MTMaterial Transition · Public intelligence

Evidence-bound company brief · as of September 18, 2026

Barrick Gold NYSE: B / TSX: ABX

Gold and copper mining with site-specific water, tailings, biodiversity and closure obligations

ABX
Public materials brief.

Barrick Gold's material transition starts with the mine site, where water, land, energy, reagents, tailings and closure are inseparable. Its 2025 reporting says the company exceeded an 80% water-recycling and reuse target, while its operating model uses site-level water plans and risk registers. The next useful unit is one mine and one material or water stream with a clear operating boundary.

Barrick's 2025 Sustainability Report describes water stewardship, biodiversity management, climate resilience and site-level environmental planning. Barrick reports an overall water recycling and reuse rate of 81% in 2025, above its 80% annual target, and says each mine has a site-specific water management plan with water risks included in operational risk registers. Public reporting does not establish one mine-level material ledger connecting ore, reagents, water, tailings, recovery and closure outcome.

81%2025 overall water recycling and reuse rate
80%Annual water recycling and reuse target exceeded
17 countriesBarrick operations and projects across five continents
Site-specificWater management plans and operational risk registers

Material inputs to resolve

  • Ore, water, energy, explosives, cyanide, grinding media, fuel, steel and maintenance materials
  • Mine geology, processing plant, tailings storage, transport and closure planning
  • Recovered metals, tailings, waste rock, process water and site rehabilitation inputs

Outputs and residuals to resolve

  • Gold, copper and mineral concentrates for downstream refining
  • Tailings, waste rock, process water, reagents and closure materials
  • Mine-level material balance, water quality and closure outcome remain open
First decision: Choose one Barrick mine and one stream, such as process water, reagents, tailings or steel. Map input, recovery, risk control, destination and closure implication.

Water signal

Barrick reports an 81% overall water recycling and reuse rate in 2025, above its 80% target.

Governance signal

Barrick says each mine has a site-specific water management plan and operational risk register.

Material system

Mining operations connect ore, reagents, energy, water, tailings and closure in one physical system.

Evidence boundary

Group metrics do not establish one mine-level mass balance, water-quality result or closure pathway.

Decision boundary

Barrick Gold's material transition starts with the mine site, where water, land, energy, reagents, tailings and closure are inseparable. Its 2025 reporting says the company exceeded an 80% water-recycling and reuse target, while its operating model uses site-level water plans and risk registers. The next useful unit is one mine and one material or water stream with a clear operating boundary. The public record supports one bounded next move: Choose one Barrick mine and one stream, such as process water, reagents, tailings or steel. Map input, recovery, risk control, destination and closure implication. It does not establish a buyer, commercial approval or supply agreement.