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South Africa
Richards Bay Minerals Mine

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 Location:
30 km NE from Richards Bay, South Africa

  Address:
The Farm RBM No. 16317 Administrative District of KwaZulu-Natal
Richards Bay
South Africa
3900
Phone  ...  Subscription required
Fax27 35 901 3200
WebsiteWeb
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Titanium
  • Zircon
  • Rutile
Mining Method
  • Dredging
Processing
  • Gravity separation
  • Magnetic separation
  • Roasting
Mine Life2030
Latest NewsRio Tinto scales back international operation     March 24, 2020


Owners

Source:
CompanyInterestOwnership
BEE 24 % Indirect
Rio Tinto plc 74 % Indirect
Richards Bay Titanium (Pty) Ltd. 74 % Direct
Rio Tinto will increase its stake in Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) to 74 per cent through the acquisition of BHP Billiton's 37 per cent interest. In line with South Africa's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment legislation, the remaining 26 per cent of RBM is owned by a consortium of local communities and businesses (24 per cent) and RBM employees (two per cent).

Deposit Type

  • Sediment-hosted


Summary:

The heavy minerals found in the dunal deposits along the coast of northern KwaZulu-Natal originate from inland. Over the years, weathering of host rock has released the minerals, which, because of their durability, relatively high density, and high chemical stability, withstand the weathering process and are transported down rivers to the ocean. It is from here that the minerals ilmenite, rutile, and zircon originate.

From a geological point of view, the ore bodies are highly complex and the behaviour of the minerals in the plant may vary considerably across the ore body.


Mining Methods

  • Dredging


Summary:

RBM uses a system of ponds and floating dredges to mine the ore body, where heavy valuable minerals such as ilmenite, zircon and rutile are recovered from the sand.


Crushing and Grinding


Processing

  • Gravity separation
  • Magnetic separation
  • Roasting

Source: Subscription required

Summary:

Heavy minerals are extracted from the nearby dunes by dredging and concentration on a floating gravity separation plant, followed by separation of the ilmenite, rutile and zircon at the mineral separation plant located at the smelter site. The ilmenite is processed through an oxidizing roast followed by magnetic separation and is then partially reduced to an 85 per cent TiO2 slag in one of four six-in-line a.c. electric arc furnaces.

The slag is milled and then classified into two product sizes suitable as a raw material for both the sulphate and chloride pigment processes. The high quality iron produced during the reduction process is further processed to produce various grades of low-manganese iron. Around 95 per cent of the products are exported, yielding a world market share of about 25 per cent of titania slag, rutile, high quality pig iron, and zircon.


Production:

CommodityUnits2019201820172016
Titanium dioxide kt  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required1,3151,048
All production numbers are expressed as slag.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics20192018201720162015
Annual production capacity  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required1,050,000 t of titanium dioxide slag1,050,000 t of titanium dioxide slag
Annual production capacity  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required565,000 t of iron pig565,000 t of iron pig
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at December 31, 2019:

CategoryTonnage CommodityGrade
Proven 878 Mt Titanium dioxide 2.3 %
Proven 878 Mt Zircon 0.3 %
Probable 622 Mt Titanium dioxide 2.5 %
Probable 622 Mt Zircon 0.4 %
Proven & Probable 1,500 Mt Titanium dioxide 2.4 %
Proven & Probable 1,500 Mt Zircon 0.3 %
Indicated 13 Mt Titanium dioxide 13.3 %
Indicated 13 Mt Zircon 8.3 %


Heavy Mobile Equipment:

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Nov 12, 2019
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Mar 20, 2020
Subscription required - Subscription is required.


Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
................................... Subscription required 2019
Annual Report 2017
Annual Report 2016
Fact Sheet 2016
Annual Report 2015
Other 2006
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

News:

NewsDate
Rio Tinto scales back international operation March 24, 2020
Rio Tinto to Resume Operations at Richards Bay Minerals December 30, 2019
Rio Tinto cuts Richards Bay output after security incident December 4, 2019

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