Modern Mining February 2018

FLUORSPAR

culvert under the road to the secondary and tertiary crushing facilities. A 28-m high live stockpile of 5 000 tonnes

a proven reserve of almost 9,1 Mt, this will convert to over 2 Mt of calcium fluoride. The stratiform fluorspar deposit averages 22,7 % calcium fluoride and 40 % iron. “There is also a distinct possibility of the nearby Wilton orebody also proving economic,” says Wagner. Mining operations will employ smaller blast intensities at shorter intervals to limit the range of the environment impact. The primary crusher is being positioned on the same side of the main road as mine operations, as this will obviate the need for mining vehicles to regu- larly cross this road; crushed ore will then be transported by conveyor through a dedicated

Above: Site offices, workshop, laboratory and stores at Nokeng, with stockpile tunnel and site terrace layout behind.

Centre: Stockpile infrastruc- ture under construction.

Why the market is right for SepFluor In addition to Nokeng, owner SepFluor will be looking to exploit deposits such as Wallmansthall and Kruidfontein. Key to these prospects will be the balance between supply and demand – which is potentially looking posi- tive, according to SepFluor CEO RobWagner. Globally, a shortfall of some 500 000 to 800 000 tonnes of calcium fluoride is projected by 2026, and China (now an exporter) is expected to become a net importer of this chemical by 2021. Production of fluorspar in Kenya recently halted, and output of this mineral from other mines globally has also slowed. It is also worth remembering that calcium fluoride – a criti- cal commodity for all industrialised nations – is on the US top five and the EU top 14 lists of critical minerals. 

24  MODERN MINING  February 2018