WINNING
END OF LIFE
By Eamonn Ryan | All photos by Eamonn Ryan
Corobrik owns a 50-year old clay quarry in Olifantsfontein, Midrand, that predates
the existing adjacent 30-year-old brick-making kiln. With just two years’ mining left,
rehabilitation of the site is top of mind.
T
his quarry has just two seasons of
mining left at a rate of 1 000m3/day
in its mining season of three months
of the year ‒ the dry winter months, as the
rainy season makes work slippery. Actual
mining activity is outsourced to a mining
specialist company.
The contractor owns its own equipment.
Corobrik factory and quarry manager
Heinrich von Wielligh explains that
the mining company simply rotates its
equipment on site according to evolving
needs. On the day of the visit by Quarry
Southern Africa, much of the equipment
appeared to be Caterpillar, though it is
apparently generally a mix. Von Wielligh
explains that while there is no particular
preference for brand, the specifications of
the type of equipment makes a substantial
difference to mining productivity.
Too small a bucket slows down the
turnaround time of material per hour,
costing more time and fuel – the quarry’s
major expense. “There’s a fine balance
between machine size, bucket size and
travelling time.”
He says the mining team typically
consists of one or two 40t to 50t
excavators, between three and eight
This quarry has just two seasons of mining
left at a rate of 1 000m3/day in its mining
season of three months of the year – the dry
winter months.
16_QUARRY SA| JULY/AUGUST 2019
www.quarryonline.co.za