Small-scale gold mining in southern Africa
- Authors: Joubert, Barend Daniel
- Date: 1992
- Subjects: Gold mines and mining -- South Africa , Abandoned mines , Abandoned mines -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5002 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005615 , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa , Abandoned mines , Abandoned mines -- South Africa
- Description: The general characteristics of gold deposits are reviewed, and a classification of gold deposits based on mineability is proposed. Evaluation, mlnlng and beneficiation methods are briefly discussed. It is concluded that the most viable targets for small-scale companies comprise deposits that require the least pre-production time and expense. Great potential exists for the small-scale reclamation of gold from tailings dumps and abandoned mines in Southern Africa. There is also potential for developing new smallscale gold mines in the Archaean greenstone terranes of the Zimbabwean and Kaapvaal cratons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1992
- Authors: Joubert, Barend Daniel
- Date: 1992
- Subjects: Gold mines and mining -- South Africa , Abandoned mines , Abandoned mines -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5002 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005615 , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa , Abandoned mines , Abandoned mines -- South Africa
- Description: The general characteristics of gold deposits are reviewed, and a classification of gold deposits based on mineability is proposed. Evaluation, mlnlng and beneficiation methods are briefly discussed. It is concluded that the most viable targets for small-scale companies comprise deposits that require the least pre-production time and expense. Great potential exists for the small-scale reclamation of gold from tailings dumps and abandoned mines in Southern Africa. There is also potential for developing new smallscale gold mines in the Archaean greenstone terranes of the Zimbabwean and Kaapvaal cratons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1992
The nature and origin of gold mineralization in the Tugela valley, Natal Structural and Metamorphic Province
- Authors: De Klerk, Ian Duncan
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: Gold ores -- Geology -- South Africa , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4979 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005591 , Gold ores -- Geology -- South Africa , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa
- Description: The project area is situated within the Tugela Valley, located in the Northern Marginal Zone of the Natal Structural and Metamorphic Province, and this work outlines the different styles of gold mineralization found in the Tugela Valley. Two different styles have been recognized and both have economic significance:- 1) Epigenetic shear zone-hosted gold occurs in late-stage relatively undeformed thin quartz veins confined to shear zones, and is present in both the greenschist facies Natal Thrust Belt and the amphibolite facies Natal Nappe Complex. However the vast majority of these occurrences are concentrated within the thrust front (i.e. the Natal Thrust Belt). The gold grades (up to 7 g/t) and the hydrothermal alteration assemblages associated with the epigenetic deposits have been documented. 2) An as yet unrecognized occurrence of syngenetic gold mineralization is found associated with the sediment-hosted exhalative massive, to semi-massive, sulphides of the iThuma prospect, located within the amphibolite facies Natal Nappe Complex. Here gold (up to 3 g/t) is concentrated together with the main sulphide are, as well as some gold enrichment (230ppb) in the hydrothermally altered footwall feeder pipe. It is proposed that the epigenetic mineralization was formed as a consequence of the northward directed abduction of the major thrust slices of the Natal Nappe Complex. This increased the permeability of the rocks and provided channelways for the focussing of fluids. Deposition took place at the thrust front where metamorphic hydrothermal fluids interacted with meteoric water.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1991
- Authors: De Klerk, Ian Duncan
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: Gold ores -- Geology -- South Africa , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4979 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005591 , Gold ores -- Geology -- South Africa , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa
- Description: The project area is situated within the Tugela Valley, located in the Northern Marginal Zone of the Natal Structural and Metamorphic Province, and this work outlines the different styles of gold mineralization found in the Tugela Valley. Two different styles have been recognized and both have economic significance:- 1) Epigenetic shear zone-hosted gold occurs in late-stage relatively undeformed thin quartz veins confined to shear zones, and is present in both the greenschist facies Natal Thrust Belt and the amphibolite facies Natal Nappe Complex. However the vast majority of these occurrences are concentrated within the thrust front (i.e. the Natal Thrust Belt). The gold grades (up to 7 g/t) and the hydrothermal alteration assemblages associated with the epigenetic deposits have been documented. 2) An as yet unrecognized occurrence of syngenetic gold mineralization is found associated with the sediment-hosted exhalative massive, to semi-massive, sulphides of the iThuma prospect, located within the amphibolite facies Natal Nappe Complex. Here gold (up to 3 g/t) is concentrated together with the main sulphide are, as well as some gold enrichment (230ppb) in the hydrothermally altered footwall feeder pipe. It is proposed that the epigenetic mineralization was formed as a consequence of the northward directed abduction of the major thrust slices of the Natal Nappe Complex. This increased the permeability of the rocks and provided channelways for the focussing of fluids. Deposition took place at the thrust front where metamorphic hydrothermal fluids interacted with meteoric water.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1991
Gold mineralization in archaean cherts and iron-formations a review of the economic geology
- Authors: Bellamy, R E S
- Date: 1979
- Subjects: Gold ores -- Geology -- South Africa , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa , Greenstone belts -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4968 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005580 , Gold ores -- Geology -- South Africa , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa , Greenstone belts -- South Africa
- Description: The distribution of gold in igneous rocks and minerals is described and discussed. Not all the gold in igneous rocks is contained within early formed crystal lattices. Evidence that gold can be associated with late stage crystallizing phases is described. It is concluded that some of the gold in hydrothermal and volcanogenic deposits may have come from a primary magmatic source rather than having been leached from solid country rock. Gold is probably transported as chloride complexes at temperatures greater than about 300°C. At lower temperatures it is probably transported with other metals as sulphide and thio-sulphide complexes. The precipitation of gold from the transporting medium is brought about by changes in the physico-chemical conditions within that medium. Decrease in pressure is probably not a major cause of precipitation in volcanogenic environments. The geology of volcanogenic iron-formations is described and discussed, relative to the development of greenstone belts. Oxide facies iron-formations were formed in shallow oxidizing environments. They are associated with volcanogenic and clastic sediments. Sulphide facies iron-formations were precipitated in the deeper parts of geosynclinal structures. They are associated with mafic and ultramafic rocks similar to modern oceanic volcanic assemblages. Carbonate facies iron-formations were deposited in the regions between oxide facies and sulphide facies. Other banded iron-formations are found associated with base metal massive sulphide deposits related to arctype volcanic centres. These deposits are found in the regions where carbonate facies iron-formations were formed. Exploration for and exploitation of gold deposits in Archaean iron-formations are discussed. Geochemical exploration programmes are aided by the association of gold with trace amounts of base metals. Geophysical exploration methods that can be employed include magnetometer, I.P. and E.M. surveys. The metallurgical treatment of the ores should include "roasting" because a large proportion of the gold occurs as submicroscopic grains within sulphide mineral crystals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1979
- Authors: Bellamy, R E S
- Date: 1979
- Subjects: Gold ores -- Geology -- South Africa , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa , Greenstone belts -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4968 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005580 , Gold ores -- Geology -- South Africa , Gold mines and mining -- South Africa , Greenstone belts -- South Africa
- Description: The distribution of gold in igneous rocks and minerals is described and discussed. Not all the gold in igneous rocks is contained within early formed crystal lattices. Evidence that gold can be associated with late stage crystallizing phases is described. It is concluded that some of the gold in hydrothermal and volcanogenic deposits may have come from a primary magmatic source rather than having been leached from solid country rock. Gold is probably transported as chloride complexes at temperatures greater than about 300°C. At lower temperatures it is probably transported with other metals as sulphide and thio-sulphide complexes. The precipitation of gold from the transporting medium is brought about by changes in the physico-chemical conditions within that medium. Decrease in pressure is probably not a major cause of precipitation in volcanogenic environments. The geology of volcanogenic iron-formations is described and discussed, relative to the development of greenstone belts. Oxide facies iron-formations were formed in shallow oxidizing environments. They are associated with volcanogenic and clastic sediments. Sulphide facies iron-formations were precipitated in the deeper parts of geosynclinal structures. They are associated with mafic and ultramafic rocks similar to modern oceanic volcanic assemblages. Carbonate facies iron-formations were deposited in the regions between oxide facies and sulphide facies. Other banded iron-formations are found associated with base metal massive sulphide deposits related to arctype volcanic centres. These deposits are found in the regions where carbonate facies iron-formations were formed. Exploration for and exploitation of gold deposits in Archaean iron-formations are discussed. Geochemical exploration programmes are aided by the association of gold with trace amounts of base metals. Geophysical exploration methods that can be employed include magnetometer, I.P. and E.M. surveys. The metallurgical treatment of the ores should include "roasting" because a large proportion of the gold occurs as submicroscopic grains within sulphide mineral crystals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1979
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »