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  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Messina

Producer in South Africa with commodities Copper, Selenium
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Nearby scientific data
  7. Ore body information
  8. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  9. Mining district
  10. Mineral rights holdings
  11. Land status
  12. Ownership information
  13. Production statistics
  14. Reserves and resources
  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 10256246
MRDS ID W007957
MAS/MILS ID 7910200008
Record type Site
Current site name Messina
Alternate or previous names Campbell, Artonville, Spence, Harper
Related records 10070061, 10159060, 10304896

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 30.05138, -22.32677 (WGS84)
Elevation 581
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Africa(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Federal lands

Federal(land status)

Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Selenium Secondary

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 30.05138, -22.32677
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Area 10.8HA
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 BRECCIA FILL
    Shape of Orebody #1 PIPELIKE
    Type of Orebody #2 STOCKWORK
    Shape of Orebody #2 IRREGULAR
    Type of Orebody #3 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #3 LENTICULAR
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 PROPYLITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 SILICIFICATION
    Total Surface Area (HA) 10.8
    Date of Last Modification 820624

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant No
Discovery year 1903
Mining method Shrinkage Methods
Year of first production 1906
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Messina Area

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Unknown
Type of mineral rights Unknown
Type of mineral rights Unknown

Land status

Ownership category Federal

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Messina Ltd.
    Interest 100
    Home office South Africa
    Year 1989

Production statistics

  • Year 1965
    Description 1965-1973; Similar To Operations Of 1980 1000000 Annual Mt Ore Treated
  • Year 1974
    Description Operations Similar To Those Of 1980 1100000 Annual Mt Ore Treated
  • Year 1975
    Description Operations Similar To Those Of 1980 1000000 Annual Mt Ore Treated
  • Year 1976
    Description Operations Similar To Those Of 1980 780000 Annual Mt Ore Treated
  • Year 1977
    Description Operations Similar To Those Of 1980 740000 Annual Mt Ore Treated
  • Year 1978
    Description Operations Similar To Those Of 1980 670000 Annual Mt Ore Treated
  • Year 1979
    Description Operations Similar To Those Of 1980 610000 Annual Mt Ore Treated
  • Year 1980
    Description Mill Output 7029 Mtpy Cu In Con.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 7029mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Mill Output 7489 Mtpy Cu In Con.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 7489mt
  • Year 1982
    Description Mill Output 7215 Mtpy Cu In Con.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 7215mt
  • Year 1983
    Description Mill Output 10002 Mtpy Cu In Con.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 10002mt
  • Year 1984
    Description Mill Output 7737 Mtpy Cu In Conc.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 7737mt
  • Year 1985
    Description Mill Output 6724 Mtpy Cu In Con.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 6724mt
  • Year 1986
    Description Mill Output 6770 Mtpy Cu In Con.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Copper Copper 6770mt

Comments on the production information

  • METHOD OF DISCOVERY IS OTHER: THERE IS WIDESPREAD ARCHAEO- LOGICAL EVIDENCE (INCLUDING ANCIENT MINE WORKINGS, CHARCOAL SMELTERS ETC.) THAT THE DEP. WERE WORKED SEV. HUNDRED YRS. BEF. THE ARRIVAL OF EUR.SETTLERS. IN 1903, COL. JOHN P. GRENFELL, THE FOUNDER AND FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE MTD CO. WAS SHOWN THE ANCIENT WORKINGS. MINING OPERATIONS BEGAN AT MESSINA IN 1906.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1985
    Demonstrated 2400000mt ore
    Total resources 2400000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.43 wt-pct Copper Major 1985
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Demonstrated 2855000mt ore
    Total resources 2855000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.43 wt-pct Copper Major 1989
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Demonstrated 1840000mt ore
    Total resources 1840000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.48 wt-pct Copper Major 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1989
    Demonstrated 1730000mt ore
    Total resources 1730000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.45 wt-pct Copper Major 1989
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Measured 1300000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1300000mt ore
    Total resources 1300000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.41 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Measured 1300000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1300000mt ore
    Total resources 1300000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.41 wt-pct Copper Major 1991

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • MESSINA LTD., 1988 AR, P4. (12/31/88) MCF (12/31/85)
  • TOTAL RESERVES AS OF 12/31/86.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 982M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method SHRINKAGE METHODS
    Percent Waste Rock 0
    Percent Recovery 85
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Mine Support Chars. STEEL W/LAGGING CONCRETE REINFOR
    Number of Shafts 5
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 2020
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1986

Comments on other economic factors

  • THE MESSINA ORE DEPOSIT CONSISTS OF MULTIPLE ORE BODIES. THERE ARE 5 SEPARATE MINE SHAFTS WHICH ARE ACTUALLY SEPARATE MINES. FOR THIS EVALUATION WE ARE USING ONE MINE WITH THE COMBINED RESERVES AND AVERAGED GRADES, OP COSTS, DEPTH OF SHAFTS, ETC. THE NAMES OF THE INDIVIDUAL MINES ARE AS FOLLOWS: THE MESSINA, THE CAMPBELL, THE ARTONVILLA, THE SPENCE, AND THE HARPER.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    FINANCIAL TIMES INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS, MINING 1992, P.266-

  • Reserve-Resource

    267.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MESSINA LTD., 1988 ANNUAL REPORT, P.4.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MESSINA LTD., LETTER FROM MINING DIVISION, 7/18/89

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE.ANNUAL REVIEW,JUNE 1974,P.337.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE.ANNUAL REVIEW,JUNE 1973,P.327-341.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE.ANNUAL REVIEW JUNE 1971,P.319.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE.ANNUAL REVIEW,JUNE 1970,P.331.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE.ANNUAL REVIEW,JUNE 1969,P.271.

  • Deposit

    THE GEOLOGY OF THE MESSINA COPPER MINES AND SURROUNDING

  • Deposit

    COUNTRY.MEMOIR 40: GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF SOUTH AFRICA,

  • Deposit

    1945, P. 106-121 AND P. 132-164.

  • Deposit

    VAN GRAAN,S.J.GEOLOGY OF THE MESSINA COPPER DEPOSITS.IN THE

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGY OF SOME ORE DEPOSITS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA,GEOL.SOC.

  • Deposit

    OF SOUTH AFRICA,V.2.,1964,P.225.

  • Deposit

    THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA,4TH ED.,

  • Deposit

    1959, P. 212.

  • Deposit

    ANON. 1976. "COPPER MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA; MESSINA,

  • Deposit

    "COAL, GOLD AND BASE MINERALS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA". NOV.

  • Deposit

    PP. 87, 91.

  • Deposit

    ANON. 1978. "INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF MAJOR UNDERGROUND

  • Deposit

    MINES, " E/M J. JUNE. P. 79.

  • Deposit

    COETZEE, C.B. (ED.) 1976. "MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE RE-

  • Deposit

    PUBLIC OF S.A.: COPPER." DEPT. OF MINES/GEO.SUR. PP.

  • Deposit

    143-145.

  • Deposit

    MESSINA (TRANSVAAL) DEV. CO. LTD. ANN. REPORTS 1974-1979.

  • Deposit

    MESSINA (TRANSVAAL) DEV. CO. BROCHURE 1970

  • Deposit

    SOHNGE, P.G. 1946. "THE GEOLOGY OF THE MESSINA MINES AND

  • Deposit

    SURROUNDING COUNTRY." MEMOIR NO. 40. GEO. SUR. OF S.A.

  • Deposit

    VANGRAAN, S.J. 1974. "GEOLOGY OF THE MESSINA COPPER

  • Deposit

    DEPOSITS IN SOUTH AFRICA." VOL 2. GEO. SOCIETY OF S.A.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, TOUGH MEASURES, 6/6/86, P. 413, 415.

  • Deposit

    "THE COPPER-BEARING BRECCIA PIPES OF THE MESSINA DISTRICT,

  • Deposit

    SOUTH AFRICA." J.B.E. AJCOBSEN, T.S. MCCARTHY AND J.G.S.

  • Deposit

    LAING

  • Deposit

    ECONOMIC GEOLOGY VOL. 72, 1977, PP. 619-631, "FLUID IN-

  • Deposit

    CLUSION STUDIES OF THE MESSIAN COPPER DEPOSITS, TRANSVAAL,

  • Deposit

    SOUTH AFRICA."

  • Deposit

    ECONOMIC GEOLOGY VOL. 71, 1976, PP. 117-130, "AN UNUSUAL

  • Deposit

    HYDROTHERMAL COPPER DEPOSIT AT MESSINA, SOUTH AFRICA."

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit G-SOB MAT=1 COL-2; OTHER REPRESENTS OVAL SHAPED

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 09-JAN-1995 Porter, Kenneth E. 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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