Modern Quarrying October-November 2017

Living the SPH-K way of life: The Kersfontein Sand Mine in Kalbaskraal is the cleanest sand mine operation MQ has ever visited (courtesy SPH-K).

AT THE QUARRY FACE WITH SPH-K

Mining solutions provider sets the benchmark The Kersfontein Mine in Kalbaskraal, Malmesbury, Cape Town, was acquired in November 2016. Owned and operated by SPH Kundalila, the sand mine, which is a relatively small operation at the moment, is proving its worth. Modern Quarrying recently travelled to site and met up with its manager Jean Martin, a proud SPH-K man with sand in his veins.

T he mine, which previously utilised very outdated mining methods, has left Martin with several challenges. “At this stage, we don’t have a grader and utilise our old ADT tyres by chain-drag- ging themover the gravel by water truck to maintain our hau lroads.”He showed MQ a video of the operation prior to the acqui- sition, where a truck was shoved over the sand by an excavator to load at the stock- pile, and then pushed back onto the road; something which must have been a major disaster in the rainy season. “However we have improved since we acquired the mine,”Martin says.

environmental impact of our operations and are committed to the latest legisla- tion in this regard. We pride ourselves on our safety which we consider to be of par- amount importance. We have invested a considerable amount of money and time on safety and in all the mines we are com- missioned to work on, we strictly adhere to all legislative rules and regulations.” Rehabilitation is carried out on a con- tinual basis and the quarry takes care of its fauna and flora. Martin tells MQ about a Cape Wag Tail, which built its nest in an excavator during the Christmas shut-down period. “We held back on using this exca- vator until the chicks were out of the nest.”

This editor has been to many sand mines and must point out that this mine is the neatest sand quarry I have ever seen. Congratulations have to go to the team who more than live the SPH Kundalila way of life, and clearly show pride of place. Martin, who has a long history with the company, started off about 15 years ago in the Industrial Relations depart- ment. He later worked as a consultant for a period of five years, rejoining the company again in 2010 at Bridgetown Dolomite in Moorreesburg, some 90 km from Cape Town. “As a company, we recognise the importance of minimising the

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MODERN QUARRYING October - November 2017