Mining contributes 23.4% to the Northern Cape economy and makes up nearly 7% of SA’s total mining value with significant deposits of iron ore, manganese, zinc, copper, lead, titanium, pig iron, zircon and gypsum. The availability of natural resources, labour and infrastructure (including the Sishen-Saldanha railway line), make Sishen the country’s most important iron-ore mine, where operations include extraction and four beneficiation plants.