Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
- Platinum
- Palladium
- Rhodium
- Nickel
- Copper
|
Mining Method |
- Breast mining
- Conventional underground bulk mining
|
Production Start | ... |
Mine Life | 2045 |
The Marula operation mining infrastructure includes two decline shafts, offices, stores, a concentrator plant, a chromite recovery plant, TSFs and overland ore conveyance.
The Marula Phase II project to expand and extend Marula’s life-of-mine was initiated in FY2022. During the 2023 year under review, the program to expand mining and milling by 20% was split into discrete projects — for the two mining complexes and the plant - to facilitate optimal resource allocation and funding while maintaining production targets. The R5.7 billion program will deliver a 15-year life-of-mine extension to FY2045 at 2.4 million tonnes per annum, with steady-state production expected in FY2028. |
Source:
p. 18,67
Marula Platinum (Pty) Ltd, an existing platinum producer and a subsidiary of Impala Platinum Holdings Limited, owns and operates the Marula Platinum Mine.
Marula Platinum is 73.3% owned by Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. The remaining 26.7% is owned by Black Economic Empowerment (22.7%) and Marula Employee Share Ownership Trust (4%), which is controlled by the Group.
Contractors
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Summary:
Both the Merensky and UG2 Reefs are present at Marula, but only the UG2 Reef is currently exploited.
The Merensky Reef is located about 650 m below the surface with the UG2 Reef approximately 400 m deeper than the Merensky Reef. The Merensky Reefs occurs near the top of the Upper Critical Zone in a sequence of rocks knows as the Merensky Cycle.
The Merensky and UG2 Reefs are separated by a sequence of primarily anorthositic and noritic layered units of 400m in combined vertical thickness. The UG2 Reef is defined as the main chromitite layer, with most of the mineralisation confined to this unit, followed by a poorly mineralised pegmatoidal footwall. The Merensky Reef comprises the upper portion of a pyroxenite layer, with a chromitite stringer close to the hangingwall contact. Mineralisation peaks over the chromitite stringer and decreases into the hangingwall and footwall. The average 6E ratios show the differences between the Merensky and UG2 Reefs, particularly the high proportions of palladium and rhodium associated with the UG2 Reef at Marula.
Both mineralised horizons sub-outcrop on the Marula mining rights area and dip in a west-southwest direction at 10° to 14°. The reefs are relatively undisturbed by faults and dykes, with one prominent dolerite dyke traversing the mining area. Potholes represent most of the geological losses encountered underground, while a small dunite pipe also disrupts the reef horizons. These geological features ........
Mining Methods
- Breast mining
- Conventional underground bulk mining
Summary:
Marula Mine has two decline shaft systems exploiting the UG2 Reef. At Driekop Shaft, a hybrid mining method is used, while at Clapham Shaft, both hybrid and conventional mining methods are used. All main development is undertaken on-reef for the two hybrid sections, and the stoping is carried out through conventional single-sided breast mining from a centre gully. Panel face lengths are approximately 16m to 28m, with panels separated by 6m x 4m grid pillars with 2m ventilation holings. The stoping width averages 125cm. The footwall drives are developed on strike approximately 25m below the reef horizon, with cross-cut breakaways about 220m apart for the conventional operation. This development is undertaken with drill rigs and dump trucks. Stope face drilling takes place with hand-held pneumatic rock drills with airlegs.
Removal and storage of ore
The ore from the current UG2 operations is transported via a conveyor belt to the run-ofmine silo located at each shaft (1 500 ton capacity). Under normal operating conditions, the ore is conveyed from the silo to the primary crusher. In the event that the processing plant is offline, the ore is conveyed to a 20 000 tonne emergency run- of-mine stockpile area located near to the primary crusher.
Removal and storage of waste rock
Waste conveyed from underground is deposited on the designated waste rock dump (WRD) areas located at the Clapham and Driekop Shaft Complexes.
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Source:
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Reserves at June 30, 2023:
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven & Probable
|
46.3 Mt
|
Platinum
|
|
2.4 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
46.3 Mt
|
Palladium
|
|
2.6 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
46.3 Mt
|
4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au)
|
3.71 g/t
|
5.5 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
46.3 Mt
|
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
|
4.32 g/t
|
6.4 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
117.7 Mt
|
Platinum
|
|
9.8 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
117.7 Mt
|
Palladium
|
|
8.7 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
117.7 Mt
|
4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au)
|
5.45 g/t
|
20.6 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
117.7 Mt
|
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
|
6.19 g/t
|
23.4 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
117.7 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.11 %
|
|
Total Resource
|
117.7 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.06 %
|
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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