Khumani Iron Ore Mine KATHU - gcs-sa.biz

1 Compiled by: Geo Pollution Technologies Gauteng (Pty) Ltd 81 Rauch Avenue Georgeville 0184 Box 38384 Garsfontein East 0060 Tel: +27 (0)12 804 8120 Fax: +27 (0)12 804 8140 2013 HYDROCENSUS SURVEY AND THE INTERPRETATION OF DATA IN THE KATHU AREA FOR Khumani iron Ore Mine KATHU GPT Reference Number: KhuHy-13-656 Version: Draft Vers Date: March 2014 Compiled for: Assmang Ltd Khumani iron Ore Hydrogeological Investigation - Khumani iron Ore Mine GEO POLLUTION TECHNOLOGIES GAUTENG (PTY) LTD ii Report Type: Hydrocensus Survey Project Title: 2013 Hydrocensus Survey and the Interpretation of Data in the KATHU Area for Khumani iron Ore Mine KATHU Site Location: KATHU District Northern Cape Province Compiled For: Assmang iron Ore Compiled By: A. Huisamen ( ) GPT Reference: KhuHy-13-656 Version: Draft Version Date: March 2014 Distribution List (Current Version): Word and PDF on CD to Assmang Khumani iron ore Copy of CD at Geo Pollution Technologies Disclaimer: The results and conclusions of this report are limited to the Scope of Work agreed between GPT and the Client for whom this investigation has been conducted.

2 All assumptions made and all information contained within this report and its attachments depend on the accessibility to and reliability of relevant information, including maps, previous reports and word-of-mouth, from the Client and Contractors. All work conducted by GPT is done in accordance with the GPT Standard Operating Procedures. GPT is in the process of obtaining ISO 9001:2008 accreditations. Copyright: The copyright in all text and other matter (including the manner of presentation) is the exclusive property of Geo Pollution Technologies Gauteng (Pty) Ltd, unless where referenced to external parties. It is a criminal offence to reproduce and/or use, without written consent, any matter, technical procedure and/or technique contained in this document. This document must be referenced if any information contained in it is used in any other document or presentation.

3 Declaration: I hereby declare: 1. I have no vested interest (present or prospective) in the project that is the subject of this report as well as its attachments. I have no personal interest with respect to the parties involved in this project. 2. I have no bias with regard to this project or towards the various stakeholders involved in this project. 3. I have not received, nor have I been offered, any significant form of inappropriate reward for compiling this report. (electronic signature) A. Huisamen; Geo Pollution Technologies Gauteng (Pty) Ltd Quality Control: This report was reviewed by: Dr Coetsee; PhD Professional Natural Scientist (No 400084/89) Geo Pollution Technologies Gauteng (Pty) Ltd Customer Satisfaction: Feedback regarding the technical quality of this report ( methodology used, results discussed and recommendations made), as well as other aspects, such as timeouts completion of project and value of services rendered, can be posted onto GPT s website at Hydrocensus survey 2013 - Khumani iron Ore Mine GEO POLLUTION TECHNOLOGIES GAUTENG (PTY) LTD iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Geo Pollution Technologies Gauteng (Pty) Ltd, hereafter GPT, has been contracted by Assmang iron Ore Khumani Mine (AIOKM) to conduct an evaluation of the water levels within the vicinity of AIOKM.

4 This 2013 hydrocensus evaluation forms part of ongoing groundwater work to enhance the understanding of the hydrogeological environment situated at AIOKM and its surroundings to aid AIOKM in groundwater management and the mitigation of impacts. The hydrocensus study was also performed to comply with the conditions stipulated in the water use license of AIOKM which states that a qualified geohydrologist must evaluate the water level and water quality data. More detail about the groundwater related conditions of the water use license can be found in Section 12 of the license itself. The study, as proposed in GROUNDWATER BUDGET 1 AUGUST 2013 to 30 JULY 2014 RFQ 13000710/Q1 dated 21 October 2013, is essential in providing baseline information on groundwater levels prior to the commencement of dewatering at AIOKM, as well as input for the construction of a numerical groundwater model for the area.

5 During the hydrocensus the following information was noted; Measure the water levels within the selected boreholes. A distinction will be made between rest water levels and pump water levels. Borehole depths. Type of casing. Borehole yield and use of borehole as well as the groundwater abstraction rate. Groundwater chemistry as it relates to the major cation and anions. Casing type and installed depth. Type of borehole pump, if installed. The results of the study are as follows: Water levels of the boreholes vary from mbgl (metres below ground level) at borehole SIS6, Sishen Portion 24 to mbgl at borehole JKN1 on the farm Jenkins. Deeper water levels are characteristic of the potentially dewatered areas. Based on the hydrocensus data comparison of data from 2010 and 2013, the maximum lowering in water level is meters, while the maximum rise in water level is meters, over a 3 year period.

6 Based on the telemetric system monitoring data, which is only complete for specific holes for 2013, the maximum lowering in water level is meters, while the maximum rise in water level is meters. Based on the comparison of Khumani monitoring data from 2010 and 2013, the maximum lowering in water level is meters, while the maximum rise in water level is meters, over a 3 year period. Water was sampled from 9 boreholes around the site during the investigation, and submitted for major cation and anion analyses to determine water quality in the area. These are the boreholes sampled during November 2013. The results from these analyses were compared to the AIOKM water use license limits. The Piper diagram shows that the waters are calcium/magnesium bicarbonate waters.

7 The alkalinity values of boreholes Wright6, BH40 and Suid, all exceed the water use license limit for this parameter. The Ca concentrations in boreholes BH40 and Suid, exceed the water use license limit for this constituent with an average concentration of for the sampled Hydrocensus survey 2013 - Khumani iron Ore Mine GEO POLLUTION TECHNOLOGIES GAUTENG (PTY) LTD iv borehole population. The pH in all sampled boreholes is below the specified water use license value with an average of for the sampled borehole population. The general water quality falls within the accepted water use license limits. Additionally, a review of the suggested IWUL concentrations is recommended as the natural groundwater pH is neutral to slightly alkaline. Hydrocensus survey 2013 - Khumani iron Ore Mine GEO POLLUTION TECHNOLOGIES GAUTENG (PTY) LTD v TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION.

8 8 2 SCOPE OF WORK .. 9 3 METHODOLOGY .. 9 HYDROCENSUS ..9 SAMPLING AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS .. 10 Quality assurance .. 10 4 PREVAILING GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS .. 11 HYDROCENSUS .. 11 Water levels .. 11 CURRENT HYDROGEOLOGICAL 16 2013 Hydrocensus Water Level Interpretation .. 16 Telemetric System Water Level Interpretation .. 18 Water Levels within and around the Khumani Mining Rights Area - Interpretation .. 21 COMPARISON OF HYDROCENSUS DATA 2010, 2013 .. 24 COMPARISON OF TELEMETRIC MONITORING SYSTEM DATA 2013 .. 26 COMPARISON OF Khumani MONITORING DATA 2010, 2013 .. 28 WATER QUALITY .. 29 5 CONCLUSIONS .. 35 Hydrocensus survey 2013 - Khumani iron Ore Mine GEO POLLUTION TECHNOLOGIES GAUTENG (PTY) LTD vi LIST OF FIGURES PAGE FIGURE 1: HYDROCENSUS BOREHOLE POSITIONS .. 13 FIGURE 2: STATIC WATER LEVEL ELEVATION CORRELATED WITH SURFACE ELEVATION OF GPT HYDROCENSUS BOREHOLES.

9 17 FIGURE 3: LOCATION OF Khumani TELEMETRIC MONITORING POINTS .. 19 FIGURE 4: STATIC WATER LEVEL ELEVATION CORRELATED WITH SURFACE ELEVATION OF TELEMETRIC SYSTEM MONITORING BOREHOLES .. 20 FIGURE 5: LOCATION OF Khumani MONITORING POINTS .. 22 FIGURE 6: STATIC WATER LEVEL ELEVATION CORRELATED WITH SURFACE ELEVATION OF Khumani MONITORING BOREHOLES .. 23 FIGURE 7: BOREHOLE POSITIONS WHERE SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED .. 31 FIGURE 8: STIFF DIAGRAMS FOR MAJOR CATIONS AND ANIONS .. 32 FIGURE 9: DIAGRAM USED IN THE INTERPRETATION OF PIPER DIAGRAMS .. 33 FIGURE 10: PIPER DIAGRAM FOR MAJOR CATIONS AND ANIONS.. 33 Hydrocensus survey 2013 - Khumani iron Ore Mine GEO POLLUTION TECHNOLOGIES GAUTENG (PTY) LTD vii LIST OF TABLES PAGE TABLE 1: COMPLETED HYDROCENSUS .. 8 TABLE 2: GROUNDWATER STATISTICS (2010 AND 2013) .. 11 TABLE 3: PARSON ABSTRACTION POINTS AND CORRESPONDING ALLOWED ABSTRACTION VOLUMES.

10 12 TABLE 4: SUMMARY OF THE HYDROCENSUS DATA .. 14 TABLE 5: SUMMARY OF THE HYDROCENSUS DATA .. 15 TABLE 6: BOREHOLES REPRESENTING DISTURBED WATER LEVELS .. 16 TABLE 7: TELEMETRIC BOREHOLES REPRESENTING DISTURBED WATER LEVELS .. 18 TABLE 8: Khumani MONITORING BOREHOLES REPRESENTING DISTURBED WATER LEVELS .. 21 TABLE 9: COMPARISON OF WATER LEVELS .. 25 TABLE 10: COMPARISON OF WATER LEVELS .. 27 TABLE 11: COMPARISON OF Khumani MONITORING DATA 2010-2013 .. 28 TABLE 12: WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS .. 29 TABLE 13: RESULTS OF MAJOR CATION AND ANION ANALYSES AS COMPARED TO THE AIOKM WATER USE LICENSE LIMITS .. 30 Hydrocensus survey 2013 - Khumani iron Ore Mine GEO POLLUTION TECHNOLOGIES GAUTENG (PTY) LTD 8 1 INTRODUCTION Geo Pollution Technologies, hereafter GPT, has been contracted by Assmang iron Ore Khumani Mine (AIOKM) to conduct an evaluation of the water levels within the vicinity of AIOKM.