Overview
Stage | Pre-Feasibility |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
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Mine Life | 30 years (as of Jan 1, 2015) |
The Mokopane project includes one of the world’s largest primary vanadium resources, with an average grade of 1.80 percent V2O5 in-magnetite.
Mokopane Project has not commenced mining a year after receiving mining right. Application to the DMRE for an extension to commence mining activities has been submitted, and a response is awaited. |
Source:
p. 8,82,97
Bushveld Minerals owns 64% of Pamish Investment No 39 Proprietary Limited (“Pamish”) which holds an interest in Prospecting right 95, and the remaining 36% is held by Izingwe Capital (Pty) Limited (‘Izingwe’), a 51% black economic empowered company.
Contractors
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Summary:
The Project Area is situated within the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex (BC) and covers the upper portion of the Main Zone (MZ) and the entire Upper Zone (UZ) of the Rustenburg Layered Suite (RLS). The UZ is approximately 1,250 m thick and dips gently (15° to 25°) to the west. The UZ is characterised by the presence of vanadiferous titano-magnetite (VTM) layers hosted predominantly by VTM-enriched gabbro, gabbronorite, leuconorite, anorthosite and olivine diorite. The VTM layers include disseminated, semi-massive and massive VTM intervals of variable thicknesses and variable proportions of oxide (Ti-magnetite) and silicate minerals (feldspar, pyroxene and olivine).
The RLS is the World’s largest and economically most important layered complex and is known for the remarkable geological and geochemical continuity of the magmatic stratigraphy. In common with other layered intrusions, such as the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe (Wilson, 1997), Molopo Farms Complex in Botswana (Reichhardt, 1994) and the Stillwater Complex in the USA (Irvine et al., 1983), the intrusive ultramafic to mafic magma has undergone a differentiation process which has resulted in the formation of magnesium-, chromium-, nickel- and precious metal-rich units in the lower portion of the RLS with iron-, titanium-, vanadium- and phosphorus-rich layers in the upper portion.
The UZ consists of numerous cyclic units of alternating and well-layered rocks and is subdivided
into three subzon ........

Summary:
Prior to the commencement of mining of the MML, bush clearing, topsoil and/or black turf removal and storage, and non-MML and waste removal and storage will be required.
The MML ore will be mined in two pits, each following the dip of the MML (i.e. approximately 18º), one located to the north of the provincial road and one to the south. Each pit will utilise an access ramp excavated from the highwall (on the west) mined down at an angle of 8º to intersect the upper contact of the MML. Once the MML is intersected mining will follow it along strike on a level gradient to create an open pit width of approximately 30 m. This open pit will then advance via working faces to the north and south utilising the central, common ramp.
It was assumed for the purposes of this PFS that a specialised mining contractor will be appointed to undertake the excavation of the pit and the mining and transportation of the ore. Budget prices for the mining were procured from contractors who have knowledge of the area and have experience in the expected mining conditions. The proposed mining method is within acceptable practices in South Africa.
The Ore Reserves will be depleted at a rate of 952,000 tpa with an allowance of an additional 5 % of non-MML included in the material delivered to the plant. At this rate the life of mine is expected to be just under 30 years.
The mining study was completed to an accuracy of ±20 %.
Flow Sheet:
Summary:

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Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | Avg. Annual |
V2O5
|
lbs
| 21 |
All production numbers are expressed as flake.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Annual ore mining rate
| 952,000 t * |
Annual production capacity
| 672,600 t of vanadium concentrate * |
Annual processing capacity
| 1,000,000 t * |
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| 28.6 Mt * |
* According to 2015 study.
Reserves at October 15, 2017:
MML and MML- HW and AB Zone Mineral Resources at a 0.30 percent V2O5 cut-off.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Probable
|
28,496 Mt
|
V2O5
|
1.41 %
|
Total Resource
|
294.1 Mt
|
V2O5
|
|
Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
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Sep 21, 2023
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