Mine detail: Mponeng

Previously called 'Western Deep Levels'

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Location

Lat / long: -26.41327, 27.41813

Resource(M)

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Silver, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Iridium, Osmium, Platinum, PGE, Uranium
Ore: Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite, Sperrylite, Sphalerite
Orebody form: TABULAR/BLANKET
Discovery year: 1930

Production

Operation type: Unknown
Production size: Large
Development status: Producer
First production started: 1962

Geology

Host rock:Transvaal System-Dolomite;Witwatersrand System (Upper Division)-Quartzites, Shales, Grits, Conglomerates, And Carbon Granules
Host type:Quartzite,Shale,Conglomerate,Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
Associated rock:Ventersdorp System-Lava
Associated type:Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
Structure:Unique Continuity Of Gold - Bearing Horizons Over Extended Area, Though Well Marked By Folding, Faulting And (Locally) Erosion And Redepositon Of Overlying Sediments. The Ventersdorp Contact Reef Unconformably Overlies The Carbon Leader Reef, Gentle Dip Regionally, With Folds And Faults Locally. Intrusive Dikes Penetrate And Dilute Minable Ore Horizons. Overlying Lavas And Dolomites Are Massive.
Tectonic:Platform
Alteration processes:None

References

MRDSW014843
DEP10071446
Reference{Deposit:: ANGLO AMERICAN CORPORATION OF SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED; ANNUAL REPORTS: 1974 & 1975}{Deposit:: SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD SHARES; IVOR JONES, ROY AND CO., INC., JOHANNESBURG; 1975}{Deposit:: MINERAL RESOURCES OF SOUTH - CENTRAL AFRICA; PELLETIER, R. A.; 1964}{Deposit:: GOLD IN THE TRANSVAAL (MINES OF THE ANGLO AMERICAN CORPORATION GROUP); 1961}{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 AFRICA INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY, 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:: FEATHER, 1976, MINERALOGY OF PLATINUM-GROUP MINERALS IN THE WITWATERSRAND: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 71, NO. 7, P. 1419.}{Deposit:: MINING JOURNAL, 1977, V. 288.}{Deposit:: MINING JOURNAL, 1975, MINING JOURNAL, V. 19, NO. 1, MAY 1975.}{Production:: CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1982 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1983 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1984 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1985 ; CHAMBER OF MINES ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS-1986 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA; JANUARY - DECEMBER 1979 ; ANALYSES OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1980 ; CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA - ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS - 1981 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA; JANUARY - DECEMBER 1978 ; ANALYSIS OF WORKING RESULTS, CHAMBER OF MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA, JANUARY-DECEMBER 1977}
ReporterMccarter, Lorna D., Sweetwood, Charles W.