Leading underground mining contractor, Barminco, is cementing its position as a leader in deep hole and directional drilling by providing mining companies with a solution to the challenges they face when seeking to extend mine life. Demand for this complex drilling capability is expected to increase in the coming years as ore bodies are increasingly located at greater depths and become more difficult to access.  Having successfully completed its most complicated drilling program to date at AngloGold Ashanti’s Moab gold mine in South Africa, Barminco has again demonstrated the value it can deliver in extending mine life.   Barminco was required to drill some difficult directional holes, up to 1,650m, to advance the development closer to the target reef block and confirm the complexity of the geological structure.

The holes had to be drilled near to horizontal and were deeper than any diamond drilling Barminco had undertaken in the past. By overcoming these challenges, the company proved that it is possible to steer the direction of a hole to hit a small target. Barminco Business Development Manager Mark Everett said: “The results we achieved at Moab have made other mining companies around the world sit up and take notice of what we can do and the solutions we may have to the challenges they’re facing at their own mines. Our experience and technical expertise really came into play in this situation.” 

Barminco developed its capability in underground mining services with the advent of decline mining in Western Australia in the 1980’s. This allowed rapid access to underground mine reserves, a method which underpinned Australia’s rise to the top three ranking gold producers in the world. Barminco has operations primarily in gold, copper and nickel ore deposits.  It offers clients a full suite of underground mining services from mine development to production. The company has cemented its position as one of the leading underground mining contractors globally through its use of proven mining methods, experienced and well trained teams, and the latest robust technologies.  It has a State of the art fleet of over 300 mobile equipment units; the largest single company owned fleet of underground mechanised equipment in the world. Barminco’s diamond drilling business operates more than 60 drill rigs.