AuRico Gold
Canadian intermediate gold mining and exploration company with gold, silver, and copper assets in Canada and Mexico.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
AuRico Gold was a Canadian intermediate gold mining and exploration company whose principal assets were located in Mexico and Canada. The company evolved through several corporate identities before adopting the AuRico Gold name in 2011. It was incorporated as Golden Rock Explorations, Inc. in 1986, became Gammon Lake Resources in 1998, changed its name to Gammon Gold in 2007, and rebranded as AuRico Gold in May 2011. The name combined “Au,” the chemical symbol for gold, with “Rico,” a Spanish word meaning rich. The company’s early development centered on Mexican exploration and mining opportunities. In 2004, the business moved beyond exploration and began producing gold. Its Mexican portfolio included the Ocampo operation in Chihuahua, the El Chanate mine in Sonora, and the Guadalupe y Calvo gold and silver project. Ocampo was acquired from Bolnisi in 2003 and entered production in 2007. It comprised an open-pit mine and underground workings, supported by a mill designed to process more than 3,000 tonnes of ore per day. El Chanate, operated through a Mexican subsidiary, also began production in 2007 and produced both gold and silver. AuRico expanded through a series of acquisitions. In August 2006, it completed the approximately $451 million acquisition of Mexgold Resources, bringing the Guadalupe y Calvo project into its portfolio. In 2011, it acquired Capital Gold for approximately $408 million after approval by Capital Gold shareholders. That transaction added the El Chanate mine and the Orion gold project in Mexico. The company then agreed to acquire Northgate Minerals in August 2011 in a transaction valued at approximately C$1.46 billion. The combination transformed AuRico from a company focused exclusively on Mexico into a broader intermediate producer with major Canadian exposure, including the Young-Davidson mine in Ontario and the Kemess project in British Columbia. The Northgate transaction also materially increased AuRico’s gold resources and reserves. Young-Davidson, near Matachewan, Ontario, became one of the company’s most important Canadian assets. The property was described as having close to three million ounces of gold reserves and an estimated mine life of about 15 years. AuRico also advanced the Kemess Underground project near the former Kemess mine in British Columbia and maintained other exploration interests, including a gold project in the Mount Ida region. AuRico Gold remained a diversified precious-metals producer rather than a single-mine operator. Its business covered exploration, mine development, extraction, processing, and the production and sale of gold and silver, with copper exposure associated with certain projects. Its Mexican operations supplied established production, while the Canadian assets provided a larger long-term development and production platform. In 2015, AuRico Gold merged with Alamos Gold in a transaction valued at approximately C$1.5 billion. AuRico shareholders received about half of the ownership of the combined company, which continued under the Alamos Gold name. The Kemess project was separated into AuRico Metals as part of the transaction and was later acquired by Centerra Gold in 2017. AuRico Gold therefore no longer exists as an independent operating brand, although its former assets and corporate history continued through successor companies.
History
AuRico Gold originated as Golden Rock Explorations, Inc., incorporated on February 23, 1986. The company adopted the name Gammon Lake Resources in 1998 and initially focused on exploration. Its principal growth path developed in Mexico, where the company built a portfolio of gold and silver opportunities and entered production in 2004. The Ocampo property was acquired from Bolnisi in December 2003 and became a producing operation in 2007. Located in Chihuahua, Ocampo combined an open pit with underground mines and included an on-site processing mill. Its ore was associated with epithermal mineralization, and the property produced both gold and silver. The company also developed El Chanate in Sonora, which began production in May 2007. El Chanate was operated by a Mexican subsidiary and covered exploration, extraction, processing, and commercialization of gold and silver minerals. On June 18, 2007, Gammon Lake Resources changed its name to Gammon Gold. The company continued to expand through acquisitions. In August 2006, it completed the acquisition of Mexgold Resources for approximately $451 million, adding the Guadalupe y Calvo project in Mexico. In April 2011, it acquired Capital Gold for approximately $408 million following shareholder approval. Capital Gold contributed the El Chanate mine and the Orion project. The company adopted the AuRico Gold name in May 2011. The new name referenced gold through the chemical symbol Au and used the Spanish word “Rico,” meaning rich. The rebranding coincided with a broader strategic shift from a Mexico-focused exploration and production company toward a larger, geographically diversified intermediate producer. That shift accelerated with the August 2011 acquisition of Northgate Minerals for approximately C$1.46 billion. Before this transaction, AuRico had operated only in Mexico. Northgate brought Canadian assets into the group, most notably Young-Davidson in Ontario and the Kemess project in British Columbia. Young-Davidson was described as having close to three million ounces of gold reserves and an estimated mine life of approximately 15 years. Kemess Underground represented an advanced development opportunity near the former Kemess mine and was supported by existing regional infrastructure. Following the Northgate transaction, AuRico’s portfolio included two Mexican operations, one Canadian operation, and several advanced development and exploration properties. Its activities covered gold and silver production, mine development, mineral exploration, and associated copper exposure. The company’s Mexican operations provided established production, while Young-Davidson and Kemess strengthened its longer-term Canadian growth profile. AuRico Gold ceased to exist as an independent company after its 2015 combination with Alamos Gold. The transaction was valued at approximately C$1.5 billion, and AuRico shareholders held about 50 percent of the combined business. The surviving company operated under the Alamos Gold name. As part of the arrangement, the Kemess project was separated into AuRico Metals, which Centerra Gold later acquired in 2017. AuRico Gold’s corporate identity was therefore retired, while its assets and projects continued under successor ownership.
- 2017
AuRico Metals acquired by Centerra Gold
[1]The separated Kemess-related company, AuRico Metals, was acquired by Centerra Gold.
- 2015
Merger with Alamos Gold
[1]AuRico Gold merged with Alamos Gold in an approximately C$1.5 billion transaction and ceased operating as an independent company.
- 2011
Capital Gold acquisition completed
[1]AuRico acquired Capital Gold for approximately $408 million after approval by 67 percent of Capital Gold shareholders.
- 2011
AuRico Gold name adopted
[1]The company changed its name to AuRico Gold in May 2011.
- 2011
Northgate Minerals acquired
[1]The approximately C$1.46 billion Northgate transaction added Young-Davidson and Kemess and expanded AuRico into Canada.
- 2007
Gammon Gold name adopted
[1]The company changed its name from Gammon Lake Resources to Gammon Gold on June 18, 2007.
- 2007
Ocampo and El Chanate enter production
[1]Ocampo and El Chanate became producing Mexican operations during 2007.
- 2006
Mexgold Resources acquired
[1]The company completed its approximately $451 million acquisition of Mexgold Resources, adding Guadalupe y Calvo in Mexico.
- 2004
Company enters gold production
[1]The business moved beyond exploration and began producing gold.
- 2003
Ocampo property acquired
[1]The Ocampo property in Mexico was acquired from Bolnisi in December 2003, creating the foundation for a future producing operation.
Products and positioning
Intermediate precious-metals producer combining operating mines in Mexico with Canadian production and advanced development assets.
Precious metals
Gold
Gold was AuRico Gold’s principal commodity and the basis of its intermediate-producer strategy. The company produced gold from Mexican operations including Ocampo and El Chanate and later added the Canadian Young-Davidson operation through the Northgate Minerals acquisition. Its portfolio combined current production with exploration and development assets intended to support longer-term gold output.
Precious metals
Silver
Silver was produced alongside gold at Mexican properties, particularly Ocampo and Guadalupe y Calvo. At Ocampo, the orebody and processing system supported both gold and silver recovery, making the operation a polymetallic precious-metals asset rather than a gold-only mine.
Base metals
Copper
Copper was an associated commodity within parts of AuRico Gold’s broader mining and development portfolio. It was not the company’s principal positioning, which remained centered on gold and silver production and exploration.
Brand decisions
2015
Merge with Alamos GoldM&ABackground
AuRico pursued a combination that would consolidate its assets with Alamos Gold and create a larger precious-metals company.
Action taken
AuRico Gold merged with Alamos Gold in a transaction valued at approximately C$1.5 billion. The combined company retained the Alamos Gold name, while Kemess was separated into AuRico Metals.
Aftermath
AuRico Gold ceased to exist as an independent company. Its shareholders owned approximately half of the combined business, and the Kemess-related company was later acquired by Centerra Gold.
Transaction value. C$1.5 billion (2015)
2011
Rebrand from Gammon Gold to AuRico GoldStrategyBackground
The company was broadening beyond its historical Mexico-focused identity and preparing to operate as a larger intermediate producer.
Action taken
It adopted the AuRico Gold name in May 2011, combining the chemical symbol for gold with a Spanish word meaning rich.
Aftermath
The rebrand was followed by the Capital Gold and Northgate Minerals transactions, which expanded the company’s asset base and geographic scope.
2011
Acquire Northgate MineralsM&ABackground
AuRico sought to increase its scale and add Canadian production and development assets to its Mexican operating base.
Action taken
The company agreed to acquire Vancouver-based Northgate Minerals in a transaction valued at approximately C$1.46 billion.
Aftermath
The combined company gained Young-Davidson in Ontario and the Kemess project in British Columbia, and AuRico shareholders held approximately 62 percent of the enlarged company.
Transaction value. C$1.46 billion (2011)
Recent events
AuRico Gold reports 2014 financial results[2]
Reported:
AuRico Gold reported financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2014.
Sources3 sources
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