Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
- Platinum
- Palladium
- Rhodium
- 4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au)
- 6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
- PGM
- Nickel
- Copper
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Crush & Screen plant
- Flotation
|
Mine Life | 10 years (as of Jan 1, 2020) |
Source:
p. 2, 6
Marula is 73% owned by Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. The remaining 27% is owned by Tubatse Platinum (Pty) Ltd, Mmakau Mining (Pty) Ltd, Marula Community Trust.
Each of the following parties hold a 9% stake in the business:
• The Marula Community Trust ensuring sustainable benefit flows to the local community over the life of the mine and beyond;
• Tubatse Platinum, a broad based HDSA empowerment consortium from local business;and
• Mmakau Mining, an established mining entity.
Summary:
The Merensky and UG2 Reefs are separated by a sequence of mostly anorthositic and noritic layered units of some 400m in combined thickness. Both the Merensky and UG2 Reefs are present but only the UG2 is currently exploited. The geological succession is broadly similar to that of the western limb. The UG2 Reef is defined as a main chromitite layer, with most of the mineralisation confined to this unit, followed by a poorly mineralised pegmatoidal footwall. The Merensky Reef is the upper portion of a pyroxenite layer, with a chromitite stringer close to the hanging wall contact. Mineralisation peaks over the chromitite stringer and decreases into the hangingwall and footwall. The average 6E metal ratios show the distinct differences between the Merensky and UG2 Reefs, in particular the high proportion of palladium associated with the UG2 at Marula and also the relative high proportion of rhodium in the UG2 Reef.
Both mineralised horizons sub-outcrop on the Marula mining rights area and dip in a west-southwest direction at 12° to 14°. The reefs are relatively undisturbed by faults and dykes with one major dolerite dyke traversing the mining area. Potholes represent the majority of the geological losses encountered underground, while a small dunite pipe also disrupts the reef horizons. These geological features are accounted for in the Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Statements as geological losses.
Summary:
Marula Mine has two decline shaft systems. Driekop Shaft is exploiting the UG2 Reef by means of a hybrid mining method, while at Clapham Shaft, both a hybrid and conventional mining methods are being used to exploit the UG2 Reef. For the two hybrid sections, all main development is undertaken on-reef and the stoping is carried out through conventional single-sided breast mining from a centre gully. Panel face lengths are approximately 16m to 26m, with panels being separated by 6m x 4m grid pillars with 2m ventilation holings. The stoping width averages 125cm. For the conventional operation, the footwall drives are developed on strike approximately 25m below the reef horizon with cross-cut breakaways about 220m apart. This development is undertaken with drill rigs and dump trucks. Stope face drilling takes place with hand-held pneumatic rock drills with air legs. Mine design and scheduling of the operational shafts is carried out using CADSmine™ software.
Processing
- Crush & Screen plant
- Flotation
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
Marula has a concentrator plant where initial processing is conducted. Concentrate is transported by road to Impala’s Mineral Processes in Rustenburg in terms of a LoM offtake agreement with Impala.
Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
|
Head Grade, g/t
| 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.33 | 4.26 | 4.25 | 4.19 | 4.19 | 4.19 | 4.18 |
Reserves at June 30, 2020:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven
|
4 Mt
|
Platinum
|
|
0.2 M oz
|
Proven
|
4 Mt
|
Palladium
|
|
0.3 M oz
|
Proven
|
4 Mt
|
4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au)
|
4.36 g/t
|
0.6 M oz
|
Proven
|
4 Mt
|
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
|
4.99 g/t
|
0.6 M oz
|
Probable
|
15.6 Mt
|
Platinum
|
|
0.8 M oz
|
Probable
|
15.6 Mt
|
Palladium
|
|
1 M oz
|
Probable
|
15.6 Mt
|
4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au)
|
4 g/t
|
2 M oz
|
Probable
|
15.6 Mt
|
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
|
4.62 g/t
|
2.3 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
19.6 Mt
|
Platinum
|
|
1.1 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
19.6 Mt
|
Palladium
|
|
1.2 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
19.6 Mt
|
4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au)
|
4.07 g/t
|
2.6 M oz
|
Proven & Probable
|
19.6 Mt
|
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
|
4.7 g/t
|
3 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
123.3 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.1 %
|
|
Total Resource
|
123.3 Mt
|
Platinum
|
|
10.2 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
123.3 Mt
|
Palladium
|
|
9.2 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
123.3 Mt
|
4E (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au)
|
5.48 g/t
|
21.7 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
123.3 Mt
|
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
|
6.21 g/t
|
24.6 M oz
|
Total Resource
|
123.3 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.05 %
|
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Cash costs
|
6E (Pt,Pd,Rh,Au,Ir,Ru)
|
USD
|
......
|
......
|
......
|
835 / oz
|
635 / oz
|
Cash costs
|
Platinum
|
USD
|
......
|
......
|
......
|
2,184 / oz
|
1,673 / oz
|
Cash costs
|
Platinum
|
USD
|
|
...... †
|
...... †
|
1,272 / oz†
|
982 / oz†
|
All-in sustaining costs (sold)
|
Platinum
|
USD
|
|
...... †
|
...... †
|
|
|
† Net of By-Product.
- Subscription is required.
Operating Costs:
| Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Total operating costs ($/t milled)
|
USD
| 88 | 91 | 90 | 99 | 76 | 88 | 84 | 98 |
Financials:
| Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Capital expenditures (planned)
|
M ZAR
| | | | | |
|
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
M USD
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
13
|
16
|
14
|
Revenue
|
M
| | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
1,636 ZAR
|
1,791 ZAR
|
1,404 USD
|
Gross profit
|
M
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
-220 ZAR
|
-12 ZAR
|
-216 ZAR
|
Pre-tax Income
|
M
| ......  | ......  | | | |
|
|
|
After-tax Income
|
M
| ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  | ......  |
-340 ZAR
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
M
| ......  | ......  | | | |
|
|
|
- Subscription is required
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
- Subscription is required.
Aerial view:
- Subscription is required.