MICROMINE’s UK Training and Support Consultant Tom Pratelli recently travelled to the harsh deserts of Sudan to conduct Micromine training sessions with valued client QMSD. Tom ran two separate ‘Introduction to Micromine’ sessions, plus an additional full day workshop analysing client data and resolving issues.
Qatar Mining Company (QM), wholly owned by the State of Qatar, was established in 2010 to undertake targeted, value accretive investments that maximize value for the State of Qatar through partnerships and investments in the mining and metals sector.
The ‘Jebel Ohier’ deposit is thought to be the only known porphyry copper gold system in Africa. QMSD, a subdivision of Qatari Mining, are working at advancing the deposit into production. The Jebel Ohier mineralized system is situated in a remote desert region some 300 km to the west-northwest of Port Sudan and 600 km North west of the country’s capital Khartoum. The Jebel Ohier site is in the advanced exploration stage and QM hopes in coming years to be able to transition the project from advanced exploration into production.
The primary focus of production for QM is copper but gold is also very abundant in the region. There has recently been a massive gold rush in Sudan which has seen production skyrocket. Sudan is now widely regarded and the second largest gold producer in Africa, most production is the result of artisanal miners.
The drive to site from the capital Khartoum was a mammoth 12-hour journey, with the majority being off-road through the mountainous and dessert terrains, passing through the fertile Nile valley and past pyramids.
QMSD’s geologic team required introductory training in the use of Micromine. The ‘Introduction to Micromine’ was conducted both at their offices in Khartoum and onsite at the Jebel Ohier deposit in the Red sea hills of north eastern Sudan. QMSD hope to incorporate modern techniques to effectively log and model the Jebel Ohier deposit.
The training sessions assisted QM’s geologists to improve their skills and capabilities in the use of Micromine software. Modern techniques in geologic modelling can now be utilised by the geology team and can help the company better understand and model their deposit.
The geologists appreciated the user-friendly interfaces and utilising the advanced functionality in their workflows. QMSD is very pleased with Micromine and look forward to further improving efficiencies in the mining process through the use of software solutions.
After 6 days on site, it was time to head home. Unfortunately, the return trip was jeopardised by major storms.
Two storms passed through providing heavy downpours and fantastic lightening displays. This extraordinary event changed the often-harsh landscape and brought to life dormant vegetation. It also meant that pervious stretches of desert that were used for access were now impassable as they formed part of river systems with mud thick enough to strand any 4×4.
Thankfully with the skill of the local drivers and a newly devised route the team were able to make it back to the capital after a 15-hour journey.
Overall the trip was a huge success with both parties gaining a lot from the training sessions. We look forward to working closely with QM in the future as they move into production stage at the Jebel Ohier site.
