Consulting and Technical Advisory

Well considered and practically constructed advice developed by experts across strategic, tactical and operational timeframes.

System Productivity –
Beyond Mine-to-Mill

There are many approaches to the application of a Mine-to-Mill concept, with most based on a local optimization of the mine-process interface, which targets alterations to process parameters, with value being judged on changes to instantaneous equipment performance.

The experience gained by BRS Director Ted Bearman in Mine-to-Mill, dating back to 1994, has shown that the narrow scope often seen in such studies leads to cherry-picking of ideas and an inability to sustain improvements. BRS prefer to apply an holistic approach covering the full range of system considerations, which goes well beyond a simplistic mine-process interface method.

The exact list of areas covered by BRS is dependent on the scope and Client requirements, but projects are typically assembled from the following list:

Geomet
Pit shells and Cut-Off Grade
Mine production scheduling
Drill/excavation/haulage equipment and fleet
Blasting (where applicable)/surface mining
RoM stockpiles

Materials handling
Asset management and maintenance strategies
Logistics considerations (high level)
Material blending
Materials transport
Crushing (various types and duties)

Independent Peer Review and Technical Due Diligence

The reviews undertaken by BRS span both technical fields and study stages. Typical gating points where BRS have been involved include, concept, order of magnitude, prefeasibility and feasibility. In addition, BRS skill sets have also been deployed for expert opinion and in the resolution of contractual performance matters.

As an indication of the technical areas covered, the following is a list of generic areas:

Processing plants, including crushing, grinding, materials handling, classification and beneficiation;
Mining system, including blasting, mine planning and, HME fleet operations;
Infrastructure and transport logistics;
Novel equipment or treatment flowsheets;
Geomet and ore characterization data with a focus on sufficiency to support studies;
Review of modelling exercises and approaches (steady-state, dynamic and discrete event);
Component failures in mining and processing equipment;
Design of equipment and suitability for application;
Underground materials handling.

Subject Matter Expertise

BRS and our Associates are regarded as Subject Matter Experts across a wide range of areas. Recognition of this type stems from an in-depth knowledge assembled over many years of practice. Consulting work where such expertise can be applied includes commercial disputes, Expert Opinion/Witness (i.e. patent, IP, performance guarantee proceedings), interaction with equipment suppliers, technical representation for Clients and development or modification of equipment or systems.

Processing plants, including crushing, grinding, materials handling, classification and beneficiation;
Mining system, including blasting, mine planning and, HME fleet operations;
Infrastructure and transport logistics;
Novel equipment or treatment flowsheets;
Geomet and ore characterization data with a focus on sufficiency to support studies;
Review of modelling exercises and approaches (steady-state, dynamic and discrete event);
Component failures in mining and processing equipment;
Design of equipment and suitability for application;
Underground materials handling.

Strategic Technology and Innovation

Any strategy must consider:

End-point definition and the journey;
How current and foreseeable challenges are met;
Position of a company in comparison to its competitors;
Coalescence of people, processes and technologies to best effect;
Exposure to risks and in particular reliance on vendor/OEM systems;
Options for overall system architecture and hierarchy;
Options for sourcing of methods and technologies, including adopt, adapt or develop
Reliance on hardware and software based eco-systems;
Emerging technologies and trends disrupting other industries;
Best practice approaches from other industries.

Training

BRS has provided bespoke training material and presented courses to a range of Clients, predominantly related to comminution and classification equipment. Courses of this type are still available upon request, but in order to offer extra flexibility, BRS now collaborates with Crushology. Stuart Haskell (Managing Director, Crushology) has developed comprehensive training and professional development material relating to crushers and the maintenance and operational aspects. Depending on the requirements of the Clients, training can be provided by either BRS or Crushology, or a combination of both.

Our aim is to deliver course content that is practical, meaningful and suited to the specific needs of a given site or organization.