By Swelihle Mabaso
The Mandela Mining Precinct’s (MMP) Advanced Orebody Knowledge (AOK) Programme has reached an important milestone in the development of digital technologies for underground workplace examination and fall-of-ground risk management, following the successful completion of a proof-of-concept field trial at Harmony Gold’s Mponeng Mine.
The trial, concluded on 16 July 2026, tested an innovative digital acoustic rock-sounding application developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with Peralex Electronics.
The technology applies advanced acoustic signal processing and machine-learning techniques to analyse responses generated during rock sounding. The objective is to support more consistent and data-driven assessments of ground conditions that could present a safety risk to workers.
The successful underground trial represents an important step in taking the technology beyond development and into a real mining environment, where its potential application can be assessed against the practical challenges of underground operations.
Through the AOK Programme, MMP supports research and innovation aimed at improving the understanding and characterisation of orebodies and surrounding rock conditions. The programme brings together research capabilities and industry partners to develop technologies that can address practical challenges across the mining value chain.
The digital rock-sounding application demonstrates how advances in data analytics, acoustic sensing and machine learning can be applied to longstanding mining challenges. By generating digital information from rock-sounding activities, the technology has the potential to support more consistent assessments and contribute to the ongoing digitalisation of underground mining practices.
The field trial at Mponeng Mine also demonstrates the importance of collaboration between research organisations, technology developers and mining companies in moving innovations from the laboratory into operational environments.
For MMP, the milestone highlights the role of the AOK Programme in supporting the development, testing and potential adoption of technologies that can contribute to safer and more digitally enabled mining operations.
