Zimplats confirmed today (3rd February) that it experienced a record fourth quarter of 2008 in relation to production of pgms.

The company revealed that it produced a total of 49,656 4E oz - or of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, in other words - in concentrate over the duration of the quarter.

This compares to a figure of 44,383 4E oz for the previous quarter, while production of metal in converter matte was up from 33,879 4E oz to an all-time high of 59,397 4E oz.

On the mining side, the firm's figures for the quarter ending 31st December 2008 showed that a total of 258,000 tonnes of ore were mined in opencast sites, while 492,000 tonnes were mined in underground sites.

The resulting total of 750,000 tonnes represents an increase of 110,000 tonnes from the September quarter and the overall mine grade of 3.3 4E g/t was also an improvement.

In addition, the total ore milled was up from 520,000 tonnes to 560,000 tonnes, while the company also revealed that it managed to attain an 83.8 per cent 4E recovery rate, up from 82.1 per cent 4E in the previous quarter.

"Mining and processing operations for the quarter were excellent," it said. "Ramping up of production from the underground mines to replace open pit ore is progressing well."

Source:

REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2008 (03/02/09)
http://www.zimplats.com/pdf/Qtrdec08.pdf