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Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africai
Regional Level Types
Sishen MineMine (Active)
KathuTown
Gamagara Local MunicipalityMunicipality
John Taolo Gaetsewe District MunicipalityDistrict Municipality
Northern CapeProvince
South AfricaCountry

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00995070017272082799916.jpg
Sishen Mine, 2010

Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
06171750017271953152951.jpg
Banded iron formation

Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
05377790017272082801901.jpg
Banded iron formation, etc.

Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
00995070017272082799916.jpg
Sishen Mine, 2010

Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
06171750017271953152951.jpg
Banded iron formation

Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
05377790017272082801901.jpg
Banded iron formation, etc.

Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
00995070017272082799916.jpg
Sishen Mine, 2010

Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
06171750017271953152951.jpg
Banded iron formation

Sishen Mine, Kathu, Gamagara Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
27° 44' 17'' South , 22° 59' 57'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-27.73812,22.99921
GRN:
S19E15
Type:
Mine (Active) - last checked 2022
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Kathu9,219 (2012)6.8km
Kuruman9,093 (2012)53.2km
Mindat Locality ID:
57066
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:57066:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


The Sishen mine exploits one of the largest Banded Iron Formation (BIF) deposits in the world. Hematite is the primary ore mineral and according to Stoch et al. (2018) the deposit occurs along a strike length of 14 km, with a width of 3.2 km and a maximum vertical extent of 400 m below the original topographic surface.

The mine was opened in 1947 and it is currently owned by Kumba Iron Ore, a subsidiary of AngloAmerican.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


13 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Greenalite
Formula: (Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
ⓘ Grunerite
Formula: ◻Fe2+2Fe2+5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite
Formula: K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ Nacrite
Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ 'Psilomelane'
ⓘ Pyrolusite
Formula: Mn4+O2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Siderite
Formula: FeCO3

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘGoethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘPyrolusite4.DB.05Mn4+O2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘSiderite5.AB.05FeCO3
ⓘAnkerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘGrunerite9.DE.05◻Fe2+2Fe2+5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite
var. Illite		9.EC.15K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘNacrite9.ED.05Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘGreenalite9.ED.15(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Psilomelane'-
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3A

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Hⓘ Grunerite◻Fe22+Fe52+(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ NacriteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
CCarbon
Cⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ SideriteFeCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Oⓘ Grunerite◻Fe22+Fe52+(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ NacriteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ NacriteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
SiSilicon
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Siⓘ Grunerite◻Fe22+Fe52+(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ NacriteAl2(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. IlliteK0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
MnManganese
Mnⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
FeIron
Feⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ Greenalite(Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4
Feⓘ Grunerite◻Fe22+Fe52+(Si8O22)(OH)2
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ SideriteFeCO3

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sishen_mine
Wikidata ID:Q17037544

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Online article about the mine from mining-technology.com (published: 14 August 2020):
Geological overview by Exxaro Resources Limited (webpage snapshot: 16 Feb 2018):
web.archive.org (n.d.) https://web.archive.org/web/20180216234438/https://www.exxaro.com/pdf/icpr/a/geology/iron.htm
web.archive.org (n.d.) https://web.archive.org/web/20220328185658/https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/sishen-mine-northern-cape/
De Villiers, P. R. (1970). The geology and mineralogy of the Kalahari manganese-field north of Sishen, Cape Province. South Africa Geological Survey, Mem. 59: 65.
Van Schalkwyk, J. F., Beukes, N. J. (1986). The Sishen iron ore deposit, Griqualand West. In Mineral deposits of southern Africa, Vol. I: Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg, 931–956.
Mortimer, B. (1995). Report on structural geological analysis: Sishen. Internal Company Report, 71 pp.
Carney, M. D., Mienie, P. J. (2002). A geological comparison of the Sishen and Sishen South (Welgevonden) iron ore deposits, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Publications of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 7/2002 (Iron Ore 2002 Conference), 145-154.
Carney, M.D.; Mienie, P.J. (2003) A geological comparison of the Sishen and Sishen South (Welgevonden) iron ore deposits, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Applied Earth Science, 112 (1). 81-88 doi:10.1179/0371745032501171
Geyer, H. (2008). Biobenefication of Sishen Hematite Iron Ore, using bacterial cultures to remove potassium (Muscovite) and phosphorous (Apatite). Masters thesis, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, South Africa http://hdl.handle.net/2263/28943
SIEMES, H. (2013) Microstructure and Crystallographic Preferred Orientation (CPO) of Hematite Ores from the Sishen Mine, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology, 116 (1). 79-100 doi:10.2113/gssajg.116.1.79
Basson, I.J.; Anthonissen, C.J.; McCall, M.J.; Stoch, B.; Britz, J.; Deacon, J.; Strydom, M.; Cloete, E.; Botha, J.; Bester, M.; et al. (2017) Ore-structure relationships at Sishen Mine, Northern Cape, Republic of South Africa, based on fully-constrained implicit 3D modelling. Ore Geology Reviews, 86. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2017.04.007
Stoch, B., Anthonissen, C. J., McCall, M-J., Basson, I. J., Deacon, J., Cloete, E., Botha, J., Britz, J., Strydom, M., Nel, D., Bester, M. (2018) 3D implicit modeling of the Sishen Mine: new resolution of the geometry and origin of Fe mineralization. Mineralium Deposita, 53 (6) 835-853 doi:10.1007/s00126-017-0784-y
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