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Prieska Copper Minespty,Ltd.

Producer in Eastern Cape, South Africa with commodities Copper, Zinc, Lead, Sulfur-Pyrite
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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. Ownership information
  16. Production statistics
  17. Reserves and resources
  18. Workings at the site
  19. Links to other databases
  20. Bibliographic references
  21. General comments
  22. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10070062
MRDS ID W007958
Record type Site
Current site name Prieska Copper Minespty,Ltd.

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 22.2849, -30.0632 (WGS84)
Elevation 1067
Relative position APPROXIMATELY 64 KILOMETRES SOUTH-WEST OF TOWN OF PRIESKA, NORTHWESTERN CAPE PROVINCE

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

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Zinc Critical Primary
Lead Secondary
Sulfur-Pyrite Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Galena Ore
Gold Ore
Hematite Ore
Ilmenite Ore
Magnetite Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Apatite Gangue
Barite Gangue
Biotite Gangue
Calcite Gangue
Chlorite Gangue
Clinozoisite Gangue
Diopside Gangue
Garnet Gangue
Hornblende Gangue
Iddingsite Gangue
Microcline Gangue
Muscovite Gangue
Olivine Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Sericite Gangue
Sillimanite Gangue
Tourmaline Gangue
Zircon Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Orebody Surrounded By Phyllitic And Propylitic Zone Of Alteration.

Analytical data

Result 1.74% CU, 3.87% ZN, ABOUT 0.1% PB

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Gneiss
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Granite
    Rock unit name Copperton Volcanic Pile
    Rock description Copperton Volcanic Pile
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Gneiss

Nearby scientific data

(1) 22.2849, -30.0632
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Basement Granites, Gneisses And Metasediments Intensely Folded.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Folded Volcanics, Grassmoor Dome, Copperton Fault, Smouspan Fault

Ore body information

  • General form STEEP DIPPING TABULAR
    Strike N 45 DEG W
    Dip 75-90 DEG NE
    Plunge 40 DEG SE
    Thickness 9.7M
    Length 1800M
    Depth to bottom 900M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Syngenetic Explosive Pyroclastic Emplacement

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant No
Discovery year 1890
Discoverer Mr. Hutchings
Year of first production 1972

Mining district

District name Prieska District, Copperton Area

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Prieska Copper Mines (Proprietary) Ltd.
  • Type Joint Venture Partner
    Owner Anglo Transvaal Consolidated Investment Co., Ltd.
    Interest 25.6
  • Type Joint Venture Partner
    Owner Middle Witwatersrand(Western Areas), Ltd.
    Interest 24.6
  • Type Joint Venture Partner
    Owner U.S. Steel Corp.
    Interest 46.2
  • Type Joint Venture Partner
    Owner Other Participants
    Interest 3.6

Production statistics

  • Year 1972
    Material ORE CU ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^1.32 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1973
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^1.36 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1973
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 3.4 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
  • Year 1973
    Material OVB CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 14.5 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Copper Copper 15wt-pct
  • Year 1975
    Material OVB CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 2.23 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Zinc Zinc 2wt-pct
  • Year 1975
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^13.1 % Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Lead Lead 13wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Material PB CONC
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^27.1% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Copper Copper 27wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Material ZN CONC
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^3.55% Zn, 1.12% Cu, 0.1% Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 4wt-pct
    Trace Conc. Lead Lead 0wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 1.86 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Zinc Zinc 2wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Material PYR CONC
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^52.4% Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 52wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Material OVB CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 1.9 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Copper Copper 2wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Material CON PB
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 4.4 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 4wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Material CON PYR
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 17.9 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 18wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^15.0 % Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Lead Lead 15wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^1.05 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Material CON PYR
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^25.9 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 26wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material CON PYR
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 5.8 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 6wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^27.5 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 28wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material ORE CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 3.31 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material OVB CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^32.4 % Pb
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Lead Lead 32wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON PYR
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^1.29 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 2.4 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 2wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 10.2 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 10wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material ORE CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 6.1 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Zinc Zinc 6wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 2.90 % Zn, Pyr And Pb N.A.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material OVB CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^1.32 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^51.4 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Zinc Zinc 51wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^ 2.82% Zn Pb And Pyr N.A.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 3wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Material ORE CU ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^1.38% Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Material CON ZN
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^29.40 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 29wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Material CON PYR
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^53.50 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Conc. Zinc Zinc 54wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Period 1984
    Material ORE CU AN
    Description Cp_Grade: ^1.74 % Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Copper Copper 2wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^ 3.87 % Zn
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Zinc Zinc 4wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • FIRST YEAR OF MINE / PLANT PRODUCTION 1972 . FIRST YEAR OF REPORTED PYRITE PRODUCTION 1975 . ; 1977 PB CONCENTRATE DATA N.A.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1977
    Total resources 48000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.74 wt-pct Copper Major 1977
    Zinc Zn 3.87 wt-pct Zinc Major 1977
    Lead Pb 0.1 wt-pct Lead Minor 1977
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Total resources 4055000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.74 wt-pct Copper Major 1984

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ; PRIESKA ANNUAL REPORT - 1984 ; PRIESKA ANNUAL REPORT - 1985 ; PRIESKA ANNUAL REPORT-1986

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 294M

Comments on development

  • ECON.COM: LONG TERM SALES CONTRACTS; MULTI-PRODUCT CAPABILITY

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING FEBRUARY, 1972

  • Deposit

    E/MJ NOVEMBER, 1972

  • Deposit

    STAFF, 1977, U.S. DEPT. OF STATE AIRGRAM, INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK REPT., MINERALS, 1-31-77, P. 25-28, 62-63.

  • Deposit

    MIDDLETON, R.C., 1976, THE GEOLOGY OF PRIESKA COPPER MINES LIMITED: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 71, P. 328-350.

  • Deposit

    PRIESKA COPPER (PTY) LTD. ANNUAL REPORT, 1980.

  • Deposit

    PRIESKA COPPER (PTY) LTD. ANNUAL REPORT, 1981.

  • Deposit

    SKINNERS MINING INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOK, 1975, P. 100.

  • Deposit

    PRIESKA COPPER MINES (PTY), LTD., 1973, INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK REPORTS: MINERALS - 1974, 1975, CERP B-429: PRIESKA COPPER MINES (PTY), LTD..

  • Production

    U.S. STATE DEPT. STAFF, 1977; PRIESKA COPPER (PTY) LED. ANNUAL REPORT, 1980. ; PRIESKA COPPER (PTY) LTD ANNUAL REPORT 1979 ; PRIESKA COPPER (PTY) LTD ANNUAL REPORT 1980 ; PRIESKA ANNUAL REPORT 1981 ; PRIESKA COPPER MINES ANNUAL REPORT-1982 ; PRIESKA ANNUAL REPORT - 1983 ; PRIESKA ANNUAL REPORT - 1984 ; PRIESKA ANNUAL REPORT-1986 ; PRIESKA ANNUAL REPORT - 1985 ; PRIESKA COPPER (PTY) LTD. ANNUAL REPORTS (CALENDAR YEAR DATA FROM COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE) ; PRIESKA COPPER (PTY) LTD ANNUAL REPORT 1978 ; PRIESKA COPPER (PTY) LTD., (CALENDAR YEAR DATA FROM COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE).

  • Reserve-Resource

    U.S. STATE DEPT. STAFF, 1977; PB GRADE ESTIMATED BY P. SCHRUBEN, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THE MAIN OREBODY AVERAGES 10 M WIDE, 2000 M STRIKE LENGTH AND DIPS STEEPLY TO OVER 900 M IN DEPTH. VOGELSTRUISBULT ANNEX OREBODY IS ALSO TABULAR, DIPPING ABOUT 45 DEG.
Deposit THIS RECORD CONTAINS DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD W018947 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W027511 ; W027512 ; W027513 ; W027514 ; W028263 ; W028666 ; W028667 ; W030772 ; W032248 ; W033016 ; W033174 ; W033821 ; W044585 ; W055327

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-DEC-1976 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-AUG-1977 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-OCT-1978 Sweetwood, Charles W. 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-JUL-1983 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1984 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-1985 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-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.

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

  • U.S. Steel Corp. — now part of United States Steel Corporation (2024)
    Mining operations largely divested over the late 20th century; the broader U.S. Steel entity was acquired by Nippon Steel in 2024 (mining footprint is now minimal).

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

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