Characteristics
A narrow-vein gold mine containing gold, silver and copper mineralisation in sulphides. Mineralisation of Bulyanhulu is associated with steeply-dipping reefs. A number of distinct reefs have been identified including Reef Zero, Reef One and Reef Two.
Life and reserves
Bulyanhulu’s life-of-mine is currently estimated to be more than 25+ years, based on its proven and probable gold reserves of 10,564,000 ounces.
Location
The mine is in northwest Tanzania, in the Kahama district of the Shinyanga region, approximately 55 km south of Lake Victoria and 150 km southwest of the city of Mwanza, a regional business and economic hub.
Capacity
The Bulyanhulu process plant has the capacity to process an average of 3,300 tonnes of ore per day, (or c. 1.1 million tonnes per year) and produces both doré and copper/gold concentrate.
Access
Good, with a private airport and local unpaved roads connecting to the main highway close to Kahama.
Climate
The average annual temperatures range from 15°-35°C. Average annual rainfall in the region is 953mm.
The site
The mine is an underground trackless operation using long-hole as its principal stoping method, with alimak, drift and fill and conventional cut and fill the other primary mining methods.