Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) president Marek Dworzanowski says “the mining industry in South Africa still has a bright future ahead of it”.

Speaking at the official opening of a permanent mining exhibition at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, in Newtown, Johannesburg, earlier this month, he pointed out that part of the SAIMM’s role was to encourage learners to consider a career in the mining industry.

To ensure continuity within the mining industry, the institute aims to establish a pipeline of mining and metallurgy graduates, and Dworzanowski believes that the exhibition is one of the ways people could be made aware of the opportunities offered by the industry.

The SAIMM-sponsored mining exhibition aimed not only to provide learners with new insights into the mining industry but also to educate the general public on the role of mining and the way in which it influenced their daily lives, Sci-Bono CEO David Kramer highlighted at the opening ceremony.

The role of the exhibition, while improving people’s understanding, was also to encourage enthusiasm about mining. “We need to attract talented young men and women into mining by helping them understand the opportunities that the mining industry offers,” he said.

Kramer used the occasion to appeal to educators in the mining industry to provide their input on how to expand the exhibition and create a mobile mining exhibition that could, in future, be taken into Gauteng’s schools.

Dworzanowski says the SAIMM was involved in the establishment of the exhibition in line with its com-mitment to ensure the industry is able to assist and guide learners interested entering in and those who have already entered the mining industry.

The exhibits, which are inter-active and were built in-house by Sci-Bono, include a 4 t tyre from an off-highway earthmoving vehicle, an interactive periodic table with images and descriptions, a map of the mining regions in South Africa, highlighting where the specific metals and minerals are present and an exhibit featuring physical mineral and metal deposit artefacts with descriptions of the mineral or metal.

Mannequins clad in personal protective equipment and a re-creation of an underground mining environment are also on display.

A core table featuring mineral and metal deposit cores, as well as a percussion drill are also featured.

Further, an interactive wall with touch-screen televisions feature videos on the entire mining process, from mining to beneficiation.

Sponsors of the artefacts include the Chamber of Mines of South Africa, the Council for Geoscience, theme park Gold Reef City, computer equipment manufacturer Dell, information technology infra- structure consulting firm Smart Computer Solutions, earthmoving equipment dealer Barloworld Equipment, mine support systems company New Concept Mining, resource and infrastructure-focused engineering project house TWP Projects, electrical contractor Dow’s Electrical & Lighting Supplies, mining equipment manufacturer Joy Global and miners Impala Platinum, AngloGold Ashanti, Kumba Iron Ore and Zinkor.

Kramer says the exhibit is not yet complete, as extra exhibits and displays will be added over the next few years with the aim of turning the mining exhibition into a visitor attraction for Sci-Bono and the City of Johannesburg.