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Zeerust Chrome Mine

Producer in South Africa with commodities Chromium, PGE, Iron, Silica
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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. Host and associated rocks
  9. Nearby scientific data
  10. Geologic structures
  11. Ore body information
  12. Controls for ore emplacement
  13. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  14. Mining district
  15. Land status
  16. Ownership information
  17. Production statistics
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10079231
MRDS ID W028401
Record type Site
Current site name Zeerust Chrome Mine
Related records 10135464, 10231970

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 26.25146, -25.04667 (WGS84)
Elevation 1067
Relative position 58 KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF ZEERUST

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

Comments on the commodity information

  • FLUORITE IS THE ONLY COMMODITY RECOVERED AT THIS MINE. A MANGANIFEROUS SOIL-LIKE CLAY EXISTS INTERMITTENTLY NEAR THE SURFACE AT THIS DEPOSIT (AS A WEATHERED PRODUCT OF THE FLUORITE BEARING DOLOMITE), BUT IT HAS NO ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE.

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 Material Only.

Analytical data

Result LUMP ORE: CR2O3 47.75%, SIO2 4.0%, A12O3 12.3% FEO 17.4%, MGO 12.0%, CAO 0.5%, CR:FE 1.8-1.9:1. CONCENTRATES: CR2O3 49.3%, SIO2 2.9%, A12O3 12.5%, FEO 17.2%, MGO 10.6%, CAO 0.85%, CR:FE 1.8-1.9:1

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) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Gabbro

Nearby scientific data

(1) 26.25146, -25.04667
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 Marico Extension Of The Bushveld Igneous Complex If A Shallow Kidney-Shaped Syncline Occuring In Pyroxenite And Harzburgite. Five Chromite Seams Lie Concentrically Around The Basin And Dip Toward The Center At 2.7 Degrees. Three Seams Are Thought To Be Continuous, And Two Intermittent. Faults And Folds, Locally, Are Of Minor Importance Only.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Dip 2-7 DEG
    Thickness 0.9M
    Depth to top 50M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • The Various Components Of The Bushveld Igneous Complex Have Been Emplaced In Successive Eruptions As Sheet-Like Masses Into The Pretoria Series Volcanics (Transvaal System), And In 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

Mining district

District name Marico Extension; Thabazimi (Western) Rustenburg Belt

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Zeerust Chrome Mine Ltd
  • Type Owner
    Owner Associated Ore And Metal Corp. Ltd.

Production statistics

  • Year 1978
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^49% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 49wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^48% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 48wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^49% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 49wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^48% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 48wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^49% Cr2o3 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 49wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^48% Cr2o3 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 48wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Period 1974-1981
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^49 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 49wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Period 1974-1981
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^48 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 48wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION NOT KNOWN, AND ESTIMATES PRIOR TO 1974 ARE NOT POSSIBLE. ; NO PRODUCTION DATA SINCE 1981. ALL PRODUCTION CONSUMED AT FERALLOYS PLANT (FERROCHROME).
  • FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION NOT KNOWN. FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION UNDER CURRENT OWNERSHIP; 1975 . ESTIMATES PRIOR TO 1970 NOT POSSIBLE.

Comments on the workings information

  • SEE DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSIT COMMENTS. MINING IS BY CONVENTIONAL OPEN PIT, SELECTIVE, METHODS. OVERBURDEN IS REMOVED BY POWER SHOVEL AND TRUCKS AND THE TWO EXPLOITABLE CHROMITE SEAMS (OF FIVE EXISTING IN THIS DEPOSIT) ARE SELECTIVELY MINED BY RIPPER AND FRONT-END LOADER. HIGH GRADE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ORE PERMIT SIMPLE SCREENING, VIBRATORY TABLES AND WASHING TO PRODUCE REQUIRED PRODUCTS.
  • SEE DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSIT COMMENTS. WHILE MINING IS LARGELY MECHANIZED FOR BOTH WASTE REMOVAL AND THE MINING OF ORE, SOME HAND LABOR IS USED IN SMALL HIGH GRADE POCKET AREAS. THE OPERATION'S BENEFICIATION PLANT INCLUDES CRUSHING, BALL MILLING, FLOTATION, THICKENING, FILTRATION, DRYING AND BAGGING.

Comments on development

  • MILL.CAP: 0.1 MI. MET. T/YR ; ECON.COM: OUTPUT IS ORIENTED FULLY TO THE DOMESTIC MARKET (FERRALLOYS LTD., OF ANGLO-TRANSVAAL CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD.) NEITHER ORES NOR CONCENTRATES ARE EXPORTED. AN OPEN PIT OPERATION, WITH NO KNOWN PLANS TO GO UNDERGROUND. RESERVES NOT KNOWN AND MINE-LIFE CANNOT THEREFORE BE ESTIMATED.
  • FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION NOT KNOWN. FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION UNDER CURRENT OWNERSHIP: 1975 ; MILL.CAP: 0.9 MIL. MET. T/YR. ; ECON.YEAR: 1975 ; ECON.COM: THE MINE CONSISTS OF SEVERAL SEPARATE OPEN CUTS IN DOLOMITE-IMPREGNATED FLUORSPAR. SELECTIVE MINING IS A REQUIREMENT. ORE RESERVES ARE NOT AVAILABLE, BUT JUDGED TO BE LARGE. THIS IS A NEWLY-SOPHISTICATED MINE IN AN OLD MINING AREA. MINE AND PLANT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND MARKETING CONSTRICTIONS HAVE HELD OUTPUT WELL BELOW RATED CAPACITIES SINCE 1975 .

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Analytical Data

    SRC.REF: FERROUS AND NONFERROUS MINES AND WORKS IN SOUTH AFRICA; MINERALS BUREAU DIRECTORY NO. 3/79

  • Deposit

    FERROUS AND NONFERROUS MINES AND WORKS IN SOUTH AFRICA; MINERALS BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF MINES, DIRECTORY NO. 3/79; 1979 .

  • Deposit

    OPERATING MINES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA; MINERALS BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF MINES; DIRECTORY NO. 1/79; 1979 .

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    GOSSLING, H.H., 1978, FLUORSPAR: 1973-1980, A COMMODITY PROFILE: MINERALS BUREAU,DEPARTMENT OF MINES.

  • Production

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

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO TOTAL THICKNESS OF TWO SEAMS CURRENTLY BEING EXPLOITED (MAX. THICKNESS OF EACH IS ABOUT 0.45 METER). SEAM NAMES AND REFERENCES NOT KNOWN, BUT THOUGHT TO CORRELATE WITH THE "LOWER CHROME GROUP" OF THE BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX. THE DEPOSIT IS A KIDNEY-SHAPED SYNCLINE SEPARATED FROM THE MAJOR OCCURENCES OF THE COMPLEX. CHROMITE SEAMS OCCUR ON AND NEAR THE SURFACE WITH VARIABLE STRIKES AND DIP DIRECTIONS. DISTANCES BETWEEN THE NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST RIMS OF THE DEPOSIT ARE 14.5 AND 5.6 KILOMETERS RESPECTIVELY. DEPTH TO TOP IS RANGE FROM SURFACE TO CURRENT MINING DEPTH.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028901 ; W030789 ; W032252 ; W055305
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS NOT KNOWN. DEPTH TO TOP REFERS TO DEPTH FROM OUTCROP TO CURRENT MINING DEPTH. ULTIMATE PLANNED MINING DEPTH NOT KNOWN. NEITHER STRIKE, DIRECTION OF DIP NOR OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO DEPOSIT MEASUREMENTS ARE KNOWN.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028843 ; W030977 ; W032311

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-AUG-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.

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