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By C. Chapman, M. G. Reading, M. P. Amsden

Computer control of flotation at the Ecstall concentrator By M. P. AMSDEN, C. CHAPMAN, and M. G. READING Ecstall Mining Limited, a subsidiary of Texas Gulf Sulphur Company, operates the Kidd Creek Mine, a 10000 tons per day base metal producer, near Timmins, Ontario. Two different types of ore are mined and milled: copper-zinc and silver-lead-zinc. At the highly automated Ecstall concentrator the ores are processed by selective flotation in three individual circuits. One of the most important metallurgical tools for process control is a sample system incorporating continuous on-stream X-ray analysis. Recently this system was automated further by the addition of computer control of reagents for two copper-zinc flotation circuits. The computer programs, utilizing optimum seeking methods and smelter contract terms, have increased copper recovery by 1,1 per cent, zinc recovery by 1,4 per cent, and have reduced reagent costs by 16 per cent. Although not expected, copper and zinc concentrate grades were improved slightly as well.

By G. Bueno, L. M. Tavares, T. M. Campos

Iron ore pellet feed pressing has been one of the first and most successful applications of High- Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) in the minerals industry. Vale S.A. has been one of the pioneers in this application, currently with six HPGRs in operation in the pelletising plants of the Complexo de Tubarão (Brazil). In spite of the important advances in the technology, risks still exist when scaling-up the process from small-scale information. The present work takes advantage of the recent advances in the mathematical modelling of the HPGR performance, using the population balance model to evaluate the modified Torres and Casali model prediction in iron ore pellet feed pressing for different scales of operation. Results are presented that compare the HPGR performance in different operational scales for iron ore pellet feed pressing, demonstrating the confidence of this model-based approach for scale-up to full-scale HPGRs used in pressing iron ore concentrates. Keywords: Scale-up, HPGR, pellet feed, modelling, simulation

Jan 1, 2020

By More-O&apos, R. C. Ferrall, J. W. Wilson

Discussion: M. D. G. Salamon* (Fellow): The theoretical principles behind the techniques of calculation used by the authors was formulated and published during the period 1962- 65. These principles, together with their practical implications, were summarized in a review paper in 1966.1 Now, in February, 1970, we have this long and comprehensive paper discussing the practical application of the theory. I think this is good progress. The large number of practical examples treated in the paper clearly demonstrates not only the skill and knowledge of the authors, but also the versatility of the techniques of analysis. I feel that the techniques described by the authors, and their improved versions, will revolutionize mine planning. I suggest that no shaft system or stoping layout should be planned in future without an adequate rock mechanics analysis. It seems that it will be progressively more difficult to white wash mistakes in rock mechanics and attribute their costly outcome to normal mining risk. We should not, however, become complacent. There is still a lot to learn and do in the future. I do not want to discuss tonight the question of further research but instead, I will raise two other problems which may hinder the future progress of practical rock mechanics. To carry out work similar to that described in the paper, mine managements require men who are capable of doing the work and who have the most efficient techniques of analysis at their disposal. As a research engineer I have been associated with the development of techniques of analysis. I can assure you that these have undergone an amazingly rapid development during the last six years. We have seen the change from the use of the electrolytic tank analogue and manual integration to the method described by the authors, that is, to the employment of the automatic network analogue and computer integration. But this is not the end. In a recent paper Prof R. P. Plewman2 and his co-authors described a completely digital technique. Here the process of calculating on- and off-reef quantities is integrated into one computer run. But these sophisticated methods of computation are useless without men to make intelligent use of them. During the last few years a new breed of mining engineers has appeared on the scene - the Rock Mechanics Engineer. I feel it is timely to call the attention of the senior members of this Institute to the fact that this new breed will succeed in carrying out its duties in a valuable manner only if we manage to attract to its ranks young engineers of the right quality. The requirements are high. The top rock mechanics engineers have to be good mine planners and they have to understand the essence of sophisticated theories. Without these attributes they will not succeed in the long term and the industry will not gain the benefit of available knowledge. To attract this quality of engineers the industry will have to ensure that rock mechanics is accepted by all concerned as a career which could lead to the top echelons of our profession. Finally, I would like to make one or two remarks concerning Part I of the paper. In Sections 3.1 and 3.2 the authors describe methods of determining the normal stress on the reef plane and the convergence distribution in the excavations. The description as given applies only to a horizontal reef. When the reef is inclined the situation is more complex since a shear component of stress on the intact reef and a ride component in the excavations must then also be determined. These can be calculated by methods similar to that described in the paper.3 The practical application of the method of calculating the released energy (Section 3.4) is in the comparison of various stoping layouts to establish an order of preference in terms of decreasing rates of energy release. To carry out these comparisons effectively, the calculations must be carried out in a manner by which the values of energy per unit area obtained are comparable. I would like to note in this respect that the method of calculation given in the paper is valid without reservation only if there is no elastic contact between the hanging and foot walls in the mined-out area. If there is contact then the calculated energy values are correct only if the mined out area is increased in small steps during the analysis. My second point in this regard is concerned with the practical method of calculation as described in Sections 3.4 (ii)-(iii). Firstly, I would like to suggest that the energy calculation should be carried out, as far as possible, by using always the same scale on the analogue. Secondly, the reading of current on a pin should be followed by the removal of that pin to obtain the corresponding reading of potential. The product of these two values will be proportional to the energy released during the mining of the small area corresponding to that pin. The method suggested by the authors tends to mask possible danger points in the layouts, since they obtain an average value for a time period, say, for six months.

By X. Zhang, Z. T. Yuan, C. Zhang, H. M. Zheng, X. M. Wang, L. X. Li, N. Li

In metal mines, comminution is commonly used to liberate minerals for subsequent mineral concentration processes, such as flotation, magnetic separation and gravity separation. However, ores are aggregates of valuable minerals and their disseminated gangue minerals, and these minerals exhibit diverse comminution behaviours. In carbonate-bearing iron ores, hematite, siderite, and quartz are the predominant minerals, of which hematite is the objective recoverable mineral. In this regard, the present study aimed to identify the imperfections in siderite minerals by X-ray computed tomography (XCT), and thus quantitatively characterise their size and shape in terms of Feret diameter and aspect ratio, as well as other parameters. XCT images indicated the protogenetic ubiquity of pores <5 μm in diameter and cracks of 7-8 μm inside siderite particles. In the ground product of artificially mixed siderite and hematite, siderite particles were smaller than hematite particles. Siderite particles had a larger surface area and greater surface roughness than hematite particles of the same volume, which was attributable to the intrinsic holes and cracks in siderite particles. This study provides an insight into the relationship between the inherent imperfections of minerals and their comminution properties. Keywords: Siderite; X-ray computed tomography; particle imperfections; grinding behaviour; sliming

Jan 1, 2020

For the past 12 years, the Universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Town have hosted an annual symposium to discuss research topics in Minerals Processing. Since 1987, this meeting has been held under the auspices of the Western Cape Branch of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and has enjoyed much national and international support. In 1993, in place of the usual Symposium, the Branch and Universities collaborated with CSM Associates Ltd and Minerals Engineering Journal is organizing the international Minerals Engineering &apos;93 Conference in Cape Town.

Jan 1, 1993

By J. R. Percival, L. Ip, M. D. Piggott, S. J. Neethling

Component wear due to particle-laden flow is a significant challenge in the minerals processing industry in the handling and transportation of abrasive mineral slurries. Studying wear through experimentation is time-consuming and expensive; therefore possessing the ability to accurately simulate, understand and predict wear in these complex environments is highly desirable. The ability to predict wear is important in both the design of equipment in order to maximise the performance over the wear life of the components, as well in minimising potentially costly and dangerous failures and unscheduled maintenance.. Particle-induced wear is a complex problem, requring an understanding of coupled fluid-solid motion, geometry deformation in response to fluid-solid behaviour, moving geometries and wear modelling. Although the literature demonstrates that rebounding particles and changes to surface profiles can have a significant effect on subsequent wear rates and patterns, the challenge of implementing a model to account for this effect in complex geometries has been addressed by only a few authors in the literature. This paper describes a new wear simulator, leveraging fluidity, an open-source, massively parallel, finite element based CFD simulator capable of unstructured adaptive meshing. The wear simulator includes the ability to model particle-laden flow using representative Lagrangian particles and dynamic remeshing of geometry in response to wear and component movement. These capabilities are demonstrated using wear and the associated dynamically deforming boundaries within a Coriolis tester arm, with the results comparing favourably with the experimentally observed wear patterns. Keywords: CFD, wear, two-phase flows, anisotropic mesh adaptivity, boundary deformation

Jan 1, 2020

By G. Akdogan, J. H. Zietsman, C. Dorfling, D. Attah-Kyei

The development of newer and improved electrical products has led to an increase in the rate at which older products are discarded as waste. The main focus of electronic waste is the printed circuit board (PCB) because of the inherently high value of contained metals such as gold and copper. Several options for treatment of the non-metallic fraction including material recycling, where the residue may be used as inclusions in concrete or asphalt materials with minimal processing or chemical recycling, where chemicals and fuels are produced from the residue using pyrolysis exist. In this paper, the utilisation of the non-metallic leached PCB waste fraction as reductant in secondary copper smelting was investigated. Analysis of the leached residue revealed that PCB is highly amorphous and has a carbon content of 28.5%, an oxygen content of 23.1%, with the ash and volatile matter contents 40.1% and 44.8% respectively. Thermodynamic simulations of secondary smelting of copper were conducted in terms of metal recovery, and the energy required when PCB was used as a reductant. The results were also compared with that of coal and PCB-coal blends. The simulations revealed that as PCB in the blend used as reductants increases, the amount of energy required for the smelting operation decreases. Metal recovery slightly decreased as the mass percent of PCB in the blend increased due to lower carbon content present in PCB relative to coal. The results also highlighted the energy saving with PCB-coal blends which was around 160 kWh per ton of feed relative to coal. The decrease in the amount of energy required for the operation is attributed to the higher volatile content of the PCB, which is also a part of the reduction process. Keywords: PCB leach residue, alternative reducing agent, secondary copper smelting

Jan 1, 2020

By M. Kamali

In this research, in order to predict the peak particle velocity (PPV)(as vibration indicator) caused by blasting projects in the excavations of the Karoun III power plant and dam, three techniques including statistical, empirical, and neural network were used and their results were interpreted and compared. First, multivariate regression analysis (MVRA) was used as statistical approach. Next, PPV was predicted using some widely used empirical models. Lastly, an artificial neural network was used. In the ANN model, maximum charge per delay, total charge per round, distance from blast site, direction of firing, blasthole length, number of blastholes, total delay in milliseconds, number of delay intervals, and average specific charge were taken into consideration as input parameters and consequently the PPV as output parameter. The results of the techniques were interpreted from two points of view. Firstly, the correlation between the observed data and predicted ones, secondly the total error between observed data and predicted ones. The MVRA had a satisfactory correlation but its error of estimation was comparatively very high. The empirical model had reliable correlation and a small error of estimation; in total the results of empirical method were more reliable than those of MVRA. Generally, the ANN approach showed very high correlation and a very small error. The results of this research indicated that the ANN model is the best predicting model for PPV in comparison with other approaches.

Jan 1, 2010

By J. Petersen, S. W. Robertson

Heap leaching is used extensively for the processing of low-grade copper, gold, and uranium ores. The hydrodynamics is often the most important factor that limits the rate of metal recovery. Over the past decades the author has performed physical and hydraulic testing of a large number of ore samples considered for heap leaching. The data were reviewed to investigate the effect of physical properties such as particle size distribution (PSD) and bulk density on the hydrology. The unsaturated flow through the bed is traditionally modelled with soil science models such as Brooks-Corey (BC) and Van Genuchten-Mualem (VGM), which relate the hydraulic conductivity to the degree of saturation, also known as the hydraulic conductivity function (HCF). However, most authors found a disconnect between the saturated hydraulic conductivity (KS) and the rest of the HCF, which is explained as resulting from a transition from capillary-to gravity-controlled flow. However, the author found no such transition, and found the flow to be governed by capillary flow throughout. Traditional BC or VGM fits were found to be appropriate, however it was necessary to modify the model to include a point of inflection, above which the hydraulic conductivity remains constant while the moisture content keeps on increasing. It was proposed that this is the result of unconnected or poorly connected pores, which fill with solution but do not create additional flow channels. The point of discontinuity was also found to correspond with the air entry point, measured independently from the air conductivity curves. On average, the air entry point corresponds to the experiential rule that the void saturation should remain below 65% for aerated heaps.

Dec 11, 2024

By H. Mulder, M. C. Bekker

The objective of this paper is to describe the research followed in creating a generalized, readiness assessment tool for mining projects. We start by highlighting the need for the assessment tool and then progress towards explaining the methodology followed during the study. The selection and finalization of the list of elements, sections, and categories that make up the unweighted values are described, followed by a summary of the weighting process applied. The outcome of this process is a weighted readiness assessment tool for mining project studies. The main benefits of the tool are that it will guide decision-makers and project managers through the definition phases of the project and improve the likelihood of project success.

Jul 2, 2022

By F. M. Ramadhan, M. R. Pratama

Monitoring open-pit mine road conditions has become very critical nowadays. There are several benefits to in conducting research on this field such as opportunity to improve truck’s speed which directly influences truck’s productivity. This research aims to provide a semi real-time, and sensors-based automatic road damage detector that predicts the road quality through road damage exact location tracing, road damages auto-classification, and real-time instruction in the form of work order format to mining road maintenance, and repair authorities through mobile apps and maintenance unit’s in-cabin display. It will also provide the maintenance/repair activity performance evaluation via integrated dashboards. The artificial neural network algorithm is applied during the process of data training regarding classifying road damages and severities which resulted in a valid model. The road damage classification model has a precision level of 80.5% in predicting whether the road is damaged or not. Using this approach, we are expecting to visualise a road quality map of all active roads on mine site.

Sep 1, 2021

"Chairman: Prof A. E. H. BLEKSLEY Rapporteur: Prof J. ELBRONDPanel Members: Prof J. C. Griffiths, Prof T. E. Hawkins, Mr A. C. Langton, Mr M. Splaine, Mr A. WeissThe reasons for failure of computer applications in the mineral industry and the direction of future developments.The Chairman opened the discussion by elaborating on the disappointment felt by some authorities with the lack of progress in the application of computers in the mineral industry during the last ten years, and posed the question to the panel : &apos;Do you agree that the computer age has not come up to expectations?&apos;Mr Langton said that although there seemed to be a tremendous amount of brainpower applied to the theoretical side, he thought that the production men had not got all the help from computers that could have been given to them. The computer, said Prof Griffiths, is as yet a new tool which should not be used to do old things in old ways. To learn to use the computer will take time. After all, he said, it had taken 400 years after the introduction of the printing press to achieve general literacy, and perhaps it will take 40 years after the introduction of the computer to achieve `numeracy&apos;.In Mr Weiss&apos; view, the reason for the feeling of disappoint¬ment lay in the focussing of attention on the computer. The blame, if any, lay with the people surrounding the computer, that is, the analysts and programmers, to whom the emphasis should be shifted.Prof Hawkins said that he thought that some applications of the computer in the mineral industry had been successful, such as, for example, the compilation of payrolls. Reasons for failures in other areas were to be sought in the fact that the people connected with computers had failed to realise that they were merely part of a system. They had not understood the power structure of the organization which their work tended to change, and were therefore not prepared for the inevitable conflict with the production men.In Mr Splaine&apos;s view the production man had not received the assistance he could have had from the computer people because he may possibly not have allowed this to happen.Prof Bleksley concluded from these opinions that the promise which computers had ton years ago had not been fulfilled and added that the opinions expressed by the panel had intruded on his next question which was: &apos;Is the reason for this that people are involved?Prof Hawkins elaborated on his previous theme, namely, that of computer people in relation to management. Com-puter people, he said, were trying to impose change on management but were not prepared to share the responsibility for these changes. In fact, they wanted their work to be distinct and separate, and, as far as management was concerned, changes would be made when management believed that these would be less agonizing than no change at all."

Jan 1, 2014

By A. A. Oakes, P. M. C. Wilson

This paper describes some aspects of the planning of a new colliery which commenced production in the Middleburg district in 1966. An account is given of some of the problems encountered in the early years of operation and of what was done to solve them. The conclusion is reached that design of plant and machinery should be flexible to permit multiplication of units.

By A. W. Sundström

This paper reviews the development and suitability of various important thermophysical and electrical properties with respect to base metal mattes. Areas of focus include the critical validation of measurements of viscosity, density, surface and interfacial tension, electrical conductivity, and an overview of the various experimental methods used to determine these properties. Accurate physical property data of mattes are critical in process modelling and computational fluid dynamic modelling of smelting and converting operations employed in the extraction of copper, nickel, cobalt and platinum group metals.

Jan 1, 2008

GENERAL Invitation to attend O.F.S. Branch Meeting: Members of the Witbank/Middelburg Branch were invited to attend a branch meeting of the O.F.S. Branch on the 15th November. The subject of the meeting would be a talk on the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam Project and up to 25 members could be accommodated on the nights of the 14th and 15th November by kind invitation of members of the O.F.S. Branch. A questionnaire would be issued at a later date, to obtain the names of those interested in attending the meeting. PAPER FOR PRESENTATION The Chairman called upon Mr G. H. J. Kitson to present his joint paper, entitled: &apos;Photoelectric readings; their significance for dust control on collieries.&apos; G. H. J. Kitson (Member) and Y. J. F. Haven (Visitor). After Mr Kitson had presented his paper, both he and Mr Haven answered questions from the floor. The Chairman then thanked Mr G. H. J. Kitson for presenting the paper, and the meeting closed at 6.15 p.m.

By Nicolle Krusberski

Potential errors in XRF analysis are discussed and investigated with specific reference to the analysis of ilmenite samples. A selection of ilmenite samples was chosen and prepared using two XRF preparation techniques: pressed powder pellet and unroasted fusion bead. The merits of the two methods have been discussed in this paper for ilmenite analysis by XRF. Recommendations have been made regarding the use of pressed powder pellets especially with regard to the mineralogical effects that were evidenced during this investigation. The fusion bead technique was found to be far more accurate and able to meet short turnaround requirements provided the calibration methodology used is specific to the grade of samples analyzed.

Jan 1, 2014

The Annual General Meeting of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy was held in Kelvin House on Wednesday, 25th August, 1976. Dr R. E. Robinson, (President) was in the chair, and declared the meeting open at 16h00. Obituaries The president: It is my sad duty to announce the death of the following members of the Institute : P. A. Creewell, Life Fellow; A. S. Davis, J. S. Hay, P. O. Large, N. McCaskell, and H. G. M. McKerrow, Life Members; C. L. Bererge, Fellow; T. Bulloch, G. Douglas, R. W. Forrester, and C. G. P. Sack, Members; P. R. Garcia, W. A. Naude, and J. P. Slager, Associates. As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased and in sympathy with the bereaved, I ask you to rise and observe a few moments&apos; silence. Minutes The President: May we confirm the minutes of the General Meeting held on March 17th, 1976, as published in the June issue of the Journal? Agreed. Welcome The President: It is my pleasant duty to welcome a number of guests and distinguished visitors this evening. First, I would like to welcome Mr R. Plumbridge, the President of the Chamber of Mines, and Mrs Plumbridge. We have had very close co-operation with the Chamber of Mines, and it is particularly gratifying that Mr Plumbridge has had time to be with us this evening in spite of very heavy engagements. Ook &apos;n spesiale woord van verwelkomirg aar mrr. N. Orsmord, die Staatsmyringerieur, en mev. Orsmord. Ors wil hierdie geleertheid gebruik om mrr. Orsmord geluk to wens met sy aarstellirg as die Staatsmyrirgerieur en die hoop uitspreek dat dit baie jare van samewerkirg met hierdie Irstituut sal beteker. We also welcome guests who, in one way or another, have been able to attend most of our Annual General Meetings, the Honourable I. B. Dillon, the Minister of Mines of Rhodesia, and Mrs Dillon. Once again we welcome them most heartily to our Annual Meeting. I would also like to welcome the representatives of many of our sister institutions : the Honorary Treasurer of the AS & TS, Mr D. G. Maxwell; the President of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Mr A. R. Adams; the Vice-President of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers, Mr K. A. H. Adams, and Mrs Adams; the President of the Institute of Certificated Mechanical and Electrical Engineer s, Mr Martin and Mrs Martin; a member of the Executive of the South African Institute of Civil Engineers, Professor G. Bright ; the President of the South African Chemical Institute, Mr Vic Shuller, and Mrs Shuller; the President of the Institute of Welding, Professor F. P. A. Robinson, and Mrs Robinson; the President of SACPE, Mr M. R. Gericke ; the President of the Institution of Metallurgists, South African Branch, Mr D. R. Allen; the President of FSPE, Dr P. J. D. Lloyd, and Mrs Lloyd ; Mr A. J. H. Pole of the Association of Mine Managers, and Mrs Pole; and Mr M. D. Hoskin of the South African Institute of Foundrymen. A special word of welcome to Mr G. C. Young of our Orange Free State Branch, and Mrs Young ; and to Mr E. J. Jackson of our Witbank/Middelburg Branch. We have great pleasure in welcoming Dr F. M. Naude, the Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister, and Dr W. C. J. van Rensburg, Technical Director of the Minerals Bureau. The latter is a new organization, and we hope their attendance here this afternoon forecasts a long period of co-operation between the Minerals Bureau and this Institute. Ook wil ek hartlik hier verwelkom die Rektor van Die Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit, professor G. van N. Viljoen. Ors het baie noue samewerking met die Universiteit gekry, en ek wil ook bier verwelkom die twee verteenwoordigers van die Geologiese-afdeling en die Chemie-afdeling, naamlik, dr C. Roering en professor G. W. Holzapfel. Last, but by no means least, a word of welcome to a very old friend, Mr Eric Boden, the Manager of AS & TS. To all our guests, a very hearty welcome to this our Annual General Meeting. Membership The President: It is required by our Constitution that I announce the names of a number of candidates who have been elected to various grades of membership. The list is a very long one, and I suggest that we simply record that these names will be published in the Journal. Any one who wishes to comment on these members should do so in writing to our Secretary. Agreed. Fellows: G. Paterson, P. H. Adler, F. W. G. Schoning, J. P. de Villiers, F. I. de Waal, J. R. H. Shaw. Members: C. J. Slavin, P. J. Perkins, R. J. I. Butler, A. M. Hattingh, C. E. Alvey, J. A. Engelbrecht, P. L. Gouws, J. P. Martin, J. F. Taylor, K. A. G. Blendulf, A. R. Gibb, W. E. Smith. Associate Members: D. R. Broderick, D. F. Cilliers, D. N. Stuart, P. Kraus, B. G. Pinder. Associates: D. E. Gibbon, D. F. Jacobs, R. F. W. Swanepoel, R. D. H. Bebb, H. H. Vernall, R. D. Gibson, J. P. van Wyk. Graduates : A. N. Morris, D. J. Payne, G. S. Worthington, A. S. Dennison, A. R. Godfrey, N. Holloway, W. J. Rankin, G. S. Lyndon, R. J. van Proctor, J. J. Versluis, G. M. Miller. Students: B. J. Rabie, G. D. Webber, W. L. Blair, I. D. Mathews, K. McVey, S. W. Beer, R. W. J. Bentley,

Jan 10, 1976

By Brian W. Mackenzie

The mineral exploration environment has observable economic characteristics, the assessment of which provides guidelines for exploration planning in the mining company. The long-term survival of the mining company is directly dependent on successful exploration. Exploration planning contributes to successful exploration through the development of exploration strategies. The objective of exploration planning is to select exploration environments which will enable the mining company to realize best possible profit and corporate risk conditions. Thus, the formulation of exploration strategies is based on profit and corporate risk criteria. Strategic considerations include the selection of commodities as exploration targets, geographic concentration of exploration effort, the realization of acceptable survival conditions, and the structuring of an exploration programme to optimize the economic benefits of the exploration investment process.

Jan 1, 2014

By S. P. Molefe

Mr Chairman, members of the executive committee, the sub-committee, distinguished speakers at this opening plenary session, delegates, affiliates, ladies and gentlemen. It is with pleasure that I have been called upon today to make these opening remarks and officially welcome you al at this auspicious assembly, the Fifteenth Congress of the Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutions. Not only am I pleased to open the proceedings at this plenary session but for me to do so at Sun City in the North-West Province makes me doubly pleased. It is my wish that al delegates and their companions will enjoy the activities that are planned throughout the Congress and leave here with minds refreshed and stimulated by the technical sessions and memories enriched by being in such a unique and truly delightful setting as exists here at Sun City. The mix of delegates present reflects CMMI activities in many countries throughout the world-Australia, Japan, China, United Kingdom and South Africa among others. When it comes to mining and related activities, South Africa has a place at the top, a dominant role in platinum, gold, chromium, vanadium, dimension stone, coal and so forth, and here in the North-West Province we can proudly declare that some 25 per cent of the revenue from minerals in South Africa, namely R47 billion come from this area. Furthermore, we lead in the production of platinum group metals with 94 per cent of South Africa&apos;s total sales and thus hold first place in the world, 46 per cent of dimension stone sales, 32 per cent of chromate and 25 per cent of gold sales.

Jan 1, 1994

The Technical Programme Committee-Metals Technology of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, in association with its Vaal Triangle Branch, held a one-day colloquium on 18th April, 1989, the theme being &apos;Ferous Pyrometalurgy: A Challenge for South Africa&apos;. The venue was the Auditorium 100 at the campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon in Vanderbijlpark. Project and contract management A Project and Contract Management Conference is to be held on 19th and 20th September, 1989, at the C SIR, Pretoria. Powder metallurgy The PM 90 exhibition is to be held in Wembley, London, from 2nd to 6th July, 1990. The wide range of powders, processing machinery, and powder-metallurgy components at the exhibition will reflect the growth in this highly specialist industry. Castings and forgings Exhibition organizers, FMJ International Publications Ltd, are set to build upon the success of Castings & Forgings &apos;88, which was held as a joint event with Pat- Cast &apos;88. Castings & Forgings &apos;89-with Pat-Cast &apos;89- has already generated a high level of interest, which has been reflected in the demand for stands. Furnaces FURNACES &apos;90, the eighth in this series of exhibitions for the thermal-processing industry, will be held in Solihul, West Midlands, England, on 6th and 7th March, 1990.

Jan 1, 1989