Name: Ngezi platinum-mine

Location: Located about 150 km south-west of Harare, Zimbabwe.

Brief history: Zimbabwe Platinum Mines was established by Delta Gold Limited in 1998 to take over all the platinum interests of Delta. With a completed reconnaissance programme of drilling on the Ngezi South tenements, it was indicated that there was potential for the Ngezi mine. Between September 1998 and June 1999, Zimplats completed a detailed drilling programme in the area. It also completed a feasibility study for an opencast mine, a concentrator, and for mining and treating sulphide ore.

In May 2001 Zimplats completed financing arrangements for development of the mine, and construction of the Ngezi opencast mine began.

Brief description: Ngezi is operated by Makwiro Platinum Mines, which is 70% owned by Zimbabwe Platinum Mines and 30% by Impala Platinum.

Products: Platinum-group metals.

Mining method: Opencast.

Reserves: Total proved and probable reserves amount to 343,7-million tons as at June 30, 2003.

Resources: Total measured, indicated and inferred resources amount to 2,494- million tons as at June 30, 2003.

Geology: The orebody extends for 8 km from north to south, and about 1 km–1,5 km east to west. It outcrops endlessly along an approximate 16 km of strike forming the southern closure of the Hartley Geologic Complex.

The orebody dips from the eastern and western outcrops at about 4

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.