Constructing the reinforced concrete structure to house the crusher in a 30 m deep pit, as seen from the north. As shown, the structure has reached the floor level upon which the crusher will rest. The inclined channel for the conveyor taking crushed material from below the crusher leads towards the back of the picture. The space between the pit walls and the completed structure will be filled and a tip constructed over an apron feeder which discharges the run-of-mine ore into the crusher.

The site to the east of the crusher pit, dominated by the travelling crane used for construction. The structure to the immediate left of the crane is for the new workshop with the construction change room and dining hall for workers alongside this.

The view looking south from the new crusher pit. The conveyor out of the crusher (foreground) will lead to a transfer house, the start of which can be seen in the centre of the picture. The transfer house will contain a moving head to route the crushed ore either to the existing stockpile (holding a reserve of one-day's supply) or to the new emergency stockpile, which will be able to hold five days' supply. The start of work on the drive station for the new conveyor can be seen just in front of the existing stockpile. The original buildings housing Venetia's process plant, installed by BATEMAN in the early 1990s, are in the background.

Looking north from the existing ore stockpile towards the crusher pit. The foundations of the transfer house and the conveyor are being installed, between an access road on the right and a storm-water drain on the left.

A CAD rendering of Venetia's primary crusher, showing the twin access points (green) for the trucks (yellow) to the tip (mauve) leading to the apron feeder above the crusher. A 90 t bridge crane (red) will be used for construction and subsequent maintenance of the crusher. The conveyor leading to the plant can be seen emerging (bottom right-hand corner) from under the crusher.

Assembling the Allis Chalmers 54/74 crusher. The crusher will reduce between 1 000 t/h and 1 500 t/h of the feed from 1 500 mm to 250 mm. The total weight of the fully-assembled crusher will be 150 t.

Transporting the primary apron feeder to site. It has a length of 18 m, width of 2,5 m and a total weight of 130 t. It will be installed at an angle of 16û and feed the run-of-mine ore, received from 190 t dump trucks, into the crusher.

Venetia diamond project on schedule

Good progress is being made with the R232M project to design, supply, install and commission a replacement primary crusher at the Venetia diamond mine near Musina in the Limpopo Province, RSA. The new crusher will enable the mine to maintain production when the existing crushing plant, located at the edge of the pit, is demolished to permit the expansion of the pit to extend the mine's life.

The contract for the project was awarded to BATEMAN in June 2004 and followed on earlier studies on the feasibility of the project conducted by BATEMAN. The contract also covers conveyors, a workshop and an electrical substation for the plant. Hot commissioning of the primary crusher is scheduled for the first quarter of 2006.

The major mechanical components for the crusher have been manufactured and the construction of the crusher is underway and scheduled for completion towards the end of the year. The bulk earth works and 95 % of the engineering of the major plant components have also been completed.

The contract for the supply and erection of the structural steel, platework and piping was awarded in February 2005 and the contractor established on site by the end of April. The electrical and instrumentation contract covering the supply and installation of the cabling, racking and lighting was placed in May and erection is scheduled for August and September this year.

Currently negotiations are underway with De Beers to increase the scope of the contract by about R90M to relocate the main power grid and sewage system, construct a storm-water dam, additional workshops, new change rooms, provide the pit dewatering system using a skid and trailer-mounted pump station, and upgrade the external security system.

More details may be obtained from:

James Nieuwenhuys, General Manager, Diamonds, on
+27-11-899-2262 or Vincent Diesel, BATEMAN Project Manager, on +27-11-899-3213 or email diamonds@batemanengineering.com.

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