Searching for gold is a complex, scientific and time-intensive process. With odds of only one in 3,000 discoveries leading to mine development, and only 10 percent of the world’s gold deposits containing enough gold to mine, exploration can be wearisome and expensive.

The first step is prospecting. But with veins of gold typically spanning just a few feet in width, and curving along the Guinea’s geography.

Therefore we start in areas known to contain gold.

We use several methods to reduce the size of land to explore:

Evaluate the land’s geology

Analyze the geochemistry of soil sediment and water

Commission airborne geophysics surveys to record the level of electrical and magnetic current in the crust below.

Once a target area has been identified, and geological, geophysical and geochemical data i drilling is conducted. Drilling helps us evaluate the type and grade of gold in the ore.

As crews drill, they mark the exact location and depth of each sample taken. Samples are then sent to an SGS lab, which identifies the type of minerals and grade of gold within them.

Once information is back from the lab, we supplement those findings with geologic, geochemical and geophysical data.

Production geologists use information they obtain from sampling, testing, mapping and observation to determine the most efficient and effective mining techniques, as well as to identify the grade (amount of mineral) in the ore. In gold mining grade is reported as grams per ton. It is important to know the grade to determine which rock is sent to the plant for processing and which rock is sent to the waste rock storage area.

Starting a mine brings its own set of environmental and social challenges. To operate responsibly, we must weigh potential development risks against the profitability of production, and the local wealth and employment it creates.

Throughout the mine lifecycle – from the earliest exploration activity through closure – we strive to engage and consult with communities and governments that host our operations, as well as other stakeholders, with respect and transparency.

Our programs protect and respect human rights, engage community members, contribute to communities’ development aspirations, and mitigate the impacts of our activities.

Surface mines are generally preferred if the ore body is relatively shallow and uniform, and are made by digging into the Earth’s surface one layer at a time.

A significant amount of monitoring takes place in and around the open pit, to keep a watchful eye on:

Slope stability and dewatering-induced settlement

Noise, dust and vibration

Water levels and water quality, including pit wall run-off and groundwater

When operating a mine, we use stringent controls to prevent or mitigate any environmental impacts. Our environmental management systems are designed to ensure all environmental considerations – including management, monitoring, maintenance, training and action plans – are incorporated within an overall framework as an integral part of mining operations.

Alluvial gold is found beneath the surface at the bottom of a creak or stream. Alluvial gold mining is the process of extracting gold from these creaks, rivers and streams and is generally considered to be the most environmentally friendly method of gold mining as a result of the reduced environmental impact when compared to underground mining.

Alluvial gold deposits form over time where a river runs, or has previously run through ground which is rich in gold. The erosive power of the water removes the surrounding rock due to its comparative low density while the heavier gold resists being moved. Alluvial gold usually takes the form of dust, thin flakes or nuggets.

The first stage in alluvial gold mining is to take the dredged river bed material and separate the small sand faction (where the gold is found) from the larger mineral fraction. In a typical alluvial mining process physical separation methods such as screening and gravity separation are employed to separate the gold from the mineral fraction.