Topic: To analyse the effects of Rukodzi Mine boundary extension on ventilation conditions

and requirements, coming up with economical engineering solutions the effects.

By: Tenson Sithole

A research proposal submitted to Zimbabwe School of Mines in partial fulfilment for the
National Diploma in Mine Ventilation and Environmental Engineering.

Supervisor: Mr. G Manhuru

1.0 Introduction

Zimbabwe Platinum Mines performs platinum mining operations on the Great Dyke of
Zimbabwe and is situated in Mhondoro Ngezi area. The Zimbabwe Platinum Mines Mineral
resource boundary stretches for more than 100km and it has a series of major faults and shear
zones both along and across its strike length. This is one of the reasons that made it
impossible to have a single portal on this ore body so it was divided into a number of Portals,
from Portal 1-10. The boundary between the Portals is either a major structure like a fault or
is based on the designed mine strike length of 3km. The boundary between Portal 1
(Ngwarati Mine) and Portal 2 (Rukodzi Mine) is a major fault called the Fussel’s fault where
as there is no any structural boundary between Rukodzi Mine and Portal 3(Mupfuti Mine).

2.0 Background of the study

Rukodzi Mine was designed to have a maximum of 5 teams at full production, 2 in the South
section and 3 in the North section. In each team there are 3 sub-teams. Each sub-team is
headed by an Overseer Miner and has a total of 19 members. A fleet of machinery is
allocated to each team.

Following the collapse of Bimha Mine (Portal 4) in 2014 which is an underground mine
under the Zimbabwe Platinum Mines mining division, 2 teams from Bimha were absorbed
into Rukodzi Mine and this increased the number of teams at Rukodzi Mine from 5 to 7. The
rate of depletion of Rukodzi Mine reserve increased; hence this resulted in the decrease of the
life of Rukodzi Mine. High speed production occurred during a period between June 2014
and May 2017. According to the plan, Portal 6(Mupani Mine) is the replacement for Portal 2.
The high speed production that occurred at Portal 2 resulted in the premature depletion of the
reserve, well before the development of Portal 6. The 2 teams from Bimha were then returned
to Bimha and since June 2017 Rukodzi Mine has been operating with 5 teams. The Boundary
of Rukodzi Mine was then increased by 451 meters in the North Section at the expense of
Mupfuti Mine reserve. This increased the mineable reserve by 4 million metric tons which
resulted in the extension of the life of the mine up until January 2022. The South section of
Rukodzi mine is expected to be sealed off as soon as the mining faces reach the Fusel’s fault.

Following the extension of the Rukodzi Mine boundary, there has not been any change made
to the ventilation system.

Mine ventilation systems should afford reasonable resistance to pressure losses, dilution of
by-products of combustion from diesel equipment, allay dust, dilute all noxious gases
produced during blasting and provide comfortable working conditions. The productivity of
any mine is determined by the mine environment. Human labour tends to operate at full
capacity if they have the best working environmental conditions.

Rukodzi Mine has two separate ventilation districts, one in the north and the other one in the
South section. The project will focus on the North section ventilation district since it was the
one which was affected by the boundary extension. The Rukodzi Mine ventilation design is
based on the Impala standard which determines the quantity of air required per mine by
making use of the kilowatt ratings of all diesel equipment used in the mine. The ventilation
system is a negative pressure system in which fresh air enters through the raise bored shafts,
the North decline and Middle decline. Foul air is then exhausted by 3×185kw fans installed in
the north section and 2×185kw fans installed in the South section. Each 185kW fan is
designed to exhaust 50m3/s of air.

3.0 Statement of The Problem

What are the effects of Rukodzi Mine boundary extension on ventilation conditions and
requirements coming up with economic engineering solutions to those effects in the North
section?

4.0 Purpose of the Study

The aim of the study is to analyse the effects of Rukodzi Mine boundary extension on
ventilation conditions and requirements coming up with economical engineering solutions to
the effects.

5.0 Research Questions

a) What is the quantity of air that reaches the working faces, declines and roadways?
b) How effective is the proposed ventilation system?
c) What are the effects of boundary extension on ventilation conditions at Rukodzi Mine?
d) What will be the cost of implementing the solution?
e) What can be done so that fresh air reaches the working faces at a velocity of 1m/s all the
time?
6.0 Objective of the Study

a) To analyse the current ventilation system performance.

b) To analyse the effects of extending the mining boundary.
c) To determine engineering solutions that would allow air to reach all faces at a velocity of
1m/s as the faces approach the ore reserve.
d) To estimate the cost of implementing the solution.

7.0 Assumptions of the Study

a) Ventilation system needs to be re-designed to suite boundary extension
b) Sustainability of mining business must ensure maximum production which is achieved by
workmen output efficiency and this can only be achieved in a conducive underground
environment hence there should be an investigation and a solution to the ventilation
problem stated.
c) Cost of machinery maintenance will rise due to breakdown; the original equipment
manufacturer specifies the air quantity which equipment requires for it to perform
optimally. With the ventilation challenge stated above there is a chance that machinery
will have less quantity of fresh air then required.
d) Occupational diseases will emerge hence the increase in sick absenteeism which affect
safety of people as well as production.
8.0 Significance of the Study

8.1 The mine

The research findings could be of interest to the mine and other by gaining knowledge and
understanding of the problems associated with the effects of Rukodzi Mine boundary
extension on ventilation conditions and requirements. The results of this study may be
directed to decision makers so as to determine the possible ways to reduce dangerous
conditions to the mine.

8.2 The Researcher

This study will benefit the researcher in the sense that experience will be gained in carrying
out the research in case the researcher will want to further the studies. Also, the researcher
benefits from information gathering experience during compilation of data for this project.

9.0 Delimitations
a) The study will be conducted at Rukodzi mine in the North Section
10.0 Limitations
a) Time
b) Shortage of resources
c) Lack of technical knowledge
11.0 Literature Review
a) Knowledge from books from the Zimbabwe School of mines Library, scholarly journals,
the web, inquiries from other mines as well as assistance from experienced people in the
industry will be used to determine an economical engineering solution to the problem.
b) Values of the parameters shown in table 4 for the past 5 years will be collected from the
Zimbabwe Platinum Mines Corp data.
12.0 Research Methodology
The research will be carried out at Rukodzi Mine which is under the Zimbabwe Platinum
Mines mining division located in Ngezi. Particular attention will be paid to the North section
of the mine.
12.1 Data Collection Method
a) Interviews
b) Surveys
c) Observation

12.2 Data Analysis

a) Quantitative
b) Qualitative

12.3 Research Design

a) A targeted population of 200 employees and management will be interviewed
b) At a time frame of 12 months from January – December 2018.
 13.0 Organisation of the Study
Chapter One: The chapter will discuss the general background of the study by outlining the
effects of Rukodzi Mine boundary extension on ventilation conditions and requirements. This
chapter will highlight the perceived problem and its background. It will go on further to state
how the researcher intends to carry out the research work in order to come up with ways of
appraising the perceived problem. The chapter will end up by giving a general guideline as
to what the ensuing chapters will hold.

Chapter Two: This chapter will review literature looking at the challenges faced and
evaluative analysis of the relevance and applicability of research work carried out by the
other researchers in the previous years.

Chapter Three: The research method selection and the context of the research will be
highlighted and discussed. The other issues to be highlighted under the research methodology
include: the sampling technique employed and; measures of value delivery as well as the
sampling methods used. Chapter three will also include research instrumentation, data
collection and data analysis and presentation. General information will also be included
justifying the selection of the research methodologies.

Chapter Four: The results of the research are discussed and presented systematically. The
results will be analysed in relation to the objectives of the research study. Furthermore, a
discussion of the results will be carried out. The link between the results and the research
question will be explored and explained. The outcomes of the research will be summarised.

Chapter Five: This chapter will make recommendations and conclusions drawn from the
research findings of the analysis carried out in Chapter 4.

1.13 Chapter Summary

The proposal is the first step of an endeavour on a comprehensive study on the effects of
Rukodzi Mine boundary extension on ventilation conditions and requirements. It is hoped
that the output of the study will be beneficial to all parties while at the same time contribute
to the knowledge enhancement in the lifetime of the mine. The study will highlight on the
background of the study, the statement of the problem, research questions, objectives,
Hypotheses, assumptions, delimitations and the conclusions.
1.15 Cost

Due to the use of multi currency in the country, the researcher has budgeted

RTGS $1200.00 to cater for the entire project.

A weekly budget of RTGS $300.00 cover the printing, internet bills, photocopying, and
books is more feasible.

However, the budget will be reviewed upwards depending on the nature of the unforeseen
circumstances that will arise.

14.0 References

ventilation planning – labour turnover, 08 March 2015 retrieved at

<http:/tutour2u.net/mining ventilation

Job satisfaction in extension [electronic version] journal of extension31 retrieved 22 July

2005.

CIPD (2010). Employee turnover and retention, 08 March 2018 retrieved at

<http://www.cpd.co./subjects/engineering