Viwe Notole, a PhD candidate at the Real Time Information Management SAMERDI Research Centre based at the University of the Witwatersrand, is dedicated to extracting value from mine waste using process mineralogy and machine learning.
Hailing from the scenic town of Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, Viwe’s academic journey has been nothing short of remarkable. He holds a B.Sc degree from the University of Fort Hare, a B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology from the University of Johannesburg, and a Master’s in Economic Geology from Wits.
Driven by his interest in extractive metallurgy and machine learning, Viwe’s PhD study focuses on valorizing low-grade mine waste using process mineralogy and machine learning. The project aims to develop a predictive machine learning model for PGEs and base metals recovery based on ore characteristics and processing behavior. Additionally, it seeks to create a cost-effective, efficient integrated metal accounting framework for ore blending and metal recovery from low-grade ore and mine waste.
With the support of the SAMERDI program at Wits, Viwe has actively participated in conferences and seminars. He recently presented his paper “Application of Data Analytics to Predict Gold Recovery from Glycine-Based Bottle Roll Tests Using Witwatersrand Supergroup Composite Ore” at the SAIMM Geometallurgy Conference 2023. He also presented an overview of his Ph.D. project at the Wits Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) seminar, earning the best poster presenter prize.
Viwe is a disciplined, consistent, and determined multidisciplinary student who aspires to become a leading geometallurgist and make significant contributions to the mining and minerals industry. Beyond his research, he enjoys sharing ideas with colleagues and takes pleasure in seeing others excel in their careers and studies.
