The fourth phase achieved full production in 2012. Image courtesy of Geoff Brown-Planet KB.
The underground platinum mine is estimated to produce 280,000oz per month. Image courtesy of Geoff Brown-Planet KB.
Low Profile and Extra Low Profile equipment is being used in the fourth and fifth phases of Bathopele mine development. Image courtesy of Geoff Brown- Planet KB.
The fourth phase achieved full production in 2012. Image courtesy of Geoff Brown-Planet KB.
The underground platinum mine is estimated to produce 280,000oz per month. Image courtesy of Geoff Brown-Planet KB.
Bathopele platinum mine is a part of Western Limb of Bushveld Igneous Complex and is located near Rustenburg town of South Africa. It is extended in an area of 17km² and produces an estimated 280,000t of platinum a month.
The mine is accessed through east and central shafts. A new region called the west shaft is being developed from 2011 and is accessed underground from the central shaft.
Bathopele mine is 100% owned by Anglo American and produces palladium along with platinum. The mine is expected to operate up to 2026.
Bathopele mine geology
Related project
Marikana Platinum Mine, Rustenburg, South Africa
Marikana is located near Rustenburg, about 112km from Johannesburg in South Africa.
Bathopele mine is a part of the Bushveld Igneous Complex located in the central Transvaal province. It is a pear-shaped area divided into eastern, western, and northern sections. The rock sections are believed have formed two billion years ago.
The Bushveld Complex is a layered igneous intrusion and is extended in an area of 66,000km². It comprises a felsic phase, along with layered mafic intrusions.
The complex is made up of Upper Group 2 (UG2) reef, Merensky reef, and Plat reef. Around 90% of world’s platinum group metals are found in UG2 and Merensky reefs. The UG2 reef comprises of 43.5% chromite while the Merensky reef contains huge deposits of chromite and sulphide.
The Transvaal basin contains large deposits of platinum group metals along with iron, tin, chromium, and vanadium.
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