Sallies was incorporated in 1903 as The South African Land and Exploration Company Limited to develop a gold mine on the East Rand. It has been listed since 1904 in the “Mining” sector of what is now known as the JSE Limited (“JSE”). Following the closure of all of its gold mining activities during the 1990s and the acquisition of the Witkop Fluorspar Mine ("Witkop") near Zeerust in the North West Province of South Africa on 1 July 1999, Sallies has been producing and marketing acid grade fluorspar (“acidspar”). The Buffalo fluorspar tailings retreatment facility, situated on the original open-pit Buffalo Fluorspar Mine ("Buffalo") outside Mookgophong in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, was acquired in July 2006.

The bulk of Sallies’ acidspar output is exported to produce hydrofluoric acid (“HF”). This product is converted into HFC refrigerant gases, fluoroplastics, aluminium tri-fluoride and products for niche markets.

Acidspar from Witkop is widely sought after due to the low levels of contaminants in its product. The Buffalo product contains a higher level of phosphorous and thus has a more restricted market.

Market circumstances in 2008 and 2009 led to both operations being placed on care and maintenance, but a recovery in the fluorspar market justified the recommissioning of the Witkop plant in March 2011. The mine is now operating profitably but the Buffalo operation remains on care and maintenance.