JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s total mining output increased by 4,8% in July, but gold production continued to decline, falling by 7,6%, official statistics showed on Thursday.

Nongold mining output increased by 6,7%, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported.

It stated that the total mining production for the three months ended July, decreased by 4,4% compared with the same period a year earlier.

The total value of mineral sales at current prices for the second quarter of 2009 decreased by 30,3% compared with the second quarter of 2008.

The major contributors to this decrease were platinum group metals, which accounted for a decrease of about 15,7%, or R12,9-billion, coal, which accounted for a decrease of around 6%, or R4,9-billion, and manganese ore, which accounted for a 5,8% decrease, or R4,7-billion.

Iron-ore sales contributed positively with around 2,4% or R1,9-billion, to the 30,3% decrease.

Earlier in the week, the Chamber of Mines reported that South Africa’s gold production for the second quarter, had increased by 0,4% to 51 634 kg when compared with the 51 411 kg produced in the first quarter. However, on a year-on-year basis the gold production was down a substantial 9,3% in the second quarter of 2009.

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