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South Africa

DRDGOLD Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeTailings
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Gold
Mining Method
  • Hydraulic mining
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
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Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotDRDGOLD operates the Ergo and Far West Gold Recoveries (FWGR) operations. DRDGOLD’s reprocesses surface tailings deposits from legacy underground mines in the regions. The Ergo assets include multiple TSFs, a pipeline, and tailings deposition facilities including the significant Brakpan/Withok TSF. At the FWGR operations there is a smelting agreement in place with Sibanye-Stillwater, for the Driefontein No. 2 plant. FWGR phase one production tailings are currently deposited on Driefontein 4 TSF.

DRDGOLD plans to develop the FWGR assets into a large scale, long life 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.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Sibanye-Stillwater Ltd. 50.28 % Indirect
Ownership Tree
The Sibanye-Stillwater Group also has an effective legal interest of 50.28% in DRDGOLD Limited (DRDGOLD) that operates the Far West Gold Recoveries (FWGR) and the ERGO Gold Recoveries operations.

Deposit type

  • Tailings

Summary:

DRDGOLD’s reprocesses surface tailings deposits from legacy underground mines in the regions it operates which were residue of the processing of gold and uranium ores of the gold bearing late Archaean (2.7Ga to 3.2Ga) Witwatersrand sedimentary basin.

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.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits202320222021202020192018
Gold koz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe17959

Operational metrics

Metrics202320222021202020192018
Tonnes milled  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe26,418 kt9,904 kt

Production Costs

Commodity202320222021202020192018
All-in sustaining costs (sold) Gold  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 1,108 / oz **  USD 1,338 / oz **  USD
All-in costs Gold  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 1,123 / oz **  USD 1,719 / oz **  USD
** Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs

Currency2023202220212020
Total operating costs ($/t milled) ZAR 192  142  115  110  

Financials

Units202320222021202020192018
Sustaining costs M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 43   15  
Growth Capital M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Capital expenditures M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 82   318  
Revenue M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 3,621   1,048  
Pre-tax Income M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 695  
After-tax Income M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 496.1   590.5  
EBITDA M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 854  
Book Value M ZAR  ....  Subscribe

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required May 8, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required May 8, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required May 8, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required May 8, 2024

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2023
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2018

Aerial view:

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