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Dreifontein Consolidated

Plant in South Africa with commodities Gold, Silver, Sulfur, 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. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Ownership information
  13. Production statistics
  14. Workings at the site
  15. Links to other databases
  16. Bibliographic references
  17. General comments
  18. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10231574
MAS/MILS ID 7910200062
Record type Site
Current site name Dreifontein Consolidated
Alternate or previous names Driefontein Consolidated, Driefontein East, Driefontein North, Driefontein West

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 27.45146, -26.3799 (WGS84)
Elevation 1615
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Secondary
Sulfur Tertiary
Uranium Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Silver Unknown
Uraninite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 27.45146, -26.3799
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N45E
    Dip 24S
    Thickness 1.4M
    Depth to top 2800M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STRATIFORM
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Strike And Dip N45E:24S
    Minimum Depth to Top 1850
    Date of Last Modification 860205
  • Strike N45E
    Dip 24S
    Thickness 1.8M
    Depth to top 1280M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 3
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STRATIFORM
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Strike And Dip N45E:24S
    Minimum Depth to Top 500
    Date of Last Modification 860205
  • Strike N45E
    Dip 24S
    Thickness 1.4M
    Depth to top 2400M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STRATIFORM
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Strike And Dip N45E:24S
    Minimum Depth to Top 900
    Date of Last Modification 860205
  • Area 8170HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 8170
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Comments on the geologic information

  • CARBON LEADER AND MAIN REEFS ARE STRATIGRAPHICALLY BE- TWEEN UPPER AND LOWER DIVISIONS OF THE WITWATERSRAND SYSTEM. VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF IS AT BASE OF VENTERSDORP SYSTEM, AT CONTACT WITH UPPER DIVISION OF THE WITWATERSRAND SYSTEM.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Plant
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Mining method Filled Stopes
Plant type Leach
Plant subcategory Hydromet
Milling method Hydrometallurgy Unspecified

Mining district

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

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Federal Lease

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Driefontein Consolidated Ltd.
    Interest 100
    Home office South Africa
    Year 1981
  • Type Owner
    Owner Gold Fields Of South Africa Ltd.
    Interest 31
    Home office South Africa
    Year 1981
  • Type Owner
    Owner Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd.
    Interest 24
    Home office South Africa
    Year 1981
  • Type Owner
    Owner Amgold
    Interest 14
    Home office South Africa
    Year 1981

Comments on the ownership information

  • AS OF JULY 1, 1981, EAST DRIEFONTEIN MINING CO. LTD. AND WEST DRIEFONTEIN MINING CO. LTD. MERGED TO FORM DRIEFONTEIN CONSOLIDATED LTD. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS FOR THE MERGER WAS TO ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH DRIEFONTEIN LEASE, WHICH ADJOINS BOTH EAST AND WEST DRIE. LEASE AREAS, BY SHAR- ING EXISTING ACCESSES, FACILITIES, AND TAX CONSIDERATIONS. THIS DATA BASE IS FOR THE NEW CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS - EAST DRIE., WEST DRIE. AND NORTH DRIE. - ALL UNDER ONE SEQ. NO. (791-020-0062).

Production statistics

  • Year 1980
    Description 2600999 Mt Ore Milled/Yr

Comments on the production information

  • WEST DRIEFONTEIN POURED FIRST GOLD IN 1952, WHILE EAST DRIEFONTEIN DID NOT PRODUCE FIRST GOLD UNTIL 1972.

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • WAS UPDATED FOR THE 1992 AU AVAILABILITY STUDY. 1989 PROD.= 1,748,104 OZ AU FROM MILLING OF 5,674,190 MT ORE. 1991 PROD = 1,778,833 OZ AU FROM TREATING 5,700,000 TNS ORE.
  • M4C4=M4C1+M4C2+M4C3 = M1C4 + M2C4 + M3C2 M1C4=M1C1 + M1C2 + M1C3 M2C4=M2C1 + M2C2 + M2C3 M3C2=M3C1 Q-MAT 1 = WEST DRIEFONTEIN; Q-MAT 4 COL 1 = W. DRIE. TOTAL. Q-MAT 1 COL 1 = CARBON LEADER REEF, W. DREIFONTEIN. Q-MAT 1 COL 2 = VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF, W. DRIEFONTEIN. Q-MAT 1 COL 3 = MAIN REEF, W. DRIEFONTEIN. Q-MAT 2 = EAST DRIEFONTEIN; Q-MAT 4 COL 2 = E. DRIE. TOTAL. Q-MAT 2 COL 1 = CARBON LEADER REEF, E. DRIEFONTEIN. Q-MAT 2 COL 2 = VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF, E. DRIEFONTEIN. Q-MAT 2 COL 3 = MAIN REEF, E. DRIEFONTEIN. Q-MAT 3 = NORTH DRIEFONTEIN; Q-MAT 4 COL 3 = N. DRIE. TOTAL. Q-MAT 3 COL 1 = VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF, N. DRIEFONTEIN. Q-MAT 4 = DRIEFONTEIN CONSOLIDATED. Q-MAT 4 COL 1 = WEST DRIEFONTEIN TOTAL. Q-MAT 4 COL 2 = EAST DRIEFONTEIN TOTAL. Q-MAT 4 COL 3 = NORTH DRIEFONTEIN TOTAL. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTE: CODED Q-MATRICES DEAL WITH CARBON LEADER, VCR, AND MAIN REEF UG TONNAGES OMLY. ANALYSIS HAS NOT BEEN MADE OF: (1) NORTH LEADER REEF MATERIAL WHICH HAD SOME DEVELOPMENT WORK DONE IN 1981. (2) AT LEAST 75 MILLION MT OF SLIMES DAM MATERIAL AT 0.3 G AU/MT, FROM PAST MILLING. (3) AT LEAST 30 MILLION MT OF WASTE MATERIAL FROM MINING, PROBABLY AT 0.5-1.0 G AU/MT.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2400M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method FILLED STOPES
    Percent Waste Rock 21
    Percent Recovery 100
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Number of Shafts 3
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 5940
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 38.2
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2000M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BREAST STOPING 10-30
    Percent Waste Rock 14.1
    Percent Recovery 100
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Number of Shafts 5
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 5714
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 44.41
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2000M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BREAST STOPING 10-30
    Percent Waste Rock 15
    Percent Recovery 100
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Number of Shafts 1
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 4060
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 42.66
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2650M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 4
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method BREAST STOPING 10-30
    Percent Waste Rock 21
    Percent Recovery 100
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Number of Shafts 4
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 157140
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 62.22
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982

Comments on other economic factors

  • K1 = W. DRIE. MILL (5,714 MTPD FROM W. DRIE., 2,143 MTPD FROM N. DRIE.); 1982-2000. K2 = E. DRIE. MILL (5,940 MTPD FROM E. DRIE., 1,917 MTPD FROM N. DRIE.); 1982-2000. K3 = COMPOSITE (W. & E. DRIE. MILLS) - ALL OF FEED FROM E. DRIE.; 50 PCT TO E. DRIE. MILL, 50 PCT TO W. DRIE. MILL.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Geology

    ANHAEUSSER, C.R. 1976, THE NATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF

  • Geology

    ARCHAEN GOLD MINERALIZATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. MINERALS

  • Geology

    SCI. ENGNG., V. 8, NO. 1, PP. 46-84.

  • Geology

    BOYLE, R.W. 1979, THE GEOCHEMISTRY OF GOLD AND IT'S

  • Geology

    DEPOSITS. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA, BULL. 280, 584 PP.

  • Geology

    HAUGHTON, S.H., ED. 1964A, THE GEOLOGY OF SOME ORE

  • Geology

    DEPOSITS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. V. 1, GOLD DEPOSITS OF THE

  • Geology

    WITWATERSRAND BASIN. GEOL. SOC. S. AFRICA, JOHANNESBURG,

  • Geology

    625 PP.

  • Geology

    LIEBENBERG, W.R. 1972, MINERALOGICAL FEATURES OF GOLD

  • Geology

    ORES IN SOUTH AFRICA. PUBLISHED IN GOLD METALLURGY IN SOUTH

  • Geology

    AFRICA, EDITED BY R.J. ADAMSON. CHAMBER OF MINES OF S. AFR.

  • Geology

    MINTER, U.E.L. 1976, DETRITAL GOLD, URANIUM, AND PYRITE

  • Geology

    CONCENTRATIONS PILATED TO SEDIMENTOLOGY IN THE PRECAMBRIAN

  • Geology

    VAAL REEF PLACER, WITWATERSRAND, SOUTH AFRICA. ECONOMIC

  • Geology

    GEOLOGY, V. 71, PP. 157-176.

  • Geology

    PRETORIUS, D.A. 1981, GOLD AND URANIUM IN QUARTZ-PEBBLE

  • Geology

    CONGLOMERATES. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 75TH ANNIVERSARY VOLUME,

  • Geology

    PP. 117-138.

  • Geology

    PRETORIUS, D.A. 1975, THE DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT OF

  • Geology

    THE WITWATERSRAND GOLDFIELDS. A CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW OF

  • Geology

    SPECULATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS. MIN. SCI. ENGNG., V. 7,

  • Geology

    NO. 1, PP. 18-47.

  • Geology

    SMITH, N.D., AND W.E.L. MINTER. 1980, SEDIMENTOLOGICAL

  • Geology

    CONTROLS OF GOLD AND URANIUM IN TWO WITWATERSRAND PALEO-

  • Geology

    PLACERS. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 75, PP. 1-14.

  • Production

    ADAMSON, R.J. (ED.). 1972, GOLD METALLURGY IN SOUTH

  • Production

    AFRICA, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, 452 PP.

  • Production

    FINANCIAL TIMES. 1981, MINING INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOK

  • Production

    (SELECTED EXCERPTS).

  • Production

    KING, A.. 1949, GOLD METALLURGY ON THE WITWATERSRAND.

  • Production

    TRANSVAAL CHAMBER OF MINES, 458 PP.

  • Production

    MCQUISTON, F.W. AND R.S. SHOEMAKER. 1975, GOLD AND

  • Production

    SILVER CYANIDATION PLANT PRACTICE. SOCIETY OF MINING ENG.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT. NOV.3,1978.

  • Deposit

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1981, RAND REFINERY,

  • Deposit

    P.R.D. SERIES NO. 255, 20PP.

  • Deposit

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1980, GOLD IN SOUTH

  • Deposit

    AFRICA, P.R.D. SERIES NO. 241, 28PP.

  • Deposit

    CHAMBER OF MINES, 1980, OVERVIEW OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN

  • Deposit

    MINING INDUSTRY.

  • Deposit

    ELEVATORSKI, E.A. 1981, GOLD MINES OF THE WORLD.

  • Deposit

    PUBLISHED BY MINOBRAS, PP. 78-86.

  • Deposit

    POTTS, D. 1981, THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD MINING INDUSTRY,

  • Deposit

    1981. PUBLISHED BY CONSOLIDATED GOLD FIELDS, LTD., PP.17-85.

  • Deposit

    GOLD INSTITUTE. 1981, GOLD REGULATIONS AND TAXES FOR

  • Deposit

    MINING, REFINING, MANUFACTURING AND TRADE IN THIRTEEN

  • Deposit

    COUNTRIES. PP. 74-79.

  • Deposit

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 1982, ANALYSIS OF

  • Deposit

    WORKING RESULTS, OCTOBER-DECEMBER, 1981, 8 PP.

  • Deposit

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 1981, 91ST ANNUAL

  • Deposit

    REPORT AND STATISTICAL TABLES. 116 PP.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL RESEARCH SERVICES. 1982, PRODUCTION AND

  • Deposit

    CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD MINES, 1966-

  • Deposit

    1981.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL RESEARCH SERVICES. 1982, SUMMARY REPORT

  • Deposit

    OF PRODUCTION AND RECOVERY FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD MINES,

  • Deposit

    1966-1981.

  • Deposit

    MOHIDE, T.F. 1981, GOLD MINERAL POLICY BACKGROUND PAPER

  • Deposit

    NO. 12. ONTARIO MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES, PP. 84-112.

  • Deposit

    STORRAR, C.D. 1981, SOUTH AFRICAN MINE VALUATION.

  • Deposit

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, 470 PP.

  • Deposit

    SPECIFIC TO DRIEFONTEIN CONSOLIDATED:

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORT - DRIEFONTEIN CONSOLIDATED LTD., 1981.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL- QUARTERLY REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD

  • Deposit

    SHARES, 11/81, P. 21.

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS- WEST DRIEFONTEIN GOLD MINING CO. LTD.,

  • Deposit

    1967-1980 (PARTIAL). 1975, 1976 (COMPLETE).

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS- EAST DRIEFONTEIN GOLD MINING CO. LTD.,

  • Deposit

    SHARES, WEST DRIEFONTEIN, EAST DRIEFONTEIN, AND DRIEFONTEIN

  • Deposit

    CONS., 2/80, 5/80, 8/80, 11/80, 2/81, 5/81, 8/81.

  • Deposit

    MINING SURVEY, DEVLARED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, 1976,P.24.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, DEVELOPMENT AND MILLING RESULTS, APRIL

  • Deposit

    30, 1976.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. STOPE BORING TECHNIQUE IN SOUTH AFRICAN

  • Deposit

    GOLD MINING, MARCH 1975, PP. 206-207.

  • Deposit

    COAL GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. WEST DRIE.

  • Deposit

    TO ESTABLISH NEW LONGWALLS. SEPT. 1977, PP. 75-77.

  • Deposit

    COAL GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. EAST DRIE.

  • Deposit

    SHOULD CONTINUE AS A MARKET FAVOURITE. MAY 1977, PP. 67-69.

  • Deposit

    COAL GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. WHERE THE

  • Deposit

    BARREN VELD NOW THRIVES. MARCH 1978, PP. 63-65.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. EAST DRIEFONTEIN BUILDING UP TO

  • Deposit

    CAPACITY. MAY 1975, PP. 373-375.

  • Deposit

    S.A. MINING & ENGINEERING JOURNAL. WEST DRIE. EXPANSION.

  • Deposit

    MAY 1975, PP. 74-75.

  • Deposit

    S.A. MINING & ENGINEERING JOURNAL. PROFILE: COLIN FENTON.

  • Deposit

    SEPTEMBER 1981.

  • Deposit

    SHARES. DRIEFONTEIN AND WESTERN HOLDINGS. AUGUST 1981, P.9.

  • Deposit

    S.A. MINING & ENGINEERING JOURNAL. WEST DRIE. BECOMES THE

  • Deposit

    WORLD'S TOP GOLD PRODUCER. NOV. 1979, P. 13.

  • Deposit

    COAL GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. MODEL 16

  • Deposit

    SORTERS SET TO GO. MARCH 1978, P. 69.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL. EAST DRIEFONTEIN LOOKS NORTH-AND WEST.

  • Deposit

    APRIL 24, 1981, P. 311.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. WORLD'S LARGEST GOLD MINE. JUNE 1981,

  • Deposit

    PP. 435-437.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit G-REC 1 = COMPOSITE OF CARBON LEADER, VCR AND MAIN REEF ON EAST DRIEFONTEIN LEASE. G-REC 2 = COMPOSITE OF CARBON LEADER, VCR AND MAIN REEF ON WEST DRIEFONTEIN LEASE. G-REC 3 = VCR DATA FOR NORTH DRIEFONTEIN LEASE AREA. NOTE: WHERE PRESENT IN THE SAME DRILL HOLE, THE MAIN REEF IS 50-67 M ABOVE THE CARBON LEADER REEF AND THE VCR IS 50-440 M ABOVE THE MAIN REEF.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 26-MAY-94 Boyle, Ed U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

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