SAIMM Johannesburg Branch Event: Replacing The Function Of Hard Rock Pillars With Concrete Support

Relacing the function of hard rock pillars with concrete support
By Schalk Prinsloo

Date: 25 March 2021
Venue: Zoom
Time: 17:00 – 18:30

About the presentation:
Gold 1, Modder East operations are in the process of replacing the function of their non yield pillars with carefully designed concrete-based support. The concrete packs are designed to replace the function of the hard rock pillars when the pillars are mined. Mining of the hard rock pillars, especially in high grade areas, have alleviated some of the mines production challenges and gives the mine flexibility with sustaining its gold production. Furthermore, it lends the mine the opportunity to extract close to 100% of its available ore reserves. An industry first.

The presentation outlines:

• The mines geotechnical environment
• Mine layout
• Concrete pack design
• The mining of the hard rock pillars
• Value added to the mine
• Challenges and learning from the project

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Schalk Prinsloo - Geotechnical Engineer

EDUCATION:
Chamber of Mine Rock Mechanics Certificate
October 2016
 
University of Witwatersrand
Advanced Mechanics of Solids, January 2018
Numerical Modelling Techniques in Rock Engineering, August 2018
Mechanics and Design of Major Rock Slopes, March 2019
Mechanical Properties of Rock and Rock Masses, March 2021  

WORK EXPERIENCE:
Open House Management Solutions, Geotechnical Engineer
2010 – 2012Two Rivers Platinum
Shallow board and pillar Platinum mine
2012 – 2013Samancor Marula Shaft
Multi-Reef shallow down dip mine
2013 – 2017Gold 1, Modder East Operations
Shallow Gold Mine
2017 – PresentGold 1, Modder East Operations
Pillar extraction project
Intelectual Property
Co- inventor of Patent for Underground Mining – Mining method to extract stability pillars in underground mining.