Heritage Cases

N J VAN ZYL intends to mine for Diamonds (Alluvial) (DA) situated on the farm VUURFONTEIN 117 HO (over a portion of the Remaining Extent of Portion 13), Bloemhof district and 5 hectares in total. See location of application area. The alluvial diamond gravel will be mined over the whole of the application area. The gravel is on average 2.5 meter thick with a topsoil layer which varies between 1000 and 1500 millimeters. The area that was identified and demarcated is shown on the Sketch plan. The gravel reserve on these 5 hectares is estimated at 50’000m³ or ± 56’650 tons and the total material to be moved is 50’000m³. The above area will be mined through opencast excavations where the topsoil will be stripped separately and stockpiled. The gravel is then removed with a 30-ton excavator and placed next to the excavation. A Front -end Loader takes the gravel to the 14 feet washing pan which is fed at a rate of 10m³ an hour, 48m³ a day and 4800m³ a month. All the rough are first placed back into the bottom of the excavation, hereafter the puddle out of the pan is pumped directly back into the open excavation. After the puddle dried off, the topsoil is put back on top again. The excavations will be 60m in length 10m wide and ±2,5 meters deep on average. Four excavations will be opened at any given time. The total estimated reserve of gravel is 50’000m³ taken at a production rate of 48’00m³ a month it will take 24 months to work the estimated reserve of ±50’000m³. The production rate is taken at 4’800m³/month. The gravel which is relatively shallow (2,5 meter) and the low production rate of the applicant make this 5 hectare to be worked sustainable over a period of two years.