In recent years, there have been important advances in the techniques used in the exploration for alluvial diamonds, enhancing the ability to locate new deposits. These include improvements in the remote sensing techniques of aerial photography and satellite image interpretation, as well as various airborne and ground geophysical methods. The extremely low concentrations of diamond in most alluvial deposits and the almost random distribution of the diamonds within the gravels, necessitate the taking of large samples in order to evaluate the commercial potential of a deposit. In the southern, Schweizer-Reneke diamond field, five ages of diamondiferous ravels occur, ranging from late Cretaceous to 9 Pleistocene. Post-depositional modification has resulted in the formation of colluvial and eluvial "Rooikoppie" deposits, which were preferentially mined by the artisanal diggers of the previous century. The northern Lichtenburg, and eastern Ventersdorp diamond fields are largely underlain by dolomitic horizons that have undergone at least four phases of karst development. Even though several phases of gravel deposition have occurred, the distribution of the diamondiferous gravels is influenced by weathering features in the dolomite and these now occur as pothole-fill. Sinuous, discontinuous, narrow, steep-sided alluvial channels or laterally more continuous, yet thin sheet-like gravels, assumed to be younger reworked material. The pot holes (or sinkholes) have formed excellent trap sites for diamonds and enormous quantities of diamonds have been recovered from some of these. In order to measure progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the mining industry, it is necessary to identify the host communities that are directly influenced by mining operations. This is also a requirement of Social and Labour Plans (SLPs) required of mining companies in South Africa to ensure mining contributes to socio-economic development. She lives in a shack in an informal settlement south of the city and has had to put on hold her dream of building a house for her and her 7-year-old daughter.This paper provides the first comprehensive mapping and classification of all 84 mining host communities (cities, towns and villages) in South Africa that are directly influenced by large-scale mining. She has not been able to work since March of last year after her job at the Johannesburg airport was cut because of the pandemic. Molefi, who had made the trip to KwaHlathi from Johannesburg, said she would consult gemologists on her own to find out whether the stones she unearthed were indeed diamonds. Pillay said, and officials would seek to make sure the community benefits if there are profits to be made. “It’s not an unreasonable concern given how things have happened in the past,” he said.Ī geological study is underway to determine the commercial value of the quartz, Mr. That sentiment did not surprise Ravi Pillay, an executive in the provincial government in charge of economic development. “They’re spreading fake news that this is not a diamond, because they don’t want people to go and dig the diamonds there.” Khazi said when reached by phone after the announcement.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |