SAIMM is focused on nurturing the future leaders of Southern Africa’s minerals industry. We provide a collaborative multistakeholder platform that connects minerals professionals throughout the region and across the globe. We also facilitate access to world-class knowledge, innovative practices and technical excellence for our corporate and individual members.
Another year, filled with unprecedented challenges and changes, is rapidly drawing to an end. Inevitably, it is that time of year when we reflect on what has been, and what the last year means to us. Some days it still seems as though what we’ve been through over the past two years belongs in a Hollywood movie, not in our backyards. The SAIMM as a living institute has not been untouched by the impact of the global pandemic either. Since March 2020, no face-to-face conferences have been hosted, and major events have been cancelled or postponed. In response, we embarked on embracing digital content, including regular webinars and digital technical events across many themes. In October and November alone, over 600 delegates logged into SAIMM events to participate in technical workshops, conferences, and webinars across a broad range of themes. The SAIMM continues to develop its digital platform, and forthcoming hybrid, offerings to reach its membership as well as the broader mining and metals community. Via the Global Mineral Professionals Alliance (GMPA) the Institute collaborates with like-minded member associations around the world, and the future of such associations increasingly relies on closer collaboration as digital content removes geographical boundaries.
The SAIMM offers a service to publish books on behalf of members. This service not only enhances the Institute’s reputation by showcasing its commitment to advancing knowledge and expertise in specialised fields, but also provides members with access to high-quality, relevant literature. By facilitating the creation and distribution of specialised publications, the Institute supports continuous learning, fosters a sense of community, and promotes the sharing of best practices and innovative ideas. This strategic initiative ultimately helps members stay informed and connected with their profession.
The following books have been written by experts in their fields, and we encourage members to purchase these books in support of fellow members.
View the full list below:
| ISBN / ISSN No | DATE | TITLE | PRICE |
|
9781 920410834 |
2017 |
Theoretical Rock Mechanics for Professional Practice |
R1 200.00 |
|
2017 |
Theoretical Rock Mechanics for Professional Practice |
R600.00 |
|
|
978-1-928410-22-5 |
2021 |
Holey Mining Heritage |
eBook-R300 |
|
978-1-928410-23-2 |
2021 |
Mineral and Metal Extraction An Overview, 2nd Edition, |
eBook-R400 |
| 978-1-928410-31-7 | 2022/2023 | The Fall of a Giant: The story of the disintegration of the South African Mining Industry by Dr I. Robinsoin |
eBook-R250 Hardcopy R350 |
| 978-1-928410-41-6 | 2023 | COMRO’s Legacy: Research and Development of Stoping Mining Machinery and Technologies (2023) by B. Protheroe |
eBook R250 Hardcopy R350 |
26 September 1976 - 20th October 2021
Darius Muma graduated from the University of Zambia (UNZA) in 2004 with a BSc Chemistry degree. He worked as an Environmental Project Assistant at UNZA School of Mines with the Advocacy for Environmental Restoration Zambia (AREZ), before joining Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Nchanga Mine in Chingola as a Graduate Chemist. He remained with KCM for 8½ years, progressing through the ranks to Senior Chemist, Sectional Chemist, and Acting Head of Analytical Services. During this time, he gained a Diploma in Business Management (Association of Business Executives, UK). In February 2014 Darius moved to Mopani Copper Mines Mufulira Mine to take up a position of Assistant Superintendent: Analytical Services the position he held when he passed on.
Henry Edward James was born in Parys on 19 April 1939, and was educated at Grey College in Bloemfontein. He completed high school there in 1956. He spent a year with Gold Fields working at Libanon and Venterspost gold mines before going to the University of the Witwatersrand on a Chamber of Mines bursary to study chemical engineering. After graduating in 1961 with a BSc degree, he was awarded a postgraduate bursary by the Atomic Energy Board (AEB), which led to an MSc degree in chemical engineering from the same university. The subject of his thesis was 'The dynamic response of a packed tower to step changes in the concentration of the inlet gas for a single-phase gas and countercurrent gas-liquid flow'. In 1964, Henry began his professional career as a research officer with the Extraction Metallurgy Division of the AEB.
The SAIMM would like to inform members of the passing away of Mr Henry Edward James, a Past President (1985-1986). Mr James was born on 19 April 1939 and passed away on Friday, 1 October 2021. He joined the SAIMM as a Fellow on 20 February 1976 and was awarded Honorary Life Fellowship on 23 June 1995.
SAIMM Past Presidents and Council members passed on their condolences and commented that Henry was a fine man who cared much about other people. He will be remembered fondly and missed greatly by everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his two sons, Marc and Darrell, his sister, Dalene Henry, his daughter-in-law, Amanda and his two grandsons, Michael and Ethan.
An extended obituary will be added to our website and published in the SAIMM Journal in due course.
(Left) Henry and Joan James (Right) Henry James with other Past Presidents of the SAIMM.
History and background
It is now more than a decade that Jeffrey Beall - a former librarian at the University of Colorado in Denver – coined the term ‘predatory’ journals to refer to journals (and their publishers) that exist for the sole purpose of making profit.
In his first major publication on the topic published in Nature in 2012, Beall provided a first description of what is meant by predatory publishing:
Then came predatory publishers, which publish counterfeit journals to exploit the open-access model in which the author pays. These predatory publishers are dishonest and lack transparency. They aim to dupe researchers, especially those inexperienced in scholarly communication. They set up websites that closely resemble those of legitimate online publishers, and publish journals of questionable and downright low quality. Many purport to be headquartered in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada or Australia but really hail from Pakistan, India or Nigeria. Some predatory publishers spam researchers, soliciting manuscripts but failing to mention the required author fee.
Beall uses the term ‘predatory’ to refer to journals that ‘prey’ on (often unsuspecting and often young) scholars to submit their manuscripts for the sole purpose of making money from these scholars. In this process, normal good editorial and review processes are violated or suspended.
The 2021 SAIMM Annual Report and Proceedings have been published and can be downloaded:
South Africa on verge of nice breakthroughs in hydrogen, says new SAIMM president
17th August 2021
By Martin Creamer
Speaking to Mining Weekly in a Zoom interview, Geldenhuys expressed the view that all the big mines with big moving machinery will have the opportunity to move away from diesel and switch to a hydrogen-based fuel system because of the contained ecosystem. While the use of green hydrogen is always first prize, Geldenhuys pointed out that many processes have grey hydrogen as a byproduct and expressed the view that where grey hydrogen is at the ready, it should be used as an imperfect solution rather than being left to go to waste.
She said that South Africa had the required hydrogen know-how as a consequence of the Department of Science and Innovation having supported the hydrogen economy concept for nearly 20 years. “What really excites me is the focus on being greener and more efficient," Geldenhuys said. On the multidisciplinary front, she said: "There are many opportunities for us to work together and bring interesting, transdisciplinary thinking into metallurgy to solve our big problems.” Under her leadership, the SAIMM plans to strengthen its online presence so that it can communicate optimally with the rest of the mining and metallurgy world at a time of rising mining fortunes. South Africa’s mining and metallurgy history extends across more than a century, which has resulted in a wealth of knowledge being accessible from SAIMM’s databases.
Read the full article on miningweekly.com
Known for his skills as an ace dealmaker, mining giant Neal Froneman has been honoured with the 2021 Brigadier Stokes award by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), considered the highest distinction to be bestowed by the South African mining and metallurgical sector.
Having taken over duties as executive director and CEO on 1 January 2013, Froneman has spent the past eight years transforming Sibanye-Stillwater from a 1.5Moz South Africa-based gold producer into a leading precious metals miner with an international operating footprint ranking among the world’s top three PGM producers.
