International Mining‘s December issue is approaching. The Operation Focus looks at Freeport’s great Grasberg open-pit mine in Indonesia and other features include German technology, rapid development, coal clearance and mine infrastructure. The Leader will examine China following John Chadwick’s attendance at China Mining this week. As always, if you have interesting news (of new technology or applications) in these areas, please contact the editors.

German Technology: Examines the great traditions of mining technology and services that endure and evolve from that part of the world.  

Rapid Development is all about getting to the orebody as quickly and economically as possible. What’s new in the equipment, techniques and logistics required to drive development drifts quickly while producing quality mine infrastructure. Development and design of innovative support systems goes hand in hand with this. And then in the coal sector there is a need to get the product out as quickly and efficiently as possible with minimal spillage and consuming the least possible energy.  

Grasberg Special – Part 5: John Chadwick continues his popular series of articles on the operation that is arguably the greatest mine in the world, looking this month in detail at open-pit operations, managing and maintaining the massive equipment fleet, while ensuring safe operation. In January this series of articles moves underground to the Deep Ore Zone (DOZ) operations.    

Mine Infrastructure: Focusing on the mining category finalists from Bentley Systems’ Be Inspired: Infrastructure Best Practices Symposium and Awards, IM looks at the detailed engineering that went into producing these exciting projects. This includes a look at Hatch Africa’s work on the QMM ilmenite project in Madagascar, Anglo Coal SA’s solutions at the New Vaal Colliery in South Africa and PDC Consultants’ modelling at BHP Billiton’s Rapid-Growth project at the Newman Hub in Australia.