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Buffalo Fluorspar Mine

Producer in South Africa with commodities Fluorine-Fluorite, REE
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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. Reserves and resources
  19. Links to other databases
  20. Bibliographic references
  21. General comments
  22. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10079240
MRDS ID W028416
Record type Site
Current site name Buffalo Fluorspar Mine

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 28.65142, -24.48001 (WGS84)
Elevation 1250
Relative position 7 KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF THE TOWN OF NABOOMSPRUIT

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Comments on the location information

  • DIGITIZED ON STROMQUIST AND HENDERSON (1985) FROM LOCATION BY CARPENTER, 1976

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Fluorine-Fluorite Critical Primary
REE Critical Secondary

Comments on the commodity information

  • FLUORITE IS THE ONLY COMMODITY RECOVERED BY THIS COMPANY AT THIS LOCATION. THERE ARE NO KNOWN PLANS TO ATTEMPT TO EXPLOIT MONAZITE.
  • PLACER GOLD FROM SMALL STREAM TRIBUTARY

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Fluorite Ore
Monazite Ore

Alteration

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

Analytical data

Result MINE-RUN ORE: 20 - 35 % CAF2
Result PRODUCTS: ACID GRADE FILTERCAKE, 96.5 - 97.0 % CAF2
Result CERAMIC GRADE FILTERCAKE, 95.0 % CAF2
Result METALLURGICAL BRIQUETTES, 84.0 % CAF2 AND 7.0 % SIO2

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock
    Rock unit name Bushveld Igneous Complex-In This Area, Largely Granite And Felsites
    Rock description Bushveld Igneous Complex-In This Area, Largely Granite And Felsites
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite

Nearby scientific data

(1) 28.65142, -24.48001
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 Of Minor Importance. Erosion, Peneplanation And Build-Up Of Younger Sediments Are Basic Criteria Regionally.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Locally, Faults And Folds Are Of Minor Importance Only. The Occurence Dips Uniformly 35-40 Degrees To The West With Purple Fluorite Occuring As Replacement Layers (Veins) Subparallel To The Relict Bedding Of Leptite.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike N - S
    Dip 40 W
    Thickness 1M
    Depth to top 30M

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.

Comments on the geologic information

  • THE MINE WAS DEVELOPED FROM A FLOOD PLAIN FORMED BY A SMALL STREAM FLOWING OVER FELSIC TUFFACEOUS ARGILLITE. SEVERAL QUARTZ VEINS CROP OUT ON THE HILL WEST OF THE STREAM. HOWEVER, THESE VEINS CONTAINED ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF GOLD. THE GOLD IN THE PLACER USUALLY OCCURRED AS COARSE, ROUGH, IRREGULAR-SHAPED NUGGETS AND THE EXACT SOURCE OF THESE NUGGETS WAS APPARENTLY NEVER FOUND.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Medium
Significant No

Mining district

District name Bushveld Igneous Complex, Waterberg District

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Transvaal Mining And Finance Co. Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner General Mining And Finance Corp. Ltd.

Production statistics

  • Year 1978
    Material CON F
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^Three-Product Range: 84 - 97 % Caf2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Conc. Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 91wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material ORE F
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^24 % Caf2 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Ore Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 24wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON F
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^Three-Product Range: 84-97% Caf2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Conc. Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 91wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material ORE F
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^25% Caf2 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Ore Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 25wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material CON F
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^Three Product Range: 84-97% Caf2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Conc. Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 91wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE F
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^25% Caf2 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Ore Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 25wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Material ORE F
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^25% Caf2 Average Grade
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Ore Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 25wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Material CON F
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^95% Caf2 Ave Grade
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Conc. Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 95wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Period 1970-1983
    Material CON F
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^Three-Product Range: 84-97% Caf2
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Conc. Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 91wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Period 1970-1983
    Material F
    Description Cp_Grade: ^25% Caf2 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    CaF2 Fluorine-Fluorite Fluorine 25wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION NOT KNOWN. ESTIMATES PRIOR TO 1970 NOT POSSIBLE. ; BUFFALO NOW SOUTH AFRICA'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF FLUORSPAR-MAINLY ACID GRADE, BUT ALSO METALLURGICAL GRADE. IN ADDITION, BUFFALO ONLY PRODUCR OF CERAMIC GRADE FLUORSPAR ; PRODUCTION INCLUDES ACID, METALLURGICAL AND CERAMIC GRADES ; AVERAGE GRADE OF CONCENTRATES AT 95% CAF2 AND AVERAGE GRADE OF ORE AT 25% CAF2

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1965
    Total resources 5150000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Fluorine-Fluorite CaF2 20 wt-pct Fluorine Major 1965
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1977
    Total resources 4000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Fluorine-Fluorite CaF2 20 wt-pct Fluorine Major 1977

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • PROVED RESERVES ESTIMATED AT 25 MILLION TONS. POTENTIAL RESERVES 15 MILLION TONS.

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 MINERALIZED HORIZONS BY RIPPER AND FRONT-END LOADER. BENEFICATION PLANT CONSISTS OF CRUSHERS, SCREENS, HEAVY MEDIA SEPARATION, BALL MILLS, CLASSIFICATION, FLOTATION, THICKENING, FILTERS, DRYERS AND BAGGING FACILITIES.
  • STREAM PLACER; DEFICIENT WATER SUPPLY

Comments on development

  • MILL.CAP: 1.0 MIL. MET. T/YR ; ECON.YEAR: 1974 ; ECON.COM: A WELL-DEVELOPED OPEN PIT MINING OPERATION, BUT ONE WHICH REQUIRES SELECTIVE MINING WITH A CLOSE GRADE CONTROL TO MAINTAIN ORE QUALITIES. A LONG-LIFE FORECAST IS POSSIBLE AT CURRENT MINING COSTS AND WORLD MARKET PRICES.
  • THE MINE WAS WORKED AS A PLACER OPERATION FROM 1892 UNTIL ABOUT 1897. A SMALL AMOUNT OF WORK WAS DONE IN 1936.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Analytical Data

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

  • Deposit

    "FLUORSPAR"; VOL. V; NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR METALLURGY, NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING; OERTEL, M. K.; 1966 .

  • Deposit

    NONMETALLIC MINES IN SOUTH AFRICA, PRELIMINARY REPORT NO. 10 ; MINERALS BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF MINES, CORIN, E. R.; 1977 .

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    "FLUORSPAR: FUTURE PROSPECTS DEPENDENT ON WORLD STEEL INDUSTRY DEMAND"; SOUTH AFRICAN MINING & ENGINEERING JOURNAL; GOSSLING, H. H.; JULY 1978 .

  • Deposit

    CHERMETTE, A., 1964, LE SPATH-FLUOR EN AFRIQUE DU SUD: MINES ET METALLURGIE, APRIL TO SEPTEMBER, 1964, 14 P.

  • Deposit

    U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, 1963 TO 1972, MINERALS YEARBOOKS.

  • Deposit

    GROGAN, R.M., 1974, THE ENVIRONMENTS OF DEPOSITION OF FLUORSPAR, IN A SYMPOSIUM ON THE GEOLOGY OF FLUORSPAR: KENTUCKY GEOLOGY SURVEY SPECIAL PUBLICATION 22, P. 8-9.

  • Deposit

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

  • Production

    CONCENTRATES DATA FROM GENERAL MINING AND FINANCE CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Production

    ORE DATA CALCULATED FROM GENERAL MINING ANNUAL REPORTS ON BASIS OF PERCENT MILL RECOVERY, AVERAGE GRADE OF CONCENTRATES AT 95% CAF2, AND AVERAGE GRADE OF ORE AT 25% CAF2.

  • Production

    ANNUAL PRODUCTION 1963-1973 IS FROM U.S. BUREAU OF MINES YEARBOOKS.

  • Production

    VERBAL DISCUSSIONS WITH COMPANY OFFICIAL.

  • Production

    ESTIMATES BASED ON OFFICIAL (MINERALS BUREAU) COUNTRY TOTALS.

  • Production

    BUFFALO FLUORSPAR-VERBAL DISCUSSIONS WITH COMPANY OFFICIAL.

  • Production

    CONCENTRATES DATA FROM GENERAL MINING UNION CORPORATION LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 1980.

  • Production

    CONCENTRATES DATA FROM GENERAL MINING & FINANCE CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Production

    ORE DATA CALCULATED FROM GENERAL MINING ANNUAL REPORTS ON BASIS OF 80 PERCENT MILL RECOVERY, AVERAGE GRADE OF CONCENTRATES AT 95 PERCENT CAF2, AND AVERAGE GRADE OF ORE AT 25 PERCENT CAF2.

  • Reserve-Resource

    1965 ESTIMATE IS FROM U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, 1965.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO AGGREGATE THICKNESS OF SEVERAL VEINS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED. INDIVIDUAL VEIN THICKNESSES RANGE BETWEEN 2.0 - 13 CM. DEPTH TO TOP IS FROM OUTCROP TO CURRENT MAXIMUM MINING DEPTH. ULTIMATE PLANNED MINING DEPTH NOT KNOWN.
Deposit THIS RECORD CONTAINS DATA FROM RECORD W007006 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028840 ; W030976 ; W032310 ; W033039 ; W033047 ; W044599 ; W044602
Deposit GRAVEL OVERLAIN BY 0.7M TO 1.3M SOIL; GRAVEL BED 0.7M THICK, 75M TO 90M WIDE
Deposit STREAM GRAVEL OF SLATE AND WHITE QUARTZ BOUND BY CLAY; IN BEDROCK OF FELSIC TUFFACEOUS ARGILLITE ARE QUARTZ VEINS 0.7M TO 1M THICK BEARING LOW GOLD VALUES ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-SEP-1979 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1984 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-JUN-1984 Mccarter Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-APR-1986 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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