Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Streamlined.

© 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy
    Projects
    Safety

    World’s top 20 largest gold mines: output trends and risk notes for engineers

    March 25, 2026|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    World’s top 20 largest gold mines: output trends and risk notes for engineers

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Gold mine output hit a record 3,672 tonnes in 2025 as the Nevada Gold Mines JV between Barrick (61.5%) and Newmont (38.5%) retained top spot with 2,595 koz, despite a 3% year-on-year drop and a brewing dispute over alleged diversion of resources to Barrick’s Fourmile project. Uzbekistan’s Muruntau (1,708 koz, +4%) and Russia’s Olimpiada (1,357 koz, -6%) completed the top three, while Grasberg’s production halved to 937 koz after a September 2025 mudslide killed seven workers and forced force majeure. New entrants and risers included Polyus’ Blagodatnoye at 736 koz (+47% on Mill‑5 ramp‑up) and B2Gold’s Fekola at 530.8 koz (+35.1%), signalling where near‑term volume growth is concentrated.

    Technical Brief

    • Grasberg’s September 2025 mudslide killed seven workers and triggered force majeure on Indonesian shipments.
    • Freeport plans a staged restart at Grasberg, targeting full operational recovery only by end‑2027.
    • Olimpiada’s Siberian open pit must maintain operations in extreme cold while processing complex sulphide ores.
    • Boddington operates the world’s first autonomous haul truck fleet in an open‑pit gold mine since 2021.
    • Kumtor’s legacy 1998 cyanide spill and subsequent nationalisation sharpen regulatory and environmental scrutiny on the operation.

    Our Take

    The 60% run-up in gold prices in 2025 followed by a 15% drop since March 2026, alongside 20–40% equity losses, means large, low-cost complexes like Nevada Gold Mines, Muruntau and Olimpiada are likely to retain capital access while marginal gold projects in our database face deferrals or downsizing.

    With Grasberg’s 50% year-on-year production drop and recent fatalities, the ranking underscores how safety and geotechnical risk at complex copper–gold systems can quickly erode output, a theme echoed across several safety-tagged items in our coverage for high-altitude or high-rainfall operations.

    Agnico Eagle’s 135% profit surge in 2025, combined with Detour Lake and Canadian Malartic featuring in this list, helps explain why Agnico has repeatedly topped MINING.COM’s recent Global Mining Power Rankings, signalling investor preference for multi-asset, Tier-1 gold producers in Canada and similar low-risk jurisdictions.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    XCMG electric fleets in Australian mines: design and cost shifts for planners
    Mining
    about 3 hours ago

    XCMG electric fleets in Australian mines: design and cost shifts for planners

    XCMG is deploying battery-electric heavy mobile equipment in Australian mines, including large-capacity haul trucks and loaders designed for zero on-site emissions and high-duty cycles. The Chinese OEM is pairing these units with fast-charging infrastructure and modular battery packs to minimise downtime in continuous operations typical of Pilbara-scale iron ore and hard-rock sites. For mine planners and maintenance teams, the shift to electric fleets changes pit ventilation requirements, power reticulation design, and lifecycle cost models compared with conventional diesel equipment.

    NSW targets fuel distribution to support miners: continuity and risk notes for ops teams
    Mining
    about 3 hours ago

    NSW targets fuel distribution to support miners: continuity and risk notes for ops teams

    New South Wales is prioritising diesel and petrol deliveries to mining operations alongside other critical sectors as it manages constrained fuel supplies across the state. The policy aims to keep large open-cut and underground fleets, fixed plant and rail haulage operating, with fuel allocation coordinated through major distributors rather than ad hoc site-by-site deals. Mine operators are being asked to refine contingency plans, including reduced non-essential equipment use and tighter fuel inventory monitoring, to avoid production stoppages if supply tightens further.

    Johnson Range gold upgrade: mine design and M&A takeaways for WA project teams
    Mining
    about 3 hours ago

    Johnson Range gold upgrade: mine design and M&A takeaways for WA project teams

    Forrestania Resources has confirmed a 103,500-ounce gold resource at the Johnson Range project in Western Australia, strengthening its case to complete the acquisition from Auris Minerals. The resource upgrade, reported in ounces rather than just grade–tonnage estimates, gives clearer backing for mine planning, pit optimisation and potential toll-treatment scenarios typical for small to mid-scale WA gold operations. For geotechs and miners, the defined inventory sharpens decisions on drilling density, geotechnical pit design and whether to justify further step-out exploration along strike.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.