Mining Intelligence and News
South Africa

Koffiefontein Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusCare and Maintenance
Commodities
  • Diamond
Mining Method
  • Sub-level caving
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Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotKoffiefontein has been loss making for several years and mining ceased at the end of CY 2022 when the mine was placed on care and maintenance ahead of a responsible closure. Engagement with key stakeholders remains constructive as seek to ensure an inclusive and responsible process towards mine closure.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Petra Diamonds Ltd. 74 % Indirect
Ownership Tree
Petra Diamonds: 74%

Kago Diamonds (Pty) Ltd: 14%

Itumeleng Petra Diamonds Employee Trust (IPDET): 12%.

The IPDET holds a 12% interest in each of the Group’s South African operations, with Petra’s commercial BEE Partners holding the remaining 14% interest through their respective shareholdings in Kago Diamonds, in which Petra has a 31.46% interest. The effective interest percentages of Petra Diamonds attributable to Koffiefontein is 78.4%.

Deposit type

  • Kimberlite

Summary:

Wagner (1914) described two main kimberlite varieties, as well as examples of late-stage internal dykes. Clement (1982) recognized three varieties of kimberlite in the main pipe, which he named KOF1-3. These comprised two diatreme-facies (KOF1 and 2) and a hypabyssalfacies kimberlite (KOF3). The KOF-1 variety was a TKB that occupied the main pipe, whereas KOF-2 was a TKB that occupied the “West Fissure”. The KOF-3 variety was the hypabyssal intrusion that occurred as the “East Fissure”. A further notable feature was the presence of a large floating reef comprising various Karoo lithologies in the main pipe. A satellite kimberlite pipe named Ebenhaezer, which also contained diatreme-facies kimberlite, is located close to the main pipe. Clement speculated that these two pipes once coalesced to form a single large crater.

Mapping of deeper levels by Naidoo et al. (2004) found evidence for at least two main volcaniclastic kimberlite varieties in the main pipe, and demonstrated that these were geochemically distinct based on their groundmass spinel compositions. They described the layered nature of the “floating reef” as well as intermixing between layered breccias and relatively lithic-poor volcaniclastic kimberlite. They also demonstrated that the kimberlite between the floating reef and the eastern contact at depth to be geochemically distinct from the main kimberlite variety that had been mined throughout the life of the mine. They called into question the appropriateness of the “TKB” classification of Clement (1982).

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits202320222021202020192018201720162015
Diamond carats  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe63,63552,53751,17362,19045,384
All production numbers are expressed as mineral.

Operational metrics

Metrics202320222021202020192018201720162015
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1,000,726 t649,259 t667,821 t1,128,198 t866,027 t

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Operating Costs

Currency20232022202120202019201820172016
Total operating costs ($/t milled) ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Financials

Units2023202220212020201920182017
Capital expenditures M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 6.1   12.3   18.8  
Sustaining costs M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 0.9   2.7   5.5  
Revenue M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 28.9   27.2   28.4  
Operating Income M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -43.2   -78.5   -10.9  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 13, 2023

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2023
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2022
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2020
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2019
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2018
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2017
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2016

Aerial view:

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