• Back analysis of LG6/LG6A chromitite pillar strength using displacement discontinuity modelling 

  Le Roux, P.J.; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2024-11)

  Almost no work has been published on the strength of pillars in mines exploiting the LG6/LG6A chromitite bands in the Western Bushveld Complex. The strength of these pillars is unknown, and the hard rock industry still ...
• Pillar design and the associated mining engineering constraints in hard rock bord-and-pillar mines 

  Theron, W.J.; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2024-11)

  Practical mining aspects should be considered when conducting pillar designs for bord-and-pillar layouts. The current methodology for pillar design will result in increasing pillar sizes with depth. This affects the ...
• The role of leadership in technology adoption in the South African mining industry 

  Mokganya, P.J.; Webber-Youngman, R.C.W.; Uys, Joe; Olwagen, J. (South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2024-11)

  This article discusses the critical role of leadership in the technology adoption process within organizations, particularly in industries like mining, where innovation is essential for maintaining competitiveness and ...
• The development of a linear cutting machine used to characterize FEM modelling parameters for cutting UG2Reef 

  Du Preez, Ulla; Heyns, P.S. (Philippus Stephanus); Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2024-11)

  South Africa has two main platinum reef deposits, namely the Merensky reef and the UG2 reef. These reefs are currently mined using traditional drilling and blasting methods. Mechanized cutting could potentially enable ...
• Impact of goaf gas drainage from surface vertical boreholes on goaf explosive gas zones 

  Wang, Yuehan; Si, Guangyao; Belle, Bharath K.; Webb, David; Zhao, Liang; Oh, Joung (Elsevier, 2024-03)

  Goaf gas drainage is extensively employed in Australian gassy underground coal mines to manage safety and productivity and to mitigate gas emissions. As mining operations reach greater depths and produce higher levels of ...
• Prediction of creditworthiness of a viable artisanal and small-scale mining operation 

  Eniowo, Olushola Daniel (University of Pretoria, 2022)

  The purpose of this study is to formulate models for the prediction of creditworthiness of a viable Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) operation. ASM is a form of mining carried out by mostly informal miners using ...
• The status of extended reality technology in South Africa’s mining industry 

  Buthelezi, S.M.; Maritz, Jan Abram; De Beer, Koos (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2024-06)

  The economic upheaval of COVID-19 forced companies to invest in emerging technologies to aid recovery. One such technology is extended reality, which is becoming a mature and innovative tool. Early adopters are seeing ...
• A critical investigation into identifying key focus areas for the implementation of blockchain applications in the mining industry 

  Philo, K.G.; Webber-Youngman, R.C.W. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2024-06)

  Digital information and data are crucial drivers of progress in various industries, including mining, where data-driven decision making optimizes resource extraction, enhances safety, and ensures sustainability. The ...
• An investigation into mining coal losses at Klipspruit Colliery 

  Ntsekhe, M.J.; De Graaf, W.W. (Wolter) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2024-05)

  Klipspruit Colliery is experiencing coal losses, which leads to a negative impact on coal production and subsequently loss in revenue. This study aimed to identify the possible causes of coal losses in the No. 4 upper and ...
• A review of the applications of through-the-earth (TTE) communication systems for underground mines 

  Ngwenyama, Philani Larrance; Webber-Youngman, R.C.W. (Springer, 2024-10)

  Underground mining accidents have the potential of leaving miners trapped in unknown and life-threatening locations for an extended period of time. The lives of the trapped and unaccounted-for miners are at risk and require ...
• Numerical simulation of large-scale pillar-layouts 

  Napier, J.A.L. (John); Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-05)

  A number of shallow coal or hard rock mines employ pillar mining systems as a strategy for roof failure control. In certain platinum mine layouts, pillars are designed to ‘crush’ in a stable manner as they become loaded ...
• Simulating pillar reinforcement using a displacement discontinuity boundary element code 

  Esterhuyse, Johann C.; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-05)

  In this study we explore the use of a novel numerical modelling approach to study the effect of pillar reinforcement on pillar stability. Case studies in the literature indicate that tendons, strapping of the pillars, ...
• Stakeholder inclusion in the design and development of equipment for the modernizing mining sector in South Africa 

  Ngobese, S.; Pelders, J.; Botha, W.; Magweregwede, F.; Schutte, S. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-04)

  A people-centric, systematic approach that involves different stakeholders is considered necessary to successfully address changes associated with modernizing the South African mining industry. In this paper we discuss ...
• Calibration of the limit equilibrium pillar failure model using physical models 

  Els, Ruan P.; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-05)

  The limit equilibrium model, used in displacement discontinuity codes, is a popular method to simulate pillar failure. This paper investigates the use of physical modelling to calibrate this model. For the experiments, ...
• Bord-and-pillar design for the UG2 reef containing weak alteration layers 

  Couto, Paul Michael; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-05)

  We propose a layout design for the UG2 Reef where weak geological alteration layers are present. The collapse of the Everest platinum mine in South Africa indicated that these layers substantially weaken the pillars. The ...
• A study of UG2 pillar strength using a new pillar database 

  Oates, Thomas E.; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-05)

  A recent experimental pillar extraction project at a UG2 bord-and-pillar mine presented a unique opportunity to compile a new pillar database. Currently, the South African hard rock bordand- pillar mines are designed ...
• A study of the effect of pillar shape on pillar strength 

  Maritz, Jan Abram; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-05)

  Pillar strength is affected by pillar shape, but this has largely been ignored in past research studies. Bord-and-pillar layouts are typically designed using empirical strength equations developed for square pillars. ...
• A study of backfill confinement to reinforce pillars in bord-and-pillar layouts 

  Ile, Divine-Ito; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-05)

  This study explores the use of backfill in hard rock bord-and-pillar mines to increase the pillar strength and extraction ratio at depth. The use of backfill will also minimize the requirement for tailings storage on ...
• A conceptual technique to mathematically quantify the trajectory of flyrock 

  Van der Walt, Jennifer; Spiteri, William (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2023-04)

  Flyrock remains a significant threat to the health and safety of mine employees and integrity of infrastructure, as well as to the safety of the neighbouring communities and their property. This investigation was motivated ...
• A bulking model to simulate stope convergence in deep tabular excavations 

  Jooste, Yolande; Napier, J.A.L. (John); Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Elsevier, 2023-10)

  This paper investigates the use of a novel time-dependent bulking model in a displacement discontinuity code to simulate the convergence between the roof and the floor of deep tabular stopes. This study is important as ...

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