Mineral Commodities (ASX:MRC) begins mining in South Africa

Executive Chairman & CEO, Mark CarusoSource: Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

By:: Ashleigh Melanko

• Mineral Commodities (MRC) and its partner Blue Bantry Investments 255 have begun mining at the Western Strandline deposit in South Africa
• The first pit of the program will initially target near surface, high-grade strand horizons which will then be sent for crushing
• IHC Robbins has been engaged to undertake medium term mine planning, scheduling, and pit optimisation
• Further, Obsideo Consulting and MinSol Engineering have also been engaged to manage and continue testwork
• MRC is up 5.66 per cent and shares are currently trading for 28 cents each
• Mineral Commodities (MRC) and its partner Blue Bantry Investments 255 have begun mining at the Western Strandline deposit in South Africa.

Following completion of topsoil stripping in the southern part of the Western Strandline, conventional open pit mining has now begun.

The first pit of the program will initially target near surface, high-grade strand horizons which will then be sent to the existing Primary Beach Concentrator/Tailings Separation Plant (PBC/TSP) for crushing.

IHC Robbins has been engaged to undertake medium term mine planning, scheduling, and pit optimisation.

Further, Obsideo Consulting and MinSol Engineering have also been engaged to manage and continue testwork, as well as complete detailed engineering and design studies on the planned PBC upgrade.

This upgrade will enable a throughput capacity of approximately four million tonnes by 2022.

“The commencement of mining represents another significant milestone in the rapid development of the Inland Strand,” Executive Chairman Mark Causo said.

“Mining has commenced within two months of receipt of the approvals to expand the mining and processing operations at Tormin,” he added.

MRC is up 5.66 per cent and shares are trading for 28 cents each at 1:04 pm AEST.