CASE STUDY
Developing a Mine Work Program for a Manganese mine in the Northern Cape, unlocking a critical mineral
Minrom Consulting developed a Mining Work Programme for a manganese operation in South Africa’s Northern Cape. The work used geological mapping, reverse circulation drilling, 3D orebody interpretation, and grade analysis to delineate mineable manganese mineralization, identify high-grade potholes, and assess dolomitic pinnacle dilution risk before further resource definition.
Scope of Work
Key takeaways
- Minrom developed a Mining Work Programme for a Northern Cape manganese mine.
- RC drilling helped define mineable manganese zones and high-grade potholes.
- The project identified dolomitic pinnacle dilution as a mine planning risk.
- Minrom recommended further drilling and sampling to refine the resource model.
Commodity
Manganese (Mn)
Country
Northern Cape, South Africa
Project Type
Mining Work Programme
Project overview
Minrom Consulting was recently contacted develop a Mining Work Programme (MWP) for a well know operation.
The manganese ore units from part of the Gamagara Formation and typically occur along the unconformity in the Cambelrand Dolomite Rocks and occur as brecciated karstic potholes and manganese ore with included pinnacles of the basement dolomite. The ferromanganese ore is primarily found on top of the Gamagara ridge and along the western side of the Gamagara hill into the valley a shallowly dipping tabular ferromanganese layer.
How was the Mine Works Program Developed?
Minrom needed to define and delineate mineable resources. This was achieved by reverse circulation drilling of over 25 00 metres. Two areas were targeted for the drilling programme based on the geological mapping previous performed by Minrom. The purpose of the drilling programme was to delineate the manganese mineralisation and identify mineable mineralisation based on the mines current production and economic requirements.
Figure 1
Geological cross-section of the manganese deposits of the Western belt (adapted from Cairncross et al. 2007).
Figure 2
Drill location pits 1 and 2 with 3D representation of the orebody and the distribution of the manganese concentration.
Figure 3
Sample and Site Photographs.
Project overview
Minrom Consulting was recently contacted develop a Mining Work Programme (MWP) for a well know operation.
The manganese ore units from part of the Gamagara Formation and typically occur along the unconformity in the Cambelrand Dolomite Rocks and occur as brecciated karstic potholes and manganese ore with included pinnacles of the basement dolomite. The ferromanganese ore is primarily found on top of the Gamagara ridge and along the western side of the Gamagara hill into the valley a shallowly dipping tabular ferromanganese layer.
Figure 1
Geological cross-section of the manganese deposits of the Western belt (adapted from Cairncross et al. 2007).
How was the Mine Works Program Developed?
Minrom needed to define and delineate mineable resources. This was achieved by reverse circulation drilling of over 25 00 metres. Two areas were targeted for the drilling programme based on the geological mapping previous performed by Minrom. The purpose of the drilling programme was to delineate the manganese mineralisation and identify mineable mineralisation based on the mines current production and economic requirements.
Figure 2
Drill location pits 1 and 2 with 3D representation of the orebody and the distribution of the manganese concentration.
Figure 3
Sample and Site Photographs.
Minrom’s Recommendation
It was concluded that the area contained significant manganese mineralisation of mineable grades with several pockets (or “potholes”) containing high grade manganese. The drilling also identified areas which were strongly affected by dolomitic pinnacle dilution which greatly assists in the mining planning and scheduling.
What does the dolomite pinnacles mean in a mining environment. Certain areas in the project area were affected by a high concentration of Dolomite Pinnacles. The density and abundance of these pinnacle effect the mining sequence negatively as dilution and loss of material are encountered. Minrom identified this risk, and recommended additional drilling, sampling and definition be performed to define and delineate the mining area. The area was further drilled in support of the resource update.