Location | |
---|---|
Location | Carletonville |
Province | Gauteng |
Country | South Africa |
Coordinates | 26°23′26.16″S27°29′24″E / 26.3906000°S 27.49000°E |
Production | |
Products | gold, uranium |
Owner | |
Company | Sibanye-Stillwater |
Website | www.sibanyestillwater.com/our-business/southern-africa/gold/driefontein/overview |
Year of acquisition | 2002 |
The Driefontein mine is a large mine located in the northern part of South Africa in Gauteng. Driefontein is an important gold producer and represents one of the largest uranium reserves in South Africa having estimated reserves of 238 million tonnes of ore grading 0.0053% uranium. [1]
In 1937, aided by a magnetometer, Dr Rudolf Krahman discovered vast gold deposits of the West Wits Line near Carletonville South Africa, including those developed as the Driefontein and Kloof (later KDC) mines.
In 1999, Gold Fields acquired Driefontein through the purchase AGA's 21.5% shareholding, then making Gold Fields the world's second largest gold producer. Gold Fields Ltd held full interest in GFI Mining South Africa (Proprietary) Limited which fully owned Driefontein.
On 30 August 2005, Driefontein officially poured its 100 millionth ounce of gold.
In 2006, Driefontein successfully converted its "old order mining licence"to new order MR" and its 9 Shaft completion project was approved. [2]
In 2012, Gold Fields Limited unbundled its subsidiary, GFI Mining South Africa Proprietary Limited ("GFIMSA"), which was then renamed Sibanye Gold Limited ("Sibanye Gold"), [later Sibanye-Stillwater], and consisted of the KDC (formerly Kloof) and Beatrix mines, as well as an array of support service entities in South Africa. [3]
Lonmin plc, formerly Lonrho plc, was a British producer of platinum group metals operating in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its registered office was in London, and its operational headquarters were in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Driefontein is the Driefontein Mine in the West Witwatersrand Basin mining field. The West Wits field was discovered in 1931 and commenced operations with Venterspost Gold Mine in 1939. In 1952, the West Driefontein mine is opened. In 1968, Kloof mine commences operations. In 1972, East Driefontein opens. In 1981, consolidation starts. In 1999, Gold Fields took control of the combined East and West Driefontein mines and merged them starting 2000 with Venterspost, Libanon, Leuudoorn and Kloof mines. In 2010, the current Kloof-Driefontein Complex, comprising KDC East and KDC West, is formed.
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