Global projects and exploration
Oman Savannah not home yet
Approvals for all eight of Savannah Resources ’ permits at the Maqail South copper mining licence in Oman have been received , and seven for Mahab 4 , another mining licence for a copper deposit in the Middle Eastern country . According to the AIM-listed company , approvals from the Ministry of Housing remain outstanding .
David Archer , CEO of Savannah , says that positive discussions are continuing with the Ministry of Housing in respect of the housing approvals . Savannah is a 65 % shareholder in the Omani company Al Fairuz Mining , the holder of the Block 5 licence that includes these two high-grade copper deposits .
The process for permitting mining activities in Oman is administered through the Public Authority for Mining ( PAM ). Upon submission of the mining licence application , approval ( or no objection ) is required from eight ministries and PAM for the licence to be granted .
Australia Longwall to shear coal in Queensland
Peabody Energy has ordered a complete Cat longwall mining system for its North Goonyella coal mine in central Queensland .
The Cat longwall system includes roof supports and a face conveyor for a 300m face , shearer , and beam stage loader . The system features advanced longwall automation technology to enhance safety and production . Delivery of the system is planned for the second quarter of 2019 . The regional Cat dealer , Hastings Deering , will provide technical support for installation and commissioning of the longwall and will provide operational support going forward .
North Goonyella produces premium coking coal via a Cat longwall system , which was instrumental in achieving record production from the mine in 2017 .
The decision to move to a new Cat system was driven by technological advances that enable automated shearer steering and face alignment , reduced exposure of operators to dust , and less maintenance .
The Cat EL3000 shearer for North Goonyella will be equipped with the proven Cat PMC Evo-S control system , intelligent software modules , and advanced measuring technology .
The automation package enables the shearer to be operated by a single operator using remote control . This package includes automation logic to minimise overload situations and diagnostic tools to maximise uptime .
Software tools and sensors in the gate ends and in the shield controllers enable advanced calculations for full 3-D navigation and an accurate floor profile calculation .
In total , the Cat automation package enhances safety and allows improved use of manpower , reduces coal dilution , enables faster haulage speeds , improves face management , and increases the life of all longwall equipment , including the face conveyor and roof supports .
Caterpillar will supply an efficient dust suppression system , designed using a holistic approach to mitigating operator dust exposure levels .
With thorough understanding of dust generation processes in longwall operations and details defining the operating environment , Caterpillar engineers will design a state-of-the-art dust suppression system for North Goonyella .
Additionally , Caterpillar has developed a corrosion protection strategy to improve resistance to corrosion and to minimise maintenance activities in the North Goonyella mine environment .
For example , the 153 new Cat roof supports will have specially coated rods used in the hydraulic legs , and susceptible components will be built from highly corrosion-resistant materials .
Germany Vital new cobalt exploration
ASX-listed Vital Metals has initiated a cobalt exploration programme at its Aue permit in Saxony , Germany , with a programme of field mapping and geochemical sampling . The Aue permit is in an area of important historical cobalt production , neighbouring the Schneeberg Mine , which is estimated to have produced over 12 000 tonnes of cobalt ore .
According to Mark Strizek , the MD at Vital Metals , there are five small-scale historical mines on the Aue permit area . These deposits have biconi veins of the type mined at Schneeberg , which produced high-grade ore of between 1 % and 3 % contained cobalt . Strizek says that previous East German exploration focused on uranium and tungsten , and the permit has not been explored for cobalt using modern exploration techniques .
The Aue project is in the Erzgebirge region of Germany . The area has a rich history of cobalt production , with mining occurring from the 16th century through to the late 1930s .
Cobalt production came firstly as a by-product from silver mining and later in dedicated mining operations . The mines fed the numerous cobalt blue factories in the area producing blue porcelain and glass .
One of the better-known historical mines was Schneeberg , located 4km north-northwest of the Aue permit . Historical production is estimated at 12 000 tonnes of cobalt and nickel metal from mainly hand-picked ore . This ore is believed to grade between 1 % and 3 % cobalt won from biconi ( Ag-U ) veins containing cobalt and nickel arsenides ( skutterudite , rammelsbergite ) and native bismuth .
Government geological maps and mining records show that there were at least five historical mines on Vital ’ s Aue permit , where mining took place on biconi veins of the type mined at Schneeberg during this period .
[ 8 ] MINING MIRROR MAY 2018