After 115 years the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) continues to serve its members. This learned society started in 1894, a few years after the invention of the cyanide process had saved the gold mining industry in South Africa. The previously used technology of gravity separation could not economically recover gold from the fine grained ores of the Transvaal gold fields. The Institute's Journal recorded this process and major developments in the industry and has disseminated knowledge ever since.

The SAIMM is a professional institute with local and international links aimed at assisting members source news and views about technological developments in the mining, metallurgical and related sectors as well as embracing a professional code of ethics.The SAIMM also attempts to fulfill what it sees as its obligations to the various communities and the environment in terms of the SAIMM’s Charter. In addition, the institute is active in bringing together the mining and metallurgical fraternity in terms of research, shared-experiences, education, personnel as well as students.

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