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Drilling and Tunnelling News

African Sun Mining pursues opportunities at Junior Indaba

By: Donald Makhafola 25th May 2018 Owing to the current high prices of commodities, wholly black-owned, Pretoria-based opencast mining contractor African Sun Mining hopes to liaise with mining companies, which are prepared to start new projects, during this year’s Junior Indaba to be held from June 5 to 6 at the Johannesburg... →

Schramm appoints HUD as sub-Saharan Africa hammers, bits distributor

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd May 2018 Equipment manufacturer Schramm Hammers & Bits has appointed HUD Mining Supplies as its reverse circulation (RC) consumables distributor for sub-Saharan Africa. →

Machine purchase increases fleet, strengthens partnership

11th May 2018 Last month equipment supplier Epiroc delivered three FlexiROC D65 surface drill rigs to Northern Cape-based drilling specialists Booysen Bore. The delivery has increased Booysen Bore’s total drilling machine fleet to 51, while the addition of the new machines has strengthened the relationship... →

STRONG RELATIONSHIP Epiroc has been supplying surface drill machines to Booysen Bore for several years

Reclaiming competitiveness through R&D-led mining modernisation

By: Martin Creamer 27th April 2018 The modernisation of mining operations is essential to contribute towards the survival of the South African mining industry by enabling mining at increased depths and narrow, hard rock reefs. →

RECLAIMING SOUTH AFRICA’S COMPETITIVENESS Department of Science and Technology chief director of technology localisation, beneficiation and advanced manufacturing Beeuwen Gerryts (left), being interviewed by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer

Beeuwen Gerryts interviewed by Martin Creamer.

Manufacturing capability to underpin SA’s reindustrialisation

By: Nadine James 27th April 2018 Mining capital goods industrial cluster, the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (MEMSA), funded by its members and the Department of Trade and Industry (the DTI), aims to harness the collective capability of South African capital equipment manufacturers for the development of a world... →

MEMSA BOARD CHAIRS MEMSA's Freddy Mugeri and Ulrich Kienle note that the cluster will be officially launched alongside the Mandela Mining Precinct on May 4

MEMSA chairperson Freddy Mugeri discusses the activities and objectives of both MEMSA and the Mandela Mining Precinct. Camerawork and Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

W completes drilling campaign at Tarouca tungsten project

By: Marleny Arnoldi 26th April 2018 Aim-listed W Resources has completed a reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at its Tarouca tungsten and tin exploration licence in Portugal. →

First ‘Resources for Future Generations’ conference to be held in Vancouver

By: Henry Lazenby 13th April 2018 The Resources for Future Generations conference (RFG2018) is scheduled to make its debut on the Canadian resource conference circuit between June 16 and 21, in Vancouver, and is shaping up to be an event unlike the myriad of competing forums held in Canada throughout the year. RFG2018 chairperson... →

Photo by Resources for Future Generations Conference
RFG2018 chairperson John Thompson

Engineering firm to launch raise mining offering for Africa

6th April 2018 Mining contracting and engineering firm Redpath Mining Africa, in partnership with Redpath Mining Australia, is gearing up to launch a new raise mining offering and adding the new Redbore 65 raise drill to its fleet of Raisebore drilling equipment in Africa from the fourth quarter of this year.... →

RAISEBORE EQUIPMENT Redpath's new Redbore 65 raise drill is expected in Africa by the fourth quarter of 2018

Technology imperative to improve operations, safety in deep mines

By: Donald Makhafola 6th April 2018 Advancing and applying smart technology is improving miners' ability to delineate geological structures more accurately, which is important because a key aspect that affects safety in the sector is the variability of rock mass characteristics over time and space, says consulting engineers and... →

WILLIAM JOUGHIN SRK Consulting is collaborating with the Australian Centre for Geomechanics to develop apps to manage seismic hazards that are dangerous for deep-level mines

ULPs drive innovation for underground mechanisation scheme

By: Donald Makhafola 6th April 2018 The MT3500X/NX and MT950 ultralow-profile (ULP) machines designed and developed by mining equipment and machinery supplier CMTI Group can facilitate mining at lower operating heights and at greater depths, as well as in inaccessible areas, such as remnant pillars and barred panels. "This is the... →

DANIE BURGER CMTI Group has embarked on a fundraising round that will close during the first quarter of this year to satisfy growth and the significant demand for South African mechanised-mining solutions

Photo by Creamer Media
DANIE BURGER CMTI Group has embarked on a fundraising round that will close during the first quarter of this year to satisfy growth and the significant demand for South African mechanised-mining solutions

Digital tools deliver transparency, control to deep-level mining

6th April 2018 To deliver transparency and control to deep-level and other mining operations, global supplier of engineering and mining equipment Sandvik has developed the next generation of service offering from Optimine, OptiMine Analytics, which can transform data into process improvements through... →

VERSATILE IMPROVEMENT Mining companies can reduce costs, increase productivity, improve safety and make smarter decisions using predictive insights

Botswana approves drilling at Metal Tiger, MOD’s T3 Dome

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd April 2018 Botswana’s Department of Environmental Affairs has approved the environmental management plan (EMP) for a drilling campaign to test numerous high-priority targets along the T3 project’s 50-km-long T3 Dome. →

Transport system ready for implementation in new investment cycle

By: Paige Müller 30th March 2018 Negative investor sentiment in the mining sector over the past four years has slowed the local mining industry’s adoption of a new suspended underground mining transportation system, designed by South African transportation system solutions provider Futran Holdings. Futran Holdings, the developer... →

SUSPENDED TRANSPORTATION Futran Holdings has developed the Futran OreVeyor suspended underground mining transportation system

Beowulf releases Finland graphite drilling results

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd March 2018 Aim-listed exploration and development company Beowulf on Friday announced the preliminary drilling results for its latest drilling campaign at its Aitolampi graphite project in Finland. →

Photo by Bloomberg
Beowulf Mining is drilling for graphite at its Aitolampi project in Finland

HRB technology, advantages drilled out at SANCOT talk

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 23rd March 2018 JSE-listed raiseboring and drilling services provider Master Drilling featured its horizontal raiseboring (HRB) technology and its advantages for mechanised mining at the latest South African National Committee on Tunnelling (SANCOT) breakfast, held in Woodmead last month. Master Drilling... →

INNOVATIVE TUNNELLING Master Drilling was involved in the boring and excavation of a 180-m-long horizontal tunnel at Cullinan mine, in Gauteng

Polymer bushings find favour in mining

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 23rd March 2018 Specialised polymer manufacturer Vesconite Bearings has been supplying bushings made from the polymer Hitemp 150 for use in rock drills, significantly improving their wear life, and reducing their replacement intervals. Hitemp 150 was developed about 20 years ago and is an internally lubricated... →

QUALITY BUSHINGS The Hitemp 150 bushings have to be replaced only three to four times a year

Geographical diversification bodes well for South Africa’s Master Drilling

By: Simone Liedtke 20th March 2018 South Africa-based raisebore driller Master Drilling’s expansion into new markets, particularly its recent entry into India and Australia, should stand it in good stead to benefit from a global uptick in the commodity cycle. The JSE-listed company in November announced its entry into the Indian... →

Master Drilling warns of lower FY17 earnings

By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th March 2018 Master Drilling on Thursday said its earnings per share (EPS), in rand terms, for the year ended December 31, were likely to be between 22.1% and 32.1% lower year-on-year at between 142.60c and 163.60c. Headline earnings per share (HEPS) are, similarly, expected to decrease by between 20.2% and... →

World's biggest mining show draws huge crowd, signalling mining investment optimism

By: Henry Lazenby 7th March 2018 The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada's (PDAC's) 2018 convention, in Toronto, drew an international crowd of 25 606 people, in what is widely considered as a clear sign that optimism is returning to the mineral exploration and mining industry following several years of turmoil.... →

Mining-specific staff recruitment, management app developed

By: Mia Breytenbach 6th March 2018 To refine and improve the execution of recruitment within the mining industry, mining and engineering professionals recruiter TrueVine Consulting has developed a new, innovative online recruitment platform, called Digger. “Digger is a digital recruitment, talent management and staff retention... →

DIGGING IT
Through the Digger app mining professionals are informed of available positions globally, directly on their mobile devices

Innovative mining-specific staff recruitment, management app developed. Editing: Darlene Creamer and Christo Greyling.

Disruptive MTB solution to provide for continuous operations

By: Jessica Oosthuizen 2nd March 2018 JSE-listed raise boring and drilling services provider Master Drilling launched its new mobile tunnel boring (MTB) system at the Investing in African Mining Indaba, which was held from February 5 to 8, in Cape Town. The system, specifically designed for the mining sector, is suited to the... →

DANIE PRETORIUS
Master Drilling’s mobile tunnel boring system is due to arrive in South Africa in the last quarter of 2018 and it will be used at a local mine

Photo by Duane Daws
DANIE PRETORIUS Master Drilling’s mobile tunnel boring system is due to arrive in South Africa in the last quarter of 2018 and it will be used at a local mine

Orion reveals encouraging results from drilling at Prieska project

By: Simone Liedtke 19th February 2018 ASX- and JSE-listed Orion Minerals on Monday announced further encouraging results from drilling at the company's Prieska zinc/copper project, in the Northern Cape. Drill hole OCOD087_D2, drilled on the south-west margin of the NW Trough Target, intersected 14 m of mineralised massive sulphide... →

Leon expects mining industry to have a future under Ramaphosa’s Presidency

By: Nadine James 16th February 2018 Herbert Smith Freehills partner and Africa co-chairperson Peter Leon is cautiously optimistic that the changes signalled by newly elected President Cyril Ramaphosa will benefit South Africa’s economic recovery. In a speech to the British Chamber of Business in South Africa on Thursday evening, he... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Herbert Smith Freehills partner and Africa co-chairperson Peter Leon

Harmony's headline earnings soar, eight die, Moab transferred

By: Martin Creamer 13th February 2018 Harmony Gold on Tuesday reported improved earnings, production, grade and costs in the six months to December 31, but regrettably also eight fatalities. While Mining Weekly Online was engaged in the media conference, the transfer of ownership of Moab Khotsong assets to Harmony became official,... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Harmony Gold CEO Peter Steenkamp

Mitchell Services buys underground coal drilling firm Radco

By: Simone Liedtke 12th February 2018 ASX-listed Mitchell Services has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Radco Technologies and Radco Group (collectively Radco Drilling), for A$5.3-million in cash. The cash consideration purchase price represents about two-times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation,... →

Revival of interest in robotics to increase safety in South African mines

By: Rebecca Campbell 9th February 2018 "There is a renaissance of interest in using robotics in mining in South Africa," affirms Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Materials Science and Manufacturing Operational Unit Mechatronics and Micro Manufacturing (MMM) Competency Area Research Group Leader Peter Bosscha.... →

Master Drilling unveils novel mobile tunnel boring system at Indaba

By: Mia Breytenbach 6th February 2018 JSE-listed Master Drilling has launched its new South African-developed mobile tunnel boring system, which is suitable for the excavation of various types of tunnels. Master Drilling executive director Koos Jordaan explained at the unveiling of the system at the Investing in African Mining... →

Engineering group Sandvik rides strong demand as profit tops forecast

By: Reuters 5th February 2018 Swedish engineering group Sandvik posted better than expected fourth-quarter core profit on Monday and said demand had been strong across all of its business areas. The Swedish maker of metal-cutting tools, mining equipment and speciality steels has been riding booming demand for mining gear as... →

Showcase of SA's manufacturing prowess to debut in 2019

By: Donna Slater 2nd February 2018 To showcase the best South Africa has to offer in terms of local manufacturing and South African-produced capital equipment, capital equipment manufactures lobby group the South African Capital Equipment Exporters Council (Saceec) has partnered with exhibition organisers Specialised Exhibitions... →

Gold sponsor to exhibit latest tech and services

26th January 2018 Capital equipment giant Caterpillar says it is focused on optimising operations – whether surface or underground, large or small – and resolving the issues critical to their success, and will present its technologies and services at the 2018 Investing in African Mining Indaba, in Cape Town. →

DRIVING EFFICIENCY At 22 t capacity, the AD22 is the smallest underground truck in the Caterpillar equipment line, yet it offers greater payload than competitor trucks of the same size

Investors spur Spitfire’s Western Australia gold development

By: Donna Slater 18th January 2018 ASX-listed Spitfire Materials has successfully raised $5.33-million, through an oversubscribed share placement at 10c, to fast-track its Australian gold exploration and development strategy. →

Middle Island plans follow-up drilling to enhance Wirraminna deposit

By: Donna Slater 18th January 2018 Gold exploration and development company Middle Island on Thursday reported the outcomes of a pit optimisation study for the Wirraminna deposit, in Western Australia. →

Eighth high-value Angolan diamond discovered

15th December 2017 Australian diamond mining and exploration company Lucapa Diamonds’ Lulo mine, in Angola, delivered pleasing diamond recoveries in November, on the back of the eighth discovery larger than 100 ct at the mine, reinforcing a strong performance from its operations in October, states MD Stephen... →

LUCAPA PRIDE The Type IIa-D diamond was discovered in Angola last month

Initial mining programme expected to start next year

15th December 2017 Marine and land-based mining company Diamond Fields International has reaffirmed its commitment to its Namibian operations, announcing at the start of November an initial mining programme for its ML111 licence in offshore Namibia in 2018. The initial mining programme for the licence area will... →

YO TOIVO The vessel is designed to provide efficient and effective mining of diamonds on the seafloor

Underground mine plans for Karowe moving forward

15th December 2017 The results of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) announced by diamond miner Lucara Diamonds in November demonstrate the potential economic viability for the development of an underground mine at Karowe, in Botswana. The development of the underground mine is planned after the completion of... →

KAROWE OPENPIT The Karowe mine located in Botswana has valuable resources located underground

Fast-paced developments at Prieska benefit all stakeholders

By: Robyn Wilkinson 15th December 2017 Australian minerals explorer Orion Minerals’ activity at the Prieska zinc/copper mine present an “unparalleled” value creation opportunity for investors and shareholders while promoting and supporting critical socioeconomic development in the Northern Cape, says Orion Minerals MD Errol Smart. →

PROJECT ADVANCES Sixteen drill rigs are operating on site in a dual-focused drill programme that aims to confirm the extensive historical drilling database on the remaining mineralisation at Prieska

First blast marks Kamoa Kakula development

8th December 2017 The first blast at the Kamoa-Kakula mine development, marking the start of work on the twin declines at the ultrahigh-grade Kakula discovery, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been completed ten days ahead of schedule. The successful blast at the Tier 1 copper project, near the... →

KAMOA-KAKULA The combined Kamoa-Kakula indicated mineral resources as of a May estiimate is about one-billion tonnes, grading 3.02% copper, containing 66-billion pounds of copper

GBM scoping study shows economic viability of Mt Coolon project

By: Donna Slater 4th December 2017 A recent scoping study conducted by junior GBM Resources for its Mt Coolon gold project has indicated that it may be economically viable to redevelop the project, which shows the potential to generate strong positive cash flow →

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