EIA-REP-325d-12 _BB_ - 201.09.14.pdf - SAHRA

Table 7: The Usutu opencast extractable reserves
Area Seam Thickness Tonnages CV
West
O/C
EIA-REP-325d-11
October 2012
74
(Mj/kg)
Moist Ash (%) VM (%) TS
B 1.71 6096614 25.04 4.20 18.4 24.0 1.53
CU 1.60 6242544 22.24 4.33 26.8 21.8 1.07
23.63 4.27 22.7 22.9 1.30
8.1.3 Soils and agricultural potential
The soils at the site consist predominantly of soils of the Highveld catena, dominated by Avelon, Hutton and
Bainsvlei farms. The Witpuntspruit has a broad floodplain in which Katspruit soils dominate.
Twenty one (21) percent of the Mining Rights area is classified as having high arable potential; fifty six (56)
percent has grazing potential with twenty two (22) percent being classified as wetlands. The remaining area has
shallow soils and is wilderness land. About twenty five (25) percent of the site is currently occupied by the
Camden Village.
The majority of the site is grazing land with deep soil areas of arable land capability (>600mm soil depth) and
areas of wetland capability making up most of the remainder of the area at 20,2%. Wilderness areas, where soil
cover is very thin, account for 1,4% of the site area.
The river channel a small pan like depression adjacent to the N2 road embankment and the road servitude itself,
covers less than 1% of the area. Mining will not disturb any of these identified areas.
About 20% of Usutu area has arable potential. The majority of this land has been cultivated in the past, although
not all the lands are being cropped and there are a number of cultivated pastures used for supplementary
grazing and hay production. The surrounding veldt is in good condition with no clear sign of erosion and little to
no evidence of overgrazing. Other than large established tree screens comprising Eucalyptus trees east of
Camden village and exotic vegetation associated with gardens and tree avenues in the village itself, there is no
evidence of exotic vegetation.
8.1.4 Topography and hydrology
The topography of the pre-mining environment is very flat, dipping into the valley of the Witpuntspruit which
bisects the site. The proposed Usutu Coal Colliery is situated on the Mpumalanga Highveld, towards the south
eastern escarpment. The mining area is located roughly north northeast of the Camden Village, which is
immediately north of the Camden Power Station.
Other important topographical features in the area include the Witpuntspruit, which has an incised bed with a
broad floodplain. The area is further characterised by a gently undulating topography which falls from 1 756
mamsl to the north east of the mining area to about 1 634 mamsl adjacent to the Witpuntspruit, climbing to 1 645
mamsl east of the mine site. The lowest point is 1 640 mamsl, at the Witpuntspruit, from the eastern and western