Mining Intelligence and News
South Africa

Tharisa Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Chrome
  • Platinum
  • Palladium
  • Rhodium
  • PGM
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
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SnapshotTharisa mine is one of the world’s largest single chrome resources.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Tharisa plc 100 % Indirect
Tharisa Minerals is 100% owned by Tharisa plc. Tharisa Minerals is 100% owned by Tharisa following the acquisition of the minority shareholders’ interest during 2022.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Magmatic

Summary:

The Tharisa Mine is situated on the southwestern limb of the Bushveld Complex, one of the world’s largest layered mafic intrusions, which host layers rich in PGM, chromium and vanadium, and constitute the largest known resource of these metals. The Tharisa Mine is underlain by the MG and UG Chromitite Layers straddling the boundary between the Marikana and Rustenburg facies. The MG Chromitite Layers outcrop is on the property, striking roughly east to west, with a gentle change in strike to northwest-southeast in the far west. The layers dip at between 12° and 15° to the north. Towards the western extent of the outcrop, the dip is steeper. The stratigraphy typically narrows to the west and the dip steepens. The dip typically shallows out at depth across the extent of the mine area.

The MG Chromitite Layer package consists of five groups of Chromitite Layers, being the MG0 Chromitite Layer at the bottom, followed by the MG1 Chromitite Layer, the MG2 Chromitite Layer (sub-divided into A, B and C Chromitite Layers), the MG3 Chromitite Layer and the MG4 Chromitite Layer (sub-divided into 4(0), 4 and 4A Chromitite Layers). The layers between the Chromitite Layers frequently include stringers or disseminations of chromite. The MG Chromitite Layers at the Tharisa Mine are a typical stack of tabular deposits.

The structural interpretation of the Tharisa Mine geology is based on the aeromagnetic data, the available drilling, and observations in the operating open pits. The only significant fault is a steeply dipping northwest-southeast trending normal fault with a downthrow of less than 30 m to the east. This fault occurs only on the far north-eastern corner of the property and will have little effect on mining of the MG Chromitite Layers on the mine. A northwest-southeast sub-vertical dyke of some 10 m thickness was exposed in the east pit. The dyke is not expected to have a major impact on mining. The other major feature of interest is the Spruitfontein upfold or pothole, which is located on the properties immediately west of the mine. It affects the UG2 Chromitite Layer and the rest of the critical zone below.

The Mineral Resource, is restricted at a depth of 750 m below surface based on the “realistic expectations for eventual extraction”.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnits2023202220212020201920182017
Chrome Concentrate kt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1,2901,4481,331
6PGE (Pt,Pd,Rh,Ir,Ru,Os) + Au Metal in concentrate koz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe140152144
Platinum Metal in concentrate koz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe77
Palladium Metal in concentrate koz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe24
Rhodium Metal in concentrate koz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe13
^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational metrics

Metrics202220212020201920182017
Stripping / waste ratio  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe8.3 7.9 7.5
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe4,627 kt4,875 kt5,025 kt
Tonnes milled  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe4,836 kt5,105 kt4,916 kt

Production Costs

CommodityUnits202220212020201920182017
All-in sustaining costs (sold) Platinum USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 715.7 / oz **   125.3 / oz **   -296.1 / oz **  
All-in sustaining costs (sold) Chrome USD 146.4 / t **   117.4 / t **   114 / t **  
** Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs

Currency202220212020201920182017
OP mining costs ($/t mined) USD 32.4  31.9  26.3  24.7  21  18.8  
OP mining costs ($/t milled) USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Financials

Units202220212020201920182017
Capital expenditures M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 43.9   48.2   26.4  
Revenue M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 342.9   406.3   394.4  
Operating Income M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 24.2   72.5   98.4  
Gross profit M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 60.4   108.5   122.7  
Pre-tax Income M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 11.2   65   91  
After-tax Income M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 8.4   51   67.7  
EBITDA M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 51.6   101.9   115.6  
Operating Cash Flow M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 69.9   89.8   75.7  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Oct 31, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Oct 31, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Oct 31, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Oct 31, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Oct 31, 2023

Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2022
...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required 2020
...... Subscription required 2019
...... Subscription required 2018
...... Subscription required 2017

Aerial view:

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