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Home > Mining Companies > Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. > Articles > Macassa & South Mine Complex
Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Macassa & South Mine Complex

Oct 15, 2014



Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. is an operating and exploration gold company located in Kirkland Lake, ON in the Southern Abitibi gold belt. In 2001, the Company acquired 13,000 acres of five contiguous formerly producing gold mines, which had historically produced 21 million ounces of gold grading 15.1 grams per ton (0.44 ounces per ton) primarily from the Main/’04 Break system. The current focus is on expanding gold production from the Main/'04 Break, and a new discovery area, the South Mine Complex (SMC).
 
Gold production recommenced in 2005 from the Main/’04 Break via the existing #3 shaft at the Macassa Mine. The Company also launched a major exploration program that discovered additional gold structures to the south, in a different geologic setting than the quartz-vein hosted Main/’04 Break system; gold associated with sulphides, the SMC. 
 
Stope development is currently taking place predominantly in the SMC, and remains a focus for ongoing exploration programs, as it remains open in all directions and at depth.
 
In January 2009 the Company initiated a low-capex, five-year expansion program designed to increase gold production and lower costs. Project capital and work for this expansion has now been completed, which has seen upgrades and improvements to the hoist, skips, mill, underground mobile equipment and capital development. Production activities were concurrent with the expansion program and results from the ongoing program saw the Company’s production rise approximately 18% year over year to 82,160 ounces in 2011, 100,032 ounces in 2012, 91,518 ounces in 2013, 122,309 in 2014 and forecasted 140,000 - 150,000 for fiscal 2015.
 
Following operational management changes, a mine optimization plan was initiated in late 2013. The new mine plan is focused on raising head grades and mining to the reserve grade, requiring less tons produced therefore less labour required, which will lower unit operating costs per ounce of gold produced and increase productivity. This strategy, together with completion of the expansion project will lower all-in sustaining cash-costs and return the Company to free-cash flow status in the near future. The Company will also look to take advantage of potential further production expansions via its increased infrastructure capacity in the appropriate gold price environment.
 
Over the last several years the Company, during its expansion program, has invested significant capital to improve the infrastructure of the business including upgrading the production hoist, skips, mill, underground mobile equipment and capital development. The Company will also look to take advantage of its increased infrastructure capacity in the appropriate gold price environment. At the same time, the Company is committed to maintaining a significant exploration program aimed at developing and maintaining a property wide reserve and resource base sufficient to sustain a mine life of more than ten years. From initial discovery to present day there have been over 24 million ounces of gold mined from the Kirkland Lake camp while the current reserve and resource provides for potentially 10 years of mining with significant exploration upside.
 
The Company has also been conducting a first-time surface drilling program over the last two years, testing mineralization from surface to 1,000 feet. The Company released a first time resource calculation on these ounces in 2014, which include 310,000 tons at a grade of 0.34 ounces per ton for 104,000 ounces in the Measured and Indicated category, and 131,000 tons at a grade of 0.36 ounces per ton for 48,000 ounces in the inferred category. Further exploration in this area is currently taking place.

Source: http://www.klgold.com/Operations/Macassa.aspx

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Career Opportunities
ASSET PROTECTION CONTROL ROOM GUARD

Based at the Detour Lake Mine site, we currently have an exciting opportunity for a Asset Protection Control Room Guard to join our Asset Protection team reporting to the Asset Protection Supervisor.  
SHAREPOINT DEVELOPER

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a SharePoint Developer to join our Business Intelligence Team. 
MINE PLANNING TECHNICIAN TRAINEE

Based at the Detour Lake Mine site, we currently have an exciting opportunity for a Mine Planning Technician Trainee to join our Technical Services team reporting to the Mine Planning Superintendent. 
SENIOR MINE GEOLOGIST

Based at the Canadian Operations Centre in Timmins, ON, we currently have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Mine Geologist to join our Geology team reporting to the Geology Superintendent.  
PROCESS PLANT RELIABILITY ENGINEER

Based at the Detour Lake Mine site, we currently have an exciting opportunity for a Process Plant Reliability Engineer to join our Process Plant Maintenance team reporting to the Reliability Supervisor.
CORE TECHNICIAN

The Core Technician will be responsible to support the Geology departments by processing and sampling/cutting of diamond drill core. 
ASSAYER 1

The Assayer 1 processes Mine Production and Exploration samples for grade control providing vital information in a timely method to assist in key decision making relating to mining/geology activity and reconciling samples entering and exiting the Mill Process.
MINE PLANNER/EIT

The Mine Planner/EIT will be responsible for mine planning within the 3 - 6 month planning interval. 
ASSAYER 2

The Assayer 2 processes Mine Production and Exploration samples for grade control providing vital information in a timely method to assist in key decision making relating to mining/geology activity and reconciling samples entering and exiting the Mill Process.
ASSAYER 3

The Assayer 3 processes Mine Production and Exploration samples for grade control providing vital information in a timely method to assist in key decision making relating to mining/geology activity and reconciling samples entering and exiting the Mill Process.
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