AbstractsEarth & Environmental Science

A geometallurgical characterization of the Vaal Reef–a facies at Moab Khotsong Mine, AngloGold Ashanti, with specific focus on Gold and Uranium deportment

by Donovan Pienaar




Institution: University of Johannesburg
Department:
Year: 2015
Keywords: Gold ores - Geology - South Africa - Vaal Reef; Geology - South Africa - Vaal Reef; Gold mines and mining - South Africa - Vaal Reef; Uranium ores - Geology - South Africa - Vaal Reef
Record ID: 1430492
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13708


Abstract

The Witwatersrand Supergroup is host to a number of auriferous and uraniferous conglomeratic reefs, which have been extensively exploited along the Witwatersrand Basin margins. The current study investigates the Vaal Reef, in the Klerksdorp gold field with particular focus on conducting a geometallurgical characterization of the ore which may ultimately enhance the recovery of gold and uranium and our understanding of how the ore responds to processing. Six samples were collected from AngloGold Ashanti’s Moab Khotsong mine and prepared for a chemical and mineralogical deportment study. These samples were milled and crushed down to 80% passing -75μm and processed for head chemistry assays, grading analysis as well as heavy liquid separation analysis as part of the chemical deportment. The samples were also submitted for gold cyanide, acid uranium and diagnostic leach tests.....