Modern Mining November 2018

MINING News

Kom-Vision technology introduced at Mogalakwena

into future collision avoidance systems. In line with our strategy of FutureSmart Mining™, it will generate close-to-real-time health and performance data that will sup- port us in optimising our operations.” Comments Chris Griffith, CEO of Anglo American Platinum: “Investing in this tech- nology is a major step in increasing safety levels at our mines. We remain committed to our objective of eliminating fatalities with a zero-harm mindset. We put safety first and believe that every employee has the right to return home unharmed every day. And we recognise that although we have made significant progress in improv- ing safety over the years, there is still much to do. This technology will eliminate a number of risks and we look forward to benefitting from the improved safety and operational features of these trucks.” According to Anglo American Platinum, the case for innovation in mining remains highly compelling. To deliver the step- changes required to create a truly modern, safe and productive industry on a sustain- able basis that society demands and that customers expect, the industry must con- tinue to evolve. Therefore, Anglo American continues to invest time working through how innovation can help the industry address its major challenges. Through FutureSmart Mining™, the company has successfully drawn on the expertise of diverse stakeholders, including employ- ees, partners in academia and civil society, peers in the mining and parallel industries. The company continues to focus on driving a more sustainable approach to mining through cutting-edge min- ing software and other technology-led innovations. Production Manager Judd Barlow said: “We are proud to partner with Komatsu as this technology allows us to maximise capacity and safely deliver on our promises.” The new trucks will be the first earth- moving vehicles at Mogalakwena to fully integrate a range of business improvement initiatives including: collision avoidance ready technology; a tyre monitoring sys- tem; a safety standard fuel saving card and extended fuel tank; an optimised pay- load system for payload monitoring; an Ansul foam fire protection system which combines dry powder with foam; and a lightweight bowl. 

The Mogalakwena mine has taken delivery of two Kom-Vision-equipped Komatsu 930E earthmoving vehicles (photo: Anglo American Platinum).

Anglo American Platinum recently brought two Kom-Vision-equipped Komatsu 930E earthmoving vehicles into production at theMogalakwena Complex nearMokopane in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. The Kom-Vision technology is a significant step towards improving safety at the mine as it gives the truck operator a 360-degree bird’s eye view and significantly reduces the risks Prospect signs option on lithium project

substantially mineralised in fine-grained spodumene. The project area is located approxi- mately 16 km south-east of the town of Bindura and some 65 km from the capital city, Harare, and consists of a swarm of Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegma- tites which were historically worked for spodumene, beryl, tantalite, columbite, cassiterite, feldspar and lepidolite. The Lipropeg claims cover part of a previously unexploited 500 m by 200 m wide SE-NW striking pegmatite body along the southern edge of the Shamva greenstone belt. Prospect intends to commence its explo- ration programme immediately. The first phase will consist of mapping, soil and rock chip sampling and ground magnetics. The follow-up phase will be results driven, but likely consist of infill soil sampling followed by trenching, and then appropriate short hole RC percussion drilling.  associated with a man-machine interface. The new system has an additional eight radars – over and above the cur- rent standard of front and rear radars – and six cameras that provide zero-metre visibility of the truck’s footprint. “This technology sets a new benchmark,” says Mogalakwena’s General Manager, Richard Cox. “It improves our ability to integrate

ASX-listed Prospect Resources has signed a 90-day option to acquire the Lipropeg lithium project from Zimbabwean company Pegmaton Resources. Prospect’s flagship project is the Arcadia lithium project located on the outskirts of Harare in Zimbabwe, now at an advanced stage with a DFS having just been released. The company is using its expertise gained at Arcadia in lithium exploration and geologi- cal modelling to focus its exploration targets in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in the region. The 5 km 2 Lipropeg project is located in north-eastern Zimbabwe and contains numerous mineralised pegmatites. The five Lipropeg claims are within 2 km to the south, and on strike, of known historical small mines which include the Loch Ness, Bonnyvale and Ronspur. These historical mines were exploited in the 1960s for beryl, cassiterite and tantalum mineralisation, and were also reportedly

10  MODERN MINING  November 2018