Modern Mining January 2022

SUPPLY CHAIN News

Selecting the right rubber lining for your application product manager rubber products, hoses and spools at Weir Minerals Africa.

Mines are well aware of the significant cost savings that can be achieved by using rub- ber to increase the wear life of equipment, however selecting the right product for the application is vital. Rubber lining is a highly skilled process which – when done cor- rectly with the correct type and thickness of rubber – can contribute considerably to the life and profitability of a plant. Perhaps the first issue to clarify is that there is no single lab test to provide a defin- itive answer, according to Yatheen Budhu,

pumps, as well as the Wet ARI test. “The range of options can seem over- whelming, but it is vital to select the right material for the job,” he emphasises. “Getting this wrong means shorter wear life and raises the risk of premature failures that could lead to unplanned stoppages for maintenance.” Budhu highlights the proven ability of natural rubber to withstand abrasion, espe- cially when its composition is close to the natural latex found in the rubber tree. This is where Weir Mineral’s innovative manu- facturing process makes all the difference. “Each additional step in the produc- tion of rubber can damage its molecular chains and compromise the raw natural rubber’s excellent abrasion resistance,” he explains. “Through our unique liquid phase compounding process, we ensure that our premium rubber retains the essential prop- erties of raw natural rubber and this allows it to deliver excellent wear life.” After almost a century of successful operation in both industrial and mining applications, Linatex rubber is renowned for reducing long term wear caused by fine particles, including the wet and abrasive conditions in mining. It is especially suit- able for low angle applications, and its use includes the lining of pumps, piping, hoses, chutes, valves and tanks.  its increased 11,5% (US$35,6-milsion) to US$346,1-million. House says there is continuing strong demand for gold, copper and base met- als, but that demand for critical minerals is expected to increase at a faster rate because of the push for decarbonisation. The profile of exploration spending is shifting, through a combination of targeting, compliance, and drilling at depth. He says the company’s recent acqui- sition of Mineportal and investment in Datarock has added strength to IMDEX’s geoscience analytics, AI and computer visualisation capabilities as part of its inte- grated rock knowledge expertise. “IMDEX technologies enable us to provide critical insights right through the mining value chain. Our global presence is unrivalled and provides a compelling oppor- tunity to embed real value for clients.” 

“The industry standard test for rubber materials is the ISO 4649 dry abrasion test, however most wearing materials on a mine exist in a wet environment,” says Budhu. “For this reason, our Weir Minerals spe- cialists developed a modified version of the ISO 4649 test, the Wet Abrasion Resistance Index (Wet ARI) test which can be used for wet abrasion testing and is better matched to what actually happens on the mine. The

test was developed specifi- cally to replicate wet slurry wear conditions for elasto- mers and over many years of testing has become the stan- dard by which we can predict the wear of not only our rubber, but that of our com- petitors and then rank these side by side,” he explains. He makes the point that the same wear material – such as slurries, sand or aggregate – will behave dif- ferently in varying conditions. For this reason, Weir Minerals’ Wear Testing Programme includes unique tests such as the Weir Coriolis test, which is particularly suited for mill

The Linatex compounds are suitable for low angle applications and are used in pumps, piping, hoses, chutes, valves and tanks.

New IMDEX rig count figures show strong growth in major mining regions

New mineral exploration rig use figures released by leading global mining-tech company IMDEX have revealed strong growth allowing for seasonal factors in major mining regions internationally. The rig use snapshot, contained in an IMDEX presentation to the Macquarie WA Forum on December 2, was taken in October and updates a similar assessment conducted by IMDEX earlier this year. The figures, of surface and underground coring and RC rigs, show the fleet is close to capacity in Australia and New Zealand at 81%, up from 72% in April. European rig use in October was 50%, up from 39%, South America 48% (39%), Africa 57% (54%), Canada 65% (46%), Mexico and Central America 48% (44%). Globally, rig use increased from 46% in April to 55% in October. The United States, at 64%, was down from 72% but North

America as a whole was up from 49% to 59% utilisation. IMDEX CEO Paul House says delivery times for new rigs has increased, and the sector is facing skilled labour shortages and mobility restrictions — but these are short-term constraints. “We are seeing recovery and growth in all key IMDEX regions. This is flowing through to revenue, and is reflected in increasing demand for IMDEX HUB IQTM connected sensors and software as com- panies continue to embrace innovation and new digital ways of working,” says House. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for mineral exploration for the September quarter showed an increase of 7,7% (US$70,4-million) to US$982,4-million. Exploration related to existing depos- i ts increased 5,8% (US$34,8-mi l l ion) to US$636,3-million, and new depos-

42  MODERN MINING  January 2022