Onshore mining

The global economy has relied upon the supply of land-based minerals for hundreds of years. Since the 19th Century, mining methods have evolved and alternatives have been developed.

Advanced dredge mining technologies now offer an attractive method for extracting land-based minerals in aquatic conditions. Dredge mining excels with high volumes in bulk transport at lower costs. Deposits that are most suitable for dredge mining include mineral sands, alluvial gold and rock salts, among others.

IHC Mining designs, builds and supplies mining dredgers and separation plants for the onshore mining industry. The company realises that a heavily analysed separation process, a balanced flow sheet and the careful selection of components can make or break the efficiency of the mining plant. Its engineers aim to achieve maximum recovery at the lowest operational cost, proving that a system is more than the total sum of its parts.

Product portfolio

The IHC Mining product portfolio includes, among others: diesel- and electrically-powered mining dredgers; slurry transport systems; floating and land-based separation plants; de-watering installations; and plant automation and control. The company’s bespoke floating or land-based separation plants are built around its core product, the IHC JIG. These are used for processing gold, lead, tin, diamonds and heavy minerals from dredged materials.

From dry to dredge mining

Changing from a ‘dry’ method of mining to dredge mining can prolong or renew the life of a mine. Using this technique to extract minerals can maximise revenues because it can extend the economically feasible limit of an operation.

Case studies

From a long track record, some successful examples of IHC Merwede vessels designed for onshore mining include the six mining dredgers currently in operation in South Africa for Richards Bay Minerals. They are used in the extraction of mineral sands and zircon in the dredge mining operation.

IHC Merwede equipment can also be used to remove overburden. An example is a mining dredger at work in Columbia for Mineros SA. She is required for overburden stripping at an onshore gold mining location.