Shosholoza Heavy Mineral Projects
The Shosholoza Heavy Mineral Projects aim to produce titanium dioxide feedstock, zircon, rutile, and various other valuable minerals. This project boasts the oldest heavy mineral deposit in the world, with a concentration up to 10 times higher than the global average. The original deposit has solidified into a rock formation containing an impressive 55% heavy minerals on average
Project Scope and Resource Volume
Project Area
The project covers an extensive 6,900 hectares.
Mineral Sands Volume
Approximately 1 billion tons of ore-bearing material.
Rock Deposits
An additional 285 million tons of ore-bearing rock deposits.
High Recovery Potential
The key advantage of this deposit lies in the free minerals present in the sands, allowing for efficient gravity concentration methods. Notable features include:
- Sand Layer Depth: On average, the sand layer is about 6 meters deep.
- Rock Deposit Depth: The exposed rock deposits can reach depths of up to 11 meters.
This structure supports high recovery rates, enhancing the economic viability of the project.
Rare Earth Minerals
The deposit also contains significant quantities of rare earth minerals, particularly concentrated in the sand due to the oxidation of ilmenite. This contributes to one of the largest rare earth mineral resources globally.
Exploration and Pilot Testing
Over the past 8 years, Shosholoza has conducted extensive exploration work on this deposit, leading to the construction of a pilot plant in 2022 for bulk sampling of the sand. The pilot tests yielded extremely positive results.
Additionally, Phase One of our drill sampling program was completed, targeting portions of the rock deposit. These efforts provided a clear understanding of the resource potential, confirming the project’s promise for future development.
