Mine Survey Practice In
In 1923, the need for the standardisation of the mine survey
discipline was acknowledged by the formation of the Institute of Mine Surveyors
of South Africa (IMSSA), which has since enjoyed the wholehearted support of the
mining authorities in the country.
The Institute’s primary objectives are
to advance the science and practice of mine surveying and allied disciplines, to
promote and protect the character and interests of the profession of mine
surveying, and to foster professional etiquette. (Code of ethics)
The
The Government Mine Surveyor’s Certificate of Competency (COC) is a requirement for appointment
as responsible mine surveyor on a mine.
Mine Survey Education at the
For more information, please contact the Department of Mine Surveying on +27 (011) 406-2357
by e-mail. The Witwatersrand Technikon, now with
Mine Survey
Education at the University of the
Engineering
& the Built Environment
email: Mining
Engineering
The School offers amongst others, the
postgraduate qualification:
Graduate Diploma
In Engineering (G.D.E.)
The Graduate Diploma in Engineering
(G.D.E.) involves passing six postgraduate courses taken from the selection
offered by the School. A student may convert a G.D.E. to an M.Sc by completing
a project report or, in the fields of mineral economics and rock mechanics, by
completing a further six courses.
Competency-based training in the various mining groups is
provided in-house, in some cases on-the-job, in others via formalised training
courses. The trainee has the opportunity to work his way up the promotional
ladder via a set of examinations.
IMSSA has produced the ‘Technical Procedures Guidelines’ for
Mine Surveying, to which a Mine Manager’s "Code of Practice for Mine
Surveying" would refer .
On surface the advent of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) has
had a profound effect on survey practice. It is interesting to note that the
mining industry in
To those South African mining houses whom have ventured
off-shore, GPS has proved indispensable.
On the base metal mines of
Underground sampling of the ore is still largely a chip-sampling
operation.
A number of mines make use of a diamond saw-cutter, which
removes a wedge or v-shaped sample very cleanly from the face.
Major Mining Groups are financing the development of a gold
analyser, which employs a radioactive isotope to bombard and excite gold
particles in the face. These, in turn, release other atomic particles, which
are collected by the analyser and converted into a grams per ton reading. An
earlier prototype developed by the Chamber of Mine's Research Organisation
operated successfully on certain of the
However, it appears that the necessary support promised by the
developers is not forthcoming, and the User Group will have to increase
pressure on the local and international agents to come up with a definite
answer.
As mentioned earlier, IMSSA was established in 1923. Its primary
objectives are to advance the science and practice of mine surveying, mine
valuation and allied disciplines and to promote and protect the character and
interests of the profession of mine surveying and to foster professional
etiquette.
The Council is elected once a year and comprises 17 members,
being the President, two Vice-Presidents, the immediate Past President and 13
others, four of whom are representatives of District branches.
Council meets formally four times a year.
The Annual General Meeting is held in September of each year
and, where possible, takes the format of a one or two day seminar, or a
colloquium followed by the AGM in the afternoon. In addition, a three-day
conference (IMSCON) is organised every four years. The Institute also maintains
representation on the organising committee of ‘CONSAS’ (Conference of Southern
African Surveyors), which is supported by all branches of the surveying
profession in SA and takes place every fourth year.
Finally, the Institute is also a member of the International
Society of Mine Surveying (ISM) and has been granted the privilege of hosting
the 2008 Presidium and in 2010, the ISM Congress.
Negotiations with the South African Council for Professional and
Technical Surveyors, PLATO, have led to the registration of Mine
Surveyors under the Land Survey Act, 1997 (Act No 8 of 1997) within that
organisation.
Visit the ISM site to find out how they view the role of a mine surveyor.
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Updated 22/09/2008 16:53:39