As the largest gold mine in Tanzania located within the precious metal belt in the northern region of East Africa, the North Mara Mine holds a prominent position among the gold mines in Tanzania. The mining operation is presently organized in a joint venture arrangement between Barrick Gold (84 percent) and the Government of Tanzania (16 percent).
Location and operational framework
North Mara is a unique project that uses both underground mining and open pit mining in one place. It is in the Tarime District of the Mara Region in northwestern Tanzania. The mining project consists of two separate mining units: Gokona, which utilizes underground mining, and Nyabirama, which is an open pit.
Geology and deposit type
Classification wise, the North Mara deposit falls under Low Sulphidation which is part of the epithermal gold family, characterized by high-grade and localized vein systems. Such characteristics influence the extraction processes as well as processing methods that will be utilized.
Production and reserves (2025 Data)
As observed from the 2025 evaluation, North Mara displays efficient production and resource parameters, which emphasize its sustainability and efficacy.
- Annual gold output: 9.2 tonnes (about 296,000 ounces)
- Total ore handling: 2.8 million tonnes per year (Mtpa)
- Ore handling capacity: 2.9 Mtpa
- Proven & probable reserves: 87.1 tonnes of gold with an average grade of 1.99 grams per tonne (g/t)
- Measured, indicated & inferred resources: 171.1 tonnes of gold with an average grade of 2.16 g/t
Cost profile
The cost effectiveness of North Mara is evident from its All-in Sustaining Cost of 1,333 US$/ounce. The importance of this cost parameter cannot be understated as it considers all costs related to operations and administration, thereby giving an idea about the profitability of the mine as compared to the prevailing gold prices.
Processing and recovery
The process plant in the North Mara mine has a nameplate capacity of 2.9 Mtpa and uses a multistage metallurgy process flow sheet aimed at treating complex ore mineralogy from low sulphidation ores. These include:
- Gravitational Separation: Extraction of coarse gold.
- Flotation: Separation and concentration of sulphides that host gold minerals.
- CIL (Carbon in Leach): Leaching of fine gold using cyanidation through activated carbon.
This ensures the recovery of fine gold particles in an economically effective way that provides 89% gold recovery efficiency.
Strategic importance
With a total reserve and resource base of around 260 tonnes at an average grade of more than 1.9 g/t, North Mara is not just a current producer with an annual output of about 9.2 tonnes, but also a future mine. This is thanks to its ownership framework, which includes the Tanzanian government having a 16% interest, thereby ensuring that the interests of the country are always kept in mind.
