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Compiled by Dr. Joe Herbertson
June 2001
Sustainable Resource Processing
Gold (from gold ores)
Annual World   Australia
Production        tonnes %
Virgin gold           2100         12
(non-byproduct)  
MAJOR INPUTS
Gold extraction
Stage cost for marginal production ~US$9 million
Ore                  570,000 t
Water 365,000 t
NaCN                     350 t
Lime                       100 t
Coal        250 t
Steel (grinding
media)                   250 t
Electricity       50 TJ
WASTES & EMISSIONS
Tailings                 0.57 Mt
Gold (in tailings)    200 kg
Water                    0.37 Mt
NaCN (in water)         50 t
SO2                         1300 t
Sulfate (as SO4)     2400 t
Equivalent CO2 for electricity used         10 kt
1 t virgin gold
(annual production 2100 t)
A simplified summary of some of the major inputs and outputs to produce virgin gold
•The world average grade of all mined gold ores appears to be approximately 2 g/t
•Some sulfur dioxide gas is collected and converted to sulfuric acid
•Gold production is characterised by the need to handle and dispose of large quantities of solids at low cost
•It has been estimated that 85% of all the gold ever extracted in history is still in circulation and accounted for!
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Note: Gold producer Normandy Mining are currently developing company specific performance metrics that build on the ‘per ounce’ inputs-outputs approach