Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Scattered stoping
- Pillar mining
|
The sale of the Vaal River mining operations was completed on 28 February, 2018.
Kopanang Mine and related assets and liabilities have been sold to Heaven-Sent SA Sunshine Investment Company Limited.
Moab Khotsong Mine and related assets and liabilities has been sold to Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited. |
Company | Interest | Ownership |
|
|
Indirect
|
Contractors
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Summary:
Kopanang
Kopanang is situated in a structurally complex area of the Witwatersrand Basin, which has been subjected to numerous tectonic events. The VR is the principal economic horizon at Kopanang and the CR the secondary economic horizon. Both reefs are part of the Witwatersrand Supergroup and are stratigraphically located near the middle of the Central Rand Group. The CR forms the top of the Johannesburg Subgroup, while the VR lies approximately 255m below the CR. The two narrow tabular orebodies are both gold and uranium bearing and currently only the VR is mined, with limited CR mining planned during the LoM. The CR is accessible through the VR infrastructure. These conglomerate units dip at an average of 21° towards the south and occur in a 2,100m thick sedimentary sequence comprising the Central Rand Group.
Mining is complicated by the presence of an assortment of steep (85°–50°) north-dipping and younger low-angle (50°–15°) southdipping faults. The interplay of these main fault regimes, along with abundant pre and post dating dykes, makes for a complex and geologically challenging deposit.
The VR package varies from about 10cm or less in thickness to over 2.5m. It consists of a thin basal conglomerate (the C-Facies) and a thicker sequence of upper conglomerates (the A-Facies). These two sedimentary facies are separated by the B-Facies, which is barren interbedded orthoquartzite. The A-Facies is further subdivided into three sub-facies, ........
Mining Methods
- Scattered stoping
- Pillar mining
Summary:
Kopanang
Two gold-bearing horizons (VR and CR) are accessed via a single shaft system which descends to a maximum depth of 2,334m, while the current working levels are situated between 1,300m and 2,064m below surface. A sequential grid mining layout is used from which scattered mining takes place.
Moab Khotsong
The tabular nature, along with the depth and structural complexity of the orebody dictates the mining method utilised at Moab Khotsong mine. Mining at Moab Khotsong is based on a scattered mining method together with an integrated backfill support system that incorporates bracket pillars. The economic reef horizons are exploited between 1,791m and 3,052m below surface.
Great Noligwa
Great Noligwa mine was merged with Moab Khotsong mine in 2014, and operations are now collectively referred to as Moab Khotsong. Given the geological complexity of the orebody at Great Noligwa, the pillar mining method is employed.
Source:
Summary:
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Production:
Commodity | Units | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Gold
|
koz
| 385 | 371 | 371 |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Tonnes processed
| 1.7 Mt | 1.6 Mt | 1.6 Mt |
Financials:
| Units | 2017 |
Capital expenditures
|
M USD
|
50
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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