Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Tailings |
Commodities |
- Gold
- Uranium
- Sulphuric acid
|
Mining Method |
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Hydraulic mining
|
Processing |
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
Mine Life | 13 years (as of Jan 1, 2020) |
DRDGOLD, in which Sibanye-Stillwater has a 50% stake, is currently conducting a feasibility study into the Phase 2 expansion of its Far West Gold Recoveries project, with the project being advanced to the planning and permit application processes. |
Source:
p. 57,58

Effective 10 January 2020, the Group exercised its option to acquire an additional 12.05% in DRDGOLD. The consideration amounted to R1,085.6 million for the subscription of 168,158,944 additional new ordinary shares resulting in a 50.1% shareholding in DRDGOLD Limited (effective 50.66% after considering treasury shares held by DRDGOLD).
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.
Processing
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Cyanide (reagent)
Source:
Summary:
FWGR is situated in the West Rand of the Gauteng province, 30km south of Johannesburg in the vicinity of Randfontein, Westonaria, Fochville and Carletonville. The FWGR includes historical TSFs with a total area of 412ha and includes the Driefontein 1 and 2 gold plants.
ERGO (Benoni, Springs area):
• Ergo plant;
• Elsburg tailings complex (including 4L50), Van Dyk 5L29 TSF, Brakpan/Withok TSF, Daggafontein TSF, Ezekiel TSF and Crown tailings complex;
• City Deep milling plant and pump stations;
• Knights plant.
Driefontein 2 plant:
- Mineral processing - CIL;
- Design capacity - 500 tpd.
Driefontein 3 plant:
- Mineral processing - CIL;
- Design capacity - 120 tpd.
(DP3 on care and maintenance).
Once decommissioned, the following infrastructure will also be transferred to DRDGOLD for no additional consideration: Driefontein 1 and 2 TSF, Kloof 2 TSF, Leeudoorn TSF.
Production:
From 17 April 2020, management commenced implementing its strategy to mobilise the required employee complement to safely ramp up production at our South African operations to the initial restricted 50%. At 30 June 2020 the SA Gold and SA PGM operations were at a production capacity of 86% and 73%, respectively.
Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Gold
|
koz
| ......  | ......  | 59 |
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Tonnes milled
| ......  | 26,418 kt | 9,904 kt |
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Reserves at December 31, 2020:
Reported Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves are calculated based on an attributable basis for DRDGOLD Limited (DRDGOLD) due to its 50.1% (as at 31 December 2020) shareholding in the company.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven
|
262.1 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
2.84 M oz
|
Probable
|
273.5 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
2.77 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
535.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
5.61 M oz
|
Measured
|
535.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
5.61 M oz
|
Indicated
|
379.4 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
3.06 M oz
|
Inferred
|
207.4 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.2 g/t
|
1.6 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
1,122 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.3 g/t
|
10.27 M oz
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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Aerial view:
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