Grade A copper rolls out of Sanyati

Reunion Mining, 28.6% of which is owned by Caledonia Mining (TSE), has begun cranking out the red metal at its Sanyati mine in Zimbabwe.

Full capacity of 15 tonnes copper per day is expected to be reached before year-end. And at an operating cost of US50 cents per lb., the mine is projected to generate US$8.2 million in cash flow in 1996 (assuming a copper price of US$1.20 per lb.).

The mine is owned by the Munyati Mining Company, which, in turn, is owned 75% by Reunion and 25% by the state-run Zimbabwe Mining Development.

Proven and probable reserves amount to 5.8 million tonnes grading 1.1% copper and 3.22% zinc. The reserves are contained in eight orebodies that will be mined by shallow open pits, with an overall stripping ratio of 1.2:1. Zinc recovery is anticipated to proceed in 1996.

Ore is dumped directly onto leach pads in 5-metre lifts. To date, 200,000 tonnes of ore have been loaded, and are being leached.

Copper is recovered from solution by solvent extraction-electrowinning to produce London Metal Exchange Grade A copper.