Mining Intelligence and News
South Africa

Beatrix Mine

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Summary

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Uranium
Mining Method
  • Breast mining
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SnapshotThe Beatrix operation is a mature, shallow to intermediate depth underground gold operation. The Beatrix operation is a conventional, breast mining operation, consisting of two operating shafts: No. 1 shaft and No. 3 shaft.

Mining predominantly takes place from No. 3 shaft. The No. 1 shaft remains open as a secondary escape way for No. 3 shaft. Beatrix. 4 shaft was closed in early 2023. No. 1 shaft is being kept open on an incremental value contribution basis, and is not included in the official LoM plan. Previously unmined (white) areas have been included in the 2024 Mineral Reserves, extending the LoM by 1 year over previous estimates.

The Beisa uranium Mineral Resource (which is unchanged from 2023) is contained in the Beisa reef, that occurs in the western portion (No. 4 shaft) of the Beatrix operation mining right. The Beisa uranium and gold Mineral Resource subject to a pending transaction with Neo Energy Metals PLC (Neo), expected to close in early 2026.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Sibanye-Stillwater Ltd. 100 % Indirect
Sibanye-Stillwater owns and manages 100% of the Beatrix operation.

On 9 December 2024, Sibanye-Stillwater Ltd. announced that it had agreed to sell the Beatrix 4 shaft in the Free State, which includes the Beisa uranium project, to Neo Energy Metals.

Regulatory approval in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) for the transfer of Beatrix 4 shaft (inclusive of the Beisa uranium project) to Neo Energy which is expected to be finalised by Q4 2025.

Deposit type

  • Paleoplacer

Summary:

Beatrix is a deep level underground gold mine located along the northern and southwestern margins of the Witwatersrand Basin in South Africa. This mine is typical of the many Witwatersrand Basin operations, which have been the primary contributors to South Africa’s production of a significant portion of the world’s recorded gold output since 1886.

The orebodies at Beatrix are laterally continuous with relatively long-range predictability. This lends to clear patterns of mineralisation governed by sedimentary characteristics.

The Beatrix Reef (BR) was originally exploited as the main orebody, but has since changed, with the main production coming from the VS5 (Elsburg Formation), the Aandenk (AAR) and Kalkoenkrans (KKR) Composite Reefs.

In general, the Composite VS5/AAR Reefs ranges between 130cm and 350cm in width. The orebody is shallow dipping at 10º – 15º, with typical open fold structures. In most cases the reefs are deemed to be bottom loaded, with most of the gold grade concentrated along the basal contact.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Commodity Production

CommodityUnits2024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Gold koz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe197275292323325
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.

Operational metrics

Metrics2024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Tonnes milled  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe2,489 kt2,952 kt3,515 kt4,333 kt4,319 kt

Production Costs

CommodityUnits20242023202220212020201920182017
Total cash costs (sold) Gold USD 1,017 / oz  
All-in sustaining costs (sold) Gold USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 1,474 / oz **   1,226 / oz **   1,175 / oz **  
All-in costs Gold USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 1,475 / oz **   1,226 / oz **   1,176 / oz **  
** Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs

Currency20172016
Total operating costs ($/t milled) ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Mine Financials

Units20242023202220212020201920182017
Sustaining costs M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 70.5   83   63.1  
Capital expenditures M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 305.8   481   545.6  
Growth Capital M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Revenue M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 3,798   4,601   4,876  
Gross profit M ZAR 923  
Operating Income M ZAR
Pre-tax Income M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
After-tax Income M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe -853.7   -185.5   -419.1  
EBITDA M ZAR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Book Value M ZAR  ....  Subscribe

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameEmailProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required May 2, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ........... Subscription required Jul 12, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 30, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 30, 2025

Workforce

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2024
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2023
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2022
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2020
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2019
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2018
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2017
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2016
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2015

Aerial view:

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