Barberton Mines comprises Fairview Mine, Sheba Mine, New Consort Mine and the BTRP.

The mineralisation at Barberton Mines is classified as Achaean epigenetic hydrothermal lode gold deposits within a granite greenstone terrain. The distribution and localisation of these orebodies in the BGB can be largely attributed to the combined influence of thermal metamorphism and structural deformation. The BGB has produced approximately 11Moz of gold since the first discovery in the early 1880s. Barberton Mines has produced more than 75% of the total production from the BGB.

Mineralisation at Barberton Mines is typically continuous in the short- to medium-range on strike with long-range geological and grade continuity being experienced down-dip. Gold occurs in either vein-hosted ore lode deposits or as free milling gold associated with fine grade sulphides, mainly pyrite and arsenopyrite.

The Barberton ores are thus mineralised shears with gold occluded in sulphide minerals. The sulphides often occur as massive assemblages in the shear structure. Lower grade ore, in the wall rock, form as a result of the alteration process during fluid flow and is associated with disseminated sulphide minerals.

BTRP is a deposition material of historically treated metallurgical tailings from the Fairview, New Consort and Sheba Mines. The material is confined to the deposition site of historical tailings and approximately 1m beneath the historical footprint. Th ........

Barberton Mines comprises Fairview Mine, Sheba Mine, Consort Mine and the BTRP.

Fairview Mine produces approximately 50% of Barberton Mines’ annual gold production, with Consort Mine, Sheba Mine and the BTRP producing 11%, 18% and 21%, respectively.

The availability of high-grade orebodies and lower grade shallow resources from the mines provide options for planning in order to maintain the targeted grade/tonnage profile for annual gold production of approximately 100Koz. This also enables the optimal management of cash flows, operating costs and life of the operations at Barberton Mines from an early stage in the mine planning process. The operation has a proven track record of consistently delivering a solid performance, driven to a large extent by an embedded culture of safety and cost control.

The mining methods used at Barberton Mines’ underground operations are semi-mechanised up-dip cut-and-fill and up-dip room and stick mining. An estimated 16% of gold is recovered by sweeping and vamping contractors focusing on historically worked-out areas and mining high-grade remnant zones of ore.

Fairview Mine
An underground complex consisting of adits and sub-decline shaft systems.The mining operations is carried out using semi-mechanised up-dip cut-and-fill mining method. Gold rich orebodies are mined from near surface to approximately 1.7km below surface at the 11-block MRC orebody. Ore is transported through three decline shaf ........

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