READY TO BE MINED Gemecs uses geological modelling as basis for determining possible life-of-mine scenarios
Geological consulting company Gemecs is assisting exploration companies and mines with the successful identification of potential mineable in situ resources using geological modelling, says company marketing director Nico Denner.
He explains to Mining Weekly that Gemecs uses geological modelling as the basis for determining possible life-of-mine scenarios, in line with client-suggested outcomes and, subsequently, the project’s total mineable resource is also planned and scheduled.
The outcome is a life-of-mine plan and schedule that can form the basis of the financial model and of the budget for a project’s life-of-mine plan,” Denner says, adding that this plan is typically updated once a year, which makes it part of a project’s long-term planning.
In addition, Gemecs also assists mines in short-term planning, which is more detailed and typically performed over three to six months.
“Short-term planning is highly dynamic and plans can be updated monthly,” he says, adding that, in this case, the actual and planned mining rates are incorporated continually to predict most accurately the expected mining volumes and qualities over the short term.
One-Stop Service
Denner tells Mining Weekly that Gemecs manages to provide a one-stop specialist service for geological and mine modelling, resource and reserve evaluation, and project feasibility studies.
All the directors are also active consultants and this enables the company to play an active role in the consulting process and an integral part in project management, he adds.
Gemecs also relies on strategic partnerships with other independent technical professionals to provide the one-stop service for clients.
“Our company has years of extensive experience, especially in coal, as well as other commodity expertise, such as manganese, platinum and chrome. This, together with our strategic alliances and associates, enables us to use the knowledge to the advantage of our clients.”
Denner says Gemecs and its associates have the experience to deliver on the complete geological value chain – from resource target identification, exploration planning, executing exploration programmes, database administration and resource modelling to producing resource statements and competent person’s reports.
He adds that all this information is used to refine the model until suitable as the geological mining model that is passed on to the com- pany’s mining team, which, in turn, adds value to the designing and planning of the mine to the required level of detail.
“We can take a greenfield project from the planning stage through exploration, resource modelling, mine planning and reserve level,” Denner says, adding that Gemecs continues to provide support services, such as pit control visits, underground grade control and ongoing short-term planning, after the mining operation has started.
Gemecs’ clients include coal miner Mbuyelo Group’s Rirhandzu colliery, in Mpumalanga; minerals exploration and development company Kibo Mining’s Rukwa coal project, in Tanzania; and coal exploration company Shumba Coal’s Sechaba project, in Botswana.
Training
Denner notes that Gemecs has been using Minex, an integrated geology and mine planning software, since it was first introduced onto the South African market in the early 1990s, with the company also being actively involved in providing training and customer support for users of this software.
Gemecs has a strategic partnership with Minex software owner and geology and mine-planning applications company Dassault Systemes Geovia, which makes it the preferred provider of Minex software support and training for all the users of the software in Southern Africa.