Search Documents

By S. Mudau, P. Mohasoa, M. J. Cole

Derelict and ownerless (D&O) mines in South Africa have been an ongoing concern for over a decade. While some progress has been made to rehabilitate D&O asbestos sites, significant work remains, exacerbated by the growth in illegal mining. There are concerns regarding the accuracy and transparency of the D&O database, lack of oversight, and constrained funding, and the government is increasingly looking to the private sector to fund rehabilitation. Given these challenges, a new, sustainable approach to D&O sites in South Africa is needed to bring clarity and transparency to the process, recognise responsibilities and promote partnerships, and explore economic opportunities at D&O sites to reduce the financial liability and respond to the growing demand for critical minerals. This article has three components: i) reviews of international D&O good practices; ii) it analyses South Africa’s current approach and the D&O sites; and iii) proposes a D&O framework that addresses data, risk ratings, responsibilities and rehabilitation, economic opportunities, and stakeholder engagement. The study finds that the majority of the 6,100 so-called abandoned D&O mines are quarries and mine site features, 16% are operational, at least 11% have owners, and only 752 (12%) require rehabilitation. The framework aims to bring clarity and fairness to decision-making and to assign risk and responsibility for rehabilitation and seeks to incorporate economic opportunities to reduce the financial burden of rehabilitation, create jobs for local communities, and respond to the growing demand for critical minerals for the clean energy transition.

Apr 25, 2025

By P. Sharma

Longwall panels facing wind blasts have been investigated at both Newstan and Moonee Collieries in the Newcastle Coalfield under the Wind Blast Project of the School of Mining Engineering, The University of New South Wales. The fluid mechanics involved in the compression and expulsion of air during wind blasts have been defined and the overpressure and air velocity time histories utilized to determine the wind blast parameters and define the relationship between them. The characteristics of wind blasts pressure pulses in mine roadways show some similarity with transient phenomenon like air blasts from explosives and shock waves from the failure of pressurized vessels. The peak wind velocities in roadways, however, exhibit marked deviations from theoretical predictions based on compressible fluid flow and Rankine-Hugoniot relationships applied to goaf air displacement and panel geometry. Peak overpressures and wind velocities have shown a positive correlation with the areas of goaf falls, with the values peaking off for larger areas. The field investigations have helped the mine management in risk assessment and in evaluating the success of induced caving by hydrofracturing to mitigate the hazard.

Jan 1, 2004

By L. Bbosa

Paper written on project work carried out in partial fulfilment of BSc (Hons) (Eng) (Mechanical) degree Discrete element methods (DEM) are being used to provide detailed impact histories of the particles in comminution devices, such as mills. To match this immense detail of information, far more informative breakage tests than those that are generally conducted are now required. The split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus is used in this study, as it allows the calculation of breakage forces and absorbed energies. The geometry of rock particles has been identified as significant, so this project undertook to identify the influence of shape on the breakage pattern of blue stone. Comparisons are then made between the breakage pattern of angular rocks and rounded, milled rocks for single impact fracture and consecutive impact loading at low energy. Results of this experiment indicate that although breakage for both geometries occurs over a similar energy range, rounded particles have the greater probability of fracture because they absorb more of the impact energy for a given loading. Size distributions of progeny show that five pebbles or more are sufficient to predict the distribution of most particles in small energy regimes. Cumulative impact testing shows that considerably more energy is required to break a rock through cumulative damage than through a single impact?this is of considerable importance in the light of the indications from DEM simulations that most breakage in a mill will be from cumulative damage rather than single impact breakage.

Jan 1, 2006

By R. L. Pienaar

Paper written on project work carried out in partial fulfilment of B Eng (Min. Eng.) degree A study was conducted to investigated and compare the feasibility of two single level extraction layouts for an intact part of theorebody of the De Beers diamond mine, Koffiefontein. Two layouts were chosen and the tonnage profile, development schedule and production ring blast layouts were calculated by applying the information acquired through a literature study. Current principles used on the mine were also applied. The first layout chosen is described as a simple straightforward layout with 6 production tunnels spaced 15 m apart, and is referred to as Layout A. The second layout, named Layout B, is described as a complex chevron layout with 9 production tunnels spaced 15 m apart. This layout has a rim tunnel situated in the kimberlite ground, which is called a chevron and this made the layout more complex than Layout A. By comparing the financial results of the two layouts, it was found that Layout B is a more feasible option than Layout A. Sensitivity analyses show that both layouts are extremely sensitive to the revenue of the projects. Therefore it is recommended that Layout B can prove to be a source of additional tonnage to add to the total tonnage profile of the mine and to extend the life of mine by 20 months, only if certain financial/economic factors improve. There is, however, still some areas of the project that need to be investigated.

Jan 1, 2006

By N. Sahay

Improvement in work place environment by conventional methods viz., installation of higher capacity fan, fans in parallel operation or booster fan is a risky proposition in many coal mines in India because of difficult geo-mining condition such as shallow depth, multi seam workings having thin parting and inter connected goaves one above the other. The situation is further worsened if the mines have fire affected sealed off area connected to different ventilation circuits. On many occasions circulation of more air quantity by increasing fan pressure have resulted in initiation of spontaneous heating. To address these problems, authors have made some improvement in conventional Dynamic Balancing of Pressure Technique and worked out few ventilation schemes which are aimed for neutralization of pressure differential across sealed off area at the same time having improvement in ventilation in the mine. The excess pressure differential across sealed off area is mainly caused by introduction of higher capacity fan. Similar situation prevailed in one of the mines of Jharia Coalfield, India. The problem was solved by application of the above technique. In this paper, brief description of the technique, the problem in the mine, results of investigation, computer simulation studies of various schemes and methodology adopted for implementation of the technique in the mine have been discussed in some detail. Keywords: Dynamic Balancing of Pressure Technique, Spontaneous heating, Work place environment.

Jan 1, 2003

By L. P. Lamprecht

Traditionally, South African shaft sinking operations have used electric detonators for the initiation of blastholes. Globally, the trend in shaft sinking is to use the shock tube and detonating cord (STDC) initiation system, with value adding benefits. In pursuing this global trend, Cementation Mining of South Africa in partnership with SMX have ventured the STDC route. This paper explores the work carried out to date, and identifies a number of benefits to be gained by using the system.

Jan 1, 1999

By E. L. Thyse

Keywords: Pyrometallurgy, converter, nickel, matte, distribution Metallic elements occupy a wide range in granulated nickel converter matte phases. The distribution of these metallic elements, particularly during crystallization path events, appears to be poorly understood. The present study serves to investigate the distribution of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Pb between nickel-sulphide, copper-sulphide, and alloy phases. A novel combination of thermo-chemical modelling, electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis was applied to understand crystallization path events and the associated metallic element distribution. This study has demonstrated that major Ni incorporated during copper-sulphide crystallization would serve to mobilize minor Co towards distribution in copper-sulphide phases. In addition, solid solution substitution of Cu by Ni is manifested by compositional zoning of copper-sulphide phases. The role played by Ni during alloy crystallization suggests that minor Co was also mobilized, along with an increase in principal Ni. Fe, by contrast, seems to be incompatible with principal Ni. In addition, solid solution substitution of Ni with PGEs and Cu is manifested by compositional zoning of NiCu-alloy phases.

Jan 1, 2011

By C. Siyasiya

One of the problems that is occasionally encountered during the continuous casting of DIN 1.4003 stainless steel (hereafter referred to as 1.4003) is the side bulging effect, a problem that is generally prevalent in ferritic stainless steels. This occurs because the unconstrained narrow sides of the solidification shell are not able to withstand the ferrostatic pressure once the strand has emerged from the mould. Coupled with side bulging, there is strand width variation at high temperatures, i.e. when the steel is in the ferrite-austenite dual phase region. Both of these dimensional changes to the slab profile create some processing problems in subsequent hot rolling operations when unacceptable width variations are encountered. The strength of the solidification shell and its ability to withstand the ferrostatic pressure during continuous casting is dependent on its thickness and phase composition when exiting from the mould up to a few metres downstream. From the study of the high temperature metallurgical behaviour of this steel, it was observed that a thicker solidification shell when exiting from the mould and a higher austenite volume fraction in the steel would be favourable for the reduction of the side bulging effect during continuous casting. It was also found that as long as the d-ferrite to austenite phase ratio keeps fluctuating due to variations in chemical composition and process control in the dual phase region from cast to cast, the strand width variation problem would probably persist. The remedy to this effect lies in more strict chemical composition and process control during continuous casting of this steel. The hot ductility experiments revealed that 1.4003 exhibits good hot ductility in the strand straightening temperature range with a minimum of 75 per cent reduction in area and this was attributed to the high volume fraction of ferrite (0.2 to 0.4) in the steel. This would provide a remedy to side bulging by increasing the secondary cooling rate of the strand in order to form a thicker solidification shell without necessarily risking transverse cracking and other surface defects during unbending. Keywords: side wall bulging, resistance bending moment, applied bending moment, ferrostatic pressure.

Jan 1, 2005

By C. Sima, M. Legoabe

Keywords: Pyrometallurgy, furnace, platinum Mortimer Smelter is one of the three smelting operations in the Anglo Platinum Group. It is located in the Limpopo Province, approximately 100 km north of Rustenburg, and approximately 15 km west of Northam. The smelter operation is the smallest of the three smelting operations in the group, with a smelting capacity of 170 kt/annum. The operation consists of a Larox filtration plant, a Drytech flash drying plant, a modified Elkem / Hatch 19.5 MVA furnace, and a 60 t/h matte crushing plant. The operation does not convert its furnace matte, and hence the final sulphide rich matte is transported to and processed further at the Anglo Platinum Converting Process (ACP) within the Waterval Smelter Complex in Rustenburg. Furnace slag is granulated, and processed through a slag mill, or transported to a slag dump.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. Böhlke, B. Friedrich, E. Hecker

The legislation for the disposal of heavy metals contaminated substances is still going to be tightened up in the future. The main criteria for the utilization or deposition of these residues are the content and the water solubility of these metals. Through this, the use of slags from the lead-and zinc-industry in road building may become limited or even not possible at all. From an economic point of view this would lead to Pb/Zn losses and costs for safe dumping. This paper investigates the feeding of the reducing agent via hollow electrode DC smelting and the yield of metal reduction. After carrying out thermodynamic calculations, the process window conditions for electric-arc furnace tests were determined. Doing this, the zinc could be reduced, evaporated and recovered as an oxidic intermediate product flue dust, while the lead was present either in flue dust or in metallic form. The zinc content in the final slag could be reduced by up to 90%. The slag product has undergone an eluation test which allows it to be used as building materials. Keywords: zinc reduction, lead reduction, hollow electrode, slag treatment, electric arc furnace

As part of a comprehensive risk analysis which was carried out into the effectiveness of the water barrier between South Deep and Randfontein Estate mines, the potential threat posed by large seismic events was assessed. The study covered several aspects. Firstly, an estimate of the maximum credible earthquake was obtained from a probabilistic analysis of the regional seismicity of the previous 25 years. Allowance was made for ?reservoir-induced? effects by increasing the estimate of the size of the maximum credible earthquake from ML= 5.1 to ML= 5.5. Based on available knowledge of the geological structure, the possibility of such an event occurring in the vicinity of the barrier pillar was estimated. The possibility of substantial damage to the barrier rock mass, resulting as a consequence of a large event, was assessed. The likely damage to the concrete control plugs installed in five tunnels that penetrated the barrier, which might result from a ?near-miss? by the largest possible seismic event or from a ?direct hit? by a smaller event, was also considered. It was concluded that there was a negligibly small possibility that the maximum credible earthquake could occur close enough to the barrier, and in such a manner, as to cause any damage to it or to the plugs in the tunnels passing through it. The possibility of serious plug damage occurring as a result of a ?direct hit? by as maller event was slightly greater, but still sufficiently remote as to be of no practical concern at all.

Jan 1, 2006

By L. du Preez, J. D. Steenkamp

This paper introduces the concept of clean steel production from a pyrometallurgist’s perspective to the broader metallurgical community. A simplistic overview of the steelmaking process from iron ore to car body manufacturing is followed by an introduction to the South African steel industry and the technologies that it utilizes. The process is illustrated by an overview of the flow sheet and technologies for the production of clean steel at Saldanha Steel, South Africa.

Jan 1, 2015

By A. F. S. Schoukens

The Mintek Thermal Magnesium Process (MTMP) was successfully demonstrated in November 2004. The pilot plant was operated continuously for 8 days, during which about 30 tons of magnesium producing recipe was smelted in a DC (direct-current) arc furnace at a feed rate of 525 kg/h. The furnace was operated at power levels of 700 to 850 kW, resulting in slag tapping temperatures of 1600 to 1700°C. Magnesium extraction averaged 77 per cent and was as high as 85 per cent during good extraction periods. The furnace generated 70 to 85 kg/h magnesium vapour that was delivered to the condenser where the temperature was controlled at 680 to 720°C. The novel condenser captured the magnesium in a liquid state, which was tapped periodically as required. In total, 15 magnesium-tapping operations were carried out, proving that online magnesium tapping can be consistently performed without any major difficulty. About 3500 kg of crude magnesium was produced with a quality that was similar to, if not better than, that of the Magnetherm?s crude metal. The condensation efficiency averaged 85 per cent, and peaked at 87 per cent, which exceeded the target of 80 per cent set for the pilot scale. A brief magnesium market study was also carried out. Magnesium demand is expected to keep on growing by 6 to 8 percent over the next 10 years and could reach 2 million tons by the year 2020. The growth will be mainly in the die-casting sector for light-weight automotive applications. China is likely to remain the dominant supplier of primary magnesium but competitively priced non-Chinese magnesium producers will be needed to sustain the anticipated growth of 6 to 8 per cent over the next 10 years. In addition, a prefeasibility study was undertaken for a commercial plant. The study confirmed the relatively low capitalcosts of the MTMP process, as well as the competitiveness of theoperating costs, as compared to the industrial electrolytic process.

Jan 1, 2006

By R. G. B. Pickering

Resue mining was practiced extensively in the East Rand in the first half of this century. The obvious benefits were that a higher grade of ore was trammed to the surface. The disadvantages were slow rates of face advance and an extremely labour-intensive method of mining. A collaborative effort by personnel from Avgold?s Target Gold Mine and Sandvik Tamrock has resulted in the design of a method of resue mining which can be totally mechanized. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methodology used and the proposed new mechanized resue mining method.

Jan 1, 2000

By M. Shapiro, L. A. le Grange, B. Henning

Effective pyrometallurgical process vessel design requires accurate assessment of the heat fluxes through the walls of the furnace. This is particularly important for freeze lining operation which is designed to protect refractory materials exposed to chemically corrosive molten contents, or facilitate high temperature operation when the refractory materials are used at conditions close to their service limits. Numerical modelling of fluid flow and heat transfer in process vessels is often used to aid in the design of process vessels. Sophisticated models are used to analyse the three dimensional flow and heat transfer predicting the effects of electrical heating, magnetic stirring, buoyancy, shear forces, various cooling effects and ultimately heat fluxes at the walls of the furnace and refractory. Traditionally these models are applied to the separate single fluid systems in a vessel such as the freeboard region including the arc, the slag region and the metal bath. Boundary conditions such as shear forces and heat fluxes between connecting regions such as the slag and metal bath are either estimated or carried over from separate solutions. Shortcomings in these traditional approaches include the estimation of sometimes critical boundary conditions leading to unreliable heat flux calculations. Also when boundary conditions are carried over between solutions, the process is difficult to set up, time-consuming and finally not fully coupled. In this paper the definition and results of a fully integrated numerical model of a complete arc furnace are presented. The most important mechanisms acting in an arc furnace were considered, including the fields of electrical potential, current, magnetism, momentum, heat transfer and radiation. Temperature dependant properties included electrical conductivity, density, viscosity, and thermal conductivity. The geometry consists of the freeboard, the arc, slag, metal baths and different refractory regions. Although the combined model of air, slag and metal would be defined as a multi-phase problem it is not solved as such. Instead the different fluids are separated by sets of special solid baffles. These baffles allow the implicit transfer of current, magnetism, heat transfer and shear forces between the different fluids and disallow mixing of the separate fluids. The strengths of the integrated model are threefold: Firstly, it provides robustness in defining the geometry and boundary conditions for the overall model. Secondly, it provides the capability to switch on and off individual mechanisms such as buoyancy, magnetic stirring and shear forces in order to observe their individual importance. Finally, it provides a useful tool in the design process through its ability to obtain results of parameter changes in short time scales.

Jan 1, 2004

By H. J. Ilgner

The paper reviews the results to date of an integrated research programme currently being conducted by CSIR Mining Technology, aimed at impacting significantly on concentrated mining with face advance rates of up to 20 times faster than presently achieved. Consideration is given to the interplay between innovative technologies for continuous non-explosive mining or rock comminution underground and lateral hydraulic transportation in cross cuts, haulages and eventually hydro hoisting. Novel technologies for underground comminution of reef and development waste and an innovative pumping system suitable for the hydraulic transportation of coarse comminuted rock are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on South African gold mine reef and waste samples comminuted by electric shock wave comminution technology. The innovative TORE® pump system appears to be well suited for the successful hydraulic transportation of rock, produced by electric shock wave comminution, at solids concentrations between 45 % and 67 % by mass.

Jan 1, 1997

By M. van Biljon

The possible closure and subsequent flooding of South Deep Gold Mine?s neighbouring Randfontein Estates Limited No. 4 Shaft (REL 4) necessitated the construction of five concrete plugs in the connecting tunnels to prevent the ingress of groundwater into REL4 from flooding South Deep mine. Several technical investigations had been carried out before and during construction of the plugs in order to reduce the probability of groundwater flow through the boundary pillar between the two mines or through the rock mass immediately around the plugs. This paper describes the geological, hydrogeological and stability investigations carried out to evaluate the structural competence of the boundary pillar.

Jan 1, 2006

A well known rock mass classification system has been altered slightly to address the issues found under remnant mining conditions. By detail study of the expected fracture patterns and local geology, the rock mass is classified to indicate the condition of the hanging wall prior to mining. The risk level of each mining step is evaluated by calculating input parameters for computer simulations from the actual rock mass condition. Seismic activity is catered for by the understanding that large event rates and large magnitude events reduce the quality of the local rock mass and that the rock mass stiffness should be adapted accordingly. A case study is presented to test parts of the protocol. Un système connu de classification des masses rocheuses a été légèrement modifié pour faire face aux questions posées par les conditions d’extraction de débris. Une étude détaillée des diagrammes de fragmentation et de la géologie locale permet de classer la masse rocheuse pour indiquer la condition du toit avant l’extraction. Le niveau de risque de chaque étape minière est évalué en calculant les paramètres d’entrée pour simulation par ordinateur à partir de la condition réelle de la masse rocheuse. L’activité sismique est prise en compte avec la réalisation que les taux de larges évènements et les évènements de large magnitude réduisent la qualité de la masse rocheuse locale et que la raideur de la masse rocheuse doit donc être adaptée. Une étude de cas est présentée pour tester des sections du protocole. Ein sehr bekanntes Gesteinsmassenklassifikationssystem wurde abgeändert um die Probleme zu behandeln die unter Restabbaukonditionen angetroffen werden. Durch detaillierstes Studium der der zu erwartenden Bruchmuster und der lokalen geologischen Verhältnisse wird die Gesteinsmasse in Hinblick auf die Konditionen der Flözoberseite klassifiziert. Das Risikoniveau für jeden Abbauschritt wird durch die Eingabeparameter aktuellen Gesteinsmassenkondition für die Computersimulation evaluiert. Für die Seismische Aktivitäten wird Sorge getragen durch das Verständnis, daß große Ereignisraten und Ereignisse hoher Größenklassen die Qualität der lokalen Gesteinsmasse reduzieren und daß die Gesteinsmassensteifheit entsprechend adaptiert werden sollte. Eine Fallstudie um Teile des Protokolls zu testen wird präsentiert.

Jan 1, 2003

By P. Rice, A. Photolo, A. C. Barnard

Introduction -Sampling Tool Project (STP) -History -Results to date -Costs -Questions

Jan 1, 2005

Dr R. E. Robinson, Pr. Eng., obtained a B.sc. (Chem. Eng.) cum laude from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1950 and a Ph.D. (Eng.) from the same University in 1953, where he was awarded the Haikes Memorial Medal for Industrial Chemistry. Professor G. G. Garrett was appointed Professor of Physical and :Fabrication Metallurgy in the Department of Metallurgy at the University of the Witwatersrand in June 1980, and in January 1984 he became Head of the Department. Mr P. A. van Wielligh, Pr. Eng., climbed the mining ladder in the hard way, starting as a Mine Surveyor in 1936 and working his way up as Chief Surveyor, Underground Manager, Mine Manager, and Consulting Engineer, to Executive Director, including the intermediate steps. Mr H. E. James, Pr. Eng., is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. Both his B.sc. degree (1961) and his M.sc. degree (1964) were obtained on bursaries, the former from Gold Fields of South Africa and the latter from the Atomic Energy Board. Mr G. Pienaar, Pr. Eng., obtained a B.Eng. (Met) in 1967 and an M.Eng. in 1973, both from the University of Pretoria. Dr A. K. Haines, Pr. Eng., obtained all his degrees from the University of Natal, finishing with a. Ph.D. in 1971. Mr B. C. Alberts, Pr. Eng., obtained his academic training at the University of Pretoria, where he was awarded B.sc. degrees in both agricultural engineering (1963) and mining engineering (1965). Mr H. C. van Zyl, Pr. Eng., holds B.sc. degrees in mining engineering (1968) and civil engineering (1972), both from the University of Pretoria.

Jan 1, 1984