Seismological Service
As of the 1st of December 2010, BLA will be responsible for the seismic network maintenance at the Harmony operations. Due to BLA’s strategic position on the operations, staffed with onsite Rock Engineers, it was felt that BLA would be better positioned to carry out the maintenance of the seismic networks. The move was done to ensure that the very important seismic networks retain a high level of operational status at the Harmony operations. The Rock Engineers use the seismic data from the seismic networks to routinely evaluate their rock engineering designs and to monitor the ground response to mining. The maintenance contract will be run on the 10 seismically active shafts in Harmony which comprises over 80 underground and surface seismic monitoring stations.
BLA has employed six seismic technicians in the two main geographic areas in Harmony (Bambanani and Kusasalethu) to deal with the daily seismic network maintenance at the operations. These technicians will report into a senior seismic technician and a seismic system coordinator which will manage the daily critical areas.
It is commonly believed that the hands on management on the seismic network maintenance in Harmony will in the long run benefit the quality of rock engineering input of the BLA Rock Engineers.
