• 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 ...
• A limit equilibrium model to simulate time‑dependent pillar scaling in hard rock bord and pillar mines 

  Wessels, Danel Georgina; Malan, D.F. (Daniel Francois) (Springer, 2023-05)

  This study investigated the use of a limit equilibrium model to simulate the time-dependent scaling of hard rock pillars. In the manganese bord and pillar mines in South Africa, extensive scaling is observed for pillars ...
• The experience of using virtual reality for interactive spatial visualisation of environmental data 

  Bosman, Isak de Villiers; Smith, Annique Elizabeth; Ka, Kwan Sui Dave; De Beer, Koos; Maritz, J.A. (Jan) (CEUR-WS, 2023)

  Virtual reality possesses various properties that have the potential to be beneficial for the visualisation of spatial data, including intuitive gestural affordances for looking around and interacting with data and the ...
• CFD modelling of longwall goaf atmosphere under vertical boreholes gas drainage 

  Wang, Yuehan; Si, Guangyao; Oh, Joung; Belle, Bharath K. (Elsevier, 2023-12)

  Please read abstract in the article.
• The development of user requirements as a framework for the design and evaluation of a fit-for-purpose missing person locator system for underground mines 

  Ngwenyama, Philani Larrance; Webber-Youngman, Ronald C.W. (Springer, 2023-12)

  Entrapments are a huge risk in underground mines. This happens when miners (or any other persons who have entered underground) survive the initial event of an accident, become trapped or lost in unknown and life-threatening ...
• Risk factors limiting access to formal financing : perceptions from artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operators in Nigeria 

  Eniowo, O.D.; Kilambo, Sixta R.; Meyer, L.D. (Elsevier, 2022-12)

  This paper reflects critically on why individuals engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) struggle to obtain formal loans. Several studies have concentrated on the perceptions of formal lenders on the risks ...
• Towards a generalizable project readiness assessment methodology for the mining industry 

  Mulder, Hardus; Bekker, M.C. (Michiel Christiaan) (Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 2022-09)

  The principal objective of this investigation was to conduct a thorough literature review on the status of project readiness mechanisms, tools, techniques, and frameworks for mining projects. The review aimed at identifying ...

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