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MODERN QUARRYING
April - May 2017
AT THE QUARRY FACE
WITH MOREGROVE
continues to this day, a case in point being its
achievement in the 2014 Lafarge Global Awards
where the award-winning project executed under
the then team leader and quarry manager Peter
Willemse, was chosen as one of the six worldwide
winners out of 170 top project submissions from
35 countries.
This project addressed the problemof the high
fines content of its stone which was limiting sales
of asphalt sand. After investigation, it was found
that the quarry’s air separator had the ability to
move much of the fine sand particles. The asphalt
sand’s quality was improved and a profitable out-
let for the recovered fines in the manufacture of
bricks, blocks and other precast concrete products
was determined. The project’s benefits were enor-
mous and included:
• Successful reduction in fines -0,075 mm from
16% to 10%.
• The fines were separated and can be blended
with another product (-4,75 mm) to produce
a blend which is in high demand for brick and
block precast producers.
• The improvement in fines quality was cost
effective.
• Low maintenance solution.
At that time, this proactive thinking resulted in
R8-million revenue/year and an increase in asphalt
sales.
Clearly the Moregrove people now under the
leadership of Peter Willemse and Neo Bepswa
(who made a considerable input as quarry
foreman), continue the respected tradi-
tions which have taken the Moregrove
operation into what it is today. The people
of Moregrove have always been forward
thinkers and are leaders in quality and
customer service, continuing to plan the
successes which will take it well into the
future.
MQ
wishes Sidwell Rafefume who has
taken up the new position at Moregrove
much success in his career.
Report and photos by Dale Kelly
The original quarry pit has
become a haven for bird life.
Lafarge prides itself on quality
products. Photograph shows
some of the product on the floor.