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Blyvooruitzicht Mine

Producer in South Africa with commodities Gold, Uranium, Platinum, Osmium, Iridium, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Silver, Sulfur-Pyrite
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Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10079051
MRDS ID W027867
Record type Site
Current site name Blyvooruitzicht Mine

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: 27.38479, -26.3966 (WGS84)
Elevation 1615
Relative position 5 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF CARLETONVILLE; 14 KILOMETERS NORTHWEST OF FOCHVILLE
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Geographic areas

Country
South Africa

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Uranium Secondary
Platinum Secondary
Osmium Secondary
Iridium Secondary
Ruthenium Secondary
Rhodium Secondary
Silver Secondary
Sulfur-Pyrite Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • PYRITE (AND SULFURIC ACID) NOT CURRENTLY RECOVERED SMALL QUANTITIES PT AND AG RECOVERED BUT UNIMPORTANT IN SOUTH AFRICA TERMS. PT IS AN IMPURITY IN GOLD AND IS RECOVERED AT THE RAND REFINERY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE PURIFICATION PROCESS.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Galena Ore
Gold Ore
Pyrite Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Sphalerite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) None

Analytical data

Result SEE PRODUCTION ENTRIES. COMPOSITION OF THE PLATINOIDS IN PERCENT: IR = 31.4, OS = 35.3, RU = 17.5, PT = 14.7, RH = 1.1.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 193
USGS model code 29a
BC deposit profile C04
Deposit model name Quartz pebble conglomerate Au-U (BC name is Paleoplacer U-Au-PGE-Sn-Ti

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
    Rock unit name Ventersdorp System-Lava
    Rock description Ventersdorp System-Lava
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Rock unit name Transvaal System Shales (Pretoria Series), Dolomite (Dolomite Series) And Conglomerates (Black Reef Series);Witwatersrand System (Upper Division)-Quartzites, Shales, Grits, Conglomerates And Carbon Granules
    Rock description Transvaal System Shales (Pretoria Series), Dolomite (Dolomite Series) And Conglomerates (Black Reef Series);Witwatersrand System (Upper Division)-Quartzites, Shales, Grits, Conglomerates And Carbon Granules
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Conglomerate

Nearby scientific data

(1) 27.38479, -26.3966
ListMap

Geologic structures

Type Description Terms
Regional Unique Continuity Of Gold-Bearing Horizons Over Extended Area, Though Well Marked By Dikes, Faulting, Early Erosion And Redeposition Of Overlying Sediments. The Ventersdorp Contact Reef Unconformably Overlies The Carbon Leader Reef.
Local Gentle Dip With Faulting Locally, And Minor Folding. Intrusive Dikes Penetrate And Dilute Minable Ore Horizons. Overlying Lavas And Dolomites Are Massive.

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR/BLANKET
    Strike E - W
    Dip 22 DEG. S.
    Thickness 1M
    Depth to bottom 2500M
    Depth to top 1000M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Gentle Uplift Of Continental Mass; Erosion; Peneplanation; Folding; Faulting; Volcanicity; Dike Injection And Build-Up Of Younger Sediments

Economic information

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant No
Discovery year 1932
Discoverer Dr. R. Krahmann, West Witwatersrand Areas Limited
Discovery method Geophysical Anomaly
Year of first production 1942

Mining district

District name Far West Rand (West Wits Line) Of Witwatersrand Goldfields

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mining Co. Ltd.
  • Type Owner
    Owner Rand Mines Ltd. (Barlow Rand Ltd).

Production statistics

  • Year 1977
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.379 Toz Au /Met Ton Of Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.159 Kg U3o8/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 159g/mt
  • Year 1979
    Material U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.337 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.168 Kg U3o8/Mt Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 168g/mt
  • Year 1980
    Material ORE U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.285 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1981
    Material U
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.174 Kg U3o8/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 174g/mt
  • Year 1982
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.141 Kg U3o8/Met Ton Ore Treated
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major U3O8 Ore Uranium Uranium 141g/mt
  • Year 1982
    Material AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.203 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1982
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.191 Toz Au/Met Tons Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1983
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Ap_Grade: ^0.239 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.572 T02 Au/Met Ton Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 1g/mt
  • Year 1986
    Period 1986
    Material ORE AU
    Accuracy Accurate
    Description Cp_Grade: ^0.572 Toz Au/Met Ton Ore Milled
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Ore Gold Gold 1g/mt

Comments on the production information

  • PYRITE AND SULFURIC ACID NOT CURRENTLY RECOVERED. THE MAIN REEF GROUP IS WORKED WITH A AU/PT RECOVERY = 3250:1.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Total resources 4,805,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 17.791 g/mt Gold Major 1986

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1986 ; EXPLORATION OF REEF HORIZONS OTHER THAN THE CARBON LEADER HAS ADDED 4,000 TONS OF ORE ON THE MAIN REEF HORIZON AT AN AVERAGE GRADE OF 248 TOZ AU/MET TON ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 2500M

Comments on the workings information

  • APPROX. DEPTH OF DEVELOPED ORE DOWN-DIP.

Comments on development

  • MILL.CAP: 1.9 MIL. MET. T/YR. ; ECON.YEAR: 1974 ; ECON.COM: A HIGH GRADE GOLD PRODUCER WITH MODERATELY HIGH URANIUM VALUES BY SOUTH AFRICAN STANDARDS. LOW OPERATING COSTS ( $82.52 / TROY OUNCE OF GOLD RECOVERED; 1977 ). MINE OPERATES FROM ONE MINING HORIZON ONLY; THE CARBON LEADER REEF. EST. MINE LIFE: 10 YEARS.

Reference information

Links to other databases

Agency Database name Acronym Record ID Notes
USGS Mineral Resources Data System MRDS W027867

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, FIFTH EDITION, HANDBOOK 7 ; 1976

  • Deposit

    MINERAL RESOURCES OF SOUTH - CENTRAL AFRICA; PELLETIER, R.A.; 1964

  • Deposit

    MERTIE, 1969, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF PLATINUM METALS: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 630, P. 45-48.

  • Deposit

    COUSINS, 1973, PLATINOIDS IN THE WITWATERSRAND SYSTEM: JOURNAL OF SOUTH AFRICAN INST. MIN. AND METALL., V. 73, NO. 6, P. 3-5.

  • Deposit

    WAGNER, 1929, PLATINUM DEPOSITS AND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA: STRUIK (PTY) LTD., CAPETOWN 1973, P. 32-40.

  • Deposit

    IVOR JONES, ROY & COMPANY, INC., SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD SHARES: JOHANNESBURG, IVOR JONES, ROY & COMPANY, INC.

  • Deposit

    BARLOW RAND LIMITED, 1976, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Deposit

    BARLOW RAND LIMITED, 1975, ANNUAL REPORTS.

  • Production

    CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986 ; CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1981 ; CHAMBER OF MINES - ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1982 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1983 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. JANUARY - DECEMBER 1979 ; ANALYSES OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1980 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA. JANUARY - DECEMBER 1978

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit MAX. THICKNESS REFERS TO STOPING WIDTH OF CARBON LEADER REEF. DEPTH TO TOP IS APPROX. UPDIP SUB-CONTACT OF CARBON LEADER REEF. DEPTH TO BOTTOM IS APPROX. DEPTH OF DEVELOPED ORE DOWN-DIP. THE BOUNDARIES OF BLYVOORUITZICHT ARE WELL DEFINED BY THE SUB-OUTCROP (SUB-CONTACT) TO THE NORTH AND OTHER WEST WITS LINE MINES ON THE THREE OTHER SIDES. ALMOST TWO-THIRDS OF THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN FULLY DEVELOPED AND STOPED.
Deposit THIS RECORD INCLUDES DATA FROM RECORD M046308 WHICH HAS BEEN DELETED FROM MRDS.
Deposit INFORMATION MERGED FROM RECORD NUMBER W028695 ; W028721 ; W030953 ; W032320 ; W032936 ; W033148 ; W033760 ; W044627 ; W055261

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-DEC-1976 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-AUG-1977 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-OCT-1978 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1979 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-MAY-1980 Sweetwood, Charles W. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1981 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1982 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1983 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1984 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1985 Mccarter, Lorna D Department of State
Updater 01-JUL-1987 Mccarter, Lorna D. Department of State