The problem of mine waste management in the mining industry

Historical Legacy

South Africa has a long history of mining, dating back to the late 19th century. Many older mines were developed without stringent environmental regulations, leading to widespread environmental contamination from poorly managed mine waste, including tailings dams, waste rock dumps, and abandoned mine shafts. 

Gold mining has been a major industry in South Africa, and the country has numerous gold tailings dams, some of which are decades old. These tailings contain toxic substances such as cyanide and heavy metals, posing significant environmental and health risks if they are not properly managed. 

"The future of mining lies in our ability to manage waste responsibly. Mineware Consulting's software solutions are at the forefront of this effort, providing the tools necessary for effective and sustainable mine waste management." 

Tailings module Solutions by Mineware 

In response to this pressing issue, Mineware offers their Tailings module Solution software package, written to be utilized during the tailings retreatment process by mines. This software solution has the following targeted functionality: 

Surface Survey 

The Mineware surface survey module offers a range of features to support surveying operations within the mining industry and during tailings treatment. This module includes capabilities for converting between different coordinate systems, including Cape Datum and WGS84, and for converting between different units of measurement, such as feet, roods, and acres. The module also supports traverse calculations, including Bowditch adjustments, and provides tools for calculating areas, joins, polars, and splay points. Additionally, the module can interface with GPS devices, such as Trimble and Garmin, and can export coordinates to Google Earth for visualization. These features enable mining companies to conduct accurate and efficient surveying operations, enhancing their ability to plan and manage their mining activities. 

Sampling and grab sampling 

The mobile sampling app on Syncromine, Mineware’s flagship software suite, is designed to streamline the sampling process. The app allows users to capture data using a mobile device on site, even when out of range of a mobile network. Once the device comes back into range, the app interfaces with the laboratory, automatically transmitting the captured data for analysis. The results are then interfaced back to the sample ticket and the ore accounting system, providing a seamless and efficient workflow for managing sampling data. 

Production Mobile Capture 

The Syncromine MWS Production System is a comprehensive tool for managing mining operations. It enables monthly planning and scheduling of benches that need to be mined, and captures daily production data, flow rates, and production rates to provide day-to-day feedback on current production. The system also allows for the recording of reasons for loss of production and generates graphs showing production and projections. Additionally, the system interfaces back to the Ore Accounting module, providing a seamless and efficient workflow for managing mining activities. 

Spatial Data Capture 

With this mobile application, gun positions can be recorded in the field using a mobile device. The gun position, time-date stamp, and gun name are captured on-site. The data is then seamlessly relayed back to the production system for planning and production confirmation purposes. This eliminates the need for manual data capture and transfer, making the process easy and reducing the risk of errors when transferring data from paper to electronic systems. 

Mineware ensures that its clients are well-equipped to leverage the full potential of digital technologies, thereby contributing to the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of mining operations. More on their software online. 

Website: https://www.mineware.co.za/