Anglo American Annual Report 2009
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Iron Ore
estimates as at 31 December 2009
Kumba Iron Ore
The Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates were compiled in accordance with The SAMREC Code, 2007. THE MINERAL RESOURCES ARE REPORTED AS ADDITIONAL TO ORE RESERVES.
The figures reported represent 100% of the Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources, the percentage attributable to Anglo American plc is stated separately. Rounding of figures may cause computational discrepancies.
| Iron Ore Ore Reserves | Tonnes | Grade | Saleable product | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attributable % | LOM | Classification | 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | ||||
| Sishen Mine (OP)(1) | 36.5 | 21 | Mt | Mt | %Fe | %Fe | Mt | Mt | ||||
| Proved | 707.6 | 709.2 | 59.2 | 59.7 | 531@65.4%Fe | 536@65.0%Fe | ||||||
| Probable | 203.9 | 247.7 | 59.2 | 59.3 | 154@64.9%Fe | 187@65.1%Fe | ||||||
| Total | 911.5 | 956.9 | 59.2 | 59.6 | 685@65.3%Fe | 723@65.0%Fe | ||||||
| Thabazimbi Mine (OP)(2) | 46.4 | 6 | %Fe | %Fe | ||||||||
| Proved | 9.5 | 4.1 | 61.7 | 64.5 | 8@63.4%Fe | 4@64.9%Fe | ||||||
| Probable | 4.7 | 0.8 | 61.3 | 64.9 | 4@62.7%Fe | 1@65.1%Fe | ||||||
| Total | 14.2 | 4.9 | 61.5 | 64.6 | 12@63.1%Fe | 5@64.9%Fe | ||||||
| Kolomela Mine (OP)(3) | 46.4 | 28 | %Fe | %Fe | ||||||||
| Proved | 123.1 | 123.1 | 64.2 | 64.2 | 123@64.2%Fe | 123@64.1%Fe | ||||||
| Probable | 91.0 | 91.0 | 63.9 | 63.9 | 91@63.9%Fe | 91@63.9%Fe | ||||||
| Total | 214.1 | 214.1 | 64.1 | 64.1 | 214@64.0%Fe | 214@64.0%Fe | ||||||
| Iron Ore Mineral Resources | Tonnes | Grade | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attributable % | Classification | 2009 | 2008 | 2009 | 2008 | |||
| Sishen Mine (OP)(4) | 36.5 | Mt | Mt | %Fe | %Fe | |||
| Measured | 589.1 | 758.7 | 56.0 | 54.9 | ||||
| Indicated | 697.0 | 715.5 | 57.6 | 57.4 | ||||
| Measured and Indicated | 1,286.1 | 1,474.1 | 56.8 | 56.1 | ||||
| Inferred (in LOM) | 3.7 | 4.1 | 58.2 | 61.8 | ||||
| Inferred (ex. LOM) | 148.7 | 150.2 | 59.4 | 59.2 | ||||
| Total Inferred | 152.4 | 154.3 | 59.4 | 59.3 | ||||
| Thabazimbi Mine (OP)(5) | 46.4 | %Fe | %Fe | |||||
| Measured | 9.5 | 18.7 | 62.7 | 62.3 | ||||
| Indicated | 2.4 | 4.9 | 63.7 | 63.4 | ||||
| Measured and Indicated | 11.9 | 23.6 | 62.9 | 62.5 | ||||
| Inferred (in LOM) | 1.3 | 0.3 | 61.9 | 61.8 | ||||
| Inferred (ex. LOM) | 2.3 | 2.6 | 63.4 | 63.4 | ||||
| Total Inferred | 3.6 | 2.9 | 62.8 | 63.3 | ||||
| Kolomela Mine (OP)(3)(6) | 46.4 | %Fe | %Fe | |||||
| Measured | 49.5 | 49.5 | 65.0 | 65.0 | ||||
| Indicated | 20.8 | 20.8 | 64.9 | 64.9 | ||||
| Measured and Indicated | 70.3 | 70.3 | 64.9 | 64.9 | ||||
| Inferred (in LOM) | 35.4 | 35.4 | 65.6 | 65.6 | ||||
| Inferred (ex. LOM) | 47.4 | 47.4 | 62.5 | 62.5 | ||||
| Total Inferred | 82.9 | 82.9 | 63.8 | 63.8 | ||||
Mining method: OP = Open Pit. LOM = Life of Mine in years based on scheduled Ore Reserves.
The tonnage is quoted as dry metric tonnes and abbreviated as Mt for million tonnes.
The Mineral Resources are constrained by a resource pit shell, which defines the spatial limits of eventual economic extraction.
Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to some Inferred Mineral Resources, it cannot be assumed that all or part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will necessarily be upgraded to an Indicated or Measured Resource after continued exploration.
The Zandrivierspoort Project is not reported as Anglo American's shareholding (23.2%) is below the internal threshold for reporting. Details of this project are presented in the Kumba Iron Ore Annual Report.
- (1)
- Sishen Mine - Ore Reserves: The decrease is mainly as a result of depletion due to mining, marginally negated by a minor correction made for over-estimation of Ore Reserve depletion in 2008 and a small increase in Ore Reserves based on a revised scheduling process that allows for a slight improvement in resource utilisation.
- (2)
- Thabazimbi Mine - Ore Reserves: The primary reason for the net increase is a complete revision of the conversion process of Mineral Resources into Ore Reserves in 2009. The conversion gain was offset by mining depletion; a correction made for the under-estimation of production in 2008 and the downgrading of Probable Ore Reserves to Inferred Mineral Resources considered for the life-of-mine plan due to an associated geotechnical risk. Geological block model updates in 2009 resulted in a further addition of Ore Reserves. The cut-off grade used for the Thabazimbi Mine life-of-mine scheduling is a Saleable Product %Fe cut-off grade and all material that could be beneficiated to at least this cut-off value was included in the schedule as ROM.
- (3)
- Kolomela Mine: The Sishen South Iron Ore Project has been renamed to Kolomela Mine.
- (4)
- Sishen Mine - Mineral Resources: The 2009 Mineral Resources represent the combination of the previously reported Within Pit and Outside Pit resources. The decrease is primarily the result of a downward adjustment of the in situ %Fe grade estimate of low-grade ore material based on new information. This decrease in iron grade resulted in previously-defined ore material being transferred to waste. The loss is not in the current life of mine plan.
- (5)
- Thabazimbi Mine - Mineral Resources: The 2009 Mineral Resources represent the combination of the previously reported Within Pit and Outside Pit resources. The decrease is primarily due to a conversion to Ore Reserves based on a complete revision of the Ore Reserve estimation in 2009.
- (6)
- Kolomela Mine - Mineral Resources: The 2009 Mineral Resources represent the combination of the previously reported Within Pit and Outside Pit resources.
Audits related to the generation of the Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource statements were carried out by independent consultants during 2009 at the following operations: Kolomela Mine