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Sahamamy

Producer in Toamasina, Madagascar with commodity Graphite
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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. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Land status
  13. Ownership information
  14. Production statistics
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. General comments
  19. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10255738
MAS/MILS ID 7880100010
Record type Site
Current site name Sahamamy

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Claim
Geographic coordinates: 48.91775, -18.58017 (WGS84)
Elevation 500
Location accuracy 500(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Toamasina(province)

Madagascar(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Federal lands

Federal(land status)

Geographic areas

Country State
Madagascar Toamasina

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Graphite Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Graphite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Claim (1) 48.91775, -18.58017
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N00E
    Dip 20S
    Thickness 20M
    Depth to top 5M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 LATERITE
    Shape of Orebody #2 LENTICULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Primary Ore Control FOLDING
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. UNKNOWN
    Strike And Dip N00E:20S
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 5
    Date of Last Modification 850903
  • Area 500HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 500
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Comments on the geologic information

  • LARGE XENOLITH OF GRAPHITIC GNEISS IN MIGMATITES. 2.4-4.6 M THIC BAND STRIKES N75E DIPS 35S. OLD NAME: SAHAMAMY.
  • ALL 8 OF THE MADAGASCAR GRAPHITE PROPERTIES STUDIED UNDER THE 1981-83 ZELLARS-WILLIAMS CONTRACT FALL WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICALLY-DEFINED MANAMPOTSY GROUP OF DEPOSITS. THESE DEPOSITS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY OCCURRENCES OF GNEISS AND MIGMATITE WITHIN AMPHIBOLITE FACIES WHERE INTENSE WEATHERING HAS LATERIZED THE ROCKS PRODUCING UP TO 30 METERS OF RED CLAY IN WHICH THE GRAPHITE OCCURS AS DIS- SEMINATED, HIGH-QUALITY, CRYSTALLINE FLAKES. THESE CLAYS CONTAIN FROM 5 TO 15 PERCENT CARBON. DIMENSIONS OF THE SAHAMAMY OREBODY ARE NOT KNOWN, BUT THE AGGREGATE THICKNESS OF THE GRAPHITE BEDS IS ABOUT 20 M.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Non-metallic
Significant Yes
Mining method Strip-Hillside
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Manampotsy

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Federal Lease

Land status

Ownership category Federal

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Etablissement Rostaing
    Interest 100
    Home office Malagasy Rep.
    Year 1983

Production statistics

  • Year 1967
    Description Ore Tonnages Calculated From Product 14126 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 14126mt
  • Year 1968
    Description Tonnages Supplied By Madagascar 13640 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 13640mt
  • Year 1969
    Description Ministere De L'Industrie Et Du Commerce 12730 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 12730mt
  • Year 1970
    Description 15806 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 15806mt
  • Year 1971
    Description 3096 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 3096mt
  • Year 1972
    Description 13276 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 13276mt
  • Year 1973
    Description 4736 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 4736mt
  • Year 1974
    Description 6881 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 6881mt
  • Year 1975
    Description 4412 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 4412mt
  • Year 1976
    Description 11981 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 11981mt
  • Year 1977
    Description 4999 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 4999mt
  • Year 1978
    Description 10321 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 10321mt
  • Year 1979
    Description 4533 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 4533mt
  • Year 1980
    Description 4371 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 4371mt
  • Year 1981
    Description 8500 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 8500mt
  • Year 1982
    Description 6861 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Graphite Graphite 6861mt

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • M1C1=M9C4. MINE RECOVERY = 85%. DILUTION = 0%. RECOVERABLE RESOURCE IS 143,466 MT. NO INFERRED RESOURCES ARE KNOWN TO EXIST. GRADE IS IN WEIGHT-PERCENT CARBON.
  • RESERVE CALCULATIONS BASED ON THE GRAPHITE SECTION FROM GITES DE MINERAUX DE MADAGASCAR V.1 AND 2, 1966. RES. UPDATED TO DEC 1988

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .6
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 5
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore SAND, SILT
    Capacity 35
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 9.24
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1983

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    BESAIRIE, HENRI, "GRAPHITE" FROM GITES DE MINERAUX DE

  • Deposit

    MADAGASCAR, BUR. DE RECHERCHES GEOLOGIE ET MINIERE. V. 1,

  • Deposit

    1966. TANANARIVE, PP. 187-196.

  • Deposit

    BESAIRIE, HENRI, MAPS 43-52 FROM GITES DE MINERAUX DE

  • Deposit

    MADAGASCAR, BUR. DE RECHERCHES GEOLOGIE ET MINIERE, V. 2,

  • Deposit

    1966, TANANARIVE.

  • Deposit

    MURDOCK, T.G., MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE MALAGASY REPUBLIC.

  • Deposit

    BUMINES IC 8196, DEPT. OF INT., WASH., D.C., 1963,

  • Deposit

    PP. 112-121.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit COST DATA FOR THIS PROPERTY WERE GATHERED UNDER BUREAU OF MINES CONTRACT J0225019, "THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGINEERING AND COST DATA FOR FOREIGN GRAPHITE PROPERTIES"; THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO ZELLARS-WILLIAMS, INC. IN SEPTEMBER 1982. ALL GRAPHITE MINES IN MADAGASCAR USE THE SAME MINING METHOD. SMALL OPEN PITS (GENERALLY 1 TO 5 IN NUMBER) ARE MINED BY FRONT-END LOADER OR BULLDOZER WITHOUT BLASTING. THE OVERBURDEN IS EITHER HAULED AWAY BY TRUCK OR, IF IT IS VERY THIN, IS WASHED WITH THE ORE. THE ORE IS EITHER TRUCKED TO A FIELD WASHER OR IS WASHED INTO A SLUICE BY A WATER GUN FOR GRAVITY FLOW TO THE FIELD WASHER. WATER GUNS ARE FED BY WATER PUMPED FROM A NEARBY RIVER. MILLING IS A TWO-STAGE PROCESS CARRIED OUT AT A "POSTES DE DEBOURBAGE" (FIELD WASHER) AND THEN AT A "RAFFINAGE" (REFINERY). AT THE FIELD WASHER, THE ORE IS FIRST SLURRIED USING A WATER GUN IF NOT ALREADY IN SLURRY FORM. A GRIZZLY IS THEN USED TO REMOVE STONES THAT ARE +5 MM IN SIZE. OCCASIONALLY THE ORE IS ALSO DESLIMED BY SCREEN- ING AT ABOUT 50 MESH. DIESEL FUEL OIL AND ALCOHOL-BASED FROTHERS ARE THEN ADDED PRIOR TO ROUGHER FLOTATION. THE ROUGHER CONCENTRATES VARY FROM 62 TO 67 PERCENT CARBON. TAILS ARE DISCHARGED BY GRAVITY INTO THE NEARBY RIVER. THE ROUGHER CONCENTRATE FLOWS BY GRAVITY TO THE REFINERY WHERE IT IS GROUND IN A BALL MILL, FLOATED, AND DRIED IN A ROTARY DRYER. THE DRIED CLEANER CONCENTRATE IS SIZED USING VIBRATING SCREENS AND BAGGED. ROD MILLS ARE USED AT SOME OPERATIONS INSTEAD OF BALL MILLS.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 27-MAY-86 Z&W Inc U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

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