OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

• Minor non-point impact from non-intensive subsistence agriculture;
• Non-point impacts of agricultural return flows from intensive irrigation areas; and
• Litter and domestic garbage discarded alongside the extensive road system that traverses the subcatchment.
4.20.2 Mining and mineral processing operations
The following mining operations are of interest in this sub-catchment (Figures 4.2 and 4.3; Table 4.22).
Table 4.22: Mining operations in the Sand sub-catchment.
Code
Number
Name of Mine
Commodity
(ies) Mined
cclxxv
Status
Relative
Size
Probable
Impact
A8-5 Messina Copper Copper Closed Medium Low-Medium
A8-6 Baobab Vermiculite Vermiculite Operating Small Very low
A7-5 Soutpansberg Salt Salt Operating Medium Low-Medium
B7-1 Goetgedacht Vermiculite Prospecting Small Very low
B7-2 Potgietersrand Tin Prospecting Very small Very low
B7-7 Bandelierkop Corundum Operating Very small Very low
B7-9 Mangata alluvial Gold Artisan (few) Very small Low, some As
B7-10 Kolkbank alluvial Gold Artisan (few) Very small Low, some As
B7-11 Fort Klipdam Silicon Operating Small Very low
B7-12 Witkop Silica Silicon Operating Medium Very low
4.20.3 Alluvial mining
A few small-scale alluvial gold mining activities occur in this sub-catchment.
4.20.4 Monitoring systems
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) Regional office in Pietersburg carries out routine
monitoring of river flows and water quality in this sub-catchment, as well as other sub-catchments in the
Northern Province. In addition, the Department also monitors the quality of water in local boreholes as part of
its national ground water monitoring system. All industries are required to submit regular returns to the
Department showing the quantity and quality of water used and the results of all effluent discharge and seepage
control monitoring.
4.20.5 Water quality data