J.C. Dreyer

WATERBERG COALFIELD

Geology, Resources and Reserves

Contents:

•General Geology

•Stratigraphy of the coal bearing formations

•Sampling and analytical procedures

•Mining / Beneficiation of Waterberg coal

•Resources/Reserves

Coalfields of South Africa

Pietersburg

Ellisras

VENDA

Newcaslte

ORANGE FREE STATE

Welkom

PretoriaWitbank

BOTSWANA

INDIANOCEAN

Johannesburg

TRANSVAAL

Waterberg Coalfield

NZoetfontein Fault

Daarby Fault

Eenzaamheid fault Prospecting RightMining RightDeep CoalShallow Coal

Mokolorivier

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GROUP FORMATION(SACS – 1980)

FORMATION(Cilliers 1951)

Representative Rock Type AverageThickness

STORMBERG

DrakensbergBasalt Drakensberg Lava, purplish to red,

amygdaloidal 95m

ClarensSandstone

Cave Sandstone

Sandstone, fine grained, white to yellow-brown to reddish 80m

Elliot Red Beds Mudstone, red to chocolate brown, clayey 90m

Molteno MoltenoSandstone, white, medium to coarse grained, scattered pebbles

15m

BEAUFORT Beaufort BeaufortMudstone, purple and greenish grey, alternating at top, light grey at base

90m

ECCA

Volksrust Upper Ecca Intercalated shale and bright coal 60m

Vryheid Middle Ecca

Sandstone and grit, inter-calated carbonaceous shale, siltstone, few thick coal seams, mainly dull

55m

Pietermaritzburg Lower Ecca Shale and sandstone, grit in lower portions 150m

DWYKA Dwyka Dwyka Tillite 3mWATERBERG Quarzitic sandstone

Generalised Geological SectionGrootegeluk Mine Area

Grootegeluk Coal MineCoal Zones

Grootegeluk Coal Mine

Waterberg CoalfieldGeological SectionWEST EAST

LEGENDMudstones

CoalSandstone

ScaleH 1:250 000

V 1:500

35km 47km

An east-west section of the Grootegeluk en Vryheid Formations in the Waterberg Coalfield. Although not shown on the section ( to facilitate presentation) the strata to the east of the Daarby fault have been downthrown by about 300m.

VOLKSRUST FORMATION

Beneficiation

Low Ash Product

ASH

Middlings Coal

For power generation

YIELD

6% Activated Carbon

10% Blend Coking Coal

15% Petrochemical Industry

VRYHEID FORMATION

RAW COAL BENEFICIATION Steam Coal Metallurgical products Sasol route (Fuels & Chemicals)

Corex Direct reduction Char

Waterberg Coalfield Potential Products

Sample 1B-Coal Washability

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1.35 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2 2.1 2.2

Relative Density (g/cc)

% Y

ield

Distribution of P2O5 in the Volksrust Formation

Distribution of P2O5 in the Vryheid Formation

Grootegeluk Coal MineCoal Zones/Mining Benches

Characteristics of coal products from the Volksrust Formation (GG 1 Plant)

Blend coking coal (air dry basis)Ash, % 0.0Roga Index 60 minSwelling index 4 minVolatile, % 38.0 max 12 – 14% yield on ROMMoisture, % 10 maxSulphur, % 1.1% - 850 micron 30 max

Powerstation coal (middlings) (air dry basis)Ash, % 35.0 maxVolatile, % 22.0 maxCV (Mj/kg) 20 minMoisture, % 11 max 23 – 24%yield on ROMAsh initial def temp 1250°C (reducing atmosphere)Sulphur, % 1.4 max

Waterberg CoalfieldCoal Zones : Shallow Area

Grootegeluk Coal MineVolksrust Formation affected by weathering

Resources TTIS (Mt) Total (Mt)Upper Ecca Middle Ecca

Zones 11 - 5 Zones 4,3,2

Inferred 101,534.62 Zone 4 6,383.37

Zone 3 11,613.58

Zone 2 9,028.92

Total (Mt) 101,534.62 27,025.87 128,560.5

Waterberg Coalfield - ResourcesDeep underground coal

Conclusion• Waterberg Coalfield contains a substantial resource base• Largest part (± 60%) is deep coal (underground

extraction)• Grootegeluk Formation contains the bulk of the

resources.• Total coal yield on ROM from this formation is ± 50% most of it

suitable for power generation• Large beneficiation plants (capital/volume)• Large amounts of waste (plant discards)• Substantial volumes of water for beneficiation

• Effect of weathering on resources/mining in the shallow area to be considered.

• Best utilization of the resource through multiseam, multiproduct mines.

THANK YOU!!!

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