African Mining January 2020 | Page 55

OPERATIONS  below surface on the south-western boundary. Three distinct reef types have been defined for the UG2 Reef at Two Rivers, namely the ‘normal reef’ with a thick main chromitite layer; a ‘split reef’ characterised by an internal pyroxenite/norite lens within the main chromitite layer; and a ‘multiple split reef’ with numerous pyroxenite/norite lenses occurring within the main chromitite layer. The UG2 orebody at Two Rivers is accessed via two decline shaft systems (Main Decline and North Decline), three kilometres apart. Underground mining operations are fully mechanised and the bord and pillar mining method is employed where www. africanmining.co.za African Mining Publication stoping widths average around 1.8m. A mining section consists of eight 12m rooms, with pillar sizes increasing with depth below surface. Accessing the Great Dyke The Great Dyke of Zimbabwe is a layered complex similar to that of the Bushveld Complex. It extends for 550km and measures 11km at its widest. Within the Great Dyke four geological complexes are known to contain PGM and base metal deposits. These are the Wedza Complex, where Implats operates the Mimosa mine with Sibanye-Stillwater (another platinum giant), African Mining African Mining  January 2020  53