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Summary
The reporting of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for Implats’ South African operations is done in accordance with the principles and guidelines of the South African Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC Code). Zimplats, as an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company, reports its Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves in accordance with the Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code), as does Mimosa. The definitions contained in the SAMREC Code are either identical to or not materially different from international definitions. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves, unless otherwise stated.
Since 1969 when production began at the Impala mine area, the Company has grown the mineral Resource portfolio and related platinum production significantly. Implats and its associated companies continue to exploit platiniferous horizons within the largest known deposit of platinum group minerals in the world, namely the Bushveld Complex in South Africa but also the second largest world- class deposit namely the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe. Mining mostly takes place as underground operations focusing on relatively narrow, mineralised horizons with the specific methods adapted to suit the local geology and morphology of the mineralised horizons. The Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves are geographically spread but are dominated by the Mineral Resources at Impala and Zimplats.
Key features
Main features relating to Implats’ Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as at 30 June 2010 relative to 30 June 2009 are:
- Estimated total attributable Mineral Resources decreased by five million platinum ounces to 225 million platinum ounces from 230 million platinum ounces
- Total attributable Group Mineral Reserves decreased by 0.5 million platinum ounces to 36.9 million platinum ounces from 37.4 million platinum ounces
- Introduction of a new Group-wide standard protocol for the estimation, classification and reporting of Mineral Resources and Reserves
- As a consequence there were material changes in the classification of Mineral Resources and decreases due to the introduction of a depth cut-off
- Completion of a Group-wide audit of the Mineral Resources and Reserves by an independent third party
- A re-estimation of the Marula Merensky Reef Mineral Resources resulting in a material decrease
- Addition of Impala/RBR joint venture Mineral Resources following initial prospecting
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| Attributable platinum ounces, net of depletion, corporate activity and additional work |
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| 30 June 2007 |
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Resources |
187Moz Pt |
2% increase, Afplats included |
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Reserves |
40Moz Pt |
8% increase, Afplats included |
| 30 June 2008 |
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Resources |
237Moz Pt |
27% increase, Tamboti added, reporting principle adjusted |
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Reserves |
42Moz Pt |
5% increase, progression of 17 Shaft to reserves |
| 30 June 2009 |
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Resources |
230Moz Pt |
3% decrease, complex graben at Impala excluded |
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Reserves |
37.4Moz Pt |
12% decrease, Afplats excluded |
| 30 June 2010 |
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Resources |
225Moz Pt |
2% decrease, mostly due to introduction of depth cut-off |
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Reserves |
36.9Moz Pt |
No material changes |
Attributable Mineral Resources |
| Attributable Mineral Resources inclusive of Mineral Reserves as at 30 June 2010 |
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Orebody |
Category |
Attributable
tonnes
(Mt) |
Grade (g/t)
5PGE+Au |
Implats
%
ownership |
Attributable
ounces
Pt
(Moz) |
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| Impala |
Merensky |
Measured |
136.2 |
6.82 |
100 |
16.9 |
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Indicated |
63.6 |
6.76 |
100 |
7.8 |
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Inferred |
78.5 |
6.21 |
100 |
8.9 |
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UG2 |
Measured |
132.2 |
8.87 |
100 |
18.1 |
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Indicated |
48.8 |
8.44 |
100 |
6.4 |
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Inferred |
53.4 |
8.38 |
100 |
6.9 |
| Impala/RBR JV |
Merensky |
Measured |
1.6 |
6.98 |
49 |
0.2 |
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Indicated |
3.6 |
6.51 |
49 |
0.4 |
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Inferred |
10.5 |
7.23 |
49 |
1.4 |
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UG2 |
Measured |
1.1 |
9.13 |
49 |
0.2 |
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Indicated |
1.0 |
9.20 |
49 |
0.1 |
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Inferred |
5.5 |
8.96 |
49 |
0.8 |
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Total |
|
536 |
7.57 |
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68.0 |
| Marula |
Merensky |
Measured |
14.1 |
4.77 |
73 |
1.2 |
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Indicated |
11.0 |
4.49 |
73 |
0.9 |
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Inferred |
13.5 |
4.30 |
73 |
1.0 |
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UG2 |
Measured |
19.4 |
9.64 |
73 |
2.2 |
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Indicated |
12.3 |
10.22 |
73 |
1.5 |
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Inferred |
6.7 |
10.35 |
73 |
0.8 |
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Total |
|
77 |
7.23 |
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7.6 |
| Afplats Leeuwkop |
UG2 |
Measured |
48.2 |
6.63 |
74 |
5.1 |
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Indicated |
8.2 |
6.72 |
74 |
0.9 |
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Inferred |
64.0 |
6.34 |
74 |
6.4 |
| Kareepoort/Wolwekraal |
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Indicated |
8.2 |
6.48 |
74 |
0.8 |
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Inferred |
17.5 |
6.23 |
74 |
1.7 |
| Imbasa |
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Indicated |
5.7 |
5.65 |
60 |
0.5 |
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Inferred |
32.0 |
6.10 |
60 |
3.1 |
| Inkosi |
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Indicated |
11.8 |
6.18 |
49 |
1.2 |
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Inferred |
36.6 |
6.09 |
49 |
3.5 |
| Afplats |
Total |
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232 |
6.28 |
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23.2 |
| Two Rivers |
Merensky |
Indicated |
8.4 |
3.55 |
45 |
0.5 |
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Inferred |
1.8 |
3.36 |
45 |
0.1 |
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UG2 |
Measured |
4.0 |
5.43 |
45 |
0.3 |
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Indicated |
21.1 |
4.53 |
45 |
1.4 |
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Inferred |
0.5 |
6.26 |
45 |
0.05 |
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Total |
|
36 |
4.37 |
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2.4 |
| Tamboti |
Merensky |
Inferred |
141.1 |
4.11 |
100 |
10.2 |
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UG2 |
Inferred |
177.6 |
6.65 |
100 |
16.9 |
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Total |
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319 |
5.52 |
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27.1 |
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| Attributable Mineral Resources inclusive of Mineral Reserves as at 30 June 2010 |
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Orebody |
Category |
Attributable
tonnes
(Mt) |
Grade (g/t)
5PGE+Au |
Implats
%
ownership |
Attributable
ounces
Pt
(Moz) |
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| Zimplats |
MSZ |
Measured |
119.4 |
3.90 |
87 |
7.0 |
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Indicated |
582.7 |
3.90 |
87 |
34.4 |
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Inferred |
933.0 |
3.78 |
87 |
51.4 |
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Total |
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1 635 |
3.83 |
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92.9 |
| Mimosa |
MSZ |
Measured |
19.2 |
4.26 |
50 |
1.2 |
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Indicated |
17.4 |
3.71 |
50 |
0.9 |
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Inferred |
3.5 |
4.09 |
50 |
0.2 |
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Inferred (oxides) |
3.3 |
3.95 |
50 |
0.2 |
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Inferred N Hill |
24.3 |
3.90 |
50 |
1.4 |
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Total |
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68 |
4.01 |
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3.9 |
| All |
Total |
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2 902 |
5.01 |
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225 |
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Notes
- Attributable Mineral Resources as expressed in tonnes and platinum ounces are based on Implats’ equity interest
- Mineral Resource tonnage and grades are estimated in situ. Mineral Resources for the Merensky Reef are estimated at a minimum mining width and may include mineralisation below the selected cut-off grade
- Mineral Resource estimates for the UG2 Reef reflect the chromitite channel widths only and do not include any dilution
- Mineral Resource estimates for the Main Sulphide Zone (MSZ) are based on optimal mining widths
- These are summary estimates, and inaccuracy is derived from the rounding of numbers
- The largest proportion of the Group attributable Mineral Resources originates from the MSZ
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