Recent Strikes in South Africa’s Platinum-Group Metal 

Mines: Effects Upon World Platinum-Group Metal Supplies

By Thomas R. Yager, Yadira Soto-Viruet, and James J. Barry

Open-File Report 2012–1273

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012 

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Suggested citation:

Yager, T.R., Soto-Viruet, Yadira, and Barry, J.J., 2012, Recent strikes in South Africa’s platinum-group metal 

mines—Effects upon world platinum-group metal supplies:U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1273, 

18 p., available only at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1273. 

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain

copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be 

secured from the copyright owner. 
iii

Contents

South African Platinum-Group Metal Producers ............................................................................................................ 1

Underlying Problems in the Platinum-Group Metal Industry .......................................................................................... 2

The 2012 Strikes............................................................................................................................................................ 2

Implications for Global Markets...................................................................................................................................... 3

Outlook .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4

References Cited........................................................................................................................................................... 5

Figures

1. Maps showing the (A) distribution and (B) geology of South Africa's platinum-group 

metal (PGM) deposits.....................................................................................................................................18

Tables

1. South African platinum-group metal mines. ...................................................................................................... 7

2. South Africa platinum-group metal refineries.................................................................................................. 12

3. Prospective platinum-group metal projects in South Africa............................................................................. 13

4. Refined platinum-group metal production in South Africa............................................................................... 14

5. Platinum-group metals mine production in South Africa. ................................................................................ 15

6. Platinum-group metals mine production in selected countries........................................................................ 16

7. World platinum-group metal prices from 2000 through 2011 .......................................................................... 17
iv

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Mass

ounce, troy 31.103 gram (g) 

pound, avoirdupois (lb) 0.4536 kilogram (kg) 

SI to Inch/Pound

Multiply By To obtain

Mass

gram (g) 0.03215 ounce, troy

kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb)
1

Recent Strikes in South Africa’s Platinum-Group Metal 

Mines: Effects Upon World Platinum-Group Metal Supplies

By Thomas R. Yager, Yadira Soto-Viruet, and James J. Barry

The recent labor disputes over wages and working conditions that have affected South Africa’s 

three leading platinum-group metal (PGM) producers have affected an industry already plagued by 

market pressures and labor unrest and raised the specter of constraints in the world’s supply of these 

metals. Although low demand for these metals in 2011 and 2012 helped to offset production losses of 

recent years, and particularly those losses caused by the strikes in 2012, a prolonged resumption of 

strikes could cause severe shortages of iridium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, and, to a lesser extent, 

palladium.

South Africa is the world’s leading producer of PGMs by value and volume. In 2011, it 

accounted for 74 percent of the world’s platinum mine production, 38 percent of the world’s palladium

production, and 80 percent of the world’s production of other PGMs. South Africa’s production of 

refined PGMs was slightly greater than its mine output of PGMs because of companies processing 

imported concentrate from Zimbabwe and recycled materials (Loferski, 2012). 

PGM mining is playing an increasingly important role in South Africa’s mineral industry, which 

accounted for 8.8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2011. Mine output of PGMs totaled 

288,581 kilograms (kg) in 2011 compared with about 229,500 kg in 2001. From 2001 to 2011, 

employment in PGM mining increased to 194,979 workers from about 100,000. During the same 

period, national gold mine production decreased to 180,200 kg from about 428,000 kg, and employment 

in gold mining decreased to 145,561 workers from about 200,000 (Chamber of Mines of South Africa, 

2011, p. 12, 22–23, 32; 2012, p. 6–7, 12, 26).

PGMs were also South Africa’s leading mineral commodity export. In 2011, South Africa’s 

exports of PGMs amounted to $10.09 billion; gold, $8.99 billion; iron ore; $8.05 billion; coal, 

$6.96 billion; and ferrochromium, $3.28 billion. Platinum accounted for $7.18 billion of national PGM 

exports; palladium, $1.43 billion; rhodium, $1.17 billion; iridium, $210 million; and ruthenium, 

$101 million. Products derived from mining and mineral processing accounted for 45 percent of 

national exports, and PGMs composed 25 percent (Chamber of Mines of South Africa, 2012, p. 6–7; 

Martin Kohler, Deputy Director of Statistics, Department of Minerals and Energy of the Republic of 

South Africa, written commun., June 8, 2012). 

Figure 1 shows the locations of economically significant PGM mines and refineries in 

South Africa. The mines and refineries are identified in tables 1 and 2, respectively, along with annual 

capacity, ownership, and labor strikes status. 

South African Platinum-Group Metal Producers

Anglo American Platinum Ltd. (Amplats) of South Africa was the world’s leading producer of 

platinum in 2011. The company operates the Amandelbult complex (the Tumela and the Dishaba

Mines), the Rustenburg complex (the Bathopele, the Khomanani, the Khuseleka, the Siphumelele, and 

the Thembelani Mines) and the Union Mines. Amplats also has joint-venture agreements for the 
2

Bafokeng-Rasimone Platinum, the Bokoni, the Kroondal, and the Modikwa Mines (fig. 1; table 1). The 

company’s PGM refinery has a capacity of 81,000 kilograms per year (kg/yr) of refined platinum 

(table 2). Prior to the strikes, Amplats’ production target for 2012 was between 78,000 and 81,000 kg of 

refined platinum (Anglo American Platinum Ltd., 2012d, p. 123). 

Impala Platinum Ltd. (Implats) of South Africa owns the Impala Mines near Rustenburg in 

North West Province and the Marula Mine in Limpopo Province (fig. 1; table 1). The company’s PGM 

refinery has a capacity of 71,500 kg/yr of platinum (table 2). Prior to the strikes, Implats had planned to 

increase its production at Impala to 31,000 kg/yr by 2014 (Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., 2010, 

p. 81–83). 

Lonmin plc of the United Kingdom produces PGMs at its Marikana operations east of 

Rustenburg in North West Province and at the Pandora Mine (fig. 1; table 1). The company’s refinery 

has a capacity of 31,000 kg/yr of platinum (table 2). Its refined platinum production in 2011 was 

23,452 kg compared with 20,754 kg in 2010. Before the strikes in 2012, Lonmin planned to ramp up to 

nearly 30,000 kg/yr of refined platinum after 2012 (Butler, 2012, p. 16). 

Northam Platinum Ltd. of South Africa produced about 8,600 kg of PGMs at the Zondereinde 

Mine in 2011 compared with 8,200 kg in 2010. The company planned further increases in output in

2012. Aquarius Platinum Ltd. of South Africa operates the Everest Mine and has joint-venture 

agreements with Amplats for the Kroondal and the Marikana Mines. African Rainbow Minerals Ltd. of 

South Africa operates the Nkomati and the Two Rivers Mines in joint venture with OJSC MMC Norilsk 

Nickel of Russia and Implats, respectively. Platmin Ltd. of South Africa operates the Pilanesberg 

Platinum Mine on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex and Platinum Australia Pty Ltd. (PLA) of 

Australia operates the Smokey Hills Mine. Other producers include Xstrata plc of Switzerland, which 

operates the Eland Mine, and Eastern Platinum Ltd. of Canada, which operates the Crocodile River 

Mine (fig. 1; table 1; Butler, 2011, p. 18–19; 2012, p. 16). 

Underlying Problems in the Platinum-Group Metal Industry 

Before the large-scale strikes at the PGM mines in 2012, many PGM producers had already 

delayed, scaled back, or canceled the development of new mines and expansions of existing mines 

(table 3). South Africa’s palladium and platinum production peaked in 2006, and iridium, rhodium, and 

ruthenium production peaked in 2007 (tables 4 and 5). The three leading PGM producers started cutting 

production in 2006, and the worldwide economic crisis that began in 2008 led to greater reductions in 

output. Power shortages also contributed to reduced production in recent years because underground 

PGM mines are power intensive. Smaller scale strikes also affected many PGM producers in 2011 

(Ryan, 2010; Bleiwas, 2011, p. 60, 87; Butler, 2012, p. 16–19). 

Platmin achieved between 53 percent and 63 percent of its PGM production target at Pilanesberg 

for 2011. PLA reached less than 40 percent of its production target for 2011 at Smokey Hills. In June 

2012, Aquarius placed the Everest and the Marikana Mines on care-and-maintenance status and 

encouraged other PGM producers to reduce production. Lonmin announced plans to reduce spending on 

new projects by about 50 percent over 2 years in July 2012 because of low PGM demand in Europe 

(Maylie, 2012a; Butler, 2012, p. 16, 18; Mining Journal, 2012). 

The 2012 Strikes

Strikes at many PGM mines in 2011 and earlier had already contributed to decreased production. 

The strikes in 2012 had considerably greater effects upon production and the PGM industry as a whole 

and spread to other types of mines, including gold mines. Conflict between the National Union of 
3

Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) played a 

central role in the strikes. The NUM is part of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, which is 

allied with the ruling African National Congress (ANC). The AMCU accuses the NUM of being 

insufficiently supportive of worker interests in its negotiations. A former ANC Youth League leader, 

who was expelled from the ANC, is a supporter of the AMCU (Raghavan, 2012). Lower paid mine 

workers make up an increasing share of the AMCU’s membership, whereas the NUM’s membership has 

shifted more toward higher paid skilled workers since the end of apartheid in the early 1990s (Maylie, 

2012a, c, d).

Implats was the first PGM producer to be affected by strikes in 2012. In February, conflict 

between the AMCU and the NUM led to a 6-week shutdown of Implats’ operations (Maylie, 2012a). 

In August 2012, about 3,000 rock drillers initiated a strike at Lonmin’s Marikana Mine. Conflict 

broke out between AMCU and NUM members, and 10 people were killed, including mine workers and 

police officers. At a subsequent protest at Marikana on August 16, 34 striking workers were killed by 

the police. In early September, Lonmin signed an agreement with some of the striking workers to 

increase wages by 22 percent. The AMCU refused to sign the agreement, and about 20 percent of the 

workers remained on strike in late September. More workers at the Marikana Mines resumed strikes in 

mid-October (Freeman, 2012; Maylie, 2012d). 

In early September, unrest spread to Amplats’s Rustenburg operations. Rustenburg employed 

21,000 workers and accounted for about one-third of Amplats’s mine production. In early October, the 

company fired 12,000 striking workers and confirmed labor strikes at its Union and Amandelbult 

operations. Amplats subsequently extended the deadline for the miners to resume work to late October, 

and, in mid-November, the miners accepted a revised offer from the company (Anglo American 

Platinum Ltd., 2012a–c; Létourneau, 2012; Maylie, 2012e, f). 

Strikes also spread to other PGM, gold, and iron ore producers and to the transportation sector. 

In September and October, workers went on strike at Atlatsa Resources Corp.’s Bokoni Mine, Gold 

Fields Ltd.’s Beatrix and KDC West Mines, Gold One International Ltd.’s Ezulwini Mine, Harmony 

Gold Ltd.’s Kusasalethu Mine, Kumba Iron Ore Ltd.’s Sishen Mine, and Village Main Reef Ltd.’s 

Blyvoor Mine. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. had strikes at all its gold mining operations (Kilby and Bishop, 

2012; Létourneau, 2012). 

In late October 2012, AngloGold Ashanti announced plans to fire 12,000 striking workers. 

Atlatsa fired about 2,000 striking workers; Gold Fields, about 1,500; and Gold One, more than 1,400. 

About 98 percent of Harmony Gold’s striking workers resumed work by late October (Kilby and 

Bishop, 2012; Létourneau, 2012; Maylie, 2012b). 

Implications for Global Markets

From 2001 to 2011, average annual prices for platinum increased by 223 percent; iridium, 

149 percent; rhodium and ruthenium, 27 percent each; and palladium, 21 percent. Prices of all PGMs 

decreased sharply in 2009 because of the worldwide economic crisis and subsequently increased 

somewhat in 2010. In late October 2012, prices for rhodium and ruthenium remained 82 percent and 

66 percent, respectively, below the average levels of 2008. Rhodium and ruthenium prices were 

43 percent and 34 percent, respectively, below the average levels of 2011 in spite of supply disruptions 

from the strikes. Platinum prices fluctuated during September 2012 because of the strikes; however, 

platinum prices in late October remained 9 percent below the average levels of 2011. Palladium prices 

were 19 percent below the average levels of 2011 in late October. Iridium prices, which increased by 

131 percent from 2008 to 2011, remained nearly unchanged in late October (table 7; Freeman, 2012). 
4

Losses in platinum production because of the strikes were estimated to be about 5,900 kg at 

Amplats, 3,700 kg at Implats, and 3,400 kg at Lonmin. Low demand for PGMs in 2011 and 2012 has 

helped offset the effects of the strikes at Amplats, Implats, and Lonmin. The strikes are likely to greatly 

reduce or eliminate the previously expected global surplus of platinum. A prolonged resumption of 

strikes at any of the three leading PGM miners in South Africa could cause severe shortages of iridium, 

platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, and, to a lesser extent, palladium, in world markets. In 2010, Amplats 

mined more platinum than all non-South African producers combined. Even a partial shutdown of 

operations at Amplats would have serious implications for world markets. Implats produced 70 percent, 

and Lonmin produced 50 percent as much platinum as all non-South African producers combined 

(Anglo American Platinum Ltd., 2012c; Day, 2012; Maylie, 2012a, d–f). 

Replacing losses in South African platinum production by increasing production elsewhere is 

inherently difficult because of the low platinum-to-palladium ratio in most other PGM deposits in the 

world. South Africa’s ratio of platinum to palladium mine production is 1.87:1 compared with 0.29:1 

for Russia, which is the world’s second-ranked producer. Australia, Botswana, Canada, and the 

United States have platinum-to-palladium mine production ratios of less than 0.6:1. Zimbabwe is the 

only other globally significant producer, with a ratio of greater than 1:1 (table 6). Attempts to replace

significant shares of South African platinum production would be difficult and could result in increases 

in global oversupplies of palladium. 

Long-term platinum production losses could have substantial effects upon several industries. In 

2011, catalysts for vehicle emission reduction accounted for 41 percent of worldwide platinum demand; 

jewelry, 33 percent; glass manufacturing, 7 percent; and chemical applications and investment, 

6 percent each (Butler, 2012, p. 27–35). 

In 2010, 46.8 metric tons of platinum was consumed in North America. Transportation was the 

largest sector, accounting for 32.3 percent of total platinum use. The transportation end uses include for

gas turbine engine blades, oxygen sensors, spark plugs, and vehicle emission reduction catalysts. The 

investment tools (31.8 percent) and jewelry (11.5 percent) sectors were the next largest consumers. The 

chemical sector accounted for 6.6 percent of platinum consumption for uses that include catalysts and 

silicon production. The medical and biomedical sector (6 percent) consumed platinum in dental 

material, laboratory equipment manufacturing, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and anti-cancer 

drugs. Petroleum refining and the electronics sector consumed 1.7 percent each. In the electronics 

sector, platinum was used primarily in hard disks. Glass end uses consumed 0.7 percent, and the 

remaining 7.7 percent was consumed in other sectors and applications. 

In 2011, about 67 percent of worldwide demand for palladium was attributable to catalysts for

vehicle emission reduction; electrical components, 15 percent; dental alloys, 7 percent; jewelry, 

6 percent; and chemical applications, 5 percent. For rhodium, about 79 percent of worldwide demand 

was attributable to use in catalysts for vehicle emission reduction; liquid crystal display (LCD) glass 

manufacturing, 9 percent; and chemical applications, 8 percent. Computer hard disk manufacturing 

accounted for 62 percent of worldwide ruthenium demand; chlorine and sodium hydroxide production, 

16 percent; and other chemical applications, 13 percent. The electrical sector accounted for 55 percent

of worldwide iridium demand. Iridium was used primarily in crucibles to grow sapphire crystals for 

gallium nitride production (Butler, 2012, p. 36–37, 39–42, 44–45). 

Outlook

South Africa’s PGM mining industry remains the world’s leading producer of PGMs in spite of 

recent strikes and such problems as increasing power costs, and it is highly likely to retain its status for 

the foreseeable future. Geologic factors, especially the low platinum-to-palladium ratio in other 
5

PGM-producing countries, pose a nearly prohibitive challenge to replacing South Africa as the leading 

producer of iridium, platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium. 

The strikes in 2012 had a substantial effect upon PGM production and led to delays in 

implementing increases in output. The effects of the strikes upon world markets were offset by low 

demand for PGMs. If large-scale labor disputes return to the industry, especially during periods of 

higher PGM demand, shortages of PGMs could become acute and lead to much higher prices that would 

affect many industries. Other potential challenges include support for nationalization of the mining 

industry among some factions of the ANC. 

References Cited

Anglo American Platinum Ltd., 2012a, Anglo American Platinum update: Johannesburg, South Africa, 

Anglo American Platinum Ltd. press release, October 18, 1 p. 

Anglo American Platinum Ltd., 2012b, Anglo American Platinum update: Johannesburg, South Africa, 

Anglo American Platinum Ltd. press release, November 9, 2 p. 

Anglo American Platinum Ltd., 2012c, Anglo American Platinum’s staff return to work: Johannesburg, 

South Africa, Anglo American Platinum Ltd. press release, November 15, 2 p. 

Anglo American Platinum Ltd., 2012d, Annual report 2011: Johannesburg, South Africa, Anglo 

American Platinum Ltd., 320 p. 

Bleiwas, D.I., 2011, Estimates of electricity requirements for the recovery of mineral commodities, with 

examples applied to sub-Saharan Africa: U.S. Geological Survey Open- File Report 2011–1253, 

100 p., available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1253/report/OF11-1253.pdf. 

Butler, Jonathan, 2011, Platinum 2011: London, United Kingdom, Johnson Matthey plc, 60 p. 

Butler, Jonathan, 2012, Platinum 2012: London, United Kingdom, Johnson Matthey plc, 60 p. 

Chamber of Mines of South Africa, 2011, Facts & figures 2010: Johannesburg, South Africa, Chamber 

of Mines of South Africa, 40 p. 

Chamber of Mines of South Africa, 2012, Facts & figures 2011: Johannesburg, South Africa, Chamber 

of Mines of South Africa, 41 p. 

Day, Matt, 2012, Platinum plunges to 6-week low: The Wall Street Journal, October 23, p. C4. 

Freeman, Francesca, 2012, Platinum swings on strife: The Wall Street Journal, September 24, p. C10. 

Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd., 2010, Integrated annual report 2010: Northlands, South Africa, Impala 

Platinum Holdings Ltd., 260 p. 

Kilby, Ben, and Bishop, Chris, 2012, AngloGold, Harmony workers begin returning after strike: Platts 

Metals Week, v. 83, no. 44, October 29, p. 9. 

Létourneau, Alex, 2012, Recap of the major mines impacted by the South African mine strikes: Forbes, 

October 12. (Accessed October 12, 2012, at http://www.forbes.com/sites/kitconews/ 

2012/10/12/recap-of-the-major-mines-impacted-by-the-south-african-mine-strikes-2/.) 

Loferski, P.J., 2012, Platinum-group metals, in Metals and minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals 

Yearbook 2011, v. I, p. 57.1–57.11. (Accessed November 19, 2012, at 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/platinum/myb1-2011-plati.pdf.)

Maylie, Devon, 2012a, African mine clash takes deadly turn: The Wall Street Journal, August 14, p. B6. 

Maylie, Devon, 2012b, African miner plans mass layoffs: The Wall Street Journal, October 25, p. A13. 

Maylie, Devon, 2012c, Lethal clashes shut platinum mine: The Wall Street Journal, August 15, p. B3. 

Maylie, Devon, 2012d, Lonmin reaches accord at South Africa mine: The Wall Street Journal, 

September 7, p. B7. 

Maylie, Devon, 2012e, South Africa sees new unrest at mine: The Wall Street Journal, October 31, 

p. A12. 
6

Maylie, Devon, 2012f, Unrest hits platinum mines: The Wall Street Journal, September 13, p. A16. 

Mining Journal, 2012, South Africa's platinum results show sector's woes: Mining Journal, July 27, p. 1. 

Raghavan, Sudarsan, 2012, South Africa’s resurgent firebrand—Fallen ANC Youth League star tries to 

capitalize on mineworker killings: The Washington Post, November 6, p. A10. 

Ryan, Brendan, 2010, More power woes for South Africa: Australia’s Paydirt, v. 1, no. 178, 

December/January, p. 73.
7

Table 1. South African platinum-group metal mines.

[PGM, platinum-group metal; --, not applicable or no data]

Corresponding 

number in 

figure 1

Mine name Major operating companies and 

major equity owners

Annual

capacity

(kilograms)

Production

in 2011

(kilograms)

Strike(s) held 

in 2012? 

Length of 

strike

Expansion 

capacity 

(kilograms)

Year of 

planned 

expansion

Mine status

1 Bathopele Mine Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

24,000 platinum; 

13,000 palladium; 

3,300 rhodium

7,000 PGMs Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.

2 Dishaba Mine Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

18,000 platinum; 

8,700 palladium; 

2,300 rhodium

8,000 PGMs Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.

3 Khomanani Mine Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

24,000 platinum; 

13,000 palladium; 

3,300 rhodium

5,000 PGMs Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.

4 Khuseleka Mine Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

24,000 platinum; 

13,000 palladium; 

3,300 rhodium

7,000 PGMs Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.

5 Siphumelele Mine Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

24,000 platinum; 

13,000 palladium; 

3,300 rhodium

4,600 PGMs Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.

6 Thembelani Mine Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

24,000 platinum; 

13,000 palladium; 

3,300 rhodium

6,000 PGMs Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.

7 Tumela Mine Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

18,000 platinum; 

8,700 palladium; 

2,300 rhodium

15,000 PGMs Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.

8 Union Mines Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 85% 

10,000 platinum; 

4,800 palladium; 

1,700 rhodium

14,000 PGMs Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.
8

Table 1. South African platinum-group metal mines.—Continued

[PGM, platinum-group metal; --, not applicable or no data] 

Corresponding 

number in 

figure 1

Mine name Major operating companies and 

major equity owners

Annual

capacity

(kilograms)

Production

in 2011

(kilograms)

Strike(s) held 

in 2012? 

Length of 

strike

Expansion 

capacity 

(kilograms)

Year of 

planned 

expansion

Mine status

9 Kroondal Mine Kroondal Platinum Mines

[Anglo American Platinum 

Ltd. (Amplats), 50%, and 

Aquarius Platinum Ltd., 50%]

7,900 platinum;

3,800 palladium;

1,400 rhodium

6,900 

platinum;

2,800 

palladium;

1,000 rhodium

Yes 4 days -- -- Active.

10 Mototolo Platinum 

Mine

Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 50%, and Xstrata 

Kagiso Platinum Partnership, 

50%

3,400 platinum; 

2,400 palladium; 

580 rhodium

3,100 platinum No -- -- -- Active.

11 Mogalakwena 

Mine 

Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

9,600 platinum; 

10,000 palladium; 

580 rhodium

-- No -- -- -- Active.

12 Twickenham Mine Anglo American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 100% 

Small Small No -- -- -- Active.

13 Bokoni Mine 

(Lebowa Mine)

Anooraq Resources Corp., 

51%, and Anglo American 

Platinum Ltd. (Amplats), 49%

4,100 platinum; 

2,700 palladium; 

470 rhodium

-- No 2,800 PGMs 2016 Active.

14 BafokengRamisone 

Platinum Mine 

Bafokeng-Rasimone Platinum 

Mine [Royal Bafokeng 

Nation, 67%, and Anglo 

American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 33%]

6,100 platinum; 

2,500 palladium;

420 rhodium

5,100 platinum No -- 17,000 

PGMs

2014 Active.

15 Marikana Mine Marikana Platinum Mine 

[Anglo American Platinum 

Ltd. (Amplats), 50%, and 

Aquarius Platinum Ltd., 50%]

2,700 platinum; 

1,300 palladium;

390 rhodium

1,700 

platinum; 890 

palladium; 

316 rhodium

No -- -- -- Care-andmaintenance 

status (June 

2012).
9

Table 1. South African platinum-group metal mines.—Continued

[PGM, platinum-group metal; --, not applicable or no data]

Corresponding 

number in 

figure 1

Mine name Major operating companies and 

major equity owners

Annual

capacity

(kilograms)

Production

in 2011

(kilograms)

Strike(s) held 

in 2012? 

Length of 

strike

Expansion 

capacity 

(kilograms)

Year of 

planned 

expansion

Mine status

16 Modikwa Mine Modikwa Platinum Mine 

[Anglo American Platinum 

Ltd. (Amplats), 50%, and 

African Rainbow Minerals, 

50%]

4,300 platinum; 

4,200 palladium; 

870 rhodium

3,500 platinum No -- -- -- Active.

17 Zondereinde Mine Northam Platinum Ltd. [Anglo 

American Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats), 22.5%, and

Mvelaphanda Resources Ltd., 

21.9%]

8,100 platinum; 

3,900 palladium; 

900 rhodium

8,600 PGMs No 9,300 PGMs 2012 Active.

18 Pandora Mine Rustenburg Platinum Mines 

Ltd. [Anglo American 

Platinum Ltd. (Amplats),

42.5%; Eastern Platinum Ltd. 

(Lonmin plc), 42.5%; BapoBa-Mongale Mining Co., 

7.5%; Mvelaphanda 

Resources, 7.5%]

-- 700 platinum; 

300 

palladium; 

109 rhodium; 

1,300 PGMs 

No -- -- -- Active.

Anglo American Platinum Ltd.’stotal lost production in 2012 was about 5,900 kilograms (190,000 troy ounces) of platinum

19 Everest Platinum 

Mine

Aquarius Platinum Ltd., 100% 6,200 platinum group 

metals

1,600 

platinum; 900 

palladium; 

280 rhodium

Yes 2 weeks -- Care-andmaintenance 

status (June 

2012).

20 Impala Mines Impala Platinum Ltd. (Implats), 

100%

34,000 platinum; 

15,000 palladium; 

3,300 rhodium

26,700 

platinum; 

14,472 

palladium; 

3,000 rhodium 

Yes 6 weeks 31,000 

platinum

2014 Active.
10

Table 1. South African platinum-group metal mines.—Continued

[PGM, platinum-group metal; --, not applicable or no data]

Corresponding 

number in 

figure 1

Mine name Major operating companies and 

major equity owners

Annual

capacity

(kilograms)

Production

in 2011

(kilograms)

Strike(s) held 

in 2012? 

Length of 

strike

Expansion 

capacity 

(kilograms)

Year of 

planned 

expansion

Mine status

21 Marula Mine Impala Platinum Ltd. (Implats), 

100%

3,900 platinum; 

4,000 palladium; 

820 rhodium

2,000 

platinum; 

2,000 

palladium; 

420 rhodium

No -- 2,200 

platinum

2013 Active.

22 Two Rivers 

Platinum Mine 

Two Rivers Platinum Mine 

(Pty) Ltd. (African Rainbow 

Minerals Ltd., 55%, and 

Impala Platinum Ltd., 45%)

4,100 platinum; 

2,300 palladium; 

660 rhodium

4,100 platinum 

2,400 

palladium 700 

rhodium

No -- -- -- Active.

Impala Platinum Ltd.’s total lost production in 2012 was about 3,700 kilograms (120,000 troy ounces) of platinum

23 Marikana Mines Lonmin plc 22,000 platinum; 

10,000 palladium; 

3,000 rhodium

19,700 

platinum; 

9,200

palladium; 

2,600 

rhodium; 

37,000 PGMs

Yes 6 weeks -- -- Active.

Lonmin plc’s total lost production in 2012 was about 3,400 kilograms (110,000 troy ounces) of platinum

24 Blue Ridge Mine Aquarius Platinum Ltd., 50% 3,900 PGMs 300 platinum; 

150 

palladium; 50 

rhodium 

No -- -- -- Care-andmaintenance 

status (June 

2012).

25 Crocodile River 

Mine

Eastern Platinum Ltd., 85% 4,000 PGMs 2,900 PGMs No -- 3,900 PGMs 2012 On hold.

26 Nkomati Joint 

Venture

OJSC MMS Norilsk Nickel, 

50%, and African Rainbow 

Minerals Ltd., 50%

-- 2,100 PGMs No -- 3,400 PGMs 2014 Active.

27 Smokey Hills 

Platinum Mine 

Platinum Australia Pty Ltd.

(PLA), 69.75% 

3,000 PGMs 1,000 PGMs No -- -- -- Active.
11

Table 1. South African platinum-group metal mines.—Continued

[PGM, platinum-group metal; --, not applicable or no data]

Corresponding 

number in 

figure 1

Mine name Major operating companies and 

major equity owners

Annual

capacity

(kilograms)

Production

in 2011

(kilograms)

Strike(s) held 

in 2012? 

Length of 

strike

Expansion 

capacity 

(kilograms)

Year of 

planned 

expansion

Mine status

28 Pilanesberg 

Platinum Mine

Platmin Ltd., 72.39%, and 

Bakgatla Pallinghurst JV (Pty) 

Ltd., 25.96% 

7,800 PGMs -- No -- -- -- Active.

29 Eland Mine Xstrata plc, 74% 7,500 PGMs 1, 800 PGMs No -- 9,300 

platinum

2016 Active.
12

Tabel 2. South Africa platinum-group metal refineries.

Corresponding 

number in 

figure 1

Refinery Major operating 

companies

Annual capacity 

(kilograms)

Production in 2011 

(kilograms)

30 Precious metals 

refinery

Anglo American 

Platinum Ltd. 

(Amplats)

81,000 platinum; 

44,000 palladium; 

11,000 rhodium

78,700 platinum; 

44,500 palladium; 

10,500 rhodium. 

31 Precious metals 

refinery, near Springs 

in Guateng Province

Impala Platinum Ltd. 

(Implats)

71,500 platinum; 

33,400 palladium; 

8,300 rhodium

53,800 platinum; 

34,100 palladium; 

7,800 rhodium. 

32 Precious metals 

refinery at Western 

Platinum

Lonmin plc 31,000 platinum; 

14,000 palladium; 

4,000 rhodium

23,400 platinum; 

11,000 palladium; 

3,000 rhodium.
13

Table 3. Recent prospective platinum-group metal projects in South Africa.

[--, not applicable or no data]

Name Major operating companies and major 

equity owners

Proposed 

capacity (in 

kilograms)

Proposed 

start date

Status

Booysendal Northam Platinum Ltd., 100% 5,000 PGMs 2013 Active.

Kalahari Platinum project Platinum Australia Pty Ltd. (PLA)

and African Rainbow Minerals 

Ltd.

3,700 PGMs -- Definitive 

feasibility 

study. 

Western Bushveld project Platinum Group Metals Ltd., 74%,

and Wesizwe Platinum Ltd., 26%

8,600 PGMs 2013 Active.

Maphahlele project Platmin Ltd. 7,800 PGMs -- Hold.

Grootboom project Platmin Ltd. 2700 PGMs -- Hold.

Bakubung Platinum Mine Wesizwe Platinum Ltd., 100% 10,900 PGMs 2018 Active.

Bafokeng-Rasimone 

Platinum Mine 

Royal Bafokeng Platinum and 

Rustenburg Platinum Mines Ltd.,

67.33 %, and Anglo American 

Platinum Ltd. (Amplats), 33%

17,000 PGMs 2014 Active.

Leeuwkop project Impala Platinum Ltd. (Implats) 4,100 platinum 2013 Hold.
14

Table 4. Refined platinum-group metal production in South Africa, in kilograms.

[Sources: Anglo American Platinum Ltd., Impala Platinum Ltd., and Lonmin plc]

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Palladium 92,470 89,100 80,640 86,610 94,990 89,640

Platinum 173,000 163,800 149,900 149,500 156,600 155,900

Rhodium 21,340 21,510 20,020 21,630 21,380 21,300

Other1 33,200 36,300 32,900 34,600 37,600 36,400

 Total 320,000 310,700 283,400 292,300 310,600 303,200

1

Iridium, ruthenium, and probably small amounts of gold.
15

Table 5. Platinum-group metals mine production in South Africa, in kilograms.

[Source: Department of Mineral Resources of the Republic of South Africa. NA, not available]

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Iridium NA NA 3,682 6,444 5,769 6,280 6,172 7,211 6,415 6,378 6,445 6,813

Palladium 55,818 62,601 63,758 70,946 76,403 82,961 86,265 83,643 75,537 75,117 82,222 82,371

Platinum 114,459 130,307 132,897 148,348 153,239 163,711 168,125 160,940 146,141 140,819 147,790 148,008

Rhodium 12,067 13,507 15,175 16,816 16,294 20,224 19,633 21,056 19,348 20,007 20,001 20,332

Ruthenium 19,427 19,329 21,022 23,537 24,696 29,805 27,333 31,182 28,326 29,071 30,846 30,966

 Total 201,771 225,744 236,534 266,091 276,401 302,981 307,528 304,032 275,767 271,392 287,304 288,490
16

Table 6. Platinum-group metals mine production in selected countries, in kilograms.

[Sources: Department of Mineral Resources of the Republic of South Africa and U.S. Geological Survey 

Minerals Yearbook. Pt, platinum; Pd, palladium] 

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Pt/Pd ratio

Australia

 Palladium 750 600 580 800 650 600

 Platinum 209 142 120 230 130 130 0.2414573

Botswana

 Palladium 2,000 5,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000

 Platinum 300 700 600 600 600 600 0.1789474

Canada

 Palladium 14,900 14,100 14,700 7,000 6,200 14,000

 Platinum 8,500 8,000 8,500 4,000 3,600 7,000 0.5585331

Russia

 Palladium 98,400 96,800 87,700 83,200 84,700 86,000

 Platinum 29,000 27,000 25,000 24,500 25,000 25,000 0.2896796

South Africa

 Palladium 86,265 83,643 75,537 75,117 82,222 82,000

 Platinum 168,125 160,940 146,141 140,819 147,790 145,000 1.8746803

United States

 Palladium 14,400 12,800 11,900 12,700 11,600 12,400

 Platinum 4,290 3,860 3,580 3,830 3,450 3,700 0.2996042

Zimbabwe

 Palladium 4,022 4,180 4,386 5,680 7,000 8,200

 Platinum 4,998 5,306 5,642 6,849 8,800 10,600 1.2607565
17

Table 7. World platinum-group metal prices from 2000 through 2011, in dollars per troy ounce.

[Source: Platts Metals Week]

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Iridium 415.00 415.25 294.62 93.02 185.33 169.51 349.45 444.43 448.34 420.40 642.15 1,035.87

Palladium 691.84 610.71 339.68 203.00 232.93 203.54 322.93 357.34 355.12 265.65 530.61 738.51

Platinum 549.30 533.29 542.56 694.44 848.76 899.51 1,144.42 1,308.44 1,578.26 1,207.55 1,615.56 1,724.51

Rhodium 1,990.00 1,598.67 838.88 530.28 983.24 2,060.00 4,561.06 6,203.09 6,533.57 1,591.32 2,459.07 2,024.35

Ruthenium 129.76 130.67 66.33 35.43 64.22 74.41 193.09 573.74 324.60 97.28 198.45 165.85
18

Figure 1. Maps showing the (A) distribution and (B) geology of South Africa's platinum-group metal (PGM) deposits. Numbers refer to entries in 

table 1. All the deposits, except for the Nkomati Mine, produce from the Bushveld Complex (shown in purple), a large layered intrusive complex in 

which PGMs are concentrated at three horizons. Geologic map reproduced with the pemission of the OneGeology Secretariat and registered 

participants. All rights reserved.