Our business

Southern Africa

Our Business Impala Platinum Marula Platinum Two Rivers Zimplats Mimosa Impala Refining Services (IRS) Exploration Resources & Reserves
 
     
     
     
     
     
     

Exploration

Implats’ exploration strategy remains in place with both brownfields (evaluation drilling at, or adjacent to, our existing operations) and greenfields exploration being undertaken; the primary focus is brownfields prospecting. The offshore greenfields exploration continues at a low level in conjunction with third parties. The focus of this exploration is on primary platinum group mineral targets.

Bushveld Complex in South Africa

Exploration around current mining operations at Impala and Marula in support of life-of-mine operations continues.  At Impala, efforts are being accelerated with increased drilling activity at potential future shaft blocks; during the past year the exploration to support the prefeasibility study at the proposed 18 Shaft block was completed and work is now focused on the proposed 19 and 16 lower blocks.  Exploration also continued at the prospecting right areas on portion of the farms Doornspruit and Roodekraalspruit, and the farms Diepkuil and Klipgatkop, all of which are situated down dip of the present Impala mining lease boundary.  At Marula limited infill drilling was completed to assist the current mining operation.

  

Resource and Reserves

  Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Statement 2010

Download PDF (3.5MB) Download
     
 
View Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Statement in our integrated annual report to our stakeholders for this financial year.  
   

 

At Afplats exploration at the prospecting right areas on the farms Wolwekraal and Kareepoort, and portions of the farm Hartebeestpoort B, continued during the year.

Subsequent to the agreement in 2009 with Kameni regarding the Tamboti Project, all prospecting was undertaken byKameni in the past year.  Exploration was terminated at the grassroots Paradys Project located in the eastern Bushveld; the rights are being transferred to the joint venture partner Endulwini Resources.  Exploration was also terminated at the Springbok Project situated south of Bela-Bela, in the absence of positive drilling results.

Great Dyke in Zimbabwe

At Zimplats, limited exploration recommenced to support future feasibility studies.  Exploration activities had been suspended in FY2009 in favour of cash preservation.  Infill drilling was undertaken at the Mimosa South Hill deposit; an 80 borehole programme commenced toward year end to support a prefeasibility study at North Hill.

Offshore projects

Offshore exploration activities continued during the year but efforts were concentrated on projects within the Sudbury Basin, Canada, in conjunction with Xstrata and Wallbridge Mining and on the Hele Project in the Thunder Bay area in conjunction with our strategic alliance partner, HTX Minerals Limited.

No encouragement was obtained at the Levack Footwall Project with Xstrata within the Sudbury Complex and Implats terminated the joint venture during the year.  However, drilling and borehole geophysical surveys continued at the Milnet and Parkin Project with Wallbridge Mining.  Encouraging borehole intersections were obtained beneath the old Milnet Mine at depths of around 1,500 metres.

Surface mapping and sampling programmes supported by airborne geophysics were completed at the Hele Project, Ontario, a joint venture with HTX Mineral in the mid-continental rift zone, near Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Reconnaissance drilling and surface sampling indicated the presence of multiple low-level PGE-enriched, reef-like zones extending over strike lengths of up to 4 kilometres at Amikoq in Greenland; Implats has since withdrawn from the project.

Target generation activities also continue within the strategic alliances with HTX Minerals in Ontario and with Impact Minerals in southern Africa.
 
  1. © Impala Platinum Limited 2011
  2. |
  3. Disclaimer
  4. |
  5. Privacy