Liebherr T 282 C - Manual (Page 2)

Situation Assignment Report
The oldest continuously operating gold mining operation in
Nevada is the Barrick-Cortez operation. Located 75 miles SW of
Elko, in Crescent Valley, Nevada, the Cortez Mine is surrounded
by mountain ranges and valleys with elevation ranging from a
height of 10,461 ft in the Summit Mountains to about 4,000 ft at
the fl oor of the lower basins. The Cortez Mine is at an elevation
of 4,000 ft. Ranching and mining have been primary activities
in this location since the 1860’s and the general area still has
evidence of old abandoned mines and ghost towns. The tem-
perature ranges from 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to an
average moderate temperature in January of 27 degrees Fahr-
enheit. The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range creates an effective
moisture barrier so annual rainfall is 8 inches.
The Cortez Mine, a Barrick Gold Corporation property, is located
along the Cortez/Battle Mountain Trend and shares many of the
geological characteristics of Barrick’s Nevada Goldstrike mine.
The principal gold deposits and mining operations are found on
the south and southwest sides of Crescent Valley. Mineraliza-
tion is a sedimentary rock hosted with minute free gold particles
that are found throughout the rock. Oxide milling and heap leach
technologies are utilized for gold recovery.
A large investment has been made for the advancement of the
Barrick - Cortez Mine and the development of the adjacent Cor-
tez Hills property which included a substantial dollar investment
for open pit mining equipment, i.e. electric shovels/hydraulic
shovels and diesel electric haul trucks.
The goal was to purchase industry proven, fuel effi cient haul
trucks with the largest payload capacity available to move the
greatest amount of material for the lowest cost per ton. Con-
sistent reliability of performance with low maintenance require-
ments was stated as a necessity to meet Barrick’s increased
production goals for the Cortez Mine and the expanded Cortez
Hills property. The trucks should be equipped with the highest
horsepower engines currently available and long lifetime compo-
nents to consistently cycle effi ciently and haul waste and leach
material as required. Service representation, operator training
and after sales parts availability with quick turn-around are key
elements in the selection of equipment suppliers.
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