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Henry Gould 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. Workings at the site
  20. Links to other databases
  21. Bibliographic references
  22. General comments
  23. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10089695
MRDS ID W028412
Record type Site
Current site name Henry Gould Chrome Mine
Related records 10304876

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 27.58478, -25.72996 (WGS84)
Elevation 1216
Relative position 35 KILOMETERS SOUTHEAST 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 Secondary
Iron Secondary
Silica Secondary

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 CHROME SAND CONCENTRATES: CR2O3 44.8 - 45.4 %, SIO2 1.3 - 1.8 %. FEO 26.0 %, AL2O3 15.0 %, MGO 10.0 %, P TRACE, TIO2 0.8 %, V2O5 0.3 %, CAO 0.5 %. LUMP ORE: CR2O3 39.5 - 41.5 % SIO2 5.5 - 7.5 %, FEO 23.5 %, AL2O3 14.5 %, MGO 10.9 %, P 0.01 %, S TRACE, TIO2 0.8 %, V2O5 0.3 %, CR:FE 1.45 - 1.50:1

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) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Gabbro

Nearby scientific data

(1) 27.58478, -25.72996
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 Of Minor Importance Only. Seam Undulations, However, Are Common And Thus Present Localized (Albeit Moderate) Changed In The Dip.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike E-W
    Dip 14 DEG N
    Thickness 1M
    Depth to top 600M
    Depth to bottom 800M

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
Discovery year 1931

Mining district

District name Rustenburg (Western) Belt; Bushveld Igneous Complex

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Henry Gould (Pty) Ltd
  • Type Owner
    Owner Transvaal Consolidated Land And Explor. Co. Ltd. (Barlow Rand 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: ^40 % Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Ore Chromium Chromium 40wt-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: ^40% Cr2o3 (Approximately)
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Ore Chromium Chromium 40wt-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: ^40% Cr2o3 Approximately
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Ore Chromium Chromium 40wt-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: ^40 % Cr2o3 Approx
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Cr2O3 Ore Chromium Chromium 40wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • PRODUCTION FIRST BEGAN IN THIS AREA IN THE EARLY 1930'S. EXACT DATE OF FIRST PRODUCTION, HOWEVER, IS NOT KNOWN AND ESTIMATES PRIOR TO 1974 ARE NOT POSSIBLE. ; NO PRODUCTION DATA AVAILABLE SINCE 1981

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Total resources 668000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Chromium Cr2O3 40 wt-pct Chromium Major 1975

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • INDICATED RESERVES TO A VERTICAL DEPTH OF 800 METERS.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 800M

Comments on the workings information

  • SEE DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSIT COMMENTS. MINING IS BY BREAST STOPE METHOD. BROKEN ORE IS MOVED DOWNWARD (ON DIP) INTO ORE PASSES BY SLUSHER AND RAIL-HAULED VIA MAIN HAULAGE DRIFTS TO SKIP LOADING POINTS FOR INCLINE SHAFT HOISTING TO THE SURFACE. SEVEN INCLINE SHAFTS FOR HOISTING ARE CURRENTLY IN OPERATION. WASTE IS BACK-FILLED UNDERGROUND. SURFACE FACILITIES CONSIST OF HAND SORTING TABLES, SCREENS, BALL MILLS, VIBRATORY TABLES, AND WASHING.

Comments on development

  • MILL.CAP: 0.2 MIL. MET. T/YR. ; ECON.COM: OUTPUT EQUALLY SPLIT BETWEEN LOCAL SALES AND EXPORTS. EMPHASIS IS ON FOUNDRY AND CHEMICAL CONCENTRATES (AS CHROME SANDS). AN IMPORTANT PRODUCER WITH A LONGLIFE OUTLOOK.

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

    MARKETING DIRECTORY, NO. 2 , FERROUS AND NONFERROUS METALS AND MINERALS IN SOUTH AFRICA; MINERALS BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF MINES; 1977 .

  • Deposit

    OPERATING MINES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA; MINERALS BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF MINES; DIRECTORY NO. 1/79 ; 1979 .

  • Deposit

    KUPFERBURGER, W., AND LOMBAARD, B.V., 1937, THE CHROMITE DEPOSITS OF THE BUSHVELD IGNEOUS COMPLEX: DEPARTMENT OF MINES, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. ^253 SAUNDERS AND TAYLOR, 1975, CHROMIUM AND FERROCHROMIUM IN SOUTH AFRICA: SAUNDERS AND TAYLOR, STOCK AN

  • Production

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

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028897 ; W030780 ; W032265 ; W055314
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO LOWER CHROME GROUP MAIN SEAM. MIDDLE GROUP OF SEAMS RANGE BETWEEN 0.2 - 1.2 METER WITH 6 - 8 SEAMS PRESENT. DEPTH TO TOP IS RANGE FROM OUTCROP TO CURRENT VERTICAL AVERAGE MINING DEPTH. DEPTH TO BOTTOM IS CURRENT MAX. MINING DEPTH, THOUGH ORE CONTINUES TO GREATER DEPTHS IN THE COMPANY'S LEASEHOLD.

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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