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Install Paper 1 Material
o Download the Installer file from the website
o Double click of the Installer and allow it to install the information on your computer
o When done, the Installer will create an Icon on your desktop that reads 'Rock Mechanics Theory', use this icon to open the document. You do not need to open any other files, but work through th...
Rock related safety is a major issue. The Chamber of Mines' Mine Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) initiative is helping to address it. Find out more by reading on.
In 2003, representatives of the South African Mining industry - employers, labour unions and government - set historic and significant milestones for health and safety, to be reached by 2013, en route to zero harm for all employees.
The Chamber of Mines realised that the milestones, let alone the targets, would not easily be met without significant effort on the part of mines. Therefore the Chamber of Mines Learning Hub was ...
Roger Johnson's enjoyment of his job is based on the people he works with; the diversity in terms of commodity, geographic location and mining method; and the challenges and opportunities to introduce new technology, better practice and improved solutions. Here, he shares some of his ideas and experiences with Rock Talk.
Roger Johnson (56) had more of an interest in sport, the outdoors, music and social activities than in academics in his time as a scholar as La Salle College on the West Rand, but that was no predictor of his future.
Today, he has a slew of degrees and other qualifications t...
Comprehensive rock engineering learning material for the South African mining industry is almost complete – and you can download it for free. Read more about it.
The writing of comprehensive rock engineering material for the South African mining industry started in the first half of 2011. It should be completed by end of March this year. At the time of writing this article, Paper 1 was complete. It should be available for download, free of charge, on the Sanire website by the time you read this article. The other papers will be available for download as and when they are completed.
Why is t...
The Bushveld platinum group metal deposits are two distinct, shallow-dipping stratiform tabular ore bodies which strike for many hundreds of kilometres. Mining is extensive, with depths ranging from close-to-surface to 2300 m. The mining method is a variation of planar open stoping. Pillars are widely employed to support the open stopes. In the deeper levels, in-stope pillars are required to fail in a stable manner soon after being cut, and the residual pillar strength is used to stabilize the hangingwall. These pillars are commonly known as crush pillars. Little work has been done in the p...
The University of Pretoria's Jannie Maritz asks: Are teaching and learning really making an impact? At Tuks, he thinks they are. Read on to find out why.
The University of Pretoria's department of Mining Engineering celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011. The first mining engineering student enrolled for the degree in 1961 and subsequently graduated in 1964.
A lot has changed on and around the campus, yet one thing has stayed the same: The quality of mining engineer graduating has improved. Every year, Tuks Mining is delivering around 30 newly developed mining engineers into the industry. ...
The 12th International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) international symposium in Beijing was hosted at the China International Convention Centre in Beijing close to the venue of the 2008 Olympic Games.
The delegates were treated to true Chinese hospitality. The opening of the 50-year celebrations of the ISRM were spectacular, with stage performances and artists making it a unforgettable evening.
During the conference, over 280 papers were presented. As Sanire members are also automatically members of the ISRM, you can access the conference papers on the ISRM website.
The entire international rock mechanics community was represented. There were 470 delegates from China, 160 delegates from the rest of Asia, 45 from North America and nine from Africa.
“We, as a fraternity can learn a lot from our international colleagues. A wealth of knowledge is available in the international community,” says Jacques Lucas, ISRM Vice-President - Africa.
Experience was gained and strong working relationships were cemented with various international colleagues during the conference. “It was an inspiring experience and we hope that the relationships can be used to boost Sanire. Our Sanire President, Les Gardner, represented South Africa at the ISRM Council meeting prior to the conference. Forty-eight countries were present and various decisions were made on the future of Rock Mechanics internationally,” says Jacques.
Dr Francois Malan, who is well known in Sanire and international circles, came to the end of his four-year term on the ISRM board at the conference. “We would like to thank him for his efforts during the past four years. His input was not gone unnoticed and is truly appreciated by the fraternity,” Jacques says on behalf of all of you.
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Beijing is a renowned tourist attraction and most the delegates took some time out to experience the old and the new in this fascinating city. Jannie Maritz (University of Pretoria), Les Gardner (Sanire President) and Jacques Lucas (ISRM Vice-President - Africa) visited the Forbidden City with their wives on one of the delegate tours. |