Sepon Mine, Vilabouly District, Savannakhet Province, Laosi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Sepon Mine | Mine |
| Vilabouly District | District |
| Savannakhet Province | Province |
| Laos | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
16° 57' 37'' North , 105° 59' 56'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
KΓΆppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
240476
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:240476:2
GUID (UUID V4):
f07c2ddf-1dbd-4921-9e34-4766dc28727d
A gold and copper mine.
The Sepon Gold and Copper Operation is in south-central Laos, in the Vilabouly district of Savannakhet province, 235 km east of the town of Savannakhet, 40 kilometres north of the town of Sepon. The gold portion of the Sepon mine was discovered in 1998 by CRA (now Rio Tinto). In November 1999, Oxiana Resources NL took an 80% stake in the project. The remaining 20% Rio Tinto holding was subsequently sold to Oxiana in 2004. In July 2008, Zinifex Ltd merged with Oxiana to form Oz Minerals Ltd. In June 2009, MMG acquired the majority of Oz Minerals and with this 90% ownership of LXML (10% being retained by the Lao PDR Central Government). Chifeng Jinlong Gold Operations took over the MMG 90% stake in LXML in October 2019, with financials back-dated to January 1st, 2019.
As of 2021, Sepon is owned by Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co., Ltd and operated as a joint venture with the Lao Government (who own a 10% stake) as Lane Xang Minerals Limited, or LXML. Lane Xang refers to an ancient name for the kingdom of Laos and means 'The land of a million elephants'.
The gold operations commenced in 2002 based on a series of shallow open pits and a CIL plant with an initial 1.25 Mtpa capacity. During 2004, the gold plant was expanded to a nominal capacity of 2.5 Mtpa. From 2003 to 2006, gold production ranged from 140,000 to 200,000 ounces, but as Ore Reserves depleted, annual gold production was reduced to less than 100,000 ozs. MMG ceased oxide gold operations in December 2013 due to depleting ore reserves and lower margins. The gold plant has been placed on care and maintenance, while the Sepon operation focuses on supergene copper production.
Copper operations commended in 2003 processing ore from the Khanong open pit which averaged 5.4%Cu. Additional open pits were mined through until 2020 when copper was largely stopped and the gold plant was re-started.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities28 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
| β Allophane Formula: (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| β Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 Localities: |
| β Baryte Formula: BaSO4 Localities: |
| β Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 |
| β Brochantite Formula: Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| β Calcite Formula: CaCO3 Localities: |
| β Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 |
| β Chalcanthite Formula: CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| β Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S Localities: References: |
| β Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 Localities: |
| β 'Chlorite Group' |
| β Chrysocolla Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| β Copper Formula: Cu |
| β Cuprite Formula: Cu2O |
| β Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 Localities: References: |
| β Epidote Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| β Fluorite Formula: CaF2 |
| β Galena Formula: PbS Localities: References: |
| β 'Garnet Group' Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| β Gold Formula: Au Localities: |
| β 'Jasper' |
| β Libethenite Formula: Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| β Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 Localities: |
| β Molybdenite Formula: MoS2 |
| β Pseudomalachite Formula: Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| β Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Localities: |
| β Pyrolusite Formula: Mn4+O2 |
| β 'Pyroxene Group' Formula: ADSi2O6 |
| β Quartz Formula: SiO2 Localities: |
| β Silver Formula: Ag |
| β Sphalerite Formula: ZnS Localities: References: |
| β Stibnite Formula: Sb2S3 Localities: References: |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| β | Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
| β | Silver | 1.AA.05 | Ag |
| β | Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| β | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| β | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| β | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| β | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| β | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| β | Stibnite | 2.DB.05 | Sb2S3 |
| β | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
| β | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| β | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| β | Cuprite | 4.AA.10 | Cu2O |
| β | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| β | Pyrolusite | 4.DB.05 | Mn4+O2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| β | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| β | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| β | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| β | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| β | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| β | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| β | Brochantite | 7.BB.25 | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| β | Chalcanthite | 7.CB.20 | CuSO4 Β· 5H2O |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| β | Libethenite | 8.BB.30 | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| β | Pseudomalachite | 8.BD.05 | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| β | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| β | Allophane | 9.ED.20 | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 Β· 2.5-3H2O |
| β | Chrysocolla | 9.ED.20 | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 Β· nH2O, x < 1 |
| Unclassified | |||
| β | 'Jasper' | - | |
| β | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| β | 'Pyroxene Group' | - | ADSi2O6 |
| β | 'Garnet Group' | - | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | β Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| H | β Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | β Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| H | β Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| H | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| H | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | β Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| H | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | β Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | β Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | β Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| O | β Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | β Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | β Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| O | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | β Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| O | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| O | β Cuprite | Cu2O |
| O | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | β Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| O | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | β Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| O | β Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| O | β Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | β Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| O | β Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | β Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | β Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| Al | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Al | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | β Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| Si | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Si | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | β Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | β Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| Si | β Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | β Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| P | β Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | β Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | β Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | β Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| S | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | β Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| S | β Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | β Galena | PbS |
| S | β Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| S | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | β Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | β Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | β Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | β Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | β Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | β Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | β Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | β Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | β Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | β Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | β Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| Cu | β Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | β Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| Cu | β Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | β Chrysocolla | Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1 |
| Cu | β Cuprite | Cu2O |
| Cu | β Copper | Cu |
| Cu | β Libethenite | Cu2(PO4)(OH) |
| Cu | β Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | β Pseudomalachite | Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | β Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Mo | Molybdenum | |
| Mo | β Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | β Silver | Ag |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | β Stibnite | Sb2S3 |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | β Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | β Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | β Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | β Galena | PbS |
Other Databases
| Wikipedia: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepon_mine |
|---|---|
| Wikidata ID: | Q15283846 |
Localities in this Region
- Savannakhet Province
- Vilabouly District
- Sepon Mine
- Vilabouly District
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AsiaContinent
Sunda PlateTectonic Plate
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References
www.mmg.com (n.d.) https://www.mmg.com/exchange-announcements/announcements-and-notices-completion-of-the-disposal-of-assets-associated-with-the-sepon-mine/
www.mmg.com (n.d.) https://www.mmg.com/wp-content/uploads/attachments/e_2018-11-30_DT_Completion%20of%20Sale%20of%20Sepon.pdf
Khanong open pit, Sepon Mine, Vilabouly District, Savannakhet Province, Laos