I-Site Shines On Diamond Mine

I-Site shines on diamond mine

The Maptek I-Site 8800 laser scanning system helps De Beers track and manage pit surfaces, ore stockpiles and waste dumps at the Venetia Mine in South Africa.

In 2006 the De Beers survey team began using I-Site laser scanning to survey the pit and stockpiles, upgrading to the I-Site 8800 laser scanner in 2012. The longer range scanner surveyed the pit more efficiently, and handled the large stockpiles with ease.

De Beers Venetia Mine, in Limpopo Province, is close to the border of Botswana and Zimbabwe. The mine opened in 1992 and produces about 3 million carats per year, making it the leading diamond producer in South Africa.

Challenges

With a pit measuring more than 2100 m x 1300 m and still expanding, there is a continual problem with overspill material falling from the top benches onto ramps and benches below.

This needs to be measured for month end reconciliation, which could not be achieved accurately or safely before I-Site technology was introduced.

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