Manganese Mining in South Africa
- Overview

South Africa currently accounts for about 75% of the world’s identified manganese resources. These mostly occur near Hotazel in the Northern Cape Province. According to the USGS, reserves were estimated at 15 billion tons in 2011. South Africa was the world's largest producer of manganese in 2011, producing 3.4 million tons.

Assmang is jointly owned by African Rainbow Minerals Limited (50%) and Assore Limited (50%). Assmang's Manganese Division consists of the manganese mines in the Northern Cape, Nchwaning and Gloria, and the ferromanganese works at Cato Ridge in KwaZulu-Natal. The manganese ores of the Kalahari Manganese Field are contained within sediments of the Hotazel Formation of the Griqualand West Sequence. The Nchwaning mine was originally established in 1972, with the Nchwaning No.2 shaft coming into production in 1981. This shaft, which is still active, has a capacity of +/- 120000tpm.

A new shaft complex, Nchwaning No 3 became fully operational in February 2006. This new mining operation has a hoisting capacity of +/- 200000 tons per month.

In 1997, Assmang formed a joint venture company, Cato Ridge Alloys, on its Cato Ridge site to produce medium and low carbon ferro-manganese alloys. In 2005, a metal from slag recovery plant with a capacity of 16000mt per annum of saleable product was commissioned. Improvements at this plant are ongoing.

BHP Billiton Manganese is the world’s largest integrated producer of manganese units. BHP Billiton has a 60% holding in Samancor Manganese Pty Ltd. The remaining 40% is held by Anglo American.

BHP Billiton’s Hotazel Manganese Mines (HMM), located in the Kalahari Basin in the Northern Cape Province, produce manganese ores and integrated ferroalloys. HMM is one of the largest single producers of manganese ore in the world. Samancor Manganese has a 91% shareholding in HMM, with Ntsimbintle Mining owning the remaining 9%. It comprises two manganese mines - Wessels (underground) and Mamatwan (open-pit).

Metmin has been mining Manganese since 1979 and is one of the leading producers of manganese dioxide to the South African mining industry. Metmin’s product is used for the extraction of uranium, as a fertilizer enhancement and for water purification. Metmin’s Ryedale mine is situated in the North West Province. Metmin has applied for an extension of the mining right on their property and is eventually planning to extend by 4 000 ha or more. Projections of manganese reserves are reportedly significantly more than initially expected.