Productivity
Maximising Dragline Value: Unlocking Dig Sequence Efficiencies
A deep dive into why rehandle percentage shouldn't be your only metric, and how smart benching can dramatically improve overall yardage.
Independent mining engineering expertise across Australia — from dragline optimisation and truck & shovel scheduling to feasibility studies and JORC estimations.
G'day — I'm Gareth Steel. I graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Mining Engineering (Honours), where I proudly received multiple awards including the Dean's Commendation and the FTM White Prize. For over 13 years, I've lived and breathed open cut coal.
From the dragline operations of the Bowen Basin to the truck and shovel fleets of the Hunter Valley, my career has been dedicated exclusively to driving productivity and value in coal assets.
I founded SteelEdge Mining Solutions because I saw a genuine need for independent, specialised coal expertise. When you engage SteelEdge, you get highly focused, commercially astute advice born from years on the ground handling the complexities of overburden removal, coal loss and dilution, and JORC compliance.
My commitment is simple: independent coal expertise that puts your project's success first — every time.
Technical services specifically tailored to the unique demands of strip mining and terrace mining operations.
Scoping, PFS, and DFS tailored for coal assets. Rigorous washability analyses, yield assumptions, and mining cost models that stand up to board-level scrutiny.
Short to life-of-mine planning. Unlocking bottlenecked operations through optimised cast blasting, dragline walking paths, and truck and shovel allocation.
Coal resource and reserve estimation compliant with the JORC Code. Specialised focus on coal loss and dilution factors in multi-seam environments.
Technical due diligence for thermal and metallurgical coal acquisitions. Objective assessments of strip ratios, CHPP yield curves, and operating costs.
On-site efficiency reviews targeting overburden removal rates, payload management, pit room availability, and equipment cycle times.
End-to-end management from concept through to pit establishment. Ensuring early coal uncovering milestones are met safely and within budget.
Not sure which service fits your needs? Let's have a conversation →
Selected examples of how SteelEdge has created value across Australia's major coal basins.
Rising rehandle volumes and delayed coal exposure in a multi-seam strip mining environment.
Redesigned dragline dig sequences and integrated extended benching techniques to reduce rehandle percentages.
Reduced dragline rehandle by 14% and advanced coal uncovery by three weeks.
Evaluating the economic viability of deepening a high-strip-ratio pit with an aging truck and shovel fleet.
Developed multiple scheduling scenarios targeting out-of-pit dumping constraints and fleet replacement capital profiles.
Delivered an optimised terrace mining schedule that deferred capital expenditure while maintaining coal flow.
Private equity firm required independent validation of CHPP yield assumptions and long-term overburden strip ratios.
Deep-dive review of washability data, coal loss assumptions, and life-of-mine dump room capacities.
Identified aggressive yield estimates and spatial constraints not accounted for in the target's valuation models.
Client details withheld for confidentiality. Full project history available on request.
Delivering practical, high-value engineering solutions that integrate seamlessly with site operations.
Gareth's understanding of open cut coal environments is outstanding. The dragline sequence he developed for our PFS balanced rehandle vs. uncovery perfectly — highly commercial and completely practical.
Bowen Basin Metallurgical Coal
We engaged SteelEdge for a due diligence on a thermal coal asset. Gareth quickly cut through the noise to identify the true waste-to-ore ratios moving forward. His report directly informed our investment decision.
Resources Private Equity Fund
What sets Gareth apart is he’s an engineer who thinks like a site manager. The operational review he completed on our fleet cycle times found efficiencies that our in-house team simply had not identified.
Hunter Valley Open Cut Operation
Practical perspectives on open cut coal engineering, feasibility, and productivity.
A deep dive into why rehandle percentage shouldn't be your only metric, and how smart benching can dramatically improve overall yardage.
Why generic washability assumptions and poor roof/floor loss factors are the number one downfall of multi-seam coal projects.
When strip ratios climb and haul profiles extend, how do you decide between fleet replacement vs. terrace mining alternatives?
A practical checklist to help you scope, evaluate, and commission a feasibility study that delivers true commercial value for your open cut coal asset.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Whether you're developing a new pit or seeking an independent review of an existing dragline/truck fleet, I'd love to hear from you. Every project starts with a conversation.
Prefer to book a time directly?
Schedule a free 30-minute call to discuss your coal project.
Schedule a CallABN: 12 345 678 901 | SteelEdge Mining Solutions operates across Australia and is available for both short-term advisory and long-term project engagements.