Industry intelligence
Kalagadi on schedule
A face drill rig in action at Murray & Roberts
Cementation’s contract at Kalagadi Manganese Mine.
Construction of Kalahari Resources’ Kalagadi
Manganese Mine in the Northern Cape is
under way and on schedule.
Murray & Roberts Cementation, who formed
a joint venture with BCM Underground Mining,
was awarded the contract to build up production
to the shaft system’s nameplate capacity within
the first 18 months of the five-year contract.
Kalagadi Manganese Mine is situated
north-west of Hotazel on three farms that
overlay an estimated 960-million metric tons
of manganese ore. The mine has been designed
to produce three million tonnes of manganese
ore at a grade between 36 and 38%. The mining
method used will be room and pillar.
Otto Fourie, project executive at Murray
& Roberts Cementation, says that as a new
mining operation and one of this magnitude,
A waste tipping point with an impact breaker.
Murray & Roberts Cementation has the responsibility to run the shaft
operation at Kalagadi Manganese Mine as part of its contract.
it is essential to put world-class systems in
place to ensure not only the future success of
the operation, but also optimum safety within
the operating environment. Just as important,
he adds, is ensuring that the correct quality of
product is mined and delivered to the plant.
The mine is a two-shaft system with a main
man/material shaft and a separate ventilation
shaft. The main shaft, with a nine-metre
diameter, will reach a working level of 281
metres and a loading level of 317 metres. The
ventilation shaft is to a depth of 323 metres and
has a 6.7-metre diameter.
Included in the development phase, is
the completion of the required underground
infrastructure that will support the ramp-up
and sustainable production at the mine into
the future. This will include conveyor systems,
crushers, settlers, and workshops, as well as the
sliping of silo number 1 to ensure it has the
requisite throughput capacity, and the sliping
of the RAW to Level 261, which will facilitate
access to the second tipping area.
Fourie says being a fully mechanised
operation, the correct deployment of skilled and
competent operators is key to the success of the
project. “This has a direct impact not only on
the production capability, but also on the safe
operation of the mine.”
Crews will be increased in a phased manner
to ensure that appropriate resources are always
in place. The project will eventually have 12
development crews, each with their own
primary suite of equipment, including a drill rig,
roof bolter, LHD, and trucks with the necessary
secondary equipment.
A dump truck operating underground at Murray & Roberts
Cementation’s Kalagadi Manganese Mine contract.
Drilling set to disrupt
Three concept designs for a new rock drill
that is set to disrupt the mining industry,
were revealed at the Mandela Mining
Precinct (MMP) late last year. Following
a nationwide initiative to gather concept
designs for a new rock drill, the MMP is
proud to announce three winning entries
submitted by Fermel, HPE, and Novatek.
These finalists’ concept designs will move on
to Phase II in developing a proof of concept
www.miningmirror.co.za
that will deliver a lighter and energy-
efficient rock drill.
“This initiative is fully aligned to the
South African Mining Extraction, Research,
Development and Innovation (SAMERDI)
programmes that look at sustainability and
longevity of current mines,” says CSIR
manager: mineral resources, Navin Singh.
He adds that this is the first initiative for
developing South African solutions to a
South African problem. Singh is also a
co-director of the MMP.
The isidingoDRILL open design
challenge is an initiative driven by the MMP.
The open design challenge called for designs
and concepts for new underground mining
drills. “This challenge was designed to gather
ideas from different people,” said MMP
co-director Alastair MacFarlane during the
awards ceremony.
JANUARY 2019 MINING MIRROR
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