Amplats’ Mineral Resources of Platinum Group Metals (PGM) occur exclusively within southern Africa and are hosted by two distinct layered intrusions: the Bushveld Complex in South Africa and the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe.

Formed over 2 billion years ago from multiple injections of magma into the earth’s crust many kilometres below the surface, the Bushveld Complex is geologically unique due to its size, uniformity of its layering and extent of known mineral content. This saucer-shaped intrusion is over 350km wide, 250km long and up to 12km thick. Over time, the rim of the intrusion has been exposed by erosion, revealing three separate main segments known as the Western, Eastern and Northern Limbs. The Western Limb is split into two lobes (north-western and south- western) by the Pilanesberg complex, a remnant of an alkaline volcanic plug intruded into the Bushveld Complex about 1,250 million years ago. The Eastern Limb is split into two lobes (north-eastern and south-eastern) by the north- east trending Steelpoort fault. The exposed segments exhibit layering of pyroxenites, norites, gabbros, anorthosites and chromitites and this layering occurs across the entire extent of the complex. Within the layers, mineralisation is found in specific horizons containing chromium, iron, titanium, vanadium, nickel, copper and PGM.

The Bushveld Complex comprises three main suites, namely the Rooiberg Group, Lebowa Granite Suite and Rustenburg Layered Suite. The Rustenbur ........

The Kroondal operation is a shallow PGM mines with access from surface through numerous decline systems, inclusive of an open pit surface operation; Klipfontein.

Major infrastructure consists of:
• nine decline shafts, of which six are in production - mined on a bord-and-pillar system with mechanised equipment and the rest are on care and maintenance;
• two PGM concentrator plants treating the underground and open pit material;
• a dense media separation (DMS) plant processing all underground material prior to the concentrator;
• water treatment plants.

The equipment used for mining consists of various suites of mechanised drilling, loading and hauling equipment underground. The ore is hoisted to the surface via conveyor belt systems and trammed to the concentrators by rail and truck.

Mining method:
- Underground operations: Bord-and-pillar;
- Klipfontein open pit operation: Roll-over, truck and shovel.

ROM ore is treated via two concentrator processing plants (K1 and K2) and there is spare processing capacity at a third concentrator plant, which is currently under care and maintenance (Marikana plant). The concentrate is sold to RPM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglo American Platinum, under an off-take agreement.

Currently ore from Kwezi, Simunye and Bambanani shafts is processed at K2 plant. Ore from K6 and Kopaneng shafts is processed at K1 plant.

Three TSFs currently cater for the 600ktpm depositional requirements. Although the current available capacity is not sufficient to cater for the LoM Mineral Reserves, studies are being conducted to assess additional storage facilities in redundant, worked-out opencast and there is a reasonable and realistic chance of this being feasible.

K1 TSF receives tailings from K1 concentrator plant. K150 TSF receives tailings from K1 and K2 concentrator plants (portion of K1). K2 TSF receives tailings from K2 con ........