The construction cost of a heap leach pad represents a significant portion of the total capital cost of any heap leaching project, whether for a greenfield development or the expansion of an existing operation. The authors present and discuss cost data from 48 work phases across 28 heap leach projects in eight countries, including North America, South America, Africa, and Asia.

The cost data were compiled from feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, NI 43-101 technical reports, and as-built cost analyses. In certain cases, where the level of engineering detail was sufficiently advanced, pre-feasibility study data were also incorporated. All costs are presented in 2014 U.S. dollars (US$), adjusted using an escalation rate based on the 10-year average of the ENR Construction Cost Index.

The data and accompanying analyses are intended to support engineers and project owners in the preparation of project cost studies. They may also serve as a reference for reviewers, investors, regulators, and insurers in assessing the reasonableness of third-party cost estimates. Furthermore, the dataset may assist in identifying future trends in heap leach construction costs (e.g., in relation to overall construction cost escalation).

This paper also discusses the purpose and methodology used to conduct the benchmarking study, which may have broader applications.