Goldstrike Total Carbonaceous Matter Leach Project

Carlin, Nevada

Kiewit subsidiary, TIC, led the general construction of the Goldstrike Complex’s Total Carbonaceous Matter (TCM) Leach Project, which included major upgrades to the leaching circuits and new site infrastructure. The project was awarded the Associated Builders and Contractors’ National Eagle Award – Megaproject for excellence in construction.

This project introduced the innovative and proprietary thiosulfate processing method as an alternative to cyanide, allowing Barrick Goldstrike Mines (Barrick) to extract gold using a resin-in-leach system from refractory ore that resisted the carbon process. It also enabled Barrick to recover gold from 4 million tons of stockpiled ore that was uneconomical to process by traditional methods. The revamped facility increased the complex’s efficiency to 350,000 to 450,000 ounces of gold annually.

Major systems installed included tailings pumping, tailings thickening, RIL leaching train, elution building, electrowinning, water treatment and calcium ammonia and sulfate storage. The scope contained structural steel, mechanical equipment, piping, insulation, heat trace, electrical, instrumentation, HVAC, fire system, architectural finishes, building cladding and startup/commissioning support.