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Grootvlei Mines

Producer in South Africa with commodities Gold, PGE, Platinum, Osmium, Iridium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Silver, 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. 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 10078496
MRDS ID W026844
Record type Site
Current site name Grootvlei Mines
Alternate or previous names Grootvlei Proprietary Mines
Related records 10280154

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 28.50145, -26.22993 (WGS84)
Elevation 1655
Relative position 2 KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF SPRINGS

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
PGE Critical Secondary
Platinum Critical Secondary
Osmium Secondary
Iridium Critical Secondary
Rhodium Critical Secondary
Ruthenium Critical Secondary
Silver Secondary
Uranium Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • NO KNOWN ECONOMICALLY RECOVERABLE URANIUM OR OTHER ORES 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
Chalcopyrite Ore
Galena Ore
Pyrite Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Uraninite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) None

Analytical data

Result COMPOSITION OF PLATINOIDS: IR = 36.4%, OS = 41%, RU = 13.1%, PT = 8.8%, RH = 0.7%

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 Transvaal System-Dolomite;Witwatersrand System (Upper Division)-Quartzites, Shales, Grits, Conglomerates, And Carbon Granules
    Rock description Transvaal System-Dolomite;Witwatersrand System (Upper Division)-Quartzites, Shales, Grits, Conglomerates, And Carbon Granules
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)

Nearby scientific data

(1) 28.50145, -26.22993
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

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

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Dip 10 DEG. SW
    Thickness 1.26M
    Depth to bottom 1500M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Gentle Uplift Of Continental Mass; Erosion Peneplanation; Folding; Faulting; Volcanicity; And Build-Up Of Younger Sediments. Gold Values Range Erratically From High To Low.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Year of first production 1938

Mining district

District name East Rand Basin Of The Witwatersrand Goldfields

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Grootvlei Proprietary Mines Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner General Mining Union Corp. (Gencor) Plus Others

Production statistics

  • Year 1976
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.141 Toz Au/Met. Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1976
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.113 Tr. Oz. Au/Met. Ton Of Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.132 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.136 Toz Au/Met. Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1978
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.122 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1978
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.132 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.120 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.117 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.112 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.123 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.104 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.179 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.179 To2 Au/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • AU/PT RECOVERY REPORTED AS 1100:1. ; LOWER 1985 PRODUCTION AS A RESULT OF REDUCED STOPING WIDTH TO AVOID MILLING OF TOO MUCH WASTE. THIS, TOGETHER WIT-H A DROP IN YIELD, RESULTED IN A LOWER GOLD PRODUCTION. ; 61% OF ORE FROM KIMBERLEY REEF; 31% FROM MAIN REEF AND 8% FROM BLACK REEF

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 337000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 5.567 g/mt Gold Major 1986

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1986 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 1500M

Comments on the workings information

  • MINING METHOD: CROSSCUTS FROM THE SHAFTS TO ORE HORIZON (REEF) AT 150-METER INTERVALS; DRIVES ALONG THE STRIKE AND WINZES DOWN-DIP COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT; STOPPING & BACKFILLING ("SCATTER MINING") WITH CRIB TIMBER SUPPORT AND PILLARS COMPRISE FINAL MINING PHASE. FAULTING A MINOR CONSIDERATION ONLY.

Comments on development

  • DEVELOPMENT OF THE KIMBERLEY REEF WAS REACTIVATED IN 1974 AFTER A LAPSE OF 4 YEARS, WITH FAVORABLE RESULTS. APPROXIMATELY 60 % OF THE NEWLY-DEVELOPED PORTION OF THE REEF IS PAYABLE. NO DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT ON THE MAIN REEF SINCE 1966. THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE MAIN REEF ARE FLOODED AND UPPER-LEVEL VALUES ARE ERRATIC. THE OVERLYING KIMBERLEY REEF WILL CONTINUE AS PRINCIPAL PRODUCER. FAULTING AND FOLDING MINIMAL. WORKING CONDITIONS GOOD. ; DEV$: 1.5 ( 1976 ) ; EXPAN$: 1.0 ( 1976 ) ; MILL.CAP: 2.5 MIL. MET. T/YR. ; ECON.YEAR: 1975 ; ECON.COM: A LOW GRADE PRODUCER WITH MARGINALLY HIGH OPERATING COSTS ($109.06 TROY OUNCE OF GOLD RECOVERED IN 1976 ). ESTIMATED MINE LIFE: 12 YEARS. TWO ORE HORIZONS MINED: MAIN REEF (NOW FLOODED IN THE MINE'S LOWER LEVELS) AND KIMBERLEY REEF. NEW DEVELOPMENT REACTIVATED IN 1974.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    UNION CORPORATION LIMITED, ANNUAL REPORT; 1975

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF SOUTH-CENTRAL AFRICA; PELLETIER, R. A.; 1964

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    COUSINS, 1973, PLATINOIDS IN THE WITWATERSRAND SYSTEM: SOUTH AFRICA INST. MINING AND METALL., V. 73, NO. 6, P. 3-5.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 1977, V. 288.

  • Deposit

    IVOR JONES, ROY & COMPANY, INC., SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD SHARES: JOHANNESBURG, IVOR JONES, ROY & COMPANY, INC.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 1975, QUARTERLY REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICAN SHARES: MINING JOURNAL, V. 19, NO. 1, MAY 1975.

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1982 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1983 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS. CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, JANUARY-DECEMBER 1979 ; ANALYSES OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1980 ; CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1981 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, JANUARY-DECEMBER 1978 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, JANUARY-DECEMBER 1977.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX THICKNESS REFERS TO STOPPING WIDTH USED TO RECOVER EACH OF THE TWO HORIZONS MINED AT THIS OPERATION (KIMBERLEY REEF AND MAIN REEF). DEPTH TO BOTTOM IS APPROXIMATE ONLY.
Deposit THIS RECORD INCLUDES DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD M046338 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM THE DATABASE.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028282 ; W028706 ; W028734 ; W030765 ; W032329 ; W032922 ; W033074 ; W033775 ; W044637 ; W055278

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-JUL-1981 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-AUG-1982 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUN-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-APR-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.

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