Bsc (Geology) (Hons), MSc (Mining Geology), MCSM, MAusIMM (CP)
Alex graduated from Durham University in 1994 with an honour’s degree in Geology, he then went on to Camborne School of Mines obtaining a Masters in Mining Geology in 1995.
Alex has over 25 years’ industry experience in South Africa, UK, Europe, Caribbean, New Zealand and Australia undertaking projects in drilling, mining, quarrying and civil construction. He has accumulated a wide range of skills, such as team leadership, commercial and contractor management, consultant relationships and health & safety leadership.
Alex’s mining experience includes opencast & underground coal, underground metalliferous mainly in sub level open stoping and steep narrow vein stoping. Often in deep high stress complex seismically active mines.
His experience includes:
- Conducting geotechnical inspections of development and stopes, maintaining regular assessments and audits of ground support, developing rehabilitation plans, QAQC systems, Data administration and integration with other teams
- Assessments of ground conditions and rock mass characteristics, development of additional or remedial support plans and sequencing in problem areas
- Review of development, paste, firing, cable, support and stope plans against geotechnical hazards using Deswik, AutoCAD, UnWedge, Dips and Gem4D
- Design and management of backfill including paste (Backfill module in Deswik), CHF, CRF, CAF & LRF, backfill containment design, reticulation design
- Monitoring of installed seismic event detection systems, seismic re-entry, design and implementation of seismic networks using IMS & mXrap software
- Probe drill planning, crown cables, stope wall support, brow and draw point support plans in UGDB Deswik Module
- Project work; Mines Department Audit, Stope panel sequencing, Support Corrosion assessment, co-ordination and set-up of an underground Lidar Laser scanning team of technicians on 24/7 operations
- Leadership of technical teams; setting KPIs, training needs, developing training programmes for junior technical personnel, establishing systems of work and data streams
Alex is available for Senior Geotechnical, Project Engineer and Technical Services leadership roles.