Wits, Gold Fields research partnership reaches new depths

South Deep Gold Fields

The school has been a pioneer in conducting research and developing solutions in the field of digital technology and mechanised mining systems in partnership with the Wits Mining Institute, and the research is supported by a R6bn grant from Gold Fields in 2017.

“Deep-level mining in South Africa will only be sustainable in the long run if it’s done in a mechanised manner. The School of Mining’s new focus on deep-level, mechanised mining research points the way,”says Gold Fields CEO, Nick Holland.

A number of the post-graduate applied research projects are well advanced, covering topics that have the potential to positively impact South Deep across safety, productivity and cost improvement fronts as the mine continues its production ramp-up.

Focus areas for the various projects

• Assessment of the local ground support and corrosion life cycle to improve long term cost-effectiveness by Rachidi Dineo
• Analysis and optimisation of the ore flow system from stope to mill by Matsobane Nong
• Research to increase the effectiveness of backfill in the mining value chain by Mosebudi Matlou
• Multiple point simulation for reducing uncertainty in ore body modelling by Isaac Mabala

A project to assess opportunities to facilitate cost-effective communications right to the mining face, to complete the “connected mine”, has also recently been initiated.

Other on-going research at postgraduate level, linked to achieving improved safety and productivity in deep-level mining, is carried out under Professor Rudrajit Mitra, the School’s chair of rock engineering. The chair received significant financial support under a previous Gold Fields sponsorship agreement.

Six undergraduate research projects have so far been conducted by third- and fourth-year students as part of the vacation work degree requirement. In one project, the research investigated ways to ameliorate seismicity and rock-burst damage underground, while another was a techno-economic assessment of backfill barricades used in ultra-deep-level gold mining.

According to the head of the school, Professor Cuthbert Musingwini, young researchers play an important role in finding economically viable strategies to mine South Africa’s deep deposits.

“These partnerships between academia and industry can make our deep-level mines more safe and sustainable, continuing their vital contribution to the economy,” said Professor Musingwini.