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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 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
Block Caving.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 64
De Beers improves decision-making and productivity..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................65
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
Page
Etruscan Resources
Gold
Straits Resources
Surpac
Mikhailovsky GOK
Surpac
Open pit
Iron ore
Russia
Northland Resources
Finland, Sweden
11
Rheinkalk GmbH
Surpac, MineSched
Quarry
Limestone
14
Surpac
Open pit
Iron ore
China
17
IAMGOLD Corporation
GEMS, Whittle
Open pit
Gold
18
Centerra Gold
GEMS, Whittle
Open pit
Gold
21
Shore Gold
GEMS
Canada
24
Fronteer Development
GEMS
Exploration, development
27
Eastern Goldfields
GEMS
Gold
South Africa
30
Nordkalk Corporation
GEMS
Quarry
Limestone
33
Voskhod-Oriel
Surpac
Underground
Chromite
Kazakhstan
36
Samarco
GEMS
Open pit
Iron ore
Brazil
37
Tiger Resources
Surpac
Open pit
Copper
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
MineSched, Surpac
All commodities
Canada
56
Adamus Resources
MineSched
Open pit
Gold
Ghana
57
MineSched
Open pit
Gold
South Africa
Whittle
Open pit
Whittle, Surpac
Open pit
Gold
Ghana
Block Caving
De Beers
58
59
60
63
64
PCBC, GEMS
Block caving
Diamonds
South Africa
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
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Voskhod
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
A market-leading position
Burkina close-up.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Gold pour.
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
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
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Surveyors at work.
9 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebook
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Mikhailovsky GOK
Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Surpac
Microsoft SQL Server
AutoCAD
Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Training
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Rheinkalk GmbH
Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Surpac
Gemcom MineSched
Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Training
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
IT Improvements:
Amalgamation of 27 projects into a single data repository.
Business Benefits:
Streamlined workflows and cross-functional collaboration.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
IAMGOLD Corporation
Solutions at a Glance
Gemcom Whittle
Primary Applications:
Gemcom GEMS
AutoCAD
Gemcom Services:
Database consolidation and migration
Software deployment
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
IT Improvements:
Seamless data integration and interfaces to third-party systems.
Business Benefits:
Estimation and drilling accuracy, enabling the recovery of approximately 91
percent of gold.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
Blasthole drilling.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
Gemcom GEMS
Gemcom Whittle
Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Training
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
IT Improvements:
Immediate access to organised, up-to-date mining information.
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.
Time and financial savings resulting from automated user access and model development.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Services:
Customisation
Custom Logger
Training
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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%.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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
Fronteer Development
Company Solutions
at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom GEMS
Gemcom Services:
Software deployment
Training
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
Business Benefits:
Avoidance of costly mining mistakes.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Nordkalk Corporation
Solutions at a Glance
Primary Applications:
Gemcom GEMS
Gemcom Services:
Software implementation
Training
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
North-facing
Visualisations
wall of Northumberlands
of drillhole dataexisting
in GEMS.
pit.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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
39 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebook
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Image showing a 3D view of the pit, ore zone, and proposed infrastructures.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Minex
Gemcom Services:
Technical support
Onsite training
System configuration
Software customisation
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
44 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebook
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
IT Improvements:
Ability to create a complete mine plan in 3-4 weeks for huge, 740-hectare mining operation.
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Gemcom Minex
Gemcom Services:
Technical support
Training
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
IT Improvements:
Significantly shorter report and map generation.
Business Benefits:
Efficient working processes among planning, operations and engineering groups.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Brush Resources
Solutions at a Glance
Trimble Geomatics
Office surveying software
AutoCAD
Primary Applications:
Gemcom Minex
Microsoft Excel
Gemcom Services:
Software deployment
Training
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Mine Scheduling
G O L D E N S TA R
R E S O U R C E S LT D.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
IT Improvements:
Ability to avoid errors that occur with manual scheduling.
Business Benefits:
Better planning and more efficient utilisation of expensive mining fleets.
Flexibility to create contingency plans to manage unexpected events and mitigate costs.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
PT Petrosea Tbk
Solutions at a Glance
Primary Application:
Gemcom MineSched
Gemcom Surpac
Gemcom Services:
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
G O L D E N S TA R
R E S O U R C E S LT D.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
Approach:
Adopt Gemcom Whittle as part of the
companys standard software solution for
open pit optimisation.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Block Caving
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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.
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Gemcom GEMS
Sandvik AutoMine system
Gemcom Services:
Consulting
On-site training
Software customisation
Systems integration
Technical support
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
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
70 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebook
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Educational Institutions
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s