THE BASIL READ GROUP
Projects
Mining and processing activities in
Zimbabwe and some thoughts on
mining the Great Dyke.
Dr Michael Roberts, TWP
SAIMM Zimbabwe Branch
May 2010
Who are we?
Basil Read
Construction
Mining
Developments
Engineering
Buildings
Basil Read
Engineering
Roads
TWP
Civils
Who are we?
What do we do?
A generic description of some project work
undertaken in Zimbabwe by TWP.
Activity
Pickstone-Peerless hydrothermal gold deposits.
Location
Activity
Pickstone-Peerless hydrothermal gold deposits.
A plant will be built on site to treat a sulphide
dump.
Later there might be consideration given to
going underground.
Activity
Unki declines on the Great Dyke.
Activity
Activity
Unki declines on the Great Dyke.
Declines completed.
Activity
Evaluating and assisting with respect to
efficient Chrome mining associated with the
Great Dyke.
Activity
Optimise mining and process engineering on
the Great dyke with respect to Platinum group
elements.
How done.
Optimise mineralogy, mining and process
engineering by recognising that the ore body is
not homogeneous.
The Bushveld complex
The Great dyke
Mining on the Bushveld and Great
dyke
There might be some commonality with respect
to structure in the Bushveld and the Great Dyke.
Easy mining on the Great Dyke
Easy mining on the great dyke
Easy mining on the Great Dyke
Easy mining on the Bushveld
Difficult mining on the great dyke
Difficult mining in the Bushveld
Great dyke
Some commonality with respect to structure
in the Bushveld and the Great Dyke.
Flexural slip thrust faults.
Flexural slip thrust fault
What is a flexural slip thrust fault?
Section
Flexural slip thrust fault
Flexural slip thrust fault on the
Great Dyke ?????
Flexural slip thrust fault - origins
Flexural slip thrust fault - origins
Flexural slip thrust fault - origins
Flexural slip thrust fault - origin
Scientific description of a flexural
slip thrust fault
Part of the Platmine Research Programme funded by:
Anglo Platinum
Impala Platinum
Lonmin
Peer reviewed scientific paper referenced:
 S. Perritt and M.K.C. Roberts “Flexural-slip
structures in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa?”
Journal of Structural Geology, Volume 29, Issue
9, September 2007, Pages 1422-1429.
Fall of ground fatalities over a
set period
Breakdown as to cause of 32 fall of ground fatalities
Curved joint
moved as a
precursor to
fall of ground
9/32
Thrust fault or
curved joint
directly fell on
deceased
15/32
Seismic
causes
2/32
Other
reasons for
fall of
ground
6/32
Pillar failure due to gouge on
flexural slip thrust fault
Pillar failure due to gouge on
flexural slip thrust fault
Gouge
Pillar failure due to gouge on
flexural slip thrust fault
Understanding the structures
•Understanding geological
structures within the ore
body.
•Rock mass ratings.
•Rock strengths
•Mining method.
•Appropriate mining span
•Excavation support
Knowledge gap
Structural geology
Rock engineering
Mining engineering
Understanding the structures
•Understanding geological
structures within the ore
body.
•Rock mass ratings.
•Rock strengths
•Mining method.
•Appropriate mining span
•Excavation support
Knowledge gap
Structural geology
Rock engineering
Mining engineering
Expect surprises and production disruptions
Understanding the structures
•Understanding geological
structures within the ore
body.
•Rock mass ratings.
•Rock strengths
•Mining method.
•Appropriate mining span
•Excavation support
No knowledge gap
Structural geology
Rock engineering
Mining engineering
Expect smoother production profile
TWP Plant
Design
Example
Thank you