Sishen
Place: id 5216
Place name
Sishen
Place type
Spot.mine(s)
Location (mappable)
Point 22.986317, -27.78305Related industries
Short description
The Sishen mine is a large iron mine located in central South Africa in Kathu, Northern Cape. Sishen represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in South Africa and in the world having estimated reserves of 2.43 billion tonnes of ore grading 58.6% iron metal.[1][2] The Sishen mine has a geological structure producing a high-grade hematite ore, similar to those at Beeshoek mine. There has been investigation into a region known as the Sishen South exploration project which is 65 km south of Sishen mine.[3] The Sishen mine was opened in 1947, and produced 30.9 million tonnes of iron ore in 2013.[4] In 2015, the mine produced far less and quarter on quarter results in 2016 show a decline in output.[5] In 2016, Kumba Iron Ore began the process of cutting nearly 4000 jobs in an attempt to restructure the Sishen mine and ensure profitability.[6] The Sishen–Saldanha railway line that moves ore from the mines to international markets at the port of Saldanha is notable for the length of the 3,780 meter long trains that carry the ore.
GeoNames ID
11204115
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