The global gold industry is dominated by a handful of massive operations that together produce tens of millions of ounces each year. Below is an authoritative, search-engine-ready article summarizing the **10 largest gold mines in the world (by 2024 production)**, why they matter, and what sets each operation apart.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Top 10 Mines (short profiles)
- Key trends shaping large gold mines
- Environmental & social considerations
- How mine size is measured
- FAQ
- Sources
Overview
Global mine production reached record levels in recent years, and large-scale operations continue to supply most of the world’s newly mined gold. The mines below are ranked by their 2024 output (ounces of gold produced), reflecting current scale, life-of-mine profiles, and corporate investments. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
The 10 Largest Gold Mines (2024) — At a glance
| Rank | Mine / Complex | Country | Principal Owner(s) | 2024 Production (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada Gold Mines (complex) | USA (Nevada) | Barrick / Newmont (JV) | 2,698,701 |
| 2 | Muruntau | Uzbekistan | Navoi Mining & Metallurgical (state enterprise) | 2,676,656 |
| 3 | Grasberg | Indonesia (Papua) | PT Freeport Indonesia / Indonesian partners | 1,861,000 |
| 4 | Olimpiada | Russia | Polyus | 1,441,300 |
| 5 | Almalyk Complex | Uzbekistan | Almalyk MMC (Uzbek state/partners) | 1,114,000 |
| 6 | Batu Hijau | Indonesia (Sumbawa) | PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara | 1,009,000 |
| 7 | Kazzinc Consolidated (portfolio) | Kazakhstan | Kazzinc / ENRC/others | ~1,000,000 |
| 8 | Ahafo | Ghana | Newmont (90%) / Ghana (10%) | 798,000 |
| 9 | Loulo-Gounkoto (complex) | Mali | Barrick (80%) / Mali Govt (20%) | 693,863 |
| 10 | Kibali | DRC | AngloGold Ashanti / Barrick / SOKIMO | 686,667 |
Source: industry compilation of reported/estimated 2024 figures (rankings and production numbers). Note: some entries are multi-pit complexes rather than a single pit. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Profiles — what makes each of these mines so large?
1. Nevada Gold Mines (USA) — The world’s largest producing complex
Nevada Gold Mines is a vast operating complex made up of many open pits and underground operations across Nevada. The joint venture between Barrick and Newmont produced approximately 2.7 million ounces in 2024 — driven by high-grade underground zones plus large-scale open-pit operations and continued investment in efficiency and automation. Its status reflects aggregation of multiple operating mines under one management structure. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
2. Muruntau (Uzbekistan) — A true giant open pit
Muruntau, operated by Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Company, is historically recognized for enormous reserves and huge annual output (over 2.6 million oz in 2024). It is one of the largest single open-pit gold operations in the world, with decades of sustained extraction and ongoing expansion programs to maintain high throughput. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
3. Grasberg (Indonesia) — Copper + gold megadeposit
Grasberg’s scale comes from being a copper-gold porphyry complex with very large gold by-product credits. In 2024 it produced around 1.86 million ounces of gold (alongside large copper volumes). Grasberg is notable for deep block-cave/underground operations and significant technological investments. Recent operational incidents and site developments have received broad coverage due to the mine’s strategic importance. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
4. Olimpiada (Russia) — Russia’s largest single producing mine
Operated by Polyus, Olimpiada is Russia’s largest gold mine and one of the largest single-mine producers globally (1.44 million oz in 2024). The asset benefits from high ore endowment and integrated processing. Polyus’ reporting and company documents provide production detail and reserve status. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
5. Almalyk complex (Uzbekistan) — Mining complex with multiple metals
Almalyk combines copper operations with meaningful gold output (reported ~1.11 million oz equivalent in 2024). The scale and multi-commodity nature of the complex explain its high rank in gold production lists. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
6. Batu Hijau (Indonesia)
Batu Hijau is a large porphyry copper-gold operation in Sumbawa. Its high 2024 gold output (≈1.01 million oz) places it among the world’s top producers; the mine also produces substantial copper concentrates. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
7. Kazzinc Consolidated (Kazakhstan)
Kazzinc operates large polymetallic operations including meaningful gold output — the company’s consolidated portfolio pushed it into the top producers list with roughly 1 million oz of gold-equivalent production in 2024. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
8. Ahafo (Ghana)
Newmont’s Ahafo mine (90% Newmont / 10% Government of Ghana) combines open pit and underground zones; production of ~798,000 oz in 2024 made it a top-10 operation. Ahafo is a core part of Newmont’s African portfolio and benefits from modern processing and progressive exploration programs. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
9. Loulo-Gounkoto (Mali)
The Loulo-Gounkoto complex (Barrick majority owner) produced almost 694k oz in 2024. It’s a multi-pit, multi-underground complex and one of Africa’s largest producing assets, though it operates in a challenging political and regulatory environment. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
10. Kibali (DRC)
Kibali (co-owned by AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick and the DRC state miner SOKIMO) produced roughly 687k oz in 2024. The operation is a major African producer with long mine life potential thanks to ongoing exploration success and near-mine discoveries. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
How to interpret “largest” — quick steps
- Check the metric used (annual production, reserves, ore tonnage).
- Confirm the reporting year — figures above use 2024 production as compiled by industry sources. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
- Note whether the entry is a single pit or a multi-mine complex (e.g., Nevada Gold Mines is a complex).
Key trends shaping the biggest gold mines
Consolidation & JV structures
Large complexes often result from mergers, JV creation (e.g., Nevada Gold Mines JV), and asset aggregation that increase annual aggregated output. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
Technology & automation
Automation, process optimisation and digital monitoring are improving output while lowering unit costs at many top operations, enabling higher sustainable production. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
Exploration & life-of-mine extension
Top mines invest heavily in near-mine exploration and processing upgrades to extend life and maintain high annual output. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
Social & environmental scrutiny
Large operations operate under intense environmental and social scrutiny — community relations, tailings management and emissions reduction are now central to continued operations and permitting. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
Frequently Asked Questions
How is “largest” defined — by reserves or by production?
Both measures are common. This article ranks mines by **annual 2024 production (ounces)**, which reflects current output rather than total reserves. Reserves measure total recoverable metal and can differ from production ranking. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
Why are some “mines” actually complexes?
Large producing entities like Nevada Gold Mines consist of many pits and underground operations managed together — industry rankings often aggregate these for reporting and comparison. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
Are these operations primarily open pit or underground?
Top producers use a mix: large open pits (Muruntau, Batu Hijau), block-cave/underground (parts of Grasberg), and combined open-pit + underground complexes (Nevada Gold Mines). The geology dictates the mining method. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
Where can I find the primary company reports for each mine?
Company annual reports, investor presentations and operations pages are the authoritative sources for production and reserve data (e.g., Barrick, Newmont, Polyus, Freeport, Navoi). Many of the figures above come from an industry compilation of those disclosures. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
“Scale, geological endowment and continual investment in processing and exploration keep a small set of mines at the top of global production lists.”
Industry analysts (compiled)
Where to read original rankings and data sources
Industry compendia and trade sites (e.g., MINING.com), company operations pages, and the World Gold Council provide the base figures used here. Always cross-check with company annual reports for the most authoritative numbers. :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}
How often do rankings change?
Yearly — expansions, asset sales, or operational interruptions (e.g., incidents or closures) can move mines up or down the list from one year to the next. :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}
Further reading and primary sources:
- MINING.com — Ranked: World’s top 20 largest gold mines (2024 figures). :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}
- World Gold Council — Global gold production by country. :contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}
- Grasberg mine (Wikipedia). :contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}
- Polyus — Olimpiada operations. :contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}
Can political or regulatory events change these rankings?
Yes. Political decisions, permitting changes, nationalisation, or security restrictions can reduce output or close mines; conversely, large expansions can propel a mine up the rankings. :contentReference[oaicite:31]{index=31}
Do these mines always produce only gold?
No. Many top gold producers are polymetallic (e.g., Grasberg and Batu Hijau produce significant copper), and reporting sometimes aggregates gold as a by-product credit in overall revenue. :contentReference[oaicite:32]{index=32}
::contentReference[oaicite:34]{index=34}"Large gold mines are strategic assets — they feed global supply, anchor regional economies, and increasingly must balance output with environmental and social responsibilities."
Mining industry analyst
