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Western Areas Western Areas & Elsburg Sections

Producer in South Africa with commodities Gold, Sulfur-Pyrite, Sulfur, Sulfuric Acid, PGE, Platinum, Osmium, Iridium, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Uranium
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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. Land status
  17. Ownership information
  18. Production statistics
  19. Reserves and resources
  20. Workings at the site
  21. Links to other databases
  22. Bibliographic references
  23. General comments
  24. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10079052
MRDS ID W027868
Record type Site
Current site name Western Areas Western Areas & Elsburg Sections
Alternate or previous names Also Called North & South Sections
Related records 10232245

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 27.71813, -26.36327 (WGS84)
Elevation 1676
Relative position 8 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF WESTONARIA; 13 KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF THE TOWN OF HOPEFIELD

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Comments on the location information

  • LOCATION REFERENCES (GENERAL AND SPECIFIC) ARE FOR WESTERN AREAS SECTION. ELSBURG SECTION IS CONTIGUOUS TO, AND DUE SOUTH OF, THE WESTERN AREAS SECTION.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Sulfur-Pyrite Secondary
Sulfur, Sulfuric Acid Secondary
PGE Critical Secondary
Platinum Critical Secondary
Osmium Secondary
Iridium Critical Secondary
Ruthenium Critical Secondary
Rhodium Critical Secondary
Uranium Tertiary

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
Pyrite Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Uraninite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) None

Analytical data

Result COMPOSITION OF PLATINOIDS: IR = 37.3%, OS = 41.2%, RU = 11.8%, PT = 9.1%, RH = 0.6%

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) 27.71813, -26.36327
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Unique Continuity Of Gold-Bearing Horizons Over Extended Area, Though Well Marked By Faulting And Folding, And (Locally) Erosion And Redeposition Of Overlying Sediments.
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
    Strike E - W
    Dip 10 DEG. S
    Thickness 1.8M
    Depth to top 1640M
    Depth to bottom 2318M

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 Both
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Year of first production 1961

Mining district

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

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Western Areas Gold Mining Co. Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Co. Ltd.

Production statistics

  • Year 1976
    Material SLF
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.180 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1976
    Material PYR
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.171 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1976
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.193 Toz Au/Met. Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1976
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.205 Toz Au /Met Ton Of Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Material PYR
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.154 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.132 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.146 Toz Au/Mt Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1978
    Material SLF
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.461 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 461g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material SLF
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.151 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material PYR
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.335 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 335g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.132 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^ 0.910 Kg U308/Met Ton Ore.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 910g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^Ventersdorp Reef - 0.383 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore. Upper Elsburg Reef - 0.238 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore. Middle Elsburg Reef - 0.154 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • WORKS THE ELSBERG REEF GROUP. AU/PT RECOVERY = 5300:1. ; WESTERN AREAS ANNUAL REPORT 1978 (PYRITE AND SULFUR)

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Name MIDDLE ELSBURG REEF
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 6434000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 11.912 g/mt Gold Major 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Name UPPER ELSBURG REEF
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 6434000mt ore
  • Type In-situ
    Name VENTERSDORP REEF
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 6434000mt ore

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 2318M

Comments on the workings information

  • DEPTH BELOW SURFACE REFERS TO APPROX. DEPTH OF VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF NEAR ELSBURG SECTION'S MAIN SHAFT. MINING METHOD: ERRATIC GOLD VALUES AND FAULTING REQUIRE LABOR-INTENSIVE "SCATTER" MINING METHODS WITH TIMBER AND CONCRETE GROUTED CRIB STOPE SUPPORTS. SLUSHING AND ORE HAULAGE MECHANIZED.

Comments on development

  • THE YEAR OF FIRST PRODUCTION ( 1961 ) REFERS TO WESTERN AREAS SECTION; ELSBURG SECTION REPORTED FIRST PRODUCTION IN 1968 . ELSBURG SECTION OPERATED AS SEPARATE MINE DURING 1968 - 1973 (ELSBURG GOLD MINING CO. LTD.). MERGED BY WESTERN AREAS IN 1974 . CURRENTLY, ELSBURG OUTPUT IS INCLUDED IN WESTERN AREAS REPORTED TOTALS ANNUALLY (SEE PRODUCTION COMMENTS) ; EXPAN$: 10.4 (1976) ; MILL.CAP: 3.6 MIL. MET T/YR. ; ECON.COM: EST. MINE LIFE: 25 YEARS. HIGH MINING COSTS ( $128.59 /TROY OUNCE OF GOLD RECOVERED; 1976 ). A LOW GRADE GOLD PRODUCER, OPERATING FROM THREE HORIZONS (REEFS) - THE VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF, ELSBURG MASSIVE REEFS AND ELSBURG INDIVIDUAL REEFS. ORE PRODUCED FROM WESTERN AREAS SECTION AND ( SINCE 1974 ) THE ELSBURG SECTION (SEE, ALSO, EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMENTS).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7 ; 1976

  • Deposit

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

  • 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 SOUTH AFRICA INST. 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

    MINING JOURNAL, 1977, V. 288.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN AREAS GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED, 1976, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN AREAS GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED, 1975, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN AREAS GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED, 1974, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN AREAS GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED,1973, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    COAL, GOLD AND BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, 1974, MAY.

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986;

  • Production

    ANALYSES OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1980;

  • Production

    ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1981 AND WESTERN AREAS ANNUAL REPORT 1981;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1982 AND WESTERN AREAS ANNUAL REPORT-1982;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1983 AND WESTERN AREAS ANNUAL REPORT - 1983;

  • Production

    ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. JANUARY - DECEMBER 1978 (GOLD);

  • Production

    ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. JANUARY - DECEMBER 1979 (GOLD).

  • Production

    WESTERN AREAS ANNUAL REPORT - 1979 (PYRITE AND SULFUR);

  • Production

    GOLD: ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA JANUARY-DECEMBER 1977.

  • Production

    PYRITE AND SULFUR: WESTERN AREAS ANNUAL REPORT 1977

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX THICKNESS REFERS TO APPROX. STOPING THICKNESS OF EACH OF THREE REEFS MINED. DEPTH TO TOP IS APPROX. DEPTH OF VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF NEAR NO. 1 SHAFT IN WESTERN AREAS SECTION (UP-DIP). DEPTH TO BOTTOM IS APPROX. DEPTH OF THE SAME REEF NEAR ELSBURG SECTION'S MAIN SHAFT (DOWN-DIP).
Deposit THIS RECORD CONTAINS DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD M046311 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028227 ; W028696 ; W028746 ; W030946 ; W032356 ; W032959 ; W033170 ; W033795 ; W044607 ; W055296

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-FEB-1978 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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