Modern Quarrying April May 2015

AT THE QUARRY FACE WITH MIDMAR

concrete dust which is mostly used for making con- crete blocks as well as sub-base and base coarse, G7, G5 and G2. Blasting is carried out on a monthly basis by Eire Contractors, and it was good to see the neat stockpiles on our drive through. “In July through to August, we always have a larger demand for roadstone, so in May we need to do a production blast, which is the bluestone,” Moore says. “At the moment we have a lot of base course on the stock- pile due to all the new tenders which are beginning to come in.” Monthly production averages between 15 000 and 35 000 t. There is a significant improvement in the benches, which she says, have been somewhat of a problem. “Reserves are competent and we esti- mate another 15 years of life, or longer. We are cur- rently busy with expanding our mining footprint to secure future reserves.” We drove past the plant and the main base course stockpile, which is looking impressive. “This has grown into a mini-mountain since January in

Above: Midmar Crushers’ Plant 2.

Left: Most of the plant at Midmar Crushers has been built by Midmar Crushers founder Louis Fourie. He opened the quarry in 1992 using a mobile crushing plant built entirely by himself. Now, he has a workshop of his own on the 4,0 ha site to refurbish old quarry equipment which will be utilised at the new Canton quarry.

spite of me cutting overtime,”she says proudly.“We are not where I want to be and so there is still a lot of work to be done. With planning and organisa- tion, the quarry should be neat and organised, and this is one of my focus points.” Asked about her philosophy as quarry man- ager she says: “My philosophy is to take one step at a time, and to make that step count. It’s a huge learning curve for me, and I am learning with each

The company’s first offices are on the far left with the workshop behind the offices. This is now being turned in the Malleo offices to house the Sangdo hydraulic hammer business.

19

MODERN QUARRYING

April - May 2015