Tag Archives: South Africa

MineSense front and centre in bulk ore sorting game

Automation, Base metals, Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, Environmental, IoT, Metallurgy, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Having just commercialised its bulk ore sorting technology at Teck Resources’ Highland Valley Copper (HVC) operations in British Columbia, Canada, MineSense is looking to show the wider industry just how effective this pre-concentration process can be.

IM spoke with President and CEO, Jeff More, to find out more about the company’s ShovelSense and BeltSense technologies and how the Vancouver-based startup has been able to secure investment from the likes of ABB, Caterpillar and Mitsubishi.

IM: Can you explain in a little more detail how your ShovelSense and BeltSense solutions work?

JM: The base technology for both is X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) – a technology that has been around for some time. What we have done to this existing technology, which is quite unique, is three things:

  • One, we have extended dramatically the range of XRF. Traditionally XRF would almost have to be held to the surface of a rock to get accurate measurements. The range extension allows us to work in the shovel environment where we are working across metres of volume;
  • Second is speed. Our system is extremely fast. High speed analysis is required on our conveyor belt applications, but this is even more important in the shovel, where we’re measuring dynamically; as the material is flowing into the shovel, to get a representative reading, you have to be able to take very fast readings of the material as it is moving past the sensors;
  • The third is robustness. On a shovel, you are in a nasty environment from a shock and vibration perspective. We developed a system with sensitive components – the XRF itself, as well as the computing devices around it – that can stand up to that very high shock- and vibration-type environment.

IM: The most high-profile examples of the application of your ShovelSense technology have been at copper mines (HVC, in particular); is the detection technology particularly effective in these ores? Is it being trialled elsewhere?

JM: The current sensing we have with the XRF is very effective in a certain section of the periodic table, which nicely covers the major base metals. We’re focused on copper, nickel, zinc and polymetallic versions of those three. The fourth area of focus is iron ore.

We’ve selected copper as our first focus because of the size of the market and the geography. We have done most of our work in copper, but we now also have operating systems in nickel and zinc.

On a lab scale, the technology has been very effective in iron ore, but iron ore is a very different flow sheet, so we have purposely set it as our fourth market in what we call our primary clusters.

We have five mine site customers at the moment – three copper, one zinc-lead and one nickel-polymetallic.

We were very much focused on North America and, in particular, British Columbia for our first pilots and trials as it was quite easy for us to service in our back yard. The first international market was Chile, for obvious reasons in terms of copper production, and we now have a full MineSense entity and team operating in Chile and Peru.

We’re staggering the rest of our global expansion. We’re now quite active from a business development perspective in southern Africa – South Africa, Zambia, DRC – and have activity in Australia.

We have Systems installed at two different copper mines in British Columbia, one at a very large nickel-polymetallic complex in Sudbury, Ontario, and will have a fourth system operating in Alaska. We also have two mines, but four systems, operating in Chile. By the end of Q2, we will have another three systems operating in Chile.

We did all our development work for the system at Teck’s HVC operation and we’re now completely commercial there. We officially commissioned our first system in December, the second system is being commissioned as we speak and the third and fourth will be installed and commissioned in late-March. This will completely equip their fleet.

IM: Teck has previously said the use of ShovelSense has resulted in “a net measurable increase in the amount of ore (and the associated head grade)” it has available to feed its mill at HVC. Are these results in keeping with your expectations for the technology?

JM: Yes, absolutely. We base everything on, what we call, our value model. Very early in our engagement process, we set out a detailed model that calculates the profit improvement that mine will see – we did the same for Teck HVC.

We agreed on a target at HVC and are actually exceeding that estimate. Most importantly, Teck is also seeing that value and is estimating a great overall impact at that mine.

This is an abridged version of a Q&A to be published in the ore sorting feature in the March issue of International Mining.

Weir Minerals Africa’s supply chain efforts providing miner payback

Comminution of minerals, Equipment maintenance, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Water management, , , , , ,

Weir Minerals Africa has been upgrading its supply chain system over the past four years and the company says its mining customers are feeling the positive effects.

According to Weir Minerals Africa’s supply chain director Luhann Holtzhausen, the company ships almost 800,000 bespoke items each year from its main distribution hub in Alrode, near Johannesburg, South Africa.

Leveraging both modern technology and an innovative management approach, it has raised its warehouse stock accuracies to 98% over the past four years, above the global benchmark of around 95%, the company said.

Holtzhausen said: “Our streamlined supply chain management ensures 70% of our products and components are delivered within two weeks of a sales order being received. Our inventory accuracy has also raised the on-time delivery performance over the last year above 90%.”

Between 3,000 and 5,000 parts are shipped each day from the Weir Minerals Africa Alrode facility. These volumes have grown 20% year-on-year since 2016, which the new systems can still comfortably manage in a single-shift operation, according to the company.

Eleven to 14 super-link trucks, which range in capacity up to 30 t, leave the facility each week to destinations in southern and central Africa. In addition, there are two to four container loads shipped to other destinations by sea.

Holtzhausen said: “Our new systems and processes provide management with real-time visibility of demand and stock in all offices across Weir Minerals Africa’s 75 stocking locations. This also gives us end-to-end velocity measurement to monitor the flow of goods from receipt at our warehouse to the actual time of delivery at the customer’s location.”

The same systems are installed at the company’s newly upgraded Kitwe distribution facility in Zambia, streamlining its capacity as a strategic distribution hub for central and east Africa, Weir said.

The benefits for customers of these improvements in supply chain efficiency include reduced lead times and less possibility of stock-outs on customer’s sites, the company said. “This, in turn, gives mines improved availability of equipment, less downtime and higher productivity.”

Holtzhausen concluded: “A significant advantage of optimal supply chain management is that customers gain confidence in our ability to deliver. This means that they can start holding less stock themselves and free up substantial amounts of their working capital.”

MAXAM to showcase underground blasting solutions at Indaba

Automation, Mining consumables, Mining events, Mining services, , , , , ,

MAXAM will be showcasing the latest blasting technologies on offer to its customers in Africa at Mining Indaba in Cape Town next week as it makes its third consecutive appearance at the event.

MAXAM has a workforce of more than 800 employees and projects in over 20 countries, and has the largest footprint in the Africa continent among the leading blasting solutions providers, it says.

“This position is cemented in its comprehensive range of technologies and local capabilities to support customers,” MAXAM said. “The company is also the leading supplier of packaged explosives and offers both watergel and emulsion bulk products, boosting a versatile portfolio to adapt to specific needs from its different customers.”

Brett Wheatcroft, Regional Director of MAXAM in Southern Africa, said Africa is one of the most important mining areas in the world and the company’s commitment to the continent is clear.

“We have been investing here for more than 40 years and the results couldn’t be better: we are a leading player within our segment of activity and have a growing customer base that more and more values our differential, high-value combination of technologies and technical support.”

MAXAM will take advantage of Mining Indaba to showcase its complete range of solutions for underground operations. Customers attending the event will have the chance to get to know more about one of its novel technologies, RIOFLEX, a highly energetic, robust and flexible density bulk product that, MAXAM says, achieves excellent performance in all types of rock. “This bulk watergel contributes to minimise the total cost of ownership due to the savings in the drilling and blasting application and the whole value chain of the mine as a result of a better fragmentation,” the company said.

RIOFLEX has been tested in more than 140 sites in 25 countries, becoming a benchmark for customers looking to improve the productivity of their mines, quarries and infrastructure projects, according to the company.

Fernando Beitia, Director of Bulk Products of MAXAM, will talk about the company’s emulsion and watergel technologies at a conference during the event.

thyssenkrupp brings PhotonAssay technology to Africa mining sector

Automation, Environmental, Mineral exploration, Mineral processing, Mining events, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , , ,

thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa says it has been appointed the official reseller of ground-breaking PhotonAssay™ technology from Chrysos Corp.

The novel X-ray technology is poised to revolutionise the field of gold analysis, replacing traditional methods such as fire-assay in many applications, and providing accurate and fully-automated gold measurements in mineral ores in just a couple of minutes.

The world-first PhotonAssay unit, installed in a commercial Perth, Western Australia laboratory, recently passed two milestones; completing its first 50,000 analyses and receiving ISO 17025 accreditation. The owner of MinAnalytical Laboratory Services will establish a major new analytical facility in early-2019 providing PhotonAssay services in Kalgoorlie, the heart of Australia’s gold mining industry.

MinAnalytical’s General Manager, Gary Wheeler, said: “For our customers, it means the system has been validated and fully tested, and they can rest assured they will receive accurate results which have been benchmarked against fire assay.”

Originally developed by scientists at the CSIRO, Australia’s national research agency, PhotonAssay uses high-power X-rays to activate and measure gold atoms in mineral samples. Compared with conventional X-ray Fluorescence, the much higher energies used in PhotonAssay allow true-bulk measurements of large samples independent of their physical or chemical form, the company said.

Marius Combrinck, thyssenkrupp Product Manager RT Sales and Marketing Minerals, explained how the PhotnAssay technology works: “PhotonAssay hits samples with high-energy X-rays from a linear accelerator. These X-rays force any gold atoms present in the sample into an excited state that lasts for a few seconds. Subsequently, a sensitive detector system measures the gamma-ray signals given off by these atoms as they relax. Processing software relates the gamma-ray signature back to the gold concentration.”

Combrinck pointed out that the gamma-ray energy is different for each element, allowing gold to be accurately distinguished from other metals that may be present.

Samples to be assayed are packaged into standardised plastic jars that are sealed and barcoded, remaining in the jars throughout the analysis process. “As the method is non-destructive, samples are returned unchanged, and can be safely handled, disposed of or sent for further testing as required,” thyssenkrupp said.

The large sample size – typically about 500 g – significantly reduces sample preparation requirements. Recent testing has demonstrated that for most materials, crushing samples to 2-3 mm is enough to enable accurate sampling and analysis. For coarse gold deposits, the 10-fold increase in sample size compared with conventional fire-assay is particularly advantageous, according to the company.

PhotonAssay units are designed for rapid deployment to both centralised and mine site laboratories anywhere in the world. Systems are fully containerised, allowing them to be factory tested and then packaged for shipping and on-site installation.

The modular design of the PhotoAssay unit lends great flexibility. In addition to onsite installations, thyssenkrupp also has the capabilities so run the lab from its Johannesburg head office. “As we are the face of this technology in Africa, we can sell the technology to existing laboratories or directly to a customer,” Combrinck said. He added that thyssenkrupp will provide after-sales service and support to customers and end users on the continent.

The X-ray source used is fully electronic and contains no radioisotopes. PhotonAssay units comply with international safety standards and, due to their high levels of automation, can be operated by staff with minimal training, according to thyssenkrupp. Combrinck added that management of the PhotoAssay unit requires only two staff members, freeing up personnel to attend to other tasks.

The potential for near real-time gold assays is generating strong interest in on-site installations. With a typical detection limit of 0.03 parts per million, a measurement time of two to three minutes and the ability to measure crushed ore, process pulps, concentrates, carbon materials and solutions with equal ability, a mine site PhotonAssay unit can provide rapid information to support resource definition, mine planning and process control, thyssenkrupp said.

A throughput of more than 1,600 samples per day provides enough capacity for even the largest operations, while a significant reduction in skilled labour requirements is an additional benefit for remote sites.

Although developed primarily for gold analysis, the PhotonAssay technology can measure a wide range of other elements. Silver and copper assay services will be added during 2019 and an extension to other metals is planned for this year, thyssenkrupp said.

The company plans to discuss PhotonAssay technology on February 5 and February during its three-day thyssenkrupp Technology Sessions held alongside Mining Indaba 2019.

RCT to talk up automation benefits at Mining Indaba

Automation, Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , ,

RCT says it will be promoting the benefits of using autonomous technology to safeguard mine operators and boost productivity when it attends the 25th Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa next month.

The event, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 4-7, attracts senior executives from major mining companies such as Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick, Rio Tinto and many others, RCT said.

RCT CEO Brett White and Business Development Manager Mike Thomas will be at Austrade’s Australia Lounge to engage with conference delegates about the benefits of implementing autonomous technology, the company said.

Thomas said: “There are heightened levels of interest throughout the mining industry on the African continent around the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is seeing breakthroughs in the areas of sophisticated wireless technologies and fully autonomous equipment.

“RCT has significant experience in the automation field, and we are available to share our many years of learnings and knowledge.

“We are keen to speak to delegates about how our ControlMaster® products can deliver significant gains by relocating equipment operators from cabs to secure operation centres, thus bolstering productivity.”

RCT’s ControlMaster automation solutions encompass surface and underground mines to help increase productivity and profitability on site.

Magna MA04+ radial tyres make the cut in South Africa coal mine

Coal technology, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , ,

Magna Tyres has continued its good form in the Africa mining sector, securing the custom of another big mining contractor that has employed its 27.00R49 Magna MA04+ radial tyres on Terex rigid dump trucks working at a coal mine in South Africa.

These tyres are available in various compounds including standard, cut- and heat resistant.

In October, one of the largest mining contractors in the world operating in Africa’s largest coal mine selected 40.00R57 Magna MA04+C Giant tyres for its Cat 793D rigid dump trucks.

“Due to Magna’s proven track record regarding premium quality Giant tyres, this customer has decided to work with Magna and now benefits from increased productivity and reduced operating costs per hour,” Magna said, adding that the customer first used the Magna MB440 Bias but eventually chose the MA04+ radial tyres.

“The all-steel radial constructed tyres especially designed for coal applications are extremely suitable to the serve conditions in which they are used,” the company said. “The deep aggressive E4 pattern and excellent resistance to sidewall damages makes this Giant tyre extremely durable. The customer is very pleased with the overall performance of the premium quality tyres.”

Magna MA04+ is designed and constructed based on the latest Magna radial tyre technology. The casing reduces heat building inside the tyre, resulting in lower fuel consumption, higher efficiency, optimised operator comfort and prolonged service life, according to the company. Additionally, the tyre offers outstanding puncture resistance compared to less-durable cross-ply tyres, leading to a low cost price per hour, it said.

Cullinan shines in Petra Diamonds’ first half results

Gem stone mining, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, , , , , , , ,

The Cullinan diamond mine, in South Africa, led the way in Petra Diamonds’ first half fiscal year 2019 results, with run of mine (ROM) from the underground block cave up 30% year-on-year to 785,444 ct.

Petra’s overall group production rose 10% year-on-year to 2.02 Mct (1.84 Mct in H1 2018), while ROM output rose 13% to 1.9 Mct.

Cullinan’s ROM diamond production increased 30% to 785,444 ct, due to a 12% increase in ROM treated to almost 2 Mt, as well as a 16% increase in the ROM grade to 39.3 ct/ht. This increase in volume and grade was due to the continued ramp up of production from the C-Cut phase 1 and a reduction in ore mined from old areas with higher waste dilution, the company said.

During the period, production from the C-Cut phase 1 was largely concentrated in the south-western part of the footprint and, therefore, not representative of expected production associated with the full extent of the C-Cut phase 1 block cave, Petra said.

The third and final underground crusher was commissioned during December, delivering increased operational flexibility as mining progresses across the footprint of the cave, the company added. The new Cullinan plant is fully operational and meeting design parameters while normal optimisation is ongoing.

“Overall, Cullinan production increased by 37% to 832,026 ct (H1 FY 2018: 607,235 ct) with increased ROM production supplemented by the ramp-up of tailings production,” the company said.

The C-Cut phase 1 project is planned to contribute around 3 Mt this year, with a further 700,000 t to 1 Mt sourced predominantly from the CC1E mining area, as well as from other B Block tonnes. Steady state production of 4 Mt/y will be delivered from C-Cut phase 1 and CC1E from FY 2020 onwards, according to the company. At the same time as this, the ROM grade at Cullinan is expected to remain in the 38-42 ct/ht range from FY 2019 onwards. The company’s current mine plan has a life to 2030, but the major residual resources at the mine indicate that the actual LOM could extend beyond 2030.

Meanwhile, at the company’s Finsch mine (South Africa), ROM carat production was flat at 927,934 ct in the company’s first half. A planned winder upgrade was successfully completed during the period, which necessitated a planned shutdown from December 21 to January 4. Overall, Finsch production decreased by 9% to 947,424 ct due to the planned reduction in tailings production.

Koffiefontein’s (South Africa) ROM production in the half remained flat at 25,275 ct as the company was negatively impacted during the period from community unrest relating to municipal service delivery, operational challenges experienced relating to plant availability and a lower than planned grade recovered. Since the start of January, additional crushing capacity has been introduced to the plant, employee attendance has normalised and monthly production is expected to ramp up.

Williamson’s (Tanzania) diamond production increased 23% to 214,421 ct, mainly due to an 18% increase in the ROM grade recovered as well as a 4% increase in tonnes treated to 2.7 Mt. Petra said it remained in discussions with the Government of Tanzania and local advisers in relation to the overdue VAT receivables and a blocked diamond parcel.

Genrec Engineering keeps downtime to a minimum at South Africa coal mine

Coal technology, Equipment maintenance, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , ,

Genrec Engineering has demonstrated its skills and capabilities in steel fabrication and engineering, successfully repairing a damaged dragline excavator boom in record time for one of South Africa’s leading coal mines.

This project also marks another important milestone in the company’s drive to diversify into specialist and niche markets since it was acquired by the Southern Palace Group (SPG) in 2016, the company said.

Genrec Engineering completed the project in around 10 weeks, helping reduce downtime at the mine in the Mpumalanga coalfields.

Producing coal for domestic thermal energy production and for export to global markets, the dragline excavator is an essential component of the mine’s open-pit mining. It is used in combination with drilling and blasting and dozers to expose the seam before wheel loaders and dump trucks are deployed in extensive load and haul operations.

Genrec Engineering’s involvement in this project commenced with a full-scale investigation into the damaged boom structure at the site in August 2017.

Managing Director of CMTI Consulting, Dr Danie Burger, was part of the team that participated in the investigation with various insurance companies.

Burger said a decision to award the boom repair contract to Genrec Engineering was based on the company’s long legacy in the South African and international steel engineering and fabrication industry.

“There is no other steel fabricator and engineering company in South Africa with the necessary infrastructure, as well as capacities and technical competence to take on such a complex project. Had the boom been sent to the original equipment manufacturer’s premises in Australia for repairs, it would have taken up to four times longer to return the dragline excavator back to service with obvious negative ramifications on the mine’s production,” Burger said.

Representatives of the mine’s management team visited Genrec Engineering’s factory in Wadeville, Gauteng, a week ahead of the commencement of the repairs.

Mark Prince, Divisional Director of Genrec Engineering, said: “The depth of experience and expertise of our team have allowed us to constantly innovate, which is a strategic differentiator in this industry and a trait that we proudly demonstrated on this complex design and build project.

“My team of professionals had to be able to think out of the box and on its feet to overcome a myriad of challenges to ensure the timely and quality completion of the project in an extremely short timeframe. The fact that we were able to complete this project in such a short timeframe speaks volumes of the capabilities housed here in Wadeville that have placed us firmly on our next growth path.”

The boom comprises a 37-ton (34-t) mid-section, which is 30 m long and 13 m wide, and the 43-ton (39-t), 32 m long and 13 m wide front portion. Both have a transportation height of 3.5 m.

It was completely remodelled by Genrec Engineering’s design team with assistance from CMTI Shared Services, in a process that took about a week-and-a-half to complete.

The original drawings of the Bucyrus dragline excavator were more than 30 years old and updated versions were later received from Caterpillar.

They were used to generate models to develop the manufacturing drawings and upgrades to the boom, in addition to the manufacturing sequence, work procedures and transport sections, according to Genrec.

The project also involved careful and complex logistical planning, considering that Genrec Engineering had to locate and source up to 34 tons (31 t) of chord material from various Australian mines to supplement insufficient supplies of the required specification.

“A comprehensive analysis was undertaken of all available material sources to ensure quality and, importantly, traceability in line with the stringent requirements of the OEM,” Genrec said.

The chords were buttered up and machined to specification and all lacing laser cut to fit assembly.

It took about three weeks of round-the-clock operations to complete the complex laser cutting by approved specialists located in Vanderbijlpark, with Genrec Engineering team members located permanently on site to advise, as well as monitor progress and quality.

They were delivered to the plant in the correct assembly sequence and welding was then undertaken in a 2,200 m² bay converted for specialised manufacturing projects.

Burger says: “The process commenced with pre-heating and the roots undertaken with tungsten-inert gas welding and CO2 used as a filler. Non-destructive testing was done using magnetic-particle, phased array ultrasonic, radiographic and ultrasonic testing. Personnel from NJM Heat Treatment & NDE Services, as well as NDT specialists, were stationed permanently on site to ensure that we were able to maintain sound productivity rates and adhere to exacting quality standards.”

A total of 2.3 tons (2.1 t) of weld material and eight weld feeders were also sourced from Australia to supplement available resources for this project.

One of the complexities of the welding operations was the varying diameters and positioning of the larger chords and smaller lacing, Genrec said.

A total of 129 welders were tested by Genrec Engineering and 52 metal inert gas, or gas metal arc, and tungsten inert gas welders employed to work on this project, together with 18 boiler makers and assistants. Ranks were bolstered with five specialist boom welders, as well as an expert boom weld engineer and project coordinator from Australia.

They also assisted in undertaking the four successful Procedure Qualification Records ahead of welding activities.

Genrec also highlighted the rotators designed and developed especially for this project. These complement the large investment already made by the company and SPG in acquiring the capital equipment needed to diversify into niche and specialist markets.

Among these are the computer-numerically controlled machines housed on the factory floor that have been fully integrated into the SolidWorks engineering programme to ensure high levels of precision and productivity, Genrec said.

These, alone, represent about a R50 million ($3.6 million) investment that is also being supported by continued skills development and training as Genrec Engineering builds up its skills base to cater to the high demand for its specialist services.

As part of the project, Genrec Engineering was also tasked with upgrading the dragline excavator’s boom-point box.

A special furnace was designed and developed around this box and soaked at 600°C for six hours and then cooled down to 37°C for five days. The furnace was heated with gas at a rate of 37°C/h to 600°C.

A canopy was also designed to allow sand blasting to continue apace in the workshop while welding progressed according to plan to maintain high productivity rates.

The components were transported to the mine site by Mammoet using a 13-wheel Nicolas trailer and resting on 11-ton (10-t) cradles specially designed and manufactured by Genrec.

It took three days to transport the two loads to site as part of the last phase of the project.

“This is the largest abnormal load to have ever travelled on the Gauteng road network, and Genrec Engineering was also involved in the extensive road survey, in addition to obtaining all necessary road permits from the Gauteng Department: Roads & Transport,” Genrec said.

The mid-section of the dragline excavator boom was dispatched to site at the end of November and the front end in early-December. It was successfully assembled by Caterpillar’s southern African dealer, Barloworld Equipment, on site in December over a period of four weeks.

Kwatani registers global mining demand for vibrating equipment

Base metals, Bulk handling, Coal technology, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , , ,

Kwatani’s vibrating screens and feeders are continuing to find a market in the mining industry, with a number of orders recently secured from diamond, coal, zinc and platinum operations.

The company’s custom engineered products are now in some of the world’s largest mines, and many customers have standardised on their screens to ensure lowest cost of ownership and high performance, according to General Manager, Sales and Service, Jan Schoepflin.

“While our base and core market are in Africa, the global demand for Kwatani products has grown rapidly. A leading diamond mining company in Russia is very pleased with Kwatani screens at their newest operation and specified Kwatani for future projects,” Schoepflin says.

In another order from a large diamond operation, this time in South Africa, the customer replaced the last of its competitor screens with a Kwatani unit. Schoepflin says this is because it has enjoyed years without unplanned stoppages by using Kwatani screens.

At a local brownfield diamond expansion project, the company’s multi-slope banana screens were matched to the available plant footprint, raising throughput from 250 t/h to 500 t/h and, later, breaking the mine’s tonnage record.

“While screening in heavy minerals is Kwatani’s stronghold, the company has moved extensively into coal, supplying the country’s (South Africa’s) leading coal producer with no fewer than 45 items of large screening equipment, including out-sized 4.3-m-wide units,” the company said.

Other recent coal-related orders included run-of-mine screens for a medium-sized coal mine in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Again, competitor equipment was replaced by custom designed screens with optimised deck angles, which significantly increased tonnage, according to the company.

“The positive results achieved with the Kwatani equipment also led to additional orders for the mine’s expansion,” Kwatani said.

For world largest zinc mine, Kwatani was contracted to supply all the screens, while, at Africa’s largest iron ore mine, the company recently completed two projects, renewing existing equipment with updated solutions and replacing 24 items of competitor equipment.

“The platinum sector is also keeping Kwatani busy, not just in South Africa but over the border in Zimbabwe too,” Kwatani says. A recent turnkey solution focused on platinum by-product chromite, where the company supplied a complete solution which included feeder, dryer and screen to treat chromite of 45 micron size at 15 t/h.

Schoepflin said: “Our screens have been a popular choice for modular gold plants going to West Africa as well as Central and South America. We also supplied to two of Africa’s largest copper producers in Zambia, to a tanzanite producer in Tanzania, and repeat orders to a manganese mine in Ghana.”

Terra Drone lifts off in South Africa with Sibanye-Stillwater underground demonstration

Automation, IoT, Mine surveying, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals, , , , , ,

Terra Drone South Africa has shown off its surveying expertise to Sibanye-Stillwater, with one of its drones successfully navigating a 3m x 3 m tunnel at one of the gold and PGM miner’s underground assets.

A simultaneous localisation and mapping-equipped drone was able to realise “stable automatic navigation” under a “non-GPS environment,” Terra Drone said. The result was the generation of a highly accurate 3D model.

Terra Drone said the many injuries caused by fall of rock incidents in Africa could be somewhat alleviated through the use of accurate surveying and inspection.

“We believe that this technology (drone mapping) will improve safety and work efficiency in Africa’s mining industry in the future,” the company said.

Teppei Seki, Terra Drone Chief Operating Officer, said he was delighted to have carried out such a demonstration with Sibanye-Stillwater. He said the company would now focus on volume calculation by “making 3D measurements of stopes, survey and inspection for ore path and vertical shaft with Sibanye-Stillwater”.

The collaboration is expected to be a “giant step” towards opening up the development of more underground mines in Africa in the future, he added.

Terra Drone is a leading commercial drone technology company that is expanding. It has a branch in South Africa along with nine others in the world covering mining, oil & gas and electricity solutions.