Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Tailings |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Hydraulic mining
|
Mine Life | 2042 |
DRDGOLD plans to develop the FWGR assets into a large scale (1.2Mtpm), long life (20 years) operation through a phased approach. Phase one, involving the retreatment of the Driefontein No. 5 TSF through the Driefontein No. 2 Plant and deposition on the Driefontein No. 4 TSF is underway. Phase two involves the construction of a regional storage facility for retreatment of the remaining historical TSFs acquired and allows for potential future expansion into the far west area. |
Source:
p. 12,61,62

The Sibanye-Stillwater Group also has an effective legal interest of 50.33% in DRDGOLD Limited (DRDGOLD) that operates the Far West Gold Recoveries (FWGR) and the ERGO Gold Recoveries operations.
Contractors
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Summary:
The mineral assets are historical gold plant tailings material from the mining of auriferous and uraniferous ore from the goldbearing, late Archaean (2.7Ga to 3.2Ga), Witwatersrand Basin in the West Rand Goldfield. The typical composition is quartz (70 – 80%), mica (10%), chlorite and chloritoid (9% – 18%) and pyrite (1% – 2%). Gold, uranium oxide, zirconium and chromium are minor constituents.
The composition of a TSF depends on the geochemical make-up of the material being mined and the chemicals used in the mining and extraction process. Further, the internal structure of the TSF reflects the mining strategy and depositional methodologies employed for each operation. The bulk density of tailings material and the lateral and vertical variation in moisture content is a critical factor in the accurate estimation of tonnages. In addition, secondary processes such as metal re-mobilisation, erosion, weathering, leaching and acid mine drainage can affect the geochemical characteristics of a TSF. Gold can undergo mobilisation within the TSF over time, and hence, may exhibit areas of re-concentration, and even be present in the sub-structure (footprint) soil. These factors can result in a considerable variation in gold content and distribution throughout the TSF and such variation has an impact on final recoveries and projected revenues for the operation.
Mining Methods
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Hydraulic mining
Summary:
Hydraulic mining (hydro-mining) using high-pressure water cannons to hydraulically excavate tailings material. A second mining method employed by Ergo is the use of front-end loaders (FEL) to load slimes/sand. The FEL loads directly into a truck which then transports the ore to the processing plant.
Source:
Summary:

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Production:
Commodity | Units | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Gold
|
koz
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | 59 |
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Tonnes milled
| ......  | ......  | 26,630 kt | 26,418 kt | 9,904 kt |
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Reserves at December 31, 2022:
Mineral Reserves cut-off 0.15 g/t for FWGR and 0.24 g/t for Ergo.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven
|
410 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
4.3 M oz
|
Probable
|
207 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.2 g/t
|
1.6 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
617 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
5.9 M oz
|
Measured
|
490 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
5 M oz
|
Indicated
|
572 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.2 g/t
|
4.5 M oz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
1,061 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
9.5 M oz
|
Inferred
|
21.4 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.2 g/t
|
0.2 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
1,082 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
9.8 M oz
|
Source:
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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