Gold miner SSR Mining suspended production at a mine in eastern Turkey following a landslide that occurred on Tuesday. The incident resulted in at least nine miners being reported missing and caused a drastic drop of over 50% in SSR Mining’s shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company stated in a regulatory filing that operations were halted due to a “large slip on the heap leach pad.”
The mine, located in Erzincan province, is operated by Lidya Madencilik and owned by Turkey-based Calik Holding and Denver, Colorado-based SSR Mining. Security footage captured the moment when a significant mound of processed soil, containing gold, collapsed and cascaded into the valley, stirring clouds of dust into the air. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the causes and implications of the landslide.
The suspension of operations underscores the immediate impact of the landslide on mining activities in the region and highlights the potential risks associated with such operations. The safety and well-being of the missing miners remain a primary concern as efforts continue to assess the situation and address the aftermath of the landslide.
Source: Reuters