In January 2021, Kinross Fort Knox celebrated a significant milestone with its first gold pour from the Barnes Creek Heap Leach Facility!
Fort Knox completed construction of the Gilmore Expansion project in October 2020 and began processing at the Barnes Creek Heap Leach shortly after. The project is expected to extend life of mine to 2030, adding an additional 1.5 million gold equivalent ounces to Fort Knox’s production profile.
The Barnes Creek Heap Leach was constructed over three years and was successfully completed on time and under budget. The pad currently covers 50 acres of land, with plans to expand to approximately 300 acres, and will allow for the phasing out of the Walter Creek Heap Leach pad.
“The project was a joint effort across numerous disciplines at Fort Knox, in particular our Capital Projects and Ore Processing departments,” said Jason Perino, Capital Projects Manager, Fort Knox. “We are proud to see this project come full circle and recognize the role this will play in the future of Fort Knox. Thank you to our team for the hard work and dedication that has made this gold pour possible.”
Jason Sandstrom, Pad Mechanic, Kenneth Corcoran, Mill Operations Shift Supervisor, Jason Perino, Capital Projects Manager, Clint Connelley, Construction GF, Branden White, Heap Leach Supervisor, Jeremy Pinard, Mill Superintendent, Dana Luce, Process Control Tehnician, Nathaniel Shepard, Refinery Operator, Aaron Debrah, Chief Metallurgist, Sarah Ingram, Mill Operations Supervisor.
