adminGlobal mining giant Rio Tinto yesterday said it is introducing new mapping technology to enhance mineral recovery and improve mining efficiencies while also reducing costs at all its operations.Rio Tinto is a global mining and metals company with operations in countries including Canada, Australia and Zimbabwe.
In Zimbabwe the company operates the Murowa Diamond Mine located near Zvishavane in the Midlands province, a 78 and 22 percent partnership between Rio Tinto and RioZim Limited, an independent Zimbabwean owned and listed company.
The Murowa Diamond Mine produced 152 000 carats during the first half of this year compared to 147 000 carats last year.
In a statement, Rio Tinto said introduction of the new three dimensional mapping (3D) technology was in support of the company drive to improve productivity and reduce costs across its mining operations.
“In a world first under the next phase of its industry-leading mine of the Future programme, Rio Tinto will be able to precisely identify the size, location and quality of ore in real time by retrieving data from automated trucks and drills operating in its mines,” it said.
Rio Tinto head of innovation John McGagh said the new technology was a low cost application and would complement existing data.
“This technology allows us to quickly and easily view, compare and evaluate data to paint a picture of what is under the ground. It is like an ultrasound image of the deposit delivered in real time, something that we could never do before.
“Armed with this detailed information, our operations to recover the ore bodies will be significantly more efficient and effective.”
Mr McGagh said the technology would lead to greater ore recovery through sharper boundary identification, more accurate drill blasting, reduced use of explosives, improved waste classification and enhanced dig rates.
He said trial runs were already underway at its various operations.
“The new 3D technology is deployed at Rio Tinto’s West Angelas iron ore mine in Western Australia and trials are also underway in other Rio Tinto product groups including Copper, Energy and Diamonds and Minerals” he said.
Rio Tinto has interests in energy, aluminum, iron ore and copper. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter