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Drilling and Tunnelling News
Drill rig improves sample recovery in variable conditions
By: Darren Parker 2nd August 2019 Increasing pressure on mining companies to publicly disclose information on their tailings dams highlights the need for improved technology to more accurately test dam stability and more reliably predict potential failures. This was highlighted by the Brumadinho tailings dam failure in January,... →
Commission recommends Tribunal prohibit ATON’s takeover of M&R 
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th July 2019 The Competition Commission has recommended to the Competition Tribunal that the proposed acquisition of Murray & Roberts by ATON be prohibited. ATON, through Redpath South Africa, provides a range of mining services, including the excavation of vertical or inclined openings from the surface for... →
Project involvement increasing for contractor
By: Theresa Bhowan 19th July 2019 Mining contractor Moolmans is showcasing its shaft-sinking and access development capacities at the Platreef platinum project, in the North West, with Shaft 1 close to the planned shaft bottom, at 982 m below the surface. →
New wheel loader ensures flexible features
19th July 2019 Construction equipment provider Caterpillar’s new 920K Compact Wheel Loader’s new features allow operators to tailor machine performance to individual preferences for added operating efficiency, while a choice of auxiliary-hydraulic systems expand the use of work tools for added utility. With a... →
Drill attachment provides opportunities in underground
By: Cameron Mackay 19th July 2019 Remote-controlled demolition machines manufacturer Brokk, in collaboration with construction equipment supplier TEI Rock Drills, has introduced the new MMB326 hydraulic drifter rock drill attachment, which can be used for drilling and blasting applications in mining operations. Using this drill... →
New multipurpose drill rig launched
5th July 2019 Global engineering company Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has added a new surface top hammer drill rig – the versatile Commando DC300Ri – to its offering. The drill rig is ideal for drill and blast contractors as it suits multiple different applications, according to the company. →
High-powered dump truck available in SA
5th July 2019 South African earthmoving equipment manufacturer and supplier Bell Equipment has added a new model to its range of articulated 4 x 4, two-axle articulated dump trucks (ADTs). The Bell B45E 4 x 4 was introduced to the market in April and, like all Bell 4 x 4s, the trucks are produced in Bell... →
Real-time data playing bigger maintenance role
By: Tracy Hancock 21st June 2019 As the world gears up for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, African mines are embracing real-time information management systems to plug the gap left by the shortage of competent maintenance supervisors and mining equipment operators, Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa CEO Ossie... →
BIG DEAL The decision to buy a piece of equipment should always include maintenance elements
Importance of supplier engagement emphasised
By: Tracy Hancock 21st June 2019 Surface mining association Aspasa is encouraging suppliers, service providers and contractors, such as those in the materials handling and logistics sector, to become associate members of the association to meet the industry’s future challenges. Aspasa director Nico Pienaar stresses that this... →
Company progresses copper/silver project
24th May 2019 Venture capital firm and owner of the Khoemacau copper/silver project Cupric Canyon Capital has made significant progress towards the construction of what is to be a major copper and silver mine in north-west Botswana and expects first copper concentrate production in the first half of 2021.... →
Data collection, investment to boost exploration projects in Botswana
By: Khutso Maphatsoe 24th May 2019 With the Kalahari copperbelt being underexplored and the advancement of better processing and higher-resolution data collection tools, numerous explorers are increasingly collecting data in Botswana to use for new exploration and increase current exploration in the region. The Kalahari copperbelt... →
Explorer advances copper project, growth strategy
24th May 2019 Copper exploration and development company MOD Resources is progressing with its growth strategy as the T3 openpit copper project in the Kalahari copperbelt, in northern Botswana, continues towards a decision to mine. The company and its advisers are advancing a range of funding options with... →
Epiroc shares drop as mining gear orders disappoint
By: Reuters 30th April 2019 Sweden's Epiroc said on Tuesday it expected current levels of demand to prevail in the near term after it reported lower than expected quarterly mining equipment orders, sending its shares lower. Epiroc, which competes against Sweden's Sandvik and Finland's Metso, said its order intake inched up... →
Underground copper project start remains on track
19th April 2019 Copper ore company Nevada Copper has confirmed that its Pumpkin Hollow underground copper project remains on target to start production in the fourth quarter this year. Pumpkin Hollow is located in Nevada, in the US and has substantial reserves and resources including copper, gold and silver. →
Ivanplats to complete early-works construction at Platreef Shaft 2
By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 19th April 2019 Ivanplats, the South African subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines, is expected to complete early-works construction at Shaft 2 of the Platreef palladium/platinum/nickel/copper/gold/rhodium project, near Mokopane, in Limpopo, South Africa, in the second quarter, says Ivanplats VP and project director... →
Capital Drilling poised to meet growing demand for drilling services
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 18th April 2019 Africa-focused Capital Drilling continues to be well positioned for an anticipated uplift in demand, especially in West Africa. “At this early stage of the year, we have already seen some encouraging signs in the market, with robust metals prices, particularly gold, and improving capital markets. →
SA mines can now use drone technology for underground mapping
By: Halima Frost 5th April 2019 South African systems integrator Ramjack Technology Solutions has formed an alliance with Swedish aerial robotics company Inkonova to supply underground unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) and mapping technology to the South African mining industry for use underground. Inkonova supplies... →
Anglo American, Northam, Australia’s budget surplus make headlines 
4th April 2019 This week Mining Weekly editor Martin Creamer discusses Anglo American’s plans for hydrogen, new tunnel boring technology at Northam’s Eland mine and Australia’s $7.1-billion budget surplus. →
Master Drilling’s full year performance underpinned by Americas, Europe success
By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th March 2019 JSE-listed Master Drilling expanded its operations to Canada, Turkey, Ghana and Italy and saw growth in Brazil and Mexico during the financial year ended December 31, 2018. This helped to offset headline earnings decreases in a tough African market. →
Underground drill operator training simulator launched
22nd March 2019 Global engineering company Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has introduced an operator training simulator to provide a compact and flexible solution to safely train operators and maintenance teams on its DD422i, DD422iE and DT922i drill rigs. This latest development provides a low weight safe... →
Drilling rig, loader introduced onto African drilling market
22nd March 2019 Mine exploration and drilling innovation service provider Boart Longyear has introduced its LF160 surface coring drill rig and FL262 Freedom loader into the African market. The LF160 and FL262 were available for viewing at an official presentation held at the company’s Robertville site in... →
Australian drilling programme makes promising start
22nd March 2019 A drilling programme at a sizeable anomaly beneath a dry salt lake in South Australia, has been successfully completed with encouraging preliminary geology observations. The Torrens project is located within the Stuart Shelf region of South Australia about 50 km from modern mining company Oz... →
Shotcrete-testing system available for mining sector
By: Halima Frost 22nd March 2019 Construction industry services and technology provider Hilti has improved on its powder-actuated DX 450 shotcrete testing system to suit the mining sector. After seeing the scope to increase its client portfolio Hilti presented the DX 450 to a copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.... →
BI to expand offering in mining sector
By: Cameron Mackay 22nd March 2019 Bearings, power transmission and chain products distributor Bearings International (BI) hopes to increase its offering to the mining sector by providing various chain products to original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that supply equipment to this sector, says BI mining business development... →
Detection system lowers maintenance costs
By: Halima Frost 15th March 2019 The second installation of a custom-made sidewall detection system was completed by monitoring solutions provider Monitech at diversified miner Anglo American’s Zibulo coal colliery, in Mpumalanga, last month. The system was designed and installed to help prevent damage caused to the scrubber fan... →
Council sees potential in coal exports
15th March 2019 In its 2018 facts and figures pocketbook published last month, Minerals Council South Africa notes that South Africa has an annual coal export potential of 110-million tons compared with the 75-million tons currently being exported. This would not only increase investment by more than 10% to... →
Capital Drilling lifts FY18 net profit
By: Marleny Arnoldi 14th March 2019 Aim-listed Capital Drilling achieved a 48% year-on-year increase in net profit to $7.7-million for 2018. The company on Thursday declared a 2018 dividend of 1.5c, compared with 1.2c in 2017, on the back of a 16% year-on-year increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and... →
Three #DisruptMining finalists named
By: Mariaan Webb 26th February 2019 A new drilling approach, an artificial intelligence (AI) solution for mineral processing and an Internet of Things (IoT) application for conveyors will go head to head in this weekend's live finale of the #DisruptMining finale in Toronto. The three innovations have been selected as the finalists... →
Local manufacturers to benefit from Mining Charter 3's implementation 
By: Nadine James 14th February 2019 Mining Charter 3 and its Implementation Guidelines have created an environment where it is possible for local manufacturers to leverage procurement capacity to drive transformation, Department of Mineral Resources representative Xolile Mbonambi said at a breakfast held at the Industrial... →
Aury Africa aims for expansion into PGMs sector
By: Cameron Mackay 8th February 2019 Screening and vibrating equipment solutions and services provider Aury Africa is planning to expand its operations into the platinum group metals (PGMs) market this year with the introduction of radio-frequency identification (RFID) audit and inspection solutions. Aury Africa regards the local... →
Tharisa remains committed to Zim PGMs investment
By: Cameron Mackay 8th February 2019 Despite the turbulent political landscape in Zimbabwe currently, low-cost platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome concentrate producer Tharisa Minerals remains fully committed to its Investment Project Framework Agreement with the Zimbabwe government. The agreement involves the establishment of a... →
MAXAM to demonstrate blasting technology
25th January 2019 Global technology company MAXAM – specialising in the design, development, manufacture and application of energetic materials – will exhibit its blasting solutions product range for mining, quarries and infrastructure works, at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba. MAXAM has an... →
Company rebranding to be showcased
By: Paige Müller 25th January 2019 JSE-listed infrastructure group Aveng has begun to consolidate its opencut contracting entity Aveng Moolmans and its shaft sinking and underground business Aveng Shafts & Underground into a unified brand, which will be known as Moolmans. Aveng Mining operating group MD Stuart White tells Mining... →
Wear plate tests show positive results
By: Thabi Madiba 18th January 2019 Testwork on South Africa-based high-performance polymer producer Vesconite’s polymer sliding wear plates has shown promising results on a crawler drill that is employed at Vedanta zinc project, in Gamsberg, in the Northern Cape, South Africa. The wear plates were installed on the rotary head... →
Gold drilling demand ensures solid revenue, contracts for Capital Drilling
By: Marleny Arnoldi 17th January 2019 LSE-listed Capital Drilling exceeded the top end of its revenue guidance of $105-million to $115-million for 2018, on the back of a strong performance at its West African contracts. It earned $116-million in revenue. →
Enable meaningful participation, pleads Women in Mining chair
By: Martin Creamer 12th December 2018 The Mining Charter has significant room for improvement to enable meaningful participation of women in mining, says Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) chairperson Lindiwe Nakedi. Soweto-born Nakedi, who owns Gubhani Exploration – a surface exploration drilling company that is currently the only... →
Significant drill targets identified at Kavango’s Botswana project
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th December 2018 Kavango Resources has recorded positive results from geophysical follow-up work carried out since the completion of Phase 1 of the airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey over its Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ) project, in Botswana. The company noted in a statement issued on Monday that ground-based... →
Innovate and generate cash at same time – Dassault Systèmes Geovia
By: Martin Creamer 5th December 2018 The objectives of innovating and generating cash are not mutually incompatible and can be achieved at multiple levels simultaneously, says Dassault Systèmes Geovia Brand CEO Raoul Jacquand, who was in Johannesburg to showcase the French company’s suite of advanced three-dimensional (3D) software.... →
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