Surpac ebook

Leveraging Technology in Mining eBookLeveraging Technology in Mining is a collection of 32 stories from around the world. The goal of this eBook is to provide unique insights into how companies big and small have made mining software a key to their success. It will show you how the users who drive these systems are being empowered by them, using innovations such as workflow automation and data management to improve mining and personal productivity. No matter your role in the mining industry, you will learn something that you can apply in your job or at your company. — Rick Moignard, President and CEO, Gemcom Software International Inc.

The mining solutions you expect. From the people you trust.

To learn more about the products featured in the customer stories, email [email protected] or visit 3ds.com/GEOVIA/products.

Gemcom Software was acquired by Dassault Systèmes,

the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, in

July 2012. It is now known as GEOVIA.

Updated with 12 new stories. Now 73 pages!

http://www.gemcomsoftware.com/products

Table of ContentsGeology and Mine Planning ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................1

Etruscan Resources lowers mining costs while increasing gold reserves ..............................................................................................................................................................................................2

Straits Resources improves decision making and cost control .............................................................................................................................................................................................................5

Mikhailovsky GOK simplifies complex grade control challenges ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................8

Northland Resources improves efficiency and optimises project economics ........................................................................................................................................................................................11

Rheinkalk GmbH automates 200 mining tasks .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14

Shougang Mining Company achieves vision of improved competitiveness ..........................................................................................................................................................................................17

IAMGOLD Corporation drives threefold mine expansion .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................18

Centerra Gold’s collaborative solution for maximising efficiency and potential at Mongolia’s largest hard rock gold mine .......................................................................................................................21

Shore Gold strengthens exploration programme with organisation-wide information sharing .................................................................................................................................................................24

Fronteer Development unfolds full potential of deposit with unique 3D visualisation and modelling software ........................................................................................................................................27

Eastern Goldfields leverages powerful tools to help find new deposits in old rocks..............................................................................................................................................................................30

Nordkalk Corporation doubles output with integrated solution for quality control and mine planning .....................................................................................................................................................33

Voskhod-Oriel relies on geology and mine planning software to drive mining operations .......................................................................................................................................................................36

Samarco drives productivity through better data management ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................37

Tiger Resources improves copper concentrate .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38

AIMROC supports their Chovdar Gold Mine Project with effective data management and modelling ......................................................................................................................................................39

Copper Mountain brings back to life its Similco Mine ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................40

Geology and Mine Planning for Coal and other Stratified Deposits ...........................................................................................................................................................41Carbones de Cerrejón accomplishes 178% increase in recovered coal ...............................................................................................................................................................................................42

Exxaro’s Grootegeluk Mine models complex geology, handing huge data volumes ...............................................................................................................................................................................45

Brush Resources fortifies mining operations with versatile end-to-end solution ...................................................................................................................................................................................48

PT Bukit Asam drives business strategy ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................51

Mine Scheduling ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................52PT Petrosea saves millions of dollars across their contracts with improved scheduling capabilities ......................................................................................................................................................53

Python Mining Consultants solves optimisation problems by creating various design and scheduling scenarios....................................................................................................................................56

Adamus Resources solves scheduling constraints ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................57

Golden Star Resources drives mine scheduling improvements ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................58

Strategic Mine Planning ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................59Rio Tinto standardises globally on strategic mine planning solution ...................................................................................................................................................................................................60

Gold Fields Ghana improves cash flow at Tarkwa Operation ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................63

Block Caving .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................64De Beers improves decision-making and productivity .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................65

Mine Production Management ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................68Centerra Gold improves mine production management at its Boroo gold mining operation ...................................................................................................................................................................69

Minara Resources improves cost-effectiveness and forecasting at Fly-in Fly-out operation ...................................................................................................................................................................70

Educational Instututions ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................71Mining Education Australia incorporates software and training into curriculum ...................................................................................................................................................................................72

University of the Witwatersrand School of Mining Engineering prepares students for the workforce .....................................................................................................................................................73

+ Vi e w s t o r i e s b y c o m m o d i t y, c o u n t r y, m i n e t y p e a n d s o f t w a r e p r o d u c t .

Story Gemcom Product(S) mine tyPe commodity country PaGe

GeoloGy and mine PlanninG 1

Etruscan Resources Surpac, Whittle, MineSched Open pit GoldBurkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali,Namibia, Niger

2

Straits Resources Surpac Open pit, underground Gold, copper, bulk commodities Australia, Indonesia, Singapore 5

Mikhailovsky GOK Surpac Open pit Iron ore Russia 8

Northland Resources Surpac, Whittle, MineSched Open pit, underground Iron ore, gold, copper Finland, Sweden 11

Rheinkalk GmbH Surpac, MineSched Quarry Limestone Belgium, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany 14

Shougang Mining Company Surpac Open pit Iron ore China 17

IAMGOLD Corporation GEMS, Whittle Open pit Gold Botswana, Canada, Ecuador, Ghana, Mali, Suriname 18

Centerra Gold GEMS, Whittle Open pit Gold Canada, Kyrgz Republic, Mongolia, United States 21

Shore Gold GEMS Exploration, underground, development Diamonds Canada 24

Fronteer Development GEMS Exploration, development Gold, copper, uranium Canada, Turkey, United States 27

Eastern Goldfields GEMS Exploration, open pit, underground Gold South Africa 30

Nordkalk Corporation GEMS Quarry Limestone Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden 33

Voskhod-Oriel Surpac Underground Chromite Kazakhstan 36

Samarco GEMS Open pit Iron ore Brazil 37

Tiger Resources Surpac Open pit Copper Democratic Republic of the Congo 38

AIMROC GEMS Open pit Gold Azerbaijan 39

Copper Mountain GEMS, Whittle Open pit Copper Canada 40

GeoloGy and mine PlanninG for coal and other Stratified dePoSitS 41

Carbones de Cerrejón Minex Open pit Coal Colombia 42

Exxaro Minex Open pit Coal South Africa 45

Brush Resources Minex Open pit Beryllium United States 48

PT Bukit Asam Minex Open pit Coal Indonesia 51

mine SchedulinG 52

PT Petrosea MineSched, Surpac Open pit Coal Indonesia 53

Python Mining Consultants MineSched, Surpac Open pit, underground All commodities Canada 56

Adamus Resources MineSched Open pit Gold Ghana 57

Golden Star Resources MineSched Open pit Gold South Africa 58

StrateGic mine PlanninG 59

Rio Tinto Whittle Open pitCopper, diamonds, borates, aluminum, iron ore

Australia, Canada, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Namibia, Peru, United States 60

Gold Fields Ghana Whittle, Surpac Open pit Gold Ghana 63

Block cavinG 64

De Beers PCBC, GEMS Block caving Diamonds South Africa 65

mine Production manaGement 68

Centerra Gold InSite Open pit Gold Mongolia 69

Minara Resources InSite Open pit Nickel, cobalt Australia 70

educational inStitutionS 71

Mining Education Australia Minex University Coal Australia 72

University of the Witwatersrand GEMS, Whittle University All commodities South Africa 73

+ R e t u r n t o Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s

Geology and Mine Planning

Voskhod

1 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING eBOOK


Etruscan lowers mining costs, increases gold reserves and derives efficiencies using synergistic Gemcom solution Mining staff saves 2,500 hours annually in grade control management and reporting

IT Improvements: Automation of manual steps and grade control management, saving nearly 2,500 labour hours per year.

Tools for accurate resource estimations, data validation, and National Instrument 43-101 compliance.

Integrated, consolidated data.

Streamlined data flows.

Business Benefits: Reduced mining department costs by 3 percent over the past year.

Increased ore reserves by 1.2 million tonnes in six months.

Saves $30,000 in consulting fees for 1-2 pit optimisations.

Enables maximum ore recovery in line with projected costs.

Frees up time and personnel for other tasks.

Mitigates double the number of staff needed for data management.

“Through the synergies, functionality, and seamless integration of MineSched, Whittle, and Surpac, we are reducing unit costs as our gold output multiplies. Our mining department costs were 3 percent lower over the past year.”

— Samuel Takyi, Senior Mine Planning Engineer, Etruscan

Resources Inc.

Countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Namibia, Niger

Objective:Establish an effective grade control system to obtain maximum value from mine development projects.

Approach:Leverage Gemcom Surpac™, Gemcom Whittle™, and Gemcom MineSched™ software for better mining performance and lower operational costs.

CIL process plant.


2 GEMCOM CUSTOMER CASE STUDY E-BOOK2 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING eBOOK

When Etruscan started feasibility studies at Youga, one of its principal mine development projects in Burkina, Faso management evaluated software to assist their geology, planning and surveying departments. Feasibility studies revealed that the remote, mid-sized operation comprised weathered and oxidised zones with a sulfide zone beneath them. All of the pits contain hard-rock (ore and waste) material, and mineral-free digging areas exist. The zones necessitate various blasting processes, material separation for optimal recovery and stringent grade control. With an initial 6.6-year mine life, the Youga Gold Mine also requires maximum pit optimisation and strict cost containment. The pits are set to render certain gold prices. Faced with fluctuating prices that advance amid economic uncertainty or retreat during lower demand, Etruscan must mine the most profitable pit at the right time.

“There is much designing and planning work in comparing the benches and determining the ore amount and quality,” admits Samuel Takyi, Senior Mine Planning Engineer for Etruscan. “After extensive evaluation, we concluded Surpac was a more comprehensive system to achieve these goals than Datamine. I actually prefer Surpac over Datamine because it’s more user-friendly and offers me more flexible, clearer functionality.”

A market-leading position

Etruscan assessed Gemcom’s software, Datamine, Micromine and several other providers. Etruscan engineers investigated Gemcom because it enjoys a large, engaged user base, and leadership position in Ghana. To ensure the software would meet their requirements, a company representative visited Gemcom’s office in Ghana to witness Surpac in actual production environments. He saw that Surpac would provide compelling features compared to other competitors. Satisfied with the results, Etruscan hired Gemcom to install the software, customise the grade control module, and train the staff.

“Gemcom provided excellent training so that everyone was able to learn Surpac quickly,” Takyi says. “For new users training onsite, the help documents are detailed, self-explanatory and easily answer their questions. Therefore, our users enjoy using the package.”

Etruscan takes a proactive approach to technology usage by periodically requesting an onsite audit from Gemcom to gauge whether they are applying the software properly and to the

fullest extent. These audits enhance the staff’s efficiency. Gemcom also responds to Etruscan’s inquiries and provides technical support regularly. “We contact Gemcom anytime it is necessary. They have helped us tremendously,” Takyi says.

Verifiable data boosts efficiency

Commercial production at the Youga Gold Mine extends to the southwest into Ghana along the Bole-Bolgatanga gold belt. Mining occurs in five open pits with ore processing though a conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) gravity plant with a design capacity of 1 million tonnes per annum. Etruscan’s geologists develop geological and grade control models for these pits, the engineers plan and design them, and the surveyors conduct their estimations—all in Surpac. The software helps them maintain, establish and interpret their results accurately. In fact, the various mining processes and activities within and across departments are efficient and well coordinated because of consistent, verifiable data in Surpac and its pragmatic features.

For example, 3D tools express accurate results and allow Etruscan geologists to build representative models of the orebodies. “We must have good geological models and know exactly where to mine. Surpac gives us a clear picture of our reserves and a high degree of certainty for our decisions,” says Takyi.

Grade control automation scripts save time

Using Surpac’s scripting capabilities that automate mining tasks, Gemcom tailored grade control functions to the needs of the Youga operations. The software’s automation features allow the staff to update their resource models daily, import/export data, lay out drillholes and their colours, extract the sampling database and benches for reports of each mining block, and create models for interpretation.

“Surpac’s TCL script automation feature is adaptable, which makes it easy for me to write various scripts to automate almost all my planning functions. It drastically cuts down on time spent on office tasks to follow up on other jobs in the field,” Takyi explains. “Grade control scripts in Surpac adapt with our mining sequences and work perfectly. To create drillholes and import data manually would take a huge amount of time, but with the automated scripts, we can run models

A prolific gold and diamond explorer Nova Scotia, Canada-based Etruscan Resources Inc. (TSX: EET) has explored for gold and diamonds in Africa for more than 13 years. The junior mining company (www.etruscan.com) holds one of the largest strategic land positions in West Africa covering in excess of 13,000 square kilometres of several prolific gold belts.

Burkina close-up.

Crushed ore stockpile.



and drill patterns in five minutes—depending on the drill patterns and schedules. Without Surpac’s automated features, the same tasks and reports would take 48 hours a week.”

Consequently, the software enables a small Etruscan staff to manage an escalating amount of data for grade control. Without Surpac—with its data storage provision and ability to interface with many common formats for importing and exporting grade control data—more personnel would be required. “We only need three people because of Surpac. If we were managing the database manually or with different software, it would more than double the number of people on staff,” Takyi maintains.

He also notes that Etruscan teams have improved Youga’s mining parameters by leveraging the software’s flexibility and functionality. The software runs various scenarios and presents data in various file formats that are useful in reserve comparisons, excavating, and improving grades. “We are constantly changing our parameters to optimise our gold. Surpac provides good results.”

Determining mine strategies to increase profits

Two additional Gemcom software systems used with Surpac afford an all-encompassing solution that boosts profitability and delivers economies of scale. Whittle is extending Youga’s life-of-mine horizon, allowing the staff to examine various pit shapes and limits, build operating cost histories, and determine mining strategies.

“Whittle helped us extend our bench across the orebody and come up with new cash flows. We have increased our ore reserves by more than 1.2 million tonnes in six months, and we expect extra years of production from the Youga mine,” Takyi says.

Moreover, merging actual numbers and operational parameters from Surpac block models into Whittle pit optimisations onsite mitigates the need to hire additional consultants. “Creating one or two pit shapes and the associated reports would cost about $30,000 in consulting fees, but we execute those onsite in Whittle,” he confirms.

Uniquely synergistic solution helps reduce mining costs

Etruscan considers MineSched one of the most powerful scheduling tools in the industry. Company personnel use the

software’s polygon scheduling function for short-term planning, and they develop projected cash flow reports using MineSched.

Takyi acknowledges that scheduling multiple mining benches and developing life-of-mine (LOM) plans are easy to accomplish. A LOM plan can be completed in eight hours versus 40 hours manually. The software’s interface enables reports based on cash flow, grade attributes, work shifts, locations, and resources.

“We can design our reports based on what we need and thus protect our production in terms of size. The reporting features, interfaces with other programs, and ability to run different scenarios in 3D to get better cash flow options, are major advantages of MineSched compared to other scheduling programs like Mine2-4D,” he says.

In summary, the functional qualities and seamless integration of MineSched, Whittle, and Surpac are working together in an exemplary fashion to help transform Etruscan’s bottom line. The company notes that this synergistic Gemcom solution is helping its personnel lower unit costs as gold output multiplies. In fact, the Youga mine reached design throughput exceeding 7,000 ounces per month within five months of startup. The average forecast monthly gold production over the life of mine was 6,700 ounces per month.

“We cannot accomplish planning or selective mining without these Gemcom programs. Thanks to Gemcom software, the Youga operation is getting better and gaining production efficiency. From bench to bench, we are improving our ounces,” Takyi concludes.

Etruscan Resources Inc. Solutions at a Glance

Primary Application: Gemcom Surpac

Gemcom Whittle

Gemcom MineSched

Gemcom Services: Software implementation

Automation services

Training

Technical support

Feed conveyor to grinding mill.

Gold pour.



Diversified mining company extracts benefits from Gemcom Surpac™ at its sitesUsing Gemcom software, Straits Resources improves decision making and controls costs

Countries: Australia, Indonesia, Singapore

Objective:Ensure efficient mine production by integrating geological, surveying and engineering functions through a common platform used by key mining professionals at Straits Resources.

Approach:Selected Gemcom to provide all staff with the software tools, training and support services they need to perform their jobs as effectively as possible today, while allowing for future system extensibility and staff skills enhancement.

IT Improvements: Staff training and local support.

Data integration from multiple systems into a common operating platform.

Effective, time-saving tool for managing complex iterations of multiple calculations.

Instantaneous inclusion of information from other core data packages.

Business Benefits: Improved decision making.

System ease of use addresses skills shortages by allowing staff to be trained faster.

Monetary savings by refining staff requirements.

Cost reduction in delivering commodities to market.

Increased resource base at all operations.

Tritton Processing Plant.

“With skilled technical mining staff in short supply, and with varying experience with mining software in different geographies, we have chosen to standardise on Surpac across our operations and mining disciplines because of the system’s renowned reputation for ease of use.”

— Chris Ramsay, Geologist, Straits Resources Limited



With open pit and underground projects, as well as bulk commodities, Straits required comprehensive technology to use at all of its sites. Three years ago, Straits spent significant time reviewing several mine planning systems to find an affordable, multidisciplinary approach and a local support network. Straits ultimately adopted Gemcom’s Surpac software to support resource modelling and mine planning functions. Today, the company has 30 Surpac installations and utilises Gemcom’s training and technical support services. As a result of its investment, Straits has gained more efficiency through decision making support capabilities, which enabled the company to reduce the cost of delivering commodities to the market.

“We have a wide range of projects, so we chose software that applies to all of our mining environments. That’s the clear advantage in using Surpac software,” says Chris Ramsay, Geologist for Straits, who has personally depended on the software since 1998. He also notes that Straits engaged with Gemcom to obtain responsive technical support.

Same software−different mining functions

Surpac brings efficiencies, ease of use and flexibility to three mining disciplines at Straits: geology, surveying and engineering. For presenting data in mine and exploration geology, Surpac is the company’s primary data manipulation, resource modelling and estimation, volume calculation and grade control system.

By employing Surpac, Straits has been able to manage an increasing resource base at all its operations: Straits surveyors use Surpac for volume calculation; the company’s engineers count on Surpac to provide three-dimensional (3D) designs and calculations and to manage grade control and resource inventories; and even non-mining professionals involved in Straits’ financial activities benefit. The software conveys information to them in visual ways that enhance their understanding of mining operations.

“Without Surpac, our work would take longer, and we would need significant numbers of extra people in my area alone,” says Ramsay. “To a lesser extent, the engineering and surveying areas would also need vastly different human resources structures.”

Better decision making

Although other competitive systems are available, Ramsay says that Surpac surpasses them all: “They are no substitutes for Surpac.” For example, the 3D visualization of ore body and block models is helpful to Straits geologists who create models to bring about multi-billion dollar results and assist in making wise decisions about Straits’ mining operations.

“We gather sparse information that is very expensive to come by,” he says, “and the representation of that information spatially is critical in correctly estimating what is in the ground. Surpac strengthens our level of comfort when we are making the right decisions to achieve high value results.”

A wealth of features

Surpac’s integration with the company’s 3 GIS and 3D mining applications is outstanding, and package translations are available “at the touch of a button.” When needed, the software’s six language options - English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian - are available to support users at Straits locations globally.

Alternative sources of data convert well into a Surpac readable file. In fact, Straits teams are able to view data from various IT systems with the software’s Data Plug-in modules and incorporate this information into their planning.

“In any of the packages that we have, we transfer geographic or 3D information back and forth into Surpac very easily,” Ramsay says. “Surpac’s representation of geographic information in a text file is extremely simple. You can easily translate data into Surpac’s data structure.”It is also a smooth process to program certain management processes using the software’s scripting/macro capabilities. “We gain a lot of power from the scripting/macro,” Ramsay says.

In addition, the Gemcom software instantly includes information from other core data systems. This feature helps Straits keep its stakeholders informed about key decisions related to production. Plus, the company can leverage the most current information to save operational costs. “In some of the mining operations we might spend from $500 to $500,000 a day, so instantaneous refining of information is critical to cost savings,” Ramsay notes.

Stripping overburden (Sebuku).

Diverse producer − diverse project pipeline Founded in 1992 and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in 1994, Straits Resources Limited focuses on acquiring and developing assets within the gold, copper and bulk commodities sectors. Straits (www.straits.com.au) is one of the few mining entities based in Western Australia with such a well diversified group of assets. The Perth-based producer also has gold and coal operations in Indonesia.



Technology attuned to growth

Straits’ growth has prompted it to expand Surpac usage as its workforce increases for a particular project. Implementing another system into an active environment is as simple and quick as copying files onto the company’s work station.

If the company’s operations needs change, Ramsay believes that having a technical innovator like Gemcom behind Surpac−with vision, global reach, industry stature, plus development and professional resources−will further enhance the software’s functionality and extensibility going forward.

“With Gemcom as our partner, we see being able to expand our solution as our operations needs change in the organization. Gemcom provides a greater level of funding and programming support behind this product. Right now, we’re very happy with Surpac,” Ramsay says.

Training and attracting skilled professionals

In establishing Surpac software as its standard technical tool, Straits empowers its personnel to share data, skills and project knowledge across the company in a consistent way. “At our Perth headquarters, we have one format for dealing with any information that comes in centrally. This also enables us to manage training in a collective way,” says Ramsay.

Straits takes advantage of Gemcom’s strong base of skilled trainers, selected for their in-depth mining knowledge and industry experience. In addition, the company’s technical support services play an important role in Strait’s decision to continue with Surpac. “Gemcom’s training and technical support services are excellent,” says Ramsay.

As a shortage of skills continues to plague the resources industry, Straits commands a competitive edge in the labour market, stemming in part from its use of Surpac. “Because Surpac has a dominant share of the industry in this region, attracting skilled practitioners to Straits is somewhat easier,” Ramsay concludes.

Environmental assessment (Sebuku).

Gold pour (Mt. Muro).

Straits Resources Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

30 Gemcom Surpac resource modelling and mine planning systems

Approximately 3 GIS and 3D mining applications

Gemcom Services:

On-site training

Technical support



Mikhailovsky GOK uses Gemcom Surpac™ to simplify complex grade control challengesRussian iron ore producer boosts the quality of planning work and assessments

Countries: Russia

Objective:Support engineering activities for iron ore mining.

Approach:Implement the Gemcom Surpac mining software system to increase mine production and overcome technical issues.

IT Improvements: Automation of routine tasks via macros.

Easy data access at all management levels.

Availability of technical support and training expertise locally.

Reduced complexity derived from Surpac’s interfaces with third-party software.

Business Benefits: Sharing of information and project knowledge.

More reliable projections and decisions.

Higher staff efficiency.

Reduction in time spent on labour-intensive projects.

Improvement in the quality of planning.

Consolidation of process steps for engineering support.

Gemcom software updates, maintenance and future development, ensuring investment is never out of date.

“In making our buying decision, we considered the price of other software and the availability of the necessary geology and engineering modules. All other vendor products did not satisfy our needs compared to Gemcom and its Surpac solution, which met all of our rigorous criteria.”

— Alexander Tsukerman, Chief Miner, Mikhailovsky Mining and

Processing Integrated Works

Panorama of the Mikhailovsky pit.



The Kurskaya magnetic anomaly is Mikhailovsky’s main iron ore source. Its depth in the closed outlines is 320 metres, its sur face length is 5.8 kilometres and its width is 2.6 kilometres. Iron content in high-grade ore reaches 54 percent, while low-grade iron ore content averages 40 percent, including 21 percent of magnetic iron. This large-scale mine has 69 years of life in the projected outlines of the primary ore. Its size presents grade control challenges, and with up to 40 ore faces being mined simultaneously, it is a fairly complicated operation.

Years ago, Mikhailovsky staff used in-house software to manage mining data and plan ore production quality and surveying. They also used a competitor’s software to complete their resource models and track blasthole sampling data. As Mikhailovsky’s operations expanded over time, the competitor’s software could not keep up with increasingly complex challenges. The company needed a solution to help estimate the granulometric composition of the blasted ore, control blasting quality and even better, to increase mine production and investments.

Value-oriented, first-rate software

Those objectives were difficult to achieve with the software they were using, including an antiquated survey module that had no function for modelling solids. In addition, the sub-blocking feature was limited: if the block model had a different size, it was impossible to produce the calculation or optimisation. The time came for Mikhailovsky to find another solution.

“We required value-oriented, first-rate software capable of helping us increase production and resolve routine mining issues. We also considered the software company’s pricing policy, technical support and attitude towards their clients. At the top of our list was to partner with a company that had a Russian office and Russian-speaking personnel,” explains Tsukerman, Chief Miner of the company.

Mikhailovsky chose the Surpac software as Gemcom has expertise, training and top-notch technical support in the country. Of particular benefit to Mikhailovsky was the fact that Gemcom’s Russian distributor provided training and implemented the Russian-language version of the software (which is also available in English, Chinese, French, German and Spanish).

“Gemcom’s Russian-speaking personnel give us outstanding technical support, and it is great to know that Gemcom invests in product updates and improvements. We enjoy working with their staff; they have such positive attitudes and are extremely responsive to our inquiries. Plus, they let us know about how other companies are successfully using Gemcom solutions and the future direction for Surpac. In turn, we give them feedback about new features we would like to see in the software,” Tsukerman says.

Smoother, faster work flow

Before adopting Surpac, Mikhailovsky personnel accomplished open pit designs and mine plans manually. Even when the paper copies were uploaded to a digital format for processing and printing, the company still experienced accuracy and validation issues. Limited data access restricted the company’s ability to generate reports promptly or lengthened the time in providing comprehensive information to outside project design/planning companies.

Instead of tr ying to locate data residing in numerous silos, databases or individual computers across the enterprise, employees now go to a single resource. The Surpac solution aggregates data about all company departments into an all-inclusive information system for quick access and reference. The system can retrieve archived information about production parameters and analytical data, which saves staff time.

In the years before Surpac, the staff stored database entries in Paradox, FoxPro and other formats. The lack of uniformity caused ambiguity, risk and confusion regarding information management. “Now Mikhailovsky geologists, engineers and surveyors exchange data and share project knowledge in standard Surpac formats,” Tsukerman says. “Consequently, we have a great environment for our professionals to collaborate together efficiently and establishing Surpac as our standard planning tool makes it easier to transfer skills between departments or across our operations when necessary.”

Fast-tracking analysis and auditing

Since 2004, this iron ore producer has relied on Surpac to assemble 3D models of oxidised quartzites and carbonaceous ore. In addition, Surpac supports long-term and routine mine Surveyors at work.

The world’s largest iron ore reservesAt more than 11 billion tonnes, Mikhailovsky Mining and Processing Integrated Works (Mikhailovsky GOK) has the world’s largest iron ore reserves. Founded in 1957, Mikhailovsky GOK (www.metinvest.com) annually produces more than 19 million tonnes of iron ore and exports its high-quality products to Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and China. The company is headquartered in Zheleznogorsk Town in the Kurskay Region of Russia and is owned by Metallinvest.



planning, allowing the staff to create reliable calculations for ramp designs, rock excavations, bench slopes, and cut and fills. Surpac is a strong aid in plotting transportation routes, pre-stripping, ore mining and dump designs. To overcome their grade control issues, company geologists use Surpac block models to estimate quality parameters in outlined ore bodies.

“Within our one, well-integrated software package resides a huge amount of useful information to conduct complex analyses,” Tsukerman comments.

Surpac’s 3D imagery – linked with the software’s design, modelling and database components – underpins these analyses by conveying mining illustrations in an easy-to-understand format that even non-technical persons can grasp. Another helpful advantage of the software is its integration with a number of third-party programs, such as AutoCAD. “This aspect makes data importing or exporting less cumbersome and simplifies survey work,” according to Tsukerman.

Safety for sizable data volumes

Only a powerful software package can handle the vast amount of data and drillhole statistics that Mikhailovsky maintains. The company processes thousands of grade control holes, which are entered in a database for future reference. Surpac links to a Microsoft SQL Server database comprising approximately 3,000 exploration, development and 120,000 blast drillholes. Mikhailovsky’s development drillholes identify some 40 qualitative variables, mineralogical groups and rock titles. The company drills 25,000 holes annually for blasting, but samples every third hole. Every month geologists incorporate newly acquired data from blasthole sampling into the upgraded block model.

With so much critical information at stake, the company can’t afford to have any of it compromised or lost. Surpac provides a means of safely preserving massive volumes of data and the scalability to accommodate even more. Just as importantly, the information is readily available for reconciliation and audits.

“Surpac helps us quickly and easily carry out internal auditing work in accordance with planning directions, ore production volumes and grade control. If there is an information request from an external auditor, we provide it in a Surpac format. Our general planning contractor even purchased Surpac after learning about our positive experiences,” Tsukerman says.

Macros automate tasks

Mikhailovsky utilises Surpac’s macro scripting features to speed up data processing. They wrote macros to automate diagram maps, display additional attributes to a block model and reveal cross-sections in real linear parameters. They organised a planning macro that allows low-grade ore calculations along horizons to evaluate losses and ore dilution. Geologists create and compute blasthole sampling charts with a special macro. Another macro was developed to automate printing projects.

“Surpac provides a variety of tools which enable us to automate planning and production control. We’ve consolidated a wide range of process steps for engineering support of pit operations. We are very pleased with Surpac’s features and results,” Tsukerman concludes.

Rehandling of ore – a temporary stockpile is made.

Pellet production facilities – the best in the Russian Federation.

Mikhailovsky GOK Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom Surpac

Microsoft SQL Server

AutoCAD

Gemcom Services:

Software implementation

Training

Technical support



Countries: Finland, Sweden

Objective:Obtain a solution to aid engineering studies and metallurgical testing and accelerate mineral ore production.

Approach:Adopt Surpac, Whittle and MineSched software to gain efficiencies and lower costs.

IT Improvements: Synergistic tools merging block modelling, pit optimisation and scheduling

results.

Inter faces with third-par ty software, eliminating file conversions and saving a workday.

Automated workflows, saving several weeks of manual input.

Faster estimation of multiple block modelling routines (15 minutes vs 2 hours).

Quick report generation in standard formats.

Business Benefits: Cost savings by hiring fewer consultants.

Up to $1 million deferred in upfront capital expenditures.

Greater ability to address skills shortage.

More time spent on geological interpretations.

Higher staff productivity.

Northland Resources improves efficiency and optimises project economics with Gemcom solutionEngineering staff uses Gemcom SurpacTM, WhittleTM and MineSchedTM to reduce consulting costs and defer CAPEX spending

“We deferred a bulk sampling expenditure of $500,000 to $1 million by applying drillhole data and conducting statistical analysis using the Surpac database. We obtained much of the same information as if we had completed a bulk sample, so there was no immediate need to excavate, build a dike or obtain environmental permits.”

— Matt Blattman, Senior Manager of Engineering, Northland Resources Inc.

Portal of the bulk sample drift at Stora Sahavaara, Sweden.



The company began detailed engineering studies to generate technical data and accelerate the key property to production. Tapuli has the potential to produce up to 3 million tonnes per annum of high-grade iron concentrate and fuel other key company projects.

Along with the Tapuli studies, Northland completed basic exploration on two other magnetite projects−Stora Sahavaraa in Pajala, Sweden, and Hannukainen in Kolari, Finland−and is performing preliminary engineering to acquire environmental permits for all three mines. One mine contains mainly iron; another has iron and gold; and a third comprises iron, gold and copper. Northland relies on the Surpac, Whittle and MineSched software to support these efforts and future mineral production.

The company selected Gemcom’s software over MineSight, which it had purchased sometime ago for geological modelling because few staff members were skilled in using MineSight. When the main user left the company, management decided to evaluate other solutions. They wanted the software to fit certain criteria: outstanding functionality, superior interfaces with third-party software, strong technical support and an extensive global user network. The company also required access to support personnel in the same time zone.

“Gemcom met all of the company’s requirements and provided a Finnish distributor. I am delighted that we chose Gemcom because I have used Surpac for nearly 15 years,” says Matt Blattman, Senior Manager of Engineering, who recently joined the company and conducted the software implementation.

Gemcom distributor WSP Finland provided training for Nor thland geologists. “We were pleased with the on-site Surpac training, and our staff found the software easy to learn,” Blattman says. “We believe that software with widespread usage helps our company overcome skill shor tages. It reduces our dependence on consultants and enables us to compete for skilled mining professionals in a tight labour market.”

Strong justification for decisions

The geology department primarily uses Surpac for block modelling, geological interpretations and plotting drillhole maps. Blattman finds Surpac helpful for initial resource calculations

and for viewing data from various sources. Surpac is powerful in these areas, because it interfaces with third-party software and communicates across systems. This is key during engineering planning whereby outside consultants are handling the bulk of Northland’s work. Although they provide reports and maps in various GIS and AutoCAD formats, the Northland staff encounters no file conversion issues.

“Being able to read almost any data format the consultants generate makes my job a lot easier,” Blattman affirms.

If the company decides to pursue another option, the staff uses the consultants’ data integrated into Surpac for more analyses – omitting the need for another consultant. “Being able to process other people’s data quickly and make my own assumptions, greatly improves our efficiency,” Blattman says.

Excellent visualisation tools clarify assumptions

The software helps to crystallise facts and assumptions that may be unclear to others in the organisation. An example is when the staff was determining the right place to test a bulk sample at Hannukainen and process the material. The company hired one consultant to identify the sample area and a second consultant to figure out the best way to excavate it. Both consultants delivered their reports in different formats, which made it difficult to understand how the reports inter faced. As a result, there were questions about the sample environment and excavation.

Blattman tells how he resolved the issue. “In 30 minutes I combined the photos of the surface with the digital terrain model from another consultant and the mine designs from a third consultant to get a comprehensive 3D picture. We obtained consensus within an hour because management could visualise and understand the excavation method. There were no more competing ideas because the facts were visible in Surpac,” he says.

Lower operational costs and CAPEX requirements

When access to capital is difficult or limited, companies must seek ways to lower their upfront capital expenditures (CAPEX). Publicly traded Northland Resources is reducing initial CAPEX outlays through improved engineering design and prudent planning. For example, after a consultant drilled underneath a swamp in the Tapuli mine to collect samples and determine

Portal preparations for the bulk sample drift at Stora Sahavaara, Sweden.

Fast-tracking mine productionIn Sweden and Finland, Northland Resources Inc. (TSX: NAU; Oslo: NAUR) controls one of the continent’s last major undeveloped iron ore provinces, where it is advancing its goal to become Europe’s largest independent, domestic iron ore producer. In northern Sweden, Northland Resources (www.northlandresourcesinc.com) is implementing a staged development of its Tapuli iron ore project.



water quality, Blattman found a cost-effective use for the same data.

“I turned the consultant’s report into 3D renderings in Surpac to determine the groundwater impact, created a feasible mine design and calculated the amount of material to be removed during mining. By using the same data in a different way, we didn’t need to hire another consultant,” he states.

On another occasion, the team deferred a large bulk sampling expenditure of up to $1 million by applying Surpac drillhole data to determine there was no immediate need to excavate, build a dike or obtain permits.

Streamlined, automated workflows

Automation capabilities in Surpac drive higher staff productivity, freeing Northland Resources personnel to concentrate more on their interpretations and less on keying in repetitive data. For example, Blattman created macros that ease the plotting of drillhole cross-section maps and organise them into standard report formats. Advanced scripts accelerate multiple estimation routines in block modelling and eliminate the need to enter each command manually. “By writing a Surpac script, I’ve turned a two-hour process into a 15-minute exercise,” Blattman says.

One of the customised macros enables block models to be coded according to geology types. This script helps geologists modify, change or reinterpret complex polygons and allows them to be reproduced almost instantaneously in a standard reporting format.

“We have drawn approximately 2,000 polygons and to create a lot of detail manually would bring logic issues into play and cause confusion. One misstep or typing error along the way and we wouldn’t know about it until it’s too late. Through automation, we can manipulate the data the way we want to handle it. This macro saves several weeks’ worth of work,” Blattman says.

Merging operations through a comprehensive software suite

Northland pairs Surpac with the Whittle pit optimisation system to understand and verify the consultants’ results. “We make decisions from the Whittle optimisations and incorporate the

Exploration drilling, surface topography and orthophotos, and generalised mineralised zones.

Image showing the Tapuli, Sweden drillholes, grade domains and conceptual pit design.

Northland Resources Inc. Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom Surpac

Gemcom Whittle

Gemcom MineSched

Gemcom Services:

Training

Technical support

data into reserve statements to inform shareholders of the potential value of the company’s mines,” Blattman explains.

When mining ramps up and data accumulates, the planning team will merge the Surpac and Whittle results into Gemcom’s MineSched scheduling software. MineSched will afford proven tools to achieve precise blending targets on multiple elements and to meet processing specifications. The planning staff will be able to schedule from the models that originated in Surpac, thus saving time and preventing data input errors.

“Our idea was to bring in MineSched to automate some of the target blending, perform alternative ‘what-ifs’ to achieve a specific goal, and easily validate the schedules,” Blattman says.

As Northland prepares to supply iron, gold and copper to Europe’s demanding metal markets, it has comprehensive Gemcom tools that work together optimally and promote high productivity. “We implemented a superior suite of Gemcom solutions at the very start, which will take us from engineering planning to mining. Based on their performance to date, we are confident the software will deliver even greater value during production,” Blattman concludes.



Rheinkalk GmbH drives productivity in its lime operations by adopting Gemcom Surpac™

Software automates more than 200 functions for large quarry operator

Countries: Belgium, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland and Russia

Objective:Select a comprehensive system for geological and geochemical block modelling and automating routine mine planning tasks.

Approach:Acquire the Gemcom Surpac software to automate workflows across the company’s global operations.

IT Improvements: Enhanced data accuracy, consistency and protection.

Access to geological and deposit data in standard file formats.

Presentation of short-term data in a standardised manner.

Software in German and local technical support.

Business Benefits: Automation of more than 200 routine and special tasks for greater productivity.

50% reduction in number of surveys.

Efficient sharing of data, skills and project knowledge.

Faster, more precise estimation of block models.

“Gemcom is a strong software partner. Gemcom Surpac provides a wide range of content, flexibility and functionality, allowing us to increase the quality of our work.”

— Rainer Westermann, Manager of the Geology Mining

Team, Rheinkalk GmbH

Aerial view of the Asbeck quarry at the Menden-Hönnetal property.



With more than 105 years of experience in lime production, Rheinkalk itself has 10 sites that supply the chemical, steel, environmental protection and building material industries with lime and dolomite domestically and internationally. Its product sales amount to approximately 2.9 million tonnes annually. The manufacturer’s two largest production sites are its Wülfrath-Flandersbach and Menden-Hönnetal properties.

Over the last 10 years, Germany’s leading lime producer has applied technology to improve workflows. The staff counts the Surpac software as an integral part of their day-to-day operations. Parent company Lhoist also has a number of Surpac licenses that approximately 40 company geologists, engineers and surveyors use at the head office in Belgium and at operating properties in France, Poland, China, Brazil, Russia and Czech Republic. In Surpac, they create block models and open pit mine designs. They also perform short-, mid- and long-term planning.

“We use Surpac all over the world,” says Rainer Westermann, Manager of the Geology Mining Team at Rheinkalk. “It provides important capabilities for organising and maintaining our data sets so that our teams can easily access and utilise them.”

Superior tool improves work quality

For corporate teams working across Lhoist business units, Surpac is their main productivity tool. Whether they model geology at headquarters or create a monthly mine plan onsite, collaboration is smoother and easier for all groups involved. They all have access to the same, up-to-the-minute data; consequently, the opportunities for synergy are considerable.

Productivity has increased since Rheinkalk’s global adoption of Surpac. That is because Surpac enhances data accuracy, consistency and protection by storing geology, planning and drilling data in one system for use across business units. Westermann recalls how Rheinkalk handled block modelling before acquiring the Gemcom software. The company outsourced those activities to an outside company; however, management sought to bring that responsibility back under the company’s supervision because some data was lost or compromised as it moved between the contractor and company personnel.

“We selected Surpac because we needed to improve the quality of the work,” explains Westermann. “We also wanted to implement a digital mine planning system and provide common tools to communicate about geological block models within our department and across business units.”

Gemcom excels over industry counterparts

Westermann and his team also evaluated Datamine in their quest for a superior mine planning system, but Gemcom’s software contained more flexibility and functionality. In addition, Gemcom had dependable, knowledgeable resources in Germany. Therefore, Rheinkalk found it advantageous to hire a Gemcom distributor to spearhead the software implementation and provide training and technical assistance in the German language. Gemcom also commits to ongoing research and development with regular product updates and enhancements. These were important considerations in Rheinkalk’s purchasing decision.

Since the implementation, Rheinkalk personnel have participated in Gemcom training classes to upgrade their skills. Rheinkalk Geologist Markus Oehmen attended a Gemcom-sponsored seminar recently. “I learned to master the latest geostatistical tools in Surpac,” he says. “This training will help me estimate block models faster and more precisely.”

One tool, multiples uses

Rheinkalk staff has marked success using Surpac at the Wülfrath-Flandersbach plant, which has a quarry production of 10 million tonnes of limestone annually, in addition to approximately 3 million tonnes of overburden per year.

Plant personnel manufacture various types of lime in different furnaces or kilns according to customer specifications. Westermann notes that limestone rock from the quarry is a chemically composed product derived from calcinations. From exploration work and core drilling, the staff creates Surpac geological and geochemical models that genuinely exemplify the chemical composition and main structural elements of the limestone deposits. Quarry employees enter the drillhole and borehole data from the quarry operation and update it in Surpac. They distribute that data to the geologists, who conduct their grade control work. From there, the data goes to the purchasing engineers for equipment budgeting, procurement and materials management.Quarry block model developed with Surpac.

Geologist Markus Oehmen views a fault at the Salzhemmendorf property.

Technology applied to improve workflows The German market requires around 7 million tonnes of lime annually, and Rheinkalk GmbH meets the major share of the demand. Headquartered in Wülfrath, Germany, Rheinkalk (www.rheinkalk.de) is a subsidiary of Lhoist Group, which owns 90 plants and leads the market in providing products derived from limestone calcinations.



Surpac automates nearly 200 tasks

The automation of various routine and special tasks enables staff to work faster and more proficiently. Oehmen has spearheaded the creation of nearly 200 customised Surpac macros to automate input functions, plan updates, interrogate maps by date, count volumes, and design forms. In addition, there are macros to calculate cut-off curves and cycle times for mobile equipment on block models.

Oehmen explains, “We developed our own macro-based user interface under Surpac and embedded Surpac functions within those macros. We standardised file naming and colourations for different chemical content, block models, line sequences and maps for our 10 deposits in Germany. The result is that various users and departments have access to geological and deposit data in standard file formats.”

Another reason for establishing macros was to present short-term data in a standardised manner. This is a useful capability at the Wülfrath-Flandersbach plant, where daily blasts change the pit shape from week to week. The location of the blastholes are used to update the pit topography weekly, and then, the most recent topography is needed for reserve calculations.

“We developed a system whereby we can fill in short-term data based on the coordinates of the blastholes. In addition to that, analysis of these blastholes allow us to fill in a short-term block model and organise weekly or monthly plans,” Oehmen says.

Operating the macro-based system reduces the number of surveys. In the past, the company surveyed its open pit mines twice yearly, but by applying information generated automatically, they need only survey once a year.

Working faster and more efficiently

In addition to financial savings regarding surveying, the Surpac macro language saves time. Oehmen cites the integration of a standardised plotting feature to produce quarry maps with German cliff symbols and standard legends and colours for block models. “I can produce a plot of regions, topography, a drillhole map and block model slides by simply clicking a button. The macro produces my selection, sends it to the plotter, and I get it in a defined scale – without added work,” Oehmen says.

Conveyor belt between the Rohdenhaus crusher and washing plant.

Pre-screening at the Wülfrath-Flandersbach plant.

Rheinkalk GmbH Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom Surpac

Gemcom MineSched


Training

Technical support

Some of the Surpac macros work optimally with the Gemcom MineSched software, which Rheinkalk uses to produce mining schedules and sequences. Applying the Surpac cycles macro in MineSched, the staff calculates the total distances hauled by truck and visualises the behaviour of the transport vehicles during stages. All schedule details are viewed in 3D, providing visual corroboration and easy communication of activity sequences. In fact, MineSched’s scheduling functionality, along with its simulation capabilities, helped Rheinkalk open a new extension a few years ago.

“We needed to investigate whether the timing and dynamics were right, so we simulated a lot of processes with diverse constraints in MineSched and came up with a proposal for opening the new quarry. Over the years, Surpac and MineSched both have played a major role in our operations. Without Surpac, we would have more repetitive work to do, possibly make more procedural errors and need to add more personnel, which would impede our main objectives to operate efficiently and economically. Instead, Surpac enables our teams to execute their work skillfully and in significantly shorter time, so we’re driving productivity and cost efficiencies in our operations. We are delighted to have these Gemcom tools to aid our progress,” Westermann concludes.



Vision of improved competitiveness achieved by China’s Shougang Mining Company with Gemcom Surpac™ In China, the utilisation of mining productivity software is moving into the mainstream as the industry in the country sees examples of the value they deliver. In 2004, Shougang Mining Company, an iron ore producer based in Beijing seeking to be at the forefront of the use of technology in mining, took the lead in the adoption of such solutions. Their aim was to boost their competitiveness and increase efficiency by improving the technical capabilities of their employees through the replacement of manual geology and mine planning methods as part of its “Digital Mine Project”.

Needing easy-to-use, Chinese-language software that first-time users could learn quickly, along with user support in their native-tongue, Shougang turned to Gemcom and its Surpac software. Since adopting the software, Shougang has used Surpac daily in geology, mine planning, design, survey, and production.

“I can clearly see the positive results from the implementation of Surpac as part of our Digital Mine Project. The Surpac initiative has significantly altered the traditional manual mining work methods, raising the level of technology that has been employed by industry in China to new heights. The work quality and work rate within the professional technical teams has certainly been advanced,” says Ms. Sun, explaining how the software has helped to improve the company’s competitiveness.

Mao Quing Hua, Mining Engineer and Geological Specialist adds: “The implementation of Surpac has resulted in invaluable interactive technical communications between our geologists, surveyors and engineers. The visualisation of the mine designs in Surpac, as an example, has allowed for more efficient and practical work.”

Another way in which Surpac has aided the organisation’s

efficiency is through improvements made possible by the

software’s ability to automate routine user tasks and

mine planning workflows. These automated processes

were developed to support the specific needs of the

company in conjunction with local Gemcom services and

support. The result has been a significant increase in

workforce efficiency.

“Resource and grade calculations, especially for large

areas and/or multiple constraints, can now be completed

by Shougang technical personnel in just a few minutes,

compared with hours or even days previously and with

higher accuracy. In another example, an optimisation

task that used to take one person several months can

now be done in just 10 minutes, as long as technical and

economic parameters are selected,” concludes Ms. Sun.

About Shougang Mining Company

Headquarters: Beijing, China

ASX symbol: MRE

Shougang Mining Company is part of the Shougang Group, one of China’s largest steel makers.

Shougang Group subsidiaries are listed on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

Web site: www.shougang.com.cn

Shougang open pit mining operation.



IAMGOLD drives threefold mine expansion with Gemcom technology The Gemcom GEMSTM solution−a mainstay at IAMGOLD’s Omai and Rosebel Mines since 1991−improves communication and collaboration

Countries: Botswana, Canada, Ecuador, Ghana, Mali, Suriname

Objective:Support exploration and mining functions and promote efficiency, information sharing and collaboration among interdepartmental groups.

Approach:Upgrade to GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server and employ Gemcom to convert multiple data sets into a single database environment.

IT Improvements: Amalgamation of 27 projects into a single data repository.

Centralised, easy access to the correct data.

Automated backup and protection against unauthorised data changes.

Compatibility with third-party mining software.

Business Benefits: Streamlined workflows and cross-functional collaboration.

Improved communications between system users.

Easy-to-learn functionality, which accelerates staff proficiency.

Real-time business intelligence for making strategic mining decisions.

Rosebel Mine, Suriname

“Having Gemcom GEMS here is an advantage from a human resources standpoint. The software has worldwide recognition, so it will be much easier to find people already trained in GEMS compared to other software.”

− Renaud Adams, Vice President and General Manager, IAMGOLD Corporation



Acquired in November 2006, the company’s crown jewel is the Rosebel open pit mine in Suriname, South America. Rosebel produced 276,000 ounces of gold in 2007. However, its significant unrealised value has prompted the company to undertake an $18.4 million expansion to increase annual production and boost metallurgical recovery from 93 to 95 percent. As the multi-phase expansion goes full tilt, the company’s workforce will mine four different pits (and potentially a fifth) approximately 6 kilometres apart at Rosebel, moving an average of 120,000 tonnes of material daily. The ongoing expansion will elevate the production level above 300,000 ounces per year; however, Rosebel has the potential to grow considerably above this level.

“Rosebel has been booming since day one. We have only been in operation for about four years but are already undergoing a third expansion,” says Renaud Adams, Vice President and General Manager of IAMGOLD.

A solid part of the corporate culture

Early on IAMGOLD standardised on the GEMS collaborative mining system to gain efficiency. The software enables the exchange of timely, accurate information among interdependent functions, such as geology, planning, surveying and scheduling.

For years, IAMGOLD enjoyed success with GEMS at its Omai site in Guyana. The software also has been in use at the Rosebel site for some time. Prior to Rosebel’s acquisition, Cambior, the company which owned the mine at the time, had adopted GEMS. Employing their software of choice, Cambior staff set up Rosebel mining data in GEMS, which protected the information, saved time and made the transfer to IAMGOLD an easy exercise. After the data transfer, the IAMGOLD staff could immediately start creating projects with the data.

“From the very beginning, there was a strong push for all departments – engineering, surveying, geology – to use the same mining software package. GEMS software was part of the corporate culture at the start. We never entertained changing the software,” says Eric Ramsey, IAMGOLD’s Senior Mine Geologist. In addition, several Cambior employees who transferred to IAMGOLD were avid GEMS users.

Overcoming the tight labour pool

Gemcom’s system helps the company address the scarcity of qualified workers brought on by the mining boom. This issue hit home for IAMGOLD, whose own staff of skilled expatriates dwindled last year due to the competition among mining companies. Facing immediate demands for skilled workers, IAMGOLD now draws from a pool of South American nationals with limited knowledge, skills and mine training. “It has been difficult to maintain a high-quality, technical operation at Rosebel,” Adams admits.

Gemcom addresses this issue by making its mine collaboration software simple to use, which enables new and less skilled employees in underdeveloped areas to grasp the training they need and become capable users quickly. “The GEMS software is well documented and is an easy-to-use product,” Adams observes.

Many Chilean job candidates who have sought employment recently at IAMGOLD are familiar with GEMS, so the company expects to tap from this pool of skilled employees when it expands further in South America.

Better collaboration with a single database

IAMGOLD originally acquired several licenses of the GEMS Desktop version from Cambior. Over time, four groups were all working on the same deposits−but in different databases. The grade control, surveying, engineering and mine exploration groups created separate data sets for their portion of a project, which caused accuracy, data reliability and communication issues. A group would export data from another group’s database into its own, which was time-consuming. Periodically the data sets required manual synchronisation and validation. Eventually the Microsoft Access databases contained 27 various projects of drill holes, solids, profiles, pit designs and block models. The amount of information was expanding beyond the software’s limits, putting the data in jeopardy.

IAMGOLD needed to eliminate redundancy and merge those various compilations into a single, scalable structure with multiuser access. Janice Martin was Gemcom’s implementation manager for the migration to GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server. She configured the data model to support the company’s workloads, departments and security requirements. Geological interpretation constructed with GEMS.

A bright start

Toronto, Canada-based IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX: IMG; NYSE: IAG) is a top, mid-tier gold producer that began trading publicly in 1996.The corporation (www.iamgold.com) owns eight different operations in North America, South America and Africa; two non-gold assets that provide significant cash flow; and four development projects that afford continual growth.



“It was a successful implementation,” Ramsey says. “Our migration to GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server brought those separate databases together, so that everybody could work on the current data set. Now we have everything in one controlled, protected structure, along with better collaboration and communication among our departments.” Approximately 30 persons currently use GEMS.

Gemcom implemented security permissions to protect the data, which are helpful when new hires, who may possess various levels of training, join the company. “We can protect our data, while allowing employees to be trained on the system,” Adams says.

A jewel of a tool for many tasks

The GEMS solution houses nine different projects, including ore ratings for the three Rosebel pits in production. With 3D renderings, GEMS is useful for the following activities: ore/waste packets, daily advance working faces, volumetrics, remaining ore/waste in the pits, mine-out ore/waste packets, resource estimates, new assay and blast hole importing, augers, trenches, structural mapping, production block models, density models and drilling patterns. “I’m using GEMS every day,” Ramsey says. “It is hard to imagine how grade control would be without it. We also update all of the diamond drilling statistics in GEMS for resource development and exploration.”

The engineering team uses GEMS for their short-term planning and annual mine plan budgets. Employing the Cut Evaluation feature, they conduct daily scenarios, watch operations animated on the screen and verify production targets.

The GEMS survey application aids surveyors’ mining strategy, assisting with surveying backfill and topography pickups, as well as pit, dump and road designs. “Before designing the packets, the surveyors go directly into the ore control workspaces, get packet limit positions, upload them into their real-time global positioning system (GPS) and mark them out in the field. They download the current topographic information directly into GEMS, which is simple to do,” Ramsey explains.

Shared platform with smooth interfaces

Incorporating the latest data and drawings into GEMS with an industry-standard database engenders fluid, proficient workflows. The software interfaces with GPS, AutoCAD and

Wenco fleet management software programmes making data transfer straightforward. Even the new laboratory management system that IAMGOLD is evaluating for purchase can work with GEMS. “GEMS with a SQL Server database gives us an edge. Many different products we buy can interface easier with GEMS than with Vulcan,” says Ramsey.

In addition, GEMS complements the Gemcom Whittle software, IAMGOLD’s main tool for long-term planning. “We import the Whittle shell into GEMS and the production blocks into Whittle and vice-versa. It all works quite well,” Ramsey says.

He and his colleagues employ the Whittle strategic mine planning tool in a number of ways: for calculating reserves, optimising pit designs, and analysing drilling and mining decisions. Whittle helps them identify sensitive areas that need additional information and ultimately, to secure capital to advance drilling activities.

Return on investment

IAMGOLD has built up considerable expertise and proficiency by using Gemcom technologies over the years. Proficiency and real-time GEMS data−accessible on-demand−serve to improve decision making. And informed decisions can lead to better margins, lower costs and more gold discoveries. The gold miner has set a goal of adding a minimum of 50,000 ounces of production by 2010, and will continue its aggressive exploration and development programmes. GEMS will continue to play a prominent role in these endeavours.

“The increase in productivity, quality and performance that we have gained by doing our jobs in GEMS paid for our software investment. We want to continue taking advantage of what the Gemcom solution offers,” Adams concludes.

Blast on the Pay Caro pit.

IAMGOLD Corporation Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications: Gemcom GEMS

Gemcom Whittle


AutoCAD

Global positioning system

Wenco fleet management system

Gemcom Services: Database consolidation and migration

Software deployment

Onsite training and knowledge transfer

Ongoing technical support



With Gemcom GEMS™ and Gemcom Whittle™, Centerra Gold drives efficiency and maximises potential of its mineral properties Personnel at Centerra’s Boroo operation, Mongolia’s largest hard rock gold mine, find Gemcom software indispensable for cross-functional collaboration

Countries: Canada, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, United States

Objective:Establish a platform that enables cross-departmental collaboration and maximises the potential of current properties.

Approach:Employ Gemcom GEMS with Microsoft® SQL Server® and Gemcom Whittle software to build staff efficiency and aid geological modelling, open pit optimisation, and mine planning.

IT Improvements: Seamless data integration and interfaces to third-party systems.

Security provisions and policies for user privileges to prevent unauthorised changes.

Availability and access to relevant, accurate information.

Business Benefits: Estimation and drilling accuracy, enabling the recovery of approximately 91

percent of gold.

Easy, fast assessment of economic potential of company mineral properties.

Better insight into mining performance, costs, and results.

Facilitation of smooth interactions between geological and engineering functions.

Centerra’s Boroo Mine, Mongolia.

“Having a sophisticated data management tool put us in a good position early on. It has paid for itself by preventing problems that could occur from using out-dated information in reports.”

— Mike Kelly, Mine Manager, Boroo Mine, Centerra Gold Inc.



In addition to Boroo, Centerra also owns the Kumtor gold mine in the Kyrgyz Republic and interests in the Gatsuurt property located 35km from Boroo.

Located 110 kilometres west-northwest of Ulaanbaatar, the Boroo mine and mill complex began commercial production in March 2004. The property has produced approximately 200,000 ounces of gold annually. The construction of an almost 4-million tonne per annum heap leach facility at the Boroo mine will enable the processing of low-grade ores.

Easy-to-use software increases productivity

A year before the Boroo mine began production, Centerra selected GEMS as its block modelling and mine planning solution, along with the Whittle software to optimise the open pits. The company noted that GEMS is the leading, universally recognised mine planning system backed by superior training and professional services. They were also impressed by Gemcom’s commitment to software development.

“As GEMS is used widely throughout our operations, we have much more experience using it than any other software. We especially like Gemcom’s innovation, online assistance and technical support,” says Mike Kelly, Mine Manager.

At Boroo, GEMS with Microsoft SQL Server enables 40 geologists, engineers, surveyors, and mine planners to work smarter, faster, and more productively. GEMS software tools help the geology and engineering departments analyse and survey the mineral deposits and plan mining operations on a short- or long-term basis in the most economical manner. These benefits are realised as GEMS promotes a dynamic, team-based environment with real-time collaboration. The system documents a number of elements and values for the mining team; thereby fostering seamless, transparent communication and data integrity across functions. Having access to current data, shared through one system, improves the quality of mine plans.

Both GEMS and Whittle are easy to use; therefore, knowledge sharing and collaboration occurs much faster—even among inexperienced users. “Beginners learn to use GEMS quickly because it has understandable menu functions and tools, making it easier to train new employees. Whittle has an intuitive user interface that helps beginners start building economic models and optimising the pit shapes effectively,” Kelly says.

Accurate geology decisions

Oyungerel B., Boroo’s Chief Geologist, and her staff are responsible for modelling the geology, estimating reserves, developing resource reports, compiling data on the deposit, and overseeing drilling operations. Generally, the gold deposit is lying flat or sub-horizontal and extends over an area measuring 2.5x1.5 kilometres. Throughout the area, mineralised zones occur up to 400 metres wide and typically average from 10 to 30 metres in thickness.

Leading-edge 3D visualisation tools enable Boroo geologists to map and estimate the gold mineralisation between sedimentary and granitic rocks and faults with confidence. “We do all of our observations in 3D and use the GEMS tools to determine how best to mine within the geology and to design our drillhole layouts. Thanks to GEMS, our estimation and drilling accuracy enable the company to recover approximately 91 percent of the gold in the ore,” Oyungerel explains.

Simplification of grade control management

Boroo’s staff achieves their ore control and waste management objectives and performs reconciliations in GEMS. With the system, they estimate reserves daily for ore control using polygon drawings for plotting maps and colour coding areas.

As Oyungerel notes, “GEMS is our main system for performing daily grade control. Our ore control geologists create ore reserve packets in GEMS, and we also have procedures for grade control set up in the system that the crews follow daily. We have several mining shifts, so GEMS helps us ensure our crews are mining correctly pit by pit and that production aligns with our estimates.”

Boroo’s grade control procedures are complicated; nevertheless, using GEMS volumetrics and resource reporting tools and blasthole assay data streamlines the work for grade control geologists. They can characterise volumetric changes occurring frequently in their mining environment. Without GEMS the staff would not have complete survey data for their reports and calculations, which would make it difficult to determine production schedules and capital expenditures, to maximise the extraction of ore, or maintain production targets.

“GEMS has all of the information we want to see united in one system—block model data, drillhole values, the quantity

Growth-oriented company realises the full benefit of its holdings

Centerra Gold Inc. (TSX:CG) acquires, explores, develops and operates gold properties in Central Asia, the former Soviet Union and other emerging markets worldwide. The Toronto, Canada-based company (www.centerragold.com) has a 100 percent equity interest in Mongolia’s largest hard rock gold mine, Boroo. It is the first noteworthy foreign investment for industrial development in Mongolia since 1997.

Blasthole drilling.



and classification of ore grades and production reports. The software makes geostatistics, mapping and volumetric calculations fast and accurate. If I want to see how much overburden material was removed, I can just run volumetrics and get my answers from it. GEMS helps me be more productive because I can test various scenarios and run computations fast and easily,” Oyungerel says.

Direction for engineering operations

Boroo’s engineers and surveyors use GEMS to gain greater clarity for short-, mid- and long-term planning; to test gold production strategies and to make informed decisions about engineering activities.

“It’s easy to set up different plans and designs in GEMS and to see all of the variables and assess the costs in relation to mining potential. I can make the best decision from many options,” says Kelly.

Kelly also acknowledges that another advantage of using the GEMS system is that it promotes governance and protection for data assets. Centerra assigns user privileges so that some personnel can access, view, and use the data, while others can add and change it. The policies ensure that the most current information gets incorporated into strategies, analyses, and reports. “Having a sophisticated data management tool put us in a good position early on. It has paid for itself by preventing problems that could occur from using out-dated information in reports,” Kelly says.

Oyungerel agrees, adding that the GEMS system mitigates the risks and prevents errors involved in data transfer. When she travels from the head office to a mine site, she uses the convenient Pack-and-Go™ module of GEMS, which allows her to transfer data back and forth and work remotely. “I can synchronise my data with Pack-and-Go and work on a project wherever I am,” she says.

Whittle enables staff to maximise pit potential

GEMS interfaces seamlessly with Whittle, Boroo’s pit optimisation software of choice. After creating a GEMS block model with its grades and values and reserve estimation, Boroo geologists export it into Whittle for the engineering group to conduct surface planning, establish designs, and determine operational costs.

“GEMS and Whittle integrate well with our other systems and processes, including Microsoft Excel®. They both have good import and export menus to and from other systems; therefore, we can develop reports in the formats we desire. This gives us more analytical opportunities in order to decide the best solution,” Kelly acknowledges.

Whittle modules that play a prominent role in Boroo’s analyses include Multi-Element, Mining Width, Multi-Mine, and Stockpiles and Cut-offs. They produce effective results to use in deciding whether to mine or continue drilling—all with a keen focus on cost control and profitability. The engineers can manipulate the block size, typically increasing it because of the orebody and calculation time. In addition, they optimise the pit shells for various factors, including cash flow.

Boroo planners transfer Whittle outcomes into resource and reserve statements and company reports. After the engineers perform their economic study, they return a Whittle shell to Oyungerel, who in turn, uses the pit shell for volumetrics. She adds, “We trust the information from Whittle.”

With trusted information available via innovative software, Centerra promotes its strategy of bringing the full benefit of its current holdings to market and delivering production efficiencies. The future will find the company undertaking additional drilling programs, performing exploration work and drill testing targets for additional mineralisation around the existing pits. As those activities expand, the company may require more technology resources. “We’re now considering MineSched to facilitate more flexible scheduling. That’s another thing we like about partnering with Gemcom—the software choices—and the fact that we get good value for the money with their software,” Kelly concludes.

Boroo mine operations.

Centerra Gold Inc. Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom GEMS

Gemcom Whittle


Gemcom Services:

Software implementation Training

Technical support

Boroo mine team.



“The GEMS product is integral for constructing 3D models on time and giving us hard numbers that we can publish to comply with NI 43-101. Therefore, we have a great measure of comfort that we are constructing models in line with industry standards.”

— Pieter Du Plessis,Vice President of Exploration, Shore Gold Inc.

Shore Gold strengthens exploration programme with Gemcom GEMS™

Multifaceted mining software proves valuable for estimating diamond resources

Countries: Canada

Objective:Model and calculate ore body reserves during advanced-stage exploration.

Approach:Employ the Gemcom GEMS software to interpret kimberlite diamond deposits and estimate pre-production reserves.

IT Improvements: Immediate access to organised, up-to-date mining information.

Data consistency company-wide.

Data consolidation into a central system.

Streamlined data management.

Easy sharing of complex modelling data across groups.

Business Benefits: In-depth analysis of type and composition of kimberlite minerals to determine mining feasibility.

Data integrity and validation for National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) compliance.

Improved decision making.

Time and financial savings resulting from automated user access and model development.

Strong confidence in geological block models.

Attainment of return on investment.

Star Diamond Project, Saskatchewan, Canada



Shore recently conducted several phases of underground bulk

sampling on the Star Kimberlite, where the company recovered

and valued diamond parcels it will use in the mineral reserve

calculation. Shore also sank a shaft to estimate resources

for the Orion South Kimberlite, for which it has a 60 percent

interest. To advance these projects, the company employs the

Gemcom GEMS solution.

Before implementing the GEMS block modelling package, the

Shore geologists used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and a

competitor’s basic software to visualise the kimberlites. However,

that rudimentary software did not help the staff construct

industry-standard, in-depth, three-dimensional (3D) models.

“Our geologists could not grasp all of the different data and

analyse multiple data sets in 3D simultaneously,” explains

Pieter Du Plessis, the company’s Vice President of Exploration.

“Consequently, we did not have a certain level of confidence in

our geological models and resource estimates. We reached a

point in our exploration on the Star Kimberlite where we needed

to scale up to professional-level software.”

A comprehensive, long-term solution

Undertaking a major evaluation programme for its properties,

Shore needed a sophisticated 3D modelling method−a solution

that interacts with existing applications and is built around

a central database. This is critical because Shore publicly

discloses scientific and technical information about its mineral

projects in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101

rule. In fact, the aim of the Star Kimberlite advanced evaluation

is to define an NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource followed

by a mineral reserve. Therefore, Shore sought powerful

software to improve data interpretation and visualisation and

help it portray information in the prescribed format.

In their quest for the right solution, Shore management

evaluated Vulcan and several other mining products. However,

because Gemcom had delivered excellent technical support

and training for a South African mining company that Du Plessis

had worked with previously and numerous Shore geologists had

used the software, GEMS was the clear choice.

“From my past experience, Gemcom always responded quickly to inquiries and requests for assistance. The outstanding service provided by the Gemcom engineers in South Africa made it an easy decision for us to incorporate GEMS here in North America in a different environment,” he says.

Additionally, management realised the software would meet the company’s needs over the long term. GEMS particularly stood out in this area, according to Du Plessis. “GEMS is not only suitable for exploration and drill holes,” he says, “but it is also the type of software that we can continue using to interpret the kimberlites as we progress into diamond mining. We quickly saw that Shore could obtain full value from GEMS.” In addition, GEMS’ modular framework makes it easy for Shore to purchase additional components to aid future diamond mining, production and scheduling.

GEMS increases confidence in geological model

The Gemcom solution provides compelling value in analysing potential diamond holdings in the Star and Orion South Kimberlites. Using the software’s powerful graphical interface, the geologists create models representing how many carats are contained per tonne of rock. Then, the resource estimate can be converted to a mineral reserve and later used in a feasibility study, assuming the reserve shows economic potential.

“GEMS helps us increase the level of confidence that we can have in the geological model. There is so much data to be considered for the resource estimate. GEMS lets us bring in multiple data sets to obtain a full understanding of all of the data. It is easy to extract good 3D visualisations for use in investor-related presentations,” Du Plessis says.

An independent, third-party company and Shore’s joint venture partner, Newmont Mining Corporation, audit the models. These companies have produced similar tonnage estimates in line with the estimates generated from GEMS. “We have a great measure of comfort that we are constructing models in line with industry standards,” Du Plessis adds.

Data integrity and speedy access

GEMS comprises scalable architecture built around industry-standard Microsoft SQL Server databases. With the ability to rapidly import and export data to applications such as AutoCAD, GEMS provides information sharing capabilities, Orion deposit and core shack.

Exploration from a position of strength

Shore Gold Inc. (www.shoregold.com), which trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the SGF stock symbol, acquires, explores and develops mineral proper ties. Its current endeavours include the advancement of the Star Diamond Project and the Orion South Kimberlite in the For t a la Corne Kimberlite Cluster in central Saskatchewan, Canada.



reducing the time spent on data management. Shore personnel initially maintained data in numerous Excel spreadsheets. This approach affected data integrity and version control, making it cumbersome to access the latest data. Perhaps the biggest challenge overall was this approach impeded the company’s ability to accurately model kimberlite bodies.

Instead, Shore gained ground by working with Gemcom personnel to deploy a SQL Server database with the GEMS implementation, writing software codes to accommodate Shore’s specific data naming conventions. Along with an audit trail and timeline of all transactions, the solution provides automated role-based privileges to mitigate unauthorized changes.

“This used to be a manual process that required a lot of management time to make sure that the right people accessed the right data. Our transition to GEMS with SQL Server gives us data integrity and makes it easier and faster to access relevant data. Now, data access is a seamless exercise that saves time and money. Gemcom complemented our skills nicely. They assisted us with the initial program code, which helped us reach our objectives,” says Du Plessis.

The company has completed the merging of its remaining spreadsheets into SQL Server and pass the data to an engineering company for auditing and conducting a resource estimation. “It will be a major milestone for us as an organisation to declare a resource for the first time on the Star Kimberlite,” Du Plessis notes. “In a few years, we will be able to declare resources on some of our joint venture kimberlites as well.”

A resource for logging kimberlites

Shore also purchased a customised drill hole logger from Gemcom to help meet the specific requirements of viewing data metre by metre and logging drill hole data onto laptops. Further development of the logger by the Shore experts have added customised project-specific codes, data validation, independent stand-alone capabilities in the field, and real-time networked operations from the field to the head office via satellite link. The logger provides a comprehensive, yet easily customisable solution for the acquisition of high-quality information in the field. Consequently, quality assurance is part of the entire workflow.

Shore Gold Inc. Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom GEMS Microsoft SQL Server AutoCAD

Gemcom Services:

Customisation Custom Logger Training Technical support

Underground blast preparation.

Close-up view of recovered diamond.

“We are using the logger in a quantitative, systematic manner. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to access the central database from the field, and there would be more opportunities for manual errors,” Du Plessis says.

Convenience, versatility and functionality

When working in the field, Shore geologists use the Pack and Go module of GEMS, a handy feature that allows them to move data back and forth easily in SQL Server and work on it remotely.

“Our geologists use the Pack and Go module when we need to transfer these models in a compact format to independent third-party reviewers for auditing and verification. It is a very convenient tool,” says Du Plessis.

Convenience, versatility and functionality−all are qualities within GEMS that help advance exploration and diamond mining. Although the economic feasibility of Shore’s mining properties has not been determined yet, Du Plessis believes that GEMS has proved its worth thus far.

“If we had not built our block modelling capabilities in-house, we would have needed to pay an outside contractor to do the work for us, and it would have cost us much more. So, we are accomplishing our goals with GEMS,” he affirms.



Fronteer standardises on Gemcom GEMS™ for boosting big deposits with strong production potentialUnique Unwrinkle and Unfold module in GEMS proves instrumental in deriving full potential of folded deposits

Countries: Canada, Turkey, United States

Objective:Address drillhole data management, deposit modelling, resource estimation and feasibility studies.

Approach:Adopt Gemcom GEMS and its Unwrinkle tool, which “flattens” folded deposits and maintains the correct spatial relationship between the points, enabling them to be easily interpolated.

IT Improvements: Seamless data continuity for folded deposits.

3D visualisation capabilities to aid delineation drilling and better define geometry and mineralisation.

Centralised system for efficiently managing and tracking drillhole data and interpretations.

Business Benefits: More accurate resource estimations and delineation drilling.

Quick resource estimation for large deposits.

More confidence in mineral estimates.

Thorough evaluation of geologic trends in folded spaces.

Alleviation of duplicate time and effort in estimating sub-domains.

Increase in the deposit’s overall resource size by 23.5%.

“GEMS played a central role in helping expand the Michelin uranium deposit from 16 million pounds to 134 million pounds in a short timeframe.”

— Christopher Lee, Chief Geoscientist, Fronteer

Development Group Inc.

North-facing wall of Northumberland’s existing pit.


27 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebOOk

Finding value with science and technology Employing science and technical expertise in gold, copper and uranium discoveries, Fronteer Development Group Inc. (FRG:TSX, AMEX) has built a covetable reputation as a highly successful exploration and development company. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Fronteer (www.fronteergroup.com) finds major deposits with strong production potential by wisely embracing modern exploration techniques, understanding various deposit systems and geology, and integrating a wealth of data to extract maximum value from its mineral resources.

Fronteer’s leadership team, which possesses notable technical and international expertise, commits to the company’s Science of Discovery approach. As Fronteer’s unique signature, this approach has turned outstanding results for the company, including an extensive portfolio of advanced-stage gold projects in Nevada and a 40 percent interest in three gold and copper-gold projects in northwestern Turkey. In 2005, Fronteer also created Aurora Energy Resources (AXU-TSX) to develop its world-class primary uranium deposit in Labrador, Canada (Fronteer currently has a 42.3 percent interest in Aurora).

“Our strategic, proprietary approach to scientifically driven exploration has led Fronteer to not one, but five discoveries in six years−an unprecedented feat that has helped secure the company’s financial future,” says Christopher Lee, Chief Geoscientist, who has overseen the science used for Fronteer and Aurora exploration projects and resource estimations. “Gemcom’s GEMS solution is advanced technology that enables us to translate targets into discoveries.”

Advanced interpolation techniques

Fronteer considered several software vendors four years ago when it needed to address resource estimation, 3D modelling and drillhole data management. The GEMS solution was chosen because Lee, having used it for more than eight years, was familiar with its capabilities. The software even proved its merit when Lee needed to optimise estimates for the company’s Northumberland property, a key asset and one of the largest undeveloped Carlin-style deposits in Nevada with a gold-equivalent resource of 2.44 million ounces indicated and 815,000 ounces inferred. At Northumberland, complex folding controls the deposit geometry and presents unique modelling challenges.

Fronteer adopted the GEMS Unwrinkle tool to temporarily flatten these deposits in a secondary space and maintain the correct spatial relationship between points for resource modelling accuracy. Viewing the flattened deposit, Lee and his colleagues can conduct geostatistical analyses, evaluating geologic trends that are unapparent in the folded spaces. Lee says, “With these tools, our staff completed a new resource estimate for the 100 percent-owned Northumberland gold project in June 2008, increasing the deposit’s overall gold-equivalent resource size by 23.5 percent.”

He further explains the value of the GEMS tool: “Conventional estimation methods only let us look in one direction at a time, so we must sub-domain a larger, geometrically complex deposit into a number of smaller ones to develop parameters specific to the local geometry and estimate each domain independently. With the Unwrinkle tool, we can treat the entire deposit as a single geometrical domain and work with it as one entity−as opposed to fractioning it into smaller sub-domains and adding everything together at the end. The Unwrinkle tool removes the problem of domain boundaries and provides seamless continuity in the data across these boundaries, which greatly improves the confidence in these local estimates.”

Additionally, the Unwrinkle tool alleviates the duplication of time and effort spent estimating each sub-domain and abates problems that can arise from less optimal estimates. It also gives the staff more confidence in their resource models.

GEMS becomes Fronteer’s standard

Previously Fronteer used competitor software, but the company made a corporate decision to employ GEMS across all of its projects. Now the software is helping to steer direction on a number of fronts. Geologists leverage the block modelling and geostatistics modules to build 3D prototypes. Geologists tap the drillholes tools to manage and study drillhole data.

Additionally, the GEMS resource evaluation features are useful in the estimating process, according to Lee. “GEMS has many features that support our business operations,” he says. For example, in Central Labrador in Atlantic Canada, where Aurora is defining one of the world’s largest primary uranium deposits, staff manage drillhole data and monitor drillhole deviation in real-time with GEMS. Aurora has recently updated the resources for the Michelin, Jacques Lake and four satellite deposits, which combined have a NI 43-101 resource of 83.9 million pounds of uranium (measured and indicated) and a further 49.8 million pounds inferred.

“GEMS played a central role in helping expand the Michelin deposit and provided clear information to build the resources in the district from 16 million pounds to 134 million pounds in a short timeframe,” Lee says.

Drilling at Fronteer’s Sandman project in Nevada.



The staff put GEMS to work in compiling the historical data that was acquired in the exploration of that project. They also employed the solution to monitor and manage new drillhole data, guide their targeting, estimate resources and obtain mineralisation details.

“The 3D visualisation components of GEMS helped us maintain the high level of accuracy that is required for our current delineation drilling program,” Lee points out. “In 3D we can better understand and define the geometry and mineralisation, which helps us determine any predictability of the mineralisation, shape it and delineate the deposit. GEMS has block modelling tools that assist us during the resource estimation stage and in translating drillhole data into an actual resource. I can take the solids, pit shells and mine development solids that are produced by our engineers and incorporate those numbers into our GEMS model as well. We use it every step of the way.”

Compelling 3D renditions

Delineation drilling requires a high degree of accuracy in the drillhole pierce points; therefore, the staff trusts GEMS to help them track the drilling activities in 3D in real time. In doing so, they gain better control of their drillhole deviations and assurance that they are accurately sampling the right areas.

Additionally, the 3D features in GEMS uncover larger deposits on existing properties, giving Fronteer geologists a deeper understanding of geometry controls and showing where extensions are most feasible.

“The GEMS tool is a big help in targeting and expanding our resources,” Lee says. “Using 3D visualisation, we can estimate the distribution of the metal in the ground and have greater confidence in our decisions.”

Fronteer also leverages the 3D graphics environment inside of GEMS to convey topographic, drillhole, traverse, polyline and point data in a compelling way. The graphical presentations help make geometric concepts more meaningful to corporate executives and investors, who in turn can advance decisions that unlock optimal value from Fronteer’s mineral resources.

Lee says, “We present our assets clearly in GEMS. Decision makers appreciate the science that we are applying to these

deposits. Also, GEMS gives us that extra level of insight to help us correctly evaluate potential acquisition projects.”

Synergistic workflows

From the standpoint of workflow, GEMS unifies data into a collaborative platform, engendering teamwork and efficiency among Fronteer departments and disciplines. Data is available at the ready via an associated, centralised database that can hold burgeoning drillhole statistics. In addition, GEMS integrates with other third-party software to accelerate information transfer at Fronteer, allowing more focus on revenue-generating activities and less worry about data integrity during transfers.

In essence, Fronteer has produced an exceptional portfolio by identifying and quantifying world-class deposits where others did not fare as well. Certainly, Fronteer has achieved more by putting its Science of Discovery approach at the forefront and leveraging the best technology available, which is why they standardised on GEMS.

Summing up their overall assessment of GEMS, Lee notes, “We have received return on our investment, especially with Aurora. While the return is market-dependent on all of our projects, we believe we have created real value for the company by using proven, industry-recognised software.”

Oblique northwest view of GEMS block model showing depth extents of known mineralisation.

Plan view of GEMS block model showing grade distribution within the deposit.

Fronteer Development Company Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom GEMS

Gemcom Services:

Software deployment

Training

Technical support



Eastern Goldfields leverages Gemcom GEMS™ solution to help find new deposits in old rocksRobust geological models for resource estimation

Countries: South Africa

Objective:Accelerate the geological modelling process cost effectively, while improving productivity and data integrity.

Approach:Move from classic geometric resource estimation to the Gemcom GEMS 3D geological modelling, statistics and volumetrics-based estimation techniques, while utilising Gemcom technical support services.

IT Improvements: Data accuracy and integrity.

Higher productivity via flexible analytical tools for planning, evaluation and resource estimation.

Reduction in resource estimation time, from weeks to days.

Adaptive software for use in complicated geological environments.

Business Benefits: Avoidance of costly mining mistakes.

Faster analysis and better decision-making.

Reliable ore body projections.

Better insight for exploration and strategic mine planning.

Escalation of the company’s business plans and regional exploration programme.

“GEMS is a pliable and powerful tool that we can adapt for modelling complicated ore zones in the Archaean Greenstones. GEMS is very good at creating robust geological models from which we can estimate the resources.”

— Sam Mawson, Group Geologist, Eastern Goldfields, Inc.

Lily Mine, South Africa.


30 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING eBOOk

EGI owns a number of properties in the Barberton Greenstone Belt. In addition, the producer has highly prospective mineral holdings, projects under feasibility study and profitable mining operations.

In the northeast region of the Barberton Mountainland lies EGI’s current operating property, the Lily Mine. This million-ounce operation comprises an open pit, a metallurgical plant, an assay laboratory and related infrastructure. EGI’s ambitious business plan is to increase production from the Lily Mine, extend its life with underground development and explore for other substantial deposits.

The Lily Mine started as an open pit mine in 2000. At the time, the company wanted to transition from classical resource estimation to a computer-based method to improve accuracy, speed and data integrity.

“Measuring a resource in a complicated environment using the old-fashioned, manual way took weeks,” recalls Sam Mawson, Group Geologist for EGI. “We needed robust geological modelling software to accelerate the process. We also must be able to show competency in our work and present our ore body mineral deposits to investors in a professional manner.”

Software with the right mix of features

The Gemcom account team enthusiastically recommended the GEMS Resource Evaluation Edition and demonstrated it onsite at EGI. Intrigued with the software’s logic and features, EGI engaged Gemcom’s Johannesburg office to conduct initial modelling and resource estimation within GEMS.

“We had already calculated the resources for the project in the classic geometric method, and the results from GEMS came back in line with the classic method. Therefore, we realised that Gemcom’s resource estimation package worked, and we could obtain fast results. We also were impressed that Gemcom was making an effort on our behalf.” says Mawson.

During the selection process, the technical staff also explored other software options, but they were more expensive and not as flexible compared to GEMS. “Other products came with many unnecessary peripherals we were never going to use,” Mawson says. “With GEMS, we could select a package with just the right features at an attractive price. If we need another module, we

can get it as an add-on, which is a more economical approach for a small company.”

Software for complicated ore zones

During open pit mining at the Lily site, EGI geologists used GEMS for exploration and ore body modelling. The software helped them define the mineralised zone, determine resource quantity, capture grade control data and maintain updated ore body information. “Before we deployed GEMS, it would take us almost a week to measure a resource using our old hand method. Now we can perform the estimates from exploration data in days,” Mawson comments.

Deposits in the Archean Greenstone Belts present special mining challenges with the ore body having an inconsistent distribution of gold. Although richer, the deposits exist within small, narrow veins and asymmetrical mineralised zones. This uneven grade distribution in irregular shaped zones can give rise to inaccuracies and variations. Therefore, a precise, detail-oriented geological modelling solution helps to ensure representative resources, promote efficient mining and contain production costs. GEMS demonstrates strong agility in estimating resources in small Archean Greenstone deposits, as well as large kimberlite- or platinum-hosted deposits. Additionally, the software provides analytical, estimation and query tools so that the EGI geologists can ensure continued accuracy of the deposit model.

“GEMS is pliable and powerful enough that we can adapt it for the complicated ore zones in the Archean Greenstone Belts and develop multiple geological solids. We use the exploration, underground and surface open pit mining information in GEMS to upgrade our resource estimates. GEMS is very good at creating robust geological models from which we can estimate resources,” Mawson explains.

Going underground with GEMS

EGI is accelerating its regional exploration programme on existing acreage and developing a long-life underground operation at the Lily Mine. Hoping to extend the mine’s resources beyond 17 years, the company has hired consultants to assist the effort. They are interpreting and designing the underground mining operations, including the location of the geological stopes. Using GEMS, Mawson reconciles the

Faster resource estimation

Eastern Goldfields, Inc. (EGI) is a small, but growing company undertaking a tall task. Headquartered in Nelspruit, South Africa, the junior gold mining company (www.easterngoldfields.com) is exploring and developing new deposits in the world’s oldest rocks. One of those areas is the Barberton Greenstone Belt of the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, home of the oldest recognised orogenic gold ores on earth.

Exploration diamond drilling at the Lily Mine.



consultants’ findings. He acknowledges, “We’re using the software to check their calculations. Overall, we are getting the same results. The design of the underground mine will be based on the geological solids that we generate in GEMS.”

The technical staff depends on the software’s powerful 3D solids modelling tools to create comprehensive development layouts and stope designs. GEMS’ volumetrics and resource reporting features help them determine stope volumes, dilution and mineable reserves efficiently and accurately. “The GEMS software creates high-quality 3D models,” Mawson notes.

Application interfaces

EGI has a small staff, so data management is simple. However, GEMS supports data management because it seamlessly interfaces with other software, enabling various disciplines to share information. For example, EGI’s other geologist interfaces GEMS with AutoCAD. The EGI draftsperson imports information from GEMS into the MicroStation software to prepare mine plans for regulatory and investor presentations.

The EGI surveyor generates monthly surface surveys in the Model Maker Systems software for downloading into GEMS, and from this process, the geologists can create surfaces, reconcile mineable reserves and track dilution.

“Another reason we purchased GEMS was because all of these software packages interface quite well with it,” Mawson says. “For example, we can export the sections and plans that we create in GEMS directly into MicroStation. With this integration, we have one less thing to do, which leaves more time for strategic work. Best of all, we have effective, economic Gemcom tools that aid our planning.”

Responsive support leads to self-sufficiency

While effective planning tools were critical requirements, a substantial part of EGI’s decision hinged on support services. “Gemcom’s reputation for providing standout services were key reasons we favored Gemcom over other mining software providers and why we have stayed loyal to GEMS,” says Mawson.

In fact, the accessibility of technical support from the Gemcom consultants and engineers, who possess broad mining experience, has served to increase the EGI staff’s efficiency in block modelling software. “If we have any problems, we just

get on the phone and ask Gemcom for support – it’s as simple as that. And Gemcom’s support is good. The upside for us is that the more support we get and the more work we do in the programme, the less support we need. For the most part, we are becoming self-sufficient,” says Mawson.

Buoyed by powerful Gemcom software and support, the EGI staff is making solid contributions to a growing producer engaged in some of South Africa’s most prospective regions. “We will continue using GEMS for the exploration and drilling phases in other areas of the region after they come into fruition. If we need to expand our capabilities, we’re confident Gemcom will be here for us,” Mawson concludes.

Loading and hauling.

Lily 1st blast underground.

Eastern Goldfields, Inc. Lily Mine Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom GEMS MicroStation AutoCAD Model Maker Systems

Gemcom Services:

Consulting On-site training Technical support



Nordkalk relies on Gemcom GEMS™ for quality control and mining efficiency at limestone operations Nordkalk doubles output of its key product with Gemcom software

Countries: Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden

Objective:Improve the understanding and management of deposits to mine more efficiently and deliver high-quality products.

Approach:Implement GEMS at headquarters and mine sites.

IT Improvements: Flexible, low-maintenance system for exploration targets, field locations and mines.

Geological, planning, and survey data in one system.

85% faster ore reserve calculations; borehole quality maps 50% faster than manual methods.

Automation in daily blast control, saving 1,000-1,500 labour hours annually.

Business Benefits: Superior quality control, which ensures customer satisfaction.

Mining efficiency and optimal use of limestone deposits.

Doubled output of high-quality white stone at one operation over the last 10 years.

Optimisation of wall rock removal volumes to avoid high capital costs.

“GEMS is so integrated into our entire mining structure – giving us accurate knowledge about the deposits and helping us optimise our various quality classes−that we could not successfully handle quality control or do mine planning without it.”

— Gerhard Hakkarainen, Geologist, Nordkalk Corporation


33 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebOOk Parainen Quarry.

Approximately 14 million tonnes of limestone originate annually from the company’s mines and quarries. The quantities are impressive considering some of the deposits are difficult to mine, particularly at two of the company’s major Parainen and Lappenranta quarries. For example, the geology of the Parainen deposit is complicated, and the rocks have been subjected to three different deformation stages. The white metamorphosed marble−surrounded by mica and diopside gneisses, granites and amphibolites−contains an abundance of these rocks. In one blast, the calcium carbonate content may vary from 15 to 95 percent. Therefore, it is a challenge to maintain mining efficiency, while continuously ensuring that grades are not diluted.

Ensuring product quality to meet customer requirements

Limestone customers have individual needs and strict quality requirements. With such complex deposits, Nordkalk required software to control quality and effectively manage its deposits. The company chose GEMS software for calculating ore reserves, generating geological and grade block models, producing maps, surveying daily blasts, and managing its daily quality control stages. Additionally, the staff uses GEMS to develop annual and long-term mining plans as well as waste dump plans.

Nordkalk geologists were among the first in the business to forego manual methods and paper-based processing of their data in favour of an early version of PC-based mining software by Gemcom. Years later, when they required modern 3D capabilities; more functionality; easy-to-use interfaces; and a flexible, low-maintenance system for staffs of varying sizes at its diverse field locations, Nordkalk upgraded to GEMS.

“We saw the potential of automating much of the mine planning process and easily calculating the effects of different mining scenarios with GEMS. No other vendor had a system that was as flexible and included many useful features for the price as GEMS,” says Gerhard Hakkarainen, Nordkalk Geologist, who has personally used Gemcom software since 1997.

Grade control accuracy

In GEMS, Nordkalk staff classifies the impurity content and grade frequency of the limestone using drillhole databases

and block models. Geology, surveying and quality personnel manage a large number of quality parameters in GEMS, including geological, chemical and physical properties. The quality variations are easily visualised by colour coding. GEMS allows grade control accuracy to the drillhole level. Detailed information decreases the need for costly quality correction measures down the line.

“It would be difficult for us to satisfy customer demand for accurate products with limited quality variations without GEMS. It helps us control and optimise the different quality classes so that we don’t mine more than we need at a certain time,” Hakkarainen says.

Efficient mining to satisfy growing demand

Limestone is generally a bulk product at a low unit cost compared to metals. Thus, ore extraction and waste rock removal impact profitability. By obtaining detailed 3D geological models in GEMS, the staff derives reliable calculations and tonnages for rock and overburden removal. They also can avoid blasting into waste rock and sustaining higher costs caused by ore dilution.

The Parainen quarry provides 1.7 million tonnes of limestone annually and because of its ore structure, wall rock removal corresponding to at least 30 percent of production is needed. The staff creates various designs for larger wall rock removals from the GEMS block model to determine tonnages that will net certain amounts of limestone.

“I’ve been able to minimise the wall rock volumes and focus removal in the right places. With accurate GEMS data, we generate long-term, strategic calculations and make the right decisions about when to change our production systems or acquire more ore reserves,” Hakkarainen comments.

Expanding production through superior knowledge

Although quality is paramount in a competitive marketplace, to maximise profits Nordkalk also must ensure its deposits are used optimally and mined efficiently. To do so, their geology, surveying and engineering teams need thorough, accurate information about the deposits and their variations.

With GEMS, Nordkalk develops superior knowledge about the deposits contained in their quarries. This has enabled them to

Prominent European limestone producer Nordkalk Corporation (www.nordkalk.com) extracts and processes limestone into high-quality products for industrial, agricultural and environmental care. Headquartered in Pargas in southwestern Finland and operating at 30 locations in eight countries, Nordkalk is the leading producer of limestone based products in northern Europe.

Blast map from -100 m level.

Aerial view of Pargas quarry.



expand production rapidly to meet growing demand for products derived from white stone. “GEMS has aided us to double our white stone output in the Parainen quarry over the last 10 years,” Hakkarainen notes. “We have the ability to review alternative mining scenarios in GEMS, which has improved our ability to excavate and haul selectively. During each operational stage, the team uses the software to help them refine their understanding of the deposits and to plan more optimal ways to mine them.”

At Nordkalk’s operations, many decisions and plans must be made years in advance so that the complicated stripping and ore exposure push forward. The current excavation plan will satisfy 25 to 30 years of production. When the time comes to evaluate the feasibility of expanding the open pit or to begin underground mining, the staff will leverage GEMS to determine the best alternative for optimal life of the mine. “GEMS gives us confidence that we have the right mining projections,” Hakkarainen says.

Streamlining tasks and improving collaboration

With expanding production, Nordkalk depends on GEMS to manage escalating data volumes and achieve desired outcomes faster. Prime examples are mine reconciliations for a one-year period at Parainen, which take three hours or less compared to 28 hours without GEMS. Ore reserve calculations are 85 percent faster and more accurate than paper-based processing.

Constructing a quality map from the borehole data in 3D is 50 percent faster in GEMS. It only takes 12 hours, whereas the same exercise would require many workdays manually. Optimisations by different cost profiles are speedy as well. “We are getting more done in the same time,” Hakkarainen acknowledges.

By using GEMS, mining operations stay on track as all information utilised across mining functions is always up to date. The ability to update the maps daily with volumes and quality classes and constantly maintain current quarry volumetrics are important tasks at a busy quarry like Parainen. Hakkarainen, who works at headquarters, can update the GEMS geological model, and surveying and quality managers at the quarry can view those updates in minutes.

Automating daily blast control

Nordkalk’s system for daily blast control−from measuring to reporting−is streamlined with GEMS because all the information is recorded in one system, reducing the amount of time spent on the task by 1,000 to 1,500 work hours per year.

Hakkarainen adds, “We conduct one blast every working day. It would take a half a day to log and interpret it and 25 percent more time for two people, if we did not automate the work in GEMS.”

Using proven, field-tested GEMS software to gain efficiencies, Nordkalk is well positioned to bring its brand to bear on new markets. Nordkalk desires to expand its presence in the European market area within the triangle formed by Norway, Russia and Central Europe. Meanwhile, it enjoys a sustained advantage in northern Europe because it utilises its deposits optimally and delivers the right products to various customer segments.

“GEMS plays an important part at Nordkalk -- from ore exploration to drillhole planning to product delivery. GEMS is so integrated into our entire mining structure that we could not successfully handle quality control or do mine planning without it. We can’t put a price tag on a necessity,” Hakkarainen concludes.

Surveyor doing natural gamma logging of drillholes.

3D mesh with four vertical profiles and one plan view.

Nordkalk Corporation Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom GEMS


Training

Technical support



Multi-disciplined Voskhod-Oriel team relies on Gemcom Surpac™ to drive mining operation


Voskhod

The Voskhod-Oriel chromite mine is located in

northwestern kazakhstan and is geologically situated

in the southern part of the Ural folding belt. The

operation went into production in 2009 and produces

approximately 55,000 tons of ore each month. Surpac is

used in surveying, geological modelling, and mine design

at the mine.

“In surveying, Surpac helps us run estimations quickly

and validate mined volumes. before the introduction

of the software work on volume estimation, and the

creation and plotting of sections, was done by several

specialists and took quite a lot of time. With Surpac

this work can be carried out by one person over a much

shorter period of time,” says karlygash Toulebekova,

Surveyor, Voskhod-Oriel.

“I recommend Gemcom, the company, to other professionals as it provides a broad set of software, technical support, and training. Its software is flexible, easy to use, and offers good visualisation,” Toulebekova adds.

Commenting on how his department uses the software, Chief Mine Geologist Vyacheslav Volkov says: “We use Surpac to work with geological data, in the geological modelling of the deposit, and in drill and blast design. The software enables us to run reserve estimations, keep records on in-situ conditions and pre-mining changes, and plan production drilling.”

“Without Surpac our work allocated to re-calculation and clarification of the ore reserves and parts of the deposit already mined would be carried out by several specialists

over the course of one to two months. Using Surpac it takes us a week to do this,” Volkov continues.

Surpac is also actively used in the design of development workings and stopes. Mine Planning Engineer Natalya Parkhomenko comments: “The solids modelling tools help us to resolve problems with volume and grade definition for stopes with a higher level of precision. We can do sectioning quickly and have effective visualisation of the process. This has enabled us to reduce the amount of time we spend on this task significantly.”

“Surpac helps everyone here at the mine because it is easy to learn due to its full set of tutorials and user interface, which are both in Russian. We also have technical support in our native language. In fact, a Russian-speaking mining professional from Gemcom visited us recently at the mine,” concludes Parkhomenko.

About Voskhod-Oriel LLP

Headquarters: Mosco, Russia

Ownership: Mechel

NYSE Symbol: MTL

Vokskhod-Oriel is owned by Russian company Mechel, a mining, steel, ferroalloy, and power company with operations in Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and South korea.

Website: www.mechel.com

Surveyors at Voskhod-Oriel chromite mine.36 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebOOk


Samarco Relies on Gemcom GEMS™ Microsoft® SQL Server® Environment to Drive Productivity Through Better Data Management

North-facing wall of Northumberland’s existing pit.

The Samarco project in southeast Brasil is an impressive integration of an open pit iron ore mine, two pipelines running 400 km long for slurry transport, several pellet producing plants, and its own port facility at Ponta Ubu to facilitate worldwide finished product distribution. The Germano mine site has an estimated 5.6 billion tons of iron ore mineral resources available, giving a reserve life of nearly thirty years at current production rates.

To support their sophisticated mining operations, Samarco has long employed industry leading GEMS software as their primary geological modelling tool. In fact, Samarco’s partnership with Gemcom began in 1998 when GEMS was selected for its user-friendly software environment and powerful modelling capabilities. Nearly a decade later, a growing need for more powerful data management led Samarco to move to the GEMS Microsoft SQL Server database, a natural progression in Samarco’s overall operational success.

“Choosing to upgrade GEMS to its SQL Server version was an easy decision for us because, having a long history with the software, we have developed a loyal

group of advanced users,” comments Luiz Eduardo Resende, Mine Planning Superintendent at Samarco.

“Another important consideration was the fact that we wanted to ensure we could better organise all of our different projects, survey, geology, and planning data into one central location, with the aim of improving collaboration between our teams”, adds Leonardo Bonfioli, Geologist at Samarco.

Prior to using the GEMS SQL Server version, Samarco employed an Oracle database with custom application software, developed internally, for database work procedures. The solution became obsolete, however, as the technology was unable to deal with the considerable increase in data volume, combined with a need for faster processing speeds and increased user productivity.

“The main reason for changing from on Oracle database to the GEMS SQL Server environment was due to a need for more powerful data management capabilities. With the updated technology it became possible for our geologists to work simultaneously on the same project information without risking data corruption. Accurate data and geological models

are a key to our success, and by implementing the software we have been able to achieve greater security and reliability of our research and survey data,” comments Resende.

At a broader business level, the GEMS SQL Server database enables collaborative information sharing between different user groups. As Resende continues, “We can count on GEMS and SQL Server to provide us with an integrated, collaborative environment for effective information sharing between all user groups.”

To ensure a seamless integration of the GEMS SQL Server database with existing data and software systems, the Gemcom services team was on hand from project planning through post implementation support. “The Gemcom team worked with us to establish effective workflows and dataflows between mining applications, and helped us complete all mapping, database redesign, naming conventions and workspaces. Even after implementation, Gemcom professionals were available to ensure maximum productivity at the user level, and maximum return on investment at the company level. Today, all are unanimous in praising our Gemcom solution,” concludes Resende.

About Samarco Mineração S.A.

Headquarters: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Founded in 1977, Samarco is a privately held Brasilian mining company, controlled in equal parts by shareholders Vale S.A. and BHP Billiton. With a focus on iron ore, Samarco specialises in transforming minerals with low ore content into valuable products with a high aggregated value. They currently rank second on the overseas pellet market, selling to over 15 countries worldwide.

Website: www.samarco.com

Visualisations of drillhole data in GEMS.37 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING eBOOk


Tiger Resources Improves Copper Concentrate with Gemcom Surpac™


Tiger Resources’ kipoi Project is located 75 kilometres northwest of Lubumbashi, the capital of katanga Province, in the central part of the katangan Copper belt. The open pit operation is comprised of five copper deposits: kipoi Central, kipoi North, kileba, Judeira and kaminafitwe. Production at kipoi commenced in April 2011. Production is on track to reach a targeted throughput level of 75,000 tonnes a month.

The kipoi Project uses Surpac for grade control, block modelling, creation of dig blocks, monthly reconciliation, geological mapping, mine planning and civil works. “Surpac has provided a solution to so many problems our operation has faced,” says Rhonny kazembe, Chief Mine Geologist for kipoi.

Surpac has been most beneficial to the operation with regards to the quality of ore that they are extracting.

kazembe explains, “by using Surpac’s grade control

results, we can locate ore according to grade category

which allows us to maximise ore recovery while

minimising dilution. The final concentrate results clearly

demonstrate that Surpac has improved our separation

of high grade ore from low grade ore. Our customers

have been very happy with the quality of our copper

concentrate.”

beyond grade control, the other Surpac features used

by the kipoi Project have also been very beneficial,

and kazembe says he wouldn’t hesitate to recommend

Surpac. “Apart from its grade control capabilities, I would

definitely recommend Surpac to other geologists, for all

of the ways in which we use it. Surpac is easy to use for

creating dig blocks, and the Digital Terrain

Models (DTMs) make reconciliation between the resource

model and what was actually mined easy to review.

Furthermore, geological mapping is simple with Surpac’s

tools. I can use data from multiple sources to create

solids structures which I can then easily view thanks to

Surpac’s 3D environment.”

Gemcom has also provided Surpac training at the kipoi

site, ensuring users are proficient in creating string

and segment reports, digitising, plotting, triangulation,

database management and block modelling. Additionally,

kazembe has found Gemcom’s Update Service and

Technical Support program to be very beneficial, “I

appreciate regularly receiving software updates and being

able to contact Gemcom for assistance whenever I have

any difficulties.”

About Tiger Resources Ltd.

Headquarters: Perth, Australia

Symbols: ASX: TGS

Tiger Resources Ltd. is an Australian-based company focused on the discovery and development of high-grade copper/cobalt deposits in the world renowned Africa Copper belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Website: www.tigerresources.com.au



Copper ore body modelled in Surpac.38 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebOOk


AIMROC experts turn to Gemcom GEMS™ for effective data management and modelling to support their Chovdar Gold Mine Project

The Republic of Azerbaijan, located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, is home to the Chovdar Gold Mine Project, which AIMROC has a thirty year contract with the government to exploit. Seeking to maximise productivity, the highly qualified professionals at AIMROC chose Gemcom GEMS to provide collaborative geology and mine planning capabilities supporting cross-functional teams.

Prior to AIMROC’s adoption of GEMS, ore body, resource, and feasibility data was compiled on individual Excel spreadsheets, often isolating information between teams. Geologists and engineers lacked a centralised database allowing them access to organised, up-to-date geological and mine planning data.

“GEMS enables access to data in a common platform,” comments Martin Barrette, GIS Database Manager with

AIMROC. “We now have a central database that manages data and can sustain any independent audits. This has eliminated much data redundancy while increasing data integrity and accuracy.”

Additionally, streamlined data flows and central data access improves collaboration, providing information when needed to speed decision making. “We are able to compile statistics and share data globally with people in other departments. Furthermore, data is properly secured and managed which means that the right data is always available,” says Barrette.

Perhaps most importantly, success at Chovdar requires a strong modelling tool able to quantify, visualise and analyse mineral deposits. As Barrette explains, “Estimating resources in a complicated environment using old-fashioned ways took five weeks. Using GEMS,

we can get the same amount of work accomplished in under five days by relying on the robust geological modelling tools to accelerate the process. It is vital for us to get it right and demonstrate competency in our work to key stakeholders and provide models and estimates in a professional manner.”

With a long history of expertise in mine exploration, planning, and production, AIMROC professionals have relied on GEMS long before the Chovdar Mine Project began. As Barrette concludes, “Gemcom is world renowned for its software, services and solutions in the mining industry which is why we stay loyal to them over other mining software providers. They provide affordable software which is easy-to-use compared with other packages and employ staff who are always helpful, knowledgeable, and professional in their approach.”

About AIMROC

Headquarters: Baku, Azerbaijan

AIMROC represents a consortium of investment firms founded for the financial support of mining projects in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Management includes experts from different countries who have unique experience in the exploration and processing of various ore deposits, including the gold-sulphide and porphyry copper deposits that occur in Azerbaijan. AIMROC was founded in 2007 and is led by geological company Londex Resources S.A.

Website: www.aimroc.com

Image showing a 3D view of the pit, ore zone, and proposed infrastructures.39 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING eBOOk


How Copper Mountain is bringing the Similco Mine back to life with Gemcom Software

Copper Mountain Mining Corporation is a British Columbia based resource company that is bringing the Similco Mine back into production, after recently completing an independent feasibility study that confirmed its economic viability. The mine, which has been dormant for fifteen years, features a conventional open pit mine with a new 35,000 tonne per day mill.

To further investigate project improvements, Copper Mountain turned to Gemcom GEMS™ for geological modelling, resource estimation and mine planning, while Gemcom Whittle™ was employed to confirm optimised pit limits. Together, they saw the two systems as the most complete solution on the market for mining and exploration companies.

“With the software we were able to greatly enhance our in-house capability by managing our data and working

through particular aspects of the project that needed further detailed engineering. Critical components of this involved implementing drilling programs, wire framing, block modelling and confirmatory in-house resource estimation as well as pit optimisation and mine planning,” says Richard Joyes, Exploration Geologist, Copper Mountain Mining Corporation.

Turning towards planning activities for the mine, Joyes says: “Gemcom’s services team and software has helped us gain a better understanding of how to implement our grade control procedures. It also enables us to look at various estimation methodologies and work out which procedure would best represent our data.”

Another aspect Joyes and the other geologists appreciate about the software is the Geostatistics module in GEMS.

“The Geostatistics module improves our confidence in grade estimation. Drillhole data is relatively easy to manage, allowing quick and efficient updates to models,” says Joyes.

PlotMaker is an important component of GEMS for Copper Mountain. It allows them to output the file formats they need to print and view plots, which helps them produce quality plans and sections for the geology and mining departments.

Commenting on his experience with Gemcom’s support team, Joyes says: “I have phoned Gemcom for technical support issues on various topics. Their team is friendly, technically oriented, and knowledgeable, which means they understand the importance of quick and efficient solutions to mining-related problems.”

About Copper Mountain

Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada

TSX Symbol: CUM

Copper Mountain Mining Corporation is developing the Copper Mountain Project located 15 kilometres south of the town of Princeton in southern British Columbia.

Website: www.cumtn.com

“I recommend Gemcom’s software because it is user-friendly and specifically designed to meet the needs of exploration and mine geologists, and mining engineers.”

— Richard Joyes, Exploration Geologist, Copper Mountain Mining Company.

Copper Mountain’s Similco Mine.40 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING eBOOk


Geology and Mine Planning for Coal and other Stratified Deposits



Cerrejón achieves world-class coal mining with end-to-end Gemcom Minex™ solutionOne of the world’s largest earthmoving operations tames complex stratified deposit with Minex, increasing annual recovered coal from 18 to 32 million tonnes over seven years

Country: Colombia

Objective:Maximise efficiency and productivity of coal mining operations in a highly complex environment to ensure competitiveness in the world market.

Approach:Employ Gemcom Minex software for surveying, geological modelling, and all phases of planning, leveraging Gemcom’s knowledge of and experience with large, complex stratified deposits to optimise the handling of reverse thrust faults and through-seam blasting.

IT Improvements: Advanced 3D geological models represent coal and overburden volume, quality parameters, and comprehensive mineral analysis.

Integration of required tools in one system minimises the risk of manual data import.

Business Benefits: Increased annual recovered coal from 18 million to 32 million tonnes over a seven-year period with no increase in the

mine planning staff.

Supports complex deposit which includes five different mining zones, numerous reverse thrust faults, and more than 40 coal seams.

Effectively plan mining operations at one of the world’s largest earthmoving operations, with 250 million BCMs of material moved each year.

Create detailed, cyclical monthly plans for 40 shovels of different sizes and applications in two to three weeks.

Improved modelling and mine planning capabilities have contributed to increase coal recovery of 4% over the last five years while achieving a calorific value (CV) of +/-10Btu/lb against the modelled CV.

“I believe Minex is technically the best software available for this type of complex deposit.”

— Juliano Maran, Superintendent for Strategic Mine Planning and

Geotechnics, Carbones del Cerrejón

Panoramic view of Cerrejón’s Tabaco Pit, the largest pit in the operation, currently producing more than 11Mtpa of coal.



By any measure, Carbones del Cerrejón is huge. The vast open pit coal mine in northeastern Colombia produces 32 million tonnes of coal annually. In order to uncover and export all this coal, Cerrejón moves a tremendous amount of material—some 250 million bank cubic metres (BCMs) per year—making it one of the largest earthmoving operations in the world. The deposit covers an area approximately 50 by 10 kilometres, within which five different zones are mined concurrently. Cerrejón even boasts super-sized fossils: Vertebrae of the largest snake ever found, the 60 million year–old Titanoboa cerrejonensis, were recently unearthed in one of the pits.

Cerrejón is as complex as it is massive, which is why the company uses powerful Minex software for geology and mine planning. Approximately 40 different seams—ranging in thickness from 60 centimetres to over four metres, and with thousands of data points for each structure—have been modelled and are presently being mined. The seams dip steeply in some areas, and reverse thrust faults are common. “The dipping and faulting not only make mining more difficult—we have to mine across the strike in what we call an area fashion—but also the geological modelling becomes very complex,” says Juliano Maran, Superintendent for Strategic Mine Planning and Geotechnics. “I believe Minex is technically the best software available for this type of deposit.” Cerrejón has relied on Minex since the mine started operation in the mid-1980s.

Planning for 40 shovels

At Cerrejón, Minex is used in the geology area and in all phases of mine planning. Borehole information in a database form is imported into Minex. The raw information is used to create a 3D geological model that represents a broad range of critical data—not just the volume of the coal and overburden, but also quality parameters (for example, ash, sulphur, and calorific value) and a comprehensive mineral analysis.

Once the 3D model is created, verified, and accepted, Cerrejón uses Minex to lay out various pit shells and determine the optimal approach to development. The life-of-mine plan, which is updated annually, is rolled out to mid-range planners for five-year mine plan sequencing. From there, planners use Minex to produce a detailed month-by-month forecast for the first two years, which becomes Cerrejón’s business plan. Finally, short-

range planners lay out monthly mine plans for 40 shovels of different sizes and applications, a cyclical process that takes approximately two to three weeks. Detailed weekly and daily plans are also created.

“With Minex, our engineers generate high-quality maps, reports, and other information,” says Steven Sides, Vice President of Technical Services. “We literally hand these outputs to the production department, and they implement the plans that have been developed. The driver behind all of this is Minex.” Using Minex along with operational improvements in the field, Cerrejón has increased coal recovery 4% over the last five years and has been able to achieve a CV of +/-10Btu/lb against the modelled CV.

“Without Minex, we would be very unproductive, because we’d be mining in areas without proper planning or a clear understanding what the geology looks like,” Sides continues. “Minex allows us to see below the surface of the ground, thus providing us with a good picture of what it looks like before we get there.”

End-to-end integrated solution

A key benefit of Minex is the fact that so many capabilities are integrated into a single package. Standard features include graphics, plotting, surface modelling, and CAD tools. Other modules enable users to load boreholes from multiple sources, analyse trends, minimise dozer push distances, optimise pit design, lay out blasthole patterns, manage topographical data, design dumps and roads, schedule open pit mines, and much more.

The value of this benefit is not lost on Sides. “Minex provides us with an integrated system for surveying, modelling, planning, and blast design so we can manipulate data and interchange information freely,” he says. “Any kind of manual re-entry always opens up room for error; the same holds true if you’re exchanging data electronically between systems with incompatible formats. Minex helps us avoid these risks.” He adds that Minex enhances productivity at Cerrejón by minimising the number of different applications his engineers need to learn. Cerrejón also values the fact that Minex interfaces easily with other end-user software and database products.

Field geologist working with highly complex geological model.

Waste rock excavation using hydraulic excavator and haul truck.

Coal mining on a mega-scale Carbones del Cerrejón (www.cerrejoncoal.com), a world-class coal producing and exporting company, is jointly owned by Anglo American, BHP Billiton, and Xstrata. Cerrejón comprises not only the mine itself, but also dedicated rail and port facilities. It represents one of the most complex stratified deposits and largest earthmoving operations in the world.



The ability to evaluate different scenarios quickly with Minex is another essential feature of the product. “Once we’ve determined what the optimal shell looks like, assessing the relative advantages of different mining sequences is fairly straightforward,” says Sides. Minex allows Cerrejón’s geologists to develop accurate geological models, from which the mine engineers can develop numerous mining alternatives. This flexibility has resulted in the selection and implementation of optimal mine plans, leading to an annual increase in recovered coal from 18 million to 32 million tonnes over a seven-year period, with no increase in the mine planning staff.

Time is money

The complexity of Cerrejón’s deposit presents special challenges vis-à-vis the worldwide coal market. The company must take all the reverse faults—not to mention the various dips, rolls, anticlines, and synclines—and develop meaningful, feasible mining plans that enable it to compete with producers that have more straightforward, easily mined deposits. “There are not many software packages for geological modelling and mine planning that can handle reverse thrust faulting, and this is one area in which Minex is superior to other products on the market,” says Sides. “The ability to deal with multiple, steeply dipping seams is also critical. Minex meets the needs of our complex environment very well.”

Although Cerrejón regularly evaluates alternative mine planning software, Minex continues to provide the best integrated solution for the company. “Time is money,” says Sides. “Any software that helps us do our job faster and more thoroughly will deliver a competitive advantage. I don’t think any of the software that goes up against Minex would allow us to perform the modelling and planning in that same timely manner.”

A valuable partnership

Cerrejón and Gemcom have enjoyed a synergistic relationship for many years, and Sides particularly appreciates Gemcom’s responsiveness to his company’s unique needs. One example is a special Minex module for through-seam blasting, a technique that Cerrejón uses routinely because of the high number of steep dipping coal seams. Using Minex, the boreholes are logged and the seam locations are entered into the computer; each blasthole is designed differently, because it intersects the seams at different elevations. Minex makes it

possible to identify the optimal location for the blast charges, thereby minimising damage to the coal and maximising recovery.

Another powerful Minex module focuses on reverse faulting. “If your model is not predicting these faults correctly, you are either overstating or understating a tremendous amount of coal,” says Sides. “Minex allows us to accurately predict reverse faults and associated tonnages. When we get to them in the mining process, we have an excellent idea what the outcomes will be.”

Cerrejón is already working on plans to expand annual production well beyond the current 32 million tonnes, and Minex will be a pivotal element in ensuring the company’s ongoing success. “Minex helps Cerrejón develop effective mine plans that can be utilised to make prudent business decisions,” Sides concludes. “It gives us an important edge as we compete with other producers around the world. We are only as good as the vendors that serve us, and Cerrejón is very fortunate to partner with a company like Gemcom.”

Carbones del Cerrejón Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom Minex

Gemcom Services: Technical support

Onsite training

System configuration

Software customisation

Surveying crew in one of the pits collecting data to update the mine’s grids.

Final pit configuration of one of the seven pits in the current Cerrejón life-of-mine plan.



“The complexity of the multi-seam geology and its associated quality parameters makes Minex an essential part of our modelling efforts. I do not think we would ever get a model of this magnitude out without Minex.”

— Callie Van Heerden, Senior Geologist, Grootegeluk Mine, Exxaro

Exxaro’s Grootegeluk Mine models complex geology with Gemcom Minex™ Minex handles huge data volumes, helping Exxaro’s flagship mine to exploit the vast resources of South Africa’s Waterberg Coalfield

Country: South Africa

Objective:Maximise quality and production through accurate modelling of complex coal reserves in order to meet stringent client specifications.

Approach:Utilise Gemcom Minex software for geological modelling and medium- and short-term planning, creating superior bench structure and quality models in a multi-seam coal environment that produces 18 million tonnes per annum.

IT Improvements: Ability to create a complete mine plan in 3-4 weeks for huge, 740-hectare mining operation.

Advanced 3D graphics provide staff with a solid interpretation of “behind-the-scenes” mathematics.

User-friendly Minex software delivers accuracy and consistency for full confidence in the output, which includes excellent reporting features.

Minex handles huge data volumes, including 81 bench structure grids and more than 5,696 quality grids.

Business Benefits: Effectively supports Exxaro’s long-time mining activities in South Africa’s Waterberg coalfield, as the mine has expanded from

two to six products.

Maximises client satisfaction by helping to meet rigorous specifications with narrow tolerances.

Enables accurate modelling of complex, multi-seam geology and associated quality parameters.

Provides the flexibility required to produce critical information from raw data in the shortest possible time.

Grootegeluk Mine, South Africa.



The Waterberg Coalfield has an east-west striking length of approximately 88km, complemented by a north-south width of ± 40km within the Republic of South Africa, but also extends westward into Botswana. Grootegeluk Mine is a multi-bench surface coal mine operation established in the shallow coal portion of the Waterberg Coalfield. The existing mine footprint covers an area in excess of 740 hectares. Mining consists of a series of parallel benches, advanced progressively in a westward direction across the reserve, via a process of drilling, blasting, loading and hauling with truck and shovel fleets.

Grootegeluk is a massive operation, producing 18 million tonnes per annum of power station, metallurgical, and semi-soft coking coal. It boasts the world’s largest beneficiation complex, upgrading 7,600 tonnes per hour of run-of-mine coal in six different plants.

Grootegeluk needs the most powerful and accurate geological modelling tool available. Minex is the Grootegeluk Mine’s software of choice for this critical task because it has been designed to handle rigorous challenges posed by complex deposits.

Bench structure and quality models

Grootegeluk’s data volumes are daunting, with 760 boreholes used in the most current geological model. A full succession borehole holds 12 coal zones and 5 interburden waste seams, as well as an unweathered and a weathered overburden horizon. This translates into 17 different mining horizons or benches. Each mining horizon has a roof, a floor, and a thickness grid, yielding a total of 81 grids in the bench structure model.

Qualities in the 12 coal and coal-bearing seams are modelled in 13 different density fractions for life-of-mine scheduling purposes, yielding 1,560 quality grids for proximate analysis. Product qualities, modelled for short-term planning, add another 1,160 grids. “Our bench quality model comprises 5,696 grids and counting,” says Callie Van Heerden, Senior Geologist at Grootegeluk. “The complexity of the multi-seam geology and its associated quality parameters makes Minex an essential part of our modelling efforts. I do not think we would ever get a model of this magnitude out without Minex.”

It takes one person approximately three to four weeks to create a bench structure model for the mine, according to Van Heerden—and once it’s done, you can take it to the bank. “When you reproduce something with the same data and methodology, Minex always renders the same answer,” he says. “If the output is different, you know that you are either doing something wrong, or something has changed in the data or methodology. Minex always gives me the same result—and if something is right, it’s right. This high level of accuracy is especially important in view of the stringent specifications and narrow tolerances imposed by many of Grootegeluk’s clients.”

The advanced 3D capabilities of Minex also win praise from Van Heerden. “You can utilise the graphical display to check your work as you go along,” he continues. “The results of the behind-the-scenes mathematics are displayed in the graphics window, so you always have a feel for what is happening in the modelling process.”

This insight will come in handy as Van Heerden moves from the existing bench model to a more complex seam model. “The new model will have 58 seams in total, resulting from specific combinations of the 76 coal and a non-coal samples,” he explains. “The sample qualities are combined to yield the seam qualities. Combining different seams to form new bench scenarios will enable us to optimise production from the mine and product qualities from the plants.” Van Heerden anticipates that, by mining ‘better’ intervals, the flexible seam model will make it possible for Grootegeluk to expand the number of high-value products that can be produced from the same deposit. Furthermore, optimising the utilisation of production equipment means that more tonnes can be mined with the same equipment, thereby saving money and increasing profitability

Many reasons to choose Minex

Japie Kruger, a Mine Planner at Grootegeluk, was part of the decision-making process that led to the purchase of Minex. “We started with just two coal products, but we expanded to six different products fairly quickly,” he recalls. “This expansion created a clear need for computerised geological modelling to handle our multi-seam coal environment. We were very impressed with the graphics capabilities and output of Minex, coupled with its excellent reporting features.” Also key were the SQL and grid arithmetic functions of the software, as well as the user-friendly nature of the program.View of Grootegeluk Mine.

Exxaro’s Grootegeluk Mine exploits abundant Waterberg coalfield

Situated 25 km from Lephalale in South Africa’s Limpopo province, Exxaro’s open pit Grootegeluk Mine (www.exxaro.com) employs 1,800 people and produces more than 18 million tonnes per annum of thermal, metallurgical, and semi-soft coking coal products using a conventional truck and shovel operation. The mine has an estimated minable coal reserve of 3,424 million tonnes and a total measured coal resource of 4,116 million tonnes.



Prior to acquiring Minex, the mine relied on Seamsys and in-house programming based on user needs. “Not everything could be handled,” says Van Heerden. “Only the most important items, like the mine’s initial product qualities, were catered for. By contrast, Minex gives us flexibility and enables us to produce critical information from raw data in the shortest possible time, in order to satisfy the mine’s needs.” Minex is also used to populate the mine reserves database, manage the backfilling operation, and finalise medium- and short-term planning.

Expanding into the future

Grootegeluk looks forward to the possibility of enhanced integration between geology and mine planning with Minex. “We hope to improve net present value with proactive utilisation of the different modules to streamline our thinking and decision-making, on a strategic as well as an operational level,” says Kruger. “Among other things, this would involve combining unique beneficiation capabilities with the mining and backfilling process.” Improvements in short-term operational production planning—including resource planning on a shift basis to optimise mining equipment and plant beneficiation strategy—are also anticipated. “The Waterberg Coalfield is unique, with unique opportunities which Exxaro wants to capture,” says Kruger. “Waterberg will be one of the major mining centres in South Africa. Minex is pivotal for ensuring that these valuable resources are evaluated accurately and mined efficiently.”

There will be plenty of opportunity to put Minex to the test in the years ahead. “We are currently looking at two mines in the planning phase, and possibly a third about the size we are currently,” says Mineral Resources Manager Adam Wieruszowski. “We’re going to extend this deposit quite intensively. This year we’re planning for roughly 56 million tonnes ex-pit—total material shoveled out of the area—and within roughly four years, we should be running at nearly 96 million tonnes ex-pit. We will continue to grow from there.” Grootegeluk will play a significant role in South Africa’s energy provision in the future by supplying coal to state-owned electricity utility Eskom’s Medupi power station, which is currently under construction. The brownfield expansion of the mine is on schedule.

Grootegeluk values the power and accuracy of Minex software in supporting its ambitious production targets and future

plans. “It is a nice package to work with, and it is quite impressive in terms of its capabilities,” concludes Van Heerden. “Minex is used by the world leaders in the coal mining industry. It was designed for modelling stratified deposits, and it is recognised worldwide for this purpose. Minex can do everything that I want to do.”

Coal product stockpiles.

Conveyor belt moving coal.

Exxaro’s Grootegeluk Mine Solutions at a GlancePrimary Application:

Gemcom Minex

Gemcom Services:

Technical support

Training



Beryllium producer fortifies mining operations with Gemcom Minex™ software Brush Resources capitalises on Minex’s versatility for mining and extracting a unique mineral ore

Countries: United States

Objective:Enhance bertrandite mine planning, estimation, scheduling, field control and reclamation.

Approach:Implement the Gemcom Minex geology and mine planning software for seam modelling.

“Minex pays for itself by minimising our staffing requirements. Without Minex, we would need more engineering and field control personnel.”

— John Wagner, Topaz Mine Manager, Brush Resources Inc.

Topaz Mine, Utah

IT Improvements: Significantly shorter report and map generation.

Seamless data transfer.

Integration with global positioning and surveying systems.

Streamlined management of growing data volumes.

Business Benefits: Efficient working processes among planning, operations and engineering groups.

Improved management and efficiency of mine operations.

Informed business judgments and investment decisions based on valid information.

Creation of dynamic opportunities for ore development.



The Brush organisation, global in scope and publicly traded,

produces a wide range of beryllium and non-beryllium

materials for advanced markets. For its part, beryllium can

be applied in medical, aerospace, defense, scientific and

nuclear products because of its high melting point, excellent

cryogenic properties, superior thermal conductivity, reflectivity

and X-ray transparency. Brush Resources has the task of

mining bertrandite mineral (a hydrous beryllium silicate) at

the company’s only operating open pit mine in the Topaz-

Spor Mountain region of Utah. The mining properties opened

in 1969. Now the mine is the largest source of bertrandite

in North America, with sufficient reserves based on present

production rates to last in excess of 100 years.

Under the direction of Mine Manager John Wagner, a capable

seven-person staff ensures an uninterrupted supply of

bertrandite to the company’s extraction plant, which is located

about 47 miles from the mining site. During the last stripping

job in 2007, they rendered approximately 200,000 tonnes of

ore, which will produce more than 1 million pounds of beryllium.

“Beryllium is valuable and versatile for use in many finished

products,” says Wagner.

A solid foundation with Minex

Wagner’s team uses Gemcom Minex software effectively to

accomplish their mission of supplying bertrandite to Brush

Wellman. Minex has remained a prominent part of the crew’s

toolset since 1993. Back when they were deciding on a

software package, Brush managers examined a number of

vendors. The company specified key criteria for the software:

attractive pricing, suitability to handle sampling data on

extensively faulted areas, and the capability to meld with the

company’s growing sampling database.

Brush also aspired to partner with a vendor that would provide

thorough training and prompt support. Standing out from the

pack were the Minex specialists. “They took an interest in

our property and put in extra time and energy analysing our

problem. We could see that a high level of support would be

available and that gave us the confidence to adopt Minex. It

has worked well for us,” Wagner says.

Versatile software handles unique mineral

Topaz personnel tap Minex for a range of activities – from life-of-mine planning to high-level reclamation. They assemble geological models for varying grades of beryllium, which lie under a series of different rock types. They identify ore zones, quantify resources, create ground control field maps, as well as determine mining sequences and materials needed in the sequences. Map data and report output can easily be transferred to AutoCAD or Excel spreadsheets as needed for field personnel or for forwarding to other company departments.

According to Wagner, Minex is particularly effective in planning. Using the software for short-term planning enables ore and overburden exposure and reconciliation. The staff leverages the software for high-level permitting and the planning stages for the ground work. After creating the reclamation model in Minex, the company submits it to government agencies to obtain the required environmental permits.

The software’s versatility simplifies data flow for critical ground control and intensive secondary sampling during primary stripping. After exposing the ore feed, the crew conducts sampling in preparation for mining and stockpiling. With the conversion of the Minex geological model into a mining model, the details and amount of data increase.

“The deposit is relatively low-grade ore [70/100s of 1 percent Beryllium Oxide] lying on an inclined slope. Therefore, we must manage considerable data to control the ore and manage our stripping operations. It’s an ongoing engineering process, but Minex allows us to streamline data management,” Wagner explains.

Minex boosts personal productivity

At 4 cubic yards of overburden per pound of beryllium, the mine’s strip ratio is high. Strip ratios are used extensively in Minex to evaluate economic open pit areas. To enable a good return on the parent company’s capital investments, employees also apply a certain data construction methodology, along with ore sampling. Before the company purchased Minex, a team of staff members worked on engineering details on a full-time basis. However, with the Minex expertise developed in-house over the years, the company now requires fewer staff on site.Blast at the Topaz mine.

North America’s leading bertrandite miner

The history of Brush Resources Inc. reaches back to the late 19th century when Charles F. Brush formed Brush Laboratories, which specialised in beryllium commercialisation and the acoustic use of Rochelle salt crystals. Today that beryllium venture is known as Brush Wellman Inc., which along with Brush Resources, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brush Engineered Materials Inc.



“Since we brought in Minex to streamline data management, only two of us are needed to work on all of the engineering part-time. If we didn’t have the software, we would have to increase our staff,” Wagner says.

Quick data output to reports and maps is another important benefit enjoyed by the busy staff. “The software is quick and efficient for viewing information in the database or the geological model,” Wagner says.

“The graphical capability of Minex helps us visualise multiple options and gain a better understanding of what is going to occur in the field,” adds Rob Dalton, Mine Supervisor, who conducts short-term mine planning. “It is a powerful function. We run through many different mining configurations and scenarios. The process is more expedient and takes less effort than doing so manually.”

Additionally, the ability to evaluate different approaches helps the staff make smarter tactical decisions about how to segregate the ore into different parcels for sending it to the mill. “The software creates a more dynamic opportunity for recovering the ore,” Wagner says.

Helpful interfaces with other systems

Wagner says that Gemcom augments Minex with a rich slate of data interoperability features, which has contributed to fluid and efficient workflows at the Topaz mine. Among the features cited are user-friendly interfaces with third-party software like Trimble Geomatics Office, making it easy to export Minex results to create digital terrain models. The integration of Minex with the Trimble global positioning system (GPS) aids data movement between field activities and engineering planning.

“Because Minex integrates with our GPS data and we can efficiently move data between the office and field, our employees can go out in the field, survey, return to the office, and in a short time, look at the survey data in the Minex model. This saves us time,” Dalton explains.

One employee can do all the surveying in a fraction of the time that it used to take two. The combination of Minex and the GPS survey system working together has streamlined the engineering side of the mining operation.

An efficient working process

Interfacing with third-party technology is an important

Minex benefit, but so too are its visualisation components. Sophisticated graphical and 3D viewing features shed light on the land structure and mining processes, helping technical and non-technical staff better understand them. Consequently, they can make faster informed operational decisions.

“By being able to show this information onscreen to others, we have built an efficient working process between our engineering, operations and planning personnel,” Wagner notes.

Most importantly, Minex illustrations also help Brush determine the feasibility of future capital investments at the Topaz mine. “As our leadership views the information, they gain more understanding of our mining needs and issues. This makes the decision process for capital projects more direct, and investment decisions move up through the organisation. That’s a high-level value of the Minex software,” Wagner concludes.

Topaz mine team.

Brush Resources Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications: Gemcom Minex

Trimble Geomatics Office surveying software

Trimble GPS system

AutoCAD

Microsoft Excel

Gemcom Services: Software deployment

Training

Technical support



Leading Indonesian coal miner PT Bukit Asam depends on Gemcom Minex™ to drive business strategy


In the rapidly growing Indonesian coal mining sector, PT bukit Asam ranks as one of the largest coal producers in the country. With mineable reserves of approximately 7.3 billion tons, or 17% of the total coal reserves in Indonesia. The company is also a top domestic producer and a global exporter of the commodity. They now have their sights set on growing as a world-class company with help from Gemcom’s Minex software.

“We selected Minex as our geology and mine planning solution because of its trusted, international reputation,” says Resti Natalia Ginting, Mining Engineering, PT bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk. “Many different types of individuals are involved in making business decisions, so we wanted to ensure that the results produced by the software we employed could be readily used by stakeholders across

the organisation. Of course, speaking as an engineer, we were also interested in having software that would streamline our tasks.”

“One of the great things about Minex is that it enables us to make informed decisions on mine planning strategy based not only on technical data but also on economic conditions. We can, for example, optimise our pit designs, choosing the ones that are best suited to our profit strategy and to market conditions,” adds Ginting.

“Since we need to communicate decisions and information to different types of stakeholders throughout our organisation, including many who do not come from mining backgrounds, we appreciate Minex’s ability to produce information visually and in reports they can all understand. The software’s powerful 3D display

is particularly helpful when communicating to the stakeholoders what we are doing,” says Ginting.

“With help from Minex, our organisation has received approval of our mining strategy. We have also seen our share price rise 67%,” says Ginting.

In addition to the business benefits, Minex users at PT bukit Asam find that they have improved how they do their jobs. “We have realised significant time and cost savings because Minex enables us to do our jobs faster. One engineer can accomplish a pit design in hours, compared to months without the software. The training and implementation services Gemcom provided have also played a key role in our success in this regard, enabling us to know all aspects of the system,” concludes Ginting.

About PT Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk

Headquarters: Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia

PT bukit Asam is a publicly traded company whose majority shareholder is the government. Its aim is to develop Indonesia’s national mining industry, including coal. Founded in 1981, it is one of the largest coal producers in the country.

Website: www.ptba.co.id





PT Bukit Asam coal mining operation.51 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebOOk


Mine Scheduling

G O L D E N S T A RG O L D E N S T A R

R E S O U RC E S LT D.R E S O U RC E S LT D.



PT Petrosea lowers costs, minimises risks, boosts efficiency, and enhances productivity with Gemcom MineSched™

Leading contract mining enterprise saves millions of dollars across their contracts with improved open pit mine scheduling capabilities

Country: Indonesia

Objective:Quickly create and refine rolling schedules to ensure the most efficient, economical mining operations.

Approach:Use Gemcom MineSched software to determine the best way to mine, taking into account water management, efficient equipment utilisation, quality requirements, contingency planning, haul distances, dump optimisation, and many other factors to continuously drive the best results out of the rolling schedule.

“In this business, you have the potential to lose millions of dollars if you’re not managing your operations right. To do this we need a good scheduling package. We can’t do without MineSched, that’s for sure.”

— Adrian Stewart, Technical Services Manager for Mining and Mine Services, PT Petrosea Tbk

IT Improvements: Ability to avoid errors that occur with manual scheduling.

High-quality visualisation for improved project accuracy and efficiency.

Quick, automatic output of Gantt charts, tables, and graphs.

Modern, easy-to-learn, and user-friendly interfaces.

Business Benefits: Better planning and more efficient utilisation of expensive mining fleets.

Flexibility to create contingency plans to manage unexpected events and mitigate costs.

Creation of backup plans that can save on unused equipment costs.

Approximately one-third fewer staff required compared to manual scheduling.

Optimisation of hauling distances and overburden management.

Ability to visualise pit designs to ensure accurate estimation of mining projects.

Mine operations at GBP Coal, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.



The state of East Kalimantan in Indonesia gets around three metres of rain every year. When torrential downpours fill the coal mining pits, excavators and trucks can often stand idle—but not when powerful scheduling software like MineSched has been employed to create viable contingency plans.

For PT Petrosea Tbk, whose core business is contract mining, contingency planning is one of the most important benefits that MineSched delivers. “We have three contract mining projects in East Kalimantan (Sanga Sanga Mine, GBP Coal, Santan Batubara), and they’re all open pit coal mines,” says Adrian Stewart, Technical Services Manager for Mining and Mine Services at Petrosea. “We can’t afford to lose any time. Having the equipment on standby for even one day would cost us thousands of dollars. We’ve always got to be thinking ahead, and a good scheduling package like MineSched minimises our risk significantly because we can schedule various mining sequences, validate their economic viability, and easily reallocate equipment to another area or project.”

With MineSched, Stewart and his team can also ensure that another area is available for mining if needed, allowing the company to take advantage of equipment already on hand. Having a backup plan in case a working area becomes unavailable can save on unused equipment costs.

Boosting efficiency

Petrosea uses MineSched for much more than contingency planning. Currently, most mine owners are looking to boost efficiency by cutting back their strip ratios; this, in turn, involves modifying their final pit walls. Every time the pit shell is adjusted, Petrosea must reschedule mining operations—and this always brings up new issues, such as how to optimise haul distances, where to put the sumps during the wettest months, dump management, and the best way to ensure that coal quality meets all specifications. Petrosea can count on MineSched to help resolve complex issues in a timely manner.

Under the terms of its standard contracts, Petrosea receives a 12-month pit shell from each of its clients, including the topography, pit dimensions, the top and floor of the coal, and the optimal strip ratio based on the client’s financial analysis. The data is imported into MineSched from the client’s geological modelling software, along with equipment and quality requirements, water management factors, productivity goals,

and specific production targets. MineSched then calculates the most efficient sequence for mining the coal, complete with 3D graphical displays and all necessary charts and graphs. Petrosea personnel can continuously adjust and refine the parameters in MineSched to achieve the best possible plan.

“Using MineSched, we can run different options quickly and work out how to save money,” says Stewart. “In today’s economic environment we are constantly revising factors such as where we mine, what quality we mine, and how deep the pit is going to be, in order to ensure an acceptable balance between cost and profit. In this business, you have the potential to lose millions of dollars on a contract if you’re not managing your operations right. To do this we need a good scheduling package. We can’t do without MineSched, that’s for sure.”

Lower cost, lower risk

MineSched also helps Petrosea save money by enhancing staff productivity. According to Stewart, it would probably take three times as many people to accomplish the same work manually in Microsoft® Excel®. In addition, MineSched decreases the risk of costly formatting and formula errors. The visualisation and calculation capabilities of the software—combined with the automatic output of Gantt charts, graphs, tables, and the like—reduce risk even further.

“We’re currently estimating a project, and the client provided us a pit shell that involved mining down to 150 metres,” says Stewart. “We put the data into MineSched, ran the scenario, and discovered that due to mine sequencing the client had not given us enough area to dump the overburden. If we had run that scenario in Excel, the plan would probably have looked feasible, and we could have submitted our price based on that presumption. Over a seven-year job on a mining project, that’s a lot of money—millions of dollars that we saved thanks to MineSched.” The ability to visualise the pit design in MineSched enabled Stewart and his team to spot the problem immediately and avoid submitting a seriously flawed bid on the project.

Mining jobs are all different, but they have one thing in common: the unexpected is sure to happen. In East Kalimantan, this often takes the form of failures, breakdowns, land compensation issues, and deviations due to excessive

Contract mining expertise

Jakarta, Indonesia-based PT Petrosea Tbk (www.petrosea.com) is a multi-disciplinary engineering, construction, and mining company with a track record of achievement since 1972. As one of Indonesia’s leading engineering and construction contractors, the company has been listed on the Jakarta and Surabaya Stock Exchanges (now the Indonesian Stock Exchange) since 1990 and was the first publicly listed engineering and construction company in Indonesia.

Mine operations at Sanga Sanga mine in Indonesia.



groundwater. When such an event occurs, Stewart and his team must develop new schedules and plans quickly. With MineSched, the task can usually be accomplished in about a day—which is much faster than it would be using other methods. Says Stewart: “If we didn’t have a product that could cope with those unforeseen occurrences quickly, we could lose money. MineSched helps us manage the unexpected.”

Partners in success

Along with supplying proven technology, Gemcom is an active partner in ensuring Petrosea’s continued success. For example, Petrosea needed to calculate haul distances from dig location to dump destination. This capability is particularly critical for accurate project estimating, as contract miners must know how much material they are moving, how far they’re moving it, and the related costs. Gemcom added this critical feature to MineSched quickly to meet Petrosea’s need. “Now the haul distances can drop straight out of the schedule,” says Stewart.

In addition, Gemcom continually enhances the MineSched interface. It integrates seamlessly with Gemcom Surpac™ software, which Petrosea uses for estimating, surveying, and mine planning. Importantly, MineSched and Surpac work in unison; for example, the staff imports Surpac data directly into MineSched, which saves time and minimises data rekeying and potential errors.

Stewart is particularly pleased with the latest version of the MineSched product. “The software is very user-friendly and logical, with good icons and powerful visualisation,” he says. “It’s also quite easy to set up the schedules. We have a team of good, competent mining engineers at Petrosea—probably some of the best mining engineers in Indonesia—and they like using MineSched. With MineSched, we’re giving them a powerful tool that they need to do their jobs.”

MineSched already is used for blending to ensure the correct sulfur and energy content of the coal coming out of the Santan Batubara mine in East Kalimantan; the software is also employed for backfilling pits. In the near future, Stewart plans to add drill and blast to the scheduling tasks handled by MineSched, moving two more essential functions out of their Excel environment. “Once we start using MineSched for drill and blast, we expect to see even more effective utilisation of equipment,” he explains. “For example, we have drills that

are frequently moved around to different work locations. We’ll be putting fewer hours on the drills by planning their activities more effectively using MineSched.”

According to Stewart, MineSched is critical to the success of Petrosea’s contract mining business. “It’s a tool that gives us solutions quickly,” he concludes. “MineSched creates efficiency, predictability, and replicability across our operation. It also keeps our clients happy, because we can tailor the schedules to their needs. Especially in today’s economy, clients need to make sure they’re getting the coal out on time—when we say they will get it and with the right quality. If we keep the clients happy, then they’re going to give us more work. MineSched is a pivotal element in this scenario and in our success.”

PT Petrosea staff at GBP Coal mine in Indonesia.

View overlooking the GBP Coal mine.

PT Petrosea Tbk Solutions at a GlancePrimary Application:

Gemcom MineSched

Gemcom Surpac

Gemcom Services:

Technical support



Supporting a global customer base with a Gemcom mine design, planning, and scheduling solution

Python Mining Consultants is a Canadian-based firm specialising in mine design, planning, and scheduling. They work with North American and global companies of all types and sizes to produce long- and short-term schedules for surface and underground mining operations. With a wide variety of different project types and customers, working with software from the largest global supplier of mining productivity solutions is a major advantage for them.

“We chose Gemcom’s Surpac and MineSched solution due to its widespread use in the mining industry and for the ease of data movement between the two applications. Further, having all aspects of the design process in one solution allows changes to any one part quickly and easily,” says Martin Drennan, Technical Consultant, Python Mining Consultants.

Python Mining Consultants find Gemcom’s software particularly helpful in many aspects of the technical reports they produce, using the data generated in Surpac and MineSched for scoping, pre-feasibility, and feasibility studies. A typical project will start with drillhole data being imported into Surpac, which they use to create a block model using the software’s geostatistics and block modelling features. This block model can be used along with costing data from the mine site to create economic stope models.

Next, the mine is designed around the stopes using Surpac’s modelling tools and then scheduled using MineSched. “The schedule can be run using different scenarios to find a near optimal solution. Once the schedule is completed, outputs of data are created by MineSched for use in the final technical report. MineSched has enabled us to accomplish development

and production scheduling faster and with greater ability to run sensitivities on different options,” comments Drennan.

“An additional benefit of Gemcom’s software is how it helps us is in solving optimisation problems by creating various design options and running many scheduling scenarios quickly. By using standard financial analysis in a MineSched template, it is possible to quickly run multiple options and see the resulting economic values. Similarly, scheduling issues can be dealt with by looking at several competing designs and performing various rate sensitivities on them,” he adds.

“Automation of tasks and workflows is another aspect of Gemcom’s software that we appreciate. One of the most useful features of Surpac is the ability to create custom macros to automate many processes,” concludes Drennan.

About Python Mining Consultants

Headquarters: Hamilton, Canada

Python Mining Consultants provides all the engineering services necessary to perform basic scoping studies, to full feasibility work, and everything in between.

Web site: www.pythonminingconsultants.ca

Stopes and development for an underground gold project.



Adamus Resources Ltd. Solves Scheduling Constraints with Gemcom MineSched™

Adamus Resources Limited owns 90% of the Nzema

Gold Project located in Ghana, West Africa. The project

is being developed as an open pit mining operation,

and also includes a processing facility and associated

infrastructure to mine and process ore. Current

estimates show the project to have a minimum life of

ten years and produce an average of 100,000 oz of gold

per year. In addition to benefitting from Gemcom Surpac™

and Gemcom Whittle™, they have utilised MineSched to

transform their scheduling practices.

Scheduling at Nzema Gold had previously been a time

consuming process involving a customised spreadsheet

scheduler. Implementing MineSched solved their

scheduling constraints and automated a number of

routine processes.

“MineSched has drastically reduced time spent on short, medium and long range scheduling, and also allows us to confidently generate multiple scenarios in very little time,” says Samuel Amoh, Mine Planning Engineer, Adamus Resources. “We can create a schedule with a push of a button.”

He continues, “MineSched allowed us to quickly build and modify a material flow network, easily define material ratio targets on stockpiles and processes, intuitively graphically assign mining resources, visually evaluate and validate mining locations and immediately analyse scheduling results with customisable charts and reports.”

MineSched has also significantly increased company efficiency. The number of mining engineer consultant visits to the mine has been reduced, and the automation of tasks means fewer personnel are needed in the planning department.

Amoh says that MineSched is easy to learn and use.

“The comprehensive tutorials, video, and knowledge

base available on the Gemcom Support website make

it very user-friendly.” He adds, “I check the website

frequently for updates and tutorials, and found the ability

to run MineSched for specific scheduling periods to be a

particularly beneficial recent innovation.”

“We chose Gemcom because its software is intuitive and

easy to learn, and also widely used throughout the mining

industry. Also, as a new mine, we purchased numerous

software licenses and Gemcom was accommodating

in organising on site training for all users.” Amoh

concludes, “It’s a fast growing and innovative company,

and I would recommend Gemcom Software to any mine I

work for.”

About Adamus Resources


Symbols: ASX: ADU; TSXV: ADU; FSE: AXM

Adamus Resources is Ghana’s newest gold producer, focused on realising the economic potential of the 90% owned Nzema Gold Project.

Website: www.adamusresources.com.au

MineSched scheduling report for Nzema Gold.



Golden Star Resources relies on easy to use Gemcom MineSched™ software to drive mine scheduling improvements

About Golden Star Resources

Headquarters: Littleton, USA

Symbols: NYSE Amex: GSS; TSX: GSC; GSE: GSR

Golden Star Resources Limited is a fast-growing gold mining company with operating mines located on the prolific Ashanti Gold Belt in Ghana, West Africa.

Website: www.gsr.com

G O L D E N S T A RG O L D E N S T A R

R E S O U RC E S LT D.R E S O U RC E S LT D.

Golden Star Resources Limited is a gold mining

company over a quarter-century old. They have a total

historical production of over two million ounces of gold.

The company has an aggressive growth strategy for

exploration and expansion activities at its properties,

which include the Bogoso/Prestea Gold Mine. Wanting

user-friendly scheduling software, the mine site turned to

Gemcom’s MineSched software.

“We use MineSched for weekly, mid-range, and long-term

scheduling. It is a user-friendly product that is easy to

set up and learn. In fact, it’s so easy to use that it has

increased my confidence and passion for scheduling,”

says Ruth Menz, Mining Engineer, Golden Star Resources

Ltd., Bogoso/Prestea Gold Mine.

Since implementing MineSched, Golden Star has been able to improve scheduling at the Bogoso/Prestea operation. They now follow their 18 month scheduling plan with a weekly schedule that is renewable at the end of each month. All told, this has allowed them to reduce significantly the time needed for scheduling, which provides more time for other engineering computations.

“With the software we are able to set realistic targets for the company and we know the life-of-mine at any point in time in just a few clicks. In addition, the software’s seamless workflows have reduced errors as there is no longer a need to manually input block model attributes. MineSched has also helped increase our efficiency, saving us costs and reducing scheduling time. This has enabled us to spend more time using the end results it outputs,” states Menz.

The software has other useful features that minimise

scheduling errors, such as the schedule set up, which

provides the total material from any particular section so

the engineer does not have to run a block model report.

Menz likes the fact that she no longer has to manually

input block model attributes. “It’s more efficient and

ensures there are no errors when defining the block

model attributes.”

“The results MineSched produces can be easily shared

with others who do not use the software. Its ability to

output to various formats such as Microsoft Excel and

Project is particularity helpful. MineSched data can

be easily used in follow-on analysis and reporting,”

concludes Menz.

A typical MineSched schedule display output.58 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING eBOOk


Strategic Mine Planning



Countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Namibia, Peru, United States

Objective:Designate a suite of strategic mine planning tools for a variety of open pit ore bodies across various company sites.

Approach:Adopt Gemcom Whittle™ as part of the company’s standard software solution for open pit optimisation.

IT Improvements: Software consistency across operations and commodities.

Streamlined technology footprint, which reduces maintenance and support.

Adoption of common operating processes across groups.

Business Benefits: Optimisation of ultimate pit shapes/shells to maximise long-term mine value.

Trustworthy results to guide open pit analyses and detailed planning.

Retention of personnel skills and knowledge during transfers or redeployments.

Resource to facilitate improved staff collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Rio Tinto fuels mine planning and pit optimisation globally with Gemcom Whittle™ Rio Tinto Group makes Whittle part of its standard strategic mine planning solution

Over the years, Whittle has helped the staff advance Rio Tinto’s strategy of converting ore bodies into long-life, efficient operations that can sustain the company through business cycles.

Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah.



A diversified company with refining and exploration divisions in nearly every continent, Rio Tinto (www.riotinto.com) is interested in large-scale, world-class ore deposits and invests in long-life, cost-competitive mines. This strategy has generated interests in many of the world’s largest mineral deposits, in commodities such as copper, diamonds, borates, aluminum and iron ore. The company also mines and processes industrial minerals, including salt, talc and titanium dioxide.

With diverse operations in many areas, the company depends on its Technology and Innovation group to help guide its decisions on leading practices and technology use. The group stays abreast of the latest innovations that will give Rio Tinto a competitive advantage and drive performance improvements in mine design, scheduling, and geological modelling. The group assessed the status and benefits of the Gemcom Whittle software and endorsed it as one of the company’s standard tools for economic evaluation of open pit mines.

Beneficial for long-term planning

Even before adopting Whittle as one of its standard analysis tools, the company had used the software extensively across the organisation for about 10 years. It had proved beneficial for long-term planning and conducting feasibility studies for Rio Tinto’s large, open pit mines. The staff leveraged the software to gain a wide angle view of the physical, economic and mining constraints regarding their pit designs. Over the years, Whittle has helped the staff advance Rio Tinto’s strategy of converting ore bodies into long-life, efficient operations that can sustain the company through business cycles.

Whittle provides a baseline for the economic assessment around ore extraction from a large open pit, allowing users to look at mining scenarios and consider various processing and mining costs, geology, ore grades and other factors. The solutions contained in Whittle help engineers and planners understand the economic assumptions in a consistent way.

Supporting iron ore mine design

Rio Tinto is aiming for the best opportunities possible for all of its mines, including those in the Iron Ore product group. Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) — the world’s second largest iron

ore producer — operates in Australia, Canada and Brazil, with development projects in India and Guinea.

Rio Tinto has 11 mines operating in the Pilbara region covering various deposit styles. The geology of the Pilbara region is characterised by late Archaean and early Proterozoic rock formations known as the “Hamersley Group,” which contain several large units of Banded Iron Formation.

Most mines have their own crushing and processing facilities, where beneficiation or concentration occurs to enhance ore quality. Combined, the Pilbara mines can produce up to 220 million tonnes of iron ore annually. Additionally, the Pilbara operations consist of three shipping terminals and one of the largest privately owned railways in the world. Ongoing exploration is constantly turning up new iron ore mineralisation in the region.

Geometry is an issue in iron ore mining, which Whittle helps solve. The software allows the determination of the maximum pit shell shape and size to mine. Finding the maximum size of the pit can be done in a number of ways such as with pure economics and or using a limiting pit ratio.

Sound guidance for mine expansions

RTIO mining engineers use Whittle on feasibility studies for expansion projects and for new or updated geological models that are converted to mining models. They depend on Whittle to regularly reassess the economic parameters that define the optimum final pit shape, especially when considering a lengthy time horizon for the mines.

With changing market conditions and iron ore prices rising, it is important to reevaluate options constantly, particularly in respect to the blending of different quality materials for the market. The team makes the adjustments, redesigning the pit and its economics to improve the overall financial position of RTIO and increase the net present value (NPV) of the Pilbara mines.

Rationale for software standardisation

Rio Tinto has a global presence and personnel working at numerous sites. Adopting a more standardised strategic “Red earth” of the Pilbara region of Western Australia,

home to many Rio Tinto iron ore operations.

Aerial view of Rio Tinto iron ore mine, Western Australia.

Adopting an industry leader Rio Tinto Group is an international mining organisation combining Rio Tinto plc, a London-listed public company (LONDON: RIO.L) headquartered in the United Kingdom, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (AUS: RIO.AX) with executive offices in Melbourne, Australia.



mine planning solution helps the company capture greater efficiencies. Not only does the practice streamline the company’s overall technology footprint, but it also reduces the number of different technologies that personnel must learn, maintain and support. Designating Whittle as a part of the standard solution enhances collaboration among staff. They can offer guidance to each other, tailor procedures to their specific divisions, and share them across groups to help others improve proficiency.

The benefits of standardisation carry over to personnel training and development. When personnel know and use the same system, it can be easier and faster for redeployed staff to contribute in other parts of the company. It fosters training continuity, as well. Although Rio Tinto puts employees with no previous Whittle experience through Gemcom’s two-day training course, a wide Whittle knowledge base is available that new users can tap into beyond their initial training.

By taking Whittle training, mine engineers learn what the software can do for pit optimisation and about cost adjustment and scheduling factors. This means that if they move into another division like the diamonds or the copper group, they already have the required knowledge.

Rio Tinto Group Solutions at a GlancePrimary Applications:

Gemcom Whittle

Gemcom Services:

Onsite training

Technical support

Stacker reclaimer and stockpiles at dusk.

Parker Point loading facility, Rio Tinto, Australia.



Gold Fields Ghana Utilises Gemcom Whittle™ to Improve Cash Flow at Tarkwa Operation


Gold Fields’ Tarkwa Gold Mine is located in South

Western Ghana with an infrastructure consisting of six

open pits, two heap leach facilities and a CIL plant. The

operation is currently mining multiple-reef horizons from

open pits and there is potential for future underground

mining. Tarkwa has a mineral resource of 12.6 million

gold ounces and a mineral reserve of 9.2 million ounces.

The Tarkwa mine uses Gemcom Whittle™ to generate and

select the standard optimal pit shells from which they

calculate their reserves. They then export the pit shells

to Gemcom Surpac™ to develop scheduling designs.

Whittle has enabled them to rapidly generate multiple

scenarios, and the minimum mining width feature has

helped them create an improvement in cash flow through

the scheduling of internal cutbacks.

“The software allowed us to find scenarios that showed

a clear improvement over the base cash flow and also to

see where production targets may be reducing cash flow.

We were able to quickly select and re-evaluate internal

cutbacks,” says Lucette Hugo, Chief Strategic Planning

Engineer, Gold Fields Ghana.

She explains further, “The ability to quickly generate over

300 scheduling scenarios and apply different production

criteria to both existing and new cutbacks allowed us to

see the value loss or gain each scenario would create

for the business. This has enabled us to reach our

targets without sacrificing cash flow. We couldn’t possibly

have scheduled all these scenarios using our previous

scheduling and financial modelling software within a

reasonable time frame.”

Gemcom’s software has allowed the operation to explore a much wider range of options. Hugo says, “Our previous software only allowed us to choose three or four different scenarios. being able to run hundreds of scenarios has allowed us to explore options previously not considered feasible, and conclusively demonstrate their value to the business.”

Hugo recommends Gemcom products for their efficiency and flexibility, and adds that Gemcom’s training services and technical support have also been invaluable to their operation. “Attending an optimisation training course significantly enhanced our understanding of how to generate value through pit and phase selection and scheduling. It allowed us to integrate concepts we weren’t previously utilising and meet our internal targets.” She also adds, “Gemcom’s technical support is excellent; their response time is fast and answers are relevant and helpful.”

About Gold Fields

Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa

Symbols: JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ, NYX, SWX: GFI

Gold Fields is one of the world’s largest unhedged producers of gold, with operating mines in Ghana, Australia, Peru and South Africa.

Website: www.goldfields.co.za







Tarkwa Gold Mine, Ghana.63 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebOOk


Block Caving



Countries: South Africa

Objective:Meet growth targets and aid feasibility studies, design and production management for block cave mining.

Approach:Implement the Gemcom PCBC software solution for planning and scheduling block cave operations, obtain customised Gemcom development and integration services, and help staff become skillful in using PCBC tools.

IT Improvements: Management tools for improved mine performance.

Customised, effective solution with monitoring capabilities.

Integration of block modelling software and databases with new block cave management software.

Data integrity.

Information sharing between major components used in block caving.

Business Benefits: Improved productivity in the underground mining environment.

Better dilution management and geotechnical stability.

Substantial boost in deposit value.

More accurate resource estimates and reports.

Faster analysis and better decision-making.

Easier staff transitioning and training (due to integrated systems and consistent database tables within PCBC and Gemcom GEMS).

Less time required to update mine plans, evaluate options and compile information.

Streamlined strategic planning process−months to weeks.

Evaluation of various mining scenarios to determine profitability scenarios and reports to be run quickly and easily.

Automated trackless block cave mining at Finsch Mine.

All-encompassing Gemcom PCBC™ system boosts deposit value at De Beers diamond mine Solution improves decision-making and productivity at block cave operation

“I consider Gemcom to be the foremost authority in the block cave mining method. They helped De Beers come up with a mining system that was all-encompassing and aligned with our strategic vision.”

— Jaison Rajan, Section Leader−Mining Technical, Finsch Mine, De Beers Consolidated Mines



Finsch is a classic diamondiferous kimberlite pipe with sufficient reserves to maintain current mining rates for 17 more years. To improve the mine’s sustainability, De Beers needed to transition from blast hole open stoping mining to an automated trackless block cave mining method at Block 4. This changeover would require an automated framework integrated with robust planning and scheduling software.

“The strategic objective of the automation project was to make the mine inherently safer by reducing the exposure to natural and manmade hazards,” explains Jaison Rajan. “The other strategic intent of automation was to increase productivity.” As Section Leader−Mining Technical for the Finsch Mine, Rajan directs mine planning, scheduling, production and monitoring.

Implement ideal block cave framework

De Beers selected Gemcom and Sandvik to build its block cave mining framework. In the process, Finsch became the world’s first automated, trackless mine requiring no operators on its production trucks. The mining framework consists of an automated ore-transport system by Sandvik, integrated with Gemcom PCBC and Cave Management System (CMS) software specifically designed for planning and scheduling block cave operations.

Gemcom collaborated with Sandvik to create the system, which allows De Beers managers to analyse mining sequences and rates from draw points over the short- and long-term. It also facilitates information sharing between major components used in the operation.

“When we started the project, we contacted Sandvik and Gemcom to get an idea of their experience with block cave mining and to identify key parameters within the design,” Rajan says. “We needed a system we could manage on a real-time basis from our operations control room on the surface. The ideal system would incorporate the outputs from Gemcom software to ensure geotechnical stability and provide information to efficiently plan the day’s activities.”

The ‘foremost authority’ in block cave mining

After implementing the PCBC software, De Beers asked Gemcom to enhance it specifically for the Finsch operations and the company’s Microsoft SQL Server database. The Gemcom development team also enhanced CMS, a subsystem within

PCBC for cave management. It interfaces with the Sandvik AutoMine system. AutoMine allows operators to monitor a fleet of driverless trucks hundreds of meters below the surface, while sitting comfortably and safely in a control room on the surface.

Gemcom’s CMS automates and optimises the draw control process, which is a critical element in cave management. Referencing the PCBC model, the CMS spells out the number of tonnes and priority for each location. In essence, the CMS acts as a guide for mining the block cave most efficiently in the correct sequence to minimise unrecoverable mistakes.

“I consider Gemcom to be the foremost authority in the block cave mining method. Tony Diering programmed PCBC based on the considerable knowledge he has gained from various block caving mines and that helped us come up with a mining system that was all-encompassing for De Beers,” says Rajan.

Quick results with Gemcom software

De Beers and Gemcom have enjoyed a well-established, professional working relationship dating back to the mid-1990s. When De Beers needed 3D grade and geological information, the company deployed a Gemcom GEMS solution for multiple user access, first at its Venetia mine and later, at Finsch. The solution enhances the mines’ geology, blast ring designs, planning, scheduling and ore accounting functions. The geological model for Block 4 resides in the GEMS database.

Prior to installing PCBC, De Beers geologists created some initial designs for mining Block 4 using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and manual calculations. However, they wanted to evaluate the design more thoroughly and produce an even better one. These objectives prompted them to evaluate the rich features within PCBC.

Collaborative, seamless communications

The Gemcom developers designed PCBC to assimilate seamlessly with the AutoMine, cave management, GEMS and Microsoft SQL Server database systems. The fusion of SQL Server with the operational systems allows the work teams to contribute, extract and share mining information within a secure platform they customarily use. Transitioning and training new staff−along with auditing−are easier tasks because of database consistency and the standardised way De Beers maintains data Underground head gear at the Finsch diamond mine.

The world’s first automated, trackless underground mine Established in 1888, De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBCM) is renowned for the exploration, mining and marketing of rough diamonds. DBCM produces approximately 40 percent of the world’s supply of rough diamonds. The Finsch diamond mine, located in Lime Acres in the Northern Cape, South Africa, is among seven operations that DBCM manages. Discovered in 1961 during asbestos exploration, De Beers first developed the deposit as an open pit. Since 1991, production has come from the underground mine beneath the old pit.



within SQL Server across departments.

“PCBC was designed to integrate heavily with elements of our other systems. This integration across various departments cuts out many spreadsheets and the possibility of miscommunication. It provides a seamless communication line between our various departments. And with a fully automated system, we have continuous communications about what is happening underground,” says Rajan. Approximately 100 employees in the production, planning and geotechnical departments rely directly and indirectly on PCBC.

A ‘brilliant’ solution for one-of-a-kind mining operations

While the AutoMine system directs how mining takes place and the equipment operations, PCBC uses mining and geotechnical parameters to propagate the cave efficiently. PCBC also calculates mineral reserves and draw point valuations based on the geological model within GEMS.

The PCBC software reconciles the daily draw orders with the actual ore extracted from each draw point, and feeds that data to the CMS. These capabilities make it easier for De Beers personnel to manage the amount of tonnage from each draw point and preserve the stability of the entire excavation. Besides accurately tracking mining positions, the staff can better plan future production activities. For example, PCBC mimics the dilution process and calculates various options to help De Beers personnel construct a realistic plan for dilution management.

“One of the brilliant things about PCBC is it provides a detailed series of reports on the resource itself. Based on an operating rate, it can provide the exact amounts of each ore type we can uncover and the grade level within the ore body. I can tell PCBC to produce 10 or 20 tonnes, and the software will display how many diamonds we can expect. Using that information, we can constantly compare actuals with what we are getting to assess the quality of our resource estimation. We can also use the information to improve upstream efficiency,” says Rajan.

Contributing to better decisions

Before the PCBC implementation, mining changes caused problems and extended the time necessary to update plans

and evaluate various options. Even compiling information and predicting tonnages for the company’s strategic business planning (SBP) process took months. That timeframe has dropped to several weeks. As part of the SBP process, Rajan’s team runs various mining scenarios within PCBC to decide which is most profitable.

“Using PCBC, we can virtually look at what is happening in the cave and make decisions based on that,” Rajan explains. “The more detailed our reports, the better information we have for analysis and that contributes to better decisions.”

The value of expert services

When De Beers first adopted PCBC, Gemcom dedicated one of its top consultants to steer the implementation and training over six months. “This was extremely valuable in that we had someone who could solve our problems relatively quickly and answer our questions right here at the site,” says Rajan.

De Beers continues to work with Gemcom consultants on various PCBC projects.The assurance that PCBC and the Gemcom experts provide, along with the success of automated mining, may stimulate De Beers to deploy the solution at its flagship site, the Venetia diamond mine.

“We definitely are receiving a return on our PCBC investment and on Gemcom’s services and support,” Rajan concludes.

Underground crusher with rock breaker.

De Beers Finsch Mine Solutions at a Glance

Primary Applications:

Gemcom PCBC

Gemcom Cave Management System (CMS is a subsystem within PCBC)

Gemcom GEMS

Sandvik AutoMine system


Gemcom Services:

Consulting

On-site training

Software customisation

Systems integration

Technical support



Mine Production Management



Centerra Gold improves mine production management at its Boroo gold mining operation with Gemcom InSite™

The Boroo mine is home to one of the mining industry’s most innovative uses of mine production management technology. Seeking a sustainable solution that would enable it to improve mining efficiency, increase production output, and control costs, the company has employed Gemcom InSite.

A key to the success of InSite at the operation is its ability to enable the company to more effectively leverage the data it generates on a daily basis. Through data consolidation and centralisation, the mine has ready access to the reports it needs about all aspects of the operation.

“InSite gives us the information we need to manage production at Boroo. With the solution, we can track material movements from the pit to the final product. From high-level summaries, to detailed specifics at each stage, we know what is happening as material is

extracted, trucked, stockpiled, and processed,” says Alex Petermann, Chief Mining Engineer, Centerra Gold, Boroo Gold Co.

“Stockpile management and end-of-month mass and grade surveys are critical success factors managed by InSite. All the equipment utilisation from crushed tonnes per hour to SAG mill utilisation are recorded, analysed, and reported,” adds Petermann.

Another benefit InSite provides Boroo is the elimination of the dependency on spreadsheets. With InSite’s ability to automatically collect data and validate data, transcription errors are not introduced into the decision-making process.

“Removal of Excel spreadsheets ensures data integrity. It also eliminates isolated islands of information. This means that the right information is available when

and where it is needed. The end result is improved

recovery, throughput, equipment utilisation, and mine

performance,” says Petermann.

“Since implementing InSite, our overall site efficiency has

increased significantly. The time to collect and enter data

and information from many sub systems, as well as the

time to report the information, has been reduced from

days to hours. As a result, we can now make quicker,

more informed decisions,” he says.

Before implementing InSite, Boroo was already using

Gemcom’s GEMS and Whittle software. “We had

confidence in Gemcom as a solutions provider going into

the InSite project. The training and implementation of

the product at Boroo have built upon the great support

that we have received from Gemcom over the years,”

concludes Petermann.

About Centerra Gold Inc.

Headquarters: Toronto, Canada

TSX Symbol: CG

Centerra Gold acquires, explores, develops and operates gold properties in Central Asia, the former Soviet Union, and other emerging markets worldwide.

Centerra Gold is a growth-oriented, Canadian-based gold mining and exploration company. It has a 100 percent equity interest in Mongolia’s largest hard rock gold mine, Boroo, which is the first noteworthy foreign investment for industrial development in Mongolia since 1997.

Website: www.centerragold.com

69 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING eBOOk Boroo open pit mine.



Minara Resources improves cost-effectiveness and forecasting with Gemcom InSite™ Human Logistics

Minara Resources operates the Murrin Murrin nickel and cobalt joint venture project, situated in the northern goldfields region between the towns of Leonora and Laverton in Western Australia. The project has over 1,000 staff and contractors, making it one of the largest single-site employers in the region.

With a large staff roster to manage, logistics and accommodation can be complex, costly and time consuming to manage. Addressing these issues is why Murrin Murrin deployed InSite Human Logistics. The information contained in the system is utilised site-wide by facilities officers, administrators and general staff, creating a transparent process for everyone involved.

“The Human Logistics system ensures we can constantly improve our cost effectiveness – on a daily basis – by delivering accurate forecasts that require only a minimal amount of administrative work to produce. In addition, the system’s user-friendly reports have streamlined our

accounting practices, helping us ensure we meet our logistical requirements and cost projections,” says Robyn Morris, Facilities Officer, Minara Resources, Murrin Murrin Operations.

“By using the software we have been able to make radical improvements to accommodation and travel management, resulting in reduced operating costs. The software enabled us to accomplish this by providing accurate forecasting of accommodation and flights. From this, we determined opportunities to decommission accommodations and reduce aircraft requirements,” she adds.

“The system has delivered a real reduction in administration work to manage site-based personnel accommodation and travel requirements. We had previously employed contractors to manage accommodation utilisation, which subsequently required a weekly manual audit to prevent human error. We

use the software to its full capacity, resulting in the cessation of contractor support – these procedures are managed in-house with no real impact on other duties,” concludes Morris.

Additional Benefits Realised by Minara:

Ability to accurately and consistently identify accommodation availability for unplanned increases in manpower.

Reduction in administrative work required to manage site-based staff accommodation and travel requirements, resulting in the elimination of external contractors, who had been employed to manually enter and validate data.

Accurate data of who is onsite, providing improved safety information, which is paramount for Minara.

“Clean and Vacant Rooms Available for Usual Occupancy” report improves contractor management with regard to daily deliverables.

About Minara


ASX symbol: MRE

Top 10 global nickel producer, number 2 in Australia.

Minara Resources operates the Murrin Murrin nickel and cobalt joint venture project, 60% owned by Minara and 40% by Glencore International AG.

Website: www.minara.com.au

Plant at the Murrin Murrin operation.



Educational Institutions



Mining Education Australia Incorporates Gemcom Software and Training into Curriculum

The Mining Education Australia (MEA) Engineering Program is a national educational joint venture between the four major mining education providers in Australia: Curtin University, The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland and The University of Adelaide. A world first in undergraduate mining education, MEA provides a common curriculum for third and fourth year students, allowing them to graduate with a world-class degree from an industry supported national program.

Gemcom has been helping MEA by providing academic software licences for the suite of Gemcom products, as well as providing training sessions for students. To ensure the schools can get the most educational value out of its software, it also provides user support and training for school professors.

With coal being one of the most important mining commodities in Australia, Gemcom product specialists have provided two-day Gemcom Minex™ training sessions to final year mining engineering students at all four MEA universities.

“The training involved an overview of Gemcom, along with introductory Minex training presenting the benefits of the Minex gridded modelling system for coal mining, including demonstrations on how to most effectively utilise the software,” explains Ben Farquharson, Director of Gemcom’s Minex Business Unit.

Farquharson continues, “As Minex is the only integrated end-to-end software specifically designed for coal and other stratified deposits, this training will prove highly beneficial to students as they enter the workforce. It exposes them to the practical application of mining theory in software used throughout the industry, allowing them to see how everything is done from resource evaluation, to mine planning, through to mine rehabilitation.”

Gemcom’s university training sessions are designed to equip students with the skills they need to join today’s mining industry, familiarising them with industry-leading technology and giving them a crucial edge in finding employment after graduation.

“I’m extremely appreciative of Gemcom for its involvement with, and support of Mining Education Australia,” says Dr, Andrew Jarosz, MEA Program Leader and Mine Surveying Program Coordinator for Curtin University. “I believe Gemcom has gone above and beyond with their commitment to the training program. The students have benefited greatly from the expertise shared and have ranked this training session highest in comparison to similar events.”

Gemcom provides educational support to more than 100 educational institutions around the world through its Academic License Program. The program allows educational institutions to incorporate the latest technology into the programs they offer, by providing Gemcom software licenses along with additional training and support.

Information about Gemcom’s Academic License Program is available at www.gemcomsoftware.com/company/academic-license-program.

About Mining Education Australia

Universities: Curtin University, The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland, and The University of Adelaide.

Location: MEA is hosted at the University of Queensland.

Mining Education Australia is a world first in university collaboration; a national joint venture between the four major mining education providers in Australia.

Website: www.mea.edu.au Students at Curtin University.



http://www.gemcomsoftware.com/company/academic-license-program

University of the Witwatersrand School of Mining Engineering prepares students for the workforce with Gemcom software

The School of Mining Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, widely known as “Wits Mining” is rich in tradition and mining history, having been founded in Kimberley in 1896 as the “South African (Kimberley) School of Mines”. It moved to Johannesburg as the Transvaal Technical Institute in 1904 and was renamed the South African School of Mines and Technology in 1910. It became a fully-fledged university in 1922, offering arts, science, medicine, engineering, law, commerce, and other degrees. Today, more than 24,000 students attend the University. Its School of Mining Engineering is recognised as one of the top institutions of its kind in the world and has an increasing growth rate in the number of students enrolled in its programs.

Each year Wits teaches mining students to use Gemcom GEMS™ and Gemcom Whittle™. Third-year students are introduced to the Whittle software and design an optimised open pit, while fourth year students use both systems to produce a required final mine design before they graduate.

At the University, Gemcom’s software packages are used for teaching technical knowledge to undergraduate and postgraduate students in areas including modelling, design, planning, scheduling, optimisation, and data management. An important contribution to the successful use of Gemcom’s software in mining courses at the School of Mining Engineering is the training provided to its faculty on GEMS and Whittle by Gemcom’s mining

professionals. In addition, when the University’s lecturers

have questions about the software, their License

Administrator has access to Gemcom’s support desk

for help.

“Gemcom’s Academic License Program has provided us

with the ideal scope of software solutions for training

our students in geological ore body modelling and mine

planning. Even when time is limited for training, because

the software is integrated and easy to use, our students

are able to produce meaningful work for projects and

assignments.”

—School of Mining Engineering,

University of the Witwatersrand

About University of the Witwatersrand School of Mining Engineering

Established: 1896

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

The School of Mining Engineering was one of the founding Schools of the University of the Witwatersrand. Throughout its existence its reputation has been based on the quality of its graduates, many of whom have risen to hold senior positions in the South African mining industry. Many graduates have made significant contributions to its growth and technological development.

Website: www.wits.ac.za

Campus at the University of the Witwatersrand.73 LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY IN MINING ebOOK


To learn more about products featured in these customer storiesemail [email protected]

or visit www.gemcomsoftware.com/products.

Disclaimer and copyrightsThis document gives only a general description of products and services and except where expressly provided otherwise shall not form part of any contract. Changes may be made in products or services at any time without notice. Copyright 2012, Gemcom Software International Inc. Gemcom, the Gemcom logo, combinations thereof, and Surpac, GEMS, Minex, MineSched, Whittle, Gemcom InSite and PCBC are trademarks of Gemcom Software International Inc. All other names are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective owners.

Documents

Surpac ebook