Ivanhoe Platreef Mine: Dolomite Stability Investigation for Dry Stack Tailings Storage Facility. This facility included the DSI for the DSF, the upper filter plant and the lower return water dam, covering an area of approximately 185ha. The investigation was conducted by gravimetrical surveys (2357 stations), including the drilling of 107 percussion boreholes.
Southern Sphere Platinum Mine: The initial geotechnical investigations were conducted for three potential TSF positions during a feasibility phase investigation, and followed by a detailed geotechnical investigation for the final TSF footprint and plant site. The investigation was completed by means test pit excavations and by drilling of rotary cored boreholes to determine the quality of foundations with depth, with extensive laboratory testing analyses.
Ivanhoe Platreef Mine: Foundation investigation for Dry Stack Tailings Storage Facility. The DSF was investigated by means of 97 test pit excavations with a large excavator. The investigation included extensive laboratory testing to determine potential sources for impermeable clay liners, embankment construction materials and to determine the strength and settlement characteristics of the potential construction materials.
Tweefontein Mine: Tailings Storage Facility. This investigation was conducted for a new TSF along a steep slope, covering an area of 35 ha. The investigation was conducted by means of geotechnical mapping, test pit excavations and by the drilling of rotary cored boreholes (7 Nos.) to understand the geotechnical conditions below the foundations. Of interest to note was the occurrence of bedrock outcrop along the upper slopes while the lower portion of the TSF was covered by thick colluvium and calcrete formations.
TGME Gold Mine: Design level Dolomite Stability Investigation conducted for the plant site and the extension of the existing TSF. This project was completed by extensive percussion drilling across the two sites and by interpretation of existing information dating back to the 1970s, 80s and various investigations conducted till 2023. Of interest was to understand the effects of syenite intrusions as well as their orientations relative to the existing weathered dolomitic conditions.
Ivanhoe Platreef Mine: Foundation inspections and review of constructed platforms for the plant infrastructure during 2022 to 2023, while additional investigations were conducted for winder houses and associated structures at three new vertical shafts.
ProCrop Dams, Free State: Geotechnical investigations for the construction of three new earth-fill embankment dams varying between 5m and 15m in height. The investigation was conducted by means geophysical surveys along the embankments, test pit excavations along the alignments and extensive laboratory testing to determine potential sources for impermeable liner and embankment construction materials.
Bokoni Platinum Mine: The geotechnical investigations were conducted for nine decline shaft collar positions including the stability investigations for the shaft terraces and access roads. This investigation included test pit excavations, the drilling for the decline shaft collar positions as well as core drilling for six inclined boreholes to reach the UG2 reef.
Bushveld Minerals Project: This project included the geotechnical investigations for a 66 ha TSF, a regional plant site area, pollution control and return water dams, stormwater dams, overburden stockpiles, stream diversions and culverts. The investigation was conducted by 63 test pit excavations and extensive laboratory testing to determine sources for platform construction material including impermeable liner and embankment construction materials.
Pilanesberg Platinum Mine: The geotechnical investigation was required for heavy loaded plant infrastructure and was completed by test pit excavations with a large excavator to determine suitable foundation options. This project included the investigations for new platforms and bridge crossings.
Bushveld Vametco Alloys: The geotechnical investigation included 63 test pit excavations with a large excavator to determine foundations conditions for a TSF expansion, waste rock dumps, magnetite dump extensions and pollution control and return water dams. Extensive laboratory testing was conducted to source platform, embankment and impermeable liner construction materials.
Vlakfontein Reservoir: Foundation inspections during the construction of the large 210ML reservoir over a 6-month period.
Louis de Vaal Interchange (Pretoria). A geotechnical investigation was required to determine the geotechnical conditions at the existing interchange to increase the interchange capacity and widening of the bridge. The investigation was conducted by means of cored borehole drilling and test pit excavations to provide suitable foundation options.
With reference to the recently completed projects, Kipaji also conducted the following geotechnical investigations:
Mining infrastructure for Storm Water Management Plans, which generally include investigations for platforms, overburden stockpiles, pollution control dams with silt traps and return water dams (over 60 Projects)
Tailings Storage Facility Investigations and associated infrastructure (13 Projects)
Plant Site Infrastructure with heavy loaded foundations (14 Projects)
Dolomite Stability Investigations including linear investigations and reservoirs
Foundation inspections for large plant infrastructure, dams and reservoirs (5 Projects)
Pipeline Alignments, which includes extensive cuttings and elevated reservoirs (7 Projects)
And various investigations for PV solar plants, wind turbine structures, borrow pits, large buildings and housing developments.
