LARGEST MINES
#
4
MURUNTAU IN KYZYL KUM DESERT , UZBEKISTAN
The fourth largest gold mine in the world by deposit size , with approximately 50mn ounces of gold , Muruntau is also the biggest open-pit gold mine in the world . This sizeable mine is owned by the government of Uzbekistan . After the gigantic gold deposit was discovered in 1958 , systematic mining began in 1967 and has been ongoing since . With approximately 2.2mn ounces of gold produced last year , Muruntau ranks as the world ’ s largest gold producing mine , although these figures are clouded slightly by the Uzbek government ’ s reluctance to share information .
#
3
LIHIR ON NIOLAM ISLAND , PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Located inside an extinct volcano crater , Lihir is projected to contain 64.1mn ounces of gold and gold production at this expansive open pit mine started in 1997 . The mine is currently owned by Newcrest , an Australian company that acquired it for US $ 22bn in 2010 .
www . newcrest . com . au / our-business / operations / lihir
27