Metso Minerals has recently installed a complete crushing and screening plant at the new Marikana platinum mine in South Africa, this repeat order follows on after the successful installation of a similar plant at the nearby Kroondal mine.

Both Marikana and Kroondal platinum mines are owned by Australian-based Aquarius Platinum Ltd and operated by South African contractor Minopex. Separated by just 8km, the two mines are located approximately 120km northwest Johannesburg in South Africa, on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex.

The Marikana platinum mine started mining operations in 2002 with the official commissioning of Metso crushing and screening equipment installed by the end of the year.

Located close to the mine's stockpile, the project's primary crusher is a Nordberg Superior Primary Gyratory 3655. This unit has a nominal feed opening of 914mm and has a capacity of 800 tph. From the primary crushing stage the product is transported by 1km-long conveyor belt system to the secondary and tertiary crushing stages. The secondary crusher is Metso's Nordberg C3055 jaw crusher with a 1400 x 760mm nominal feed opening and 600 tph capacity.

The plant's tertiary stage crusher is a Nordberg HP500 using a standard fines liner. The final product size after the tertiary stage and before the product is conveyed to the on-site ball mills is –23mm.

The crushing and screening plant was erected as a complete Metso Minerals installation and also includes two 2.1m x 7m multi-slope Metso screens.

The earlier installed plant at the nearby Kroondal mine was slightly different due to the local material being finer and more fragmented. Consequently, the primary crusher is a Nordberg C3055 and secondary and tertiary crushing is achieved with a Nordberg HP500 being utilised as a dual-purpose crusher.

The Kroondal mine was initially conceived in 1996 with production commencing in August 1999. At present the mine has an annual production of 217,000 PGM ounces.

Contact:
Alan Fletcher
Metso Minerals
Ph:+27 119614067
Alan.Fletcher
@metso.com