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Mining Engineering: Recent submissions

  • Testing of an on-board active suppression system for French mining conditions 
    Du Plessis, J.J.L.; Van Dijk, R.L.S. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2001-10)
    The French research institute, INERIS, requested the assistance of the CSIR’s Division of Mining Technology in developing further precautionary measures against explosions in their collieries. In response to this approach, ...
  • Active explosion barrier performance against methane and coal dust explosions 
    Du Plessis, J.J.L. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015-12)
    Preventing the propagation of methane or coal dust explosions through the use of active explosion-suppression systems remains one of the most underutilised explosion controls in underground coal mines. As part of the ...
  • The design and behaviour of crush pillars on the Merensky reef 
    Du Plessis, Michael (University of Pretoria, 2015)
    Crush pillars are used as part of the stope support in intermediate depth tabular mining stopes. Crush pillar design should ensure that the pillars crush when formed at the mining face. This behaviour of the pillars is ...
  • A critical investigation into spontaneous combustion in coal storage bunkers 
    Govender, Soobramoney (University of Pretoria, 2015)
    In coal mining, spontaneous combustion can occur in many areas such as stockpiles, underground workings, waste dumps, coal faces, in-pit ramps and backfill areas. Spontaneous combustion has been defined as an oxidation ...
  • Competitiveness and performance prediction of surface coal Mining Engineering 
    Budeba, M.D. (University of Pretoria, 2016)
    The purpose of this research is to formulate mathematical models for assisting the management of either a new or operating surface coal mine to assess its competitiveness relative to other coal producers for a given market ...
  • Fatigue knowledge - a new lever in safety management 
    Theron, W.J.; Van Heerden, G.M.J. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2011)
    The purpose of the paper is to give an introduction to the concept of fatigue and its causes in the mining industry. By knowing the fundamental role it plays, together with its dynamics, can positively contribute to ...
  • Predicting the efficiency of a surface coal mine for competitiveness 
    Budeba, M.D.; Joubert, Johannes Willem; Webber-Youngman, Ronald C.W.; Shafiee, Shahriar (Taylor & Francis, 2017)
    Mining is a competitive business with many players. The survival of a mine in the business is determined by its efficiency and cost-effectiveness relative to the other producers. Both new and operating mines should select ...
  • A critical investigation into tyre life on an iron ore haulage system 
    Lindeque, G.C. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2016-04)
    A downward trend in tyre life on haul trucks at an open pit iron ore mine prompted an investigation into the current tyre management strategy in order to improve tyre life. ‘Best practice’ was compared to the current ...
  • Sub-standard practices : effects on safety performance in South African gold mines 
    Kleyn, G.; Du Plessis, J.J.L. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2016-04)
    Sub-standard practices and their adverse impact on safety performance remain a challenge in the South African gold mining industry. The purpose of this study was to investigate the root causes of sub-standard practices and ...
  • Matte - tap-hole clay - refractory brick interaction in a PGM smelter 
    Du Toit, J.; Cromarty, Robert Douglas; Garbers-Craig, Andrie Mariana (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2016-04)
    Penetration of matte into tap-hole bricks causes detrimental refractory wear, which can lead to furnace breakouts. The ability of the tap-hole clay to form a protective layer on the brick, thereby limiting matte ...
  • A proposed approach for modelling competitiveness of new surface coal mines 
    Budeba, M.D.; Joubert, Johannes Willem; Webber-Youngman, Ronald C.W. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015-11)
    Cost estimation for surface coal mines is a critical practice that affects both profitability and competitiveness. New mines require these costs to be estimated using available information before a project begins. ...
  • Rock engineering aspects of a modified mining sequence in a dip pillar layout at a deep gold mine 
    Jooste, Yvonne; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015-10)
    Scattered mining was practised on Kusasalethu Mine (previously Elandsrand Gold Mine) prior to 1998, but at deeper mining levels it was no longer feasible, since it would have resulted in unacceptably high stress levels ...
  • Planning mechanised cave with coarse fragmentation In kimberlite 
    Bartlett, Patrick John (University of Pretoria, 1998)
    Premier Diamond mine had to plan, develop and operate a low cost, mass mining method to recover extensive ore reserves below a 75 metre thick, dipping gabbro sill. The mining method had to preclude the extraction of as ...
  • The effect of shear stresses on pillar strength 
    Maritz, Jan Abram (University of Pretoria, 2015)
    In mining, the loading environment on pillars is highly complex with combinations of normal and shear stresses. It is also understood that with an active and working face, constant redistribution of stresses will occur to ...
  • ISRM suggested methods for determining the creep characteristics of rock 
    Aydan, Omer; Ito, Takashi; Ozbay, Ugur; Kwasniewski, M.; Shariar, K.; Okuno, T.; Ozgenoglu, A.; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois); Okada, T. (Springer, 2014-01)
    It is important to note that creep is only one aspect of the time-dependent behavior of rocks. In Fig. 1, three cases are illustrated with respect to the complete stress–strain curve: creep, i.e., increasing strain when ...
  • Modelling and determining the technical efficiency of a surface coal mine supply chain 
    Budeba, M.D.; Joubert, Johannes Willem; Webber-Youngman, Ronald C.W. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015-12)
    Determining the efficiency of a surface coal mine operation is an essential activity, which can help in deciding on the optimal use of input resources, including effective capital allocation, in generating a desired ...
  • Evaluation of some optimum moisture and binder conditions for coal fines briquetting 
    Venter, P.; Naude, Natasia (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015-04)
    Coal mining is a thriving industry and 53% of the coal mined in South Africa is used for electricity generation. Mechanization has made coal mining more efficient, but fines generation has subsequently increased. Up to ...
  • Mining through areas affected by abnormal stress conditions at Syferfontein Colliery 
    Legote, C. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015-04)
    This paper investigates the conditions leading to the indefinite termination of production in four critical primary panels at an underground coal mining operation, the observed shortcomings in the mining approach, and ...
  • A critical evaluation of the water reticulation system at Vlaklaagte Shaft, Goedehoop Colliery 
    Lombard, R. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015-04)
    Water is a very important component in the production process at underground coal mines. Current unfavourable economic conditions have forced the coal mining industry to identify and address every possible bottleneck ...
  • Re-aligning the cutting sequence with general support work and drafting a support sequence at Simunye Shaft 
    Lombard, K. (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2015-04)
    ‘Roof support awaiting time’ (RSAT) is a term used at Goedehoop Colliery’s Simunye Shaft to describe the potential production time lost due to the continuous miner (CM) standing idle waiting for roof support to catch ...