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Millsell Chrome Mine

Past 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. 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 10089696
MRDS ID W028414
Record type Site
Current site name Millsell Chrome Mine
Related records 10232487

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 27.25145, -25.74663 (WGS84)
Elevation 1372
Relative position 10 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE TOWN OF RUSTENBURG

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 Tertiary
Iron Tertiary
Silica Tertiary

Materials information

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

Alteration

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

Analytical data

Result FOUNDRY SAND CONCENTRATES: CR2O3 45.0 - 45.6 %, SIO2 1.0 - 1.5 %, FEO APPROX. 25 %, AL2O3 APPROX. 15 %, MGO APPROX. 10 %, P 0.002 %, S 0.002 %, TIO2 0.61 %, V2O5 0.37 %, CAO 0.1 % LUMP ORE DATA NOT AVAILABLE.

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, Schilpadnest Subsuite
    Rock description Bushveld Igneous Complex, Schilpadnest Subsuite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Ultramafic Intrusive Rock > Pyroxenite

Nearby scientific data

(1) 27.25145, -25.74663
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 And Thus Present Localized (Albeit Moderate) Changes In The Dip.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike NW - SE
    Dip 10 DEG NE
    Thickness 0.9M
    Depth to top 450M

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 Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant No
Discovery year 1920

Mining district

District name Rustenburg (Western) Belt; Bushveld Igneous Complex

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Millsell Chrome Mines (Pty) Ltd
  • Type Owner
    Owner Transvaal Consolidated Land And Exploration Co., Ltd. (Barlow Rand Ltd)

Production statistics

  • Year 1978
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^40 - 42 % Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Ore 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 OON 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: ^40-42% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Ore 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: ^40-42% Cr2o3 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Ore Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Period 1974-1981
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^46 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 46wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Period 1974-1981
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^45 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Ore Chromium Chromium 45wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION NOT KNOWN, AND ESTIMATES PRIOR TO 1974 ARE NOT POSSIBLE.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Total resources 35000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Chromium Cr2O3 35 wt-pct Chromium Major 1975

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • INDICATED RESERVES TO A VERTICAL DEPTH OF 450 METERS.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 450M

Comments on the workings information

  • SEE DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSIT COMMENTS. MINING IS BY DEVELOPMENT DRIFTS AND INCLINES IN ORE TO CREATE MODIFIED ROM AND PILLAR METHOD. BROKEN ORE IS MOVED DOWNWARD INTO ORE PASSES BY SLUSHER AND HAND-TRAMMED TO LOADING POINTS FOR HOISTING TO THE SURFACE. TWO INCLINES ARE USED. ONE LIFTS ORE TO THE SURFACE BY CONVEYOR BELT; THE OTHER BY SKIP. SURFACE ORE STORAGE BINS ARE LIMITED TO 150 TONS CAPACITY AND BALL MILLS, CLASSIFIERS, SCREENS AND SPIRALS (FOR CONCENTRATION) ARE SMALL AS WELL.

Comments on development

  • MILL.CAP: 0.3 MIL. MET. T/YR ; ECON.COM: A DOMESTIC MARKET-ORIENTED OPERATION WITH FOCUS ON FOUNDRY SAND OUTPUT. ORE RESERVES ARE LIMITED BUT, AS A MEDIUM-SIZED PRODUCER, THIS MINE MAY BE NONETHELESS EXPECTED TO HAVE A 20 - YEAR OPERATING LIFE AT CURRENT PRODUCTION LEVEL.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Analytical Data

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

  • 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., US 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

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

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    "THE CHROMITE DEPOSITS IN THE RUSTENBURG AREA"; DEPARTMENT OF MINES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY; BULLETIN 27 ; FOURIE, G. P.; 1959 . "THE CHROMITE DEPOSITS OF THE BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX", DEPARTMENT OF MINES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY; KUPFERBURGER, W. AND LOMBAARD, B. V. 1937

  • Other Database

    ISMI

  • 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 THE MAIN SEAM OF THE "LOWER CHROME GROUP" (THE ONLY CHROMITE HORIZON MINED AT THIS PROPERTY; THOUGH OTHERS OF THE LOWER GROUP EXIST IN THE AREA). DEPTH TO TOP IS RANGE FROM OUTCROP TO CURRENT VERTICAL MAX. MINING DEPTH. DEPTH TO BOTTOM (I.E. MAXIMUM DEPTH DOWN-DIP) NOT KNOWN, BUT ORE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED DOWNWARD TO MUCH GREATER DEPTHS IN THE COMPANY'S LEASEHOLD.
Deposit OPERATIONS WERE SUSPENDED IN 1986.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028894 ; W030776 ; W032260

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

Beyond USGS

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

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