M. Tech. Human Resources Management / It is important to acknowledge that employees need to be physically and mentally healthy in order to be productive, thus boosting the profitability of the organisation. According to resources, employee assistance programmes have the potential of enhancing the profitability of the company by reducing absenteeism, staff turnover, tardiness, accidents and medical claims. The problem statement of this study involves the uncertainty about the perceptions of the employees in the coal mines within the Nkangala region about the outsourced employee assistance programmes. It is only one coal mining company and an Employee Assistance Programmes service provider that granted permission to conduct the research at their organisations. This research project aims to evaluate the perceptions of the employees of the coal mine within the Nkangala region in South Africa, about the outsourced employee assistance programmes. The objectives of the study are to determine if the perceptions of demographic groups differ and also to determine if there are relationships between the theoretically envisaged subscales or dimensions.

M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of this research it to investigate factors that can sustain T1 category small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that provides service at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg. The population for the study was 53 SMEs owners/directors, convenient sampling was used and a sample of 26 percent responded to the questionnaire.

Detailed geological knowledge is often a major unknown factor in open pit mining and design, and therefore poses a significant risk in the mining venture. As the knowledge of the geology improves so the risk of unforeseen conditions reduces and therefore safety and productivity can be increased. Historically, geotechnical methods and information have predominantly been used exclusively for pit slope optimisation. This research documents the procedures and developments undertaken to compile a comprehensive geotechnical database, and the application of the geotechnical data to open pit mining, beneficiation and planning. The utilisation of the geotechnical information has been enhanced through the novel development and application of a computerised, 3D geotechnical model. Sandsloot open pit was developed to extract the Platreef pyroxenite orebody, which is hosted within the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex. Sandsloot is currently the world's largest open pit exploiting Platinum Group Metals. Interaction of the basic magma with the footwall sediments of the Transvaal Supergroup and varying degrees of assimilation has resulted in a unique suite of hybrid rock types. These various rock types provide significant engineering geological challenges. Geology and the detailed understanding of its properties are fundamental to the optimal design and successful operation of any mine. Extensive fieldwork was conducted to collect geotechnical information, both from exploration boreholes and in-pit mining faces. Over a 5-year period, geotechnical data were collected from 29,213 m of exploration core and 6,873 m of exposed mining faces. Extensive field and laboratory testing was undertaken in order to define the complete set of geotechnical properties for each rock type in the Sandsloot mining area. The geotechnical information relating to each borehole and facemap was stored in the Datamine® software package. The information was collected in the form of rock mass rating (RMR), uniaxial compressive strength (DCS), fracture frequency (FF/m) and rock quality designation (RQD). The architecture of the database was developed along the principals used for generating an ore reserve model. One of the novel applications was the development of a computerized 3D, geotechnical model in Datamine®. The geotechnical parameters, namely RMR, DCS, FF/m and RQD, were modelled for each rock type, using geostatistics, to generate a 3D model. The data were interpolated between exploration boreholes and exposed mining faces and the modelling was constrained using wireframes separated by rock type. The result is a 3D model containing 15 m3 model blocks populated with interpolated geotechnical information. The dimensions of the model blocks are linked to the mining bench height of 15 m. The model can be queried to give predictions on rock mass conditions for any planned mining area, as is the case with the ore reserve model, which provides predictions on platinum grades. The crux of the innovative research is the practical application of the 3D geotechnical model. This was achieved through the development of both a fragmentation and a slope design model, which read the interpolated geotechnical information. These models provided an engineering tool to optimise mining and milling perfonnance. Rather than viewing the drill and blast department as an isolated cost centre and focussing on minimising drill and blast costs, the application of the model concentrated on the fragmentation requirements of the milling and mining business areas. Two hundred and thirty-eight blasts were assessed to detennine the optimum fragmentation requirements for ore and waste. Based on the study a mean fragmentation target of 150 mm was set for delivery to the crushing circuit and a mean fragmentation of 230 mm was set for waste loading from the pit. The mine operates autogenous mills, which are sensitive to the fragmentation profile delivered. The harder zones occurring in the ore zone have a major impact on the plant's perfonnance. The geotechnical parameters in the model were related to Lilly's Blastability Index, and in turn to required explosive volumes and the associated drill and blast costs. Having defmed the fragmentation targets, the Kuz-Ram equation was used in the fragmentation model to predict the explosive volumes required to ensure consistent mining and milling perfonnance. The geotechnical model is used to predict changes in geotechnical conditions and therefore the blasting parameters can be adjusted in advance to ensure the milling and mining fragmentation requirements are met. Through the application of the fragmentation model over an eighteen-month period the loading and milling efficiencies improved by 8.5% and 8.8% respectively, resulting in additional revenue ofR29 million for PPL. Based on the mining rock mass rating (MRMR) values within the geotechnical model a stable slope design model was created in order to calculate optimum inter-ramp angles. From a slope design perspective the model was used to target data-deficient zones and highlight potentially weak rock mass areas. As this can be viewed in 3D, the open pit slopes were designed to accommodate the poor quality areas before they are excavated. It also follows that competent geotechnical zones can be readily identified and the slope optimised accordingly. Due to the detailed geotechnical infonnation being available in three dimensions, the open pit slopes were designed based on a risk versus reward profile. As a significant geotechnical database was available, more accurate and reliable designs were generated resulting in the overall slope angle increasing by 3 degrees. This optimisation process will result in a revenue gain of R900 million over the life of the mine. The revenue and safety benefits associated with this design methodology are substantial and have potential application to all open pit mining operations. The research has enabled detailed geotechnical infonnation to be available in three dimensions. This information can be readily accessed and interpreted, thus providing a powerful planning and financial tool from which production optimisations, feasibility studies and planning initiatives can be implemented. The development and application of a 3D geotechnical model has added a new dimension to the constant strive for business improvement and reflects a novel and successful approach towards the application of engineering geology at the Sandsloot mining operation. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

This thesis analyses the establishment of a health and safety system on the Witwatersrand gold mines in the period between the end of the South African War and the eve of World War Two. The period has been chosen, firstly, because the South African War had seriously disrupted production and the industry virtually had to start up again from scratch; secondly, because it was during this period that mine and state officials began to seriously investigate the reasons for the appalling mortality and morbidity rates on these mines; and, thirdly, because during this period some improvements did occur which were significant enough to enable the industry to warrant the lifting, in the latter part of the 1930s, of the ban on tropicals, enforced since 1913 as a result of their extremely high mortality rate. In the first thirty years of the twentieth century about 93 000 African miners died disease-related deaths and in the same period some 15000 African miners were killed in work-related deaths. In attempting to establish why so many African miners died, the thesis attempts to identify the diseases and accidents that caused these deaths and considers what attempts were made to bring mortality and morbidity rates down. Whilst the thesis is neither a history of gold mining in South Africa nor an economic history of South Africa in the period 1901 to 1939, it nevertheless, as detailed in the first chapter, places the health and safety system within the context of the wider political and economic forces that shaped the mining industry in this period. The need for a productive and efficient labour force, vital for the industry'S survival during a number of profitability crises in this period, forced the industry to reassess compound structures, nutrition and eventually the health of its work force. These issues of compounds, work and diet are discussed in chapters two, three and four. Appalling living and working conditions led to a high incidence of pulmonary diseases - TB, silicosis and pneumonia - which were the principal killers on the mines. Attempts to cure or prevent their occurrence are discussed in chapter five. Fear of disruptions to production ensured that the mining industry eventually also devoted considerable resources to accident prevention, a theme which is discussed in chapter six. The thesis concludes that the mining industry for much of this period was able to determine the pace of change; neither state officials nor African miners were able to significantly alter the tempo. In fact the industry was so successful that it was able to convince a number of government commissions in the 1940s that the migrant system had to stay, to ensure the wellbeing of the miner. This meant that despite considerable time, money and effort being spent on establishing a health and safety system on the gold mines, the mining industry was still of the opinion that the health of their workers was best served if they were sent home.

Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Technikon, 2000. / The large quantities of wood chips produced at mines from damaged underground timber contain gold that cannot be completely recovered by cyanidation. A fungus that can degrade a portion of the wood matrix will allow the gold that was previously locked up, to come into contact with the cyanide solution during beneficiation, thereby improving recoveries. The fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium produces enzymes that use the organic compounds found in lignin as substrate. Consequently, the fungus is able to selectively break down lignin, which is one of the major components of wood. Chips sampled from Vaal Reef Mine contained between 2 and 5 mg/kg gold. The main source of gold in the chips was determined to be impregnated gold-bearing ore and discrete gold particles. Direct cyanidation resulted in around 60 per cent recovery prior to biological treatment. Despite relatively high weight losses caused to the chips as a result of treatment with Phanerochaete chrysosporium gold recovery only increased 10 per cent after 4 weeks treatment compared to direct recovery without treatment.

D.Phil. (Geology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Sc. (Geology) / Refer to full text to view abstract

M.Sc. (Geology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. (Business Management) / Trade unionism and trade unions activities in South Africa’s labour relations system and workplaces has a long history of racial segregation characterised by confrontation and antagonism between the employer (management) and trade unions in the workplaces. However, in the South African contemporary labour relations environment the emphasis is more on creation of constructive and cooperative relations between the employer (management) and trade unions in the workplace. The literature study cites managers’ attitudes towards trade unions as one of the factor that could facilitate genuine interaction and promote productive cooperative management – trade unions relations in the workplace. The objective of this study was to assist in identifying and understating managers’ attitudes towards workplace trade unionism in the workplace utilising a coal mining company as a case study. For the purpose of investigating managers’ attitudes towards trade unionism and trade unions in the workplace, a literature review was conducted and the self-administered questionnaire was utilised as the research instrument to collect the primary data about managers’ attitudes towards trade unionism and trade unions in the workplace. The findings of the study reveal that most of the respondents generally harbour positive attitudes towards trade unionism and trade unions in the workplace. Another significant research finding of the study is the identification and existence of four factors underlying managers’ attitudes towards trade unionism and trade unions in the workplace. The factors identified relates to the awareness and understanding of the concept trade unionism and trade unions in the workplace, operational aspects in terms of perceived destructive and constructive role and function of trade unions in the workplace and lastly, management – trade union cooperation and relationship building in the workplace. Recommendations of the study were presented that will assist in improving and entrenching managers’ positive attitudes towards trade unionism and trade unions in the workplace.

The "A" -Reef occurs within the Aandenk Formation of the Central Rand Group, Witwatersrand Supergroup, in the Welkom Goldfield. It comprises the Witpan and Uitsig Reefs which are both oligomictic conglomerates, and are exploited for their gold content by Anglo American Corporation. The main Witpan channel complex is orientated in a NW-SE direction and occurs close to No.3 Shaft of Western Holdings Mine where it is currently being mined. The Witpan Reef varies in thickness from 7-220cm, with lateral facies changes controlling the thickness. Within the reef, gold is associated with degradation surfaces, carbonaceous material, increase in pebble sphericity, and channel edges. Two channel edges have yielded the best gold values on No.3 Shaft although the potential for further payable gold lies in the recognition of sieve conditions. The potential also exists for extensions of the "carbon"-bearing Uitsig channel currently being mined on President Steyn Mine. The palaeo-environment proposed for formation of the Witpan Reef is a braidplain that was partly reworked by a brief transgression. Ore evaluation using geostatistics was considered a valid technique as the dataset is sufficiently well structured. Semi-variograms in the channel and across-channel directions differ markedly. It was found that variograms of gold in cmg/t lacked sufficient structure for modelling, however, log semi-variogram modelling followed by simple log-kriging and back-transformation, proved to be the most successful method. Owing to the morphology and distribution of gold within the reef, a geologically based geostatistical valuation method is proposed. The potential for further exploration of "A" -Reef depends on a substantially higher gold price. In this event, exploration of Uitsig Reef to the southwest of the current mining area is recommended as well as a new exploration strategy for Witpan Reef.