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AROUND THE
INDUSTRY
July - August 2015
MODERN QUARRYING
17
Brewelskloof does its own grading and mate-
rial is tested constantly. In-process quality control
is ensured by constant monitoring and evalua-
tion with a computerised maintenance strategy
employed to ensure absolute reliability and
minimum downtime. “We have a zero-tolerance
approach towards defects or deviations from qual-
ity standards and specifications,” Coad says.
The quarry has two major washplants for
its roadstone aggregate. Looking at the closest
wash plant, Coad says in terms of wash plants,
this is huge. “That’s what makes it a challenge,” he
says. “You have your Colto specification and from
January or February next year, we will fall under
the SANS specification, so quality standards are
critical.” During our walkabout, the large wash
plant was washing a 6,7 mm roadstone product.
The older wash plant was also in use, washing a
crushed material.
The Bell brand was clearly evident in the quarry
with B30 dumpers, 2106 loaders and some older
B17 dumpers. “There are upgrades planned, and
we are looking at possibly putting in B20s as part
of our efficiency and productivity drive,” Coad says.
There was a 30 t Hitachi excavator working in the
quarry at the time of our visit.
The quarry site is extremely neat and efficiently
stockpiled. Discussing the mining plan, Coad says
the final benches are in the process of completion.
“We are doing the pre-split lines on the benches
and then we will start developing the floor. Our
plan is to start skyline stabilisation and we are
waiting on the DMR in this regard. However, our
future development is on the floor.”
There are three more layers to go down on the
floor and
MQ
could see that the quarry has opened
up. There is no apparent rock movement and the
general stability of the quarry is good. “The quarry
was bouldered-out a while back, and we have man-
aged to clean it up. There will be no more mining
of the benches,” he says, pointing out where Phase
one and Phase two will take place in the future.
Life of mine is about 25 years with the planned
new development for which the mining rights have
been approved.
From an Afrimat point of view, a person can
Entrance to Brewelskloof quarry.
The Bell brand was evident in
the quarry with B30 dumpers,
2106 loaders and some older
B17 dumpers at work.
AT THE
QUARRY FACE
WITH
BREW LSKLOOF