APPROVED IDP DOC 2011-16.BA PHALABORWA.pdf

The Municipality’s mining sector contributes 92.5% to the District’s mining sector GDP. This
contribution translates to 59.6% of the total district GDP. Mining gives Ba-Phalaborwa a competitive
edge over other municipalities in the District. Unfortunately, copper mining (which constitutes the
backbone of the mining sector in the municipal area) is destined to stop before 2020.
The most mined resources in the Municipal area are copper and phosphate in the Phalaborwa area,
with gold and antimony in the Murchison Greenstone Belt.
The table below presents the range of minerals available in the municipal area
Table B.18: Minerals available in the Phalaborwa Area and the Murchison Range
PHALABORWA AREA MURCHISON RANGE
Magnetite Mineral sand
Copper Antimony
Vermiculite Gold
Nickel Zinc
Apatite Mercury
Zirconium Paving and clad stones
Titanium Emeralds
Uranium Ilmenite
Mica
Clay
Key Mining operations in Ba-Phalaborwa
Palabora Mining company: Palabora Mining Company, situated in the Ba-Phalaborwa area of
Mopani, operates South Africa's largest copper mine. Daily production from the underground
mine averaged 30,780 tons per day and the total mine production was 11,020,496 tons in 2006.
Most of the finished copper product is for local consumption, while most of the vermiculite is
exported. Palabora is the only producer of refined copper in South Africa and supplies the
country with the majority of its copper needs. The mine has been operational for over forty
years. The primary product of the company is copper, together with by-products, which include
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