1 Introduction

This report covers a 34-day period in June and July 2002, with two cycles for each DustWatch unit being completed.

2 Climatic Conditions

A total of 53.4 mm of rain fell in this period. This is a lower rainfall than the previous period that had over 110 mm of rain.

DATE	Location 1	Location 2	Location 3
6/12/02	0.0	1.0	0.0
6/13/02	0.0	0.2	0.4
6/15/02	1.2	0.0	3.4
6/16/02	0.0	0.0	0.2
6/17/02	5.5	4.0	4.0
6/18/02	1.7	0.0	1.0
6/22/02	0.0	1.0	0.2
6/23/02	1.8	0.0	0.8
6/26/02	6.5	11.0	9.0
6/27/02	0.0	2.0	0.8
6/28/02	1.5	6.5	4.4
6/29/02	0.0	5.5	4.2
7/8/02	14.0	15.5	7.4
7/9/02	0.0	0.0	0.4
7/14/02	13.2	10.5	12.8
7/15/02	8.0	7.5	5.2
7/22/02	0.0	0.0	0.2

Table 1: Rainfall data (Bold values are rain within the period)

The minimum fall-out dust level in this period was 30.446 mg/m²/day, from the north bucket at the SS unit in the 2^nd cycle.

The maximum fall-out dust level in this period was 427.717 mg/m²/day, from the south bucket at the CCRD unit in the 2^nd cycle. This is the 2^nd period in a row that this unit has yielded the highest result.

S.A. Classification	ASTM equivalent (mg/m²/day)		German DIN air quality monthly limit (mg/m²/day)
Slight	<	250	650 Non- Industrial limit
Moderate	251	500	650 Non- Industrial limit
Heavy	501	1200	1300 Industrial limit
Very Heavy	>	1200	1300 Industrial limit
An action level would be greater than 750 mg/m2/day

Table 2: Legal classification of fall-out dust

Studying the DustWatch units north and west of the plant, we note the following:

· The import results at the M1 unit were higher than expected, but the export results are both below 300 mg/m²/day. These levels are in the moderate dust category.

· The RWD results are all below 160 mg/m²/day

· The GC unit yielded results all below 150 mg/m²/day.

· The SS unit yielded an unexpected high result in the 1^st cycle, from the north bucket, 215.536 mg/m²/day. All the other results are below 50 mg/m²/day.

Looking at the other units, we note the following:

· The WF unit’s results have leveled out at the very low level of between 50 and 110 mg/m²/day.

· The results from the K1 unit still indicate agricultural activity because of the brown earthy colour of the dust. The results are all below 400 mg/m²/day. We note that this is higher than the other units positioned beyond the boundary of the mine, indicating that the farming activities in the area are loading the bucket.

· The QD results continued to come down with all the results being below 200 mg/m²/day.

· The results at the G1 unit were very low, all below 115 mg/m²/day, with the exception of the north bucket in the second cycle that yielded 303.753 mg/m²/day. The north bucket reading in the 2^nd cycle is not a concern because it is only in the moderate dust category.

· The CCRD results were quite consistent with each other, and were all below 430 mg/m²/day.

4 Microscopic analysis

As expected more units indicated high pollen counts during this period, and we recommend that workers, who are sensitive to pollens, consider taking preventative measures.

Gerry F. Kuhn Richard F. Kuhn Chris Loans
Piketberg
7320.
16 August 2002.

1 Introduction

2 Climatic Conditions

3 Comments on the result

4 Microscopic analysis