South32 Hermosa is creating the mine of the future
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At a Glance
South32 uses FaceCapture in its Hermosa Mine, an underground zinc mine currently in development in Arizona, to implement a fully digital, data-driven workflow, resulting in optimized planning for the outset of the mine.
At Hermosa, our intention is to develop the digital mine of the future. MVS is a strategic partner in this vision, enabling us to open this mine with the most precise geologic understanding possible.
Kenneth Dresang
Geology Superintendent
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DownloadSituation
- Early mine development, limited existing information and mapping
- Shaft scanning challenged by wet conditions
- Limited survey frequency in development headings
- Need to stay up to date with georeferenced geology data
- Requirement for structural projection ahead of development
Solutions
- Implemented FaceCapture in 2024
- Tracked meters of advance and compliance to plan
- Fully digital geologic data collection
- Linked digital development data with modeling platforms
- Continuous 3D model updates to improve geologic understanding
Benefits
- Faster and more consistent development mapping
- Improved planning for decline and shaft advancement
- Provides georeferenced 3D face positioning against the development plan, enhancing spatial accuracy between survey pickups
- Builds a more accurate foundation for geologic and structural modeling as the mine advances toward production