The acquisition of another geological modelling single-user licence
brings to four the number of these licences bought from Datamine
South Africa by Impala Platinum.
One of the licences will be used at Crocodile River mine which has
restarted opencast mining.
A spokesperson for the mine said that the fact that a fourth
geological modelling single-user licence had been bought was
indicative of the usefulness of the software for geological
evaluation of the orebody.
Various in-depth studies were carried out by Messina Platinum’s
chief geologist, Mike Cowell, prior to deciding on a geological
modelling and mine-planning system.
Months of research into competitive software packages resulted in a
decision by the mine to acquire Datamine South Africa’s
system.
Cowell says the package has lived up to expectations, and describes
the package as powerful.
On-site training from the package supplier using real data was
conducted, and detailed underground design work began in October
last year.
Stoping on existing shafts has started.