Leeuwfontein 185 HO

The testing pits will concentrate on the areas where the gravel outcrops and with the assistance of mapping done during Phase 1. In Phase 2 test pits will be made with a 30-ton excavator (3 m x 2 m x ±1.5m deep), on a grid of 100 x 100 meters and where necessary on a 50 x 50 meters to determine the depth and boundaries of the gravel. It is envisaged that 200 test pits will be made over the entire application area (‎3’081.8075 ha). These boundaries will be surveyed and mapped to determine where the bulk samples will be taken. Each test pit will be examined and closed immediately before moving to the next one. Grab samples from the test pits will be send to a laboratory for analysing if required.
Phase 2: 200 test pits, surface area: 3m x 2m = 6m² x 200 pits = total of 1’200 m² or 0.12 ha.
Bulk Sampling: In the areas where the proposed minerals were identified through test pits, the quality, grade, and depth need to be confirmed by means of bulk sampling. In the identified application area, a bulk sample to a total of ±48’000 m³ gravel will be taken, consisting of trenches 20 x 50 x ± 1.5m (deep). With the average gravel depth of ±3.5m, (1m thickness) 20 trenches will be needed to get to 48’000m³ or 54’384 ton. These trenches will be ±100 m apart from each other; the envisaged positions of the trenches will be indicated on a map at the end of Phase 3. The topsoil will be removed with an excavator and stored on a separate stockpile for rehabilitation purposes. The overburden will then be stripped and placed on the side of the excavation. The gravel is then removed with an excavator and transported with a frond end loader to the washing plant consisting of 14 feet pan. All processing will be done on site and the pubble will be washed directly back into the excavation. The rough out of the pan and oversize stones will also be put directly back into the open excavations. The concentrate out of the pan will be sorted by hand where the diamonds will be recovered, and the grade of the prospecting area determined. Taken at an 8-hour working day, 5 days a week and 20 days a month, the applicant will be able to process 1’500m³ a month, depending on variables such as gravel depth, power supply, breakages, and weather conditions. The moving of the pan and processing of 48’000m³ will result in ±20 trenches to be excavated and rehabilitated.
Phase 3: 20 trenches, surface area: 20m x 50m = 1’000m2 x 20 trenches = total of 20’000 m2 or 2 ha total.
Province(s): North West