Search Documents

By C. Botha

The South African democratically-elected government instituted policies and legislation that are intended to bring about change and transformation in the country and have drastically affected different industries, among others, the mining industry. The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA) and the Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter (Mining Charter) were introduced in order to redress previous inequalities and to promote women's employment in the mining industry. This research evaluates the practical implementation of the MPRDA and the Mining Charter with specific reference to women in underground mining. A quantitative research paradigm was used. Data were collected through a process of a face-to-face interview surveys utilizing a structured questionnaire. The research setting was limited to the platinum-mining industry in the area of Rustenburg in the North West Province. The study population consisted of 195 available women working undergound at the mine. It is clear from the findings that mining companies are facing major challenges in their attempt to incorporate women in underground mining activities. Company policies regarding these issues must be firmly in place; however, the challenge lies in the translation of these policies into practice. In this regard, managers will have to play a leading role in the successful phasing in of women into the underground mining arena.

Jan 1, 2012

By C. Botha

The South African democratically-elected government instituted policies and legislation that are intended to bring about change and transformation in the country and have drastically affected different industries, among others, the mining industry. The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA) and the Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter (Mining Charter) were introduced in order to redress previous inequalities and to promote women?s employment in the mining industry. This research evaluates the practical implementation of the MPRDA and the Mining Charter with specific reference to women in underground mining. A quantitative research paradigm was used. Data were collected through a process of a face-to-face interview surveys utilizing a structured questionnaire. The research setting was limited to the platinum-mining industry in the area of Rustenburg in the North West Province. The study population consisted of 195 available women working undergound at the mine. It is clear from the findings that mining companies are facing major challenges in their attempt to incorporate women in underground mining activities. Company policies regarding these issues must be firmly in place; however, the challenge lies in the translation of these policies into practice. In this regard, managers will have to play a leading role in the successful phasing in of women into the underground mining arena.

Jan 1, 2012

By A. F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi

Pseudomonas spp was isolated from mine water and tailings samples collected from mining effluents and mine dumps in the Gauteng and Northern provinces of South Africa respectively. Adsorption properties of Pseudomonas spp were then tested for the removal of Cu and Co initially from their synthetic sulphate solutions, subsequently from effluents derived from metallurgical operations. The effects of experimental conditions such as pH, temperature, time, volume and metal concentration on the efficiency of the biosorption process were studied. Absorption of 45% Cu (pH 6, 37°C, 24 hours) and 40% Co (pH 6, 37°C, 24 hours) was observed from solutions with low concentrations (0.07 M). A maximum of 73% and 65% of Cu and Corespectively were recovered from the mine water samples derived from effluents.

Jan 1, 2009

From 19 November 1996, South African companies will be able to manage the impact their activities have on the environment in terms of international standards. The establishment of a registration scheme for environmental management systems was formally announced by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) (19 November 1996). At a function held at the SABS head office in Pretoria, Dr Jean du Plessis, President of the SABS, announced the launch of the SABS ISO 14001 registration scheme which is based upon ISO 14001, 'the internationally recognized yardstick for environmental management'.

Jan 1, 1997

By Deur T. A. M. Saayman

Die sesde jaarlikse Ingenieursimposium is in September by YSKOR, Vanderbijlpark gehou. Rierdie simposium, wat deur Ingenieurs-in-Opleiding georganiseer word, bied aan die Ingenieurs-in-Opleiding die geleentheid om referate te lewer oor projekte wat gedurende hul drie jaar opleidingsperiode uitgevoer word. Continuing education courses The following courses are to be given in the near future in The Netherlands. Coal trade, transportation, and handling . The 4th Coal Trade, Transportation and Handling Conference and Exhibition, CoalTrans '86, will take place the Rai Congress Centre, Amsterdam, from 10th to 12th June, 1986.

Jan 1, 1986

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Instituut vir Mynbou en Metallurgie het 'n paar jaar gelede 'n toekenning vir voortreflike akademiese prestasie deur vierdejaarstudente aan technikons ingestel. Disinvestment campaign by COLIN M.SPENCE As President of the Federation of Societies of Professional Engineers, which is an organization representing twelve institutions of the engineering profession comprising over 18 000 engineers of all kinds-of whom over 15 000 are either professional engineers or engineering graduates-I have been asked to make a statement on the disinvestment campaign on behalf of the profession.

Jan 1, 1985

By D. Menne

A comminution model and a quick laboratory milling test procedure are presented. These allow the determination of milling parameters for the - optimization of ball size and pulp density in operating mills estimation of the performance of new feed stocks in an existing mill - estimation of the expected milling performance for a new project. Information on the estimation of the size of mills to deliver specified amounts of comminution energy, and amount of expected ball, rod, and liner wear to allow cost estimates for new projects, is also included.

Jan 1, 1983

By David J. Haddock

On Wednesday, 6th July, 1988, 28 members of the Johannesburg Branch of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and their guests assembled at the Rand Refinery Sports Club, which is situated within the Refinery complex, to hear Dr Daniel Polnow, General Manager of the Refinery, give a very interesting lecture on the Rand Refinery Complex and its activities. Accounting for gold The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy will be holding a 3- or 4-day school in the third week of May 1989 on the topic 'Accounting for Gold'.

Jan 1, 1988

By B. R. Broekman, J. P. W. Bennie, P. D. K. Robinson, R. P. Viljoen

The theme of the Congress was 'Resources and Technology', the intention being to highlight those basic technical aspects in the disciplines of geology, mining, extractive metallurgy, and metals technology that are required for successful mineral-based operations. The technical programme covered a fairly broad field, as is appropriate for the CMMI Congress, and was generally considered to be of a high professional standard; informative and, with the exception of some minor hitches, well-run. Parallel sessions were held in the four disciplines. All were well attended, and despite tight presentation schedules, certain valuable discussions developed.

Jan 1, 1994

By P. C. Schutte, N. B. Strydom, A. J. Kielblock

Three groups of unacclimatized men were subjected to five-day climatic-room procedures at wet-bulb temperatures of 29,30, and 31 C respectively. The findings indicated that individuals reach a satisfactory level of heat acclimatization for work in environmental temperature conforming to those at which they were acclimatized. It is, therefore, superfluous to acclimatize men at wet-bulb temperatures that exceed those at which they are destined to work. These methods of acclimatization can be linked advantageously to heat-tolerance testing at mines with suitable underground temperatures.

Jan 1, 1983

By A. Smith

The practice of leaving barrier pillars between adjacent longwall panels at The Durban Navigation Collieries (Pty) Ltd (Dumacol) has resulted in a considerable loss of coal reserves. Dumacol has now modified the layout of its longwall panels to allow the concurrent mining of barri9f pillars and the extraction of the longwalls. The Implementation of the new panel layout has increased the percentage extraction of reserves and will result in an extension in the life of the mine. The method of extracting barrier pillars between adjacent longwall panels is described in this paper.

Jan 1, 1985

By C. Pohlandt

A literature survey of methods suitable for the determination of cyanides in process streams and effluents is presented. Of the large number of methods published, 92 are examined in detail, emphasis being placed on the selectivity of the methods, i.e. the extent to which they enable one to distinguish between ionic cyanide and metal-cyanide complexes. Methods designed for the determination of 'total cyanide' (i.e. ionic cyanide as well as coordinated cyanide) are evaluated critically. Other aspects of the methods are also considered, such as sensitivity, accuracy, speed, and freedom from interferences.

Jan 1, 1983

By D. R. Hardman

Coal mining has been practised in South Africa for over one hundred years. The total production increased gradually in the early pat of the twentieth century, but over the past twenty years the rate of growth has been considerable. Although opencast mining has contributed largely to this increase in production in recent years, underground bordand- pillar operations still contribute slightly less than 50 per cent of the total production. The paper highlights problems arising from old bord-and-pillar workings, and an indication is given of how some of the problems have been addressed.

Jan 1, 1990

By L. Wade

Laboratory testing of the self-heating propensity of coal, using crossing-point temperature and differential thermal analysis techniques, involves the frequent recording of several temperatures. The volume of data and the desire for high accuracy of measurements motivates an automated recording system. The data which are recorded must be adjusted for calibration factors and the results presented in both graphical and tabular form. The paper describes hardware and software features of a computerised system which is being used to establish the relative propensity to self-heating of a wide variety of coals.

Jan 1, 1987

By H. Jeram

The ilmenite, rutile and zircon processes of the mineral separation plant generate tailing streams, which still contain valuable mineral. This is due to a combination of factors, which include separator equipment efficiency, particle size effects and inefficient operating practices (equipment overloading, blockage, etc.). Recent developments by metallurgical equipment suppliers have led to increased mineral separator performance enabling recovery of previously lost valuable mineral. Mineralogical studies were conducted using QEM*SEM and MLA techniques to identify and quantify gangue mineral species and determine mineral association. Laboratory and pilot-scale test work was then conducted to develop suitable process flowsheets for the recovery of ilmenite, rutile and zircon from current and stockpiled tailings.

Jan 1, 2007

By T. Feroze, B. Genc

"Blind headings in room and pillar coal mines are a major source of methane and coal dust. Most methane and coal dust explosions therefore occur in the blind headings. The primary cause of these explosions is the disruption of the local ventilation system. Line brattice (LB) ventilation systems are used to ventilate blind headings by directing air from the last through road (LTR) into the heading. The amount of air available to ventilate the face of the empty heading depends on the heading dimension, settings of the LB, and velocity of air in the LTR. LBs are commonly installed by underground supervisory staff based on work experience, which may result in ineffective ventilation. The correct installationof LBs remains a challenge. In this study, a validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been used to analyse the effect of the LB ventilation system variables on the air flow rates close to the face of the empty heading. Full-scale three-dimensional models with various heading heights, heading depths, LB settings, and LTR velocities were simulated. The air flow rates and patterns at various locations inside the heading were analysed. A comparative study was carried out to quantify the effect of each of these system variables on the flow rates close to the face of the heading. Based on the findings, a user-friendly numerical model was formulated that can be used to estimate the flow rate close to the face of an empty heading for different practical settings of the system variables. This model can help the supervisory staff to swiftly implement the ventilation plan according to the regulations and the mine standards. The model can also serve as part of the curriculum for educating future mining engineers."

Jan 1, 2017

By T. Feroze, B. Genc

"Blind headings in room and pillar coal mines are a major source of methane and coal dust. Most methane and coal dust explosions therefore occur in the blind headings. The primary cause of these explosions is the disruption of the local ventilation system. Line brattice (LB) ventilation systems are used to ventilate blind headings by directing air from the last through road (LTR) into the heading. The amount of air available to ventilate the face of the empty heading depends on the heading dimension, settings of the LB, and velocity of air in the LTR. LBs are commonly installed by underground supervisory staff based on work experience, which may result in ineffective ventilation. The correct installation of LBs remains a challenge.In this study, a validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been used to analyse the effect of the LB ventilation system variables on the air flow rates close to the face of the empty heading. Full-scale three-dimensional models with various heading heights, heading depths, LB settings, and LTR velocities were simulated. The air flow rates and patterns at various locations inside the heading were analysed. A comparative study was carried out to quantify the effect of each of these system variables on the flow rates close to the face of the heading. Based on the findings, a user-friendly numerical model was formulated that can be used to estimate the flow rate close to the face of an empty heading for different practical settings of the system variables. This model can help the supervisory staff to swiftly implement the ventilation plan according to the regulations and the mine standards. The model can also serve as part of the curriculum for educating future mining engineers."

Jan 1, 2017

By S. P. Molefe

Mr Chairman, members of the executive committee, the sub-committee, distinguished speakers at this opening plenary session, delegates, affiliates, ladies and gentlemen. It is with pleasure that I have been called upon today to make these opening remarks and officially welcome you al at this auspicious assembly, the Fifteenth Congress of the Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutions. Not only am I pleased to open the proceedings at this plenary session but for me to do so at Sun City in the North-West Province makes me doubly pleased. It is my wish that al delegates and their companions will enjoy the activities that are planned throughout the Congress and leave here with minds refreshed and stimulated by the technical sessions and memories enriched by being in such a unique and truly delightful setting as exists here at Sun City. The mix of delegates present reflects CMMI activities in many countries throughout the world-Australia, Japan, China, United Kingdom and South Africa among others. When it comes to mining and related activities, South Africa has a place at the top, a dominant role in platinum, gold, chromium, vanadium, dimension stone, coal and so forth, and here in the North-West Province we can proudly declare that some 25 per cent of the revenue from minerals in South Africa, namely R47 billion come from this area. Furthermore, we lead in the production of platinum group metals with 94 per cent of South Africa's total sales and thus hold first place in the world, 46 per cent of dimension stone sales, 32 per cent of chromate and 25 per cent of gold sales.

Jan 1, 1994

By Paul Fouchè

Contents ?Purpose ?Introduction ?Why manage a mineral resource ?Sampling or tracking from source ?How can RF tracking help ?Project Goals ?RF System ?Tracer Layout ?Antenna

Jan 1, 2005

Professor R. N. Pryor, AR.S.M., B.8c., C.Eng., F.I.C.E., F.I.Min.E., F.I.M.M., who died on 14th July, 1979, after a short illness, was President of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy for the session 1978-1979. Weld pool metallurgy A high level of current interest in welding characteristics and behaviour and in the properties of welds was amply demonstrated by the large attendance at The Welding Institute's 1978 Conference on 'Trends in Steels and Consumables for Welding' and by the overwhelming number of papers offered for the International Conference on 'Arc Physics and Weld Pool Behaviour' in May 1979. Mine ventilation The First International Mine Ventilation Congress was held in September, 1975, in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the University of the Witwatersrand. It was organized by the Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa. Occupational accidents and diseases The IXth World Congress on the Prevention of Occupational Accidents and Diseases will be held in Amsterdam from 6th to 9th May, 1980. Rock mechanics The 21st U.S. Symposium on Rock Mechanics is to be held at Rolla, Missouri, from 27th to 30th May, 1980. Protection against noise An International Symposium on the Protection of Workers Against Noisewill be held in Dresden (German Democratic Republic) from 27th to 30th November, 1979. Management of mineral resources A joint meeting of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME, and the Metallurgical Society of AIME is to be held in London from 27th to 30th May, 1980. INFACON 80 During 1970 various South African institutes and associations agreed to organize an international ferroalloys congress. It was recommended that this should be made a continuing forum, where ferroalloy people could meet and discuss matters of mutal interest.

Jan 1, 1979