Mining and MineralsPlatinum Group Metals Processing
Platinum group metals occur at a few grams per tonne alongside base metals and are recovered through one of the longest processing chains in the industry, where a percentage point lost at any step is never recovered. This course follows that chain. Delegates work through ore mineralogy and the association of platinum group elements with base metal sulphides, milling and flotation to a concentrate, and smelting including the furnace conditions and the chromite problem. Base metal refining and the removal of nickel, copper and cobalt follow. Precious metal refining and the separation of the individual platinum group elements are covered. The course closes on accounting, security and pipeline lock up across a long chain.
Course objectives
- Describe ore mineralogy and platinum group element associations
- Operate milling and flotation to produce a saleable concentrate
- Manage smelting conditions and the chromite constraint
- Follow base metal refining and impurity removal
- Explain precious metal refining and element separation
- Account for metal across a long processing pipeline
- Manage lock up, security and reconciliation
Who should attend
- Metallurgists and process engineers on platinum operations
- Concentrator and smelter operators and supervisors
- Laboratory and metal accounting staff
- Graduate metallurgists entering the sector
- Technical managers overseeing processing
Course outline
- 01Grams per tonne through a very long chain
- 02Ore mineralogy and element association
- 03Milling and liberation
- 04Flotation to concentrate
- 05Smelting and the chromite problem
- 06Converting and base metal refining
- 07Precious metal refining and separation
- 08Pipeline lock up, accounting and security
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 9 October 2026 | Pretoria, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 12 to 16 October 2026 | Mbabane, Eswatini | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 16 to 20 November 2026 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 14 to 18 December 2026 | Durban, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |