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

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C8-3 Union Mica Pegmatite - Muscovite Operating Medium Low<br />

C8-4 Union Feldspar, Mica Operating Small Very low<br />

C8-5 Penge Asbestos Closed Medium Low<br />

C8-6 Havercroft Andalusite Operating Large Low<br />

C8-7 Annesley Andalusite Operating Medium Low<br />

C8-8 Atta Clay minerals Operating Medium Low<br />

C8-9 Dilokeng Chrome Operating Large Medium – High<br />

C8-10 Mokoropo Platinum Closed Small Very low<br />

C8-11 Montrose Chrome Operating Large Medium – High<br />

C8-15 Maandagshoek Vanadium Closed Small Very low<br />

C8-23 Pegmatite claims Pegmatite -Tantalum Operating Very Small Very low<br />

D7-40 Perdekop Fluorspar Closed Small Very low<br />

5.4.3 Alluvial mining<br />

None known or anticipated.<br />

5.4.4 Monitoring systems<br />

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) routinely collects water samples and gauges flows in the<br />

Middle Olifants sub-catchment, as part of its national monitoring programme. In addition, DWAF also regulate<br />

all large (> 150 m 3 /day) water abstractions, and monitor the quantity and quality of all effluent discharges<br />

through a system of effluent discharge permits or licences. Each licensed effluent discharger is required to<br />

carry out a routine monitoring programme of the flow and quality of their effluent and supply this to DWAF. The<br />

Department then conducts a randomised series of audit samples to check the veracity of the effluent returns<br />

submitted by each discharger.<br />

5.4.5 Water quality data<br />

No specific water quality data relating to mining operations in this sub-catchment were obtained for this report.<br />

5.4.6 Implications for water quality and quantity management<br />

In spite of the fact that most mining operations in this water-short sub-catchment make use of dry processes<br />

and recycle up to 90% of their water use, increasing loads of trace metals and micro-pollutants continue to be<br />

found in downstream reaches of the Olifants River (Grobler et al., 1993). River reaches and tributaries with<br />

relatively low concentrations of trace metals are considered to be the result of natural weathering processes on<br />

cccvi

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