Palabora Mining Company - Excellent Quality Products
The Palabora Mining Company is located in the town of Phalaborwa, and was incorporated in August 1956. Being the only producer of refined copper in South Africa, the company’s copper ore-body started in 1956, and the open pit copper mine and associated plants commenced during the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. The Palabora Mining Company’s processing plants produced over 2.7 million tons of copper, making this Phalaborwa mine very significant to the copper production in South Africa. In 1996, the Palabora Mining Company announced the development of an underground caving mine, supported and motivated by feasibility studies done in 1990. This site has the production rate of 30 000 tons a day.
To understand the mine, you need to look at how the minerals came to be, and where these minerals originated from. Approximately two million years ago, violent volcanic eruptions took place over a period of millions of years. These eruptions gave rise to rich area of minerals, known as the Palabora Igneous Complex. The ore body contains a unique collection of minerals, namely phosphates, uranium, nickel, magnetite, silver, gold, palladium, platinum, zirconium and of course, copper. These minerals are situated at a small hill called Loolekop.
Prior to this discovery, it is evident through various artifacts found, that smelting of copper ore and the production of a remarkably pure copper, was produced in the Phalaborwa area, in the early 8th century. Several geologists realized the occurrence of apatite, a phosphate bearing mineral, in the Loolekop area, at the beginning of the century. Due to this discovery, the development of modern mining started.
Although the Phalaborwa area is rich in a variety of minerals, the primary production product of the Phalabora Mining Company is copper. By-products such as anode slimes, sulphuric acid, magnetite, nickel sulphate and vermiculite are mined, but the marketing and production of vermiculite, falls under the Industrial Minerals division. The marketing of vermiculite is performed by subsidiaries in the USA, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The operation to extract vermiculite comprises of a recovery plant and open pit mining. Copper on the other hand, is mined by way of an underground mine, a copper smelter with anode casting facilities, a concentrator, arod casting plant, by-product recovery plants and an electrolytic refinery tank house.
The Palabora Mining Company believes and strives to achieve excellence in all its activities. To deliver a high quality product, and to provide maximum benefits to its shareholders, employees, customers and community. But most importantly, the Palabora Mining Company also recognizes its responsibility not only to the health and safety of communities, but its vital responsibility to environmental programmes.
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User Comments & Reviews
2010-08-30 12:12:51
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2010-08-29 21:12:44
Im Salani Wiseman Wisani at Limpopo province and I completed my degree of Environmental Science and pursuing a Honours in Environmental Science at University of Venda,Im looking foward for training in Phalaborwa mine.Pls contact me on listed details.
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2010-08-27 16:39:58
I am a student at the Vaal University of Technology currently in my S4 studies. I am looking for inservice traing for the up comming year. Ill be happy to offer any more details if needed.
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2010-08-18 05:34:10
22yrs nomia makofane, completed s4, looking for P1 training on process instrumentation, any info available please contact me on this mail, Thanks
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2010-08-17 08:56:34
I'm a B.Com accounting Hnrs student and a B.compt accounting lecture.currently searching for a graduate development programe oppotunity with phala mine.i need contact details of phalamine HR managers please help!
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2010-07-22 15:35:18
i am a Phalaborwa resider currently doing my Final year of study in Bcom HR at the University of Limpopo willingly to be part of the PMC inservice training For 2011..i luve it,its the safesty mine in South Africa an close to home.
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2010-06-11 07:24:39
i have finished my national diploma in mineral survey and i will like to come and work at your mine to explore pit mining
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2010-06-08 00:29:49
i'm a student at tshwane university of technology. I'm currently doing S4 in electrical engineering(power). I was hoping if i could do an in-service training with you.
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2010-06-01 13:16:48
To: T E Elvis Ntimbani, Thank you for your interest in SouthAfrica.com. Please note that we do not represent the Phalaborwa Mining Company. You will need to contact them directly with your enquiry.
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2010-05-29 08:52:21
I have completed my theoretical part S4 in Electrical Engineering (Heavy current / Power) at co-operative education institution at Vaal University of Technology. One of the fundamental requirements to graduate is to complete the practical part (in-service Training).The period for which I require experiential training is one year. I would be very glad if I can get the opportunity to work for your organization, I hope that I can be considered for a permanent job after my training. Should there be an open space for training? I am available for interview everyday.
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