GMSI donates mineral resource management tool to Pretoria University`s mining engineering department

Graphic Mining Solutions International (GMSI), a business unit of the JSE-listed AST Group, has donated its CADSmine software suite, worth well in excess of R1 million, to the University of Pretoria`s Department of Mining Engineering.

CADSmine is a mineral resource management tool providing graphical interfaces for mining applications, using MicroStation as the platform.

"GMSI was approached by the University of Pretoria for assistance in ensuring that students were trained in the tools of the industry in which they wish to develop their careers," explains Dolf Prinsloo, MD for GMSI.

"The University`s Department of Mining Engineering will use the CADSmine tools as an aid in lecturing and to assist with the execution of project work for the industry."

"The CADSmine suite will also encourage practical innovation in teaching methods," adds Prinsloo. "By learning to use the latest information management technologies available to the industry, the next generation of mining engineers will be better equipped to extract maximum value from the orebodies that they will manage in the future."

The CADSmine management tool includes the following specifications:

• .         Geological modelling - Modelling of the structural features of the ore body and host symbols can be defined and placed on structural and reef planes. This module has tools that enable the intersection of various structurally defined planes to be extrapolated.

• .         Survey Measurement - Providing 3D graphical representations of monthly measurements together with attached data. The capture of stoping and development includes extra functionality such as vamping, sweeping, waste cuts, sliping etc.

• .         Ore Reserve Management - The creation and maintenance of an ore reserve block database in a 3D environment. The ore reserve block categories comply with international standards and convention. For example, value distributions of g/t, stope width, variance and profit can be displayed in 3D models. Ore Reserve reports can be generated.

• .         Depletion - The ability to deplete an ore reserve block against a survey measurement polygon to enable dynamic monthly generations of available ore reserves.

• .         Mine Design - The ability to create 3D mining elements to represent a mining framework for the extraction of an ore body. Mining directions, mining rates, gradient and element dimensions can quickly be edited and regenerated.

• .         Scheduling - The ability to define time scales and dependencies against the mine design plan, the flexibility to alter mining rates, directions, delays and dependencies against the various designs.

• .         Valuation - Reports in the form of the graphical profiles of various parameters, eg tonnage, revenue, profit etc. can be generated. The process whereby mine design, scheduling, survey measurement and ore reserve blocks are valuated in terms of grade and channel width against a Kriged grid. The ability to create numerous facies polygons and to effectively create a geological model. These polygons may be valuated against a Kriged grid or other statistical means.

GMSI is known for its understanding of the mining business, its integrity and commitment in delivering solutions that empower production decision-making. Their clients include the largest mining companies in SA and examples of the organisational offerings are:

• .         operational management services

• .         mining technical services outsourcing

• .         mining technical systems and system integration services

• .         integrated risk management systems

• .         operational logistics