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Leveraging Technology in Mining eBook

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Leveraging Technology in Mining is a collection of 32 stories from around the world. The goal of this eBook is to provide unique insights into
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how companies big and small have made mining software a key to their success. It will show you how the users who drive these systems are
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being empowered by them, using innovations such as workflow automation and data management to improve mining and personal productivity.
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No matter your role in the mining industry, you will learn something that you can apply in your job or at your company.
Rick Moignard, President and CEO, Gemcom Software International Inc.

Updated with
12 new stories.
Now 73 pages!

To learn more about the products featured in the customer stories, email GEOVIA.info@3ds.com or visit 3ds.com/GEOVIA/products.

The mining solutions you expect. From the people you trust.

Table of Contents

+ Vi e w s t o r i e s b y c o m m o d i t y, c o u n t r y, m i n e t y p e a n d s o f t w a r e p r o d u c t .

Geology and Mine Planning....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1


Etruscan Resources lowers mining costs while increasing gold reserves...............................................................................................................................................................................................2
Straits Resources improves decision making and cost control..............................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Mikhailovsky GOK simplifies complex grade control challenges............................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Northland Resources improves efficiency and optimises project economics.........................................................................................................................................................................................11
Rheinkalk GmbH automates 200 mining tasks..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
Shougang Mining Company achieves vision of improved competitiveness...........................................................................................................................................................................................17
IAMGOLD Corporation drives threefold mine expansion......................................................................................................................................................................................................................18
Centerra Golds collaborative solution for maximising efficiency and potential at Mongolias largest hard rock gold mine........................................................................................................................21
Shore Gold strengthens exploration programme with organisation-wide information sharing..................................................................................................................................................................24
Fronteer Development unfolds full potential of deposit with unique 3D visualisation and modelling software.........................................................................................................................................27
Eastern Goldfields leverages powerful tools to help find new deposits in old rocks..............................................................................................................................................................................30
Nordkalk Corporation doubles output with integrated solution for quality control and mine planning......................................................................................................................................................33
Voskhod-Oriel relies on geology and mine planning software to drive mining operations........................................................................................................................................................................36
Samarco drives productivity through better data management............................................................................................................................................................................................................37
Tiger Resources improves copper concentrate..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38
AIMROC supports their Chovdar Gold Mine Project with effective data management and modelling.......................................................................................................................................................39
Copper Mountain brings back to life its Similco Mine.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................40

Geology and Mine Planning for Coal and other Stratified Deposits............................................................................................................................................................ 41
Carbones de Cerrejn accomplishes 178% increase in recovered coal................................................................................................................................................................................................42
Exxaros Grootegeluk Mine models complex geology, handing huge data volumes................................................................................................................................................................................45
Brush Resources fortifies mining operations with versatile end-to-end solution....................................................................................................................................................................................48
PT Bukit Asam drives business strategy...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................51

Mine Scheduling..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52
PT Petrosea saves millions of dollars across their contracts with improved scheduling capabilities.......................................................................................................................................................53
Python Mining Consultants solves optimisation problems by creating various design and scheduling scenarios....................................................................................................................................56
Adamus Resources solves scheduling constraints.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................57
Golden Star Resources drives mine scheduling improvements............................................................................................................................................................................................................58

Strategic Mine Planning......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 59


Rio Tinto standardises globally on strategic mine planning solution....................................................................................................................................................................................................60
Gold Fields Ghana improves cash flow at Tarkwa Operation................................................................................................................................................................................................................63

Block Caving.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 64
De Beers improves decision-making and productivity..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................65

Mine Production Management................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 68


Centerra Gold improves mine production management at its Boroo gold mining operation....................................................................................................................................................................69
Minara Resources improves cost-effectiveness and forecasting at Fly-in Fly-out operation....................................................................................................................................................................70

Educational Instututions......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 71
Mining Education Australia incorporates software and training into curriculum....................................................................................................................................................................................72
University of the Witwatersrand School of Mining Engineering prepares students for the workforce......................................................................................................................................................73

Story

Gemcom Product(s)

Mine Type

Commodity

Country

2
5

Geology and Mine Planning

Page

Etruscan Resources

Surpac, Whittle, MineSched Open pit

Gold

Burkina Faso, Cte dIvoire, Ghana, Mali,


Namibia, Niger

Straits Resources

Surpac

Open pit, underground

Gold, copper, bulk commodities

Australia, Indonesia, Singapore

Mikhailovsky GOK

Surpac

Open pit

Iron ore

Russia

Northland Resources

Surpac, Whittle, MineSched Open pit, underground

Iron ore, gold, copper

Finland, Sweden

11

Rheinkalk GmbH

Surpac, MineSched

Quarry

Limestone

Belgium, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany

14

Shougang Mining Company

Surpac

Open pit

Iron ore

China

17

IAMGOLD Corporation

GEMS, Whittle

Open pit

Gold

Botswana, Canada, Ecuador, Ghana, Mali, Suriname

18

Centerra Gold

GEMS, Whittle

Open pit

Gold

Canada, Kyrgz Republic, Mongolia, United States

21

Shore Gold

GEMS

Exploration, underground, development Diamonds

Canada

24

Fronteer Development

GEMS

Exploration, development

Gold, copper, uranium

Canada, Turkey, United States

27

Eastern Goldfields

GEMS

Exploration, open pit, underground

Gold

South Africa

30

Nordkalk Corporation

GEMS

Quarry

Limestone

Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden

33

Voskhod-Oriel

Surpac

Underground

Chromite

Kazakhstan

36

Samarco

GEMS

Open pit

Iron ore

Brazil

37

Tiger Resources

Surpac

Open pit

Copper

Democratic Republic of the Congo

38

AIMROC

GEMS

Open pit

Gold

Azerbaijan

39

Copper Mountain

GEMS, Whittle

Open pit

Copper

Canada

40

Geology and Mine Planning for Coal and other Stratified Deposits

41

Carbones de Cerrejn

Minex

Open pit

Coal

Colombia

42

Exxaro

Minex

Open pit

Coal

South Africa

45

Brush Resources

Minex

Open pit

Beryllium

United States

48

PT Bukit Asam

Minex

Open pit

Coal

Indonesia

Mine Scheduling

51

52

PT Petrosea

MineSched, Surpac

Open pit

Coal

Indonesia

53

Python Mining Consultants

MineSched, Surpac

Open pit, underground

All commodities

Canada

56

Adamus Resources

MineSched

Open pit

Gold

Ghana

57

Golden Star Resources

MineSched

Open pit

Gold

South Africa

Strategic Mine Planning


Rio Tinto

Whittle

Open pit

Copper, diamonds, borates,


aluminum, iron ore

Australia, Canada, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Namibia, Peru, United States

Gold Fields Ghana

Whittle, Surpac

Open pit

Gold

Ghana

Block Caving
De Beers

58

59
60
63

64
PCBC, GEMS

Block caving

Diamonds

South Africa

Mine Production Management

65

68

Centerra Gold

InSite

Open pit

Gold

Mongolia

69

Minara Resources

InSite

Open pit

Nickel, cobalt

Australia

70

Minex

University

Coal

Australia

72

University

All commodities

South Africa

73

Educational Institutions
Mining Education Australia

71

University of the Witwatersrand GEMS, Whittle

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Geology and Mine Planning

Voskhod

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Etruscan lowers mining costs, increases


gold reserves and derives efficiencies
using synergistic Gemcom solution
Mining staff saves 2,500 hours annually in grade control management and reporting
Countries:
Burkina Faso, Cte dIvoire, Ghana, Mali,
Namibia, Niger
Objective:
Establish an effective grade control system
to obtain maximum value from mine
development projects.
Approach:
Leverage Gemcom Surpac, Gemcom
Whittle, and Gemcom MineSched
software for better mining performance
and lower operational costs.

IT Improvements:
Automation of manual steps and grade control management, saving nearly 2,500 labour hours per year.
Tools for accurate resource estimations, data validation, and National Instrument 43-101 compliance.
Integrated, consolidated data.
Streamlined data flows.
Business Benefits:
Reduced mining department costs by 3 percent over the past year.
Increased ore reserves by 1.2 million tonnes in six months.
Saves $30,000 in consulting fees for 1-2 pit optimisations.
Enables maximum ore recovery in line with projected costs.
Frees up time and personnel for other tasks.
Mitigates double the number of staff needed for data management.

Through the synergies, functionality,


and seamless integration of
MineSched, Whittle, and Surpac,
we are reducing unit costs as our
gold output multiplies. Our mining
department costs were 3 percent
lower over the past year.
Samuel Takyi, Senior Mine
Planning Engineer, Etruscan
Resources Inc.
2 LEVERAGING
gemcom Customer
TECHNOLOGY
Case IN
study
MINING
e-book
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CIL process plant.

A prolific gold and


diamond explorer
Nova Scotia, Canada-based Etruscan
Resources Inc. (TSX: EET) has
explored for gold and diamonds
in Africa for more than 13 years.
The junior mining company (www.
etruscan.com) holds one of the
largest strategic land positions in
West Africa covering in excess of
13,000 square kilometres of several
prolific gold belts.

When Etruscan started feasibility studies at Youga, one of


its principal mine development projects in Burkina, Faso
management evaluated software to assist their geology,
planning and surveying departments. Feasibility studies
revealed that the remote, mid-sized operation comprised
weathered and oxidised zones with a sulfide zone beneath them.
All of the pits contain hard-rock (ore and waste) material, and
mineral-free digging areas exist. The zones necessitate various
blasting processes, material separation for optimal recovery
and stringent grade control. With an initial 6.6-year mine life,
the Youga Gold Mine also requires maximum pit optimisation
and strict cost containment. The pits are set to render certain
gold prices. Faced with fluctuating prices that advance amid
economic uncertainty or retreat during lower demand, Etruscan
must mine the most profitable pit at the right time.
There is much designing and planning work in comparing the
benches and determining the ore amount and quality, admits
Samuel Takyi, Senior Mine Planning Engineer for Etruscan.
After extensive evaluation, we concluded Surpac was a more
comprehensive system to achieve these goals than Datamine.
I actually prefer Surpac over Datamine because its more userfriendly and offers me more flexible, clearer functionality.

A market-leading position

Burkina close-up.

Etruscan assessed Gemcoms software, Datamine, Micromine


and several other providers. Etruscan engineers investigated
Gemcom because it enjoys a large, engaged user base,
and leadership position in Ghana. To ensure the software
would meet their requirements, a company representative
visited Gemcoms office in Ghana to witness Surpac in actual
production environments. He saw that Surpac would provide
compelling features compared to other competitors. Satisfied
with the results, Etruscan hired Gemcom to install the software,
customise the grade control module, and train the staff.
Gemcom provided excellent training so that everyone was able
to learn Surpac quickly, Takyi says. For new users training
onsite, the help documents are detailed, self-explanatory and
easily answer their questions. Therefore, our users enjoy using
the package.

Crushed ore stockpile.


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Etruscan takes a proactive approach to technology usage by


periodically requesting an onsite audit from Gemcom to gauge
whether they are applying the software properly and to the

fullest extent. These audits enhance the staffs efficiency.


Gemcom also responds to Etruscans inquiries and provides
technical support regularly. We contact Gemcom anytime it is
necessary. They have helped us tremendously, Takyi says.

Verifiable data boosts efficiency


Commercial production at the Youga Gold Mine extends to the
southwest into Ghana along the Bole-Bolgatanga gold belt.
Mining occurs in five open pits with ore processing though a
conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) gravity plant with a design
capacity of 1 million tonnes per annum. Etruscans geologists
develop geological and grade control models for these pits, the
engineers plan and design them, and the surveyors conduct
their estimationsall in Surpac. The software helps them
maintain, establish and interpret their results accurately. In
fact, the various mining processes and activities within and
across departments are efficient and well coordinated because
of consistent, verifiable data in Surpac and its pragmatic
features.
For example, 3D tools express accurate results and allow
Etruscan geologists to build representative models of the
orebodies. We must have good geological models and know
exactly where to mine. Surpac gives us a clear picture of our
reserves and a high degree of certainty for our decisions,
says Takyi.

Grade control automation scripts save time


Using Surpacs scripting capabilities that automate mining
tasks, Gemcom tailored grade control functions to the needs of
the Youga operations. The softwares automation features allow
the staff to update their resource models daily, import/export
data, lay out drillholes and their colours, extract the sampling
database and benches for reports of each mining block, and
create models for interpretation.
Surpacs TCL script automation feature is adaptable, which
makes it easy for me to write various scripts to automate
almost all my planning functions. It drastically cuts down on
time spent on office tasks to follow up on other jobs in the
field, Takyi explains. Grade control scripts in Surpac adapt
with our mining sequences and work per fectly. To create
drillholes and import data manually would take a huge amount
of time, but with the automated scripts, we can run models

and drill patterns in five minutesdepending on the drill


patterns and schedules. Without Surpacs automated features,
the same tasks and reports would take 48 hours a week.
Consequently, the software enables a small Etruscan staff to
manage an escalating amount of data for grade control. Without
Surpacwith its data storage provision and ability to interface
with many common formats for importing and exporting grade
control datamore personnel would be required. We only
need three people because of Surpac. If we were managing the
database manually or with different software, it would more
than double the number of people on staff, Takyi maintains.
He also notes that Etruscan teams have improved Yougas
mining parameters by leveraging the softwares flexibility
and functionality. The software runs various scenarios and
presents data in various file formats that are useful in reserve
comparisons, excavating, and improving grades. We are
constantly changing our parameters to optimise our gold. Surpac
provides good results.

Determining mine strategies to increase profits


Two additional Gemcom software systems used with Surpac
afford an all-encompassing solution that boosts profitability and
delivers economies of scale. Whittle is extending Yougas life-ofmine horizon, allowing the staff to examine various pit shapes
and limits, build operating cost histories, and determine mining
strategies.
Whittle helped us extend our bench across the orebody and
come up with new cash flows. We have increased our ore
reserves by more than 1.2 million tonnes in six months, and we
expect extra years of production from the Youga mine, Takyi says.

softwares polygon scheduling function for short-term planning,


and they develop projected cash flow reports using MineSched.
Takyi acknowledges that scheduling multiple mining benches
and developing life-of-mine (LOM) plans are easy to accomplish.
A LOM plan can be completed in eight hours versus 40 hours
manually. The softwares interface enables reports based
on cash flow, grade attributes, work shifts, locations, and
resources.
We can design our reports based on what we need and
thus protect our production in terms of size. The reporting
features, interfaces with other programs, and ability to run
different scenarios in 3D to get better cash flow options, are
major advantages of MineSched compared to other scheduling
programs like Mine2-4D, he says.

Etruscan Resources Inc.


Solutions at a Glance
Primary Application:
Gemcom Surpac
Gemcom Whittle
Gemcom MineSched
Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Automation services
Training
Technical support

In summary, the functional qualities and seamless integration


of MineSched, Whittle, and Surpac are working together in an
exemplary fashion to help transform Etruscans bottom line.
The company notes that this synergistic Gemcom solution is
helping its personnel lower unit costs as gold output multiplies.
In fact, the Youga mine reached design throughput exceeding
7,000 ounces per month within five months of startup. The
average forecast monthly gold production over the life of mine
was 6,700 ounces per month.
We cannot accomplish planning or selective mining without
these Gemcom programs. Thanks to Gemcom software,
the Youga operation is getting better and gaining production
efficiency. From bench to bench, we are improving our ounces,
Takyi concludes.

Feed conveyor to grinding mill.

Moreover, merging actual numbers and operational parameters


from Surpac block models into Whittle pit optimisations onsite
mitigates the need to hire additional consultants. Creating one
or two pit shapes and the associated reports would cost about
$30,000 in consulting fees, but we execute those onsite in
Whittle, he confirms.

Uniquely synergistic solution helps reduce


mining costs
Etruscan considers MineSched one of the most powerful
scheduling tools in the industry. Company personnel use the
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Gold pour.

Diversified mining company extracts


benefits from Gemcom Surpac at its sites
Using Gemcom software, Straits Resources improves decision making and controls costs
Countries: Australia, Indonesia, Singapore
Objective:
Ensure efficient mine production by integrating geological, surveying and
engineering functions through a common platform used by key mining
professionals at Straits Resources.
Approach:
Selected Gemcom to provide all staff with the software tools, training
and support services they need to perform their jobs as effectively as
possible today, while allowing for future system extensibility and staff skills
enhancement.

With skilled technical mining staff in short supply, and with varying experience
with mining software in different geographies, we have chosen to standardise
on Surpac across our operations and mining disciplines because of the
systems renowned reputation for ease of use.
Chris Ramsay, Geologist, Straits Resources Limited

IT Improvements:
Staff training and local support.
Data integration from multiple systems into a common operating platform.
Effective, time-saving tool for managing complex iterations of
multiple calculations.
Instantaneous inclusion of information from other core data packages.
Business Benefits:
Improved decision making.
System ease of use addresses skills shortages by allowing staff to be
trained faster.
Monetary savings by refining staff requirements.
Cost reduction in delivering commodities to market.
Increased resource base at all operations.

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Tritton Processing Plant.

Diverse producer
diverse project pipeline
Founded in 1992 and listed on the
Australian Stock Exchange in 1994,
Straits Resources Limited focuses
on acquiring and developing assets
within the gold, copper and bulk
commodities sectors. Straits
(www.straits.com.au) is one of the
few mining entities based in Western
Australia with such a well diversified
group of assets. The Perth-based
producer also has gold and coal
operations in Indonesia.

With open pit and underground projects, as well as bulk


commodities, Straits required comprehensive technology to use
at all of its sites. Three years ago, Straits spent significant time
reviewing several mine planning systems to find an affordable,
multidisciplinary approach and a local support network. Straits
ultimately adopted Gemcoms Surpac software to support
resource modelling and mine planning functions. Today, the
company has 30 Surpac installations and utilises Gemcoms
training and technical support services. As a result of its
investment, Straits has gained more efficiency through decision
making support capabilities, which enabled the company to
reduce the cost of delivering commodities to the market.
We have a wide range of projects, so we chose software that
applies to all of our mining environments. Thats the clear
advantage in using Surpac software, says Chris Ramsay,
Geologist for Straits, who has personally depended on the
software since 1998. He also notes that Straits engaged with
Gemcom to obtain responsive technical support.

Same softwaredifferent mining functions


Surpac brings efficiencies, ease of use and flexibility to
three mining disciplines at Straits: geology, surveying and
engineering. For presenting data in mine and exploration
geology, Surpac is the companys primary data manipulation,
resource modelling and estimation, volume calculation and
grade control system.
By employing Surpac, Straits has been able to manage
an increasing resource base at all its operations: Straits
surveyors use Surpac for volume calculation; the companys
engineers count on Surpac to provide three-dimensional (3D)
designs and calculations and to manage grade control and
resource inventories; and even non-mining professionals
involved in Straits financial activities benefit. The software
conveys information to them in visual ways that enhance their
understanding of mining operations.

Stripping overburden (Sebuku).

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Without Surpac, our work would take longer, and we would


need significant numbers of extra people in my area alone,
says Ramsay. To a lesser extent, the engineering and
surveying areas would also need vastly different human
resources structures.

Better decision making


Although other competitive systems are available, Ramsay
says that Surpac surpasses them all: They are no substitutes
for Surpac. For example, the 3D visualization of ore body and
block models is helpful to Straits geologists who create models
to bring about multi-billion dollar results and assist in making
wise decisions about Straits mining operations.
We gather sparse information that is very expensive to come
by, he says, and the representation of that information
spatially is critical in correctly estimating what is in the ground.
Surpac strengthens our level of comfort when we are making
the right decisions to achieve high value results.

A wealth of features
Surpacs integration with the companys 3 GIS and 3D mining
applications is outstanding, and package translations are available
at the touch of a button. When needed, the softwares six
language options - English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese and
Russian - are available to support users at Straits locations globally.
Alternative sources of data convert well into a Surpac readable
file. In fact, Straits teams are able to view data from various
IT systems with the softwares Data Plug-in modules and
incorporate this information into their planning.
In any of the packages that we have, we transfer geographic or
3D information back and forth into Surpac very easily, Ramsay
says. Surpacs representation of geographic information in
a text file is extremely simple. You can easily translate data
into Surpacs data structure.It is also a smooth process to
program certain management processes using the softwares
scripting/macro capabilities. We gain a lot of power from the
scripting/macro, Ramsay says.
In addition, the Gemcom software instantly includes information
from other core data systems. This feature helps Straits keep
its stakeholders informed about key decisions related to
production. Plus, the company can leverage the most current
information to save operational costs. In some of the mining
operations we might spend from $500 to $500,000 a day, so
instantaneous refining of information is critical to cost savings,
Ramsay notes.

Technology attuned to growth


Straits growth has prompted it to expand Surpac usage as
its workforce increases for a particular project. Implementing
another system into an active environment is as simple and
quick as copying files onto the companys work station.
If the companys operations needs change, Ramsay believes
that having a technical innovator like Gemcom behind Surpac
with vision, global reach, industr y stature, plus development
and professional resourceswill further enhance the
softwares functionality and extensibility going for ward.
With Gemcom as our partner, we see being able to expand our
solution as our operations needs change in the organization.
Gemcom provides a greater level of funding and programming
support behind this product. Right now, were very happy with
Surpac, Ramsay says.

Straits Resources
Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
30 Gemcom Surpac resource modelling
and mine planning systems
Approximately 3 GIS and 3D mining
applications
Gemcom Services:
On-site training
Technical support

Training and attracting skilled professionals


In establishing Surpac software as its standard technical tool,
Straits empowers its personnel to share data, skills and project
knowledge across the company in a consistent way. At our
Perth headquarters, we have one format for dealing with any
information that comes in centrally. This also enables us to
manage training in a collective way, says Ramsay.
Straits takes advantage of Gemcoms strong base of skilled
trainers, selected for their in-depth mining knowledge and
industry experience. In addition, the companys technical
support services play an important role in Straits decision
to continue with Surpac. Gemcoms training and technical
support services are excellent, says Ramsay.

Environmental assessment (Sebuku).

As a shortage of skills continues to plague the resources


industry, Straits commands a competitive edge in the labour
market, stemming in part from its use of Surpac. Because
Surpac has a dominant share of the industry in this region,
attracting skilled practitioners to Straits is somewhat easier,
Ramsay concludes.

Gold pour (Mt. Muro).

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Mikhailovsky GOK uses Gemcom Surpac


to simplify complex grade control challenges
Russian iron ore producer boosts the quality of planning work and assessments
Countries: Russia
Objective:
Support engineering activities for iron
ore mining.
Approach:
Implement the Gemcom Surpac mining
software system to increase mine
production and overcome technical issues.

IT Improvements:
Automation of routine tasks via macros.
Easy data access at all management levels.
Availability of technical support and training expertise locally.
Reduced complexity derived from Surpacs interfaces with third-party software.
Business Benefits:
Sharing of information and project knowledge.
More reliable projections and decisions.
Higher staff efficiency.
Reduction in time spent on labour-intensive projects.
Improvement in the quality of planning.
Consolidation of process steps for engineering support.
Gemcom software updates, maintenance and future development, ensuring investment is never out of date.

In making our buying decision,


we considered the price of other
software and the availability of the
necessary geology and engineering
modules. All other vendor products
did not satisfy our needs compared
to Gemcom and its Surpac solution,
which met all of our rigorous criteria.
Alexander Tsukerman, Chief
Miner, Mikhailovsky Mining and
Processing Integrated Works
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Panorama of the Mikhailovsky pit.

The worlds largest


iron ore reserves
At more than 11 billion tonnes,
Mikhailovsky Mining and Processing
Integrated Works (Mikhailovsky
GOK) has the worlds largest iron
ore reserves. Founded in 1957,
Mikhailovsky GOK (www.metinvest.
com) annually produces more than
19 million tonnes of iron ore and
exports its high-quality products to
Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Poland, Romania, Ukraine and China.
The company is headquartered in
Zheleznogorsk Town in the Kurskay
Region of Russia and is owned by
Metallinvest.

The Kurskaya magnetic anomaly is Mikhailovskys main


iron ore source. Its depth in the closed outlines is 320
metres, its sur face length is 5.8 kilometres and its width
is 2.6 kilometres. Iron content in high-grade ore reaches
54 percent, while low-grade iron ore content averages 40
percent, including 21 percent of magnetic iron. This largescale mine has 69 years of life in the projected outlines of
the primar y ore. Its size presents grade control challenges,
and with up to 40 ore faces being mined simultaneously, it is
a fairly complicated operation.
Years ago, Mikhailovsky staff used in-house software to
manage mining data and plan ore production quality and
sur veying. They also used a competitors software to
complete their resource models and track blasthole sampling
data. As Mikhailovskys operations expanded over time, the
competitors software could not keep up with increasingly
complex challenges. The company needed a solution to help
estimate the granulometric composition of the blasted ore,
control blasting quality and even better, to increase mine
production and investments.

Value-oriented, first-rate software


Those objectives were difficult to achieve with the software they
were using, including an antiquated survey module that had
no function for modelling solids. In addition, the sub-blocking
feature was limited: if the block model had a different size, it
was impossible to produce the calculation or optimisation. The
time came for Mikhailovsky to find another solution.
We required value-oriented, first-rate software capable of
helping us increase production and resolve routine mining
issues. We also considered the software companys pricing
policy, technical support and attitude towards their clients.
At the top of our list was to partner with a company that had
a Russian office and Russian-speaking personnel, explains
Tsukerman, Chief Miner of the company.

Surveyors at work.
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Mikhailovsky chose the Surpac software as Gemcom has


expertise, training and top-notch technical support in the
country. Of particular benefit to Mikhailovsky was the fact
that Gemcoms Russian distributor provided training and
implemented the Russian-language version of the software
(which is also available in English, Chinese, French, German
and Spanish).

Gemcoms Russian-speaking personnel give us outstanding


technical support, and it is great to know that Gemcom invests
in product updates and improvements. We enjoy working with
their staff; they have such positive attitudes and are extremely
responsive to our inquiries. Plus, they let us know about how
other companies are successfully using Gemcom solutions and
the future direction for Surpac. In turn, we give them feedback
about new features we would like to see in the software,
Tsukerman says.

Smoother, faster work flow


Before adopting Surpac, Mikhailovsky personnel accomplished
open pit designs and mine plans manually. Even when the
paper copies were uploaded to a digital format for processing
and printing, the company still experienced accuracy and
validation issues. Limited data access restricted the companys
ability to generate reports promptly or lengthened the time in
providing comprehensive information to outside project design/
planning companies.
Instead of tr ying to locate data residing in numerous silos,
databases or individual computers across the enterprise,
employees now go to a single resource. The Surpac solution
aggregates data about all company depar tments into an allinclusive information system for quick access and reference.
The system can retrieve archived information about
production parameters and analytical data, which saves
staff time.
In the years before Surpac, the staff stored database entries
in Paradox, FoxPro and other formats. The lack of uniformity
caused ambiguity, risk and confusion regarding information
management. Now Mikhailovsky geologists, engineers and
surveyors exchange data and share project knowledge in
standard Surpac formats, Tsukerman says. Consequently, we
have a great environment for our professionals to collaborate
together efficiently and establishing Surpac as our standard
planning tool makes it easier to transfer skills between
departments or across our operations when necessary.

Fast-tracking analysis and auditing


Since 2004, this iron ore producer has relied on Surpac to
assemble 3D models of oxidised quartzites and carbonaceous
ore. In addition, Surpac supports long-term and routine mine

planning, allowing the staff to create reliable calculations for


ramp designs, rock excavations, bench slopes, and cut and
fills. Surpac is a strong aid in plotting transportation routes,
pre-stripping, ore mining and dump designs. To overcome their
grade control issues, company geologists use Surpac block
models to estimate quality parameters in outlined ore bodies.
Within our one, well-integrated software package resides a huge
amount of useful information to conduct complex analyses,
Tsukerman comments.
Surpacs 3D imagery linked with the softwares design,
modelling and database components underpins these
analyses by conveying mining illustrations in an easy-tounderstand format that even non-technical persons can grasp.
Another helpful advantage of the software is its integration
with a number of third-party programs, such as AutoCAD. This
aspect makes data importing or exporting less cumbersome
and simplifies survey work, according to Tsukerman.

Macros automate tasks


Mikhailovsky utilises Surpacs macro scripting features to
speed up data processing. They wrote macros to automate
diagram maps, display additional attributes to a block
model and reveal cross-sections in real linear parameters.
They organised a planning macro that allows low-grade ore
calculations along horizons to evaluate losses and ore dilution.
Geologists create and compute blasthole sampling charts with
a special macro. Another macro was developed to automate
printing projects.
Surpac provides a variety of tools which enable us to
automate planning and production control. Weve consolidated
a wide range of process steps for engineering support of pit
operations. We are very pleased with Surpacs features and
results, Tsukerman concludes.

Mikhailovsky GOK
Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Surpac
Microsoft SQL Server
AutoCAD
Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Training
Technical support

Safety for sizable data volumes


Only a powerful software package can handle the vast amount
of data and drillhole statistics that Mikhailovsky maintains. The
company processes thousands of grade control holes, which
are entered in a database for future reference. Surpac links
to a Microsoft SQL Server database comprising approximately
3,000 exploration, development and 120,000 blast drillholes.
Mikhailovskys development drillholes identify some 40 qualitative
variables, mineralogical groups and rock titles. The company drills
25,000 holes annually for blasting, but samples every third hole.
Every month geologists incorporate newly acquired data from
blasthole sampling into the upgraded block model.

Rehandling of ore a temporary stockpile is made.

With so much critical information at stake, the company cant


afford to have any of it compromised or lost. Surpac provides
a means of safely preserving massive volumes of data and the
scalability to accommodate even more. Just as importantly, the
information is readily available for reconciliation and audits.
Surpac helps us quickly and easily carry out internal auditing
work in accordance with planning directions, ore production
volumes and grade control. If there is an information request
from an external auditor, we provide it in a Surpac format.
Our general planning contractor even purchased Surpac after
learning about our positive experiences, Tsukerman says.

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Pellet production facilities the best in the


Russian Federation.

Northland Resources improves efficiency and


optimises project economics with Gemcom solution
Engineering staff uses Gemcom SurpacTM, WhittleTM and
MineSchedTM to reduce consulting costs and defer CAPEX spending
Countries: Finland, Sweden
Objective:
Obtain a solution to aid engineering studies and metallurgical testing and
accelerate mineral ore production.
Approach:
Adopt Surpac, Whittle and MineSched software to gain efficiencies and
lower costs.

We deferred a bulk sampling expenditure of $500,000 to $1 million by


applying drillhole data and conducting statistical analysis using the Surpac
database. We obtained much of the same information as if we had completed
a bulk sample, so there was no immediate need to excavate, build a dike or
obtain environmental permits.
Matt Blattman, Senior Manager of Engineering, Northland Resources Inc.

IT Improvements:
Synergistic tools merging block modelling, pit optimisation and scheduling
results.
Inter faces with third-par ty software, eliminating file conversions and
saving a workday.
Automated workflows, saving several weeks of manual input.
Faster estimation of multiple block modelling routines (15 minutes vs 2
hours).
Quick report generation in standard formats.
Business Benefits:
Cost savings by hiring fewer consultants.
Up to $1 million deferred in upfront capital expenditures.
Greater ability to address skills shortage.
More time spent on geological interpretations.
Higher staff productivity.

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Portal of the bulk sample drift at


Stora Sahavaara, Sweden.

Fast-tracking mine
production
In Sweden and Finland, Northland
Resources Inc. (TSX: NAU;
Oslo: NAUR) controls one of the
continents last major undeveloped
iron ore provinces, where it is
advancing its goal to become
Europes largest independent,
domestic iron ore producer. In
northern Sweden, Northland
Resources
(www.northlandresourcesinc.com) is
implementing a staged development
of its Tapuli iron ore project.

The company began detailed engineering studies to generate


technical data and accelerate the key property to production.
Tapuli has the potential to produce up to 3 million tonnes
per annum of high-grade iron concentrate and fuel other key
company projects.
Along with the Tapuli studies, Northland completed basic
exploration on two other magnetite projectsStora Sahavaraa
in Pajala, Sweden, and Hannukainen in Kolari, Finlandand is
performing preliminary engineering to acquire environmental
permits for all three mines. One mine contains mainly iron;
another has iron and gold; and a third comprises iron, gold and
copper. Northland relies on the Surpac, Whittle and MineSched
software to support these efforts and future mineral
production.
The company selected Gemcoms software over MineSight,
which it had purchased sometime ago for geological modelling
because few staff members were skilled in using MineSight.
When the main user left the company, management decided to
evaluate other solutions. They wanted the software to fit certain
criteria: outstanding functionality, superior interfaces with
third-party software, strong technical support and an extensive
global user network. The company also required access to
support personnel in the same time zone.
Gemcom met all of the companys requirements and provided
a Finnish distributor. I am delighted that we chose Gemcom
because I have used Surpac for nearly 15 years, says Matt
Blattman, Senior Manager of Engineering, who recently joined
the company and conducted the software implementation.
Gemcom distributor WSP Finland provided training for
Nor thland geologists. We were pleased with the on-site
Surpac training, and our staff found the software easy
to learn, Blattman says. We believe that software with
widespread usage helps our company overcome skill
shor tages. It reduces our dependence on consultants and
enables us to compete for skilled mining professionals in a
tight labour market.

Strong justification for decisions


Portal preparations for the bulk sample drift at Stora
Sahavaara, Sweden.
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The geology department primarily uses Surpac for block


modelling, geological interpretations and plotting drillhole maps.
Blattman finds Surpac helpful for initial resource calculations

and for viewing data from various sources. Surpac is powerful


in these areas, because it interfaces with third-party software
and communicates across systems. This is key during
engineering planning whereby outside consultants are handling
the bulk of Northlands work. Although they provide reports and
maps in various GIS and AutoCAD formats, the Northland staff
encounters no file conversion issues.
Being able to read almost any data format the consultants
generate makes my job a lot easier, Blattman affirms.
If the company decides to pursue another option, the staff
uses the consultants data integrated into Surpac for more
analyses omitting the need for another consultant. Being
able to process other peoples data quickly and make my own
assumptions, greatly improves our efficiency, Blattman says.

Excellent visualisation tools clarify assumptions


The software helps to cr ystallise facts and assumptions that
may be unclear to others in the organisation. An example
is when the staff was determining the right place to test a
bulk sample at Hannukainen and process the material. The
company hired one consultant to identify the sample area and
a second consultant to figure out the best way to excavate
it. Both consultants delivered their reports in different
formats, which made it difficult to understand how the reports
inter faced. As a result, there were questions about the
sample environment and excavation.
Blattman tells how he resolved the issue. In 30 minutes I
combined the photos of the surface with the digital terrain
model from another consultant and the mine designs from
a third consultant to get a comprehensive 3D picture. We
obtained consensus within an hour because management could
visualise and understand the excavation method. There were
no more competing ideas because the facts were visible in
Surpac, he says.

Lower operational costs and CAPEX requirements


When access to capital is difficult or limited, companies must
seek ways to lower their upfront capital expenditures (CAPEX).
Publicly traded Northland Resources is reducing initial CAPEX
outlays through improved engineering design and prudent
planning. For example, after a consultant drilled underneath
a swamp in the Tapuli mine to collect samples and determine

water quality, Blattman found a cost-effective use for the


same data.

data into reserve statements to inform shareholders of the


potential value of the companys mines, Blattman explains.

I turned the consultants report into 3D renderings in Surpac


to determine the groundwater impact, created a feasible mine
design and calculated the amount of material to be removed
during mining. By using the same data in a different way, we
didnt need to hire another consultant, he states.

When mining ramps up and data accumulates, the planning


team will merge the Surpac and Whittle results into Gemcoms
MineSched scheduling software. MineSched will afford proven
tools to achieve precise blending targets on multiple elements
and to meet processing specifications. The planning staff will
be able to schedule from the models that originated in Surpac,
thus saving time and preventing data input errors.

On another occasion, the team deferred a large bulk sampling


expenditure of up to $1 million by applying Surpac drillhole data
to determine there was no immediate need to excavate, build a
dike or obtain permits.

Streamlined, automated workflows


Automation capabilities in Surpac drive higher staff productivity,
freeing Northland Resources personnel to concentrate more
on their interpretations and less on keying in repetitive data.
For example, Blattman created macros that ease the plotting
of drillhole cross-section maps and organise them into
standard report formats. Advanced scripts accelerate multiple
estimation routines in block modelling and eliminate the need
to enter each command manually. By writing a Surpac script,
Ive turned a two-hour process into a 15-minute exercise,
Blattman says.
One of the customised macros enables block models to be
coded according to geology types. This script helps geologists
modify, change or reinterpret complex polygons and allows
them to be reproduced almost instantaneously in a standard
reporting format.

Our idea was to bring in MineSched to automate some of


the target blending, perform alternative what-ifs to achieve
a specific goal, and easily validate the schedules, Blattman
says.

Northland Resources Inc.


Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Surpac
Gemcom Whittle
Gemcom MineSched
Gemcom Services:
Training
Technical support

As Northland prepares to supply iron, gold and copper to


Europes demanding metal markets, it has comprehensive
Gemcom tools that work together optimally and promote high
productivity. We implemented a superior suite of Gemcom
solutions at the very start, which will take us from engineering
planning to mining. Based on their performance to date, we
are confident the software will deliver even greater value during
production, Blattman concludes.

Exploration drilling, surface topography and orthophotos,


and generalised mineralised zones.

We have drawn approximately 2,000 polygons and to create


a lot of detail manually would bring logic issues into play and
cause confusion. One misstep or typing error along the way
and we wouldnt know about it until its too late. Through
automation, we can manipulate the data the way we want to
handle it. This macro saves several weeks worth of work,
Blattman says.

Merging operations through a comprehensive


software suite
Northland pairs Surpac with the Whittle pit optimisation system
to understand and verify the consultants results. We make
decisions from the Whittle optimisations and incorporate the
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Image showing the Tapuli, Sweden drillholes, grade


domains and conceptual pit design.

Rheinkalk GmbH drives productivity in its lime


operations by adopting Gemcom Surpac
Software automates more than 200 functions for large quarry operator
Countries:
Belgium, Brazil, China, Czech Republic,
France, Germany, Poland and Russia
Objective:
Select a comprehensive system for
geological and geochemical block
modelling and automating routine mine
planning tasks.
Approach:
Acquire the Gemcom Surpac software to
automate workflows across the companys
global operations.

IT Improvements:
Enhanced data accuracy, consistency and protection.
Access to geological and deposit data in standard file formats.
Presentation of short-term data in a standardised manner.
Software in German and local technical support.
Business Benefits:
Automation of more than 200 routine and special tasks for greater productivity.
50% reduction in number of surveys.
Efficient sharing of data, skills and project knowledge.
Faster, more precise estimation of block models.

Gemcom is a strong software


partner. Gemcom Surpac provides a
wide range of content, flexibility and
functionality, allowing us to increase
the quality of our work.
Rainer Westermann,
Manager of the Geology Mining
Team, Rheinkalk GmbH

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Aerial view of the Asbeck quarry at the Menden-Hnnetal property.

Technology applied
to improve workflows
The German market requires around
7 million tonnes of lime annually, and
Rheinkalk GmbH meets the major
share of the demand. Headquartered
in Wlfrath, Germany, Rheinkalk
(www.rheinkalk.de) is a subsidiary of
Lhoist Group, which owns 90 plants
and leads the market in providing
products derived from limestone
calcinations.

With more than 105 years of experience in lime production,


Rheinkalk itself has 10 sites that supply the chemical, steel,
environmental protection and building material industries with
lime and dolomite domestically and internationally. Its product
sales amount to approximately 2.9 million tonnes annually. The
manufacturers two largest production sites are its WlfrathFlandersbach and Menden-Hnnetal properties.
Over the last 10 years, Germanys leading lime producer has
applied technology to improve workflows. The staff counts
the Surpac software as an integral part of their day-to-day
operations. Parent company Lhoist also has a number of
Surpac licenses that approximately 40 company geologists,
engineers and surveyors use at the head office in Belgium and
at operating properties in France, Poland, China, Brazil, Russia
and Czech Republic. In Surpac, they create block models and
open pit mine designs. They also perform short-, mid- and longterm planning.
We use Surpac all over the world, says Rainer Westermann,
Manager of the Geology Mining Team at Rheinkalk. It provides
important capabilities for organising and maintaining our data
sets so that our teams can easily access and utilise them.

Superior tool improves work quality


Geologist Markus Oehmen views a fault at the
Salzhemmendorf property.

Quarry block model developed with Surpac.


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For corporate teams working across Lhoist business units,


Surpac is their main productivity tool. Whether they model
geology at headquarters or create a monthly mine plan onsite,
collaboration is smoother and easier for all groups involved.
They all have access to the same, up-to-the-minute data;
consequently, the opportunities for synergy are considerable.
Productivity has increased since Rheinkalks global adoption
of Surpac. That is because Surpac enhances data accuracy,
consistency and protection by storing geology, planning and
drilling data in one system for use across business units.
Westermann recalls how Rheinkalk handled block modelling
before acquiring the Gemcom software. The company
outsourced those activities to an outside company; however,
management sought to bring that responsibility back under
the companys supervision because some data was lost or
compromised as it moved between the contractor and company
personnel.

We selected Surpac because we needed to improve the


quality of the work, explains Westermann. We also wanted
to implement a digital mine planning system and provide
common tools to communicate about geological block models
within our department and across business units.

Gemcom excels over industry counterparts


Westermann and his team also evaluated Datamine in their quest
for a superior mine planning system, but Gemcoms software
contained more flexibility and functionality. In addition, Gemcom
had dependable, knowledgeable resources in Germany. Therefore,
Rheinkalk found it advantageous to hire a Gemcom distributor
to spearhead the software implementation and provide training
and technical assistance in the German language. Gemcom
also commits to ongoing research and development with regular
product updates and enhancements. These were important
considerations in Rheinkalks purchasing decision.
Since the implementation, Rheinkalk personnel have
participated in Gemcom training classes to upgrade their skills.
Rheinkalk Geologist Markus Oehmen attended a Gemcomsponsored seminar recently. I learned to master the latest
geostatistical tools in Surpac, he says. This training will help
me estimate block models faster and more precisely.

One tool, multiples uses


Rheinkalk staff has marked success using Surpac at the
Wlfrath-Flandersbach plant, which has a quarry production
of 10 million tonnes of limestone annually, in addition to
approximately 3 million tonnes of overburden per year.
Plant personnel manufacture various types of lime in different
furnaces or kilns according to customer specifications.
Westermann notes that limestone rock from the quarry is a
chemically composed product derived from calcinations. From
exploration work and core drilling, the staff creates Surpac
geological and geochemical models that genuinely exemplify
the chemical composition and main structural elements of
the limestone deposits. Quarry employees enter the drillhole
and borehole data from the quarry operation and update it in
Surpac. They distribute that data to the geologists, who conduct
their grade control work. From there, the data goes to the
purchasing engineers for equipment budgeting, procurement
and materials management.

Surpac automates nearly 200 tasks


The automation of various routine and special tasks enables
staff to work faster and more proficiently. Oehmen has
spearheaded the creation of nearly 200 customised Surpac
macros to automate input functions, plan updates, interrogate
maps by date, count volumes, and design forms. In addition,
there are macros to calculate cut-off curves and cycle times for
mobile equipment on block models.
Oehmen explains, We developed our own macro-based user
interface under Surpac and embedded Surpac functions within
those macros. We standardised file naming and colourations for
different chemical content, block models, line sequences and
maps for our 10 deposits in Germany. The result is that various
users and departments have access to geological and deposit
data in standard file formats.
Another reason for establishing macros was to present shortterm data in a standardised manner. This is a useful capability
at the Wlfrath-Flandersbach plant, where daily blasts change
the pit shape from week to week. The location of the blastholes
are used to update the pit topography weekly, and then, the
most recent topography is needed for reserve calculations.
We developed a system whereby we can fill in short-term data
based on the coordinates of the blastholes. In addition to that,
analysis of these blastholes allow us to fill in a short-term block
model and organise weekly or monthly plans, Oehmen says.
Operating the macro-based system reduces the number of
surveys. In the past, the company surveyed its open pit
mines twice yearly, but by applying information generated
automatically, they need only survey once a year.

Some of the Surpac macros work optimally with the Gemcom


MineSched software, which Rheinkalk uses to produce mining
schedules and sequences. Applying the Surpac cycles macro
in MineSched, the staff calculates the total distances hauled
by truck and visualises the behaviour of the transport vehicles
during stages. All schedule details are viewed in 3D, providing
visual corroboration and easy communication of activity
sequences. In fact, MineScheds scheduling functionality, along
with its simulation capabilities, helped Rheinkalk open a new
extension a few years ago.
We needed to investigate whether the timing and dynamics
were right, so we simulated a lot of processes with diverse
constraints in MineSched and came up with a proposal for
opening the new quarry. Over the years, Surpac and MineSched
both have played a major role in our operations. Without
Surpac, we would have more repetitive work to do, possibly
make more procedural errors and need to add more personnel,
which would impede our main objectives to operate efficiently
and economically. Instead, Surpac enables our teams to
execute their work skillfully and in significantly shorter time, so
were driving productivity and cost efficiencies in our operations.
We are delighted to have these Gemcom tools to aid our
progress, Westermann concludes.

Rheinkalk GmbH
Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Surpac
Gemcom MineSched
Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Training
Technical support

Conveyor belt between the Rohdenhaus crusher and


washing plant.

Working faster and more efficiently


In addition to financial savings regarding surveying, the Surpac
macro language saves time. Oehmen cites the integration of
a standardised plotting feature to produce quarry maps with
German cliff symbols and standard legends and colours for
block models. I can produce a plot of regions, topography,
a drillhole map and block model slides by simply clicking a
button. The macro produces my selection, sends it to the
plotter, and I get it in a defined scale without added work,
Oehmen says.
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Pre-screening at the Wlfrath-Flandersbach plant.

Vision of improved competitiveness


achieved by Chinas Shougang Mining
Company with Gemcom Surpac
In China, the utilisation of mining productivity software
is moving into the mainstream as the industry in the
country sees examples of the value they deliver. In
2004, Shougang Mining Company, an iron ore producer
based in Beijing seeking to be at the forefront of
the use of technology in mining, took the lead in the
adoption of such solutions. Their aim was to boost their
competitiveness and increase efficiency by improving
the technical capabilities of their employees through
the replacement of manual geology and mine planning
methods as part of its Digital Mine Project.
Needing easy-to-use, Chinese-language software that firsttime users could learn quickly, along with user support in
their native-tongue, Shougang turned to Gemcom and its
Surpac software. Since adopting the software, Shougang
has used Surpac daily in geology, mine planning, design,
survey, and production.

I can clearly see the positive results from the


implementation of Surpac as part of our Digital Mine
Project. The Surpac initiative has significantly altered
the traditional manual mining work methods, raising
the level of technology that has been employed by
industry in China to new heights. The work quality and
work rate within the professional technical teams has
certainly been advanced, says Ms. Sun, explaining
how the software has helped to improve the companys
competitiveness.
Mao Quing Hua, Mining Engineer and Geological
Specialist adds: The implementation of Surpac
has resulted in invaluable interactive technical
communications between our geologists, surveyors
and engineers. The visualisation of the mine designs in
Surpac, as an example, has allowed for more efficient
and practical work.

Another way in which Surpac has aided the organisations


efficiency is through improvements made possible by the
softwares ability to automate routine user tasks and
mine planning workflows. These automated processes
were developed to support the specific needs of the
company in conjunction with local Gemcom services and
support. The result has been a significant increase in
workforce efficiency.
Resource and grade calculations, especially for large
areas and/or multiple constraints, can now be completed
by Shougang technical personnel in just a few minutes,
compared with hours or even days previously and with
higher accuracy. In another example, an optimisation
task that used to take one person several months can
now be done in just 10 minutes, as long as technical and
economic parameters are selected, concludes Ms. Sun.

About Shougang Mining Company


Headquarters: Beijing, China
ASX symbol: MRE
Shougang Mining Company is part of the
Shougang Group, one of Chinas largest
steel makers.
Shougang Group subsidiaries are listed
on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong stock
exchanges.
Web site: www.shougang.com.cn
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Shougang open pit mining operation.

IAMGOLD drives threefold mine


expansion with Gemcom technology
The Gemcom GEMSTM solutiona mainstay at IAMGOLDs Omai and
Rosebel Mines since 1991improves communication and collaboration
Countries: Botswana, Canada, Ecuador, Ghana, Mali, Suriname
Objective:
Support exploration and mining functions and promote efficiency, information
sharing and collaboration among interdepartmental groups.
Approach:
Upgrade to GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server and employ Gemcom to convert
multiple data sets into a single database environment.

Having Gemcom GEMS here is an advantage from a human resources


standpoint. The software has worldwide recognition, so it will be much easier to
find people already trained in GEMS compared to other software.
Renaud Adams, Vice President and General Manager,
IAMGOLD Corporation

IT Improvements:
Amalgamation of 27 projects into a single data repository.

Centralised, easy access to the correct data.

Automated backup and protection against unauthorised data changes.

Compatibility with third-party mining software.

Business Benefits:
Streamlined workflows and cross-functional collaboration.

Improved communications between system users.

Easy-to-learn functionality, which accelerates staff proficiency.

Real-time business intelligence for making strategic mining decisions.

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Rosebel Mine, Suriname

A bright start
Toronto, Canada-based IAMGOLD
Corporation (TSX: IMG; NYSE: IAG)
is a top, mid-tier gold producer that
began trading publicly in 1996.The
corporation (www.iamgold.com) owns
eight different operations in North
America, South America and Africa;
two non-gold assets that provide
significant cash flow; and four
development projects that afford
continual growth.

Acquired in November 2006, the companys crown jewel


is the Rosebel open pit mine in Suriname, South America.
Rosebel produced 276,000 ounces of gold in 2007. However,
its significant unrealised value has prompted the company
to undertake an $18.4 million expansion to increase annual
production and boost metallurgical recovery from 93 to
95 percent. As the multi-phase expansion goes full tilt,
the companys workforce will mine four different pits (and
potentially a fifth) approximately 6 kilometres apart at Rosebel,
moving an average of 120,000 tonnes of material daily. The
ongoing expansion will elevate the production level above
300,000 ounces per year; however, Rosebel has the potential
to grow considerably above this level.
Rosebel has been booming since day one. We have only been
in operation for about four years but are already undergoing
a third expansion, says Renaud Adams, Vice President and
General Manager of IAMGOLD.

A solid part of the corporate culture


Early on IAMGOLD standardised on the GEMS collaborative
mining system to gain efficiency. The software enables the
exchange of timely, accurate information among interdependent
functions, such as geology, planning, surveying and scheduling.
For years, IAMGOLD enjoyed success with GEMS at its Omai
site in Guyana. The software also has been in use at the
Rosebel site for some time. Prior to Rosebels acquisition,
Cambior, the company which owned the mine at the time, had
adopted GEMS. Employing their software of choice, Cambior
staff set up Rosebel mining data in GEMS, which protected the
information, saved time and made the transfer to IAMGOLD an
easy exercise. After the data transfer, the IAMGOLD staff could
immediately start creating projects with the data.

Geological interpretation constructed with GEMS.


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From the very beginning, there was a strong push for all
departments engineering, surveying, geology to use the
same mining software package. GEMS software was part of the
corporate culture at the start. We never entertained changing the
software, says Eric Ramsey, IAMGOLDs Senior Mine Geologist.
In addition, several Cambior employees who transferred to
IAMGOLD were avid GEMS users.

Overcoming the tight labour pool


Gemcoms system helps the company address the scarcity of
qualified workers brought on by the mining boom. This issue
hit home for IAMGOLD, whose own staff of skilled expatriates
dwindled last year due to the competition among mining
companies. Facing immediate demands for skilled workers,
IAMGOLD now draws from a pool of South American nationals
with limited knowledge, skills and mine training. It has been
difficult to maintain a high-quality, technical operation at
Rosebel, Adams admits.
Gemcom addresses this issue by making its mine collaboration
software simple to use, which enables new and less skilled
employees in underdeveloped areas to grasp the training they
need and become capable users quickly. The GEMS software
is well documented and is an easy-to-use product, Adams
observes.
Many Chilean job candidates who have sought employment
recently at IAMGOLD are familiar with GEMS, so the company
expects to tap from this pool of skilled employees when it
expands further in South America.

Better collaboration with a single database


IAMGOLD originally acquired several licenses of the GEMS
Desktop version from Cambior. Over time, four groups were
all working on the same depositsbut in different databases.
The grade control, surveying, engineering and mine exploration
groups created separate data sets for their portion of a project,
which caused accuracy, data reliability and communication
issues. A group would export data from another groups
database into its own, which was time-consuming. Periodically
the data sets required manual synchronisation and validation.
Eventually the Microsoft Access databases contained 27
various projects of drill holes, solids, profiles, pit designs
and block models. The amount of information was expanding
beyond the softwares limits, putting the data in jeopardy.
IAMGOLD needed to eliminate redundancy and merge those
various compilations into a single, scalable structure with
multiuser access. Janice Martin was Gemcoms implementation
manager for the migration to GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server.
She configured the data model to support the companys
workloads, departments and security requirements.

It was a successful implementation, Ramsey says. Our


migration to GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server brought those
separate databases together, so that everybody could work on
the current data set. Now we have everything in one controlled,
protected structure, along with better collaboration and
communication among our departments. Approximately 30
persons currently use GEMS.
Gemcom implemented security permissions to protect the data,
which are helpful when new hires, who may possess various
levels of training, join the company. We can protect our data,
while allowing employees to be trained on the system, Adams
says.

A jewel of a tool for many tasks


The GEMS solution houses nine different projects, including
ore ratings for the three Rosebel pits in production. With 3D
renderings, GEMS is useful for the following activities: ore/
waste packets, daily advance working faces, volumetrics,
remaining ore/waste in the pits, mine-out ore/waste packets,
resource estimates, new assay and blast hole importing,
augers, trenches, structural mapping, production block models,
density models and drilling patterns. Im using GEMS every
day, Ramsey says. It is hard to imagine how grade control
would be without it. We also update all of the diamond drilling
statistics in GEMS for resource development and exploration.
The engineering team uses GEMS for their short-term planning
and annual mine plan budgets. Employing the Cut Evaluation
feature, they conduct daily scenarios, watch operations
animated on the screen and verify production targets.
The GEMS survey application aids surveyors mining strategy,
assisting with surveying backfill and topography pickups,
as well as pit, dump and road designs. Before designing
the packets, the surveyors go directly into the ore control
workspaces, get packet limit positions, upload them into their
real-time global positioning system (GPS) and mark them out
in the field. They download the current topographic information
directly into GEMS, which is simple to do, Ramsey explains.

Wenco fleet management software programmes making data


transfer straightforward. Even the new laboratory management
system that IAMGOLD is evaluating for purchase can work with
GEMS. GEMS with a SQL Server database gives us an edge.
Many different products we buy can interface easier with GEMS
than with Vulcan, says Ramsey.

IAMGOLD Corporation
Solutions at a Glance

Gemcom Whittle

In addition, GEMS complements the Gemcom Whittle software,


IAMGOLDs main tool for long-term planning. We import the
Whittle shell into GEMS and the production blocks into Whittle
and vice-versa. It all works quite well, Ramsey says.

Microsoft SQL Server

He and his colleagues employ the Whittle strategic mine


planning tool in a number of ways: for calculating reserves,
optimising pit designs, and analysing drilling and mining
decisions. Whittle helps them identify sensitive areas that
need additional information and ultimately, to secure capital to
advance drilling activities.

Primary Applications:
Gemcom GEMS

AutoCAD

Global positioning system

Wenco fleet management system

Gemcom Services:
Database consolidation and migration

Software deployment

Onsite training and knowledge transfer

Ongoing technical support

Return on investment
IAMGOLD has built up considerable expertise and proficiency
by using Gemcom technologies over the years. Proficiency and
real-time GEMS dataaccessible on-demandserve to improve
decision making. And informed decisions can lead to better
margins, lower costs and more gold discoveries. The gold
miner has set a goal of adding a minimum of 50,000 ounces of
production by 2010, and will continue its aggressive exploration
and development programmes. GEMS will continue to play a
prominent role in these endeavours.
The increase in productivity, quality and performance that we
have gained by doing our jobs in GEMS paid for our software
investment. We want to continue taking advantage of what the
Gemcom solution offers, Adams concludes.

Shared platform with smooth interfaces


Incorporating the latest data and drawings into GEMS with
an industry-standard database engenders fluid, proficient
workflows. The software interfaces with GPS, AutoCAD and
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Blast on the Pay Caro pit.

With Gemcom GEMS and Gemcom Whittle,


Centerra Gold drives efficiency and
maximises potential of its mineral properties
Personnel at Centerras Boroo operation, Mongolias largest hard rock
gold mine, find Gemcom software indispensable for cross-functional collaboration
Countries: Canada, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, United States
Objective:
Establish a platform that enables cross-departmental collaboration and
maximises the potential of current properties.
Approach:
Employ Gemcom GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server and Gemcom Whittle
software to build staff efficiency and aid geological modelling, open pit
optimisation,
and mine planning.

Having a sophisticated data management tool put us in a good position early


on. It has paid for itself by preventing problems that could occur from using
out-dated information in reports.
Mike Kelly, Mine Manager, Boroo Mine, Centerra Gold Inc.

IT Improvements:
Seamless data integration and interfaces to third-party systems.

Security provisions and policies for user privileges to prevent


unauthorised changes.

Availability and access to relevant, accurate information.

Business Benefits:
Estimation and drilling accuracy, enabling the recovery of approximately 91
percent of gold.

Easy, fast assessment of economic potential of company mineral


properties.

Better insight into mining performance, costs, and results.

Facilitation of smooth interactions between geological and


engineering functions.

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Centerras Boroo Mine, Mongolia.

Growth-oriented
company realises the
full benefit of its holdings
Centerra Gold Inc. (TSX:CG) acquires,
explores, develops and operates gold
properties in Central Asia, the former
Soviet Union and other emerging
markets worldwide. The Toronto,
Canada-based company (www.
centerragold.com) has a 100 percent
equity interest in Mongolias largest
hard rock gold mine, Boroo. It is the
first noteworthy foreign investment
for industrial development in
Mongolia since 1997.

In addition to Boroo, Centerra also owns the Kumtor gold mine


in the Kyrgyz Republic and interests in the Gatsuurt property
located 35km from Boroo.
Located 110 kilometres west-northwest of Ulaanbaatar, the
Boroo mine and mill complex began commercial production
in March 2004. The property has produced approximately
200,000 ounces of gold annually. The construction of an
almost 4-million tonne per annum heap leach facility at the
Boroo mine will enable the processing of low-grade ores.

Easy-to-use software increases productivity


A year before the Boroo mine began production, Centerra
selected GEMS as its block modelling and mine planning
solution, along with the Whittle software to optimise the open
pits. The company noted that GEMS is the leading, universally
recognised mine planning system backed by superior training
and professional services. They were also impressed by
Gemcoms commitment to software development.
As GEMS is used widely throughout our operations, we have
much more experience using it than any other software. We
especially like Gemcoms innovation, online assistance and
technical support, says Mike Kelly, Mine Manager.
At Boroo, GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server enables 40
geologists, engineers, surveyors, and mine planners to work
smarter, faster, and more productively. GEMS software tools help
the geology and engineering departments analyse and survey the
mineral deposits and plan mining operations on a short- or longterm basis in the most economical manner. These benefits are
realised as GEMS promotes a dynamic, team-based environment
with real-time collaboration. The system documents a number
of elements and values for the mining team; thereby fostering
seamless, transparent communication and data integrity across
functions. Having access to current data, shared through one
system, improves the quality of mine plans.

Blasthole drilling.

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Both GEMS and Whittle are easy to use; therefore, knowledge


sharing and collaboration occurs much fastereven among
inexperienced users. Beginners learn to use GEMS quickly
because it has understandable menu functions and tools,
making it easier to train new employees. Whittle has an intuitive
user interface that helps beginners start building economic
models and optimising the pit shapes effectively, Kelly says.

Accurate geology decisions


Oyungerel B., Boroos Chief Geologist, and her staff are
responsible for modelling the geology, estimating reserves,
developing resource reports, compiling data on the deposit,
and overseeing drilling operations. Generally, the gold deposit is
lying flat or sub-horizontal and extends over an area measuring
2.5x1.5 kilometres. Throughout the area, mineralised zones
occur up to 400 metres wide and typically average from 10 to
30 metres in thickness.
Leading-edge 3D visualisation tools enable Boroo geologists to
map and estimate the gold mineralisation between sedimentary
and granitic rocks and faults with confidence. We do all of
our observations in 3D and use the GEMS tools to determine
how best to mine within the geology and to design our drillhole
layouts. Thanks to GEMS, our estimation and drilling accuracy
enable the company to recover approximately 91 percent of the
gold in the ore, Oyungerel explains.

Simplification of grade control management


Boroos staff achieves their ore control and waste management
objectives and performs reconciliations in GEMS. With the
system, they estimate reserves daily for ore control using
polygon drawings for plotting maps and colour coding areas.
As Oyungerel notes, GEMS is our main system for performing
daily grade control. Our ore control geologists create ore
reserve packets in GEMS, and we also have procedures for
grade control set up in the system that the crews follow daily.
We have several mining shifts, so GEMS helps us ensure our
crews are mining correctly pit by pit and that production aligns
with our estimates.
Boroos grade control procedures are complicated;
nevertheless, using GEMS volumetrics and resource reporting
tools and blasthole assay data streamlines the work for grade
control geologists. They can characterise volumetric changes
occurring frequently in their mining environment. Without GEMS
the staff would not have complete survey data for their reports
and calculations, which would make it difficult to determine
production schedules and capital expenditures, to maximise the
extraction of ore, or maintain production targets.
GEMS has all of the information we want to see united in
one systemblock model data, drillhole values, the quantity

and classification of ore grades and production reports.


The software makes geostatistics, mapping and volumetric
calculations fast and accurate. If I want to see how much
overburden material was removed, I can just run volumetrics
and get my answers from it. GEMS helps me be more
productive because I can test various scenarios and run
computations fast and easily, Oyungerel says.

Direction for engineering operations


Boroos engineers and surveyors use GEMS to gain greater
clarity for short-, mid- and long-term planning; to test gold
production strategies and to make informed decisions about
engineering activities.
Its easy to set up different plans and designs in GEMS and
to see all of the variables and assess the costs in relation
to mining potential. I can make the best decision from many
options, says Kelly.
Kelly also acknowledges that another advantage of using the
GEMS system is that it promotes governance and protection
for data assets. Centerra assigns user privileges so that some
personnel can access, view, and use the data, while others can
add and change it. The policies ensure that the most current
information gets incorporated into strategies, analyses, and
reports. Having a sophisticated data management tool put us
in a good position early on. It has paid for itself by preventing
problems that could occur from using out-dated information in
reports, Kelly says.
Oyungerel agrees, adding that the GEMS system mitigates
the risks and prevents errors involved in data transfer. When
she travels from the head office to a mine site, she uses the
convenient Pack-and-Go module of GEMS, which allows
her to transfer data back and forth and work remotely. I can
synchronise my data with Pack-and-Go and work on a project
wherever I am, she says.

GEMS and Whittle integrate well with our other systems and
processes, including Microsoft Excel. They both have good
import and export menus to and from other systems; therefore,
we can develop reports in the formats we desire. This gives
us more analytical opportunities in order to decide the best
solution, Kelly acknowledges.
Whittle modules that play a prominent role in Boroos analyses
include Multi-Element, Mining Width, Multi-Mine, and Stockpiles
and Cut-offs. They produce effective results to use in deciding
whether to mine or continue drillingall with a keen focus on
cost control and profitability. The engineers can manipulate the
block size, typically increasing it because of the orebody and
calculation time. In addition, they optimise the pit shells for
various factors, including cash flow.

Centerra Gold Inc.


Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:

Gemcom GEMS

Gemcom Whittle

Microsoft SQL Server

Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Training

Technical support

Boroo planners transfer Whittle outcomes into resource and


reserve statements and company reports. After the engineers
perform their economic study, they return a Whittle shell to
Oyungerel, who in turn, uses the pit shell for volumetrics. She
adds, We trust the information from Whittle.
With trusted information available via innovative software,
Centerra promotes its strategy of bringing the full benefit
of its current holdings to market and delivering production
efficiencies. The future will find the company undertaking
additional drilling programs, performing exploration work and
drill testing targets for additional mineralisation around the
existing pits. As those activities expand, the company may
require more technology resources. Were now considering
MineSched to facilitate more flexible scheduling. Thats another
thing we like about partnering with Gemcomthe software
choicesand the fact that we get good value for the money
with their software, Kelly concludes.

Boroo mine team.

Whittle enables staff to maximise pit potential


GEMS interfaces seamlessly with Whittle, Boroos pit
optimisation software of choice. After creating a GEMS block
model with its grades and values and reserve estimation,
Boroo geologists export it into Whittle for the engineering group
to conduct surface planning, establish designs, and determine
operational costs.
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Boroo mine operations.

Shore Gold strengthens exploration


programme with Gemcom GEMS
Multifaceted mining software proves valuable for estimating diamond resources
Countries: Canada
Objective:
Model and calculate ore body reserves
during advanced-stage exploration.
Approach:
Employ the Gemcom GEMS software to
interpret kimberlite diamond deposits and
estimate pre-production reserves.

IT Improvements:
Immediate access to organised, up-to-date mining information.

Data consistency company-wide.

Data consolidation into a central system.

Streamlined data management.

Easy sharing of complex modelling data across groups.

Business Benefits:
In-depth analysis of type and composition of kimberlite minerals to determine mining feasibility.

Data integrity and validation for National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) compliance.

Improved decision making.

Time and financial savings resulting from automated user access and model development.

Strong confidence in geological block models.

Attainment of return on investment.

The GEMS product is integral for


constructing 3D models on time and
giving us hard numbers that we can
publish to comply with NI 43-101.
Therefore, we have a great measure
of comfort that we are constructing
models in line with industry
standards.
Pieter Du Plessis,Vice President
of Exploration, Shore Gold Inc.
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Star Diamond Project, Saskatchewan, Canada

Exploration from a
position of strength
Shore Gold Inc. (www.shoregold.
com), which trades on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (TSX) under the
SGF stock symbol, acquires,
explores and develops mineral
proper ties. Its current endeavours
include the advancement of the
Star Diamond Project and the
Orion South Kimberlite in the For t
a la Corne Kimberlite Cluster in
central Saskatchewan, Canada.

Shore recently conducted several phases of underground bulk


sampling on the Star Kimberlite, where the company recovered
and valued diamond parcels it will use in the mineral reserve
calculation. Shore also sank a shaft to estimate resources
for the Orion South Kimberlite, for which it has a 60 percent
interest. To advance these projects, the company employs the
Gemcom GEMS solution.
Before implementing the GEMS block modelling package, the
Shore geologists used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and a
competitors basic software to visualise the kimberlites. However,
that rudimentary software did not help the staff construct
industry-standard, in-depth, three-dimensional (3D) models.
Our geologists could not grasp all of the different data and
analyse multiple data sets in 3D simultaneously, explains
Pieter Du Plessis, the companys Vice President of Exploration.
Consequently, we did not have a certain level of confidence in
our geological models and resource estimates. We reached a
point in our exploration on the Star Kimberlite where we needed
to scale up to professional-level software.

A comprehensive, long-term solution


Undertaking a major evaluation programme for its properties,
Shore needed a sophisticated 3D modelling methoda solution
that interacts with existing applications and is built around
a central database. This is critical because Shore publicly
discloses scientific and technical information about its mineral
projects in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101
rule. In fact, the aim of the Star Kimberlite advanced evaluation
is to define an NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource followed
by a mineral reserve. Therefore, Shore sought powerful
software to improve data interpretation and visualisation and
help it portray information in the prescribed format.

Orion deposit and core shack.


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In their quest for the right solution, Shore management


evaluated Vulcan and several other mining products. However,
because Gemcom had delivered excellent technical support
and training for a South African mining company that Du Plessis
had worked with previously and numerous Shore geologists had
used the software, GEMS was the clear choice.

From my past experience, Gemcom always responded quickly


to inquiries and requests for assistance. The outstanding
service provided by the Gemcom engineers in South Africa
made it an easy decision for us to incorporate GEMS here in
North America in a different environment, he says.
Additionally, management realised the software would meet the
companys needs over the long term. GEMS particularly stood
out in this area, according to Du Plessis. GEMS is not only
suitable for exploration and drill holes, he says, but it is also
the type of software that we can continue using to interpret the
kimberlites as we progress into diamond mining. We quickly
saw that Shore could obtain full value from GEMS. In addition,
GEMS modular framework makes it easy for Shore to purchase
additional components to aid future diamond mining, production
and scheduling.

GEMS increases confidence in geological model


The Gemcom solution provides compelling value in analysing
potential diamond holdings in the Star and Orion South
Kimberlites. Using the softwares powerful graphical interface,
the geologists create models representing how many carats are
contained per tonne of rock. Then, the resource estimate can
be converted to a mineral reserve and later used in a feasibility
study, assuming the reserve shows economic potential.
GEMS helps us increase the level of confidence that we can
have in the geological model. There is so much data to be
considered for the resource estimate. GEMS lets us bring in
multiple data sets to obtain a full understanding of all of the
data. It is easy to extract good 3D visualisations for use in
investor-related presentations, Du Plessis says.
An independent, third-party company and Shores joint venture
partner, Newmont Mining Corporation, audit the models. These
companies have produced similar tonnage estimates in line
with the estimates generated from GEMS. We have a great
measure of comfort that we are constructing models in line
with industry standards, Du Plessis adds.

Data integrity and speedy access


GEMS comprises scalable architecture built around industrystandard Microsoft SQL Server databases. With the ability
to rapidly import and export data to applications such as
AutoCAD, GEMS provides information sharing capabilities,

reducing the time spent on data management. Shore personnel


initially maintained data in numerous Excel spreadsheets. This
approach affected data integrity and version control, making
it cumbersome to access the latest data. Perhaps the biggest
challenge overall was this approach impeded the companys
ability to accurately model kimberlite bodies.

We are using the logger in a quantitative, systematic manner.


Without it, we wouldnt be able to access the central database
from the field, and there would be more opportunities for
manual errors, Du Plessis says.

Shore Gold Inc.


Solutions at a Glance

Convenience, versatility and functionality

Instead, Shore gained ground by working with Gemcom personnel


to deploy a SQL Server database with the GEMS implementation,
writing software codes to accommodate Shores specific data
naming conventions. Along with an audit trail and timeline of
all transactions, the solution provides automated role-based
privileges to mitigate unauthorized changes.

When working in the field, Shore geologists use the Pack and
Go module of GEMS, a handy feature that allows them to
move data back and forth easily in SQL Server and work on it
remotely.

Gemcom GEMS
Microsoft SQL Server
AutoCAD

This used to be a manual process that required a lot of


management time to make sure that the right people accessed
the right data. Our transition to GEMS with SQL Server gives us
data integrity and makes it easier and faster to access relevant
data. Now, data access is a seamless exercise that saves
time and money. Gemcom complemented our skills nicely. They
assisted us with the initial program code, which helped us
reach our objectives, says Du Plessis.
The company has completed the merging of its remaining
spreadsheets into SQL Server and pass the data to an
engineering company for auditing and conducting a resource
estimation. It will be a major milestone for us as an
organisation to declare a resource for the first time on the Star
Kimberlite, Du Plessis notes. In a few years, we will be able
to declare resources on some of our joint venture kimberlites
as well.

Our geologists use the Pack and Go module when we need


to transfer these models in a compact format to independent
third-party reviewers for auditing and verification. It is a very
convenient tool, says Du Plessis.

Primary Applications:

Gemcom Services:
Customisation
Custom Logger
Training
Technical support

Convenience, versatility and functionalityall are qualities within


GEMS that help advance exploration and diamond mining.
Although the economic feasibility of Shores mining properties
has not been determined yet, Du Plessis believes that GEMS
has proved its worth thus far.
If we had not built our block modelling capabilities in-house,
we would have needed to pay an outside contractor to do the
work for us, and it would have cost us much more. So, we are
accomplishing our goals with GEMS, he affirms.

Underground blast preparation.

A resource for logging kimberlites


Shore also purchased a customised drill hole logger from
Gemcom to help meet the specific requirements of viewing data
metre by metre and logging drill hole data onto laptops. Further
development of the logger by the Shore experts have added
customised project-specific codes, data validation, independent
stand-alone capabilities in the field, and real-time networked
operations from the field to the head office via satellite link.
The logger provides a comprehensive, yet easily customisable
solution for the acquisition of high-quality information in the
field. Consequently, quality assurance is part of the entire
workflow.
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Close-up view of recovered diamond.

Fronteer standardises on Gemcom GEMS for boosting


big deposits with strong production potential
Unique Unwrinkle and Unfold module in GEMS proves
instrumental in deriving full potential of folded deposits
Countries: Canada, Turkey, United States
Objective:
Address drillhole data management,
deposit modelling, resource estimation
and feasibility studies.
Approach:
Adopt Gemcom GEMS and its Unwrinkle
tool, which flattens folded deposits and
maintains the correct spatial relationship
between the points, enabling them to be
easily interpolated.

IT Improvements:
Seamless data continuity for folded deposits.
3D visualisation capabilities to aid delineation drilling and better define geometry and mineralisation.
Centralised system for efficiently managing and tracking drillhole data and interpretations.
Business Benefits:
More accurate resource estimations and delineation drilling.
Quick resource estimation for large deposits.
More confidence in mineral estimates.
Thorough evaluation of geologic trends in folded spaces.
Alleviation of duplicate time and effort in estimating sub-domains.
Increase in the deposits overall resource size by 23.5%.

GEMS played a central role in


helping expand the Michelin uranium
deposit from 16 million pounds
to 134 million pounds in a short
timeframe.
Christopher Lee,
Chief Geoscientist, Fronteer
Development Group Inc.

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North-facing wall of Northumberlands existing pit.

Finding value with


science and technology
Employing science and technical
expertise in gold, copper and
uranium discoveries, Fronteer
Development Group Inc. (FRG:TSX,
AMEX) has built a covetable
reputation as a highly successful
exploration and development
company. Based in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Fronteer (www.
fronteergroup.com) finds major
deposits with strong production
potential by wisely embracing
modern exploration techniques,
understanding various deposit
systems and geology, and integrating
a wealth of data to extract maximum
value from its mineral resources.

Drilling at Fronteers Sandman project in Nevada.

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Fronteers leadership team, which possesses notable technical


and international expertise, commits to the companys Science
of Discovery approach. As Fronteers unique signature, this
approach has turned outstanding results for the company,
including an extensive portfolio of advanced-stage gold projects
in Nevada and a 40 percent interest in three gold and coppergold projects in northwestern Turkey. In 2005, Fronteer also
created Aurora Energy Resources (AXU-TSX) to develop its
world-class primary uranium deposit in Labrador, Canada
(Fronteer currently has a 42.3 percent interest in Aurora).
Our strategic, proprietary approach to scientifically driven
exploration has led Fronteer to not one, but five discoveries
in six yearsan unprecedented feat that has helped secure
the companys financial future, says Christopher Lee, Chief
Geoscientist, who has overseen the science used for Fronteer
and Aurora exploration projects and resource estimations.
Gemcoms GEMS solution is advanced technology that
enables us to translate targets into discoveries.

Advanced interpolation techniques


Fronteer considered several software vendors four years ago
when it needed to address resource estimation, 3D modelling
and drillhole data management. The GEMS solution was chosen
because Lee, having used it for more than eight years, was
familiar with its capabilities. The software even proved its merit
when Lee needed to optimise estimates for the companys
Northumberland property, a key asset and one of the largest
undeveloped Carlin-style deposits in Nevada with a gold-equivalent
resource of 2.44 million ounces indicated and 815,000 ounces
inferred. At Northumberland, complex folding controls the deposit
geometry and presents unique modelling challenges.
Fronteer adopted the GEMS Unwrinkle tool to temporarily flatten
these deposits in a secondary space and maintain the correct
spatial relationship between points for resource modelling
accuracy. Viewing the flattened deposit, Lee and his colleagues
can conduct geostatistical analyses, evaluating geologic trends
that are unapparent in the folded spaces. Lee says, With
these tools, our staff completed a new resource estimate for
the 100 percent-owned Northumberland gold project in June
2008, increasing the deposits overall gold-equivalent resource
size by 23.5 percent.

He further explains the value of the GEMS tool: Conventional


estimation methods only let us look in one direction at a time,
so we must sub-domain a larger, geometrically complex deposit
into a number of smaller ones to develop parameters specific
to the local geometry and estimate each domain independently.
With the Unwrinkle tool, we can treat the entire deposit as a
single geometrical domain and work with it as one entityas
opposed to fractioning it into smaller sub-domains and adding
everything together at the end. The Unwrinkle tool removes
the problem of domain boundaries and provides seamless
continuity in the data across these boundaries, which greatly
improves the confidence in these local estimates.
Additionally, the Unwrinkle tool alleviates the duplication of
time and effort spent estimating each sub-domain and abates
problems that can arise from less optimal estimates. It also
gives the staff more confidence in their resource models.

GEMS becomes Fronteers standard


Previously Fronteer used competitor software, but the company
made a corporate decision to employ GEMS across all of its
projects. Now the software is helping to steer direction on a
number of fronts. Geologists leverage the block modelling and
geostatistics modules to build 3D prototypes. Geologists tap
the drillholes tools to manage and study drillhole data.
Additionally, the GEMS resource evaluation features are useful
in the estimating process, according to Lee. GEMS has many
features that support our business operations, he says.
For example, in Central Labrador in Atlantic Canada, where
Aurora is defining one of the worlds largest primary uranium
deposits, staff manage drillhole data and monitor drillhole
deviation in real-time with GEMS. Aurora has recently updated
the resources for the Michelin, Jacques Lake and four satellite
deposits, which combined have a NI 43-101 resource of 83.9
million pounds of uranium (measured and indicated) and a
further 49.8 million pounds inferred.
GEMS played a central role in helping expand the Michelin
deposit and provided clear information to build the resources in
the district from 16 million pounds to 134 million pounds in a
short timeframe, Lee says.

The staff put GEMS to work in compiling the historical data


that was acquired in the exploration of that project. They also
employed the solution to monitor and manage new drillhole
data, guide their targeting, estimate resources and obtain
mineralisation details.
The 3D visualisation components of GEMS helped us
maintain the high level of accuracy that is required for our
current delineation drilling program, Lee points out. In
3D we can better understand and define the geometry and
mineralisation, which helps us determine any predictability of
the mineralisation, shape it and delineate the deposit. GEMS
has block modelling tools that assist us during the resource
estimation stage and in translating drillhole data into an
actual resource. I can take the solids, pit shells and mine
development solids that are produced by our engineers and
incorporate those numbers into our GEMS model as well. We
use it every step of the way.

deposits. Also, GEMS gives us that extra level of insight to help


us correctly evaluate potential acquisition projects.

Synergistic workflows
From the standpoint of workflow, GEMS unifies data into a
collaborative platform, engendering teamwork and efficiency
among Fronteer departments and disciplines. Data is available
at the ready via an associated, centralised database that
can hold burgeoning drillhole statistics. In addition, GEMS
integrates with other third-party software to accelerate
information transfer at Fronteer, allowing more focus on
revenue-generating activities and less worry about data integrity
during transfers.

Compelling 3D renditions

In essence, Fronteer has produced an exceptional portfolio by


identifying and quantifying world-class deposits where others
did not fare as well. Certainly, Fronteer has achieved more by
putting its Science of Discovery approach at the forefront and
leveraging the best technology available, which is why they
standardised on GEMS.

Delineation drilling requires a high degree of accuracy in the


drillhole pierce points; therefore, the staff trusts GEMS to help
them track the drilling activities in 3D in real time. In doing
so, they gain better control of their drillhole deviations and
assurance that they are accurately sampling the right areas.

Summing up their overall assessment of GEMS, Lee notes, We


have received return on our investment, especially with Aurora.
While the return is market-dependent on all of our projects, we
believe we have created real value for the company by using
proven, industry-recognised software.

Additionally, the 3D features in GEMS uncover larger deposits


on existing properties, giving Fronteer geologists a deeper
understanding of geometry controls and showing where
extensions are most feasible.

Fronteer Development
Company Solutions
at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom GEMS
Gemcom Services:
Software deployment
Training
Technical support

Plan view of GEMS block model showing grade


distribution within the deposit.

The GEMS tool is a big help in targeting and expanding our


resources, Lee says. Using 3D visualisation, we can estimate
the distribution of the metal in the ground and have greater
confidence in our decisions.
Fronteer also leverages the 3D graphics environment inside of
GEMS to convey topographic, drillhole, traverse, polyline and
point data in a compelling way. The graphical presentations
help make geometric concepts more meaningful to corporate
executives and investors, who in turn can advance decisions
that unlock optimal value from Fronteers mineral resources.
Lee says, We present our assets clearly in GEMS. Decision
makers appreciate the science that we are applying to these
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Oblique northwest view of GEMS block model showing


depth extents of known mineralisation.

Eastern Goldfields leverages Gemcom GEMS solution


to help find new deposits in old rocks
Robust geological models for resource estimation
Countries: South Africa
Objective:
Accelerate the geological modelling process cost effectively, while improving
productivity and data integrity.
Approach:
Move from classic geometric resource estimation to the Gemcom GEMS 3D
geological modelling, statistics and volumetrics-based estimation techniques,
while utilising Gemcom technical support services.

GEMS is a pliable and powerful tool that we can adapt for modelling
complicated ore zones in the Archaean Greenstones. GEMS is very good at
creating robust geological models from which we can estimate the resources.
Sam Mawson, Group Geologist, Eastern Goldfields, Inc.

IT Improvements:
Data accuracy and integrity.

Higher productivity via flexible analytical tools for planning, evaluation and
resource estimation.

Reduction in resource estimation time, from weeks to days.

Adaptive software for use in complicated geological environments.

Business Benefits:
Avoidance of costly mining mistakes.

Faster analysis and better decision-making.

Reliable ore body projections.

Better insight for exploration and strategic mine planning.

Escalation of the companys business plans and regional exploration


programme.

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Lily Mine, South Africa.

Faster resource estimation


Eastern Goldfields, Inc. (EGI) is
a small, but growing company
undertaking a tall task.
Headquartered in Nelspruit, South
Africa, the junior gold mining
company (www.easterngoldfields.
com) is exploring and developing new
deposits in the worlds oldest rocks.
One of those areas is the Barberton
Greenstone Belt of the Mpumalanga
Province, South Africa, home of the
oldest recognised orogenic gold ores
on earth.

EGI owns a number of properties in the Barberton Greenstone


Belt. In addition, the producer has highly prospective mineral
holdings, projects under feasibility study and profitable mining
operations.

can get it as an add-on, which is a more economical approach


for a small company.

In the northeast region of the Barberton Mountainland lies


EGIs current operating property, the Lily Mine. This millionounce operation comprises an open pit, a metallurgical plant,
an assay laboratory and related infrastructure. EGIs ambitious
business plan is to increase production from the Lily Mine,
extend its life with underground development and explore for
other substantial deposits.

During open pit mining at the Lily site, EGI geologists used
GEMS for exploration and ore body modelling. The software
helped them define the mineralised zone, determine resource
quantity, capture grade control data and maintain updated ore
body information. Before we deployed GEMS, it would take
us almost a week to measure a resource using our old hand
method. Now we can perform the estimates from exploration
data in days, Mawson comments.

The Lily Mine started as an open pit mine in 2000. At the


time, the company wanted to transition from classical resource
estimation to a computer-based method to improve accuracy,
speed and data integrity.
Measuring a resource in a complicated environment using the
old-fashioned, manual way took weeks, recalls Sam Mawson,
Group Geologist for EGI. We needed robust geological
modelling software to accelerate the process. We also must be
able to show competency in our work and present our ore body
mineral deposits to investors in a professional manner.

Software with the right mix of features


The Gemcom account team enthusiastically recommended
the GEMS Resource Evaluation Edition and demonstrated it
onsite at EGI. Intrigued with the softwares logic and features,
EGI engaged Gemcoms Johannesburg office to conduct initial
modelling and resource estimation within GEMS.
We had already calculated the resources for the project in the
classic geometric method, and the results from GEMS came
back in line with the classic method. Therefore, we realised that
Gemcoms resource estimation package worked, and we could
obtain fast results. We also were impressed that Gemcom was
making an effort on our behalf. says Mawson.

Exploration diamond drilling at the Lily Mine.


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During the selection process, the technical staff also explored


other software options, but they were more expensive and not
as flexible compared to GEMS. Other products came with many
unnecessary peripherals we were never going to use, Mawson
says. With GEMS, we could select a package with just the right
features at an attractive price. If we need another module, we

Software for complicated ore zones

Deposits in the Archean Greenstone Belts present special


mining challenges with the ore body having an inconsistent
distribution of gold. Although richer, the deposits exist within
small, narrow veins and asymmetrical mineralised zones.
This uneven grade distribution in irregular shaped zones can
give rise to inaccuracies and variations. Therefore, a precise,
detail-oriented geological modelling solution helps to ensure
representative resources, promote efficient mining and
contain production costs. GEMS demonstrates strong agility in
estimating resources in small Archean Greenstone deposits,
as well as large kimberlite- or platinum-hosted deposits.
Additionally, the software provides analytical, estimation and
query tools so that the EGI geologists can ensure continued
accuracy of the deposit model.
GEMS is pliable and powerful enough that we can adapt it for
the complicated ore zones in the Archean Greenstone Belts
and develop multiple geological solids. We use the exploration,
underground and surface open pit mining information in GEMS
to upgrade our resource estimates. GEMS is very good at
creating robust geological models from which we can estimate
resources, Mawson explains.

Going underground with GEMS


EGI is accelerating its regional exploration programme on
existing acreage and developing a long-life underground
operation at the Lily Mine. Hoping to extend the mines
resources beyond 17 years, the company has hired consultants
to assist the effort. They are interpreting and designing the
underground mining operations, including the location of
the geological stopes. Using GEMS, Mawson reconciles the

consultants findings. He acknowledges, Were using the


software to check their calculations. Overall, we are getting
the same results. The design of the underground mine will be
based on the geological solids that we generate in GEMS.
The technical staff depends on the softwares powerful 3D
solids modelling tools to create comprehensive development
layouts and stope designs. GEMS volumetrics and resource
reporting features help them determine stope volumes, dilution
and mineable reserves efficiently and accurately. The GEMS
software creates high-quality 3D models, Mawson notes.

Application interfaces
EGI has a small staff, so data management is simple. However,
GEMS supports data management because it seamlessly
interfaces with other software, enabling various disciplines to
share information. For example, EGIs other geologist interfaces
GEMS with AutoCAD. The EGI draftsperson imports information
from GEMS into the MicroStation software to prepare mine
plans for regulatory and investor presentations.

get on the phone and ask Gemcom for support its as simple
as that. And Gemcoms support is good. The upside for us is
that the more support we get and the more work we do in the
programme, the less support we need. For the most part, we
are becoming self-sufficient, says Mawson.
Buoyed by powerful Gemcom software and support, the EGI
staff is making solid contributions to a growing producer
engaged in some of South Africas most prospective regions.
We will continue using GEMS for the exploration and drilling
phases in other areas of the region after they come into
fruition. If we need to expand our capabilities, were confident
Gemcom will be here for us, Mawson concludes.

Eastern Goldfields, Inc. Lily


Mine Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom GEMS
MicroStation
AutoCAD
Model Maker Systems
Gemcom Services:
Consulting
On-site training
Technical support

The EGI surveyor generates monthly surface surveys in the


Model Maker Systems software for downloading into GEMS,
and from this process, the geologists can create surfaces,
reconcile mineable reserves and track dilution.
Another reason we purchased GEMS was because all of
these software packages interface quite well with it, Mawson
says. For example, we can export the sections and plans
that we create in GEMS directly into MicroStation. With this
integration, we have one less thing to do, which leaves more
time for strategic work. Best of all, we have effective, economic
Gemcom tools that aid our planning.

Loading and hauling.

Responsive support leads to self-sufficiency


While effective planning tools were critical requirements, a
substantial part of EGIs decision hinged on support services.
Gemcoms reputation for providing standout services were
key reasons we favored Gemcom over other mining software
providers and why we have stayed loyal to GEMS, says
Mawson.
In fact, the accessibility of technical support from the Gemcom
consultants and engineers, who possess broad mining
experience, has served to increase the EGI staffs efficiency
in block modelling software. If we have any problems, we just
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Lily 1st blast underground.

Nordkalk relies on Gemcom GEMS for quality


control and mining efficiency at limestone operations
Nordkalk doubles output of its key product with Gemcom software
Countries:
Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania,
Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden
Objective:
Improve the understanding and
management of deposits to mine more
efficiently and deliver high-quality products.
Approach:
Implement GEMS at headquar ters and
mine sites.

IT Improvements:
Flexible, low-maintenance system for exploration targets, field locations and mines.
Geological, planning, and survey data in one system.
85% faster ore reserve calculations; borehole quality maps 50% faster than manual methods.
Automation in daily blast control, saving 1,000-1,500 labour hours annually.
Business Benefits:
Superior quality control, which ensures customer satisfaction.
Mining efficiency and optimal use of limestone deposits.
Doubled output of high-quality white stone at one operation over the last 10 years.
Optimisation of wall rock removal volumes to avoid high capital costs.

GEMS is so integrated into our


entire mining structure giving
us accurate knowledge about the
deposits and helping us optimise
our various quality classesthat
we could not successfully handle
quality control or do mine planning
without it.
Gerhard Hakkarainen, Geologist,
Nordkalk Corporation

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Parainen Quarry.

Prominent European
limestone producer
Nordkalk Corporation (www.nordkalk.
com) extracts and processes
limestone into high-quality products
for industrial, agricultural and
environmental care. Headquartered
in Pargas in southwestern Finland
and operating at 30 locations in eight
countries, Nordkalk is the leading
producer of limestone based
products in northern Europe.

Approximately 14 million tonnes of limestone originate annually


from the companys mines and quarries. The quantities are
impressive considering some of the deposits are difficult to
mine, particularly at two of the companys major Parainen and
Lappenranta quarries. For example, the geology of the Parainen
deposit is complicated, and the rocks have been subjected to
three different deformation stages. The white metamorphosed
marblesurrounded by mica and diopside gneisses, granites
and amphibolitescontains an abundance of these rocks. In
one blast, the calcium carbonate content may vary from 15
to 95 percent. Therefore, it is a challenge to maintain mining
efficiency, while continuously ensuring that grades are not
diluted.

Ensuring product quality to meet customer


requirements
Limestone customers have individual needs and strict
quality requirements. With such complex deposits, Nordkalk
required software to control quality and effectively manage its
deposits. The company chose GEMS software for calculating
ore reserves, generating geological and grade block models,
producing maps, surveying daily blasts, and managing its daily
quality control stages. Additionally, the staff uses GEMS to
develop annual and long-term mining plans as well as waste
dump plans.

Aerial view of Pargas quarry.

Nordkalk geologists were among the first in the business to


forego manual methods and paper-based processing of their
data in favour of an early version of PC-based mining software
by Gemcom. Years later, when they required modern 3D
capabilities; more functionality; easy-to-use interfaces; and a
flexible, low-maintenance system for staffs of varying sizes at
its diverse field locations, Nordkalk upgraded to GEMS.
We saw the potential of automating much of the mine planning
process and easily calculating the effects of different mining
scenarios with GEMS. No other vendor had a system that was
as flexible and included many useful features for the price as
GEMS, says Gerhard Hakkarainen, Nordkalk Geologist, who
has personally used Gemcom software since 1997.

Blast map from -100 m level.

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and block models. Geology, surveying and quality personnel


manage a large number of quality parameters in GEMS,
including geological, chemical and physical properties. The
quality variations are easily visualised by colour coding. GEMS
allows grade control accuracy to the drillhole level. Detailed
information decreases the need for costly quality correction
measures down the line.
It would be difficult for us to satisfy customer demand for
accurate products with limited quality variations without GEMS.
It helps us control and optimise the different quality classes
so that we dont mine more than we need at a certain time,
Hakkarainen says.

Efficient mining to satisfy growing demand


Limestone is generally a bulk product at a low unit cost
compared to metals. Thus, ore extraction and waste rock
removal impact profitability. By obtaining detailed 3D geological
models in GEMS, the staff derives reliable calculations and
tonnages for rock and overburden removal. They also can avoid
blasting into waste rock and sustaining higher costs caused by
ore dilution.
The Parainen quarry provides 1.7 million tonnes of limestone
annually and because of its ore structure, wall rock removal
corresponding to at least 30 percent of production is needed.
The staff creates various designs for larger wall rock removals
from the GEMS block model to determine tonnages that will net
certain amounts of limestone.
Ive been able to minimise the wall rock volumes and focus
removal in the right places. With accurate GEMS data, we
generate long-term, strategic calculations and make the right
decisions about when to change our production systems or
acquire more ore reserves, Hakkarainen comments.

Expanding production through superior knowledge

Grade control accuracy

Although quality is paramount in a competitive marketplace, to


maximise profits Nordkalk also must ensure its deposits are
used optimally and mined efficiently. To do so, their geology,
surveying and engineering teams need thorough, accurate
information about the deposits and their variations.

In GEMS, Nordkalk staff classifies the impurity content and


grade frequency of the limestone using drillhole databases

With GEMS, Nordkalk develops superior knowledge about the


deposits contained in their quarries. This has enabled them to

expand production rapidly to meet growing demand for products


derived from white stone. GEMS has aided us to double our
white stone output in the Parainen quarry over the last 10
years, Hakkarainen notes. We have the ability to review
alternative mining scenarios in GEMS, which has improved our
ability to excavate and haul selectively. During each operational
stage, the team uses the software to help them refine their
understanding of the deposits and to plan more optimal ways to
mine them.
At Nordkalks operations, many decisions and plans must be
made years in advance so that the complicated stripping and
ore exposure push forward. The current excavation plan will
satisfy 25 to 30 years of production. When the time comes to
evaluate the feasibility of expanding the open pit or to begin
underground mining, the staff will leverage GEMS to determine
the best alternative for optimal life of the mine. GEMS gives
us confidence that we have the right mining projections,
Hakkarainen says.

Streamlining tasks and improving collaboration


With expanding production, Nordkalk depends on GEMS
to manage escalating data volumes and achieve desired
outcomes faster. Prime examples are mine reconciliations for
a one-year period at Parainen, which take three hours or less
compared to 28 hours without GEMS. Ore reserve calculations
are 85 percent faster and more accurate than paper-based
processing.

Automating daily blast control


Nordkalks system for daily blast controlfrom measuring
to reportingis streamlined with GEMS because all the
information is recorded in one system, reducing the amount of
time spent on the task by 1,000 to 1,500 work hours per year.
Hakkarainen adds, We conduct one blast every working day.
It would take a half a day to log and interpret it and 25 percent
more time for two people, if we did not automate the work in
GEMS.

Nordkalk Corporation
Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom GEMS
Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Training
Technical support

Using proven, field-tested GEMS software to gain efficiencies,


Nordkalk is well positioned to bring its brand to bear on new
markets. Nordkalk desires to expand its presence in the
European market area within the triangle formed by Nor way,
Russia and Central Europe. Meanwhile, it enjoys a sustained
advantage in northern Europe because it utilises its deposits
optimally and delivers the right products to various customer
segments.
GEMS plays an important part at Nordkalk -- from ore
exploration to drillhole planning to product delivery. GEMS is
so integrated into our entire mining structure that we could not
successfully handle quality control or do mine planning without
it. We cant put a price tag on a necessity,
Hakkarainen concludes.

Surveyor doing natural gamma logging of drillholes.

Constructing a quality map from the borehole data in 3D is


50 percent faster in GEMS. It only takes 12 hours, whereas
the same exercise would require many workdays manually.
Optimisations by different cost profiles are speedy as well. We
are getting more done in the same time,
Hakkarainen acknowledges.
By using GEMS, mining operations stay on track as all
information utilised across mining functions is always up
to date. The ability to update the maps daily with volumes
and quality classes and constantly maintain current quarry
volumetrics are important tasks at a busy quarry like Parainen.
Hakkarainen, who works at headquarters, can update the
GEMS geological model, and surveying and quality managers at
the quarry can view those updates in minutes.

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3D mesh with four vertical profiles and one plan view.

Multi-disciplined Voskhod-Oriel team relies on


Gemcom Surpac to drive mining operation
The Voskhod-Oriel chromite mine is located in
northwestern Kazakhstan and is geologically situated
in the southern part of the Ural folding belt. The
operation went into production in 2009 and produces
approximately 55,000 tons of ore each month. Surpac is
used in surveying, geological modelling, and mine design
at the mine.
In surveying, Surpac helps us run estimations quickly
and validate mined volumes. Before the introduction
of the software work on volume estimation, and the
creation and plotting of sections, was done by several
specialists and took quite a lot of time. With Surpac
this work can be carried out by one person over a much
shorter period of time, says Karlygash Toulebekova,
Surveyor, Voskhod-Oriel.

I recommend Gemcom, the company, to other


professionals as it provides a broad set of software,
technical support, and training. Its software is flexible,
easy to use, and offers good visualisation, Toulebekova
adds.
Commenting on how his department uses the software,
Chief Mine Geologist Vyacheslav Volkov says: We use
Surpac to work with geological data, in the geological
modelling of the deposit, and in drill and blast design.
The software enables us to run reserve estimations,
keep records on in-situ conditions and pre-mining
changes, and plan production drilling.
Without Surpac our work allocated to re-calculation and
clarification of the ore reserves and parts of the deposit
already mined would be carried out by several specialists

Voskhod
over the course of one to two months. Using Surpac it
takes us a week to do this, Volkov continues.
Surpac is also actively used in the design of development
workings and stopes. Mine Planning Engineer Natalya
Parkhomenko comments: The solids modelling tools
help us to resolve problems with volume and grade
definition for stopes with a higher level of precision. We
can do sectioning quickly and have effective visualisation
of the process. This has enabled us to reduce the
amount of time we spend on this task significantly.
Surpac helps everyone here at the mine because it
is easy to learn due to its full set of tutorials and user
interface, which are both in Russian. We also have
technical support in our native language. In fact, a
Russian-speaking mining professional from Gemcom
visited us recently at the mine, concludes Parkhomenko.

About Voskhod-Oriel LLP


Headquarters: Mosco, Russia
Ownership: Mechel
NYSE Symbol: MTL
Vokskhod-Oriel is owned by Russian company
Mechel, a mining, steel, ferroalloy, and power
company with operations in Europe, Russia, Central
Asia, and South Korea.
Website: www.mechel.com

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Surveyors at Voskhod-Oriel chromite mine.

Samarco Relies on Gemcom GEMS


Microsoft SQL Server Environment to Drive
Productivity Through Better Data Management
The Samarco project in southeast Brasil is an impressive
integration of an open pit iron ore mine, two pipelines
running 400 km long for slurry transport, several pellet
producing plants, and its own port facility at Ponta Ubu
to facilitate worldwide finished product distribution. The
Germano mine site has an estimated 5.6 billion tons of
iron ore mineral resources available, giving a reserve life
of nearly thirty years at current production rates.

group of advanced users, comments Luiz Eduardo


Resende, Mine Planning Superintendent at Samarco.

To support their sophisticated mining operations,


Samarco has long employed industry leading GEMS
software as their primary geological modelling tool. In
fact, Samarcos partnership with Gemcom began in 1998
when GEMS was selected for its user-friendly software
environment and powerful modelling capabilities. Nearly
a decade later, a growing need for more powerful
data management led Samarco to move to the GEMS
Microsoft SQL Server database, a natural progression in
Samarcos overall operational success.

Prior to using the GEMS SQL Server version, Samarco


employed an Oracle database with custom application
software, developed internally, for database work
procedures. The solution became obsolete, however, as
the technology was unable to deal with the considerable
increase in data volume, combined with a need for faster
processing speeds and increased user productivity.

Choosing to upgrade GEMS to its SQL Server version


was an easy decision for us because, having a long
history with the software, we have developed a loyal

Another important consideration was the fact that we


wanted to ensure we could better organise all of our
different projects, survey, geology, and planning data
into one central location, with the aim of improving
collaboration between our teams, adds Leonardo
Bonfioli, Geologist at Samarco.

The main reason for changing from on Oracle database


to the GEMS SQL Server environment was due to a need
for more powerful data management capabilities. With the
updated technology it became possible for our geologists to
work simultaneously on the same project information without
risking data corruption. Accurate data and geological models

are a key to our success, and by implementing the software


we have been able to achieve greater security and reliability
of our research and survey data, comments Resende.
At a broader business level, the GEMS SQL Server
database enables collaborative information sharing
between different user groups. As Resende continues,
We can count on GEMS and SQL Server to provide us
with an integrated, collaborative environment for effective
information sharing between all user groups.
To ensure a seamless integration of the GEMS SQL Server
database with existing data and software systems, the
Gemcom services team was on hand from project planning
through post implementation support. The Gemcom
team worked with us to establish effective workflows
and dataflows between mining applications, and helped
us complete all mapping, database redesign, naming
conventions and workspaces. Even after implementation,
Gemcom professionals were available to ensure maximum
productivity at the user level, and maximum return on
investment at the company level. Today, all are unanimous in
praising our Gemcom solution, concludes Resende.

About Samarco Minerao S.A.


Headquarters: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
Founded in 1977, Samarco is a privately held
Brasilian mining company, controlled in equal parts
by shareholders Vale S.A. and BHP Billiton. With a
focus on iron ore, Samarco specialises in transforming
minerals with low ore content into valuable products
with a high aggregated value. They currently rank
second on the overseas pellet market, selling to over
15 countries worldwide.
Website: www.samarco.com
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North-facing
Visualisations
wall of Northumberlands
of drillhole dataexisting
in GEMS.
pit.

Tiger Resources Improves Copper


Concentrate with Gemcom Surpac
Tiger Resources Kipoi Project is located 75 kilometres
northwest of Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga
Province, in the central part of the Katangan Copper
Belt. The open pit operation is comprised of five copper
deposits: Kipoi Central, Kipoi North, Kileba, Judeira
and Kaminafitwe. Production at Kipoi commenced in
April 2011. Production is on track to reach a targeted
throughput level of 75,000 tonnes a month.
The Kipoi Project uses Surpac for grade control, block
modelling, creation of dig blocks, monthly reconciliation,
geological mapping, mine planning and civil works.
Surpac has provided a solution to so many problems our
operation has faced, says Rhonny Kazembe, Chief Mine
Geologist for Kipoi.
Surpac has been most beneficial to the operation with
regards to the quality of ore that they are extracting.

Kazembe explains, By using Surpacs grade control


results, we can locate ore according to grade category
which allows us to maximise ore recovery while
minimising dilution. The final concentrate results clearly
demonstrate that Surpac has improved our separation
of high grade ore from low grade ore. Our customers
have been very happy with the quality of our copper
concentrate.
Beyond grade control, the other Surpac features used
by the Kipoi Project have also been very beneficial,
and Kazembe says he wouldnt hesitate to recommend
Surpac. Apart from its grade control capabilities, I would
definitely recommend Surpac to other geologists, for all
of the ways in which we use it. Surpac is easy to use for
creating dig blocks, and the Digital Terrain

Models (DTMs) make reconciliation between the resource


model and what was actually mined easy to review.
Furthermore, geological mapping is simple with Surpacs
tools. I can use data from multiple sources to create
solids structures which I can then easily view thanks to
Surpacs 3D environment.
Gemcom has also provided Surpac training at the Kipoi
site, ensuring users are proficient in creating string
and segment reports, digitising, plotting, triangulation,
database management and block modelling. Additionally,
Kazembe has found Gemcoms Update Service and
Technical Support program to be very beneficial, I
appreciate regularly receiving software updates and being
able to contact Gemcom for assistance whenever I have
any difficulties.

About Tiger Resources Ltd.


Headquarters: Perth, Australia
Symbols: ASX: TGS
Tiger Resources Ltd. is an Australian-based
company focused on the discovery and development
of high-grade copper/cobalt deposits in the world
renowned Africa Copper Belt in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
Website: www.tigerresources.com.au

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Copper ore body modelled in Surpac.

AIMROC experts turn to Gemcom GEMS


for effective data management and modelling to
support their Chovdar Gold Mine Project
The Republic of Azerbaijan, located at the crossroads
of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, is home to the
Chovdar Gold Mine Project, which AIMROC has a thirty
year contract with the government to exploit. Seeking to
maximise productivity, the highly qualified professionals
at AIMROC chose Gemcom GEMS to provide collaborative
geology and mine planning capabilities supporting crossfunctional teams.
Prior to AIMROCs adoption of GEMS, ore body, resource,
and feasibility data was compiled on individual Excel
spreadsheets, often isolating information between
teams. Geologists and engineers lacked a centralised
database allowing them access to organised, up-to-date
geological and mine planning data.
GEMS enables access to data in a common platform,
comments Martin Barrette, GIS Database Manager with

AIMROC. We now have a central database that manages


data and can sustain any independent audits. This has
eliminated much data redundancy while increasing data
integrity and accuracy.
Additionally, streamlined data flows and central data
access improves collaboration, providing information
when needed to speed decision making. We are able to
compile statistics and share data globally with people in
other departments. Furthermore, data is properly secured
and managed which means that the right data is always
available, says Barrette.
Perhaps most importantly, success at Chovdar requires
a strong modelling tool able to quantify, visualise
and analyse mineral deposits. As Barrette explains,
Estimating resources in a complicated environment
using old-fashioned ways took five weeks. Using GEMS,

we can get the same amount of work accomplished


in under five days by relying on the robust geological
modelling tools to accelerate the process. It is vital for us
to get it right and demonstrate competency in our work to
key stakeholders and provide models and estimates in a
professional manner.
With a long history of expertise in mine exploration,
planning, and production, AIMROC professionals have
relied on GEMS long before the Chovdar Mine Project
began. As Barrette concludes, Gemcom is world
renowned for its software, services and solutions in
the mining industry which is why we stay loyal to them
over other mining software providers. They provide
affordable software which is easy-to-use compared with
other packages and employ staff who are always helpful,
knowledgeable, and professional in their approach.

About AIMROC
Headquarters: Baku, Azerbaijan
AIMROC represents a consortium of investment firms
founded for the financial support of mining projects
in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Management includes
experts from different countries who have unique
experience in the exploration and processing of various
ore deposits, including the gold-sulphide and porphyry
copper deposits that occur in Azerbaijan. AIMROC was
founded in 2007 and is led by geological company
Londex Resources S.A.
Website: www.aimroc.com
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Image showing a 3D view of the pit, ore zone, and proposed infrastructures.

How Copper Mountain is bringing the


Similco Mine back to life with Gemcom Software
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation is a British Columbia
based resource company that is bringing the Similco
Mine back into production, after recently completing an
independent feasibility study that confirmed its economic
viability. The mine, which has been dormant for fifteen
years, features a conventional open pit mine with a new
35,000 tonne per day mill.

through particular aspects of the project that needed


further detailed engineering. Critical components of
this involved implementing drilling programs, wire
framing, block modelling and confirmatory in-house
resource estimation as well as pit optimisation and mine
planning, says Richard Joyes, Exploration Geologist,
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation.

To further investigate project improvements, Copper


Mountain turned to Gemcom GEMS for geological
modelling, resource estimation and mine planning, while
Gemcom Whittle was employed to confirm optimised
pit limits. Together, they saw the two systems as the
most complete solution on the market for mining and
exploration companies.

Turning towards planning activities for the mine, Joyes


says: Gemcoms services team and software has helped
us gain a better understanding of how to implement our
grade control procedures. It also enables us to look at
various estimation methodologies and work out which
procedure would best represent our data.

With the software we were able to greatly enhance our


in-house capability by managing our data and working

Another aspect Joyes and the other geologists appreciate


about the software is the Geostatistics module in GEMS.

The Geostatistics module improves our confidence


in grade estimation. Drillhole data is relatively easy to
manage, allowing quick and efficient updates to models,
says Joyes.
PlotMaker is an important component of GEMS for
Copper Mountain. It allows them to output the file
formats they need to print and view plots, which helps
them produce quality plans and sections for the geology
and mining departments.
Commenting on his experience with Gemcoms support
team, Joyes says: I have phoned Gemcom for technical
support issues on various topics. Their team is friendly,
technically oriented, and knowledgeable, which means
they understand the importance of quick and efficient
solutions to mining-related problems.

About Copper Mountain


Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada
TSX Symbol: CUM
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation is developing the
Copper Mountain Project located 15 kilometres south of
the town of Princeton in southern British Columbia.
Website: www.cumtn.com
I recommend Gemcoms software because it is userfriendly and specifically designed to meet the needs of
exploration and mine geologists, and mining engineers.
Richard Joyes, Exploration Geologist,
Copper Mountain Mining Company.
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Copper Mountains Similco Mine.

Geology and Mine Planning


for Coal and other Stratified Deposits

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Cerrejn achieves world-class coal mining


with end-to-end Gemcom Minex solution
One of the worlds largest earthmoving operations tames complex stratified deposit with
Minex, increasing annual recovered coal from 18 to 32 million tonnes over seven years
Country: Colombia
Objective:
Maximise efficiency and productivity of
coal mining operations in a highly complex
environment to ensure competitiveness in
the world market.
Approach:
Employ Gemcom Minex software for
surveying, geological modelling, and all
phases of planning, leveraging Gemcoms
knowledge of and experience with large,
complex stratified deposits to optimise the
handling of reverse thrust faults and throughseam blasting.

IT Improvements:
Advanced 3D geological models represent coal and overburden volume, quality parameters, and comprehensive mineral analysis.
Integration of required tools in one system minimises the risk of manual data import.
Business Benefits:
Increased annual recovered coal from 18 million to 32 million tonnes over a seven-year period with no increase in the
mine planning staff.
Supports complex deposit which includes five different mining zones, numerous reverse thrust faults, and more than 40
coal seams.
Effectively plan mining operations at one of the worlds largest earthmoving operations, with 250 million BCMs of material
moved each year.
Create detailed, cyclical monthly plans for 40 shovels of different sizes and applications in two to three weeks.
Improved modelling and mine planning capabilities have contributed to increase coal recovery of 4% over the last five years
while achieving a calorific value (CV) of +/-10Btu/lb against the modelled CV.

I believe Minex is technically the


best software available for this type
of complex deposit.
Juliano Maran, Superintendent
for Strategic Mine Planning and
Geotechnics, Carbones del Cerrejn

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Panoramic view of Cerrejns Tabaco Pit, the largest pit in


the operation, currently producing more than 11Mtpa of coal.

Coal mining on a mega-scale


Carbones del Cerrejn (www.
cerrejoncoal.com), a world-class coal
producing and exporting company,
is jointly owned by Anglo American,
BHP Billiton, and Xstrata. Cerrejn
comprises not only the mine itself,
but also dedicated rail and port
facilities. It represents one of the
most complex stratified deposits and
largest earthmoving operations in
the world.

Waste rock excavation using hydraulic excavator and


haul truck.

By any measure, Carbones del Cerrejn is huge. The vast open


pit coal mine in northeastern Colombia produces 32 million
tonnes of coal annually. In order to uncover and export all this
coal, Cerrejn moves a tremendous amount of materialsome
250 million bank cubic metres (BCMs) per yearmaking it one
of the largest earthmoving operations in the world. The deposit
covers an area approximately 50 by 10 kilometres, within which
five different zones are mined concurrently. Cerrejn even
boasts super-sized fossils: Vertebrae of the largest snake ever
found, the 60 million yearold Titanoboa cerrejonensis, were
recently unearthed in one of the pits.
Cerrejn is as complex as it is massive, which is why the
company uses powerful Minex software for geology and
mine planning. Approximately 40 different seamsranging
in thickness from 60 centimetres to over four metres, and
with thousands of data points for each structurehave been
modelled and are presently being mined. The seams dip steeply
in some areas, and reverse thrust faults are common. The
dipping and faulting not only make mining more difficult
we have to mine across the strike in what we call an area
fashionbut also the geological modelling becomes very
complex, says Juliano Maran, Superintendent for Strategic
Mine Planning and Geotechnics. I believe Minex is technically
the best software available for this type of deposit. Cerrejn
has relied on Minex since the mine started operation in the
mid-1980s.

Planning for 40 shovels


At Cerrejn, Minex is used in the geology area and in all phases
of mine planning. Borehole information in a database form is
imported into Minex. The raw information is used to create a
3D geological model that represents a broad range of critical
datanot just the volume of the coal and overburden, but also
quality parameters (for example, ash, sulphur, and calorific
value) and a comprehensive mineral analysis.

Field geologist working with highly complex


geological model.
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Once the 3D model is created, verified, and accepted, Cerrejn


uses Minex to lay out various pit shells and determine the
optimal approach to development. The life-of-mine plan, which
is updated annually, is rolled out to mid-range planners for
five-year mine plan sequencing. From there, planners use Minex
to produce a detailed month-by-month forecast for the first two
years, which becomes Cerrejns business plan. Finally, short-

range planners lay out monthly mine plans for 40 shovels of


different sizes and applications, a cyclical process that takes
approximately two to three weeks. Detailed weekly and daily
plans are also created.
With Minex, our engineers generate high-quality maps, reports,
and other information, says Steven Sides, Vice President of
Technical Services. We literally hand these outputs to the
production department, and they implement the plans that
have been developed. The driver behind all of this is Minex.
Using Minex along with operational improvements in the field,
Cerrejn has increased coal recovery 4% over the last five years
and has been able to achieve a CV of +/-10Btu/lb against the
modelled CV.
Without Minex, we would be very unproductive, because
wed be mining in areas without proper planning or a clear
understanding what the geology looks like, Sides continues.
Minex allows us to see below the surface of the ground, thus
providing us with a good picture of what it looks like before we
get there.

End-to-end integrated solution


A key benefit of Minex is the fact that so many capabilities are
integrated into a single package. Standard features include
graphics, plotting, surface modelling, and CAD tools. Other
modules enable users to load boreholes from multiple sources,
analyse trends, minimise dozer push distances, optimise pit
design, lay out blasthole patterns, manage topographical data,
design dumps and roads, schedule open pit mines, and much
more.
The value of this benefit is not lost on Sides. Minex provides
us with an integrated system for surveying, modelling,
planning, and blast design so we can manipulate data and
interchange information freely, he says. Any kind of manual
re-entry always opens up room for error; the same holds true
if youre exchanging data electronically between systems with
incompatible formats. Minex helps us avoid these risks.
He adds that Minex enhances productivity at Cerrejn by
minimising the number of different applications his engineers
need to learn. Cerrejn also values the fact that Minex
interfaces easily with other end-user software and database
products.

The ability to evaluate different scenarios quickly with Minex


is another essential feature of the product. Once weve
determined what the optimal shell looks like, assessing
the relative advantages of different mining sequences is
fairly straightforward, says Sides. Minex allows Cerrejns
geologists to develop accurate geological models, from which
the mine engineers can develop numerous mining alternatives.
This flexibility has resulted in the selection and implementation
of optimal mine plans, leading to an annual increase in
recovered coal from 18 million to 32 million tonnes over a
seven-year period, with no increase in the mine planning staff.

Time is money
The complexity of Cerrejns deposit presents special
challenges vis--vis the worldwide coal market. The company
must take all the reverse faultsnot to mention the various
dips, rolls, anticlines, and synclinesand develop meaningful,
feasible mining plans that enable it to compete with producers
that have more straightforward, easily mined deposits. There
are not many software packages for geological modelling and
mine planning that can handle reverse thrust faulting, and this
is one area in which Minex is superior to other products on the
market, says Sides. The ability to deal with multiple, steeply
dipping seams is also critical. Minex meets the needs of our
complex environment very well.
Although Cerrejn regularly evaluates alternative mine planning
software, Minex continues to provide the best integrated
solution for the company. Time is money, says Sides. Any
software that helps us do our job faster and more thoroughly
will deliver a competitive advantage. I dont think any of the
software that goes up against Minex would allow us to perform
the modelling and planning in that same timely manner.

possible to identify the optimal location for the blast charges,


thereby minimising damage to the coal and maximising
recovery.

Carbones del Cerrejn


Solutions at a Glance

Another powerful Minex module focuses on reverse faulting.


If your model is not predicting these faults correctly, you
are either overstating or understating a tremendous amount
of coal, says Sides. Minex allows us to accurately predict
reverse faults and associated tonnages. When we get to them
in the mining process, we have an excellent idea what the
outcomes will be.

Primary Applications:
Gemcom Minex

Cerrejn is already working on plans to expand annual


production well beyond the current 32 million tonnes, and
Minex will be a pivotal element in ensuring the companys
ongoing success. Minex helps Cerrejn develop effective
mine plans that can be utilised to make prudent business
decisions, Sides concludes. It gives us an important edge
as we compete with other producers around the world. We are
only as good as the vendors that serve us, and Cerrejn is very
fortunate to partner with a company like Gemcom.

Gemcom Services:
Technical support
Onsite training
System configuration
Software customisation

Surveying crew in one of the pits collecting data to


update the mines grids.

A valuable partnership
Cerrejn and Gemcom have enjoyed a synergistic relationship
for many years, and Sides particularly appreciates Gemcoms
responsiveness to his companys unique needs. One example
is a special Minex module for through-seam blasting, a
technique that Cerrejn uses routinely because of the high
number of steep dipping coal seams. Using Minex, the
boreholes are logged and the seam locations are entered into
the computer; each blasthole is designed differently, because
it intersects the seams at different elevations. Minex makes it
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Final pit configuration of one of the seven pits in the


current Cerrejn life-of-mine plan.

Exxaros Grootegeluk Mine models


complex geology with Gemcom Minex
Minex handles huge data volumes, helping Exxaros flagship
mine to exploit the vast resources of South Africas Waterberg Coalfield
Country: South Africa
Objective:
Maximise quality and production through
accurate modelling of complex coal
reserves in order to meet stringent client
specifications.
Approach:
Utilise Gemcom Minex software for
geological modelling and medium- and
short-term planning, creating superior
bench structure and quality models in a
multi-seam coal environment that produces
18 million tonnes per annum.

IT Improvements:
Ability to create a complete mine plan in 3-4 weeks for huge, 740-hectare mining operation.

Advanced 3D graphics provide staff with a solid interpretation of behind-the-scenes mathematics.

User-friendly Minex software delivers accuracy and consistency for full confidence in the output, which includes excellent reporting
features.

Minex handles huge data volumes, including 81 bench structure grids and more than 5,696 quality grids.

Business Benefits:
Effectively supports Exxaros long-time mining activities in South Africas Waterberg coalfield, as the mine has expanded from
two to six products.

Maximises client satisfaction by helping to meet rigorous specifications with narrow tolerances.

Enables accurate modelling of complex, multi-seam geology and associated quality parameters.

Provides the flexibility required to produce critical information from raw data in the shortest possible time.

The complexity of the multiseam geology and its associated


quality parameters makes Minex
an essential part of our modelling
efforts. I do not think we would ever
get a model of this magnitude out
without Minex.
Callie Van Heerden, Senior
Geologist, Grootegeluk Mine, Exxaro

Grootegeluk Mine, South Africa.


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Exxaros Grootegeluk Mine


exploits abundant Waterberg
coalfield
Situated 25 km from Lephalale in
South Africas Limpopo province,
Exxaros open pit Grootegeluk Mine
(www.exxaro.com) employs 1,800
people and produces more than 18
million tonnes per annum of thermal,
metallurgical, and semi-soft coking
coal products using a conventional
truck and shovel operation. The
mine has an estimated minable coal
reserve of 3,424 million tonnes and
a total measured coal resource of
4,116 million tonnes.

The Waterberg Coalfield has an east-west striking length of


approximately 88km, complemented by a north-south width of
40km within the Republic of South Africa, but also extends
westward into Botswana. Grootegeluk Mine is a multi-bench
surface coal mine operation established in the shallow coal
portion of the Waterberg Coalfield. The existing mine footprint
covers an area in excess of 740 hectares. Mining consists
of a series of parallel benches, advanced progressively in a
westward direction across the reserve, via a process of drilling,
blasting, loading and hauling with truck and shovel fleets.

It takes one person approximately three to four weeks to


create a bench structure model for the mine, according to Van
Heerdenand once its done, you can take it to the bank.
When you reproduce something with the same data and
methodology, Minex always renders the same answer, he
says. If the output is different, you know that you are either
doing something wrong, or something has changed in the data
or methodology. Minex always gives me the same resultand
if something is right, its right. This high level of accuracy is
especially important in view of the stringent specifications and
narrow tolerances imposed by many of Grootegeluks clients.

Grootegeluk is a massive operation, producing 18 million


tonnes per annum of power station, metallurgical, and semisoft coking coal. It boasts the worlds largest beneficiation
complex, upgrading 7,600 tonnes per hour of run-of-mine coal
in six different plants.

The advanced 3D capabilities of Minex also win praise from


Van Heerden. You can utilise the graphical display to check
your work as you go along, he continues. The results of the
behind-the-scenes mathematics are displayed in the graphics
window, so you always have a feel for what is happening in the
modelling process.

Grootegeluk needs the most powerful and accurate geological


modelling tool available. Minex is the Grootegeluk Mines
software of choice for this critical task because it has been
designed to handle rigorous challenges posed by complex
deposits.

Bench structure and quality models


Grootegeluks data volumes are daunting, with 760
boreholes used in the most current geological model. A full
succession borehole holds 12 coal zones and 5 interburden
waste seams, as well as an unweathered and a weathered
overburden horizon. This translates into 17 different mining
horizons or benches. Each mining horizon has a roof, a floor,
and a thickness grid, yielding a total of 81 grids in the bench
structure model.

View of Grootegeluk Mine.


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Qualities in the 12 coal and coal-bearing seams are modelled


in 13 different density fractions for life-of-mine scheduling
purposes, yielding 1,560 quality grids for proximate analysis.
Product qualities, modelled for short-term planning, add
another 1,160 grids. Our bench quality model comprises
5,696 grids and counting, says Callie Van Heerden, Senior
Geologist at Grootegeluk. The complexity of the multi-seam
geology and its associated quality parameters makes Minex an
essential part of our modelling efforts. I do not think we would
ever get a model of this magnitude out without Minex.

This insight will come in handy as Van Heerden moves from


the existing bench model to a more complex seam model.
The new model will have 58 seams in total, resulting from
specific combinations of the 76 coal and a non-coal samples,
he explains. The sample qualities are combined to yield the
seam qualities. Combining different seams to form new bench
scenarios will enable us to optimise production from the mine
and product qualities from the plants. Van Heerden anticipates
that, by mining better intervals, the flexible seam model will
make it possible for Grootegeluk to expand the number of highvalue products that can be produced from the same deposit.
Furthermore, optimising the utilisation of production equipment
means that more tonnes can be mined with the same
equipment, thereby saving money and increasing profitability

Many reasons to choose Minex


Japie Kruger, a Mine Planner at Grootegeluk, was part of the
decision-making process that led to the purchase of Minex.
We started with just two coal products, but we expanded to
six different products fairly quickly, he recalls. This expansion
created a clear need for computerised geological modelling
to handle our multi-seam coal environment. We were very
impressed with the graphics capabilities and output of Minex,
coupled with its excellent reporting features. Also key were the
SQL and grid arithmetic functions of the software, as well as
the user-friendly nature of the program.

Prior to acquiring Minex, the mine relied on Seamsys and


in-house programming based on user needs. Not everything
could be handled, says Van Heerden. Only the most
important items, like the mines initial product qualities, were
catered for. By contrast, Minex gives us flexibility and enables
us to produce critical information from raw data in the shortest
possible time, in order to satisfy the mines needs. Minex is
also used to populate the mine reserves database, manage
the backfilling operation, and finalise medium- and short-term
planning.

plans. It is a nice package to work with, and it is quite


impressive in terms of its capabilities, concludes Van
Heerden. Minex is used by the world leaders in the coal
mining industr y. It was designed for modelling stratified
deposits, and it is recognised worldwide for this purpose.
Minex can do ever ything that I want to do.

Exxaros Grootegeluk Mine


Solutions at a Glance
Primary Application:

Gemcom Minex

Gemcom Services:

Technical support

Training

Expanding into the future


Grootegeluk looks forward to the possibility of enhanced
integration between geology and mine planning with Minex. We
hope to improve net present value with proactive utilisation of
the different modules to streamline our thinking and decisionmaking, on a strategic as well as an operational level, says
Kruger. Among other things, this would involve combining
unique beneficiation capabilities with the mining and backfilling
process. Improvements in short-term operational production
planningincluding resource planning on a shift basis to
optimise mining equipment and plant beneficiation strategy
are also anticipated. The Waterberg Coalfield is unique, with
unique opportunities which Exxaro wants to capture, says
Kruger. Waterberg will be one of the major mining centres in
South Africa. Minex is pivotal for ensuring that these valuable
resources are evaluated accurately and mined efficiently.
There will be plenty of opportunity to put Minex to the test
in the years ahead. We are currently looking at two mines
in the planning phase, and possibly a third about the size
we are currently, says Mineral Resources Manager Adam
Wieruszowski. Were going to extend this deposit quite
intensively. This year were planning for roughly 56 million
tonnes ex-pittotal material shoveled out of the areaand
within roughly four years, we should be running at nearly 96
million tonnes ex-pit. We will continue to grow from there.
Grootegeluk will play a significant role in South Africas energy
provision in the future by supplying coal to state-owned
electricity utility Eskoms Medupi power station, which is
currently under construction. The brownfield expansion of the
mine is on schedule.
Grootegeluk values the power and accuracy of Minex software
in supporting its ambitious production targets and future
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Coal product stockpiles.

Conveyor belt moving coal.

Beryllium producer fortifies mining


operations with Gemcom Minex software
Brush Resources capitalises on Minexs
versatility for mining and extracting a unique mineral ore
Countries: United States
Objective:
Enhance bertrandite mine planning,
estimation, scheduling, field control
and reclamation.
Approach:
Implement the Gemcom Minex geology
and mine planning software for seam
modelling.

IT Improvements:
Significantly shorter report and map generation.

Seamless data transfer.

Integration with global positioning and surveying systems.

Streamlined management of growing data volumes.

Business Benefits:
Efficient working processes among planning, operations and engineering groups.

Improved management and efficiency of mine operations.

Informed business judgments and investment decisions based on valid information.

Creation of dynamic opportunities for ore development.

Minex pays for itself by minimising


our staffing requirements. Without
Minex, we would need more
engineering and field control
personnel.
John Wagner, Topaz Mine
Manager, Brush Resources Inc.

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Topaz Mine, Utah

North Americas
leading bertrandite miner
The history of Brush Resources Inc.
reaches back to the late 19th century
when Charles F. Brush formed Brush
Laboratories, which specialised in
beryllium commercialisation and the
acoustic use of Rochelle salt crystals.
Today that beryllium venture is
known as Brush Wellman Inc., which
along with Brush Resources, is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Brush
Engineered Materials Inc.

The Brush organisation, global in scope and publicly traded,


produces a wide range of beryllium and non-beryllium
materials for advanced markets. For its part, beryllium can
be applied in medical, aerospace, defense, scientific and
nuclear products because of its high melting point, excellent
cryogenic properties, superior thermal conductivity, reflectivity
and X-ray transparency. Brush Resources has the task of
mining bertrandite mineral (a hydrous beryllium silicate) at
the companys only operating open pit mine in the TopazSpor Mountain region of Utah. The mining properties opened
in 1969. Now the mine is the largest source of bertrandite
in North America, with sufficient reserves based on present
production rates to last in excess of 100 years.
Under the direction of Mine Manager John Wagner, a capable
seven-person staff ensures an uninterrupted supply of
bertrandite to the companys extraction plant, which is located
about 47 miles from the mining site. During the last stripping
job in 2007, they rendered approximately 200,000 tonnes of
ore, which will produce more than 1 million pounds of beryllium.
Beryllium is valuable and versatile for use in many finished
products, says Wagner.

A solid foundation with Minex


Wagners team uses Gemcom Minex software effectively to
accomplish their mission of supplying bertrandite to Brush
Wellman. Minex has remained a prominent part of the crews
toolset since 1993. Back when they were deciding on a
software package, Brush managers examined a number of
vendors. The company specified key criteria for the software:
attractive pricing, suitability to handle sampling data on
extensively faulted areas, and the capability to meld with the
companys growing sampling database.

Blast at the Topaz mine.


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Brush also aspired to partner with a vendor that would provide


thorough training and prompt support. Standing out from the
pack were the Minex specialists. They took an interest in
our property and put in extra time and energy analysing our
problem. We could see that a high level of support would be
available and that gave us the confidence to adopt Minex. It
has worked well for us, Wagner says.

Versatile software handles unique mineral


Topaz personnel tap Minex for a range of activities from
life-of-mine planning to high-level reclamation. They assemble
geological models for varying grades of beryllium, which lie
under a series of different rock types. They identify ore zones,
quantify resources, create ground control field maps, as well
as determine mining sequences and materials needed in
the sequences. Map data and report output can easily be
transferred to AutoCAD or Excel spreadsheets as needed for
field personnel or for forwarding to other company departments.
According to Wagner, Minex is particularly effective in planning.
Using the software for short-term planning enables ore and
overburden exposure and reconciliation. The staff leverages the
software for high-level permitting and the planning stages for
the ground work. After creating the reclamation model in Minex,
the company submits it to government agencies to obtain the
required environmental permits.
The softwares versatility simplifies data flow for critical ground
control and intensive secondary sampling during primary
stripping. After exposing the ore feed, the crew conducts
sampling in preparation for mining and stockpiling. With the
conversion of the Minex geological model into a mining model,
the details and amount of data increase.
The deposit is relatively low-grade ore [70/100s of 1 percent
Beryllium Oxide] lying on an inclined slope. Therefore, we must
manage considerable data to control the ore and manage our
stripping operations. Its an ongoing engineering process, but
Minex allows us to streamline data management, Wagner
explains.

Minex boosts personal productivity


At 4 cubic yards of overburden per pound of beryllium, the
mines strip ratio is high. Strip ratios are used extensively in
Minex to evaluate economic open pit areas. To enable a good
return on the parent companys capital investments, employees
also apply a certain data construction methodology, along with
ore sampling. Before the company purchased Minex, a team
of staff members worked on engineering details on a full-time
basis. However, with the Minex expertise developed in-house
over the years, the company now requires fewer staff on site.

Since we brought in Minex to streamline data management,


only two of us are needed to work on all of the engineering parttime. If we didnt have the software, we would have to increase
our staff, Wagner says.
Quick data output to reports and maps is another important
benefit enjoyed by the busy staff. The software is quick
and efficient for viewing information in the database or the
geological model, Wagner says.
The graphical capability of Minex helps us visualise multiple
options and gain a better understanding of what is going to
occur in the field, adds Rob Dalton, Mine Supervisor, who
conducts short-term mine planning. It is a powerful function.
We run through many different mining configurations and
scenarios. The process is more expedient and takes less effort
than doing so manually.
Additionally, the ability to evaluate different approaches
helps the staff make smarter tactical decisions about how to
segregate the ore into different parcels for sending it to the
mill. The software creates a more dynamic opportunity for
recovering the ore, Wagner says.

Minex benefit, but so too are its visualisation components.


Sophisticated graphical and 3D viewing features shed light on
the land structure and mining processes, helping technical and
non-technical staff better understand them. Consequently, they
can make faster informed operational decisions.

Brush Resources
Solutions at a Glance

By being able to show this information onscreen to others, we


have built an efficient working process between our engineering,
operations and planning personnel, Wagner notes.

Trimble Geomatics
Office surveying software

Trimble GPS system

Most importantly, Minex illustrations also help Brush


determine the feasibility of future capital investments at the
Topaz mine. As our leadership views the information, they
gain more understanding of our mining needs and issues. This
makes the decision process for capital projects more direct,
and investment decisions move up through the organisation.
Thats a high-level value of the Minex software, Wagner
concludes.

AutoCAD

Primary Applications:
Gemcom Minex

Microsoft Excel

Gemcom Services:
Software deployment
Training

Technical support

Helpful interfaces with other systems


Wagner says that Gemcom augments Minex with a rich slate of
data interoperability features, which has contributed to fluid and
efficient workflows at the Topaz mine. Among the features cited
are user-friendly interfaces with third-party software like Trimble
Geomatics Office, making it easy to export Minex results to
create digital terrain models. The integration of Minex with the
Trimble global positioning system (GPS) aids data movement
between field activities and engineering planning.
Because Minex integrates with our GPS data and we can
efficiently move data between the office and field, our
employees can go out in the field, survey, return to the office,
and in a short time, look at the survey data in the Minex model.
This saves us time, Dalton explains.
One employee can do all the surveying in a fraction of the
time that it used to take two. The combination of Minex and
the GPS survey system working together has streamlined the
engineering side of the mining operation.

An efficient working process


Interfacing with third-party technology is an important
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Topaz mine team.

Leading Indonesian coal miner PT Bukit Asam


depends on Gemcom Minex to drive business strategy
In the rapidly growing Indonesian coal mining sector, PT
Bukit Asam ranks as one of the largest coal producers
in the country. With mineable reserves of approximately
7.3 billion tons, or 17% of the total coal reserves in
Indonesia. The company is also a top domestic producer
and a global exporter of the commodity. They now have
their sights set on growing as a world-class company with
help from Gemcoms Minex software.
We selected Minex as our geology and mine planning
solution because of its trusted, international reputation,
says Resti Natalia Ginting, Mining Engineering, PT Bukit
Asam (Persero) Tbk. Many different types of individuals
are involved in making business decisions, so we wanted
to ensure that the results produced by the software we
employed could be readily used by stakeholders across

the organisation. Of course, speaking as an engineer,


we were also interested in having software that would
streamline our tasks.
One of the great things about Minex is that it enables
us to make informed decisions on mine planning strategy
based not only on technical data but also on economic
conditions. We can, for example, optimise our pit
designs, choosing the ones that are best suited to our
profit strategy and to market conditions, adds Ginting.
Since we need to communicate decisions and
information to different types of stakeholders throughout
our organisation, including many who do not come from
mining backgrounds, we appreciate Minexs ability to
produce information visually and in reports they can
all understand. The softwares powerful 3D display

is particularly helpful when communicating to the


stakeholoders what we are doing, says Ginting.
With help from Minex, our organisation has received
approval of our mining strategy. We have also seen our
share price rise 67%, says Ginting.
In addition to the business benefits, Minex users at PT
Bukit Asam find that they have improved how they do
their jobs. We have realised significant time and cost
savings because Minex enables us to do our jobs faster.
One engineer can accomplish a pit design in hours,
compared to months without the software. The training
and implementation services Gemcom provided have also
played a key role in our success in this regard, enabling
us to know all aspects of the system, concludes Ginting.

About PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk


Headquarters: Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia
PT Bukit Asam is a publicly traded company whose
majority shareholder is the government. Its aim is
to develop Indonesias national mining industry,
including coal. Founded in 1981, it is one of the
largest coal producers in the country.
Website: www.ptba.co.id

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PT Bukit Asam coal mining operation.

Mine Scheduling

G O L D E N S TA R

R E S O U R C E S LT D.

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PT Petrosea lowers costs, minimises risks,


boosts efficiency, and enhances productivity
with Gemcom MineSched
Leading contract mining enterprise saves millions of dollars across their contracts with
improved open pit mine scheduling capabilities
Country: Indonesia
Objective:
Quickly create and refine rolling schedules
to ensure the most efficient, economical
mining operations.
Approach:
Use Gemcom MineSched software to
determine the best way to mine, taking
into account water management, efficient
equipment utilisation, quality requirements,
contingency planning, haul distances, dump
optimisation, and many other factors to
continuously drive the best results out of the
rolling schedule.

IT Improvements:
Ability to avoid errors that occur with manual scheduling.

High-quality visualisation for improved project accuracy and efficiency.

Quick, automatic output of Gantt charts, tables, and graphs.

Modern, easy-to-learn, and user-friendly interfaces.

Business Benefits:
Better planning and more efficient utilisation of expensive mining fleets.

Flexibility to create contingency plans to manage unexpected events and mitigate costs.

Creation of backup plans that can save on unused equipment costs.

Approximately one-third fewer staff required compared to manual scheduling.

Optimisation of hauling distances and overburden management.

Ability to visualise pit designs to ensure accurate estimation of mining projects.

In this business, you have the


potential to lose millions of dollars if
youre not managing your operations
right. To do this we need a good
scheduling package. We cant do
without MineSched, thats for sure.
Adrian Stewart, Technical
Services Manager for Mining and
Mine Services, PT Petrosea Tbk
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Mine operations at GBP Coal, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Contract mining expertise


Jakarta, Indonesia-based PT
Petrosea Tbk (www.petrosea.com)
is a multi-disciplinary engineering,
construction, and mining company
with a track record of achievement
since 1972. As one of Indonesias
leading engineering and construction
contractors, the company has
been listed on the Jakarta and
Surabaya Stock Exchanges (now the
Indonesian Stock Exchange) since
1990 and was the first publicly
listed engineering and construction
company in Indonesia.

The state of East Kalimantan in Indonesia gets around three


metres of rain every year. When torrential downpours fill the
coal mining pits, excavators and trucks can often stand idle
but not when powerful scheduling software like MineSched has
been employed to create viable contingency plans.

and specific production targets. MineSched then calculates


the most efficient sequence for mining the coal, complete with
3D graphical displays and all necessary charts and graphs.
Petrosea personnel can continuously adjust and refine the
parameters in MineSched to achieve the best possible plan.

For PT Petrosea Tbk, whose core business is contract mining,


contingency planning is one of the most important benefits
that MineSched delivers. We have three contract mining
projects in East Kalimantan (Sanga Sanga Mine, GBP Coal,
Santan Batubara), and theyre all open pit coal mines, says
Adrian Stewart, Technical Services Manager for Mining and
Mine Services at Petrosea. We cant afford to lose any time.
Having the equipment on standby for even one day would cost
us thousands of dollars. Weve always got to be thinking ahead,
and a good scheduling package like MineSched minimises
our risk significantly because we can schedule various mining
sequences, validate their economic viability, and easily
reallocate equipment to another area or project.

Using MineSched, we can run different options quickly and


work out how to save money, says Stewart. In todays
economic environment we are constantly revising factors such
as where we mine, what quality we mine, and how deep the
pit is going to be, in order to ensure an acceptable balance
between cost and profit. In this business, you have the
potential to lose millions of dollars on a contract if youre not
managing your operations right. To do this we need a good
scheduling package. We cant do without MineSched, thats
for sure.

With MineSched, Stewart and his team can also ensure


that another area is available for mining if needed, allowing
the company to take advantage of equipment already on
hand. Having a backup plan in case a working area becomes
unavailable can save on unused equipment costs.

Boosting efficiency
Petrosea uses MineSched for much more than contingency
planning. Currently, most mine owners are looking to boost
efficiency by cutting back their strip ratios; this, in turn,
involves modifying their final pit walls. Every time the pit shell
is adjusted, Petrosea must reschedule mining operationsand
this always brings up new issues, such as how to optimise
haul distances, where to put the sumps during the wettest
months, dump management, and the best way to ensure that
coal quality meets all specifications. Petrosea can count on
MineSched to help resolve complex issues in a timely manner.

Mine operations at Sanga Sanga mine in Indonesia.


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Under the terms of its standard contracts, Petrosea receives


a 12-month pit shell from each of its clients, including the
topography, pit dimensions, the top and floor of the coal,
and the optimal strip ratio based on the clients financial
analysis. The data is imported into MineSched from the clients
geological modelling software, along with equipment and quality
requirements, water management factors, productivity goals,

Lower cost, lower risk


MineSched also helps Petrosea save money by enhancing staff
productivity. According to Stewart, it would probably take three
times as many people to accomplish the same work manually
in Microsoft Excel. In addition, MineSched decreases the
risk of costly formatting and formula errors. The visualisation
and calculation capabilities of the softwarecombined with the
automatic output of Gantt charts, graphs, tables, and the like
reduce risk even further.
Were currently estimating a project, and the client provided
us a pit shell that involved mining down to 150 metres, says
Stewart. We put the data into MineSched, ran the scenario,
and discovered that due to mine sequencing the client had not
given us enough area to dump the overburden. If we had run
that scenario in Excel, the plan would probably have looked
feasible, and we could have submitted our price based on
that presumption. Over a seven-year job on a mining project,
thats a lot of moneymillions of dollars that we saved
thanks to MineSched. The ability to visualise the pit design in
MineSched enabled Stewart and his team to spot the problem
immediately and avoid submitting a seriously flawed bid on the
project.
Mining jobs are all different, but they have one thing
in common: the unexpected is sure to happen. In East
Kalimantan, this often takes the form of failures, breakdowns,
land compensation issues, and deviations due to excessive

groundwater. When such an event occurs, Stewart and his


team must develop new schedules and plans quickly. With
MineSched, the task can usually be accomplished in about
a daywhich is much faster than it would be using other
methods. Says Stewart: If we didnt have a product that could
cope with those unforeseen occurrences quickly, we could lose
money. MineSched helps us manage the unexpected.

Partners in success
Along with supplying proven technology, Gemcom is an active
partner in ensuring Petroseas continued success. For example,
Petrosea needed to calculate haul distances from dig location
to dump destination. This capability is particularly critical for
accurate project estimating, as contract miners must know
how much material they are moving, how far theyre moving it,
and the related costs. Gemcom added this critical feature to
MineSched quickly to meet Petroseas need. Now the haul
distances can drop straight out of the schedule, says Stewart.

are frequently moved around to different work locations. Well


be putting fewer hours on the drills by planning their activities
more effectively using MineSched.

PT Petrosea Tbk
Solutions at a Glance

According to Stewart, MineSched is critical to the success of


Petroseas contract mining business. Its a tool that gives
us solutions quickly, he concludes. MineSched creates
efficiency, predictability, and replicability across our operation.
It also keeps our clients happy, because we can tailor the
schedules to their needs. Especially in todays economy, clients
need to make sure theyre getting the coal out on timewhen
we say they will get it and with the right quality. If we keep
the clients happy, then theyre going to give us more work.
MineSched is a pivotal element in this scenario and in our
success.

Primary Application:

Gemcom MineSched

Gemcom Surpac

Gemcom Services:

Technical support

In addition, Gemcom continually enhances the MineSched


interface. It integrates seamlessly with Gemcom Surpac
software, which Petrosea uses for estimating, surveying, and
mine planning. Importantly, MineSched and Surpac work in
unison; for example, the staff imports Surpac data directly into
MineSched, which saves time and minimises data rekeying and
potential errors.
Stewart is particularly pleased with the latest version of the
MineSched product. The software is very user-friendly and
logical, with good icons and powerful visualisation, he says.
Its also quite easy to set up the schedules. We have a team
of good, competent mining engineers at Petroseaprobably
some of the best mining engineers in Indonesiaand they
like using MineSched. With MineSched, were giving them a
powerful tool that they need to do their jobs.
MineSched already is used for blending to ensure the correct
sulfur and energy content of the coal coming out of the
Santan Batubara mine in East Kalimantan; the software is
also employed for backfilling pits. In the near future, Stewart
plans to add drill and blast to the scheduling tasks handled by
MineSched, moving two more essential functions out of their
Excel environment. Once we start using MineSched for drill
and blast, we expect to see even more effective utilisation
of equipment, he explains. For example, we have drills that
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View overlooking the GBP Coal mine.

PT Petrosea staff at GBP Coal mine in Indonesia.

Supporting a global customer base


with a Gemcom mine design,
planning, and scheduling solution
Python Mining Consultants is a Canadian-based firm
specialising in mine design, planning, and scheduling.
They work with North American and global companies
of all types and sizes to produce long- and shortterm schedules for surface and underground mining
operations. With a wide variety of different project types
and customers, working with software from the largest
global supplier of mining productivity solutions is a major
advantage for them.

Python Mining Consultants find Gemcoms software


particularly helpful in many aspects of the technical reports
they produce, using the data generated in Surpac and
MineSched for scoping, pre-feasibility, and feasibility studies.
A typical project will start with drillhole data being imported
into Surpac, which they use to create a block model using
the softwares geostatistics and block modelling features.
This block model can be used along with costing data from
the mine site to create economic stope models.

We chose Gemcoms Surpac and MineSched solution


due to its widespread use in the mining industry
and for the ease of data movement between the two
applications. Further, having all aspects of the design
process in one solution allows changes to any one part
quickly and easily, says Martin Drennan, Technical
Consultant, Python Mining Consultants.

Next, the mine is designed around the stopes using


Surpacs modelling tools and then scheduled using
MineSched. The schedule can be run using different
scenarios to find a near optimal solution. Once the
schedule is completed, outputs of data are created
by MineSched for use in the final technical report.
MineSched has enabled us to accomplish development

and production scheduling faster and with greater ability to


run sensitivities on different options, comments Drennan.
An additional benefit of Gemcoms software is how it
helps us is in solving optimisation problems by creating
various design options and running many scheduling
scenarios quickly. By using standard financial analysis
in a MineSched template, it is possible to quickly run
multiple options and see the resulting economic values.
Similarly, scheduling issues can be dealt with by looking
at several competing designs and performing various rate
sensitivities on them, he adds.
Automation of tasks and workflows is another aspect
of Gemcoms software that we appreciate. One of the
most useful features of Surpac is the ability to create
custom macros to automate many processes, concludes
Drennan.

About Python Mining Consultants


Headquarters: Hamilton, Canada
Python Mining Consultants provides all the
engineering services necessary to perform
basic scoping studies, to full feasibility
work, and everything in between.
Web site: www.pythonminingconsultants.ca

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Stopes and development for an


underground gold project.

Adamus Resources Ltd. Solves Scheduling


Constraints with Gemcom MineSched
Adamus Resources Limited owns 90% of the Nzema
Gold Project located in Ghana, West Africa. The project
is being developed as an open pit mining operation,
and also includes a processing facility and associated
infrastructure to mine and process ore. Current
estimates show the project to have a minimum life of
ten years and produce an average of 100,000 oz of gold
per year. In addition to benefitting from Gemcom Surpac
and Gemcom Whittle, they have utilised MineSched to
transform their scheduling practices.

MineSched has drastically reduced time spent on short,


medium and long range scheduling, and also allows us to
confidently generate multiple scenarios in very little time, says
Samuel Amoh, Mine Planning Engineer, Adamus Resources.
We can create a schedule with a push of a button.

Scheduling at Nzema Gold had previously been a time


consuming process involving a customised spreadsheet
scheduler. Implementing MineSched solved their
scheduling constraints and automated a number of
routine processes.

MineSched has also significantly increased company


efficiency. The number of mining engineer consultant
visits to the mine has been reduced, and the automation
of tasks means fewer personnel are needed in the
planning department.

He continues, MineSched allowed us to quickly build and


modify a material flow network, easily define material ratio
targets on stockpiles and processes, intuitively graphically
assign mining resources, visually evaluate and validate
mining locations and immediately analyse scheduling
results with customisable charts and reports.

Amoh says that MineSched is easy to learn and use.


The comprehensive tutorials, video, and knowledge
base available on the Gemcom Support website make
it very user-friendly. He adds, I check the website
frequently for updates and tutorials, and found the ability
to run MineSched for specific scheduling periods to be a
particularly beneficial recent innovation.
We chose Gemcom because its software is intuitive and
easy to learn, and also widely used throughout the mining
industry. Also, as a new mine, we purchased numerous
software licenses and Gemcom was accommodating
in organising on site training for all users. Amoh
concludes, Its a fast growing and innovative company,
and I would recommend Gemcom Software to any mine I
work for.

About Adamus Resources


Headquarters: Perth, Australia
Symbols: ASX: ADU; TSXV: ADU; FSE: AXM
Adamus Resources is Ghanas newest gold producer, focused on
realising the economic potential of the 90% owned Nzema Gold Project.
Website: www.adamusresources.com.au

MineSched scheduling report for Nzema Gold.


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Golden Star Resources relies on easy to use


Gemcom MineSched software to drive mine
scheduling improvements
Golden Star Resources Limited is a gold mining
company over a quarter-century old. They have a total
historical production of over two million ounces of gold.
The company has an aggressive growth strategy for
exploration and expansion activities at its properties,
which include the Bogoso/Prestea Gold Mine. Wanting
user-friendly scheduling software, the mine site turned to
Gemcoms MineSched software.
We use MineSched for weekly, mid-range, and long-term
scheduling. It is a user-friendly product that is easy to
set up and learn. In fact, its so easy to use that it has
increased my confidence and passion for scheduling,
says Ruth Menz, Mining Engineer, Golden Star Resources
Ltd., Bogoso/Prestea Gold Mine.

Since implementing MineSched, Golden Star has been


able to improve scheduling at the Bogoso/Prestea
operation. They now follow their 18 month scheduling
plan with a weekly schedule that is renewable at the
end of each month. All told, this has allowed them to
reduce significantly the time needed for scheduling, which
provides more time for other engineering computations.
With the software we are able to set realistic targets for the
company and we know the life-of-mine at any point in time
in just a few clicks. In addition, the softwares seamless
workflows have reduced errors as there is no longer a need
to manually input block model attributes. MineSched has
also helped increase our efficiency, saving us costs and
reducing scheduling time. This has enabled us to spend
more time using the end results it outputs, states Menz.

G O L D E N S TA R

R E S O U R C E S LT D.

The software has other useful features that minimise


scheduling errors, such as the schedule set up, which
provides the total material from any particular section so
the engineer does not have to run a block model report.
Menz likes the fact that she no longer has to manually
input block model attributes. Its more efficient and
ensures there are no errors when defining the block
model attributes.
The results MineSched produces can be easily shared
with others who do not use the software. Its ability to
output to various formats such as Microsoft Excel and
Project is particularity helpful. MineSched data can
be easily used in follow-on analysis and reporting,
concludes Menz.

About Golden Star Resources


Headquarters: Littleton, USA
Symbols: NYSE Amex: GSS; TSX: GSC; GSE: GSR
Golden Star Resources Limited is a fast-growing gold mining company with operating mines
located on the prolific Ashanti Gold Belt in Ghana, West Africa.
Website: www.gsr.com

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A typical MineSched schedule display output.

Strategic Mine Planning

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Rio Tinto fuels mine planning and pit


optimisation globally with Gemcom Whittle
Rio Tinto Group makes Whittle part of its standard strategic mine planning solution
Countries:
Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia,
Namibia, Peru, United States

IT Improvements:
Software consistency across operations and commodities.

Objective:
Designate a suite of strategic mine
planning tools for a variety of open pit ore
bodies across various company sites.

Adoption of common operating processes across groups.

Approach:
Adopt Gemcom Whittle as part of the
companys standard software solution for
open pit optimisation.

Streamlined technology footprint, which reduces maintenance and support.


Business Benefits:
Optimisation of ultimate pit shapes/shells to maximise long-term mine value.
Trustworthy results to guide open pit analyses and detailed planning.
Retention of personnel skills and knowledge during transfers or redeployments.
Resource to facilitate improved staff collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Over the years, Whittle has helped


the staff advance Rio Tintos
strategy of converting ore bodies
into long-life, efficient operations
that can sustain the company
through business cycles.

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Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah.

Adopting an industry leader


Rio Tinto Group is an international
mining organisation combining
Rio Tinto plc, a London-listed
public company (LONDON: RIO.L)
headquartered in the United
Kingdom, and Rio Tinto Limited,
which is listed on the Australian
Stock Exchange (AUS: RIO.AX) with
executive offices in Melbourne,
Australia.

A diversified company with refining and exploration divisions


in nearly every continent, Rio Tinto (www.riotinto.com) is
interested in large-scale, world-class ore deposits and invests
in long-life, cost-competitive mines. This strategy has generated
interests in many of the worlds largest mineral deposits, in
commodities such as copper, diamonds, borates, aluminum
and iron ore. The company also mines and processes industrial
minerals, including salt, talc and titanium dioxide.
With diverse operations in many areas, the company depends
on its Technology and Innovation group to help guide its
decisions on leading practices and technology use. The group
stays abreast of the latest innovations that will give Rio Tinto
a competitive advantage and drive performance improvements
in mine design, scheduling, and geological modelling. The
group assessed the status and benefits of the Gemcom Whittle
software and endorsed it as one of the companys standard
tools for economic evaluation of open pit mines.

Beneficial for long-term planning

Aerial view of Rio Tinto iron ore mine, Western Australia.

Even before adopting Whittle as one of its standard analysis


tools, the company had used the software extensively across
the organisation for about 10 years. It had proved beneficial
for long-term planning and conducting feasibility studies for Rio
Tintos large, open pit mines. The staff leveraged the software
to gain a wide angle view of the physical, economic and mining
constraints regarding their pit designs. Over the years, Whittle
has helped the staff advance Rio Tintos strategy of converting
ore bodies into long-life, efficient operations that can sustain
the company through business cycles.
Whittle provides a baseline for the economic assessment
around ore extraction from a large open pit, allowing users
to look at mining scenarios and consider various processing
and mining costs, geology, ore grades and other factors. The
solutions contained in Whittle help engineers and planners
understand the economic assumptions in a consistent way.

Supporting iron ore mine design


Red earth of the Pilbara region of Western Australia,
home to many Rio Tinto iron ore operations.
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Rio Tinto is aiming for the best opportunities possible for all
of its mines, including those in the Iron Ore product group.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) the worlds second largest iron

ore producer operates in Australia, Canada and Brazil, with


development projects in India and Guinea.
Rio Tinto has 11 mines operating in the Pilbara region covering
various deposit styles. The geology of the Pilbara region is
characterised by late Archaean and early Proterozoic rock
formations known as the Hamersley Group, which contain
several large units of Banded Iron Formation.
Most mines have their own crushing and processing facilities,
where beneficiation or concentration occurs to enhance ore
quality. Combined, the Pilbara mines can produce up to 220
million tonnes of iron ore annually. Additionally, the Pilbara
operations consist of three shipping terminals and one of
the largest privately owned railways in the world. Ongoing
exploration is constantly turning up new iron ore mineralisation
in the region.
Geometry is an issue in iron ore mining, which Whittle helps
solve. The software allows the determination of the maximum
pit shell shape and size to mine. Finding the maximum size
of the pit can be done in a number of ways such as with pure
economics and or using a limiting pit ratio.

Sound guidance for mine expansions


RTIO mining engineers use Whittle on feasibility studies for
expansion projects and for new or updated geological models
that are converted to mining models. They depend on Whittle
to regularly reassess the economic parameters that define the
optimum final pit shape, especially when considering a lengthy
time horizon for the mines.
With changing market conditions and iron ore prices rising, it
is important to reevaluate options constantly, particularly in
respect to the blending of different quality materials for the
market. The team makes the adjustments, redesigning the pit
and its economics to improve the overall financial position of
RTIO and increase the net present value (NPV) of the Pilbara
mines.

Rationale for software standardisation


Rio Tinto has a global presence and personnel working at
numerous sites. Adopting a more standardised strategic

mine planning solution helps the company capture greater


efficiencies. Not only does the practice streamline the
companys overall technology footprint, but it also reduces the
number of different technologies that personnel must learn,
maintain and support. Designating Whittle as a part of the
standard solution enhances collaboration among staff. They
can offer guidance to each other, tailor procedures to their
specific divisions, and share them across groups to help others
improve proficiency.

Rio Tinto Group


Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Whittle
Gemcom Services:
Onsite training
Technical support

The benefits of standardisation carry over to personnel training


and development. When personnel know and use the same
system, it can be easier and faster for redeployed staff to
contribute in other parts of the company. It fosters training
continuity, as well. Although Rio Tinto puts employees with no
previous Whittle experience through Gemcoms two-day training
course, a wide Whittle knowledge base is available that new
users can tap into beyond their initial training.
By taking Whittle training, mine engineers learn what the
software can do for pit optimisation and about cost adjustment
and scheduling factors. This means that if they move into
another division like the diamonds or the copper group, they
already have the required knowledge.

Stacker reclaimer and stockpiles at dusk.

Parker Point loading facility, Rio Tinto, Australia.


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Gold Fields Ghana Utilises Gemcom Whittle


to Improve Cash Flow at Tarkwa Operation
Gold Fields Tarkwa Gold Mine is located in South
Western Ghana with an infrastructure consisting of six
open pits, two heap leach facilities and a CIL plant. The
operation is currently mining multiple-reef horizons from
open pits and there is potential for future underground
mining. Tarkwa has a mineral resource of 12.6 million
gold ounces and a mineral reserve of 9.2 million ounces.
The Tarkwa mine uses Gemcom Whittle to generate and
select the standard optimal pit shells from which they
calculate their reserves. They then export the pit shells
to Gemcom Surpac to develop scheduling designs.
Whittle has enabled them to rapidly generate multiple
scenarios, and the minimum mining width feature has
helped them create an improvement in cash flow through
the scheduling of internal cutbacks.

The software allowed us to find scenarios that showed


a clear improvement over the base cash flow and also to
see where production targets may be reducing cash flow.
We were able to quickly select and re-evaluate internal
cutbacks, says Lucette Hugo, Chief Strategic Planning
Engineer, Gold Fields Ghana.

Gemcoms software has allowed the operation to explore


a much wider range of options. Hugo says, Our previous
software only allowed us to choose three or four different
scenarios. Being able to run hundreds of scenarios has
allowed us to explore options previously not considered
feasible, and conclusively demonstrate their value to
the business.

She explains further, The ability to quickly generate over


300 scheduling scenarios and apply different production
criteria to both existing and new cutbacks allowed us to
see the value loss or gain each scenario would create
for the business. This has enabled us to reach our
targets without sacrificing cash flow. We couldnt possibly
have scheduled all these scenarios using our previous
scheduling and financial modelling software within a
reasonable time frame.

Hugo recommends Gemcom products for their efficiency


and flexibility, and adds that Gemcoms training services
and technical support have also been invaluable to their
operation. Attending an optimisation training course
significantly enhanced our understanding of how to generate
value through pit and phase selection and scheduling. It
allowed us to integrate concepts we werent previously
utilising and meet our internal targets. She also adds,
Gemcoms technical support is excellent; their response
time is fast and answers are relevant and helpful.

About Gold Fields


Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa
Symbols: JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ, NYX, SWX: GFI
Gold Fields is one of the worlds largest unhedged
producers of gold, with operating mines in Ghana,
Australia, Peru and South Africa.
Website: www.goldfields.co.za

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Tarkwa Gold Mine, Ghana.

Block Caving

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All-encompassing Gemcom PCBC system boosts


deposit value at De Beers diamond mine
Solution improves decision-making and productivity at block cave operation
Countries: South Africa
Objective:
Meet growth targets and aid feasibility studies, design and production
management for block cave mining.
Approach:
Implement the Gemcom PCBC software solution for planning and scheduling
block cave operations, obtain customised Gemcom development and
integration services, and help staff become skillful in using PCBC tools.

I consider Gemcom to be the foremost authority in the block cave mining


method. They helped De Beers come up with a mining system that was allencompassing and aligned with our strategic vision.
Jaison Rajan, Section LeaderMining Technical, Finsch Mine,
De Beers Consolidated Mines

IT Improvements:
Management tools for improved mine performance.
Customised, effective solution with monitoring capabilities.
Integration of block modelling software and databases with new block cave
management software.
Data integrity.
Information sharing between major components used in block caving.
Business Benefits:
Improved productivity in the underground mining environment.
Better dilution management and geotechnical stability.
Substantial boost in deposit value.
More accurate resource estimates and reports.
Faster analysis and better decision-making.
Easier staff transitioning and training (due to integrated systems and
consistent database tables within PCBC and Gemcom GEMS).
Less time required to update mine plans, evaluate options and
compile information.
Streamlined strategic planning processmonths to weeks.
Evaluation of various mining scenarios to determine profitability scenarios
and reports to be run quickly and easily.

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Automated trackless block cave mining at Finsch Mine.

The worlds first automated,


trackless underground mine
Established in 1888, De Beers
Consolidated Mines (DBCM) is
renowned for the exploration, mining
and marketing of rough diamonds.
DBCM produces approximately
40 percent of the worlds supply
of rough diamonds. The Finsch
diamond mine, located in Lime Acres
in the Northern Cape, South Africa,
is among seven operations that
DBCM manages. Discovered in 1961
during asbestos exploration, De
Beers first developed the deposit as
an open pit. Since 1991, production
has come from the underground
mine beneath the old pit.

Finsch is a classic diamondiferous kimberlite pipe with


sufficient reserves to maintain current mining rates for 17
more years. To improve the mines sustainability, De Beers
needed to transition from blast hole open stoping mining to an
automated trackless block cave mining method at Block 4. This
changeover would require an automated framework integrated
with robust planning and scheduling software.
The strategic objective of the automation project was to make
the mine inherently safer by reducing the exposure to natural
and manmade hazards, explains Jaison Rajan. The other
strategic intent of automation was to increase productivity. As
Section LeaderMining Technical for the Finsch Mine, Rajan
directs mine planning, scheduling, production and monitoring.

Implement ideal block cave framework


De Beers selected Gemcom and Sandvik to build its block
cave mining framework. In the process, Finsch became the
worlds first automated, trackless mine requiring no operators
on its production trucks. The mining framework consists of an
automated ore-transport system by Sandvik, integrated with
Gemcom PCBC and Cave Management System (CMS) software
specifically designed for planning and scheduling block
cave operations.
Gemcom collaborated with Sandvik to create the system, which
allows De Beers managers to analyse mining sequences and
rates from draw points over the short- and long-term. It also
facilitates information sharing between major components used
in the operation.
When we started the project, we contacted Sandvik and
Gemcom to get an idea of their experience with block cave
mining and to identify key parameters within the design,
Rajan says. We needed a system we could manage on a
real-time basis from our operations control room on the
surface. The ideal system would incorporate the outputs from
Gemcom software to ensure geotechnical stability and provide
information to efficiently plan the days activities.

The foremost authority in block cave mining

Underground head gear at the Finsch diamond mine.


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After implementing the PCBC software, De Beers asked


Gemcom to enhance it specifically for the Finsch operations and
the companys Microsoft SQL Server database. The Gemcom
development team also enhanced CMS, a subsystem within

PCBC for cave management. It interfaces with the Sandvik


AutoMine system. AutoMine allows operators to monitor a fleet
of driverless trucks hundreds of meters below the surface,
while sitting comfortably and safely in a control room on the
surface.
Gemcoms CMS automates and optimises the draw control
process, which is a critical element in cave management.
Referencing the PCBC model, the CMS spells out the number
of tonnes and priority for each location. In essence, the CMS
acts as a guide for mining the block cave most efficiently in the
correct sequence to minimise unrecoverable mistakes.
I consider Gemcom to be the foremost authority in the block
cave mining method. Tony Diering programmed PCBC based on
the considerable knowledge he has gained from various block
caving mines and that helped us come up with a mining system
that was all-encompassing for De Beers, says Rajan.

Quick results with Gemcom software


De Beers and Gemcom have enjoyed a well-established,
professional working relationship dating back to the mid-1990s.
When De Beers needed 3D grade and geological information,
the company deployed a Gemcom GEMS solution for multiple
user access, first at its Venetia mine and later, at Finsch. The
solution enhances the mines geology, blast ring designs,
planning, scheduling and ore accounting functions. The
geological model for Block 4 resides in the GEMS database.
Prior to installing PCBC, De Beers geologists created some
initial designs for mining Block 4 using Microsoft Excel
spreadsheets and manual calculations. However, they wanted
to evaluate the design more thoroughly and produce an even
better one. These objectives prompted them to evaluate the
rich features within PCBC.

Collaborative, seamless communications


The Gemcom developers designed PCBC to assimilate
seamlessly with the AutoMine, cave management, GEMS and
Microsoft SQL Server database systems. The fusion of SQL
Server with the operational systems allows the work teams to
contribute, extract and share mining information within a secure
platform they customarily use. Transitioning and training new
staffalong with auditingare easier tasks because of database
consistency and the standardised way De Beers maintains data

within SQL Server across departments.


PCBC was designed to integrate heavily with elements
of our other systems. This integration across various
departments cuts out many spreadsheets and the possibility
of miscommunication. It provides a seamless communication
line between our various departments. And with a fully
automated system, we have continuous communications about
what is happening underground, says Rajan. Approximately
100 employees in the production, planning and geotechnical
departments rely directly and indirectly on PCBC.

A brilliant solution for one-of-a-kind mining


operations
While the AutoMine system directs how mining takes place and
the equipment operations, PCBC uses mining and geotechnical
parameters to propagate the cave efficiently. PCBC also
calculates mineral reserves and draw point valuations based on
the geological model within GEMS.
The PCBC software reconciles the daily draw orders with the
actual ore extracted from each draw point, and feeds that
data to the CMS. These capabilities make it easier for De
Beers personnel to manage the amount of tonnage from each
draw point and preserve the stability of the entire excavation.
Besides accurately tracking mining positions, the staff can
better plan future production activities. For example, PCBC
mimics the dilution process and calculates various options to
help De Beers personnel construct a realistic plan for dilution
management.

and evaluate various options. Even compiling information and


predicting tonnages for the companys strategic business
planning (SBP) process took months. That timeframe has
dropped to several weeks. As part of the SBP process, Rajans
team runs various mining scenarios within PCBC to decide
which is most profitable.

De Beers Finsch Mine


Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom PCBC

Using PCBC, we can virtually look at what is happening in the


cave and make decisions based on that, Rajan explains. The
more detailed our reports, the better information we have for
analysis and that contributes to better decisions.

Gemcom Cave Management System


(CMS is a subsystem within PCBC)

The value of expert services

Microsoft SQL Server

When De Beers first adopted PCBC, Gemcom dedicated one


of its top consultants to steer the implementation and training
over six months. This was extremely valuable in that we had
someone who could solve our problems relatively quickly and
answer our questions right here at the site, says Rajan.
De Beers continues to work with Gemcom consultants on
various PCBC projects.The assurance that PCBC and the
Gemcom experts provide, along with the success of automated
mining, may stimulate De Beers to deploy the solution at its
flagship site, the Venetia diamond mine.

Gemcom GEMS
Sandvik AutoMine system

Gemcom Services:
Consulting
On-site training
Software customisation
Systems integration
Technical support

We definitely are receiving a return on our PCBC investment


and on Gemcoms services and support, Rajan concludes.

One of the brilliant things about PCBC is it provides a detailed


series of reports on the resource itself. Based on an operating
rate, it can provide the exact amounts of each ore type we can
uncover and the grade level within the ore body. I can tell PCBC
to produce 10 or 20 tonnes, and the software will display how
many diamonds we can expect. Using that information, we can
constantly compare actuals with what we are getting to assess
the quality of our resource estimation. We can also use the
information to improve upstream efficiency, says Rajan.

Contributing to better decisions


Before the PCBC implementation, mining changes caused
problems and extended the time necessary to update plans
Underground crusher with rock breaker.
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Mine Production Management

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Centerra Gold improves mine production management at


its Boroo gold mining operation with Gemcom InSite
The Boroo mine is home to one of the mining industrys
most innovative uses of mine production management
technology. Seeking a sustainable solution that
would enable it to improve mining efficiency, increase
production output, and control costs, the company has
employed Gemcom InSite.
A key to the success of InSite at the operation is its
ability to enable the company to more effectively leverage
the data it generates on a daily basis. Through data
consolidation and centralisation, the mine has ready
access to the reports it needs about all aspects of the
operation.
InSite gives us the information we need to manage
production at Boroo. With the solution, we can track
material movements from the pit to the final product.
From high-level summaries, to detailed specifics at
each stage, we know what is happening as material is

extracted, trucked, stockpiled, and processed, says Alex


Petermann, Chief Mining Engineer, Centerra Gold, Boroo
Gold Co.

and where it is needed. The end result is improved


recovery, throughput, equipment utilisation, and mine
performance, says Petermann.

Stockpile management and end-of-month mass and


grade surveys are critical success factors managed by
InSite. All the equipment utilisation from crushed tonnes
per hour to SAG mill utilisation are recorded, analysed,
and reported, adds Petermann.

Since implementing InSite, our overall site efficiency has


increased significantly. The time to collect and enter data
and information from many sub systems, as well as the
time to report the information, has been reduced from
days to hours. As a result, we can now make quicker,
more informed decisions, he says.

Another benefit InSite provides Boroo is the elimination


of the dependency on spreadsheets. With InSites
ability to automatically collect data and validate data,
transcription errors are not introduced into the decisionmaking process.
Removal of Excel spreadsheets ensures data integrity.
It also eliminates isolated islands of information. This
means that the right information is available when

Before implementing InSite, Boroo was already using


Gemcoms GEMS and Whittle software. We had
confidence in Gemcom as a solutions provider going into
the InSite project. The training and implementation of
the product at Boroo have built upon the great support
that we have received from Gemcom over the years,
concludes Petermann.

About Centerra Gold Inc.


Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
TSX Symbol: CG
Centerra Gold acquires, explores, develops and operates
gold properties in Central Asia, the former Soviet Union,
and other emerging markets worldwide.
Centerra Gold is a growth-oriented, Canadian-based gold
mining and exploration company. It has a 100 percent
equity interest in Mongolias largest hard rock gold mine,
Boroo, which is the first noteworthy foreign investment for
industrial development in Mongolia since 1997.
Website: www.centerragold.com
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Boroo open pit mine.

Minara Resources improves


cost-effectiveness and forecasting
with Gemcom InSite Human Logistics
Minara Resources operates the Murrin Murrin nickel
and cobalt joint venture project, situated in the northern
goldfields region between the towns of Leonora and
Laverton in Western Australia. The project has over
1,000 staff and contractors, making it one of the largest
single-site employers in the region.
With a large staff roster to manage, logistics and
accommodation can be complex, costly and time
consuming to manage. Addressing these issues is why
Murrin Murrin deployed InSite Human Logistics. The
information contained in the system is utilised site-wide
by facilities officers, administrators and general staff,
creating a transparent process for everyone involved.
The Human Logistics system ensures we can constantly
improve our cost effectiveness on a daily basis by
delivering accurate forecasts that require only a minimal
amount of administrative work to produce. In addition,
the systems user-friendly reports have streamlined our

accounting practices, helping us ensure we meet our


logistical requirements and cost projections, says Robyn
Morris, Facilities Officer, Minara Resources, Murrin Murrin
Operations.

use the software to its full capacity, resulting in the


cessation of contractor support these procedures are
managed in-house with no real impact on other duties,
concludes Morris.

By using the software we have been able to make


radical improvements to accommodation and travel
management, resulting in reduced operating costs. The
software enabled us to accomplish this by providing
accurate forecasting of accommodation and flights. From
this, we determined opportunities to decommission
accommodations and reduce aircraft requirements, she
adds.

Additional Benefits Realised by Minara:

The system has delivered a real reduction in


administration work to manage site-based personnel
accommodation and travel requirements. We
had previously employed contractors to manage
accommodation utilisation, which subsequently required
a weekly manual audit to prevent human error. We

Ability to accurately and consistently identify


accommodation availability for unplanned increases
in manpower.
Reduction in administrative work required to
manage site-based staff accommodation and travel
requirements, resulting in the elimination of external
contractors, who had been employed to manually
enter and validate data.
Accurate data of who is onsite, providing improved
safety information, which is paramount for Minara.
Clean and Vacant Rooms Available for Usual
Occupancy report improves contractor management
with regard to daily deliverables.

About Minara
Headquarters: Perth, Australia
ASX symbol: MRE
Top 10 global nickel producer, number 2 in Australia.
Minara Resources operates the Murrin Murrin nickel and
cobalt joint venture project, 60% owned by Minara and
40% by Glencore International AG.
Website: www.minara.com.au
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Plant at the Murrin Murrin operation.

Educational Institutions

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Mining Education Australia Incorporates


Gemcom Software and Training into Curriculum
The Mining Education Australia (MEA) Engineering
Program is a national educational joint venture between
the four major mining education providers in Australia:
Curtin University, The University of New South Wales, The
University of Queensland and The University of Adelaide.
A world first in undergraduate mining education, MEA
provides a common curriculum for third and fourth year
students, allowing them to graduate with a world-class
degree from an industry supported national program.

The training involved an overview of Gemcom, along


with introductory Minex training presenting the benefits
of the Minex gridded modelling system for coal mining,
including demonstrations on how to most effectively
utilise the software, explains Ben Farquharson, Director
of Gemcoms Minex Business Unit.

Gemcom has been helping MEA by providing academic


software licences for the suite of Gemcom products,
as well as providing training sessions for students. To
ensure the schools can get the most educational value
out of its software, it also provides user support and
training for school professors.

Farquharson continues, As Minex is the only integrated


end-to-end software specifically designed for coal and
other stratified deposits, this training will prove highly
beneficial to students as they enter the workforce. It
exposes them to the practical application of mining
theory in software used throughout the industry,
allowing them to see how everything is done from
resource evaluation, to mine planning, through to mine
rehabilitation.

With coal being one of the most important mining


commodities in Australia, Gemcom product specialists
have provided two-day Gemcom Minex training sessions
to final year mining engineering students at all four
MEA universities.

Gemcoms university training sessions are designed to


equip students with the skills they need to join todays
mining industry, familiarising them with industry-leading
technology and giving them a crucial edge in finding
employment after graduation.

Im extremely appreciative of Gemcom for its


involvement with, and support of Mining Education
Australia, says Dr, Andrew Jarosz, MEA Program Leader
and Mine Surveying Program Coordinator for Curtin
University. I believe Gemcom has gone above and
beyond with their commitment to the training program.
The students have benefited greatly from the expertise
shared and have ranked this training session highest in
comparison to similar events.
Gemcom provides educational support to more than
100 educational institutions around the world through
its Academic License Program. The program allows
educational institutions to incorporate the latest
technology into the programs they offer, by providing
Gemcom software licenses along with additional training
and support.
Information about Gemcoms Academic License Program
is available at www.gemcomsoftware.com/company/
academic-license-program.

About Mining Education Australia


Universities: Curtin University, The University of New
South Wales, The University of Queensland, and The
University of Adelaide.
Location: MEA is hosted at the University of Queensland.
Mining Education Australia is a world first in university
collaboration; a national joint venture between the four
major mining education providers in Australia.
Website: www.mea.edu.au
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Students at Curtin University.

University of the Witwatersrand School of Mining


Engineering prepares students for the workforce
with Gemcom software
The School of Mining Engineering at the University of
the Witwatersrand, widely known as Wits Mining is
rich in tradition and mining history, having been founded
in Kimberley in 1896 as the South African (Kimberley)
School of Mines. It moved to Johannesburg as the
Transvaal Technical Institute in 1904 and was renamed
the South African School of Mines and Technology in
1910. It became a fully-fledged university in 1922,
offering arts, science, medicine, engineering, law,
commerce, and other degrees. Today, more than 24,000
students attend the University. Its School of Mining
Engineering is recognised as one of the top institutions of
its kind in the world and has an increasing growth rate in
the number of students enrolled in its programs.

Each year Wits teaches mining students to use Gemcom


GEMS and Gemcom Whittle. Third-year students
are introduced to the Whittle software and design an
optimised open pit, while fourth year students use both
systems to produce a required final mine design before
they graduate.
At the University, Gemcoms software packages are used
for teaching technical knowledge to undergraduate and
postgraduate students in areas including modelling,
design, planning, scheduling, optimisation, and data
management. An important contribution to the successful
use of Gemcoms software in mining courses at the
School of Mining Engineering is the training provided to
its faculty on GEMS and Whittle by Gemcoms mining

professionals. In addition, when the Universitys lecturers


have questions about the software, their License
Administrator has access to Gemcoms support desk
for help.
Gemcoms Academic License Program has provided us
with the ideal scope of software solutions for training
our students in geological ore body modelling and mine
planning. Even when time is limited for training, because
the software is integrated and easy to use, our students
are able to produce meaningful work for projects and
assignments.
School of Mining Engineering,
University of the Witwatersrand

About University of the Witwatersrand School


of Mining Engineering
Established: 1896
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
The School of Mining Engineering was one of the
founding Schools of the University of the Witwatersrand.
Throughout its existence its reputation has been based on
the quality of its graduates, many of whom have risen to
hold senior positions in the South African mining industry.
Many graduates have made significant contributions to its
growth and technological development.
Website: www.wits.ac.za
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Campus at the University of the Witwatersrand.

To learn more about products featured in these customer stories


email info@gemcomsoftware.com
or visit www.gemcomsoftware.com/products.

Disclaimer and copyrights


This document gives only a general description of products and services and except where expressly provided otherwise shall not form part of any contract. Changes may be made in products or services at any time without notice. Copyright 2012, Gemcom Software International Inc. Gemcom, the Gemcom logo,
combinations thereof, and Surpac, GEMS, Minex, MineSched, Whittle, Gemcom InSite and PCBC are trademarks of Gemcom Software International Inc. All other names are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective owners.

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