The mineralisation at Barberton Mines is classified as Achaean epigenetic hydrothermal lode gold deposits within a granite greenstone terrain. The distribution and localisation of these orebodies in the BGB can be largely attributed to the combined influence of thermal metamorphism and structural deformation. The BGB has produced approximately 11Moz of gold since the first discovery in the early 1880s. Barberton Mines has produced more than 75% of the total production from the BGB.

Mineralisation at Barberton Mines is typically continuous in the short- to medium-range on strike with long-range geological and grade continuity being experienced down-dip. Gold occurs in either vein-hosted ore lode deposits or as free milling gold associated with fine grade sulphides, mainly pyrite and arsenopyrite.

The Barberton ores are thus mineralised shears with gold occluded in sulphide minerals. The sulphides often occur as massive assemblages in the shear structure. Lower grade ore, in the wall rock, form as a result of the alteration process during fluid flow and is associated with disseminated sulphide minerals. A late stage of gold mineralisation occurred in brittle fractures with the formation of quartz veins. These quartz veins often contain free gold in visible clusters.

Barberton Mines comprises Fairview Mine, Sheba Mine and New Consort Mine.

Fairview Mine An underground complex consisting of adits and sub-decline shaft systems.The mining operations is carried out using semi-mechanised up-dip cut-and-fill mining method. Gold rich orebodies are mined from near surface to approximately 1.7km below surface at the 11-block MRC orebody. Ore is transported through three decline shaft systems to 11 Level. From here, the ore is crushed and transported via an aerial bucket system to the Fairview metallurgical plant.

New Consort Mine An underground complex consisting of adits and subvertical shaft systems. The mining operations is carried out using up-dip cut-and-fill mining method. Ore is extracted mainly from the MMR, PC and 3 Shaft sections, located 200m to 1.5km below surface. The ore is transported through the shaft system to the New Consort metallurgical plant.

Sheba Mine An underground complex consisting of adits and subvertical shaft systems. The mining operations are carried out using up-dip cut-and-fill and long hole open stoping mining methods. Ore is mined from near surface from the MRC, Sheba West and Thomas orebodies to approximately 1.2km below surface in the Zwartkoppie (ZK) orebody. The ore is transported through the shaft system to the Sheba metallurgical plant.

Fairview metallurgical plant.
Fairview metallurgical plant consists of a milling, gravity gold separation, flotation, BIOX® and carbon-in-pulp (CIP) circuit with a carbon regeneration section, elution (and electro-winning) circuit and smelt house. The Fairview plant capacity is 13.5ktpm.

New Consort metallurgical plant.
Ore from New Consort Mine is crushed, milled, gravity gold concentrated and floated. The float concentrate is transported to the Fairview BIOX® section for further processing, while the tails are subjected to the New Consort carbonin-leach (CIL) circuit. The loaded carbon from the CIL section is transported to Fairview for elution (and electro-winning). The total capacity of the New Consort metallurgical plant is 8ktpm.

Sheba metallurgical plant.
Ore from Sheba mine is crushed and milled, gravity separated and floated. The gravity concentrate is smelted in the Fairview smelt house. Flotation concentrate is transported to the Fairview ........