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Vaal Reefs

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. Reserves and resources
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10232040
MRDS ID W014845
MAS/MILS ID 7910200059
Record type Site
Current site name Vaal Reefs
Related records 10071448

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 26.71818, -26.94659 (WGS84)
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 Secondary
Uranium Primary

Materials information

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

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 26.71818, -26.94659
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N90E
    Dip 15S
    Thickness 1.4M
    Depth to top 1775M
    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 N90E:15S
    Minimum Depth to Top 1250
    Date of Last Modification 851226
  • Strike N90E
    Dip 15S
    Thickness 1.3M
    Depth to top 1430M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 5
    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 N90E:15S
    Minimum Depth to Top 1080
    Date of Last Modification 851226
  • Strike N90E
    Dip 15S
    Thickness 1.1M
    Depth to top 1600M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 4
    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 N90E:15S
    Minimum Depth to Top 1000
    Date of Last Modification 851226
  • Area 16046HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 16046
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Plant
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1942
Mining method Filled Stopes
Year of first production 1956
Plant type Leach
Plant subcategory Hydromet
Milling method Gravity

Mining district

District name Klerksdorp Area Of Witwatersrand

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Federal Lease

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Vaal Reefs Exploration And Mining Co. Ltd.
    Interest 100
    Home office South Africa
    Year 1982
  • Type Owner
    Owner Anglo American Corp. Of South Africa, Ltd.
    Home office South Africa
    Year 1982
  • Type Owner
    Owner Southvaal Holdings Ltd.
    Home office South Africa
    Year 1982

Production statistics

  • Year 1976
    Description 6572000 Mt Ore Milled/Yr
  • Year 1977
    Description 7164999 Mt Ore Milled/Yr
  • Year 1978
    Description 7822000 Mt Ore Milled/Yr
  • Year 1979
    Description 8182999 Mt Ore Milled/Yr
  • Year 1980
    Description 8594999 Mt Ore Milled/Yr
  • Year 1981
    Description 8501999 Mt Ore Milled/Yr
  • Year 1992
    Description Mine Production Of Gold Bullion 37 Metric Tons Of Gold.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 37mt
  • Year 1993
    Description Mine Production Of Gold Bullion 36 Metric Tons Of Gold.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 36mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Demonstrated 24310000mt ore
    Total resources 24310000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 13.5 g/mt Gold Major 1993

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • M8C1=M3C1+M7C1 M3C1=M1C1+M2C1 M7C1=M4C1+M5C1+M6C1 Q-MAT 3 = SOUTH LEASE TOTAL (Q-MAT 1 + Q-MAT 2). Q-MAT 1 = VAAL REEF UG ORE, SOUTH LEASE. Q-MAT 2 = SOUTH LEASE SLIMES DAM MATERIAL FOR REPROCESSING. Q-MAT 7 = NORTH LEASE TOTAL (Q-MAT 4 + Q-MAT 5 + Q-MAT 6). Q-MAT 4 = VAAL REEF UG ORE, NORTH LEASE. Q-MAT 5 = VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF, NORTH LEASE. Q-MAT 6 = NORTH LEASE SLIMES DAM MATERIAL FOR REPROCESSING. MATRIX 8 COLUMN 1 EQUALS MATRIX 3 COL 1 PLUS MATRIX 7 COL 1. MATRIX 3 COLUMN 1 EQUALS MATRIX 1 COL 1 PLUS MATRIX 2 COL 1. MATRIX 7 COLUMN 1 EQUALS MATRIX 4 COLUMN 1 PLUS MATRIX 5 COLUMN 1 PLUS MATRIX 6 COLUMN 1.
  • 1989 AU PROD. = 2,425,937 OZ FROM TREATING 10,925,000 MT ORE. WILL BE UPDATED FOR THE 1992 AU AVAILABILITY STUDY. WILL BE UPDATED FOR 1992 STUDY. 1991 ORE TREATED= 11,335,000 MT FOR 2,376,206 OZ AU. RESERVE TONNAGE IN ADIT IS STILL FROM THE OLD 1982 STUDY.
  • G-REC 11 = VAAL REEFS UG RESOURCE ON SOUTH LEASE. G-REC 41 = VAAL REEFS UG RESOURCE ON NORTH LEASE. G-REC 51 = VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF, NORTH LEASE.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method STRIP-LEVEL
    Percent Waste Rock 0
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore SAND, SILT
    Capacity 2330
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 4
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 300
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method STRIP-LEVEL
    Percent Waste Rock 0
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore SAND, SILT
    Capacity 1877
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 4
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 300
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method STRIP-LEVEL
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore SAND, SILT
    Capacity 1600
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 4
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 300
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2245M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method FILLED STOPES
    Percent Waste Rock 29
    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 8
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 21714
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 44.58
    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 2245M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BREAST STOPING 10-30
    Percent Waste Rock 29
    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 9
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 25000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 52.75
    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 2200M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BREAST STOPING 10-30
    Percent Waste Rock 29
    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 7
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 12286
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 55.34
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982

Comments on other economic factors

  • THE WEST AND NORTH COMPLEXES LEACH THEIR ORES FOR AU FIRST, AND THEN FOR U3O8, WITH INTERMEDIATE FLOTATION OF PYRITE, WHICH IS ROASTED TO PRODUCE H2SO4, FOR USE IN U3O8 LEACHING. THE SOUTH MILL HAS ADOPTED "REVERSE" LEACHING, WHICH MEANS THAT IT LEACHES THE ORE FIRST FOR U3O8, THEN FOR AU. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE SOUTH MILL DOES NOT HAVE FACILITIES FOR PYRITE OR H2SO4 PRODUCTION.
  • DORE BULLION (PA, PD, PG) TRUCKED IN ARMORED CARS TO THE RAND REFINERY IN GERMISTON. U3O8 (IN AMMONIUM DIURANATE) IS SOLD TO NUFCOR (THE NUCLEAR FUELS CORP.) FOR FURTHER PROCESSING IN THEIR PLANT, LOCATED SOMEWHERE WEST OF JOHANNESBURG (EXACT LOCATION UNKNOWN). IN 1981, VAAL REEFS PRODUCED 130,000 MT OF PYRITE CONC., WHICH WAS CONVERTED INTO 137,000 MT OF H2SO4. HOWEVER, VAAL REEFS STILL HAD TO PURCHASE H2SO4 FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES, TO LEACH THEIR U3O8. THUS, 100 PCT OF H2SO4 (PC, PF, PI) IS REQUIRED FOR INTERNAL USE.
  • S-RECS = RECLAIMED TAILINGS DAM MATERIAL PROCESSED AT THE WEST MILL.
  • THE ENTIRE COMPLEX CONSISTS OF 9 MAJOR SHAFT SYSTEMS AND 3 MAJOR AU/U3O8 MILLING COMPLEXES
  • U-RECS = COMBINED TONNAGE FROM 8 SHAFTS (1982-1985), 9 SHAFTS (1986-2011), AND 7 SHAFTS (2012-2024).

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.

  • Reserve-Resource

    AME MINERAL ECONOMICS QUARTERLY MINE ANALYSIS, JUN 93,

  • Reserve-Resource

    P. 32.

  • 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 VAAL REEFS:

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS, VAAL REEFS EXPLORATION AND MINING CO.LTD.

  • Deposit

    1974, 1976, 1977, 1975, 1981, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1980.

  • Deposit

    PROFILE OF A GOLD MINE. PUBL. DEPT., ANGLO AMERICAN CORP.

  • Deposit

    VAAL REEFS URANIUM. PUBL. DEPT., ANGLO AMERICAN CORP.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL. QUARTERLY REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD

  • Deposit

    SHARES. 2/80,5/80,8/80,11/80, 2/81,5/81,8/81,11/81, 2/82.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. EXPANSION OF VAAL REEFS URANIUM PLANT

  • Deposit

    COMPLETED. AUG. 1979, PP. 91-93.

  • Deposit

    COAL GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. NEW URANIUM

  • Deposit

    PLANT TO BE BUILT AT SOUTH VAAL. JULY 1977, PP. 109-111.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. HYDRAULIC HOISTING AT VAAL REEFS, SOUTH

  • Deposit

    AFRICA. JUNE 1974, PP. 432-437.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING. BORER COMPLETES HAULAGE IN SOUTH AFRICAN

  • Deposit

    GOLD MINE. MAY 1979, PP. 54-55.

  • Deposit

    SOUTH AFRICAN MINING AND ENGINEERING JOURNAL.

  • Deposit

    'DEVOLUTION' AT VAAL REEFS. DEC. 1981, PP. 35-39.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. FEB. 1977, P. 70.

  • Deposit

    SOUTH AFRICAN MINING AND ENGINEERING JOURNAL. SEPT. 1979.

  • Deposit

    COAL GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. SUPPL. TO

  • Deposit

    MARCH 1978 ISSUE, P. 7.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, P. 1 (SEPT. 3, 1993).

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 26-AUG-1994 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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