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Ruighoek Chrome Mine

Producer in South Africa with commodities Chromium, PGE, Iron, Silica
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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 10079232
MRDS ID W028403
Record type Site
Current site name Ruighoek Chrome Mine
Related records 10305631

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 26.93478, -25.19666 (WGS84)
Elevation 1189
Relative position 61 KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF THE TOWN OF RUSTENBURG

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Chromium Critical Primary
PGE Critical Tertiary
Iron Tertiary
Silica Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chromite Ore
Magnetite Ore
Anorthosite Gangue
Chalcopyrite Gangue
Pentlandite Gangue
Pyrrhotite Gangue

Alteration

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

Analytical data

Result LUMP ORE: SIZE:-150MM + 10MM
Result CR2O3 41.1%, SIO2 6.3% AL2O3 13.5%, FEO 24.6%, CAO 0.9%, MGO 11.9%, S 0.019% P 0.004%
Result CR: FE 1.47:1. CONCENTRATE FINES: SIZE: 100% - 10MM
Result CR2O3 44.5% SIO2 3.0% (MAX. 4.5%), AL2O3 12.0%, FEO 25.5%, CAO 0.40%. MGO 11.5%, S 0.020%, P 0.004%, CR:FE 1.55:1.

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock
    Rock unit name Bushveld Igneous Complex (Including The Overlying Merensky Reef)
    Rock description Bushveld Igneous Complex (Including The Overlying Merensky Reef)
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Paleoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Ultramafic Intrusive Rock > Pyroxenite

Nearby scientific data

(1) 26.93478, -25.19666
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 Are Of Minor Importance; Erosion, Peneplanation And Build-Up Of Younger Sediments Are Basic Criteria Regionally.
Type of structure Local
Structure description The Area'S Upper, Middle And Lower Chrome Groups (Underlying The Merensky Reef) Are Extraordinarily Uniform As To Composition And Thickness. Faults And Folds, Locally, Are More Pronounced In This Area Than Usually Encountered Elsewhere In The Western Belt And Do Affect Mining And Ore Recoveries. Seam Undulations Are Also Common, Thus Presenting Localized (Albeit Moderate) Changes In The Dip.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike NE - SW
    Dip 9 DEG SE
    Thickness 0.9M

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.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Year of first production 1947

Mining district

District name Pilanesberg (Western) Belt; Bushveld Igneous Complex

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Bathlako Mining Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner South African Manganese Amcor (Pty) Ltd

Production statistics

  • Year 1978
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^45% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 45wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^41% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^45% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 45wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^41% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^45% Cr2o3 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 45wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^41% Cr2o3 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Period 1974-1981
    Material CON CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^45 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Conc. Chromium Chromium 45wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Period 1974-1981
    Material ORE CR
    Accuracy Estimate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^41 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Chromium Chromium 41wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION KNOWN ONLY TO BE ABOUT 1947 . PRODUCTION ESTIMATES PRIOR TO 1974 ARE NOT POSSIBLE. ; NO EXACT PRODUCTION DATA AVAILABLE. PRODUCTION IS GEARED TO REQUIREMENTS OF NEW BATLHAKO FERROCHROME SMELTERS COMPANY LOCATED ON SITE.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Total resources 65000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Chromium Cr2O3 44 wt-pct Chromium Major 1975

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • INDICATED RESERVES TO A VERTICAL DEPTH OF 618 METERS.

Comments on the workings information

  • SEE DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSIT COMMENTS. MINING IS BY DEVELOPMENT DRIFTS AND INCLINES IN ORE TO CREATE MODIFIED ROOM AND PILLAR METHOD. BROKEN ORE IS MOVED DOWNWARD INTO ORE PASSES BY SLUSHER AND HAND-TRAMMED TO LOADING POINTS FOR INCLINE HOISTING TO THE SURFACE. TWO INCLINES ARE USED. SURFACE FACILITIES ARE TRUCK-HAULED TO RAILHEAD AT BOSHOEK; A DISTANCE OF 50 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST.

Comments on development

  • YEAR OF FIRST PRODUCTION IS APPROXIMATE ONLY (KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN OPENED "SHORTLY AFTER WORLD WAR II"). ; MILL.CAP: 0.1 MIL. MET. T/YR. ; ECON.COM: SALES ARE ORIENTED TOWARD BOTH DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION (AS CAPTIVE SALES TO THE MINING COMPANY'S PARENT, S.A. MANGANESE AMCOR LTD.) (THE LOWER GRADE LUMP ORE) AND EXPORTS (THE HIGHER GRADE FINES). ORE RESERVES ARE LARGE AND MINING OUTLOOK FAVORABLE, GIVEN THE PRESENT OWNER'S CHARGE CHROME MANUFACTURING & WORLD MARKET CONNECTIONS.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Analytical Data

    SRC.REF: FERROUS AND NONFERROUS MINES AND WORKS IN SOUTH AFRICA; MINERALS BUREAU DIRECTORY NO. 3/79

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    CHROMITE MINES AND RESOURCES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA; UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO FOR M.A.S., US BUREAU OF MINES; SIEMS, P., CRIST, E. M., AND SHEEHAN, L. E., JR.; 1976 .

  • Deposit

    FERROUS AND NONFERROUS MINES AND WORKS IN SOUTH AFRICA; MINERALS BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF MINES, DIRECTORY NO. 3/79; 1979 .

  • Deposit

    DEYOUNG AND OTHERS, 1984, INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC INVENTORY SUMMARY REPORT-- CHROMIUM: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 930-B, 41 P.

  • Deposit

    "THE CHROMITE DEPOSITS OF THE BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX", DEPARTMENT OF MINES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY; KUPFERBURGER, W. AND LOMBAARD, B. V.; 1937

  • Other Database

    ISMI

  • Production

    REPORTER'S ESTIMATES BASED ON INDUSTRY INDICATORS AND OFFICIAL (MINERALS BUREAU) COUNTRY TOTALS. ; REPORTERS ESTIMATES BASED ON INDUSTRY INDICATORS AND OFFICIAL (MINERALS BUREAU) DETAILED DATA ; REPORTER'S ESTIMATED BASED ON INDUSTRY INDICATORS AND OFFICIAL (MINERALS BUREAU) COUNTRY TOTALS

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO THE "LG6" SEAM - THE ONLY SEAM BEING MINED AT THE PRESENT TIME. SEAMS LG1-LG4 ARE THIN, WITH NO ECONOMIC POTENTIAL. SEAM LG5 (AT A THICKNESS OF 0.1-0.2 METER) WILL BE EXPLOITED IN THE FUTURE. ALL SEAMS ARE OF THE "LOWER CHROME GROUP" IN THE "CRITICAL ZONE" OF THE BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX. DEPTHS TO TOP AND BOTTOM (AND MAX. LENGTH AND WIDTH) ARE NOT KNOWN.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028900 ; W030786 ; W032256 ; W055323

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-AUG-1979 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-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-JUL-1982 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.

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