COVER STORY A section of Beeshoek’s existing South pit operation Expanding its iron ore output, Beeshoek is establishing a new opencast operation on what for decades has been a mine residential zone: the Village pit. In the meantime, full-scale mining continues at Beeshoek’s North and South operations. J ointly owned by African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and Assore, Assmang has been mining at Beeshoek since 1935 on a rich deposit near Postmasburg. Iron ore exports commenced in 1964, and at peak the mine was producing over six million tonnes. Over the years intensive mining has been on-going, with approximately 40% of current iron ore sales destined for the export market, although this figure changes annually based on domestic and international demand. Three products are produced at Driving Beeshoek’s production programme is a predominately Cat earthmoving fleet, with haulage tasks provided by Cat 777D and 789D off- highway trucks, with their respective nominal payloads of 90.4 and 181 t 4 MINING REVIEW AFRICA | APRIL 2015 Mining at Beeshoek is focused on the Beeshoek: a DR (direct reduction) with existing North and South pits, running a 64% iron content; a lumpy iron 64.5% alongside the development of the Village product; and a 62.25% iron fines product. pit, a new project which has major Beeshoek’s resources (measured and downstream potential. indicated) on 30 June 2014 were 110 33 Mt The Village pit is situated on (64.02% iron); whilst reserves the site of the previous Beeshoek (proved and probable) were mine residence constructed from 46.13 Mt (64.31% iron), Beeshoek’s production the late 1930s, most of which plus the existing dumps at for the July 2013 to has now been cleared for mining 7.5 Mt (55.17% iron). As an 30 June 2014 trading development. The Village pit indication of recent activity, period deposit was first identified in the Beeshoek’s production was 1970s, but was not considered financially recorded at 3.1 Mt for the July 2013 to viable at the time. 30 June 2014 trading period. 3.1 Mt