May 2010

Platinum, diamonds and manganese are in the spotlight this month. The platinum project we cover is Smokey Hills on the Eastern Limb of the Bushveld Complex. A smallish, limited life, mainly underground UG2 mine, it has been developed by Platinum Australia Limited at a cost of under US$50 million. It is, as we describe it, a classic junior project which exploits a small reserve and which has been fast-tracked into production. Our diamond story focuses on Lucara Diamond Corporation's two kimberlite projects - Mothae in Lesotho and AK6 in Botswana. Both are at an advanced stage, with Mothae now embarking on test mining and AK6 just months away from the start of construction. Our manganese article describes the construction of a new processing plant at Nchwaning in the Northern Cape, delivered by TWP Projects under an EPCM contract. The new plant, together with the relatively new No 3 shaft complex, assures Nchwaning's future for at least the next 30 years.
In our special feature, we look at the field of crushing, screening and milling. Our coverage includes an update on the activities of leading process equipment supplier FLSmidth and an account of Weir Minerals' success with rubber and composite mill liners. We also look at the close relationships which Multotec has forged with customers and provide a profile of Joest, one of South Africa's leading suppliers of screens and feeders.