Rand Gold Mine Lease (Johannesburg)

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The original mine ceased operations in the mid 1990's but this lease is now part of DRDGold Limited's Crown Operations which recovers gold from old slime dams and tailing impoundments.

The historic Rand Lease Mine was originally opened in the early 1900's by Rand Leases (Vogelstruisfontein) Gold Mining Company Limited and has been responsible for producing 10.6m ounces of gold at average grade of 5.87 g/t since that time. Sitting immediately east of the DRD Lease, the Rand Lease is also intersected by all reefs contained in the Central Rand Group, namely, the Main Reef, South Reef, Bird Reef, Kimberley Reef and Elsburg Reefs. The Lease was mined at depth on all reefs with the Main Reef Leader and South Reefs proving to be the most productive and lucrative.

History and Mining of Rand Leases

This mine was originally christened by Rand Leases (Vogelstruisfontein) Gold Mining Company Limited in the early 1900's. The Rand Lease mine original formed part of the Anglovaal mining house and was closed by that company in 1971. The mine underwent a series of ownership changes in the late 1980's, most notably into the hands of Severin Mining and Development (Pty) Limited (Severin Mining) which mined the Main Reef and Main Reef Leader at outcrop for several years as a junior miner. The Main Reef Leader and Bird Reef were historically the most economic reefs.

After Severin Mining took control of Rand Leases in 1985, it was announced that Rand Leases would be reopened so that mining operations would generate 35,000tpm of run of mine ore. On 20th March 1986, a rights offer raised ZAR16m to build a metallurgical plant and to recommission 6 incline shaft. Mining conditions were difficult and it was decided to re-equip 11 shaft and the KR2 shaft to meet the production budget.

However they eventually stopped operations in the late 1990's because a decreasing gold price and unfavourable market conditions rendered the mine uneconomic. The mine closed and has remained closed to this day.

Reference for information:
www.westwitsmining.com/projects/rand/
www.drd.co.za/b/crown.asp