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Venterspost Mine

Producer in South Africa with commodities Gold, Sulfur-Pyrite, Sulfur, Sulfuric Acid, PGE, Platinum, Osmium, Iridium, Ruthenium, Rhodium, 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 10090139
MRDS ID W027858
Record type Site
Current site name Venterspost Mine
Related records 10304807

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 27.63479, -26.29661 (WGS84)
Elevation 1646
Relative position ADJOINS WESTONARIA (GENERALLY NORTH OF THE CITY)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Commodities

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

Comments on the commodity information

  • NO URANIUM POTENTIAL. 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 = 35.9%, OS = 35.1%, RU = 16.4%, PT = 12.0%, RH = 0.6%. AU/PT RECOVERY 8530:1.

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 Transvaal System Shales (Pretoria Series), Dolomite (Dolomite Series) And Conglomerates (Black Reef Series);Witwatersrand System (Upper Division)-Quartzites, Shales, Grits, Conglomerates And Carbon Granules
    Rock description Transvaal System Shales (Pretoria Series), Dolomite (Dolomite Series) And Conglomerates (Black Reef Series);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

Nearby scientific data

(1) 27.63479, -26.29661
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Unique Continuity Of Gold-Bearing Horizons Over Extended Area, Though Well Marked By Dikes, Faulting, Early Erosion And Redeposition Of Overlying Sediments.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Steeply Dipping Compared To Most Other Measured Occurrences In This General Area. Faulting, Folding And Undulation Of The Beds Are Characteristic Locally. Intrusive Dikes Penetrate And Dilute Minable Ore Horizons. Lavas And Dolomites Are Massive.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike NE - SW
    Dip 35 - 60 DEG SE
    Thickness 3M
    Depth to top 600M
    Depth to bottom 2300M

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 Both
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1932
Discoverer Dr. R. Krahmann, West Witwatersrand Areas Limited
Year of first production 1939

Mining district

District name Far West Rand (West Wits Line) Of Witwatersrand Goldfields

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Venterspost Gold Mining Co. Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Gold Fields Of South Africa

Production statistics

  • Year 1977
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.159 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 4g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.188 Toz Au /Met Ton Of Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 5g/mt
  • Year 1978
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.131 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 4g/mt
  • Year 1978
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.128 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 4g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.128 To2 Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 4g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.179 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 5g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.138 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 4g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.139 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 4g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.121 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 3g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.122 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 3g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.167 To2 Au/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 5g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE AU
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.826 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 23g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION: 1939 . PYRITE (AND SULFURIC ACID) PRODUCTION DATA NOT AVAILABLE.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 6565000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 5.194 g/mt Gold Major 1986

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. ; 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 2300M

Comments on the workings information

  • APPROX. MAXIMUM MINING DEPTH DOWN-DIP ON MAIN REEF. "SCATTER" MINING WITH STRIKE GULLY AND DOWN-DIP CENTER GULLY SLUSHING USED IN AREAS OF 35 - 40 DEGREE DIPS. SHORT PANEL DOWN-DIP SLUSHING AND GRAVITY FEED OF BROKEN ORE USED IN STEEPER-DIPPING (40 - 60 DEGREE) AREAS IN SE SECTION OF MINE. FAULTING SEVERE NW AND SE OF NO. 3 TERTIARY VERTICAL SHAFT. ORE QUALITIES ERRATIC IN VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF. TIMBER/CONCRETE CRIB SUPPORTING EXTENSIVE.

Comments on development

  • TOTAL$: 45.3 ; MILL.CAP: 1.5 MIL. MET. T/YR. ; ECON.COM: PRODUCTION HAS BEEN, AND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE, IN LOW GRADE GOLD ORE, AND WITH GENERALLY HIGH COSTS OF OPERATION ($142.32/TROY OUNCE OF GOLD RECOVERED; 1977). THE MINE OPERATES FROM TWO HORIZONS: THE VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF AND THE MAIN REEF. ESTIMATED LIFE OF MINE: 10 YEARS.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7 ; 1976

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    GOLD FIELDS OF SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED, ANNUAL REPORTS, 1974 - 1977

  • 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: JOURNAL OF SOUTH AFRICA INSTITUTE OF 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

    VENTERSPOST GOLD MINING COMPANY, 1977, ANNUAL REPORTS.^253 VENTERSPOST GOLD MINING COMPANY, 1976, ANNUAL REPORTS.^253 VENTERSPOST GOLD MINING COMPANY, 1975, ANNUAL REPORTS.^253 VENTERSPOST GOLD MINING COMPANY, 1974, ANNUAL REPORTS.^253 IVOR JONES, ROY AND COMPANY, INC.^253 MINING JOURNAL, 1975, MINING JOURNAL, V. 19, NO. 1

  • Production

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

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO MAX. STOPING WIDTH OF VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF (AVE. THICKNESS OF REEF NOT AVAILABLE). DEPTH TO TOP IS UP-DIP SUB-CONTACT OF MAIN REEF NW OF NO. 2 VENTILATION SHAFT (OVERLYING UP-DIP SUB-CONTACT OF VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF OCCURS AT 700 - METER LEVEL, 260 METERS SE OF NO. 2 VENTILATION SHAFT). DEPTH TO BOTTOM IS APPROX. MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT DEPTH (DOWN-DIP) OF MAIN REEF, 340 METERS NW OF NO. 3 TERTIARY VERTICAL SHAFT (VENTERSDORP CONTACT REEF DEVELOPED TO 2100 - METER LEVEL, 80 METERS SE OF NO. 3 TERTIARY VERTICAL SHAFT).
Deposit THIS RECORD INCLUDES DATA FROM DUPLICATE RECORD M046313 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028687 ; W028748 ; W030933 ; W032347 ; W032956 ; W033166 ; W033792 ; W044615 ; W055295

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-MAR-1978 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1987 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-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-APR-1986 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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