Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Tailings |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
- Carbon re-activation kiln
- Smelting
- Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Elution
- Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
| Production Start | 2013 |
| Mine Life | 2 years (as of Jan 1, 2022) |
Source:
Contractors
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Summary:
The BTRP section retreats previously processed gold ore in the form of slime material. The slimes emanate from historical mining activities on the same orebodies that are currently being mined underground from the existing Barberton Mines underground operations.
The material is confined to the deposition site of historical tailings and approximately 1m beneath the historical footprint. The ore consists of oxidised tailings containing pyrite and arsenopyrite associated gold, which was not recovered in the initial treatment process.
Summary:
Barberton Tailings Retreatment Plant (BTRP) is a surface re-mining site with road access from all surface material sources to the plant. Ore is either pumped (hydraulic re-mining and Fairview plant tailings) or trucked (load-and-haul) to the BTRP plant.
Mining of the Harper North, Harper South and Vantage dams progressed in accordance with the plan. It is envisaged that the Royal Sheba project will form part of the BTRP feed sources when this project is commissioned, and enabled through the construction of a run-ofmine (RoM) crusher circuit. This will allow the BTRP plant to treat approximately 35,000tpm of RoM material from the Royal Sheba project, thereby extending the life of the operation and ensuring its sustained output in future.
Processing
- Carbon re-activation kiln
- Smelting
- Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Elution
- Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
Source:
Summary:
At Barberton Tailings Retreatment Plant (BTRP) ore is milled in a regrind mill and processed through a CIL, a carbon regeneration and elution (and electro-winning) section. The BTRP also has its own smelt house. The BTRP has a capacity of approximately 100ktpm.
The feed sources supplying the BTRP include the Harper South and Harper North complexes, contributing approximately 70,000t per month to the BTRP. Furthermore, the Vantage TSF and screened low-grade stockpile material add an additional 20,000t per month. The remainder of the capacity is filled with residue material from the BIOX® plant at Fairview Mine and the CIP residue at a rate of 10,000t per month. Feed material at the current processing rate is sustainable for the next two years. The total life of the BTRP is currently modelled at two years excluding processing of Royal Sheba hard rock material.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Gold
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  | ...... | ...... | ...... | 46 | 44 | 54 |
|
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 1.4 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
Reserves at June 30, 2022:
Mineral Reserves Cut-off values are calculated at 0.3g/t.
Mineral Resources Cut-off values are calculated at 0.2g/t.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
1.2 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.42 g/t
|
0.05 M oz
|
|
Probable
|
4.94 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.6 g/t
|
0.25 M oz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
6.15 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.57 g/t
|
0.31 M oz
|
|
Measured
|
6.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.55 g/t
|
0.31 M oz
|
|
Indicated
|
4.37 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.59 g/t
|
0.22 M oz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
10.67 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.57 g/t
|
0.54 M oz
|
|
Inferred
|
11.96 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.01 g/t
|
0.38 M oz
|
|
Total Resource
|
22.63 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.27 g/t
|
0.93 M oz
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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Aerial view:
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