Modern Quarrying July-August 2015

AROUND THE INDUSTRY AT THE QUARRY FACE WITH BREW LSKLOOF

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

The Bell brand was evident in the quarry with B30 dumpers, 2106 loaders and some older B17 dumpers at work.

Entrance to Brewelskloof quarry.

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MODERN QUARRYING

July - August 2015