Grootegeluk is located in the Waterberg coalfield and the coal seams are from the Volkrust and Vryheid formations.

The upper part of the coal deposit, the Volksrust Formation (approximately 60m thick) is classified as a thick interbedded seam deposit type, comprising intercalated mudstone or carbonaceous shale and bright coal layers. The Vryheid Formation (approximately 55m thick) forms the lower part of the coal deposit and comprises carbonaceous shale and sandstone with interbedded dull coal seams varying in thickness from 1.5m to 9m. It is therefore classified as a multiple-seam deposit type.

The Zoetfontein fault forms the boundary of the Waterberg coalfield in the north while the Eenzaamheid fault forms the boundary in the south. The Daarby fault, with a throw of some 350m, divides the coalfield into a deep north-eastern portion and a shallow south-western portion. The first fresh coal in the shallow south-western portion is on average 20m below surface. The lowermost coal seam (zone 1) occurs at a depth of about 130m in the shallow portion of the coalfield but this may vary depending on the local structure (Figure 16). The predominantly horizontal coal-bearing formations have a very gentle dip to the south-east near Grootegeluk. Only a few dolerite dykes outcrop in the south-eastern portion of the Waterberg coalfield and no sills have been encountered in any exploration boreholes drilled in the mine right area to date.

The upper part of ........

Grootegeluk comprises of one open-pit mine, which includes two overburden benches, nine RoM benches and three interburden benches. A series of parallel benches are advanced progressively across the deposit via a process of drilling, blasting, loading and hauling with truck-and-shovel fleets. RoM is transported to the Grootegeluk beneficiation complex via haul trucks and in-pit crushing and conveying systems.

The geological model of Grootegeluk is updated every second year, and information from drilling campaigns in 2017/2018 was included in a geological model update, which is currently being used for the review of the Grootegeluk exploitation strategy. The strategy is considering several potential optimisation scenarios, including a review of the current pit turnaround and backfill strategies as well as the bench definitions to optimise bench height for floor control and decreasing mining losses. The Grootegeluk integrated water use management strategy is progressing well in addressing all water-related aspects to provide a strategy for the optimal use of water throughout the value chain. This project will integrate with the exploitation strategy and is expected to enhance water use and water accumulation within the pit significantly. A study initiated in 2018 to review mining of the significant amount of overburden is in progress. The project investigated a number of options to replace the existing load-and-haul mining method with a more cost-effective alternativ ........

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