GUELB MOGHREIN

The Guelb Moghrein copper-gold operation is located 250km northeast of Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott, near the town of Akjoujt.

Overview

Mining has a long history in Mauritania and Guelb Moghrein is one of the biggest external investments in the country. The copper-gold operation is located 250km northeast of the capital, Nouakchott, near the town of Akjoujt.

The Guelb Moghrein deposit was first developed in the early 1970s by Anglo American Corporation, however, it closed in 1977 due to technical difficulties and high fuel prices. First Quantum re-commenced production in 2006, and we increased our investment with plant upgrades in 2008 and a magnetite plant built in 2013. The operation currently mines around 16 million tonnes of material a year, and processes some 1.5 million tonnes through flotation.

In addition to the Guelb Moghrein mining concession, First Quantum holds two exploration concessions in the area totalling 1600 square kilometres.Guelb Moghrein employs about 1400 people, almost all Mauritanian nationals, and contribute 5.6% gross national income to Mauritania’s total economy.

First Quantum acquired an 80% interest in the asset in 2004 and achieved commercial production in 2006. In 2010, the Company increased its ownership in Guelb Moghrein to 100%.

Mining and Processing

Guelb Moghrein is an example of the Iron Oxide Copper Gold type deposit, but is unusual in being hosted in carbonate strata.

Open-pit mining at Guelb Moghrein is carried out using hydraulic excavators and mechanical drive haul trucks. The Occidental, or main pit, has been mined for 15 years and is nearing the end of its life. In June 2019, development began of a second pit - the Oriental pit - targeting high-grade sulphide ore. Sulphide ore is treated in the flotation plant producing a copper-gold concentrate. The tails from flotation are treated in the magnetite plant to produce a high-quality, low-cost iron concentrate.

The plant currently produces approximately 15,000 tonnes of concentrate per month at a grade of 22.5% copper with credits received for the gold in the concentrate.

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