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Drilling and Tunnelling News
First Bougouni drilling assays ‘highly encouraging’
24th March 2017 West-Africa-focused mineral exploration and development company Kodal Minerals has a busy exploration programme planned for the months ahead, with a focus on its lithium projects at Bougouni, in Mali. CEO Bernard Aylward said in February that the company would return to drill its Ngoualana... →
Raise drill tackles first African project
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 24th March 2017 The Redbore 100, “the crown jewel” of Redpath Mining’s series of raise drills, is undertaking its inaugural African project, in Zambia, extolls Redpath Mining Africa raiseboring manager Johan Davel. “One of the most powerful, largest-capacity, proven raise drills ever manufactured” is in... →
Mine mechanisation and automation accelerating in South Africa and globally, says Sandvik
By: Ilan Solomons 24th March 2017 The mechanisation and automation of mines in South Africa and globally is accelerating, with ancillary support services, such as information technology (IT), information transfer and data analysis, among others, taking on greater importance, says mining equipment and services provider Sandvik... →
Digitalising underground drilling
24th March 2017 Digitalisation will improve drilling accuracy and cycle times, and reduce operation costs by improving the efficiency of the drilling and bolting phase, says global engineering group Sandvik. “Drilling as planned, with accurate visual information, leads to continuous improvement across the whole... →
Drilling operations achieve impressive safety records
24th March 2017 Two underground diamond drilling sites operated by mining industry services provider Rosond have achieved five years of ‘zero harm’. Platinum producer Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplat’s) Dishaba mine, previously known as Amandelbult before being split into Dishaba and Tumela, near Thabazimbi, in... →
Master Drilling boasts strong order book 
By: Megan van Wyngaardt 22nd March 2017 The launch of new projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, paired with increased investment in human resources, has resulted in a 12.1% drop in JSE-listed Master Drilling’s gross profit to $23.5-million for the 2016 financial year. However, the company noted that... →
Sonic drilling represents untapped potential for mining
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 17th March 2017 There is huge scope in the future for the adoption of sonic drilling by mining companies in South Africa, which heavy minerals mining companies can capitalise on, says exploration drilling industry training course provider Colin Rice Exploration & Training founder Colin Rice. Local use of sonic... →
ENHANCED EXPLORATION The high penetration rates of sonic drilling produce high-quality, accurate core samples
Ravene drilling programme completed at Mutamba
17th March 2017 Aim-listed diversified miner Savannah Resources has completed drilling to more precisely define the high-grade zones of total heavy minerals (THM) at its “relatively under-evaluated” Ravene deposit, in Mozambique. The deposit is part of its Mutamba mineral sands project, which it is developing... →
A catalyst for innovation, Goldcorp pushes the envelope on technological advances
By: Henry Lazenby 11th March 2017 Canadian gold major Goldcorp is acting as a catalyst to bring innovation into the mining industry, an industry traditionally loathe to adopt new technologies that could ultimately improve the bottom line. As exemplified in its leading role in sponsoring the #DisruptMining competition during the... →
Goldcorp’s existing policies promote diversity in the work place
Partnership benefits miner, Ghanaians
By: Robyn Wilkinson 10th March 2017 Canadian gold explorer Asante Gold has offered Ghanaian communities employment opportunities and the restoration of agricultural land in exchange for their support of its Keyhole gold project’s drilling programme, aimed at identifying a high-grade underground mineable gold deposit. The first... →
Sierra Leone gold sector ‘open for business’
By: Robyn Wilkinson 10th March 2017 The moderate rise in the average gold price to $1 248/oz in 2016 increased investor appetite for gold exploration and triggered some merger and acquisition activity in the sector, providing a positive environment for miner Sula Iron & Gold to advance its planned drilling programme at its... →
More contracts out to tender with commodity price upswing
By: Simone Liedtke 3rd March 2017 With commodities, such as gold and copper, showing positive growth, mining contracting and engineering company Redpath Mining Africa has noted an upswing in contracting work in the African mining sector. Redpath Mining Africa MD Ockert Douglas says this was also the sentiment held by others at... →
Drilling services provider declares Indaba ‘great success’
By: Simone Liedtke 3rd March 2017 The 2017 Investing in African Mining Indaba was a “great success” for drilling services and equipment, including for performance tooling provider Boart Longyear, as it secured deals and has several prospective projects to follow up on, says general sales manager Andre van Heerden. →
Group to split to improve customer focus
17th February 2017 Swedish sustainable productivity solutions provider Atlas Copco will create a new company focused on mining and civil engineering, should it receive backing at its annual general meeting in April. →
Master Drilling readies for international roll-out of new horizontal raiseboring technology
By: Ilan Solomons 7th February 2017 JSE-listed drilling services provider Master Drilling announced at the Investing in African Mining Indaba on Tuesday that its horizontal raiseboring (HRB) technology is ready for international roll-out after a successful pilot test at the Cullinan diamond mine, in Gauteng. Master Drilling CEO... →
Milestone for Two Rivers as PGM production surpasses 400 000 oz/y
By: David Oliveira 3rd February 2017 Mpumalanga-based Two Rivers, a joint venture between diversified miner African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) and platinum producer Impala Platinum (Implats), reached an important milestone last year, producing more than 400 000 oz of platinum-group metals (PGMs) for the first time since the mine started... →
African company one of biggest underground mining contractors
By: Martin Creamer 2nd February 2017 The predominantly Africa-based Murray & Roberts Cementation has served the mining industry for more than a century. Along with Cementation Canada, Cementation USA and RUC Cementation Australia, the Murray & Roberts Underground Mining Platform ranks among the biggest underground mining contracting... →
VENETIA MODEL What the Venetia underground diamond mine will look like when complete
Raubex
27th January 2017 With more than four decades of experience in the Southern African construction and mining industry, infrastructure development and materials handling specialist Raubex Group is a leading player on the sub-continent. Listed on the JSE since 2007, Bloemfontein-headquartered Raubex specialises in... →
Propellant-based rock breaking system mooted as alternative to traditional explosives
By: Ilan Solomons 27th January 2017 It is generally acknowledged that South Africa’s narrow-reef mining sector is in a precarious state as its viability is challenged by declining global commodity prices, labour instability, uncertain government policy, overregulation and declining productivity. Adding to the problem is mine... →
IMPROVING SAFETY The 1.4S initiation system propellant powders produce no shock energy, which ensures improved hanging wall conditions, and therefore a safer working environment
Gubhani Exploration
27th January 2017 Black female-owned, cutting-edge surface exploration drilling company Gubhani Exploration was established in 2008. With projects led by a geologist with 13 years of experience in working with drilling contractors and mining companies, Gubhani is a well-rounded service provider that understands... →
Completion of Mindola shaft expected in 2019
By: Nadine James 27th January 2017 The Mindola Deeps shaft sinking project in Kitwe, Zambia, should be completed by June 2018, marking the first time that a 2 000 m shaft will be raise drilled, says mining contractor Redpath Mining. The project, which is owned by diversified mining and marketing company Glencore’s Zambian copper... →
Difficult drilling proves rewarding at Koffiefontein
By: Robyn Wilkinson 16th December 2016 Diamond producer Petra Diamonds’ geological team has gained access to the kimberlite deposit between the 60 m level and 72 m level at its Koffiefontein project, in the Free State, owing to diamond drilling services provider Lesedi Drilling and Mining Contracting Company’s assistance in... →
‘Exciting prospect’ awaits decision
By: Robyn Wilkinson 16th December 2016 Diamond explorer and project developer Botswana Diamonds is in discussions with its joint venture (JV) partner, Botswana State-owned copper and nickel producer BCL, to undertake essential verification drilling on a cluster of diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes at the Maibwe exploration project in... →
Work on Booysendal South Central access decline to start in April
By: David Oliveira 16th December 2016 Platinum producer Northam Platinum earlier this month awarded JSE-listed Murray & Roberts Cementation the Phase 1 contract for the Mpumalanga-based Booysendal South Central complex, a new mine that will be established on the same mining lease as Booysendal platinum mine. Murray & Roberts... →
Bulk of Cullinan C-Cut Phase 1 nears completion
By: Robyn Wilkinson 16th December 2016 Mining services company Murray & Roberts Cementation will complete its contract at diamond miner Petra Diamonds’ Gauteng-based Cullinan mine this month, concluding the largest portion of the R4-billion Phase 1 expansion project that will initially extend the diamond mine’s life span by about 15 year →
Murray & Roberts secures Phase 1 Booysendal South Central complex contract
By: David Oliveira 9th December 2016 JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Platinum producer Northam Platinum this week awarded JSE-listed Murray & Roberts Cementation the Phase 1 contract for the Mpumalanga-based Booysendal South Central complex, a new mine that will be established on the same mining lease as Booysendal platinum mine.... →
Sibanye testing alternative to explosives-based rock breaking
By: Ilan Solomons 9th December 2016 The South African mining industry requires a paradigm shift in its fundamental approach to mining processes to ensure that it can move away from the use of explosives, says diversified miner Sibanye Resources safe technology and innovation project engineer Alex Fenn. He argues that explosives are... →
NONEXPLOSIVE MINING ENABLER The Multi-Track1000 is 930 mm in height and has four independent track assemblies, which are capable of three different degrees of motion
Mobile technology helps eliminate blasting obstacles
By: Kimberley Smuts 18th November 2016 Explosives firm BME explored how mobile technology and centralised data could provide mine managers with an edge to comprehensively eliminate potential blast problems, through among others management of blast inputs, thereby improving blast results, at its annual Drilling and Blasting Conference.... →
Two-year renewal for Zebediela nickel project prospecting rights
By: David Oliveira 11th November 2016 Aim-listed base metals and uranium exploration company URU Metals announced earlier this month that it successfully renewed the three prospecting rights encompassing its Zebediela nickel project, in Limpopo, for another two years. The prospecting rights are held by URU Metals’ wholly owned South... →
Zambian project achieves one-million lost-time injury-free work hours
By: Sascha Solomons 4th November 2016 Mining and exploration company Group R Mining & Exploration Zambia achieved one-million man hours without a lost-time injury (LTI), at its Synclinorium shaft expansion project on behalf of owner Zambian-registered copper miner Mopani Copper Mines. Group R is the operating partner of... →
Amplats targeting 80% mechanised production but timeline extended to 2027 as price slumps
By: Ilan Solomons 28th October 2016 Platinum producer Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) is developing a range of mechanised technologies and is aiming to produce 80% of its platinum using mechanised mining methods by 2027. Amplats mining services head Frik Fourie says the company started implementing this strategy in 2011 when the... →
Patented mining technology to be released month-end
By: Aarifah Nosarka 28th October 2016 Local ultra-low-profile mining machinery and equipment supplier CMTI Consulting expects to release its patented MT100, MT1000 and automated brake tester technologies for mines by the end of this month. The technology, developed by CMTI Consulting, in Pretoria, comprises 70% local content and is... →
Greater urgency needed in adopting mechanisation in South Africa
By: Aarifah Nosarka 28th October 2016 For the local mining industry to ensure its sustainability, the industry needs to accelerate the rate at which it is adopting new technology, mechanical engineering consultant CMTI Consulting MD Dr Danie Burger tells Mining Weekly. “The transitioning of mines to greater mechanisation and... →
Horizontal raiseboring at Cullinan mine outperforms traditional methods
By: Ilan Solomons 21st October 2016 Raise boring and drilling services group Master Drilling is nearing completion of a 220 m hole with a diameter of 4.5 m horizontal raise bore (HRB) trial project at Southern Africa-focused miner Petra Diamonds’ Cullinan diamond mine, in Gauteng. During a site visit to the mine earlier this month,... →
HORIZONTAL RAISE BORING Horizontal raise boring is a developing technology with potentially faster production advances and is consistently more stable than traditional drill and blast
New body for shaft sinkers launched
By: Ilan Solomons 30th September 2016 The South African Shaft Sinking, Equipment and Services (Sasses) supply group, a subgroup within the South African Capital Equipment Export Council (Saceec) was officially launched at the Electra Mining Africa 2016 tradeshow in Johannesburg, last week. Sasses aims to assist local manufacturers... →
Studies seek ways to prevent falls-of-ground accidents at mines
By: Ilan Solomons 30th September 2016 A series of implementation projects were carried out between 2012 and 2015 by global engineering consultancy SRK through the Safety in Mines Research Advisory Committee with funds from the Mine Health and Safety Council (MSHC) with the aim of imparting a risk-based support design methodology to... →
Ontario govt awards Boart Longyear C$1.37m to improve safety, reduce costs
By: Henry Lazenby 28th September 2016 Multinational drilling equipment and services provider Boart Longyear has received an award of C$1.37-million from the Ontario government to help improve safety at mineral exploration drilling sites and the efficiency of drilling systems technology. The Salt Lake City, Utah-headquartered company... →
Cash costs plunge below $700/oz at AngloGold’s Mponeng mine
By: David Oliveira 23rd September 2016 South African gold mining major Anglo-Gold Ashanti reported in its six- months through June 30 earnings report, released in mid-August, that its South African flagship operation, Mponeng gold mine, near Carletonville, was one of the lowest-cost producers in South Africa during the first half of... →
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