• EXCURSION was formed when molten matter intruded into granite along three large and numerous smaller volcanic pipes. PMC mines this rare ore body outcropping known as Loolekop which contains a variety of minerals – copper, phosphates, magnetite, uranium, zirconium, nickel, gold, silver, platinum and palladium, while two additional volcanic pipes nearby contain vermiculite and phosphate.
The surface mine today boasts a circumference of over 5km and a diameter of nearly 1 900m – almost six times the size of Kimberley ' s famous Big Hole.
in South Africa. Aside from our longstanding neighbour, phosphate producer, Foskor – we stand alone in this area as one of South Africa’ s‘ grand old’ copper mines and only producer of refined copper built on the back of the Phalaborwa Igneous Complex.”
As with all worthwhile mining ventures, it all starts with the fruits of the soil – nowhere else is copper known to occur in carbonitites as is the case at PMC. The Phalaborwa Igneous Complex was created by a series of volcanic eruptions over a period of millions of years. This unique, rich body of minerals
The PMC family – people of the soil The extraordinary geology mined by PMC, its intriguing mining legacy and the resultant symbiotic relationship between mine and community, together with their extended beneficial relationship with the fauna and flora of the Kruger National Park are all underpinned by the PMC values and culture that have developed over the years.
PMC has built a strong bond with both its natural surroundings and the people that make up the ecosystem flourishing in the district.“ We have initiated wildlife management programs to minimise the impact of our operations on the environment. Through decades of positive engagement with our communities, we have developed Palabora Link, a sound Socio Economic Development programme which is a condition for our mining as a social license to operate. This works hand
20 • African Mining • June 2025 www. africanmining. co. za