1. Mineral Resources
  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Loraine Mines

Producer in Free State, South Africa with commodities Gold, Uranium, Silver, Sulfur-Pyrite, PGE, Osmium, Iridium, Platinum, Ruthenium, Rhodium
Map
XML
JSON
KML
A
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 10078487
MRDS ID W026834
Record type Site
Current site name Loraine Mines

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 26.65149, -27.74656 (WGS84)
Elevation 1311
Relative position 1 KILOMETER EAST OF THE TOWN OF ALLANRIDGE; 26 KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF THE CITY OF WELKOM

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Free State(province)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
South Africa Free State

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Uranium Secondary
Silver Secondary
Sulfur-Pyrite Secondary
PGE Critical Secondary
Osmium Secondary
Iridium Critical Secondary
Platinum Critical Secondary
Ruthenium Critical Secondary
Rhodium Critical Secondary

Comments on the commodity information

  • ALL COMMODITIES LISTED ARE CURRENTLY RECOVERED AT THIS MINE. PYRITE IS FURTHER PROCESSED TO SULFURIC ACID. SMALL QUANTITIES PT AND AG RECOVERED BUT UNIMPORTANT IN SOUTH AFRICA TERMS. PT IS AN IMPURITY IN GOLD AND IS RECOVERED AT THE RAND REFINERY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PURIFICATION PROCESS.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Ore
Silver Ore
Uraninite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) None

Analytical data

Result COMPOSITION OF PLATINOIDS: IR = 31.3%, OS = 40.1%, RU = 11.1%, PT = 18.4%, RH = 1.1%

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 193
USGS model code 29a
Deposit model name Quartz pebble conglomerate Au-U (BC name is Paleoplacer U-Au-PGE-Sn-Ti

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
    Rock unit name Ventersdorp System-Lava
    Rock description Ventersdorp System-Lava
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Rock unit name Upper Elsburg Conglomerates And Quartzites;Karroo System Conglomerates And Shales
    Rock description Upper Elsburg Conglomerates And Quartzites;Karroo System Conglomerates And Shales
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate

Nearby scientific data

(1) 26.65149, -27.74656
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Unique Continuity Of Gold-Bearing Horizons Over Extended Area, Though Well Marked By Faulting, Folding And (Locally) Erosion And Redeposition Of Overlying Sediments.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Gentle Dip Regionally, With Folds And Faults Locally. Overlying Lavas, Quartzites And Conglomerates Are Massive.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike N-S
    Dip 10 - 85 DEG.
    Plunge 6 DEG. N
    Plunge direction NORTH
    Thickness 1.11M
    Depth to bottom 2134M
  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Dip 10 - 85 DEG.

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Gentle Uplift Of Continental Mass; Erosion; Peneplanation; Folding; Faulting; Volcanicity; Dike Injection And Build-Up Of Younger Sediments

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Year of first production 1955

Mining district

District name Orange Free State Area Of The Witwatersrand Goldfields

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Ownership Distribution:
  • Type Owner
    Owner Anglo Transvaal Consolidated Investment Co., Ltd (Parent Firm; Management Control)
    Interest 11.9
  • Type Owner
    Owner Barclays National Nominees Proprietary Ltd.
    Interest 19.3
  • Type Owner
    Owner Orange Free State Investment Trust Ltd.
    Interest 14.9
  • Type Owner
    Owner Anglo American Corp. Of South Africa, Ltd.
    Interest 1.1
  • Type Operator
    Owner Loraine Gold Mines Ltd.

Production statistics

  • Year 1976
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.213 Tr. Oz. Au/Met.. Ton Of Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.153 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.173 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material AG
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.180 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1984
    Period 1984
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.196 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE AU
    Description Cp_Grade: ^9,769,000 Tons At 0.235 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.235 To2 Au/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • AU/PT RECOVERY = 1290:1. ; IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE PRODUCTION, LORAINE MINE IS PHASING OUT TREATMENT OF SURFACE DUMPS AND IS REPLACING IT WITH HIGHER GRADE ORE FROM UNDERGROUND. ; LORAINE GOLD MINES LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 1978 (PYRITE, SILVER AND URANIUM) ; NO REPORTED PRODUCTION OF OSMIRIDIUM DURING 1977

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 10247000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 7.309 g/mt Gold Major 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Total resources 488000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 6.096 g/mt Gold Major 1984

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA AND COMPANY REPORT. ; NOT INCLUDED IN ABOVE ARE MASSIVE OREBODIES ESTMATED TO CONTAIN A TOTAL OF 421,000 TONS AT AN AVERAGE GRADE OF 0.280 TOZ AU/MET TON. ; THIS FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE MASSIVE OREBODIES ESTIMATED TO CONTAIN A TOTAL OF 517,000 TONS AT AN AVERAGE GRADE OF 0.254 TOZ AU/MET TON. ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2134M

Comments on the workings information

  • COMPLEX GEOLOGY AND EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE NUMBER OF MINABLE ORE HORIZONS, CREATE NEED FOR THREE SEPARATE MINING METHODS UNDERGROUND: "SCATTER MINING" (STRIKE DRIVES, DOWN-DIP WINZES, TIMBER AND PILLAR SUPPORT, AND BACKFILLING), LONG-WALL, AND SUB-LEVEL STOPPING. LONG HOLE DRILLING EMPLOYED TO CAVE SUB-LEVEL STOPES WHERE COMPOSITE OREBODIES (AS SERIES OF REEFS) EXIST.

Comments on development

  • TOTAL$: 6.2 ( 1976 ) ; MILL.CAP: 1.3 MIL. MET. T/YR. ; ECON.COM: TOTAL INVESTMENTS REPRESENTS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE DURING 1976 ONLY. A LOW GRADE GOLD, URANIUM, SILVER, PYRITE AND OSMIRIDIUM PRODUCER WITH HIGH OPERATING COSTS ($144.51/TR. OZ. OF GOLD RECOVERED IN 1976). RECOVERIES ARE FROM THE KIMBERLEY A AND B REEFS, THE BASAL REEFS AND SEVERAL ELSBURG REEFS. URANIUM CONTENT LOW COMPARED TO OTHER MINES IN AREA. EST. MINE LIFE: 20 YEARS.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    LORAINE GOLD MINES LIMITED, ANNUAL REPORT; 1976

  • Deposit

    ANGLO-TRANSVAAL CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT COMPANY, LIMITED, ANNUAL REPORT; 1976

  • Deposit

    COAL, GOLD & BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, AUGUST 1974; JANUARY 1976

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, DEPARTMENT OF MINES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY; 1976

  • Deposit

    MERTIE, 1969, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF PLATINUM METALS: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 630, P. 45-48.

  • Deposit

    COUSINS, 1973, PLATINOIDSIN THE WITWATERSRAND SYSTEM: JOURNAL SOUTH AFRICA INSTITUTE MINING AND METALLURGY, V. 73, NO. 6, P. 3-5.

  • Deposit

    WAGNER, 1929, PLATINUM DEPOSITS AND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA: STRUIK (PTY) LTD., CAPETOWN 1973, P. 32-40.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 1977, V. 288.

  • Deposit

    SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD SHARES; IVOR JONES, ROY AND CO., INC., JOHANNESBURG; 1975. MINING JOURNAL QUARTERLY REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD SHARES, VOL. 19 , NO. 1 ; MAY 197

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA AND COMPANY ANNUAL REPORTS;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984.

  • Production

    U3O8 AND PYRITE PRODUCTION FROM LORAINE ANNUAL REPORT - 1984;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS AND COMPANY ANNUAL REPORT (U308 AND PYRITE);

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986;

  • Production

    ANALYSES OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1980 AND LORAINE ANNUAL REPORT 1980;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1981;

  • Production

    ORE AU, AU FROM CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1982.

  • Production

    ORE U, U, PYR AND AG FROM LORAINE ANNUAL REPORT - 1982;

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINE ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESUTS - 1983.

  • Production

    U3O8, PYRITE AND SILVER PRODUCTION FROM LORAINE ANNUAL REPORT - 1983.;

  • Production

    ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS. CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA.

  • Production

    JANUARY - DECEMBER 1978 (GOLD);

  • Production

    ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA.

  • Production

    JANUARY - DECEMBER 1979 (GOLD) LORAINE GOLD MINES LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 1979 (PYRITE, SILVER AND URANIUM);

  • Production

    GOLD: ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, JANUARY-DECEMBER 1977;

  • Production

    PYRITE, SILVER AND URANIUM: LORAINE GOLD MINES LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 1977

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO AVE. STOPPING WIDTH (ALL REEFS MINED). DIPS HIGHLY VARIABLE. EAST FLANK OF SYNCLINE EXHIBITS FLAT DIP ( 10 DEGREES WEST); WEST FLANK DIPS STEEPLY EASTWARD (UP TO 85 DEGREES). MINING AREAS HEAVILY FAULTED, COMMONLY WITH THROWS MEASURING ABOUT 150 METERS
Deposit THIS RECORD CONTAINS DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD M046305 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028234 ; W028673 ; W028728 ; W030939 ; W032336 ; W032930 ; W033097 ; W033782 ; W044647 ; W055285

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-MAY-1977 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1987 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-OCT-1978 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-APR-1980 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-1980 Sweetwood, Charles W. U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-JUL-1981 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-AUG-1982 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1984 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1983 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1985 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-1986 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-1987 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State

Beyond USGS

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

Maps centered on this site