Name: Kolomela mine.

Location: The Kolomela mine is located towards the southern end of the iron-ore belt, in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Mine Owner/s: Sishen Iron Ore Company, a 76.3% subsidiary of Kuma Iron Ore, a subsidiary of Anglo American.

Brief Description: Kolomela mine has been designed as a direct shipping ore operation. Currently the Leeuwfontein, Klipbankfontein and Kapstevel North ore bodies are being mined.

Kolomela had a life-of-mine (LoM) of 12 years in 2020.

Brief History: The mining right for the Kolomela mine was granted in September 2008. The first blast took place in 2009. Mining operations started in late 2011, with full production achieved in 2013.

Primary Metals/Minerals: Iron-ore – premium lump, standard lump and standard fines.

Secondary Metals/Minerals: None stated.

Geology/Mineralisation: Iron-ore at the Kolomela mine is preserved in the chemical and clastic sediments of the Proterozoic Griqualand West Supergroup, which defines the western margin of the Kaapvaal Craton, in the Northern Cape.

Locally, the stratigraphy has been deformed by thrusting from the west and has undergone extensive karstification. The thrusting has produced a series of open, north/south plunging anticlines, synclines and grabens.   

Karstification was responsible for the development of deep palaeo-sinkholes; the iron-ore at Kolomela has been protected from erosion within these geological formations.

Reserves: Total proven and probable reserves as at December 31, 2020, were estimated at 158-million tonnes grading gat 61.1% iron.

Resources: Total measured, indicated and inferred resources, in addition to ore reserves, were estimated at 143.3-million tonnes grading 63% iron as at December 31, 2020.

Mining Method: Openpit – a conventional drill-and-blast, truck-and-shovel operation.

Major Infrastructure and Equipment: The project includes a crushing and screening plant and a small-scale ultrahigh dense-media separation facility.

Prospects: In 2020, Sishen Iron Ore Company approved the Kapstevel South project at Kolomela. The project will contribute significantly to sustaining production of about 13-million tonnes for the remainder of the Kolomela mine and will maintain Kolomela’s current LoM at 12 years.

Contact Details:
Kumba Iron Ore
Tel +27 12 683 7000
Website https://www.angloamericankumba.com