Evander Mines exploits the Kimberley Reef in the Evander basin, the eastern-most extremity of the Witwatersrand Supergroup. The Kimberley Reef is mined throughout the major gold mining districts within the Witwatersrand Supergroup, including the East Rand, Central Rand, West Rand, Far West Rand and Free State goldfields. Deposition models for gold within the conglomeratic horizons follows a palaeo-placer-type sedimentological deposition along with winnowing, erosion and concentration of gold-bearing footwall lithologies. Various studies have highlighted the importance of hydrothermal activity for deposition, remobilisation and enrichment within certain packages of the Witwatersrand Supergroup.

The Kimberley Reef is an oligomictic, pebbly conglomerate and comprises a composite sequence of channel sediments that define longitudinal gravel bars and sand bars with pebbly veneers. The reef in the area strikes in an east-west direction and dips to the north at about 10 degrees. The area is also divided by two major normal faults, striking in an east-north-east to west-south-west direction. The reef thickness varies from a waste on contact up to a 50cm well-developed oligomictic conglomerate. Average reef thickness is 35cm within the 8 Shaft vicinity. High gold values in the Kimberley Reef are mostly located at the base of the unit and are associated with the presence of carbon and some visible gold on the footwall contact.

Palaeo-placer and braided stream-type ........

An underground complex consisting of vertical and decline shaft systems. Gold-bearing reef is mined from the 8 Shaft pillar, approximately 1.6km below surface and from 24 Level, some 2.4km below surface. Ore is transported through the decline shaft systems to 15 Level. From there, the ore is transported across to Evander Mines’ 7 Shaft (7 Shaft), where it is hoisted and conveyed to the Kinross metallurgical plant.

Mining method: Conventional breast, scraper mining.

The 8 Shaft pillar mining, however, only covers approximately 0.3km2 of the total 8 Shaft area. During the reporting period, mining occurred in the 2 Decline area on the western side at a depth of 2,300m to 2,500m below surface as well as at the 8 Shaft pillar at a depth of 1,600m below surface.

All underground mining development and infrastructure placement for the mining of 24 Level progressed, with initial mining on 24 Level commencing during the reporting period. Furthermore, an independent environmental engineering contractor commissioned phase 1 of the underground refrigeration plant within the mined excavation area created on 24 Level during the reporting period. Phase 2 of the refrigeration plant construction is expected in the following reporting period. Phase 1 of the project enables mining of both the 24 Level F line stopes and mining of the 24 Level B, C and D raise lines. Phase 2 will allow for additional mining crews to be placed on 24 Level as well as for subsequent m ........

The Evander Gold Plant treats ore from Evander No. 8 Shaft and old tailings etc. There are six SAG mills operating in closed circuit with a hydro cyclone. A portion of the cyclone underflow is directed to Knelson centrifugal concentrators for the recovery of free gold. The milled product is nominally 80% passing 75 microns. The mill section is noncyanide exposed as it utilises non contaminated underground water for dilution and gland service water.

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