher ore grades.

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