Cape Bentonite & Thabazimbi andalusite quarries – due diligence & mine engineering

Client & context

If you are responsible for sites like Cape Bentonite and the Thabazimbi andalusite quarry, you typically work with:

• Active open pit quarry operations producing industrial minerals for specialised markets.
• Existing mining methods and layouts that have evolved over time.
• Health, safety and environmental expectations from regulators, customers and corporate management.

At this point, you want a clear, independent picture of how the quarries are operating, where the main risks and opportunities are, and what kind of drilling and planning work should come next.

Challenge

On quarries like these, the questions often sound familiar:

• Are current mining methods and pit layouts still the best approach for safety and productivity?
• Do you have the right information from drilling and geology to plan the next years of production?
• How do external observers see your safety practices, equipment use and operating procedures?
• What practical changes could reduce risk and improve performance without disrupting production?

In practice, you need a combined technical and safety review that looks at how the operation really works in the field – and turns those observations into a realistic action plan.

Approach

The work at Cape Bentonite and the Thabazimbi andalusite quarry was designed to give a complete view of the technical, safety and planning situation at each site.

Mine and quarry technical & safety audits

You start with structured on-site audits of the quarries:

• Reviewing pit geometries, haul roads, faces and working areas.
• Observing operating practices, traffic flows and equipment interaction.
• Checking compliance with internal safety procedures and relevant regulations.

The goal is not only to identify non-conformities, but also to highlight good practices and practical improvements that can be implemented by the existing team.

Drill campaign planning

To secure future production and product quality, you need a clear plan for drilling:

• Identifying priority areas where additional drilling will reduce uncertainty.
• Defining drill spacing and patterns suitable for the orebody and quarry scale.
• Outlining sampling and logging approaches that support both geology and quality control.

The result is a drill campaign plan that fits the budget, answers key questions and can be executed safely in an active quarry environment.

Mine engineering & peer review

You also receive a peer review of mine engineering aspects at each site:

• Review of pit design, benches, slopes and waste placement.
• High-level assessments of equipment match and haulage concepts.
• Comments on short- and medium-term planning practices.

This kind of peer review gives you an external check on your current strategies and helps you prioritise where engineering effort will have the most impact.

Results & value

From this kind of project work on Cape Bentonite and Thabazimbi, you gain:

• Independent technical and safety audit findings for each quarry, with clear, practical recommendations.
• A drill campaign plan that supports better geological understanding and product quality control.
• Peer-reviewed mine engineering observations that help you focus improvement efforts.
• Project work delivered within the agreed deadline and to the satisfaction of the client, making it easier to move quickly on the next steps.

For you, this means more confidence in both day-to-day operations and longer-term planning at your mine or quarry sites.

Services used on this project

• Mine and quarry production site technical and safety audits
• Drill campaign planning for quarry operations
• Mine engineering consulting and peer review