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Sepon Mine, Vilabouly District, Savannakhet Province, Laosi
Regional Level Types
Sepon MineMine
Vilabouly DistrictDistrict
Savannakhet ProvinceProvince
LaosCountry

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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 Elements

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

28 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

β“˜ Allophane
Formula: (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O
β“˜ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
β“˜ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
β“˜ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
β“˜ Brochantite
Formula: Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
References:
β“˜ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
β“˜ Cerussite
Formula: PbCO3
β“˜ Chalcanthite
Formula: CuSO4 · 5H2O
β“˜ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
β“˜ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
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
β“˜ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
β“˜ Fluorite
Formula: CaF2
β“˜ Galena
Formula: PbS
β“˜ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
β“˜ Gold
Formula: Au
β“˜ 'Jasper'
β“˜ Libethenite
Formula: Cu2(PO4)(OH)
References:
β“˜ Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
β“˜ Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
β“˜ Pseudomalachite
Formula: Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
References:
β“˜ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
β“˜ Pyrolusite
Formula: Mn4+O2
β“˜ 'Pyroxene Group'
Formula: ADSi2O6
β“˜ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
β“˜ Silver
Formula: Ag
β“˜ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
β“˜ Stibnite
Formula: Sb2S3

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
β“˜Copper1.AA.05Cu
β“˜Silver1.AA.05Ag
β“˜Gold1.AA.05Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
β“˜Chalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
β“˜Bornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
β“˜Sphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
β“˜Chalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
β“˜Galena2.CD.10PbS
β“˜Stibnite2.DB.05Sb2S3
β“˜Molybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
β“˜Pyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
β“˜Fluorite3.AB.25CaF2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
β“˜Cuprite4.AA.10Cu2O
β“˜Quartz4.DA.05SiO2
β“˜Pyrolusite4.DB.05Mn4+O2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
β“˜Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
β“˜Dolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
β“˜Cerussite5.AB.15PbCO3
β“˜Azurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
β“˜Malachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
β“˜Baryte7.AD.35BaSO4
β“˜Brochantite7.BB.25Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
β“˜Chalcanthite7.CB.20CuSO4 Β· 5H2O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
β“˜Libethenite8.BB.30Cu2(PO4)(OH)
β“˜Pseudomalachite8.BD.05Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Group 9 - Silicates
β“˜Epidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
β“˜Allophane9.ED.20(Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 Β· 2.5-3H2O
β“˜Chrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-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

HHydrogen
Hβ“˜ Allophane(Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O
Hβ“˜ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hβ“˜ BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Hβ“˜ ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
Hβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Hβ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hβ“˜ LibetheniteCu2(PO4)(OH)
Hβ“˜ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Hβ“˜ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
CCarbon
Cβ“˜ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Cβ“˜ CerussitePbCO3
Cβ“˜ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cβ“˜ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
OOxygen
Oβ“˜ Allophane(Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O
Oβ“˜ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oβ“˜ BaryteBaSO4
Oβ“˜ BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Oβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Oβ“˜ CerussitePbCO3
Oβ“˜ ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
Oβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oβ“˜ CupriteCu2O
Oβ“˜ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oβ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oβ“˜ LibetheniteCu2(PO4)(OH)
Oβ“˜ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Oβ“˜ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Oβ“˜ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
Oβ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Oβ“˜ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Oβ“˜ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
FFluorine
Fβ“˜ FluoriteCaF2
MgMagnesium
Mgβ“˜ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Alβ“˜ Allophane(Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O
Alβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Alβ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
SiSilicon
Siβ“˜ Allophane(Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O
Siβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siβ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siβ“˜ QuartzSiO2
Siβ“˜ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Siβ“˜ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
PPhosphorus
Pβ“˜ LibetheniteCu2(PO4)(OH)
Pβ“˜ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
SSulfur
Sβ“˜ BaryteBaSO4
Sβ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sβ“˜ BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Sβ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sβ“˜ ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
Sβ“˜ ChalcociteCu2S
Sβ“˜ GalenaPbS
Sβ“˜ MolybdeniteMoS2
Sβ“˜ PyriteFeS2
Sβ“˜ SphaleriteZnS
Sβ“˜ StibniteSb2S3
CaCalcium
Caβ“˜ CalciteCaCO3
Caβ“˜ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caβ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caβ“˜ FluoriteCaF2
MnManganese
Mnβ“˜ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
FeIron
Feβ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feβ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feβ“˜ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feβ“˜ PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cuβ“˜ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuβ“˜ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuβ“˜ BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Cuβ“˜ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuβ“˜ ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
Cuβ“˜ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuβ“˜ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuβ“˜ CupriteCu2O
Cuβ“˜ CopperCu
Cuβ“˜ LibetheniteCu2(PO4)(OH)
Cuβ“˜ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cuβ“˜ PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
ZnZinc
Znβ“˜ SphaleriteZnS
MoMolybdenum
Moβ“˜ MolybdeniteMoS2
AgSilver
Agβ“˜ SilverAg
SbAntimony
Sbβ“˜ StibniteSb2S3
BaBarium
Baβ“˜ BaryteBaSO4
AuGold
Auβ“˜ GoldAu
PbLead
Pbβ“˜ CerussitePbCO3
Pbβ“˜ GalenaPbS

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepon_mine
Wikidata ID:Q15283846

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AsiaContinent
Sunda PlateTectonic Plate

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