Irkutsk region

Verninskoye

Commissioned in December 2011, Verninskoye became Polyus Gold’s third mine to be launched in the last three consecutive years. Located in the historical gold mining area of Bodaybo, this greenfield operation is planned to ramp up production throughout 2012. Verninskoye’s resource base allows for expansion of its plant processing capacity from the existing 2.2 mln tonnes of ore per year to 3.6 mln tonnes annually.

Key facts
• Location – Irkutsk region, Eastern Siberia, Russia
• 2011 production – 13 thousand ounces
• Gold reserves (proven and probable) - 5.8 mln ounces
• Gold resources (measured, indicated and inferred) – 9.6 mln ounces
• Mining type – Conventional shovel-and-truck open-pit operation

Alluvials

Alluvial deposits in the Bodaybo district of the Irkutsk region have been developed for over 160 years since the mid-1840s and continue to generate steady income. In 2011, a major upgrade of the mining fleet provided for significant increase in gold output at Polyus Gold’s alluvial operations.

Key facts
• Location – Irkutsk region, Eastern Siberia, Russia
• 2011 production – 210 thousand ounces
• Gold reserves (proven and probable) - 1.7 mln ounces
• Gold resources (measured, indicated and inferred) – 2.9 mln ounces
• Mining type – Dredging and quarrying followed by gravity separation