Mining Intelligence and News
South Africa

Modikwa Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusActive
Commodities
  • PGM
  • Gold
  • Platinum
  • Palladium
  • Rhodium
  • Ruthenium
  • Iridium
  • Nickel
  • Copper
  • Chrome
Mining Method
  • Breast stoping with strike pillars
  • Bord-and-pillar
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SnapshotModikwa Platinum Mine (MPM) specializes in the extraction of platinum group metals (PGMs). Mechanized methods are used for major developments and traditional methods are used for narrow seams such as UG2 Reef and Merensky Reef.

South 2 shaft project
The underground-to-surface conveyor belt that connects South 2 infrastructure to South 1 shaft is 62% complete. Due to operational complexities and site-preparation delays, the current forecast completion date is Q4 F2025.

The Merensky trial mining project commenced during 2023 is progressing well.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
African Rainbow Minerals Ltd. 41.5 % Indirect
Anglo American plc. 50 % Indirect
Ownership Tree
Effective 41.5% held through African Rainbow Minerals Ltd.(ARM) Mining Consortium, local communities own an effective 8.5% and Anglo American Platinum owns 50%.

Management Jointly managed by ARM and Anglo American Platinum.

Deposit type

  • Magmatic
  • Pegmatite

Summary:

The Bushveld layered sequence around Modikwa strikes north-northwest to south-southeast and dips to the south-west at 10º to 12º, with local variations in the dip resulting in gradients of nearly 20º. There are several instances where some gentle “rolling” of the reef horizons have been recorded, and normally steeper dips are noted nearer the outcrop (as opposed to at depth).

The outcrop positions of the Merensky Reef and the UG2 Reef normally occur within the areas of low relief, and much of the outcrop is masked by extensive development of black turf as well as, in places, transported sediments. On the farms Maandagshoek 254 KT, Onverwacht 292 KT and Winterveld 293 KT; however, the UG2 Reef (and occasionally the Merensky Reef) outcrops in a series of elongated hills. Although frequently covered with scree material, much of this outcrop has been marked by a series of trenches and pits, many of which date from early pioneer prospecting.

Both the UG2 and Merensky reefs are present at Modikwa. The UG2 Reef occurs as a chromitite layer with an average thickness of approximately 60 centimetres. Three leader chromitites occur above the main seam. Gentle undulations of the UG2 Reef with amplitudes of less than 2 metres are developed across the mine area. Potholes are randomly distributed within the North shaft area but are less abundant in the South shaft area. The Onverwacht Hill area in the southern portion of the mine is characterised by the presence of several large ultramafic pegmatoid intrusions that disrupt, and locally replace, the UG2 Reef.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnits2024202320222021202020192018201720162015
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru) Metal in concentrate koz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe307 334 301 294 260 
Chrome Concentrate kt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Gold Metal in concentrate oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe3,0643,3203,0143,0112,694
Platinum Metal in concentrate oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe121,033131,725116,531113,792100,593
Palladium Metal in concentrate oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe114,389124,057114,274111,50799,082
Rhodium Metal in concentrate oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe24,38826,69324,14423,60520,802
Ruthenium Metal in concentrate oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe35,21838,99334,96533,63729,762
Iridium Metal in concentrate oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe8,3409,0988,3028,0517,104
Nickel Metal in concentrate t  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe557628589597531
Copper Metal in concentrate t  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe345384365364321
^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational metrics

Metrics2024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe2.06 Mt2.06 Mt2.05 Mt2.08 Mt1.86 Mt
Tonnes milled  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe2.29 Mt2.43 Mt2.01 Mt2.05 Mt1.86 Mt

Production Costs

CommodityUnits20242023202220212020201920182017
Cash costs 6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru) ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 10,027 / oz   9,197 / oz   8,463 / oz  
Cash costs Platinum ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 25,427 / oz   23,311 / oz   21,878 / oz  

Operating Costs

Currency202420232022202120202019201820172016
Total operating costs ($/t milled) ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Financials

Units20242023202220212020201920182017
Capital expenditures M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 260   266   262  
Revenue M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 4,134   3,592   2,513  
After-tax Income M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 254   158  
EBITDA M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 654   488  
Operating Cash Flow M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 1,198   298  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 25, 2024
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....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 22, 2024

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
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Aerial view:

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