Ridge Mining announced at the beginning of October that its Sheba's Ridge mine is on target to be completed in December this year. The company also stated that it is expecting its Blue Ridge operations to be producing platinum group metals (pgms) by the final quarter of 2008.

Canadian explorer, Beartooth, revealed during October that it has now completed a pgm survey at its Doornfontein project, in Limpopo province, South Africa. According to the company's Chief Executive, Michael Johnson, Beartooth is set to spend a significant amount of time working on its property in South Africa over the coming year or so. He added: "We view the Doornfontein property as an outstanding opportunity and a good complement for the company's Stillwater property." It will devote more time in 2008 to drilling at the site to discover what pgm opportunities may be at the site.

Jubilee Platinum has reported "exceptional" drilling results at its Tjate property in the platinum-rich Bushveld complex in South Africa. The firm has revealed that it obtained positive results for its borehole DT9 on the Dsjate farm area which significantly extend the area for mineralisation for resource estimation. According to the results, the operation should deliver 10.98 grammes per tonne of platinum, palladium and gold. Commenting on the figures, Chief Executive Colin Bird said: "Tjate deposit is demonstrating consistency, reliability and high grade, which gives us the confidence to embark on our bankable feasibility study."

Platmin has announced a revised mineral resource estimate for its M'Phatlele Project. It has announced a new indicated mineral resource estimate of 34.87 million tonnes at 5.07 pgm grammes per tonne. Meanwhile, Platmin has revised its inferred mineral estimate for the project to 48.58 million tonnes at 4.37 pgm grammes per tonne. Platmin Executive Deputy Chairman Keith Liddell said that the increase "gives us confidence that the Platmin group can achieve the critical production and mine life necessary for us to consider construction of an independent smelter and refinery".

Canadian company Platinum Group Metals is understood to be searching for more platinum projects in South Africa. The company is already seeking permits to begin construction at its current projects in South Africa and the company sees further exploration in the country as vital to its future success. R Michael Jones, President and Chief Executive of Platinum Group Metals, explained in an interview with Reuters: "In platinum, if you are not in South Africa, you are not in the game."

North American Palladium announced initial drilling results at the Offset High Grade Zone at its Lac des Iles mine in Canada. Supporting previous estimates, the results found the area to have over three times the tonnage of the current underground mine in the Roby Zone, at similar grades, meaning the site offers significant potential. President and Chief Executive of North American Palladium, Jim Excell, said: "We are very pleased to see that both the grades and the widths of the mineralisation from this in-fill drilling program are consistent with the results of the wider spaced exploration drill holes in this portion of the Offset High Grade Zone." He added: "This consistency provides us with a good degree of confidence in the continuity of the mineralisation in the remainder of this zone."

Later in the month, North American Palladium announced the final results of an infill drill programme at the Ahmavaara deposit on the Suhanko property. The results of this latest drilling programme have confirmed earlier predictions of the site and as a result the company is now commencing a feasibility study at the site. Mr Excell said the results are "very encouraging as they continue to confirm the excellent continuity of the metal content and the favourable widths of these shallow mineralized zones at the deposit".

Meanwhile, Premium Exploration has announced the completion of seven holes at its first drill programme of the Chrome Mountain joint venture with Beartooth Platinum.

The world's number one platinum miner, Anglo Platinum, has further opened up its exploration options in an effort to ensure it remains at the top of the platinum mining sector. The company has taken a 15 per cent stake in Pedra Branca Mineracao , which is owned by South American exploration company Solitario, which focuses on platinum, palladium and other metals. Under the terms of the deal, Anglo Platinum may receive up to 65 per cent interest in Pedra Branca Mineracao if it funds certain levels of exploration and development costs.

Australia's Ferguson Reef project appears to have been given a new lease of life following the results of a seismic reflection survey. Platina Resources has announced that the survey over part of the Munni Munni complex suggests there are depth extensions to the Ferguson Reef. As a result, Platina has announced plans to begin a 5,000 metre drilling programme in mid-November in an effort to discover the extent of the platinum deposits that may exist.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd