Tag Archives: Fura Gems

Cognecto’s AI-based equipment monitoring solution to be used at FURA’s Sapphire mine

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FURA Gems has announced a partnership with India-based Cognecto to improve operational efficiency, sustainability, productivity and decrease the carbon footprint of its Australian mining operation.

Cognecto, which calls itself India’s leading artificial intelligence-based heavy equipment monitoring company, has deployed an integrated custom-built hardware sensor and remote telemetry data protocol for FURA to share the data from its Sapphire mining operations in Queensland to company headquarters in Dubai.

This collaborative effort forges a solution combining heavy equipment monitoring and analytics to empower operational visibility and control wherever and whenever, according to Cognecto. In addition, FURA employees can access real-time fleet updates via a “well-integrated, easy-to-implement, and zero-tech footprint AI platform created by Cognecto to improve operational conditions and enhances safety”, it said.

Operational insights for real-time tracking are delivered using a web interface, while the alerts can be relayed on any commonly used messaging platform. Apart from real-time tracking, the assets are colour coded based on status and precise location on a map, embedded in a customisable dashboard. The performance can be monitored with alerts and helps boost equipment utilisation, while optimising fuel use. All this data is reported to get the number of trips and actual engine run time based on multiple criteria, Cognecto says.

Dibya Baral, Chief Technology Officer of FURA Gems and Managing Director FURA Australia, said: “Technology has been the driver for FURA’s swift initiation and turnaround for new projects. A quick implementation by Team Cognecto helped us achieve operational efficiency and strengthen the project deliverables.

“We look forward to strengthening our association moving forward and continue to improve our Sapphire project. This monitoring system will help us drive operational efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint, making it a win-win for both our business and the magnificent nature of Australia.”

Rohet Sareen, Head of Business Development at Cognecto, said: “The next generation of partnership has just taken place, and we take pride that FURA, a leading gemstone mining giant with very large-scale operations, has partnered with us. Their commitment to the environment and land rehabilitation practices demonstrates their desire to embrace innovative solutions to preserve the environment. We are both equally passionate about sustainability, and we are determined to take it to the next level with FURA’s vision of reducing carbon footprint.”

Fura Gems’ Coscuez mechanisation shift sees it invest in Resemin, Epiroc equipment

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Fura Gems has completed the transition from artisanal to fully mechanised mining at its 76%-owned Coscuez mine, with a new mining fleet now working underground at the Colombia operation.

Following declaration of an NI 43-101 inferred mineral resource at Coscuez last year, which included a 3 Mt total grading 2 ct/t for 6 Mct contained, the company started working on a mechanisation plan.

This mine mechanisation program started in August 2019 and saw three underground declines developed from the main LAPAZ level to intersect the inferred resource body in the Santana, Ayata and the Miguel sectors.

The full program was completed in January 2020 and saw the company acquire modern equipment suitable for narrow vein-mining to increase mining capacity as compared with 2018, it said.

The new mining mechanised fleet includes a total of 12 mini-dumpers, with 4 t and 2 t capacities, one electrohydraulic jumbo drilling machine, three LHDs and three tractors, each of which are currently operational on site.

“With this addition, the Coscuez team has reduced manual drilling and eliminated manual loading and hauling operations,” the company said.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed to IM that the mini-dumpers, jumbo and at least one LHD are from Resemin, while another LHD was from Epiroc.

Another improvement the company introduced in 2019 was the implementation of a new active support system consisting of cement-grouted rock bolts, split sets, wire mesh, and shotcrete layers instead of the traditional passive rock support system based on timber sets.

These improvements helped the company mine a total of 31,963 t during 2019, representing a 109% increase on 2018’s mined total, Fura said.

Furthermore, two international consultants, Bisa and MiningOne, have been retained to complete two technical studies at Coscuez.

The first study is a geotechnical study for rock support and mining methods for different types and rock qualities, while the second study is focused on the design of current and mid-term mine ventilation system.

On top of acquiring mobile mining equipment, Fura, in 2019, installed a new 10 t/h pilot washing plant to help the washing process at Coscuez transition away from manual washing to a much more efficient process.

A new commercial washing plant with projected capacity of 100 t/h is currently being designed and is expected to be commissioned by the December quarter, it added.