Do you ever stop to consider the potential of the ground beneath your feet?
Whether it’s putting food on the table, or helping our children breathe cleaner air, mining contributes to so many important aspects of our lives. We mine a diverse range of commodities, of which each is needed in different ways by people all around the world. Simply put, we mine the materials that make modern life happen. This is why mining matters.
In South Africa we mine four major commodities; platinum, thermal coal, diamonds and iron ore. All of these play a role, big or small, in our everyday lives.
Thermal Coal
In South Africa coal is power, because coal is what South Africa uses to generate most its electricity. In fact, thermal coal is the most abundant source of fossil fuel energy in the world and accounts for 40% of electricity generation across the globe. That’s why every time you flick a switch... mining matters.
Platinum
Platinum is one of the rarest elements hidden within the earth’s crust and even the smallest quantity of platinum can take years to find and even longer to extract. Thanks to its unique properties and wide array of uses, every piece of platinum comes equipped with unlimited possibilities.
This valuable metal is most commonly used in catalytic converters to help improve air quality, laboratory and electrical equipment, and jewellery. A lesser known fact is that ruthenium, one of the platinum group metals (PGMs), is used in the production of chlorine, one of the most commonly-used water disinfectants. So every time you drink a clean glass of water, this is just another reason why mining matters.
Discover other ways that platinum is a part of our everyday lives at our blog and our website.
Diamonds
Diamonds need no formal introduction. This resilient mineral is actually the hardest natural material known to man and has many popular industrial uses like glass cutting equipment, computer chip production, and x-ray machinery, to name just a few.
But for diamonds, the most common use is still the most sacred and beautiful, proving that every time someone says “yes” to that most romantic question, you know that mining truly does matter.
Iron Ore
The fourth commodity we mine in South Africa is iron ore. You may not know this but iron ore is used to make steel – a product essential for the construction of buildings, bridges and railways. In fact, 98% of iron ore mined in the world is used to make steel, making iron ore the foundation on which modern society is built and continues to thrive.
Take trains for example. With over 2.2 million South Africans traveling by train every day, it’s clear why mining, and its commodities, are so important to our country. Another reason why iron ore is essential to our everyday lives. Another reason why mining matters.
Find out more about why iron ore matters here.