Palabora

Palabora Mining Company (Palabora) is a listed South African company in which Rio Tinto owns a 47.2 per cent interest. Palabora operates a large copper mine, smelter and refinery complex managed by Rio Tinto in the Limpopo Province of South Africa employing approximately 2,000 people. Palabora produces about 80,000 tonnes of refined copper per year, supplying most of South Africa's copper needs and exporting the balance. The refinery produces continuous cast rod for the domestic market and cathodes for export. Useful by-product metals and minerals include zirconium chemicals, magnetite and nickel sulphate as well as small quantities of gold, silver and platinum. Palabora has developed a US$410 million underground mine with a production capacity of 30,000 tonnes of ore per day. Palabora also owns a nearby vermiculite deposit which is mined and processed for sale worldwide. Vermiculite is a versatile industrial mineral with hundreds of uses.