Mine dam collapse - Jagersfontein

airborne

Honorary Master
Joined
Jul 13, 2007
Messages
18,068
Nothing like being swamped with mine tailings to contaminate everything with heavy metals and all kinds of other nasty substances. Wonder if a proper clean up and restitution to home owners will be done?
 

Oldfut

Expert Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2018
Messages
2,340
Didn't this happen in Virginia some 20 odd years ago? IIRC it was worse
Yup, Merriespruit; 17 killed. These tailings dams need careful construction as the tailings are essentially a liquid slurry, placed by pumping and must drain without eroding and gain strength, particularly the outside sections (dykes) before the next layer is placed. Usually have a fair bit of monitoring instrumentation so that water pressures within the slimes can be tracked and monitored against stability models and the design. Specialist business.
 

dlk001

Executive Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2005
Messages
7,369
And that expertise still exists? The real experts have left the country. The new lot can't even pass matric with more than 30%.
We have many Geotechnical Engineering including tailings dam experts in SA. Some of the best in the world. However, there is generally a lack of succession planning around the world concerning mining geotechnical engineers and its concerning.
 
Last edited:

Oldfut

Expert Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2018
Messages
2,340
We have many Geotechnical Engineering including tailings dam experts in SA. Some of the best in the world. However, there is generally a lack of succession planning around the world concerning mining geotechnical engineers and concerning.
Agreed and succession is an issue. This is where "government" is so stupid. Many of the companies in SA work into Africa and South America (also US, Canada etc but these tend to be from branches there). Such service businesses should be nurtured, encouraged and protected with support for graduate engineers to get experience. This support should start by allocating local projects to these firms, not Gupta chums or nothing at all.
 

dlk001

Executive Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2005
Messages
7,369
Agreed and succession is an issue. This is where "government" is so stupid. Many of the companies in SA work into Africa and South America (also US, Canada etc but these tend to be from branches there). Such service businesses should be nurtured, encouraged and protected with support for graduate engineers to get experience. This support should start by allocating local projects to these firms, not Gupta chums or nothing at all.

Agreed, the problem is the lack of will and deploying people (politicians) who are not competent to do their job.
 

dlk001

Executive Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2005
Messages
7,369
The mine’s dumps and slime still "belong" to De Beers and the government’s access has been restricted by a court order, Nathi Shabangu, a spokesman for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said via SMS. “We also have reports that the mine has been sold to other parties, without the involvement of the DMRE as per the court order,” he said. https://www.news24.com/fin24/Compan...s-still-belong-to-de-beers-says-dmre-20220911

Minerals Council South Africa, a mining industry lobbying group, said the cause of the dam collapse was unknown.

The Jagersfontein assets are not currently owned by any of its members, and it has no information about the ownership structure or the standard of management of the dumps, the group said in a statement.
 

R13...

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
46,550
The mine’s dumps and slime still "belong" to De Beers and the government’s access has been restricted by a court order, Nathi Shabangu, a spokesman for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said via SMS. “We also have reports that the mine has been sold to other parties, without the involvement of the DMRE as per the court order,” he said. https://www.news24.com/fin24/Compan...s-still-belong-to-de-beers-says-dmre-20220911

Minerals Council South Africa, a mining industry lobbying group, said the cause of the dam collapse was unknown.

The Jagersfontein assets are not currently owned by any of its members, and it has no information about the ownership structure or the standard of management of the dumps, the group said in a statement.
Current news says nothing about de beers. The province and municipality have been dealing with the current owners apparently.
 

dlk001

Executive Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2005
Messages
7,369
Current news says nothing about de beers. The province and municipality have been dealing with the current owners apparently.

The mine was owned by De Beers and "sold". Currently, it is operated by Jagersfontein Developments (Pty) Ltd. I say "sold" because selling liability means many things and De Beers cannot fully walk away from that.
 

dlk001

Executive Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2005
Messages
7,369

We don’t own the mine where dam burst in Jagersfontein: De Beers​


Mining company De Beers says it has not been the owner of the mine where a sludge dam burst in Jagersfontein in the Free State for more than ten years.

This follows a report that Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said De Beers would have to take full responsibility for the damages caused.

Minister Mantashe has cited a 2007 court case regarding the mine. He says the ministry still does not agree with the ruling.

 

The Free Radical

Expert Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2017
Messages
1,215
Those Dead Sea mall mud sellers are going to start smousing the mud as hair-care products.
They leave your hair full of body.
 

SHL

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2012
Messages
2,508
Nothing like being swamped with mine tailings to contaminate everything with heavy metals and all kinds of other nasty substances. Wonder if a proper clean up and restitution to home owners will be done?
ANC reaction...

giphy-downsized.gif
 

grok

Honorary Master
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
28,671

We don’t own the mine where dam burst in Jagersfontein: De Beers​


Mining company De Beers says it has not been the owner of the mine where a sludge dam burst in Jagersfontein in the Free State for more than ten years.

This follows a report that Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said De Beers would have to take full responsibility for the damages caused.

Minister Mantashe has cited a 2007 court case regarding the mine. He says the ministry still does not agree with the ruling.

If the idiot with the stomach disagrees with something, you just know that it was 100% the correct ruling..
 

RedViking

Nord of the South
Joined
Feb 23, 2012
Messages
58,139
The mine’s dumps and slime still "belong" to De Beers and the government’s access has been restricted by a court order, Nathi Shabangu, a spokesman for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said via SMS. “We also have reports that the mine has been sold to other parties, without the involvement of the DMRE as per the court order,” he said. https://www.news24.com/fin24/Compan...s-still-belong-to-de-beers-says-dmre-20220911

Minerals Council South Africa, a mining industry lobbying group, said the cause of the dam collapse was unknown.

The Jagersfontein assets are not currently owned by any of its members, and it has no information about the ownership structure or the standard of management of the dumps, the group said in a statement.
In other words.

One massive corporate mess.
 

Priapus

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
11,417
Phama says they hope that help from the provincial government will be afforded as quickly as possible to avoid any further damages.

:ROFL: :ROFL::ROFL:
 

RedViking

Nord of the South
Joined
Feb 23, 2012
Messages
58,139

1662977346395.png
 

konfab

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 23, 2008
Messages
36,118
The ANC government: All the natural resources in the country belong to the government.
The ANC government: All the dams in the country belong to the government.
The ANC government: We want control of the entire mining sector.
The ANC government: You need our permission to sell the dam.

Also the ANC government: That dam isn't the responsibility of the government.
 
Top