The Marikana mining rights areas are underlain by the Merensky and UG2 Reefs over a strike length of approximately 27km. The strata and reefs strike in an approximately east-west direction and generally dip between 8°N in the west, gradually increasing to 13°N in the extreme east of the property.

The UG2 Reef normally comprises a narrow tabular chromitite layer, which varies in thickness between 1.0m and 1.4m. Localised internal waste comprising pyroxenite or anorthosite can occur which is included in the Mineral Resource. To the west of the property the Leader Chromitite layer separates from the main UG2 Chromitite creating a zone of “split facies”. This affects the far western areas of K3 and K4 and the future K5 mining blocks. The UG2 Reef underlies the Merensky Reef by between 130m and 210m, the middling between the two reefs gradually increasing across the operations from west to east The Merensky Reef varies across the Marikana operations. This variability is used to define several facies (or reef sub-types) based on the occurrence of distinct lithological units within the reef. Two major types, pegmatoidal and non-pegmatoidal facies, occur.

These have been separated further into a total of six different facies based on the occurrence of thin chromitite layers in the order of several millimetres thick. It has long been recognised that grade and thickness characteristics are controlled by the facies.

All Merensky Reef Mineral Resource cuts at Marikana are referenced on distinct and continuous layers within the Merensky package. In general, the facies change from east south-east to west north-west. Lower grade non-pegmatoidal types (Marikana, Westplats, Thin and Eastplats) occur in the central and east, whereas the higher grade pegmatoidal types (Brakspruit, RPM) occur in the western and deeper areas of the property. The layered nature of the BIC makes it possible to identify different lithological and stratigraphic units, which facilitates the interpretation of geological disturbances such as dykes, faults, potholes and IRUP.

Marikana currently has five contributing shafts: 4Belt, K3, Rowland, Saffy and E3. The Merensky and the UG2 Reefs are mined simultaneously at an average depth of 500m and are accessed via infrastructure consisting of shallow incline and deep vertical shafts. The 4Belt shallow incline and K3 and Rowland vertical shafts target both the Merensky Reef and UG2 Reef horizons, whilst the E3 shallow incline and Saffy vertical shaft, target only the UG2 Reef. The primary vertical shaft complexes account for the largest portion of the Mineral Reserves.

The Mineral Resource is accessed from surface using conventional underground mining methods. The 4Belt and E3 shallow incline shafts extend to depths of approximately 400m below surface and the K3, Rowland and Saffy vertical shafts to approximately 900m below surface.

Apart from the underground operations, there is one tailings retreatment operation. The remining of eastern tailings dam 1 (ETD1) occurs by hydraulic mining with high pressure water guns and the tailings are retreated at the Bulk Tailings Treatment (BTT) plant.

Mining method:
• Vertical shafts: conventional up-dip down-dip mining with a limited amount of breast mining
• Shallow inclines: conventional breast mining with a limited amount of up-dip down-dip mining.

The ore mined at the Marikana operations is processed through five concentrators on site with a combined milling capacity of approximately 600,000t per month. The concentrate produced is dispatched to the smelter where a sulphide-rich matte is produced for further processing at the Base Metal Refinery (BMR). At the BMR, base metals (nickel and copper) are removed and the resulting PGM-rich residue is sent to Precious Metal Refinery (PMR) in Brakpan for final treatment. PMR produces the final precious metal products.