1. Mineral Resources
  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Groothoek Chrome Mine

Producer in South Africa with commodities Chromium, PGE, Iron, Silica
Map
XML
JSON
KML
A
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 10079229
MRDS ID W028280
Record type Site
Current site name Groothoek Chrome Mine

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 30.16807, -24.52999 (WGS84)
Elevation 1067
Relative position 24 KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF STEELPOORT

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Chromium Critical Primary
PGE Critical Secondary
Iron Secondary
Silica Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chromite Ore
Magnetite Ore
Anorthosite Gangue
Chalcopyrite Gangue
Pentlandite Gangue
Pyrrhotite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Surface And Near-Surface Alteration Of Feldspathic Materials Only

Analytical data

Result SEE PRODUCTION ENTRIES

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 2
USGS model code 2a
Deposit model name Bushveld Cr

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock
    Rock unit name Bushveld Igneous Complex (Including The Overlying Merensky Reef)
    Rock description Bushveld Igneous Complex (Including The Overlying Merensky Reef)
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Ultramafic Intrusive Rock > Pyroxenite

Nearby scientific data

(1) 30.16807, -24.52999
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Inward-Dipping Cone-Like Structure; Folding And Faulting (Including Low-Angle Thrusting) Exists, But Are Of Minor Importance; Erosion, Peneplanation And Build-Up Of Younger Sediments Are Basic Criteria Regionally.
Type of structure Local
Structure description The Area'S Upper, Middle And Lower Chrome Groups (Underlying The Merensky Reef) Are Extraordinarily Uniform As To Composition And Thickness. Faults And Folds, Locally Are Of Minor Importance Only. Seam Undulations, However, Are Common Andthus Present Localized Calbeit Moderate) Changes In The Dip.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike NW-SE
    Dip 15-25DEG. SW
    Thickness 1M
    Depth to top 50M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • The Various Components Of The Bushveld Igneous Complex Have Been Emplaced In Succesive Eruptions As Sheet-Like Masses Into The Pretoria Series Volcanics (Transvaal System), Andin Some Cases Into One Another, Dipping Inward Toward The Center Giving A Cone-Like Structure To The Complex As A Whole.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant No
Year of first production 1937

Mining district

District name Eastern (Groothoek-Mecklenburg) Belt, Steelpoort Sector; Bushveld Igneous Complex

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Chrome Mines Of S. A. Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner General Mining And Finance Corp. , Ltd

Production statistics

  • Year 1978
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^41 % Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^45% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 45wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^45% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 45wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^41% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^45% Cr2o3 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 45wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^41% Cr2o3 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Period 1974-1981
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^41 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Period 1974-1982
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^41 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 1937. ESTIMATES PRIOR TO 1974 ARE NOT POSSIBLE, HOWEVER. ; NO PRODUCTION DATA AVAILABLE FOR THE PERIOD 1982-1984.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Total resources 11000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Chromium Cr2O3 39 wt-pct Chromium Major 1975

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • INDICATED RESERVES TO A VERTICAL DEPTH OF 300 METERS.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 100M

Comments on the workings information

  • MINING IS BY DEVELOPMENT DRIFTS AND INCLINES IN ORE TO CREATE MODIFIED ROOM AND PILLAR METHOD. LONGHOLE DRILLING AND MODIFIED LONGWALL MINING ARE USED IN AREAS OF UNIFORM SEAM THICKNESS AND DIP. BROKEN ORE IS MOVED DOWNWARD INTO ORE PASSES BY SLUSHER AND RAIL HAULED TO MAIN HAULAGE INCLINE SHAFTS. SURFACE FACILITIES CONSIST OF HAND SORTING, SCREENS, BALL MILLS, VIBRATORY TABLES AND WASHING. OUTPUT CONSISTS OF HAND COBBED LUMP ORE AND TREATED FONES AS CONCENTRATES.

Comments on development

  • MILL.CAP: 0.2 MIL. MET T/YR. ; ECON.COM: ONE OF SEVERAL MINES CURRENTLY SUPPLYING GENERAL MINING/UNION CARBIDE'S TUBATSE FERROCHROME PLANT AT STEELPOORT. MINE EXPANSION IS UNDER WAY AND ADEQUATE RESERVES ASSURE LONG-LIFE OUTLOOK.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF MINES, 1976.

  • Deposit

    CHROMITE MINES AND RESOURCES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA; UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO FOR M.A.S.U.S. BUREAU OF MINES; SIEMS, P., CRIST, E.M., AND SHEEHAN, L.E., JR.; 1976.

  • Deposit

    MARKETING DIRECTORY, NO. 2, FERROUS AND NONFERROUS METALS AND MINERALS IN SOUTH AFRICA; MINERALS BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF MINES; 1977

  • Deposit

    "CHROMITE PRODUCTION FROM THE BUSHVELD COMPLEX AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE FERROCHROME INDUSTRY"; UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, BUREAU FOR MINERALS STUDIES; JOHANNESBURG; BUCHANAN, D.L.; 1978

  • Deposit

    DEYOUNG AND OTHERS, 1984, INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC MINERALS INVENTORY SUMMARY REPORT-- CHROMIUM: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 930-B, 41 P.

  • Deposit

    "CHROMIUM AND FERROCHROMIUM IN SOUTH AFRICA"; SAUNDERS AND TAYLOR, STOCK AND SHARE BROKERS; JOHANNESBURG; NOVEMBER1975. "THE CHROMITE DEPOSITS OF THE BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX";GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF MINES; KUPFERBURGER, W. AND LOMBAARD, B.V.; 1937

  • Production

    REPORTERS ESTIMATES BASED ON INDUSTRY INDICATORS AND OFFICIAL (MINERALS BUREAU) COUNTRY TOTALS. ; REPORTER'S ESTIMATES BASED ON INDUSTRY INDICATORS AND OFFICIAL (MINERALS BUREAU) COUNTRY TOTALS

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO IN SITU WIDTH OF THE SINGLE RECOVERABLE CHROMITE SEAM IN THE AREA'S "LOWER CHROME GROUP". DEPTH TO TOP IS RANGE FROM OUTCROP TO CURRENT VERTICAL MAX. MINING DEPTH. DEPTH TO BOTTOM (I.E. MAXIMUM DEPTH OF MINABLE ORE) NOT KNOWN.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028898 ; W030782 ; W032254 ; W055313

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-APR-1979 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1982 Mccarter, Lorna D. 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-JUL-1982 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1987 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State

Beyond USGS

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

Maps centered on this site