The VR is the primary economic horizon at Kopanang and the Crystalkop Reef (C Reef) is the secondary economic horizon, which contributes less than 2% of the total mining volume. Both reefs are narrow tabular deposits forming part of the Witwatersrand Supergroup and are stratigraphically located near the middle of the Central Rand Group. The VR lies approximately 255 m below the C Reef.

The major fault systems affecting Kopanang are the oldest north-westerly dipping Zuiping faults, and the younger Shaft and Jersey fault systems, which dip to the south east. The primary economic horizon at Tau Lekoa, Jonkerskraal and Weltevreden is the VCR. The VCR dips between 20° and 30° at Tau Lekoa, whereas the dip at Jonkerskraal is steeper (>30°) and gentler at Weltevreden (average of 15°).

The VCR in this locality is structurally complex due to disruption by a number of dykes and faults. The major faults of post-Ventersdorp age present tend to be normal, trending NNE-SSW direction and these include the Schoonspruit and Nooitgedacht faults, both of which have displacements of over 100 m. Two dextral faults with lateral movement (wrenching) in the order of 675 m and 170 m have been mapped on Tau Lekoa and projected into the adjacent project areas. There are also a number of intrusives present, which vary in age from pre-Ventersdorp through to Karoo in age.

The Witwatersrand gold deposits are of the “Quartz Pebble Conglomerate Au-U type”. These are also refe ........

Kopanang is a deep level mature gold mine and the planned production rate of 66 ktpm is significantly lower than the installed capacity of the infrastructure. Two gold-bearing horizons, viz. VR and C Reef, are accessed through a single shaft system which descends to a maximum depth of 2 334 m, while the main working levels are situated between 1 300 m and 2 064 mbs. The Kopanang ore body is geologically complex and scattered mining methods are employed. Access to the orebody is mainly by footwall haulages.

The Kopanang Mine has a well-established underground infrastructure. Its underground ore transportation system includes a rail track system and features a unique “Big Mamma” underground locomotive, which is designed to transport high volumes of broken ore to the shaft at the depth of 2,334 meters. The Kopanang Mine is accessible by a single shaft that is 10.6 meters in diameter, which is one of the largest in the South African gold mining industry. The shaft has a rock hoisting capacity of 260,000 tons per month and is divided into separate compartments for men and material and rock hoisting.

The broken ore is hoisted in a conveyance to surface by the winder, and transported from shafts to silos by conveying belts for stockpiling. The ores in silos are then transported to West Gold Plant by trains operated by a third party.

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