Recursos minerales de Sudáfrica

Introducción

South Africa stands as a global leader in mineral resources, boasting over 70 commercially exploited minerals with a collective value exceeding $200 billion. As the world’s most mineral-rich nation (excluding energy resources), the country dominates global production in several key commodities. This analysis examines South Africa’s four most strategically important mineral resources: manganese, platinum group metals, chromium, and gold.

 

Principales tipos de minerales extraídos en Sudáfrica

 

Key Mineral Resources Overview

1. Manganese: Global Leader in Reserves and Production

South Africa is the world’s largest manganese ore resource country, with 200 million tons of manganese reserves in 2018, accounting for 29.5 percent of the world’s total reserves. The manganese deposits in South Africa are mainly concentrated in the Northern Cape Province, including the Postmasburg mine and the Kalahari mine, where the grade of the Kalahari deposit is high, with manganese ore reaching 56%. In addition, manganese deposits are also distributed in the northeast of South Africa (from Krugersdorp westward to the border of Botswana).

 

 

2. Platinum Group Metals (PGMs): World’s Largest Reserves

In 2018, South Africa’s platinum group metal reserves were about 2.2 billion oz, accounting for 91% of the world’s total reserves and ranking first in the world. The platinum group metal deposits in South Africa are mainly distributed in the northwest, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, and the platinum deposits in the Bushveld Complex are the most concentrated.

 

 

3. Gold: Declining Production but Significant Reserves

In 2018, South African gold reserves were 6000t, accounting for 11% of the world’s total reserves, only after Australia. The Witwatersrand basin and the Barberton area are the main gold distribution areas. In the Whitworth Sland basin mine, the gold belongs to the gold-bearing paleo gravel type, produced in the gold-bearing paleo-conglomerate, which upper on the unconformity surface of Neoproterozoic and Early Proterozoic. The reserves are huge, which is the main object of gold production and mining in South Africa, and it is also the largest deposit type with the largest reserves among all kinds of gold deposits in the world. The gold in the Barberton area belongs to the greenstone type( main gold-bearing quartz vein type) and was produced in the Archean greenstone belts.

4. Chromium: Second-Largest Global Reserves

In 2018, South Africa had 200 million tons of chromium ore reserves, accounting for 39% of the world’s total reserves, ranking second in the world. Chromium ore mainly occurs in the northeast area, which is divided into east and west ore belts, which is one of the world’s famous layered ferrochromium deposits. Chrome ore mining plays an important role in the South African mineral processing industry.

 

 

Key Mineral Resources Exploitation

1. Manganese

In 2018, the output of manganese ore in South Africa was 5.3 million tons, accounting for 33 percent of the world’s total output. According to S & P Global Market Financial Intelligence Statistics, there are currently eight active manganese mine projects in South Africa, accounting for 40 percent of the total number of statistical mines. South African mining companies control 44.5% of the manganese ore projects. At present, eight of the main manganese mining companies are domestic corporations. The main manganese mining companies are the British Resources Group, the African Rainbow Minerals, South Africa Assore, South Africa South32, etc.

Principales minas de manganeso de Sudáfrica

Proyecto	Producción (miles de toneladas)	Sociedad de cartera
Kalagadi	300	Kgalagadi(SA) 50%, Karakadi manganeso(SA) 40%, IDC(SA) 10%
Kudumane	2700	Kudumane(SA) 100%
UMK	1700	UMK(SA) 51%, Liwet(CH) 21.79%
Nchwaning /Gloria	3628	ARM(SA) 50%, Assore(SA) 50%
Hotazel	3720	South32(SA) 44,4%, Anglo American(UK) 29,6%
TrshipiBorwa	3136	Jupiter(AU) 49,9%, Ntsimbintle(SA) 37,07%, OM(SG) 13,03%
Lomoteng	100	N＆H(CN) 70%

 

2. Chromium

Last year, the output of chromium ore in South Africa was 16.6 million tons, accounting for about 50 percent of the world’s total output. According to S & P’s statistics, South Africa has a total of 30 active chromium mine projects, accounting for 43. 5% of the total number of mines. In which 64% of the Chrome projects are handled in a domestic company. Major chrome mining companies in South Africa.

Principales minas de cromo de Sudáfrica

Proyecto	Producción (miles de toneladas)	Sociedad de cartera
Dwarsrivier	1200	Assore(SA) 100%
Stellite	450	Afarak(FI) 41,06%, MidUral(RU) 29,59%, UmnothoweSizwe(SA) 19,5%
Negro Cromo	250	K2016291369(SA) 100%
Thorncliffe	NA	Glencore(CH) 79,5%, Melafie(SA) 20,5%
Kroondal Géminis	NA	Glencore(CH) 79,5%, Melafie(SA) 20,5%
Waterval Oeste	NA	Glencore(CH) 79,5%, Melafie(SA) 20,5%
Dilokong	NA	SINOSTEEL(CN) 60%, Gobierno Ｒepública de SA（SA） 40%

 

3. Platinum Group Metal Ores

According to S & P Statistics, there are 154 platinum mine projects in South Africa and 69 active mine projects, accounting for 44. 8% of the total number of mines. In which 69 of the platinum mining companies are domestic corporations.

Major platinum metal mines in South Africa

Proyecto	Producción de paladio (oz)	Producción de platino (oz)	Sociedad de cartera
Mogalakwena	508900	508900	Anglo American Platinum(SA) 100%
Marikana	303165	616791	Lonmin(SA) 82%, Lonmin(SA) 18%
Ｒustenburg	218491	809527	Sibanye Gold(SA) 100%
Bafokeng - Ｒasimone	87600	211900	Ｒoyal Bafokeng(SA) 67%, Anglo American Platinum(SA) 33%
Phosiri	NA	NA	GGTT(CN) 72%, IDC(SA) 28%
Sección Amandelbult	202500	438000	Anglo American Platinum(SA) 100%
Impala	319200	607800	Impala(SA) 96%
Tharisa	21558	80355	Tharisa(SA) 74%
Zondereinde	84614	173770	Northam(SA) 100%
Booysendal Norte	55222	120065	Northam(SA) 100%
Pilanesberg	37153	79615	Sedibelo(SA) 100%
Kroondal	147800	278600	Anglo American Platinum(SA) 50%, Sibanye Gold(SA) 50%
Sección Unión	71400	154500	Sibanye Gold(SA) 85%, Bakgatla Ba Kgafela(SA) 15%
Modikwa	122600	126600	Anglo American Platinum(SA) 50%, Bakgatla Ba Kgafela(SA) 50%

 

4. Gold

Due to a long history of extracción de oro and the depletion of resources in many gold mines, the gold production in South Africa has been decreasing year by year, and some mines have been shut down due to the increasing depth of mining and the gradual rise of costs. According to S & P Global Market Financial Intelligence Statistics, South Africa currently has 56 active gold mine projects, accounting for 21. 5% of the total number of statistical mines. In which South African mining companies and foreign companies own 50% of gold projects.

Conclusión

South Africa’s mineral endowment continues to position it as a crucial player in global commodity markets. With ongoing investments and proper resource management, the country can maintain its leadership in critical minerals essential for industrialization and technological advancement worldwide.