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Foskor Mine

Producer in South Africa with commodities Phosphorus-Phosphates, Copper, Iron, Zirconium
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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. Host and associated rocks
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Geologic structures
  10. Ore body information
  11. Controls for ore emplacement
  12. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  13. Mining district
  14. Land status
  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 10079226
MRDS ID W028277
Record type Site
Current site name Foskor Mine

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 31.13472, -23.99667 (WGS84)
Elevation 457
Relative position NEAR WESTERN BOUNDARY OF KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, NORTH OF OLIFANT AND SELATI RIVERS. 6 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF PHALABORWA TOWNSITE.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Federal lands

Federal(land status)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Comments on the location information

  • COPPER, GOLD, SILVER, URANIUM, VERMICULITE, NICKEL, IRON ORE (AS MAGNETITE) AND SULFURIC ACID (AS SULFIDE ORES) ARE MINED AND PROCESSED FROM THIS DEPOSIT SEPARATELY BY THE PALABORA MINING COMPANY LIMITED. SEE RECORD NO. W007520 .

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Phosphorus-Phosphates Primary
Copper Secondary
Iron Secondary
Zirconium Critical Secondary

Comments on the commodity information

  • THE DEPOSIT, IN THE FORM OF A PIPE, GRADES INWARDS FROM PYROXENITE (FORMING 95 PERCENT OF THE OUTCROP AREA), THROUGH FOSKORITE ( 3 PERCENT OF THE OUTCROP AREA ), TO A CENTRAL CORE OF CARBONATITE ( 2 PERCENT OF THE AREA ). THE PYROXENITE BODY CONTAINS 17 PERCENT APATITE, THE FOSKORITE CONTAINS 25 PERCENT APATITE (PLUS 30 PERCENT MAGNETITE AND SOME COPPER AND ZIRCONIUM MINERALS), AND THE CARBONATITE CONTAINS COPPER AND IRON MINERALS.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Diabase Gangue
Diopside Gangue

Analytical data

Result SEE PRODUCTION ENTRIES

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Gneiss
    Rock unit name Phalaborwa Igneous Complex And Granite-Gneissic Complex
    Rock description Phalaborwa Igneous Complex And Granite-Gneissic Complex
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Holocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Gneiss
    Rock unit name Surface Limestones
    Rock description Surface Limestones

Nearby scientific data

(1) 31.13472, -23.99667
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Pyroxenite, Syenite And Carbonatite Intrusives In Granite-Gneissic Host Rocks
Type of structure Local
Structure description "Phalaborwa Igneous Complex", An Intrusive Near-Vertical Pipe Composed Largely Of Pyroxenite.

Ore body information

  • General form RING STRUCTURE
    Strike N-S
    Dip 90 DEG.
    Thickness 1000M
    Length 6500M
    Width 2500M
    Depth to top 3M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Transgressive Carbonatite

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1906
Discoverer Dr. E. T. Mellor
Year of first production 1955

Mining district

District name Phalaborwa Igneous Complex

Land status

Ownership category Federal

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Phosphate Development Corp. Ltd.

Production statistics

  • Year 1977
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^35.0 % Cu (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 35wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Material CON P
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^36.5 % P205 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Conc. Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 37wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Material ORE P
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8.0 % P205 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 8wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^35.0% Cu (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 35wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material ORE P
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8.0 % P205 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 8wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material CON P
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^36.5% P205 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Conc. Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 37wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON CU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^35.0 % Cu (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 35wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material ORE P
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8.0 % P205 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 8wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON P
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^36.5% P205 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Conc. Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 37wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material CON P
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^36.5% P205 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Conc. Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 37wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material P CONC
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^30% P2o5
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Conc. Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 30wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE P
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^8.0% P205 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 8wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Period 1953-1982
    Material P CONC
    Description Cp_Grade: ^37% P2o5 (Average)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Conc. Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 37wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Material P CONC
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^37% P2o5
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Conc. Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 37wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Period 1972-1983
    Material CON CU
    Description Cp_Grade: ^35.0 % Cu (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Conc. Copper Copper 35wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Period 1971-1983
    Material CON P
    Description Cp_Grade: ^36.5 % P205 (Approx)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Conc. Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 37wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Period 1971-1983
    Material ORE P
    Description Cp_Grade: ^8.0 % P205 (Approx)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 8wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • 1973 AND 1974 COPPER CONCENTRATE PRODUCTION ESTIMATED. ALL OTHER DATA ACCURATE. COMPANY REPORTS DO NOT GIVE ANNUAL GRADES OF ORE OR GRADES OF CONCENTRATES PRODUCED. VOLUMES AND GRADES OF ZIRCONIUM (BADDELEYITE) PRODUCED NOT AVAILABLE.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Total resources 2210000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 7 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1984
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Total resources 18370000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 7 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1984
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1976
    Total resources 5100000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 6 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1976

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Overall length 457.2M
    Overall width 500M

Comments on the workings information

  • MECHANIZED OPEN PIT MINING PLAN. 12,90 - TON DIESEL-ELECTRIC TRUCKS, 2 ELECTRIC ROTARY DRILLS AND 4 ELECTRIC SHOVELS. CURRENT PIT DEPTH: 50 METERS.

Comments on development

  • ECON.COM: THIS OPERATION IS SOUTH AFRICA'S PRINCIPAL SUPPLIER OF PHOSPHATE ROCK FOR THE DOMESTIC MARKET. 6 - 9 PERCENT P205 ORE IS CONCENTRATED TO 36.5 PERCENT P205 ECONOMICALLY. OPEN PIT MINING AND LARGE SCALE FLOTATION PROCESS HOLDS OPERATING COSTS WITHIN PROFITABLE LIMITS. LONG RANGE OUTLOOK EXCELLENT.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7 , DEPARTMENT OF MINES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY; 1976

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    KRAUSS AND OTHERS, 1984, INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC MINERALS INVENTORY SUMMARY REPORT-- PHOSPHATE: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 930-C, 41 P.

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, 1978, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, 1977, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, 1976, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED,1975, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, 1974, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, 1973, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, 1972, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Other Database

    ISMI

  • Production

    PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORP., 1972-1978; KRAUSS AND OTHERS, 1984 ; FOSKOR ANNUAL REPORT 1982 ; FOSKOR ANNUAL REPORT-1983 ; FOSKOR ANNUAL REPORT - 1984 ; FOSKOR ANNUAL REPORT - 1985 ; FOSKOR (PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED) ANNUAL REPORT 1980 ; FOSKOR ANNUAL REPORT - 1981 ; PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 1979 ; PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 1978

  • Reserve-Resource

    KRAUSS AND OTHERS, 1984

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit AROUND A CENTRAL CORE OF CRYSTALLINE DOLOMITIC LIMESTONE (CARBONATITE) MEASURING 1,000X600 METERS AND CONTAINING VARYING AMOUNTS OF MAGNETITE, APATITE AND SERPENTINIZED OLIVINE, THERE OCCURS A PERIPHERAL ZONE OF COARSE SERPENTINE-MAGNETITE-APATITE ROCK (PHOSCORITE). THE LATTER IS ENVELOPED BY A MORE EXTENSIVE BODY OF PYROXENITE ROUGHLY 1,500 HECTARES IN SURFACE AREA. THE PYROXENITE IS LARGELY COMPOSED OF DIOPSIDE, PHLOGOPITIC MICA AND APATITE. A PHLOGOPITIC SERPENTINITE, AS A PIPE-LIKE INTRUSION, OCCURS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PYROXENITE BODY. THE ENTIRE DEPOSIT IS ROUGHLY CIRCULAR. MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO DEEPEST DRILLING DONE TO DATE. DEPTH TO BOTTOM NOT KNOWN.
Deposit THE PHOSPHATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND PALABORA MINING COMPANY MINE FROM THE SAME (PHALABORWA COMPLEX) OCCURRENCE. (SEE RECORD NO. W007520) PMC HAS RIGHTS TO THE COPPER AND OTHER MINERALS CONTAINED IN THE CARBONATITE AND PART OF THE PHOSPHATE-BEARING ORE. FOSKOR HAS THE RIGHTS TO ALL THE PHOSPHATE-BEARING MINERALS IN THE PMC ORE, AS WELL AS TO ALL MINERALS WITHIN ITS OWN, SEPARATE, LEASE. PMC REMOVES THE COPPER AND OTHER MINERALS TO WHICH IT HAS RIGHTS AND PIPES ITS TAILINGS (CONTAINING PHOSCORITE) TO FOSKOR, WHICH THEN RECOVERS THE RESIDUAL APATITE. ALSO, TO MINE ITS OWN ORE EFFECTIVELY, PMC MUST MOVE PORTIONS OF THE PHOSCORITE TO WHICH FOSKOR HAS CLAIM; AND WHICH IS WASTE OVERBURDEN TO PMC. TO FOSKOR, HOWEVER, PMC'S PHOSCORITE IS "ORE" STOCKPILED AT THE FOSKOR PLANT FOR PROCESSING AS TIME, PLANT CAPACITY AND MARKETING CONDITIONS PERMIT. COPPER CONTAINED IN THE ORE MINED BY FOSKOR AND RECEIVED FROM PMC IS CONCENTRATED IN THE FOSKOR PLANT (FLOTATION) AND DELIVERED TO PMC FOR
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028890 ; W028891 ; W030959 ; W032368 ; W033036 ; W033088 ; W033749 ; W044596
Deposit SMELTING, REFINING AND MARKETING ON BEHALF OF FOSKOR.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JUN-1984 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-AUG-1982 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-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

Beyond USGS

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

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