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Independent audit |
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Figures reported in this declaration are as reviewed by independent external consultants as at
31 December 2011 [Optiro Pty Ltd for Mineral Resources and Snowden Mining Industry Consultants
(Pty) Ltd for Mineral Reserves]. Gold Fields has been informed that the audit identified no material
shortcomings in any process by which the South Deep Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves
were evaluated |
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Prepared by |
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Gold Fields Limited in compliance with the SAMREC Code (2007 edition) |
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Effective date |
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31 December 2011 |
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Source of information |
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This technical statement is a summary of the internally sourced document entitled 2011 South Deep
Competent Persons Report |
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Personal inspection |
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Personal inspection is conducted by the Competent Persons as listed, who are full-time employees
of Gold Fields Limit |
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General location |
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South Deep Gold Mine is situated in the magisterial districts of Westonaria and Vanderbijlpark
(Gauteng Province), some 45 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg at latitude 26º 25’ S and
longitude 27º 40’ E. It is accessed via the N12 provincial road between Johannesburg and
Potchefstroom |
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Climate |
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No extreme climatic conditions are experienced that may affect mining operations |
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Licence status and holdings |
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The conversion of the old order mining right to a new order mining right, as required in terms of the
Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act No. 28, 2002 (the MPRD Act) was approved in
July 2010. The aerial extent of the South Deep lease area is 4,268 hectares. All required authorisation
has been obtained, and is in good standing |
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Operational infrastructure |
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South Deep Gold Mine operates one gold plant and is accessed from surface through two shaft
systems, the Twin Shaft Complex of which the main shaft comprises a single-drop to a depth of
2,995 metres, and the South Shaft Complex. The mine has been subdivided into four main areas.
“Old Mine” comprises the area above 90 level, and is serviced primarily from the South Shaft
Complex. “Current Mine”, which is serviced primarily from Twin Shaft, extends from 90 level to
95 level. Phase 1 extends below 95 level to 110 level at a depth of 3,075 metres below surface.
Phase 2 falls below infrastructure at 110 level, and will extend to a depth of 3,500 metres |
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Deposit type |
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Intermediate to deep level gold mine (>2,000 m below surface) exploiting auriferous palaeoplacers
(reefs), i.e. the conglomerates that comprise the Upper Elsburg Reefs of the Mondeor Formation and
the Ventersdorp Contact Reef (VCR) of the Venterspost Formation as a secondary reef |
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Life of Mine (LoM) |
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It is estimated that the current Mineral Reserve will be depleted in 2080 |
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Environmental/Health
& Safety |
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South Deep obtained its ISO 14001:2004 certification in September 2008 and has maintained this
certification since then. In 2011 this certification was renewed as part of a South African regional
ISO 14001 certification. Policies, systems, procedures implemented by the mine conform to this
international standard. Reporting on environmental issues and sustainable development is done
according to the Global Reporting Initiative requirements. The mine obtained full compliance with the
International Cyanide Management Code in December 2008. In December 2011 this certificate was
renewed. In December 2011 the mine also obtained its water use licence |
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Reporting codes |
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Gold Fields reports its Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves in accordance with the South African
Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2007
SAMREC Code), and other relevant international codes such as SEC Industry Guide 7, JORC Code
and NI 43 – 101. The Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves are underpinned by an appropriate
Mineral Resource Management process and protocol to ensure adequate corporate governance in
respect of the intent of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act |
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