Modern Mining December 2016

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December 2016 MODERN MINING23
GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING
teams. This aspect was difficult to monitor from
the work slope as the visibility was restricted.
Towards the end of the project, a rockfall on
the slope resulted in injury to a member of the
RAT team. The accident further highlighted the
need for such a rockfall protection system to be
installed. The work was stopped and the client
and Fairbrother had to review the monitoring of
movement of the RAT teams on the slope. The
client assisted Fairbrother by facilitating a spot-
ter system on the opposite flank of the mine.
The spotter was equipped with a high power
telescope and was in constant radio contact
with the RAT supervisor instructing him on
the positions of the RAT teams along the face
of the slope.
The project was initially awarded for the
installation of 16 500 m2 of QUAROX mesh
Installation of the drape
mesh system in progress on
the slope above the Trolley
14 access ramp.
with an overlay of 4 000 m2 of DELTAX but was
later reviewed after Fairbrother Geotechnical
Engineering deployed their company drone
to inspect the bullnose area (a large outcrop of
rock at the northern end of the installation). The
drone survey revealed that there was unstable
rock in this area that needed to be secured.
The client subsequently instructed Fairbrother
to order a further 3 800 m2 of QUAROX and
4 500 m2 of DELTAX mesh.
The project, valued at N$8,5 million, was
started in September 2015 and was successfully
completed in March 2016. 
Acknowledgement: The above project was one of the entries
in the recent Best Projects Awards organised by ‘Modern
Mining’s’ sister magazine, ‘Construction World’. The Awards
are held annually. Our article is based on the submission
made by Fairbrother Geotechnical for the Awards.