Two contiguous mining rights cover some 3 982 hectares and host both the Merensky and UG2 ore bodies, which sub-outcrop over the entire 6.7 km east-west strike of the property, dipping at approximately 19° to the north. The vertical separation between Merensky and UG2 Reefs is approximately 200 m.

The Bushveld sequence at Eland is similar to that within the broader south-eastern portion of the western limb, but shows variation from west to east. The Critical Zone sequence, being fully developed in the west, thins in the far eastern portion of the property. This is similar to the southern portions of Booysendal, and is also related to the Bushveld sequence abutting onto basement highs. The impact of this abutment manifests itself in disruption to the morphology and internal structure of the two reefs. Despite this, both reefs are continuous across the property. This has led to the characterisation of three UG2 Reef sub-types (facies) transitioning from west to east into Normal, Split and Zilkaats sub-type domains.

Merensky Reef
The Merensky Reef is the upper mineralised portion of the Merensky pyroxenite, generally extending over 2 to 3 m of the pyroxenite that reaches up to 20 m thickness. The Merensky Reef is immediately overlain by a sequence of competent norites. No facies have been defined, but surface morphology disruption is evident in the far east of the property.

UG2 Reef
The internal structure of the UG2 Reef is similar to that found in the remainder of the Bushveld western limb, albeit thicker and lacking chromitite stringers or leaders in the immediate hangingwall.

The UG2 Normal and Split facies consist of massive, upper Leader and lower Main seam chromitites with an average combined thickness of 160 cm. In the case of the Normal facies, these seams are vertically juxtaposed or merged. In the Split facies, the seams are separated by a metal-barren, silicate waste parting. The Zilkaats facies is defined where a massive Leader seam, with a mean thickness of 95 cm, overlies a lower, Main seam that comprises either a multitude of chromitite stringers or disseminated chromite within a variable thickness interval of silicate rocks. This generally renders the lower seam portion to be sub-economic.

The current feasibility study adopts a conventional hybrid mining method, in which ore generated from conventional breast stoping feeds on to strike belts in the existing on-reef strike drives, which is then transfered to the dip belt system for transport to the UG2 concentrator.

The planned breast stoping layout allows for 9 panels per raise of 24 m each, including grid pillars. Raises will be spaced at 120 m strike intervals, with singlesided stoping planned. In-stope strike gullies are inclined at 5° above strike. Hydro-powered rock drilling will be employed. Ore is moved by scrapers, from the mining panel, via the strike gullies, to a dip gully, which feeds a vibrating grizzly feeder loading the strike belt.

The strike development is planned with twin drives, one for the strike conveyor and personnel, the other for trackless machinery. The strike drives will be developed with hand held hydro-powered rock drills and cleaned with LHDs onto the tail end of the strike conveyors.

Hydromining and reprocessing of tailings from the TSF has commenced. Underground mining will recommence in F2020.

Eland mine has existing surface infrastructure comprising; a 250 000 tonnes per month capacity concentrator with both PGM and chrome circuits, a large tailings storage facility (TSF).

Work at Eland during the year focussed on recommissioning the chrome spirals and secondary PGM circuit in the concentrator to receive feedstock from the tailings dam for re-processing.