eBusiness Weekly
Tawanda Musarurwa
HARARE – South African chrome and platinum group metal (PGM) producer Tharisa Plc says it has begun work on its Salene Chrome project in Zimbabwe after receiving approvals from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA).
Last year, Tharisa Plc acquired a 90 percent equity stake in Salene Chrome Zimbabwe, which hold a 9 500 hectare claim in the mineral rich Great Dyke area of Zimbabwe.
“In the last quarter of 2018, Salene Chrome was awarded a development permit from EMA, while the EIA report is being finalised for submission.
“The development permit has enabled Salene Chrome to initiate field work and the exploration trenching programme. The digital terrain mapping and high resolution airborne geophysical survey over the mining location have been completed,” said Tharisa in an update on its Zimbabwe projects.
The geophysical data has been interpreted. The first 11 trenches have been completed, totalling over 4 000 metres. The trenches have been rehabilitated and the next trenching and pitting targets are being identified.
“The samples from the first trenches have been prepared and logged and sent for assay. The quality assurance and quality control programme is being carried out concurrently with the exploration programme and adheres to industry best practice.”
The company has since indicated that it intends to invest an initial $3, 2 million on the Zimbabwean project.
The Salene Chrome project hold three special grants under the Zimbabwe Mines and Minerals Act covering the 9 500 hectares on the eastern side of the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe, which entitles it to mine the minerals thereon including illuvial chrome.
The local chrome project also said it was also looking to apply to the Zimbabwean Government for National Project Status and for the special grant areas to be contained within a proposed Special Economic Zone.
Tharisa also holds a stake in the Karo Platinum project, which it said “has achieved several key milestones in the last few months.”
“Karo Platinum has also been awarded a development permit from the EMA, enabling Karo Platinum to initiate field work and the exploration drilling programme. Drilling of 142 diamond core boreholes totalling over 25 100 metres has been completed,” said the group.
“The drilling campaign focuses on the western edge of the Great Dyke on the mining location, with boreholes targeting average depths of 50 metres to 150 metres below surface. The digital terrain mapping and high resolution airborne geophysical surveys have been completed. The quality assurance and quality control programmes are running concurrently with the drilling programme and adhere to industry best practice.”
