Chromite production is the major mineral export of Madagascar. The state-owned Societe Kraomita Malagasy (Kraoma), which is Madagascar’s main chromite producer, outputs around 40,000 t/y of concentrates plus 80,000 t/y of lumpy ore from the Andriamana complex, and a further 20,000 t/y from the Befandriana mine. The company exports around 110 000t of chromite per year – destined for China and Japan. Most production comes from the Andriamana complex, which has identified several additional reserves. Beneficiation by KRAOMA produces a chromite concentrate grading between 48% to 50% Cr2O3 with 0.002% to 0.003% phosphorus and lumpy chrome ore grading from 42% to 44% Cr2O3. Crude ore generally contains 0.007% phosphorous. The Bemanevika mine has been estimated to have reserves totalling 3 Mt of chromite. As most of Madagascar’s chrome resources are located in the northern parts of the country, long term investment in upgrading rail infrastructure is critical to expanding production in Madagascar, which is the world’s 10th largest chrome producer.
Madagascar’s chromite is hosted by several ultrabasic intrusives bodies that undoubtedly have PGM potential. However, it seems that no modern methods have been used to test this potential.
