Geographical Location:
By Zenit Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.Ş.; within the mining license areas of IR 44830 (Access Number: 2180834) and IR 20065879 (Access Number: 1508886), located in and around the villages of Yusufçamı, Yolcupınar, and Çoturtepe, Sındırgı district, Balıkesir province, a 259.45-hectare area in the vicinity of Kızıltepe, designated as the project area, has the Sındırgı-Kızıltepe Gold and Silver Mine, which has been established and is currently operational.
Project History:
03.08.2010: Zenit Mining Ind. and Trade Inc. was officially founded to implement the Sındırgı-Kızıltepe as the primary target and subsequently the Kütahya-Tavşan gold-silver mine projects.
30.09.2010: Agreement with Tetra Tech (Canada) company for detailed feasibility study.
09.04.2011: Geotechnical and hydrogeological survey drilling and other technical field studies were completed under the scope of EIA.
20.01.2013: Geotechnical drilling and hydrogeological well test studies for Waste Storage Facility (Waste Dam) were completed.
01.02.2013: Official application for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Kızıltepe Gold and Silver Mine Project was made to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization of the Republic of Turkey.
14.03.2013: "Public Participation Meeting" was held in Yusufçamı village in accordance with Article 9 of the EIA Regulation.
23.12.2013: The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization of the Republic of Turkey issued the Positive Environmental Impact Assessment Decision under Law No. 3283.
17.03.2017: Temporary Activity Permit with the number 43986390-150/6590 was obtained from the General Directorate of Environmental Impact Assessment, Permit, and Inspection of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization of the Republic of Turkey.
29.03.2018: Environmental Permit and License with the number 43986390-150.01/3501 dated 29/03/2018 was obtained from the General Directorate of Environmental Impact Assessment, Permit, and Inspection of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization of the Republic of Turkey.
Geology:
The Sındırgı-Kızıltepe Gold and Silver Mine is a typical example of vein-type epithermal mineralization. Within volcanic rocks (mainly dacitic ignimbrites) developed along fault zones in post-tectonic processes, they are seen as low sulfidation quartz veins containing economically significant amounts of gold and silver at near-surface positions. Although the mineralizations in the project area are similar or connected in terms of their formation, they consist of four separate veins that appear independent on the surface.
Open Pit:
Open-pit production started in 2015. It operates by loosening through blasting and then excavation using machinery and trucks. The open-pit project is designed in steps to ensure the safe preservation of slopes. The stability of the open-pit slope was evaluated within the scope of the "Geotechnical and Seismic Activity Hazard Analysis Report of the Balıkesir Kızıltepe Deposit" prepared by the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) Mining Engineering Department.
Systematic watering is carried out with tankers on open-pit and mine internal roads to suppress the dust that will arise during blasting and excavation loading and transportation operations.
The drainage of underground water emerging in the open pit is planned through pumps. For this purpose, there is a collection and settling pond. If the analysis of the collected pit water complies with discharge criteria, it will be discharged into the recipient environment. Otherwise, a treatment plant is planned.
Processing Plant:
The Kızıltepe Project ore preparation and enrichment plant consists of the following units:
- Crushing and Classification Units (Jaw and Cone Crushers, SAG and Ball Mills, Belts, and Screens)
- Concentration and Leaching Units (Thickeners and Pre-Leach Tanks)
- Adsorption Unit (CIL)
- Carbon Stripping Units
- Electrolysis Cells and Refining
- Carbon Washing and Carbon Activation Unit
- Cyanide Detoxification Unit (INCO So2/Air Process)
The crushing and screening plant within the Kızıltepe Project ore preparation units consist of 1 jaw crusher, 2 cone crushers, a vibrating screen, and a belt conveyor system. Ore grinding is carried out in 1 SAG mill and 1 ball mill. According to regulations, the entire system is designed to be enclosed to prevent dust that may arise in the crushing-screening-transport-grinding operations. For the dissolution of gold and silver in the crushed ore with cyanide, the system includes two pre-leach tanks and 7 CIL tanks for both leaching and adsorption. The ore enrichment process is based on tank leaching process using cyanide solution (CIL/CIP). As a result of the enrichment processes, a doré, a mixture of gold and silver, is obtained by smelting in a furnace. These doré bars are then sent to a gold refinery for further processing to achieve the required purity for market release. As a process waste, the process waste slurry consisting of 50% solid - 50% water, free from cyanide, is sent to the Waste Storage Facility (WSF) through a completely closed pipeline using pumps for the final deposition of solids. While the solid part settles at the bottom, the remaining water is returned to the plant via a second return pipeline using a return pump. This ensures both the stable and safe storage of the accumulated solid waste in the WSF and prevents the unnecessary use of groundwater.