Research outputs

PhD research in progress (2019)

  • An enterprise development business model for small mining partnerships in the 2015 South African socioeconomic environment (HJ Kriel) (2019)
  • Active suppression of methane in coal mines (A Späth) (2019)
  • Modelling the impact of change in systems and technology in a surface mine (S Uludag) (2019)
  • Leadership interventions in the mining industry (V Arnfield) (2019)
  • Determining an efficient underground mine production schedule (T Ngalamulume) (2019)
  • An investigation of the suitability of South African support structures for small-scale mining as an engine for socioeconomic development (T Gazi) (2019)
  • The effect of pillar shape on pillar strength (JA Maritz) (2019)
  • The development of extended rock engineering criteria for deep mines (Y Jooste) (2019)
  • Layout optimisation for massive orebodies in deep level mines (J Esterhuyse) (2019)
  • Organisational capabilities and the performance of artisanal and small scale mining firms (OD Enjoiwa) (2019)

Master’s degree research in progress (2019)

  • A Preliminary Evaluation of a Hydraulic Mechanical Splitter as a means of Breaking Rock in a Deep-Level Mine (WW de Graaf) (2019)
  • The implementation of people-tracking systems across the South African mining industry for enhanced safety (PL Ngwenyama) (2019)
  • Alignment of mining methods and equipment with expected geology during the initial mine planning phase (D Baloyi) (2019)
  • The eye in the sky – drone investigation (A Bester) (2019)
  • A critical investigation into usability for application in mine design software (MA Neale) (2019)
  • Developing a methodology for accurately and efficiently measuring flyrock with the intention of eventually optimising flyrock prediction models (J van der Walt) (2019)
  • Simulating the time-dependent failure of coal pillars (B Okhuis) (2019)
  • Mine digital nervous system (M Mukheli) (2019)
  • Cave propagation monitoring (P Mzimela) (2019)
  • Influence of geology on pillar stability (AG Hartzenberg) (2019)
  • Layout design in bord and pillar mines with weak alteration layers on the pillar contacts (PM Couto) (2019)

Honours degree reports completed in 2018 and 2019

  • An evaluation of the UG2 pillar strength at Booysensdal Mine (H Maritz) (2019)
  • Bord support design evaluation for Black Rock Mine operations (P Gae) (2019)
  • An investigation into the decline options review and design at Wessels mine (F Nell) (2019)
  • Conventional mining in an ultra-deep level hard rock narrow reef mine (J Gouws) (2019)
  • Optimising footwall development for Bambanani mine (N Zwane) (2019)
  • Financial impact analysis for Basil Read Mining in Venetia Mine due early equipment demobilisation (BPN Kunene) (2019)
  • Effectiveness of fail-safe mechanisms on continuous miner dust control (IPS Mahlangu) (2019)
  • Slope optimization at Makhulu Quarry in Knysna (SE Ngema) (2019)
  • Union mine life of mine ventilation and refrigeration design (JMA Coelho) (2019)
  • An investigation into the feasibility of using battery-powered LHDs at Dwarsrivier chrome mine (H Gouws) (2018)
  • A critical evaluation of the new support unit at Palabora Copper (Pty) Ltd (T Habile) (2018)
  • Auxiliary equipment utilisation at Sishen iron ore mine (A Meek) (2018)
  • Investigating disruptive technological productivity solutions withing the mining value chain (K Philo) (2018)
  • Load and haul optimisation for quarries (R Tshivule) (2018)
  • Impact of poor drilling on blasting outcome (S Ndlazi) (2018)
  • Automation in drilling application in surface mines: coal and hard rock (F Senda) (2018)

Honours degree reports to be completed in 2020

  • An evaluation of the pillar design methodology used at Black Rock Mine Operations (DG Wessels)
  • Impact of the implementation of Industry 4.0 Technology on South African mines (D Ile)
  • Investigation mining cycles (N Nyati)
  • A conceptual graphical user interface design for underground hard rock mines to improve safety and productivity by the use wearable technology (J Ahlers)
  • Trade off study between drill and blast and raise-boring operation (S Dludlu)
  • Opening-up of workings in an old mine (D Swanepoel)
  • An investigation into the effectiveness of blast stemming devices for surface blasting (RP Els)
  • A Review of techniques for Analysing Rock Fragmentation - Focus on Surface Mining Operations (CT Simelane)
  • Minimizing the Environmental Impact of Blasting Operations on the Communities at Mogalakwena Platinum Mine (H Hinricks)
  • A literature study on the need for stemming and best practice in the mining industry (T Oates)
  • Optimization of the underground mining layout at Northam Platinum's, Zondereinde mine (HMM Du Toit)
  • Cost Implications in Underground Development (JG Heyneke)
  • Underground Mining Methods (DJ Lekomanyane)
  • Investigating the feasibility of using bord and pillar layouts at great depth (ML Mahlangu)
  • Support designing for shallow mechanized mining (BC Mekgwe)
  • Evaluating emerging synergies within the mining value chain using systematic analysis to improve sustainability (BC Mkalipi)
  • The role of leadership in technology adoption (PJ Mokganya)
  • Drill and Blast: Backbone of Mining Value Chain (TF Moseamedi)
  • The impact of geological features on hanging wall stability and the mitigation through rock engineering principles in shallow underground mining (LKP Mphaphuli)
  • A Reassessment of the Effectiveness of Pillar Design Methods Utilised in Intermediate-Depth Hard Rock Mines (EM Ndebele)
  • Drill and blast optimization for improved shovel dig rates (SF Ngubo)
  • The effect of timing delay on  the blast fragmentation (SP Nkoana)
  • Laboratory testing of the effect of pillar shape on pillar strength (KC Papo)
  • Factors affecting the onset of the goaf during pillar extraction in the Highveld Coalfields - A Matla Coal Case study (TP Pule)
  • The impact of fourth industrial revolution in South African mining companies/industries (D Shabangu)
  • Mechanical behavior of laminated roof strata in coal mining (NE Shangase)

Journal articles published in 2018 and 2019

  • Maritz, J.A. & Uludag, S. 2019. Developing a mining plan for restarting the operation at Uis mine. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 119(7): 621–630.
  • Uys, J. & Webber-Youngman, R.C.W. 2019. A 4D leadership model postulation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution relating to the South African mining industry. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 119(10): 793–800.
  • Venter, I.J. 2019. The modern girl and lady: Negotiating modern womanhood in a South African Magazine, 1910‒1920. South African Historical Journal, 71(2): 170–196.
  • Webber-Youngman, R.C.W., Grobler, H., Gazi, T., Stroh, F. & Van der Vyver, A. 2019. The impact of forensic laser scanning technology on incident investigations in the mining industry. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 119(10): 817‒824.
  • De Graaf, W. & Spiteri, W. 2018. A preliminary qualitative evaluation of a hydraulic splitting cylinder for breaking rock in deep-level mining. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 118(8): 891–897.
  • Haupt, M. & Webber-Youngman, R. 2018. Engineering education: An integrated problem-solving framework for discipline-specific professional development in mining engineering. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 118(1): 27–37.
  • Esterhuyse, J.C. & Malan, D.F. 2018. Some rock engineering aspects of multi-reef pillar extraction on the Ventersdorp Contact Reef. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 118(12): 1285–1296.
  • Malan, D.F. & Napier, J.A.L. 2018. A limit equilibrium fracture zone model to investigate seismicity in coal mines. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 28: 745–753.
  • Malan, D.F. & Napier, J.A.L. 2018. Rockburst support in shallow-dipping tabular stopes at great depth. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 112: 302–312.
  • Napier, J.A.L. & Malan, D.F. 2018. Simulation of tabular mine f ace advance rates using a simplified fracture zone module. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 109: 105–114.
  • Uludag, S. & Pasch, O. 2018. Optimisation of the load-and-haul operation at an open-cast colliery. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 118(5): 449–456.
  • Webber-Youngman R.C.W., Uys J., 2019, “A 4D Leadership Model Postulation in the 4th Industrial Revolution relating to the South African Mining Industry” Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (article finalized for publication), Volume 119, Issue October 2019, Pages 1-8

Conference papers delivered in 2018 and 2019

  • Couto, P.M. & Malan, D.F. 2019. Deformation measurements of Basal Reef stopes with cemented backfill in South Africa. Proceedings of the 14th ISRM Congress, 13‒18 September 2019, Foz do Iquacu, Brazil.
  • Hartzenberg, A.G., Du Plessis, M. & Malan, D.F. 2019. The effect of alteration layers on UG2 pillar behaviour in the Bushveld Complex. Proceedings of the 14th ISRM Congress, 13‒18 September 2019, Foz do Iquacu, Brazil.
  • Malan, D.F & Jooste,Y. 2019. Layout design criteria for deep tabular mines: Quo Vadis? Proceedings of the Deep Mining 2019 Conference, 9th International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining, The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 24‒25 June 2019, Muldersdrif, South Africa.
  • Malan, D.F. 2019. Innovative rock engineering solutions for deep tabular excavations. Proceedings of the 14th ISRM Congress, Foz do Iquacu, Brazil, 13-18 Sept 2019.
  • Maritz, J.A. and Malan, D.F., A limit equilibrium model to simulate the effect of pillar geometry, In: Proceedings 14th ISRM Congress, 13‒18 September 2019, Foz do Iquacu, Brazil.
  • Couto, P.M. 2018. The effect of mining layout, regional pillars and backfill support on delaying expected shaft deformation at Bambanani mine. Proceedings of Eurock 2018, Geomechanics and Geodynamics of Rock Masses, 22–26 May 2018, Saint Petersburg, Russia, vol. 1, pp. 235–240.
  • Hartzenberg, A.G. & Du Plessis, M. 2018. Investigating the mechanism contributing to large scale structurally driven hanging wall instabilities on the UG2 reef horizon. Proceedings of Eurock 2018, Geomechanics and Geodynamics of Rock Masses, 22–26 May 2018, Saint Petersburg, Russia,
    vol. 1, pp. 293–297.
  • Du Plessis, M. & Malan, D.F. 2018. The effect of rock mass stiffn ess on crush pillar behaviour. Proceedings of Eurock 2018, Geomechanics and Geodynamics of Rock Masses, 22–26 May 2018, Saint Petersburg, Russia, vol. 1, pp. 871–876.
  • Maritz, J. & Wagner, H. 2018. The need for formal rock engineering expertise in deep mining. Proceedings of Eurock 2018, Geomechanics and Geodynamics of Rock Masses, 22–26 May 2018, Saint Petersburg, Russia, vol. 2, pp. 1047–1051.
  • Maritz, J. & De Beer, J. 2018. Using games to teach support design. Proceedings of the 10th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium (ISRM International Symposium 2018), 29 October–3 November 2018, Singapore, pp. 1–10.
  • Ngwenyama, P. & De Graaf, W. 2018. A trade-off between the bord collapse and the bord-and-pillar collapse blasting techniques in opencast pillar mining operations. Proceedings of 4th Young Professionals Conference (Creating a sustainable African minerals industry through applied innovation), 18–19 September 2018, Sandton, South Africa, pp. 123–136.
  • Pretorius, L. & Uludag, S. 2018. System thinking, a modelling tool for managing change in a mining environment. Proceedings of the 2018 IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Conference (TEMSCON 2018), 28 June–1 July 2018, Evanston, IL, pp. 1–7.

Publication pipeline for 2020

Journal articles

  • Jooste, Y. & Malan, D.F. The need for improved layout design criteria for deep tabular stopes (published in Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 120(1): 23‒32)
  • Couto, P & Malan, D.F. A back analysis of the pillar collapse at Everest Mine
  • De Graaf, W.W. & Oates, T. Blasting towards sustainable mining
  • Malan, D.F. & Napier, J.A.L. Simulating the strength of pillars affected by weak contact planes
  • Maritz, J.A & Malan, D.F. Numerical simulation of the effect of pillar shape on pillar strength 
  • Meyer, B.M. & Malan, D.F. Core boring in narrow reef extraction.
  • Napier, J.A.L & Malan, D.F. A limit equilibrium model of tabular mine pillar failure (submitted to Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering)
  • Ntsekhe, M.J. & De Graaf, W.W. A critical investigation into mining coal losses at Klipspruit Colliery (submitted to Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy)
  • Oates, T. & Spiteri W. A literature study on the need for stemming and best practice in the mining industry, (submitted to Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy)
  • Webber-Youngman, R., Govender, M. & Du Plessis, J. A critical investigation into spontaneous combustion in coal storage bunkers
  • Webber-Youngman R. & Preis, E. Identifying cost factors relating to mining incidents
  • Webber-Youngman, R. & Preis, E. Investigating the stage-gate model as a research and development implementation process in modernising the South African mining industry
  • Webber-Youngman, R. &Jacobs, J. The potential applications of augmented reality in the mining industry
  • Webber-Youngman, R. & Ngwenya, L. A critical investigation into missing persons in underground mines and the related tracking, two-way communication and on-scene locator technology
  • Uys, J.; Webber-Youngman, R. (2020): A 4.0D Leadership Model for Mining and Related Industries in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  In: Mining Report Glückauf (156) Heft 1, pp 21 -29. https://mining-report.de/english/gluckauf-1-2020/

Conference papers

  • Couto, P.M. & Malan, D.F. Production rates versus seismic response in deep level mining (accepted for the ISRM International Symposium, Eurock 2020 – Hard Rock Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, October 2020)
  • Maritz, J.A. & Malan, D.F. A numerical assessment of the perimeter rule for pillar strength calculations (accepted for the ISRM International Symposium, Eurock 2020 – Hard Rock Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, October 2020)
  • Maritz, J.A. & Botha, A. Visualising and tracking of graduate attribute performance: A mining engineering case study (submitted for the World Engineering Educators Forum 2020, Cape Town, South Africa, November 2020)
  • Meyer, L.D. Tunnel boring in highly fractured ground (accepted for the ISRM International Symposium, Eurock 2020 – Hard Rock Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, October 2020)
  • Napier, J.A.L. & Malan, D.F. The simulation of thin layer material discontinuities in tabular mine pillar layouts (accepted for the ISRM International Symposium, Eurock 2020 – Hard Rock Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, October 2020)

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