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. The ore consists of oxidised tailings containing pyrite and arsenopyrite associated gold, which was not recovered in the initial treatment process.

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

Fairview Mine produces approximately 45% of Barberton Mines’ underground gold production with New Consort Mine, Sheba Mine and BTRP producing 10%, 20% and 25% 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.

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 shaft systems to 11 Level. From here, the ore is crushed and transported via an aerial bucket system to the Fairview metallurgical plant.

New Consort Mine An underground complex consisting of adits and subvertical shaft systems. The mining operations is carried out using up-dip cut-and-fill mining method. Ore is extracted mainly from the MMR, PC and 3 Shaft sections, located 200m to 1.5km below surface. The ore is transported through the shaft system to the New Consort metallurgical plant.

Sheba Mine An underground complex consisting of adits and subvertical shaft systems. The mining operations are carried out using up-dip cut-and-fill and long hole open stoping mining methods. Ore is mined from near surface from the MRC, Sheba West and Thomas orebodies to approximately 1.2km below surface in the Zwartkoppie (ZK) orebody. The ore is transported through the shaft system to the Sheba metallurgical plant.

Barberton Tailings Retreatment Plant is a surface re-mining site with road access from all surface material sources to the plant. Ore is either pumped (hydraulic re-mining and Fairview plant tailings) or trucked (load-and-haul) to the BTRP plant.

Fairview metallurgical plant.
Fairview metallurgical plant consists of a milling, gravity gold separation, flotation, BIOX® and carbon-in-pulp (CIP) circuit with a carbon regeneration section, elution (and electro-winning) circuit and smelt house. The Fairview plant capacity is 13.5ktpm.

New Consort metallurgical plant.
Ore from New Consort Mine is crushed, milled, gravity gold concentrated and floated. The float concentrate is transported to the Fairview BIOX® section for further processing, while the tails are subjected to the New Consort carbonin-leach (CIL) circuit. The loaded carbon from the CIL section is transported to Fairview for elution (and electro-winning). The total capacity of the New Consort metallurgical plant is 8ktpm.

Sheba metallurgical plant.
Jre from Sheba mine is crushed and milled, gravity separated and floated. The gravity concentrate is smelted in the Fairview smelt house. Flotation concentrate is transported to the Fairview ........