Afrimat Mining Services embarked on a new Drilling & Blasting project in Steelpoort for the De Groote Boom mine. De Groote Boom mine is an MG4 opencast chrome mine that is developing into a mountain crop.
Blasting consists of waste blocks in the region of 40 000 BCM’s (Bank Cubic Metre – a cubic metre of rock in situ before it is extracted) until we reach the parting area. Thereafter the parting will be blasted to expose the chrome seam with depths between 0.3-4m. Although the chrome seams are relatively small, varying from 0.3 to 3 meters, the project’s scope is significant.
The mine’s volume requirements per month are:
- Waste blocks – 160 000 BCM
- Chrome ore – 35 000 BCM
Drilling commenced on the 4th of April 2024 on the Development Overburden. The steep incline to drill blocs and very fractured ground conditions posed initial challenges. To address these detonators with more appropriate timing according to the rock formation on site were used, to improve the fragmentation and blast results. Initially a DTH Sandvik Dpi650 drill rig was used for the development and a top hammer rig for the parting and chrome. Burden and spacing on the development blocks were set at 3 x 3 meters with a 140mm diameter bit size. Holes depths varied between 9 to 13m deep, with rock strength raging from medium to strong – 25 to 50 Mpa.
The first chrome blast was done on the 11th of April 2024, followed by the first development blast on the 19th of April 2024. Total overburden blast done on the development block is 5. Planned blast volumes per month is in the region of about 140000m3.
What is Drilling and Blasting in Mining?
Drilling & Blasting is a method used in mining operations to break up rock and extract valuable minerals. It involves drilling holes into the rock and filling them with explosives, which are then detonated to fragment the rock. This technique is essential for reaching and extracting minerals from deep within the earth, ensuring the efficiency and success of mining operations.
Key Challenges in Opencast Chrome Mining.
Challenges that can arise in meeting specific MG4 opencast chrome mine targets:
- Terrain and Accessibility: The topography of an opencast mine can be rough and uneven, making it difficult to move and operate drilling equipment efficiently.
- Dust Control: Opencast mining generates significant dust, which can impair visibility, pose health risks to workers, and affect nearby communities.
- Noise Pollution: Drilling operations can produce high noise levels, affecting workers' health and nearby residents. Mitigating noise pollution is a key challenge as all operations work near each other.
- Equipment Wear and Tear: The hard chrome ore and surrounding rock can cause rapid wear and tear on drilling equipment, leading to frequent maintenance and replacement of parts.
- Blasting Coordination: Proper coordination of drilling and blasting activities is crucial to ensure safety and efficiency.
- Slope Stability: Ensuring the stability of the pit slopes is critical to prevent landslides and collapses, which can endanger workers and equipment.
- Environmental Impact: Minimising the environmental impact of drilling operations, including managing waste, protecting local water sources, and reducing habitat disruption, is a significant challenge.
- Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to strict environmental and safety regulations is crucial and can be complex, requiring constant monitoring and adjustments to operations.
- Operational Efficiency: Maintaining high levels of efficiency in drilling operations while managing these challenges is essential to ensure the economic viability of the mine.
- Climate and Weather Conditions: Weather conditions, such as rain, wind, and extreme temperatures, can affect drilling operations, equipment performance, and worker safety.
- Health and Safety: Ensuring the health and safety of workers is paramount.
- Resource Estimation: Accurately estimating the chrome ore reserves and planning the drilling accordingly can be challenging due to the variability in ore quality and distribution.
- Community Relations: Managing relationships with local communities, addressing their concerns, and ensuring that mining activities do not negatively impact their livelihoods is essential for maintaining social license to operate.
Despite the challenges mentioned, the site has only been operational for a few months, with Afrimat Mining Services already having 2 DTH drill rigs and 2 top hammer drill rigs insite to ensure maximum protection for the client.
Wishing our newly established team in Steelpoort well as they tackle these challenges and continuing to uphold the Afrimat name and values.
Discover how Afrimat’s expertise in Drilling & Blasting can benefit your mining operations. Whether you need advanced equipment, innovative solutions, or comprehensive environmental management, Afrimat is here to support your goals. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve success in your mining projects.
