AFRICA — Hartley mine ships PGM’s

The Hartley platinum mine in Zimbabwe is expected to reach full production by the end of 1998, reports operator Broken Hill Proprietary.

The Australian-based company made its first shipment of platinum group metals from the mine in October of last year. A security firm was hired to transport the consignment to England, where it was refined by Johnson Matthey.

At full production, the mine is expected to process about 2.4 million tons annually to yield 150,000 oz. platinum, 110,000 oz. palladium, 11,500 oz.

rhodium, 23,000 oz. gold, 3,500 tons of nickel, 2,535 tons of copper, 38 tons of cobalt and 7,000 tons of sodium sulphate.

At the initial production rate of 150,000 oz. per year, the mine will account for about 3.5% of the world’s platinum production.