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Mponeng

Producer in South Africa with commodities Gold, Uranium, PGE, Platinum, Osmium, Iridium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Silver
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Alteration
  8. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Ownership information
  17. Production statistics
  18. Workings at the site
  19. Links to other databases
  20. Bibliographic references
  21. General comments
  22. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10071446
MRDS ID W014843
Record type Site
Current site name Mponeng
Alternate or previous names Western Deep Levels
Related records 10159066

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 27.41813, -26.41327 (WGS84)
Elevation 1615
Relative position EIGHT KILOMETERS SOUTH OF CARLTONVILLE

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Uranium Secondary
PGE Critical Secondary
Platinum Critical Secondary
Osmium Secondary
Iridium Critical Secondary
Rhodium Critical Secondary
Ruthenium Critical Secondary
Silver Secondary

Comments on the commodity information

  • SMALL QUANTITIES PT AND AG RECOVERED BUT UNIMPORTANT IN SOUTH AFRICA TERMS. PT IS AN IMPURITY IN GOLD AND IS RECOVERED AT THE RAND REFINERY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PURIFICATION PROCESS.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Galena Ore
Gold Ore
Pyrite Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Sperrylite Ore
Sphalerite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) None

Analytical data

Result COMPOSITION OF PLATINOIDS: IR = 39.6%, OS = 42.2%, RU = 11.8%, PT = 5.9%, RH = 0.5%

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 193
USGS model code 29a
Deposit model name Quartz pebble conglomerate Au-U (BC name is Paleoplacer U-Au-PGE-Sn-Ti

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
    Rock unit name Ventersdorp System-Lava
    Rock description Ventersdorp System-Lava
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Rock unit name Transvaal System-Dolomite;Witwatersrand System (Upper Division)-Quartzites, Shales, Grits, Conglomerates, And Carbon Granules
    Rock description Transvaal System-Dolomite;Witwatersrand System (Upper Division)-Quartzites, Shales, Grits, Conglomerates, And Carbon Granules
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)

Nearby scientific data

(1) 27.41813, -26.41327
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Unique Continuity Of Gold - Bearing Horizons Over Extended Area, Though Well Marked By Folding, Faulting And (Locally) Erosion And Redepositon Of Overlying Sediments. The Ventersdorp Contact Reef Unconformably Overlies The Carbon Leader Reef
Type of structure Local
Structure description Gentle Dip Regionally, With Folds And Faults Locally. Intrusive Dikes Penetrate And Dilute Minable Ore Horizons. Overlying Lavas And Dolomites Are Massive.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Dip 18 DEG. S
    Thickness 0.1M
    Depth to top 2285M
    Depth to bottom 3810M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Gentle Uplift Of Continental Mass; Erosion; Peneplanation; Folding; Faulting; Volcanicity; Dike Injection And Build - Up Of Younger Sediments

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1930
Discoverer R. H. Krahmann, Leopold Reinecke & Carlton Jones
Year of first production 1962

Mining district

District name Far West Rand (West Wits Line) Of Witwatersrand Goldfields

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Ownership Distribution:
  • Type Owner
    Owner Anglo American Corp. Of South Africa, Ltd.
    Interest 13.24
  • Type Owner
    Owner West Rand Investment Trust Ltd.
    Interest 12.8
  • Type Owner
    Owner West Witwatersrand Ltd.
    Interest 5.6
  • Type Owner
    Owner African And European Inves. Co. Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Debeers Holdings Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner General Mining And Finance Corp.
    Interest 5.6
  • Type Operator
    Owner Western Deep Levels Ltd.

Production statistics

  • Year 1976
    Period 1976 0.233 KG U3O8/MET TON OF ORE TREATED
    Material ORE U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.224 Kg U3o8/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 6g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.475 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 13g/mt
  • Year 1978
    Material U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.091 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Uranium Uranium 3g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.210 Kg U3o8/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Uranium Uranium 6g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.440 Toz Au/Mt Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 12g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.360 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 10g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.081 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 2287g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material ORE U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.324 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 9g/mt
  • Year 1982
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.216 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 6g/mt
  • Year 1983
    Material ORE U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.087 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 2456g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^Carbon Leader - 3359.000 Tons At 0.724 Toz Au/Met To Ore. Ventersdorp Reef - 2648.000 Tons At 0.412 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 20g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^Carbon Leader: 4,415,000 Met Tons At 0.674 Toz Au And 0.21 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 19g/mt
    U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 210g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • AU/PT RECOVERY = 1900:1.

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2835M

Comments on the workings information

  • 1/ DEPTH BELOW SURFACE REFERS TO CARBON LEADER DEPTH IN VICINITY OF WESTERN DEEP LEVELS NO. 2 SHAFT. MINING METHODS: PREDOMINANTLY LONGWALL, BUT "SCATTER" MINING EMPLOYED IN AREAS OF INTRUSIVE DIKES, FAULTS AND FOLDS.

Comments on development

  • EXPAN$: 21.5 (1976) ; MILL.CAP: 3.2 MIL. MET. T/YR. 1975 ; ECON.COM: A LONG LIFE MINE WITH LOW OPERATING COSTS ($55.96/TROY OUNCE OF GOLD RECOVERED 1976). MINE OPERATES FROM TWO HORIZONS (REEFS): CARBON LEADER & VENTERSDORP CONTACT. RECOGNIZED AS THE DEEPEST MINE IN THE WORLD.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    ANGLO AMERICAN CORPORATION OF SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED; ANNUAL REPORTS: 1974 & 1975

  • Deposit

    SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD SHARES; IVOR JONES, ROY AND CO., INC., JOHANNESBURG; 1975

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF SOUTH - CENTRAL AFRICA; PELLETIER, R. A.; 1964

  • Deposit

    GOLD IN THE TRANSVAAL (MINES OF THE ANGLO AMERICAN CORPORATION GROUP); 1961

  • Deposit

    MERTIE, 1969, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF PLATINUM METALS: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 630, P. 45-48.

  • Deposit

    COUSINS, 1973, PLATINOIDS IN THE WITWATERSRAND SYSTEM: JOURNAL OF SOUTH AFRICA INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY, V. 73, NO. 6, P. 3-5.

  • Deposit

    WAGNER, 1929, PLATINUM DEPOSITS AND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA: STRUIK (PTY) LTD., CAPETOWN 1973, P. 32-40.

  • Deposit

    FEATHER, 1976, MINERALOGY OF PLATINUM-GROUP MINERALS IN THE WITWATERSRAND: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 71, NO. 7, P. 1419.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 1977, V. 288.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 1975, MINING JOURNAL, V. 19, NO. 1, MAY 1975.

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1982 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1983 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA; JANUARY - DECEMBER 1979 ; ANALYSES OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1980 ; CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1981 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA; JANUARY - DECEMBER 1978 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, JANUARY-DECEMBER 1977

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX THICKNESS REFERS TO CARBON LEADER ORE HORIZON (REEF) ONLY. DEPTH TO TOP FOR CARBON LEADER REEF ONLY. DEPTH TO BOTTOM IS MAXIMUM DEPTH DOWN DIP
Deposit THIS RECORD INCLUDES DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD M046309 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028243 ; W028680 ; W028722 ; W030947 ; W032350 ; W032958 ; W033168 ; W033794 ; W044650 ; W055297

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-FEB-1977 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1987 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-OCT-1978 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-1980 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1981 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-AUG-1982 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1984 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1983 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1985 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-APR-1986 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1987 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

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