Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit / Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
- Bacterial oxidation (BIOX)
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
| Mine Life | 20 years (as of Jan 1, 2017) |
Source:
p. 12, 97, 181
On 1 June 2015 Barberton Mines entered into an agreement with the Barberton Mines BEE Company Proprietary Limited and Barberton Mines BEE Trust.
The agreement concluded Barberton Mines would issue 5% of its authorised share capital for ZAR99.5 million to Barberton Mines BEE Company Proprietary Limited which is 100% held by the Barberton Mines BEE Trust.
The benefi ciaries of the Barberton Mines BEE Trust are all the Barberton Mines employees of a Paterson Grading C level and below.
The share issue was vendor fi nanced by Barberton Mines against preference share capital issued by Barberton Mines BEE Company for ZAR99.5 million. Employee share ownership plans (ESOP).
Summary:
Gold was originally discovered in the Barberton area in 1886 and comprises the sediments and metavolcanics within the Barberton Greenstone Belt. Barberton Mines has therefore been mined for over a century with current production practices now embedded.
Modelling and geological profiling of the boreholes confirmed two distinct geographical populations across the BTSF. This is the result of historical deposition that took place in two separate compartments, a higher grade BIOX® tail section and a lower grade concentrator/flotation tail section.
Summary:
The mining methods used are underground semi-mechanised cut and fill by either up-dip or breast mining. An estimated 16% to 18% of gold is recovered by sweeping and vamping contractors focusing on worked-out areas and mining high grade pillars.
Processing Technologies
- Bacterial oxidation (BIOX)
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
Summary:
Gold is extracted using the BIOX® gold extraction process, an environmentally friendly process, which uses bacteria to release gold from the sulphide ore.
The BTRP has been designed to treat tailings through a Carbon in Leach circuit using electro-winning and smelting to produce a saleable product.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| 4 | 3.7 | 3.3 |
Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Gold
|
oz
| ......  | ...... | 105,776 |
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Tonnes processed
| ...... | 1,227,598 t | 1,232,376 t |
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Reserves at June 30, 2017:
| Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
4.7 Mt
|
Gold
|
8.37 g/t
|
1.3 M oz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Tailings
|
13.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.51 g/t
|
0.6 M oz
|
|
Total Resource
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
9.6 Mt
|
Gold
|
10.3 g/t
|
3.2 M oz
|
|
Total Resource
|
Tailings
|
21.4 Mt
|
Gold
|
1.3 g/t
|
0.9 M oz
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
| Document | Year |
|
...................................
|
2017
|
|
...................................
|
2016
|
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Aerial view:
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