Remember Burnstone
There has been a lot of talk about mechanisation, but mechanisation has failed in certain instances, writes Leon Louw. […]
Underground mining — automate or die
Technology is changing the face of underground mining, writes Leon Louw and Dineo Phoshoko. […]
SA’s fields of gold
Contrary to popular belief, great opportunities still exist for gold miners in South Africa. In fact, the country might be sitting on the world’s next great gold deposit. But we won’t know until the drill rigs are unleashed, writes Leon Louw. […]
Tailings dams technology: learning from failure (Part 3)
By Adriaan Meintjes In his third article on tailings storage facilities, Adriaan Meintjes looks at how technology can address the challenges. […]
Tailings dams technology – learning from failure (Part 2): Mines rethink safety measures
In the past few years, there has been renewed interest in finding ways to make tailings storage facilities (TSFs) safer, following very significant failures at facilities like Mount Polley in Canada and Fundão in Brazil, writes Adriaan Meintjes. […]
Can we afford zama-zamas?
The South African government has commenced with a process of handing out mining permits to informal and illegal miners. Nicolaas Steenkamp asks what the implications are. […]
Tailings dam technology: learning from failure (Part 1)
Water security makes tailings dam technology a key hurdle for South Africa’s mining growth, writes Adriaan Meintjes. […]
The ins and outs of tailings dams
Tailings dams usually only hit the headlines when they fail, resulting in the loss of life and catastrophic environmental damage. As a result, the proper design, management, construction, and monitoring thereof are vital, writes Nicolaas C Steenkamp. […]
Conventional mining vs surface miners
Several opencast mining operations are looking at using surface miners rather than conventional mining methods to unearth coal deposits. Edited by Leon Louw […]
Cullinan steps up: new blasting system and mine expansion
Petra Diamonds and BME have accomplished technological innovation for underground blasting with the implementation of the new Axxis centralised blasting system (CBS), writes Dineo Phoshoko. […]