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Black Mountain Mine

Producer in Eastern Cape, South Africa with commodities Lead, Zinc, Copper, 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. Alteration
  7. Mineral occurrence model information
  8. Host and associated rocks
  9. Nearby scientific data
  10. Geologic structures
  11. Ore body information
  12. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10080052
MRDS ID W031006
Record type Site
Current site name Black Mountain Mine
Alternate or previous names Aggeneys Copper Mine
Related records 10280402

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 18.83491, -29.22992 (WGS84)
Elevation 845
Relative position 65 KILOMETERS WEST OF TOWN OF POFADDER. 104 KILOMETERS EAST OF SPRINGBOK.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Eastern Cape(province)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
South Africa Eastern Cape

Comments on the location information

  • NORTH-WESTERN CAPE IN DESOLATE AREA WITH AVE. RAINFALL OF ONLY 100 MM/A. TEMPERATURES RANGE FROM - 3 DEG C TO 45 DEG C WITH WIND VELOCITIES UP TO 40 KM/H NORMAL AND UP TO 100 KM/H.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Lead Primary
Zinc Critical Primary
Copper Primary
Silver Secondary

Comments on the commodity information

  • SILVER RECOVERED IN THE COPPER & LEAD CONCENTRATES AND SOLD IN THIS FORM.

Alteration

  • (Local) Gossans At Surface (All 3 Orebodies)

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 208
USGS model code 31a
Deposit model name Sedimentary exhalative Zn-Pb
Mark3 model number 13

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Granulite
    Rock unit name Ore-Bearing Bushmanland Sequence;Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex
    Rock description Ore-Bearing Bushmanland Sequence;Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic

Nearby scientific data

(1) 18.83491, -29.22992
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Namaqualand Mobile Belt. Isoclinal Easterly Plunging Fold System Overturned Toward South.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Orebodies In Isoclinal Overturned Synclines

Ore body information

  • Strike NE
    Dip 50
    Plunge 30
    Plunge direction E
    Length 400M
    Width 45M
    Depth to bottom 438M

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1929
Year of first production 1979

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Black Mountain Mineral Development Co. Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Ownership Distribution: Gold Fields Of South Africa Now Has 55.5% And Phelps Dodge 44.5%

Production statistics

  • Year 1980
    Material ORE PB ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^9.93 % Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Lead Lead 10wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 2.52% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Material CON PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 9.32% Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Lead Lead 9wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Material ORE PB ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^67.33 % Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Lead Lead 67wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 147 G/Ton Au
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Gold Gold 147g/mt
  • Year 1982
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 9.07% Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Lead Lead 9wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Material CON PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^50.44% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Zinc Zinc 50wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Material ORE PB ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^24.86% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 25wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.66% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^67.53% Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Lead Lead 68wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Period 1980-1984
    Material CON CU
    Description Cp_Grade: ^ 2.68% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Period 1980-1984
    Material CON PB
    Description Cp_Grade: ^ 9.37% Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Lead Lead 9wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Period 1980-1984
    Material ORE PB
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.66% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Material CON PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 124 G/Ton Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Silver Silver 124g/mt
  • Year 1984
    Material ORE PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 2.71% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^26.50% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 27wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^70.44% Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Lead Lead 70wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Period 1980-1984
    Material CON ZN
    Description Cp_Grade: ^ 141 G/Ton Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Silver Silver 141g/mt
  • Year 1985
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 2.56% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 9.58% Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Lead Lead 10wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Material ORE PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^51.41% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Zinc Zinc 51wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Material CON PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.60% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^50.46% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Zinc Zinc 50wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Material CON PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^70.39% Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Lead Lead 70wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Material ORE PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 140 G/Ton Ag
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Silver Silver 140g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^25.04% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 25wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • SILVER CONTENT IN LEAD CONCENTRATE WAS 788 GRAMS PER TON AND BISMUTH CONTENT WAS 575 GRAMS PER TON.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1977
    Total resources 51000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Lead Pb 2.3 wt-pct Lead Major 1977
    Zinc Zn 0.5 wt-pct Zinc Major 1977
    Copper Cu 0.6 wt-pct Copper Major 1977
    Silver Ag 25 g/mt Silver Minor 1977

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • THE SMALLER TONNAGE IS OPEN PIT ORE, THE LARGER TONNAGE IS UNDERGROUND ORE.
  • THIS FIGURE CAN BE BROKEN DOWN AS FOLLOWS: 200 MILLION TONS AT BROKEN HILL OREBODY; 86 MILLION TONS AT BLACK MOUNTAIN AND 101 MILLION TONS AT BIG SYNCLINE RESPECTIVELY.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 438M

Comments on the workings information

  • ONLY THE BROKEN HILL OREBODY BEING MINED AT PRESENT. ACCESS BY INCLINED SPIRAL DECLINE AND VERTICAL SHAFT. MINING BY BLASTHOLE STOPING AND LATER WILL EMPLOY CUT AND FILL STOPING.

Comments on development

  • IN 1971 PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION INTERSECTED THE SWARTBERG OREBODY; IN 1972, THE BROKEN HILL OREBODY; 1973, THE AGGENEYS OREBODY ("BIG SYNCLINE") AND IN 1976 A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE BROKEN HILL OREBODY FOR UNDERGROUND MINING WAS DONE. ; TOTAL$: 232 ; DEV$: 184 ; MILL.CAP: 01125.000 ; ECON.YEAR: 1981 ; ECON.COM: THE BROKEN HILL HIGH GRADE ORE DEPOSIT WILL BE MINED BY UNDERGROUND, LOW COST, HIGH TONNAGE METHODS FOR THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS OF PRODUCTION IN ORDER TO REPAY THE LOANS AND INTEREST ON THE PROJECT.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    CHADWICK, J.R., 1981, FOCUS: SOUTHERN AFRICA: WORLD MINING, MAR., 1981, V34, NO3, P 36-39.

  • Deposit

    1979, PROGRESS CONTINUES AT AGGENEYS: MINING MAGAZINE, MARCH, 1979, P 206-213.

  • Deposit

    1929 DIREXPL

  • Deposit

    1970 DIREXPL PHELPS DODGE CORP

  • Production

    ANNUAL REPORT OF GOLD FIELDS GROUP - 1980 ; BLACK MOUNTAIN ANNUAL REPORT-1986 ; BLACK MOUNTAIN ANNUAL REPORT 1983 ; BLACK MOUNTAIN ANNUAL REPORT - 1984 ; BLACK MOUNTAIN ANNUAL REPORT - 1985 ; BLACK MOUNTAIN ANNUAL REPORT-1982 ; BLACK MOUNTAIN ANNUAL REPORT - 1981

  • Reserve-Resource

    U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT AIRGRAM 1-31-77, P. 62.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit ABOVE APPLIES TO BROKEN HILL OREBODY, THE ONLY OREBODY BEING MINED THUS FAR. THE BLACK MOUNTAIN (SWARTBERG) OREBODY STILL BEING DRILLED. DEVELOPMENT OF BIG SYNCLINE OREBODY POSPONED FOR FUTURE
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W032360 ; W033032 ; W033076 ; W033750 ; W044592 ; W055345

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-APR-1981 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1985 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-AUG-1982 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-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-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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