MiningWeekly.com | Mining Sector News | Drilling and Tunnelling

https://www.miningweekly.com

Advertise on this page? Click Here to Learn More

Drilling and Tunnelling News

Fluid testing, an aid for precise drilling

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 14th August 2020 Global mining technology company IMDEX developed the IMDEX MUD Automated In-field Diagnosis (AID) to optimise fluid management, as drilling fluids can be critical to how successfully the drilling programme runs, says IMDEX product development GM Michelle Carey. →

Master Drilling breaks world record with 1 382 m hole at Zondereinde mine

By: Donna Slater 23rd July 2020 JSE-listed drilling technology company Master Drilling Group has broken the world record for depth of a hole drilled after the successful completion of the pilot hole – at 1 382 m, for raise-boring at platinum group metals miner Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine in Limpopo. Drilling of the... →

Northam completes first phase of raise-bore drilling for third Zondereinde shaft

By: Marleny Arnoldi 21st July 2020 JSE-listed Northam Platinum, together with Master Drilling, has successfully completed a record raise-bore pilot hole for the planned Number 3 Shaft at the Zondereinde mine. The new shaft system will provide additional access from surface to the underground workings for hoisting of men,... →

Northam's Zondereinde mine

Positive mining developments halted by Covid-19

By: Tracy Hancock 17th July 2020 Before the Covid-19 outbreak, major mining companies indicated that, for the first time in many years, government and the mining industry were having meaningful dialogue that could realise positive outcomes, says diversified infrastructure and services construction company Concor Construction CEO... →

COLLABORATION EXPECTATION A more collaborative approach regarding the development of mining infrastructure is expected in future, as well as more involvement by the State

Mincon, Torque Africa celebrate drilling milestone

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th June 2020 Engineering company Mincon South Africa has achieved a milestone development in exploration drilling with one of its clients, drilling company Torque Africa Exploration. Mincon supported Torque at a greenfield mineral exploration drill site in the Northern Cape, where a new Mincon... →

Dust, spill control now an attainable solution

19th June 2020 Plant operators want to eliminate dust and spills on belts and transfers as well as minimise maintenance requirements of the conveyor system. Further, the ability of plants to efficiently cope with the challenges of moist and sticky materials related to quarrying is also desired. →

SQUEAKY CLEAN Cleaning at critical points is necessary, however, the majority of time previously spent cleaning is now available for productive work at the plant

New compressors provide faster drilling, reduced fuel costs

19th June 2020 Compressor and generator supplier Rand-Air has acquired two Atlas Copco DrillAir Y1260 variable high pressure (21 bar to 35 bar) compressors. This new technology – from the world’s leading manufacturer of compressor and generator equipment – has been scientifically designed around pressure and... →

CRAIG SWART The new compressor units are ideally suited for applications such as mineral exploration drilling, geothermal drilling, construction and blast hole drilling

Kavango appoints geological modelling firm to advance target selection in KSZ

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th June 2020 Aim-listed Kavango Resources has appointed specialist geological modelling firm Mira Geoscience to advance target selection for future drilling in the Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ), in Botswana. Mira is skilled in advanced geological and geophysical three-dimensional (3D) modelling, including the... →

Master Drilling expects earnings fall

By: Martin Creamer 8th June 2020 Rock boring and drilling services provider Master Drilling has advised shareholders of an earnings fall. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed company advised in a stock exchange news service (SENS) announcement that earnings per share for the six months ending June 30 were expected to be... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Master Drilling CEO Danie Pretorius

This year's Electra Mining cancelled

By: Donna Slater 29th May 2020 Organisers of Southern Africa’s mining, manufacturing, automation, electrical and power trade exhibition Electra Mining Africa, Specialised Exhibitions, reports that the 2020 edition of the trade fair has been cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s show had been scheduled to... →

Council increases mapping to drive South Africa's exploration attractiveness

By: Donna Slater 12th May 2020 As part of government’s response to keep the South African economy afloat during the outbreak of Covid-19 and beyond, the Council for Geosciences (CGS) has been mandated to increase its country-wide survey to bolster South Africa as an exploration hotspot once the lockdown is over. CGS CEO Mosa... →

Altus records encouraging results in Mali

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th May 2020 Dual-listed Altus Strategies has recorded encouraging results from a 70-hole 2 042 m shallow air core (AC) drilling programme to test the potential strike extension of the FT Prospect at the company's Tabakorole gold project, in southern Mali. The programme was completed under a joint venture... →

Precinct reaffirms R&D focus, test mine in the works

By: Mamaili Mamaila 24th April 2020 The Mandela Mining Precinct, a public–private mining industry collaboration, remains committed to advancing people-centric processes and technologies, in the research and development (R&D) activities that it will be undertaking for the advancement of the South African mining industry. →

LONG-TERM VISION The future looks good for the mining industry

Mandela Mining Precinct can play key role in navigating industry through Covid-19 crisis

By: Nadine James 24th April 2020 Times of crisis and chaos necessitate introspection, creativity and adaptation, and while the Covid-19 pandemic is a challenge that is unprecedented in recent human memory, it highlights how essential continual research, innovation and planning are for the sustainability of society. Challenging... →

Company assists manganese mine shaft refurbishment

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 17th April 2020 Mining solutions provider United Mining Services (UMS) is assisting with shaft refurbishment at a manganese mine, in the Northern Cape. UMS COO Murray Macnab says the mine operators decided to extend the life-of-mine by refurbishing the old existing shafts and installing new shaft towers. The... →

Mechanised hard-rock shaft-sinking tech being developed

By: Darren Parker 17th April 2020 The development of a mechanised shaft-sinking solution for hard-rock applications through rock-boring and drilling services provider Master Drilling’s subsidiary, Master Sinking – a joint venture between Master Drilling and the Industrial Development Corporation – is well underway. The... →

IT’S A HARD-ROCK LIFE The development of a mechanised shaft sinking machine for hard-rock applications will add much value to the sector

Mechanised shaft-boring feasibility studies under way

By: Darren Parker 17th April 2020 Shaft sinking original-equipment manufacturer Herrenknecht is engaged in numerous feasibility studies with mining contractors in South Africa and other African countries, such as Zambia, for the potential use of the company’s mechanised shaft-boring machines. Herrenknecht business development... →

HITTING ROCK BOTTOM The Jansen project was the first time globally that mining shafts have been sunk successfully using only mechanical excavation

New gold shaft to be commissioned this year

17th April 2020 Gold mining company Caledonia Mining’s Blanket gold mine, in Zimbabwe, expects to commission its new central shaft in the fourth quarter of this year, following which production will ramp up. Shaft sinking at the central shaft was completed in July last year to the target depth of 1 204 m. Since... →

DEEPENING RETURNS The well-established Blanket gold mine will see an increase in production once the new central shaft project is completed later this year

Mining may resume at 50% capacity – Minister

By: Martin Creamer 16th April 2020 All mining operations, excluding collieries supplying Eskom which have been permitted to operate at full capacity throughout national lockdown, may now resume at 50% capacity during the remaining lockdown days, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said on Thursday. Thereafter,... →

Photo by Veronica Creamer
Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Matashe during virtual media conference.

Capital Drilling reports strong growth as gold rallies

By: Donna Slater 16th April 2020 Africa-focused mining services company Capital Drilling on April 16 reported a 20.4% year-on-year and a 5.9% quarter-on-quarter increase in revenue to $32.5-million for the first quarter of this year. The company also reported that it had, thus far, not been materially impacted on by the... →

Master Drilling announces new board nomination

By: Martin Creamer 14th April 2020 Hennie Faul, who has particularly deep insight into the copper mining industry in South America, has been nominated for appointment to the board of Master Drilling, which operates extensively in Latin America. JSE-listed Master Drilling stated in a stock exchange news service (SENS) announcement... →

Photo by Reuters
Hennie Faul

New technology displaces old drilling habits

10th April 2020 Global mining technology company IMDEX says it seeks to “drive change” through research and development capable of delivering innovations that enable drilling contractors and mining companies to test more targets and decrease the time it takes to define a resource. The company developed the... →

Liam Twigger If you want to get money into exploration you have to change the value proposition

Gold miner announces doubling of resources

10th April 2020 Gold miner Tanzanian Gold Corporation announced last month that it had received an update of the estimated mineral resources in the company’s Buckreef Shear Zone, from engineering services provider Virimai Projects, the company’s technical adviser. The update more than doubles the estimated... →

GOLD DOUBLE UP

The updated mineral resource for the Buckreef Shear Zone, measured and indicated, totals about 40.9-million tonnes grading 1.73 g/t and comprising 2.27-million ounces of gold

Photo by Bloomberg
GOLD DOUBLE UP The updated mineral resource for the Buckreef Shear Zone, measured and indicated, totals about 40.9-million tonnes grading 1.73 g/t and comprising 2.27-million ounces of gold

Council turns attention to Ghana

By: Tracy Hancock 3rd April 2020 South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC) member companies are increasingly looking outside of the South African market for opportunities, owing to the country’s current economic climate, says SACEEC director and CEO Eric Bruggeman. “South Africa’s market is dead. The local... →

EASY ACCESS Ghana, Africa’s top gold producer, offers South African capital equipment manufacturers favourable shipping accessibility through the Port of Tema

New-generation loader set for South Africa

27th March 2020 Orders have already been placed by major South African coal miners for solutions provider Sandvik’s new LS312 flameproof underground loader. The first active units will start rolling off the local production line in the second quarter of this year, according to Sandvik Mining and Rock... →

QUIETER & CLEANER Powered by the C7.1 mechanical engine, the new generation LS312 complies with Tier II emissions standards while ensuring quieter, and more efficient operation

Master Drilling navigates tough conditions to record solid results

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th March 2020 JSE-listed Master Drilling Group recorded an increase in revenue of 6.9% to $148.3-million for the year ended December 31, and a slight decrease in operating profit of 5.1% to $22.4-million, owing to adverse global market conditions and an uncertain operating environment. “No one can run away... →

Mobile Tunnel Borer

Jervois suspends activities in Uganda amid Covid-19 outbreak

By: Simone Liedtke 20th March 2020 ASX- and TSX-V-listed Jervois Mining has suspended its activities in Uganda in response to Covid-19, with no fixed remobilisation date yet. The miner said on Friday that measures have been undertaken to safeguard the health and safety of its employees, contractors and local communities. →

Necessity drives drill bit innovation

By: Darren Parker 20th March 2020 Drilling solutions provider Lesedi Drilling and Contract Mining, in collaboration with its subsidiary, drill bit supplier Thriftline, has developed a removable reaming shell for its diamond drill bits, which the company believes will significantly reduce drilling consumable expenses. The reaming... →

CORE VALUE Innovation is necessary for survival in the current sluggish economic environment

Company varies drill offering

By: Darren Parker 20th March 2020 Drilling equipment and consumables supplier Galison Drilling, part of original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Galison Group, is pinning its 2020 growth strategy on the supply of consumables for the mechanised, or extension rod, drilling sector in South Africa. “We feel the time is right for... →

JOHAN FOURIE The focus of Galison’s drilling operations have been moved to Rustenburg, in the North West province, to serve the platinum mines in the area

Geotechnical drilling improves safety at phosphate mine

By: Darren Parker 20th March 2020 Drilling company Geomech Africa, part of geotechnical services holding company GeoGroup, has completed its geotechnical investigation at phosphate product producer and distributor Foskor’s phosphate mining operation in Phalaborwa, Limpopo. The Foskor phosphate mine comprises the North and South... →

DOING THE HOLE JOB The geotechnical investigations required the drilling of two holes in the North pit and five in the South pit at depths of between 300 m and 500 m

Autonomous drills improve safety for contract miner

By: Darren Parker 20th March 2020 JSE-listed Basil Read’s mining arm Basil Read Mining subsidiary Blasting and Excavating (B&E)has entered into a partnership with India- based original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Revathi Equipment and other local partner Paramount Tracks to acquire several C650 autonomous drills. →

NATHAN WILLIAMS The way forward is to embrace disruptive technologies in the mining industry

Gold paper released at global forum

By: Halima Frost 7th February 2020 The collaborative paper, titled Kibali Gold Mine sulphide concentrate treatment – understanding the pre-oxidation of sulphide concentrates, was presented by dual-listed miner Barrick Gold’s Kibali gold mine technical manager Dr Thamsanqa Mahlangu at the World Gold 2019 conference held in Perth,... →

RAMP UP The separators at Kibali will be ramped up to full sulphides in future

Mining companies embrace Sandvik’s high-tech solutions

By: Kim Cloete 5th February 2020 High-tech and global engineering group Sandvik is helping greenfield mining projects in Africa to power ahead through automation and digitalisation aimed at making mining safer and more efficient and sustainable. “If you look at the global automation footprint, Africa is using some of the most... →

Mining Weekly correspondent Kim Cloete interviewed executives from global engineering group Sandvik on the sidelines of the 2020 Investing in African Mining Indaba. Video and editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Mechanised boring solutions making headway

By: Tracy Hancock 24th January 2020 The development of rock-boring and drilling services provider Master Drilling’s mobile tunnel borer (MTB) and shaft-boring system (SBS) technology is advancing, with the machinery expected to reduce project development times by three to four times, says Master Drilling CEO Danie Pretorius. “These... →

MTB TESTING Master Drilling is undertaking field testing of its mobile tunnel borer at platinum producer Northam Platinum’s Eland mine, in the North West

Imminent surge in demand for PDS anticipated

By: Darren Parker 29th November 2019 Mine safety equipment supplier Booyco Electronics CEO Anton Lourens is anticipating a surge in demand for proximity detection systems (PDS) next year. In 2017, the Department of Mineral Resources, as it was known then, issued a 2020 deadline for mining companies to implement stipulations laid out... →

ANTON LOURENS As the 2020 deadline approaches, many late adopters are going to rush to be made compliant

Kavango advances exploration in Botswana

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd November 2019 LSE-listed Kavango Resources on Friday announced that core and reverse circulation drilling on its Kalahari Suture Zone Project (KSZ), in Botswana, had intersected a high-level gabbroic intrusive at 53 m from surface in one of the holes (RIT50) drilled. The 1 000 m drilling programme is designed... →

Solar, private sector, new rock drill prototypes make headlines

21st November 2019 Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer unpacks developments around solar energy, the private sector and new rock drill prototypes. →

Solar, private sector, new rock drill prototypes make headlines. Video and editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Roof bolt placement critical to safety

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 8th November 2019 Roof bolts, in helping to create a stable rock structure, are the first line of defence to protect mineworkers from fall-of-ground-related hazards, which highlights the importance of correct roof bolt placement in underground mining, South African mining safety and monitoring solutions provider... →

NICK MURRAY The principal objective of roof bolting is to help the rock mass support itself

Company Announcements

The outsourced asset care service – is this a panacea for the struggling maintenance departments of small to medium-sized enterprises?

About

Mining Weekly is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on MiningWeekly.com is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe