Modern Mining March 2015

MINING News

Funding for phosphate projects secured Executive Officer of Montero, commented: “Our partnership with Ovation Capital pro- vides Montero with a strong foundation to develop and advance our South African phosphate assets in order to produce phosphate rock and further beneficiate this to produce phosphoric acid and other potential fertiliser products at a fertiliser plant in a continental hub.”

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stope, augmenting the School’s focus on digital, remote monitoring technologies to enhance safety on mines. Like the recently completed model mine tunnel, the stope panel is situated in the basement of the School of Mines premises, where it incorporates one of the building’s beams as a geological feature. Former Head of School Professor Fred Cawood had initiated the stope panel construction as part of his digital mine research at Wits Mining. These simulated facilities form part of the ‘digital mine’ environment which is providing invaluable tools for learning and research, bringing a real mine experience to mining engineer- ing students at Wits. “Most of the 200 first-year students we welcome into the School each year are straight from school and have never been in a mine before,” said Musingwini. “While mine visits are arranged from time to time, this facility gives easy access to students – so that they can visualise and test what they are studying theoretically.” “While the facility is invaluable for our teaching work, it will also be made avail- able to our research students as they push the boundaries of productivity with digital and other technology in mining,” said Professor Cawood. “Now more than ever, SA needs to encourage and facilitate research that can stimulate our mining sector; through facilities like these, Wits School of Mines is showing its commit- ment to doing that.” The Wits School of Mining Engineering ranks among the top in the world. It is the largest English-speaking school of mining engineering and one of the fastest grow- ing – with a student body in excess of 800 students. Among undergraduates, over a third are women. 

Montero Mining and Exploration, listed on the TSX-V, has entered into a definitive agreement with Ovation Capital to fund the development of Montero’s phosphate rock projects near Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. Ovation is a South African based investment firm that is currently developing a portfolio of mineral benefi- ciation projects focused on a targeted set of industrial minerals. As part of the agreement, Ovation will fund studies relating to an integrated fer- tiliser plant in the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone in close proximity to Montero’s projects. “Ovation will earn a 30 % interest by completing a Pre-Feasibility Study and a Bankable Feasibility Study of the South African holding company which is 100 % owned by Montero,” says a statement issued by Montero. Ovation is finalising agreements with three large engineering and consulting groups to complete these studies within a two-year period. Dr Tony Harwood, President and Chief

Beltcon is supported by the Conveyor Manufacturers Association and is organ- ised by Cost Time Resource. This is the same team that recently held the successful inau- gural conference on Safety in the Conveyor Industry – Safecon – which will now be held every second year, alternating with Beltcon. Delegates attending can claim credit points towards the ECSA Continuous Professional Development requirements. Full details plus an application form are available on the Beltcon website: www. Beltcon.org.za . In 2012 Montero completed a compli- ant Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of the sedimentary phosphate Duyker Eiland project, the first of Montero’s phosphate assets set to be advanced to feasibility. Duyker Eiland is located 30 km north of the Port of Saldanha. The PEA is based on an initial inferred mineral resource of 32,8 Mt, grading at 7,15 % P 2 O 5 , as previously reported fol- lowing an independent resource estimate prepared by AMEC Earth & Environmental (UK) Limited. Preliminary metallurgical test work indicated that an acid-grade phos- phate concentrate of 33 % P 2 O 5 to 35 % P 2 O 5 could be produced by flotation. 

Beltcon 18 conference coming up in August The 18th biennial International Materials Handling Conference and Exhibition – Beltcon 18 – is to be held on 5 and 6 August this year. Now in its 36th year, the Beltcon conference is recognised worldwide as a valuable resource in bringing the very lat- est developments in materials handling to a wide audience.

Up-to-date research, new conveyor techniques, report-backs on methodology and installations and new technology are presented by some of the most eminent international conveying specialists.

March 2015  MODERN MINING  5