THOMAS MARK HEARNE

Tel: 084-***-**** (RSA)

OBJECTIVE: Senior Metallurgical/Process/Management Position.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

** ***** ********** ** *** mining industry.

December 2006 to present

Principal Engineer, Minerals Processing Division, Mintek, Randburg, RSA.

I spent a few months in the milling section doing milling simulations and mass

balances.

Thereafter, I spent about a year on a phenomological-type, flotation model based

on the Kelsall model as well as pilot testwork of platinum ores involving column

flotation and the flotation of an HPGR product. It was envisaged that the model

would be used as a mathematical tool assisting the operation of the Mintek pilot

plant.

Since December 2007, I have been involved as a CI on the following, mainly

greenfield copper commercial projects: Maun/Boseto copper project in

Botswana, Kisanfu copper project in the DRC, KOV copper deposit in DRC,

Various tailings treatment projects: Konkola, Luanshya, Tati and a Chrome

tailings treatment project. During this time, I have acquired high level

knowledge in process flowsheet development the field of copper sulphide and

oxide flotation and the flotation of base metals in general.

November 2004 to December 2006

Principal Engineer, Biotechnology Division, Mintek, Randburg, RSA. Site

Engineer for Mintek on a hydrometallurgical copper project in Iran (on site:

August 2005 to November 2006). Spent November 2004 to July 2004 on

preparation work for Iran trip: Plant Design, Column Testwork, Plantstar

Development (SCADA System and modelling). Reported to the Head: Projects,

Biotechnology Division, Mintek. Reason for leaving: Transferred to MPD.

May 2004 to July 2004

Process Engineer, FutureMet, Johannesburg, RSA. Assist in commissioning of a

hydrometallurgical, WINRIP (a novel resin-in-pulp process) Column, a 250 t.p.a

zinc demonstration plant to recovery soluble zinc from Zincor

hydrometallurgical plant residues in Springs. Program (improve mimic &

graphics) and operate Adroit SCADA package. Familiarisation with Concept,

PLC programming. Involved in process modifications (install plastic piping and

screen for treating recycle stream). Reported to MD, Len Heurlin and the CEO,

Roger Wintle. Reason for leaving: contract ended.

Mar 2002 to Apr 2004

Plant Metallurgist promoted to Metallurgical Manager after 2 months, portfolio

of Radiation Officer added later, African Pioneer Mining, Agnes Mine,

Barberton, RSA. Reported daily to the Operations Manager on the

metallurgical operations of Agnes gold mine, which consisted of minerals

processing sections: crushing, milling, flotation, concentrate dispatch (minerals

processing), and hydrometallurgical process sections: CIL, Geobiotics Residue

Treatment (Leach Plant), elution, e/w, smelting (Elution Plant) & Tailings dam.

Responsibilities included: safety & health of all surface employees, safe operation

of all radiation instruments, achievement of gold production targets: daily,

weekly, monthly, gold accounting from mill to rand refinery being pro-active in

ensuring that potential and current, negative deviations from plan were

effectively dealt with. Total labour compliment: 50. Two GMF's(General

Metallurgical Foreman) reported to me daily. The GMF (top plant) had four

shift foreman reporting to him (32 employees), while the GMF (bottom plant)

had four shift supervisors report to him (16 employees). For Jan, Feb, Mar

2004, delivered close to gold production target per month to allow Agnes mine to

produce profit for 3 months consecutively (first time). During this time, I

reported to Mark Meyer, Operations Manager and occasionally to John

Robertson (acting) and the CEO, Errol Smart. Reason for leaving: expand

career horizon.

Oct-Nov 2000

Process Engineer, PN Financial Services contracted to Bateman Engineering,

Boksburg, RSA. Was involved in the partial commissioning and operation of a

hydrometallurgical, MRT (Molecular Recognition Technology) pilot plant for

the removal of cobalt and nickel from an impure zinc solution stream at Zincor,

Springs, a hydrometallurgical zinc refinery. During this time, I reported to

Petrus Cilliers, MD for MRT Africa. Reason for leaving: contract ended

Jan-Sep 2000

Shift Metallurgist/Foreman, Anglo Research Laboratories, Jhb, RSA. In charge

of a pilot scale, hydrometallurgical, zinc refinery producing 1tpd of full-scale

zinc cathodes. It involved the continuous operation of 2, titanium pressure leach

vessels (12 bar, 150 C),a state of the art water seal system, zinc solution

purification section, zinc electrowinning section (full size cathodes) and a novel

manganese electrowinning section (full size anodes). AARL were testing the

feasibility of applying pressure leach technology to the Gamsberg deposit. 13

tertiary qualified operational staff and 6 engineering staff reported to me on a

shift basis. During this time, I reported to the then Project Leader, Keith Bowes,

and later to the Production Metallurgist. Reason for leaving: contract ended

Jul 1990 to Sep 1998

Research Officer promoted to Senior Research Officer after 3 years, Gold fields

Laboratories, Jhb, RSA. In keeping with the then mining house philosophy,

Gold Fields Laboratories was more an in-house process engineering/production

testing facility with its own analytical laboratory than a straightforward

laboratory. Each project accepted for metallurgical testing had the potential of

reaching full scale production. However, the projects financed by Gold Fields

were generally very difficult ore bodies with tremendous potential. In almost

every project I was involved in, I started from laboratory testing and progressed

to pilot scale (design, install, commission, operate). My main portfolio (1992 to

1998) was the application of the hydrometallurgical, bacterial leach technology

to Gamsberg zinc ore and concentrate: This culminated in a heap leach pad for

the treatment of 500t zinc ore (halted in 1993) and a state of the art pilot plant

(for treating zinc concentrates, 1998) operated continuously for 9 months

(SCADA used was FIX Intellution with Hartmann & Braun stand-alone

controllers). This project was originally started in 1992 with 6 perspex columns

on a shoestring budget. Other projects were: the treatment of SO2 within the

Gold Fields Group (up to pilot scale), hydrometallurgical production of full-scale

nickel cathodes from an impure nickel sulphate), the hydrometallurgical

treatment of Zincor residues.

1988-1990

Post Graduate Metallurgist, Gold Fields Training Services, RSA. Spent first

year at O'OKiep Copper. Did operational and supervisory work. Spent time on

minerals processing and pyrometallurgical sections as a crusher operator,

flotation operator, converter operator (smelter). Filled in for Plant Supervisor

(Backfill plant). Did a hydrometallurgical, sulphuric acid plant design for the

then Metallurgical Manager, Richard Atkinson. Also completed a 300 page

comprehensive report (edited by Richard Atkinson) for management covering all

process design and metallurgical aspects of Carolusberg concentrator and

backfill plant as well as the smelter in Nababeep. A number of proposals have

been implemented over the years (e.g., disabling concentrate spillage to tails,

recovery of copper from slow cooled slag). Spent second year visiting the

various operations in Gold Fields: Rooiberg Tin near Warmbaths (visit), Kloof

Gold mine in Westonaria (metallurgical accounting), Zincor in Springs (10

weeks-SO2 project), Greensides Coal (visit).

EDUCATION

BSc Eng. (Chemical), University of Cape Town, South Africa, 1988

Pr. Eng. (1992)

Various metallurgical, process control and supervisory courses, 1988-1997.

1st year LLB, University of South Africa, 1994

South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), Engineering

Council of South Africa (ECSA)

Publication

Hearne, T., M., Haegele R., and Beck R., D., "Hydrometallugical Recovery

of Zinc from Sulphide Ores and Concentrates", Zinc and Lead Processing,

Ed. Maccagno, T., M., and Gantz, P., The Metallurgical Society of CIM,

1998.

Interest & Hobbies

Chess, Table Tennis, Golf (driving range).

Referees

2007-8 Mintek, MPD Division: Dr. Mike Bryson, Flotation Consultant, 011

709 4446, Mr Dhiraj Maharaj, Section Head: Flotation, 011-***-****, Dr.

Adrian Hinde, Milling Consultant, 011-***-****

2004-06 Mintek, Biotechnology Division: Mr. Petrus Van Staden, Head:

Projects, 011-***-****, Mr. Tony Pinches, Manager, 011-***-****, 082 820

1784.

2004 FutureMet, Mr. Roger Wintle, CEO, 083-***-****, Mr. Len Heurlin,

MD, 083-***-****.

2002-04 Agnes Gold Mine (013-***-****), Mr. Mark Meyer, Operations

Manager (083-***-****), Mr. Errol Smart, CEO, (083-***-****).

2000 PN Financial Services (011-***-****), Mr. Pieter Jacobs

2000 Bateman Engineering (011-***-****), Mr. Lou Mallum (Project

Leader), Allan Lathwood.

2000 AARL (011-***-****), Mr. Keith Bowes

1999 Yeshua Christian Primary School (011-***-****/6), Mrs J Malan

(Principal and Founder)

1990-98 Gold Fields Laboratories (sold to Lakefield Research, 1998) (011

680 3466), Mr. Richard Graham, Mr Richard Beck (Metabeck) (011 465

1068, 082-***-****), Mr. Kevin Smale (082-***-****)

UCT: Prof. G.S. Hansford (021-***-****)

1988-90 GFTS - O'O Kiep: Mr. Richard Atkinson (Contact: Outokumpu,

Midrand)

GFTS - Zincor, Springs, Mr. Colin Maclagan (Acid Plant)

1983-88 Gold Fields Laboratories, Mr. Roger Wintle (FutureMet, CEO,

083-***-****)

1976-80 CBC: St Columba's High School, Athlone, Cape Town

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