As part of a broad tender for services and products, MAXAM Australia has been selected as the sole provider of blasting solutions for Mt Carlton and Cowal gold mines, both managed by Evolution Mining, Australia’s second biggest gold producer.
Mt Carlton, located approximately 130km south of Townsville on the north-east coast of Australia, comprises two open pit zones: the main large gold dominant deposit and the smaller silver rich deposit. In operation since 2013 and expected to produce between 80,000oz and 87,500oz of gold in FY2016, Mt Carlton is one of Evolution Mining’s key gold mines in the state of Queensland (Australia), where Evolution is the top gold producer. MAXAM will supply all blasting solutions for the next three (with options to extend) years, providing down the hole services by supplying its flagship RIOFLEX bulk explosive together with a complete range of RIONEL initiation systems. “MAXAM currently is the sole blasting solutions and services supplier for three of Evolution Mining’s seven gold mine operations in Australia: Mt Carlton, Cowal and Edna May (350km east of Perth).
Additionally, MAXAM is building a customized MSU to specifically adapt to the site’s ‘surface mining’ conditions involving difficult terrain contours. To provide the best possible service, it has also built an on-site storage and reload facility to optimize performance and reduce service delivery time.
Cowal gold mine, situated 350km west of Sydney in the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people on the south-east coast of Australia, began operations in 2005. The mine is an open pit operation with production from a number of different faces within the single pit. Having produced 268,000 oz of gold in 2014, Evolution acquired 100% ownership of the Cowal project in 2015 and is now Australia’s second biggest gold producing company with seven gold mines in the country. MAXAM Australia will be the sole supplier of blasting solutions for the Cowal gold mine for the next three years, providing its distinguished RIOFLEX bulk explosive together with a wide range of initiation systems and RIONEL products.
MAXAM has nine employees working on-site and will also provide support through the presence of MAXAM’s senior technical applications services designed to assist with blasting timing and product stewardship training. This site will also be equipped with a custom-built RIOFLEX MSU to respond to Evolution’s needs more effectively.
MAXAM: integrated blasting solutions provider
MAXAM is becoming an integrated provider of blasting solutions, principally by focusing on all-round energy optimization systems – a structured process approach tailored to customer requirements in various markets.
MAXAM’s proven experience carrying out similar projects within in Australia and around the world – Worsley Alumina (Western Australia), Kanmantoo (South Australia), Hidden Valley (PNG), Tasiast (Mauritania), Oyu Tolgoi (Mongolia) or Polyus (Russia) - makes it a natural fit for Evolution Mining’s operations. With production plants located on all five continents, the MAXAM global logistics system strengthens the company’s ability to supply state-of-the-art products to meet a wide variety of challenges, while its in-house developed technology ensures conditions that are both safe and efficient.
Custom-tailored products and services
First launched in 1998, RIOFLEX is MAXAM’s flagship explosive, developed with the company’s own in-house R&D – key to MAXAM’s technological independence. Thanks to its versatility and high energy, RIOFLEX has consistently delivered exceptional results for MAXAM’s clients worldwide. It’s effective in both cartridge and bulk formats, can be used in extreme dry or wet conditions and has the proven ability to be deployed across an extreme temperature range, as it is currently used in climates with temperatures ranging from 40ºC in sub-Saharan Africa to -40ºC in Siberia, Central Asia and Canada.
MAXAM in Australia
MAXAM has been operating in Australia since 1988, when one of its predecessor companies, ERT, acquired ETS, a small, local company. Today, MAXAM employs over 150 people in the country. Since its establishment in Australia, the company has supplied products and blasting services to large mining and extraction companies such as Holcim and Hanson, and has achieved a majority share in the quarry market, with key mining clients throughout the country.
With its headquarters in Brisbane and production facilities in Bajool (Queensland) and Baldivis (Western Australia), MAXAM Australia provides technical assistance services and products (civil explosives and initiation systems) to large mining and quarrying companies throughout Australia.
Australia is one of the world’s richest countries in mineral resources such as iron, coal, and gold, as well as the site of a substantial market in the areas of carrying and construction-related resources.
MAXAM - maxamcorp.net
MAXAM is a global technology company, specializing in the design, development, manufacture and application of energy materials. It structures its activity in four business units: blasting solutions for mining, quarries and civil works; cartridges and gun powders for use in hunting and recreational shooting; products and systems for the defence and security sector; and production of key primary products in nitro chemical activity.
About Evolution Mining
Evolution Mining is a leading, growth-focussed Australian gold miner. Evolution operates seven wholly-owned mines – Cowal in New South Wales, Cracow, Mt Carlton, Mt Rawdon and Pajingo in Queensland, and Edna May and Mungari in Western Australia.
Group production for FY15 from Evolution’s five existing operating assets (prior to completion of the Cowal and Mungari acquisitions) totalled 437,570 ounces gold equivalent at an All-In Sustaining Cost of A$1,036 per ounce. Evolution has guided FY16 attributable gold production from all seven operating assets of 770,000 – 820,000 ounces at an AISC of A$970 – A$1,020 per ounce.