APPROVED IDP DOC 2011-16.BA PHALABORWA.pdf

DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL POTENTIAL PROJECTS
Production of copper
• Increase in SMME development projects
relating to the metal
Production of clay
•
•
Clay processing plant
Brick manufacturing
• Roof & floor tile manufacturing
• Tile and cement products
• Ceramic and sanitary ware
Magnetite processing
• Steel production plant
Paving and cladding stones
•
•
Processing of stones
Increase in SMME development projects
relating to paving and cladding stones
Mining’s GDP contribution to the South African economy is less than 10%, while in the Limpopo
Province it is estimated at 20%. In Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, mining contributes 80% to the GDP
and employs about 30% of the total labour force.
The conclusions for the titano-magnetites are that both the Gravelotte and Red River deposits are
major prospects for the production of ilmenite and possibly also iron and vanadium. Available
information indicates that most of the parameters are in the range that would define a recoverable
deposit. Little information has been found to indicate unsurmountable technical problems, though
some possible problems in physical separation and smelting have been met during Mintek work on
similar applications. One would expect the Iscor deposit to be the most likely to be developed but
only a small amount of information is available to support this conclusion. An additional problem is
the intellectual property situation covering relevant smelting technology. For antimony and gold,
Metorex considers that the Murchison belt has potential and is trying to structure a joint venture to
fund exploration. The possibility of a centralized gold processing plant in the area should be
examined.
Known reserves of zinc and copper in the Phalaborwa SDI are limited and do not justify a zinc or
copper smelter, or even expansion of the mine, but there are reasonably high expectations of new
finds which could be used to extend Maranda's life. No other significant deposits of zinc or copper
have been identified. There may be a potential for small-scale mining of zinc or copper in the SDI,
but this would not include artisanal operations. Should spare capacity arise at Phalaborwa Mining
Company's smelter there may be an opportunity for Maranda to sell its copper concentrate to PMC
at a considerable saving in transportation cost.
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