Blasting scheduled for this afternoon at Strowan kaolin mine on the Cradock road outside Grahamstown has been postponed due to wet weather. The Matsopa Minerals company planned to do blasting at 1pm today in order to expose kaolin.
Blasting scheduled for this afternoon at Strowan kaolin mine on the Cradock road outside Grahamstown has been postponed due to wet weather. The Matsopa Minerals company planned to do blasting at 1pm today in order to expose kaolin.
Acting commander of the Grahamstown Explosives Unit Warrant Officer Henk Coetzer told Grocott's Mail this morning:
"Due to the overcast and wet weather the blasting has been postponed to next week."
Coetzer was not sure which day the blasting had been rescheduled to.
Yesterday the Grahamstown Police Explosives Unit confirmed issuing a permit for the blast today's blast. Coetzer told Grocott's Mail that a one-kilometre stretch from the mine would be closed for a minimum of 10 minutes. He said a section of the Cradock road near the Strowan kaolin mine would be closed.
Coetzer also said that animals and people would not be disturbed.
"It will just cause light vibrations and won't be felt by areas in town. The noise will be less than the ones usually heard during the army [shooting exercises]".
According to the mine manager John Burchell, inspection and supervision will take place to ensure a safe process.
Kaolin is used in certain ceramics, paint, plastics and soap, and the lower-grade material is used in bricks. Matsopa Minerals is a subsidiary of G&W Mineral Resources.
