Tag Archives: DMC Mining Services

DMC Mining to construct Clark exploration decline at South32 Hermosa

Base metals, Mineral project development, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , ,

DMC Mining Services says it will construct the Clark exploration decline at the South32-owned Hermosa site in Arizona, USA, as part of a recent contract award.

In an announcement last month, South32 said the board had provided the final investment approval to develop the Taylor deposit, part of the wider Hermosa project, with funding of $2.16 billion. This followed the release of a feasibility study outlining a circa-4.3 Mt/y operation with average payable zinc-equivalent output of circa-253,000 t/y over a 28-year mine life.

Beyond Taylor, however, South32 has been working on its Clark development option, currently the only advanced project in the USA with a clear pathway to produce battery-grade manganese from locally sourced ore, according to the company.

In May 2023, South32 released the results of a selection phase pre-feasibility study (PFS-S) for the Clark deposit, which confirmed the potential for an underground mine integrated with Taylor, and a separate process plant, capable of supplying battery-grade manganese. Study work has progressed to a definition phase pre-feasibility study, with South32 confirming the commencement of construction of an exploration decline, due to be completed in late 2025, to enable access to ore for demonstration-scale production. This is where DMC Mining comes in.

In announcing this contract award, DMC Mining said: “Throughout the meticulous planning phase, South32 and DMC have been united by a shared vision and unwavering values, setting the stage for unparalleled success. Together, we’re not just setting the bar, we’re raising it, ready to redefine industry standards!

“This project not only underscores our commitment to delivering superior project solutions, but also signifies a significant stride in our dedication to serving our clients in the US market.”

Anglo American ends DMC Mining shaft sinking contract at Woodsmith project

Industrial minerals, Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , , ,

Anglo American has confirmed its Crop Nutrients business has ended the contract of its shaft sinking contractor, DMC Mining Services UK Ltd, at the Woodsmith polyhalite project in the UK.

Anglo, which only took ownership of the asset earlier this year, said DMC staff were expected to transfer to Anglo American under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, and construction progress was due to continue.

DMC was awarded the design and build contract for the construction of the deep shafts at the Woodsmith project back in February 2018 when the project was owned by Sirius Minerals.

This contract would have seen it engineer and construct four shafts at the project in North Yorkshire. Those shafts include a production and service shaft, each around 1,500 m deep, and two smaller shafts associated with the materials transport system, each approximately 350 m deep. It was to sink the deep shafts using Herrenknecht’s Shaft Boring Roadheader technology.

Herrenknecht developed the SBR for the mechanised sinking of blind shafts in soft to medium-hard rock. Based on the technology of the Herrenknecht Vertical Shaft Sinking Machine, the SBR offers improved safety performance compared with conventional shaft sinking methods while also achieving higher advance rates, according to the company.

DMC, itself, had become familiar with the technology after helping successfully sink two blind shafts to depths of -975 and -1,005 m, respectively, at the BHP-owned Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Sinking activities with the SBRs at Woodsmith, meanwhile, were expected to start next year, with the machines having already arrived on site.

A spokesman for the Woodsmith project said of the DMC contract cancellation: “This new structure provides us with simpler internal processes and allows us to better manage the important transition between the sinking phase and ramp-up to steady state operations.

“It also gives us greater control over processes like local recruitment and training.”

DMC Mining invests in new Sandvik, Herrenknecht equipment for Chile projects

Base metals, Explosives and blasting, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining techniques, , , , , , , , ,

DMC Mining Services says it is ramping up activity in Chile, after being awarded five new contracts at the end of 2019.

One of North America’s premier underground contractors, DMC recently secured work at KGHM’s Franke and Sierra Gorda mines, in the Antofagasta region, in addition to a boxhole boring assignment at Codelco’s El Teniente mine, near Rancagua.

To ensure maximum reliability and performance for its clients, the company has invested in new equipment, it said.

For its drilling project at the open-pit Franke mine, two truck mounted Sandvik DE712 diamond drills have been delivered to site. Two additional units, Sandvik DE881 multi-purpose drills, will follow in order to increase drilling capability for this project and an additional project at Sierra Gorda, a 110,000 t/d of ore open-pit operation, it said.

For the boxhole boring project at Codelco’s El Teniente mine, the biggest underground copper mine in the world, DMC has taken delivery of a Herrenknecht BBM1500 boxhole boring machine. Two additional BBR1500 units are on order, which include back-reaming capability to create larger diameter raises, it said.

DMC said: “We are proud of the progress our Chilean team has accomplished over several short months, and that our clients can always rely on DMC’s dedication, expertise and professionalism on any project, no matter where in the world we work.”

As its Chile team ramps up on these new projects, DMC is establishing a turnkey, comprehensive operation ready to serve not only new Chile clients, but all of the South American mining industry – with raiseboring, shaft sinking, underground mining and engineering capabilities – it said.