Abandoned Mines: A Feasibility Analysis for Full-Scale Resuscitation of Redwing Gold Mine Operations

Redwing Mine, historically one of the major gold mines in Zimbabwe operated by Metalon Gold has since been on the brink of closure for over five years. Currently, the mine is merely operating at 10% capacity due to the issuing of mining tributes to small-scale and artisanal miners and poor water management. The artisanal miners are sterilizing an economically viable gold deposit by employing rudimentary mining techniques targeting high grades hence resuscitating the mine should be of national priority. To increase production, revenue, and accountability, the mine needs to be resuscitated to its full operation based on sound mining engineering and economic principles. Resuscitation of abandoned mines to full operation consist of reserve identification, dewatering, review of the ground support system and production planning. Exploration, water measurements, and geotechnical data collection surveys were done to estimate the reserve, select optimum pumps for dewatering and design a ground support system. Production Plans were developed from Redwing Mine’s plant capacity, available machinery, and historical production data. Development work and operations necessary to be completed before production can begin were derived from survey plans. The restoration program was evaluated using the Net Present Value method and Internal Rate of Return techniques. Results proved that the project is economically feasible with an internal rate of return as high as 71.91%.