785 replies to this topic

[GRUMPY]

That's a big un. Terex make the biggest excavator at the moment. I've got some pics on my other laptop.

[DA-WOODY]

That's a big un. Terex make the biggest excavator at the moment. I've got some pics on my other laptop.

BIG Diamond excavator

[stranded]

thiess



oz ?

[GRUMPY]

I think the digger's in a Chile copper mine. Wrong 'puter again

Thiess, son of Leighton.

[GRUMPY]

My fish is getting bigger & more red.

[GRUMPY]

all the cleared land is palm oil.

[Leka]

Nice pics Grumps.
I'm off to Sarawak on Wed for a few weeks.
We have a job down there that I'm helping out on for a few days.
Should be interesting to see the country for myself.
Looking forward to it.
Apparently there is a bar on site, so can't be all that bad..........

[GRUMPY]

Okay. I've been to Kuching, it's pretty civilsed. Our bar is pretty basic...

[Leka]

The job is in Bintulu. Hope our bar is a little bigger than yours!!!

[hobot]

As long as there's ice in the cooler should be good to go, yes?

[GRUMPY]

Yes mate. Good to go, I like my beer off ice.

They've had a spot of rain in town today.

[GRUMPY]

and a landslide...



4 kids dead.

[Leka]

Not good news about the kids.

Happy to report that our bar in the jungle is OK. Well it's hardly what you would call jungle, but a reasonable camp and beer and whiskey a plenty.
Japanese would not go too far withouth their whiskey.

Big landslides are a problem here as well with the topsoil being 7-10m deep in places.
We're having to drive piles 12m to start construction here.
Building a Polycrystalline Silicon factory here in a new industrial park near Bintulu, Sarawak.
Interesting job, but only here to help set it up for a few weeks.
Will get to visit every 2 months or so though. Thats long enough for me on site now anyways!!

Friggin hot though!!!

[GRUMPY]

Friggin hot!

Returning to Tokyo between swings?

I've seen piles go 36m here. First one went in without a hit from the pile driver, just speared in under it's own weight once it was stood up. (just saying, not one upping you)

[chucktheskiffie]

Brilliantly fascinating fellas.... keep it up!

[GRUMPY]

Coal barge is in. The river's low so they build a bench for unloading.

[GRUMPY]

[hobot]

Geez Grumps...it's like you live in a Action Photographers dream.

Stay safe, eh?

[luminary]

i think what makes this fascinating is that it could never happen here - the red tape involved in modifying a river... The cowboy in each of us rejoices at the carefree application of heavy equipment

[GRUMPY]

Shouldn't happen here either. If they were caught it would cost a fortune. (Not in fines but paying off the cops)

[GRUMPY]

Loaded truck + downhill + neutral =



(excuse the quality, night time & phone camera)

[Leka]

Loaded truck + downhill + neutral =



(excuse the quality, night time & phone camera)

Need a hose for the cabin as well..................?????

[GRUMPY]

No injuries. The tray went 180, the cab only went 90. A couple busted hoses and a front fender and back to work at lunchtime the following day.

I can see a fatality around the corner though. It's not a good place for safety.

[GRUMPY]

Waste dump. They shift a lot of dirt to get to the ore. The ore produces 5 grams of gold/silver per tonne

[Leka]

Wont be too long and 5 grams and less will be worth processing.
Thats a shit load of gold in those stockpiles.

[Evo]

you on the "it's going to 3k" bubble Leeks?

be careful. watch Pt too

[GRUMPY]

That's all overburden Leka. We're mining 3 gram ore already. They're actually talking about processing some of the overburden. The real ore's in the pit



The little piles in the bottom of the pic is the mined ore, 3 grams through to 5 grams per tonne left to right

[Evo]

the little piles...is that brown or another colour?

[GRUMPY]

Yeah, brown & greyish. The greyish is the low grade (3 gram/tonne)

[A_guy_in_the_Chesapeake]

Waste dump. They shift a lot of dirt to get to the ore. The ore produces 5 grams of gold/silver per tonne

5 grams of precious metal per ton of processed ore? Excuse my ignorance, but, that's actually worth going after? What's the ratio of raw earth processed to obtain a ton of ore?

[Leka]

Yep, understood that Grumps.

Evo, I was more on the track of better processing technology.
We are getting smarter at processing lower grade ore and as long as the price hangs around where it is alls good.
Equation gets better if it goes up of course and its still a bit of a guessing game, although you would have more info on that then me.

There are a lot of overburden and waste stockpiles around that may get looked at closely if the planets align.

[tuf-luf]

That's all overburden Leka. We're mining 3 gram ore already. They're actually talking about processing some of the overburden. The real ore's in the pit



The little piles in the bottom of the pic is the mined ore, 3 grams through to 5 grams per tonne left to right

Jeebus. Another HUGE <small> Wstern-caused scar in the broader landscape of Indo.

[stranded]

looks like one mother of a greasy haul road

[GRUMPY]

That's all overburden Leka. We're mining 3 gram ore already. They're actually talking about processing some of the overburden. The real ore's in the pit



The little piles in the bottom of the pic is the mined ore, 3 grams through to 5 grams per tonne left to right

Jeebus. Another HUGE <small> Wstern-caused scar in the broader landscape of Indo.

Never be what it was but they have enviro & rehab programmes. The mine has a big nursery for the reforestation stuff.



They're also a staging point for the orangutan releases with BOS. These cages are out the back of the camp, they spend a night.



Then they get bundled up and in the helicopter to go deeper into the forest

[GRUMPY]

Some replanted batters.

[GRUMPY]

drills setting up for a blast

[GRUMPY]

Then "boom"

[tuf-luf]

That's all overburden Leka. We're mining 3 gram ore already. They're actually talking about processing some of the overburden. The real ore's in the pit



The little piles in the bottom of the pic is the mined ore, 3 grams through to 5 grams per tonne left to right

Jeebus. Another HUGE <small> Wstern-caused scar in the broader landscape of Indo.

Never be what it was but they have enviro & rehab programmes. The mine has a big nursery for the reforestation stuff.



They're also a staging point for the orangutan releases with BOS. These cages are out the back of the camp, they spend a night.



Then they get bundled up and in the helicopter to go deeper into the forest

Good to see mate. At least some of the displaced flora/fauna are being relocated...but that isn't really preserving habitat is it.

[DA-WOODY]

Oops my Bad

thought this was the view from the ICurmba thread

[Leka]

Some replanted batters.

Excellent to see some effort going into rehab, but when are Enviro people going to learn that nature does not have straight lines in hills?
Constantly amazes me that we cant build waste dumps to look more like the natural landscape.
Aust mines are no better at this, just drive through the Hunter Valley for a good example.

It aint rocket science!!!

[GRUMPY]

Like little soldiers! Same at every mine I've been in.

[GRUMPY]

Some old photos I've scanned, about '89 or '90 ish.

Momma turtle's tired. I'm gonna die type tired



So into the wheelbarrow...



Recovery time in the bath tub.

[GRUMPY]

Recovered some next day, so time to go.



Go on then, get!

[GRUMPY]

and then the kids. We watched these blokes hatch and "rescued" them for a bit. Fed them up



Then sent them off with a head start.



Release time.

[GRUMPY]

See the jetty? The same jetty's in a few of the pics I've posted.

[tuf-luf]

Awesome stuff Grumps!

Keep scanning dude.

[GRUMPY]

We caught the babies as they were hatching and got them big.

It doesn't happen anymore Tuffie. They blew the reef up for road base. I wonder where the turtles we looked after go to breed.

You can still buy turtle eggs at the market.

[tuf-luf]

Ferk

[GRUMPY]

Local housboat. Somewhat "rustic" don't you think? Love the satelite dish. The little building is the kitchen & ablutions block.

[Leka]

Local housboat. Somewhat "rustic" don't you think? Love the satelite dish. The little building is the kitchen & ablutions block.

If I was designing a houseboat, I'm not sure I would put the cookhouse and the shithouse in the same room..............

Shitter could go on the far back corner over the deepest water. Assuming its a 'drop-box' style.

Water quality must still be OK judging by the amount of fishing rods on the banks there.

[GRUMPY]

I would hate to see a mercury reading from that river. The local illegal miners use mercury to leech the gold from the ore and it just runs straight to the river.

This is an example of what the illegals leave behind when they've finished mining. Dead earth.

[gybe-ho!]

Local housboat. Somewhat "rustic" don't you think? Love the satelite dish. The little building is the kitchen & ablutions block.

If I was designing a houseboat, I'm not sure I would put the cookhouse and the shithouse in the same room..............

Shitter could go on the far back corner over the deepest water. Assuming its a 'drop-box' style.

Water quality must still be OK judging by the amount of fishing rods on the banks there.

I dunno, judging by the proximity of the thunderbox, maybe they're after brown trout...or at least bottom feeders!

[Guitar]

Found this ore on my claim. Was told it would go 5 - 6 oz per ton.


Can I borrow some equipment?

[dreaded]

all the cleared land is palm oil.

Left hook will be happy

[GRUMPY]

Found this ore on my claim. Was told it would go 5 - 6 oz per ton.


Can I borrow some equipment?

You've had it surveyed? How big is the deposit?

[Guitar]

Dunno, need to bring in some equipment and dig a few trenches.

[GRUMPY]

Get a drill and a rock doctor in there and make some holes! We rent all of our drills and pay by the metres drilled, about $200/hour with operators it works out to.

[Guitar]

You mean like this?

[GRUMPY]

You tube is blocked at work for me.

[Gouvernail]

You tube is blocked at work for me.

I could see his link..


I believe He wanted to now if either the cage or stuff hanging from her waist is gold

[GRUMPY]

You mean like this?

All our gear is being stood down at the end of today's night shift. We're out of fuel, 500,000 litres on the river that can't get past a sandbar cause the level has dropped too low.

We have 100,000 litres in stock that will keep the process plant running and provide power for the camp for 5 days and another 100,000 coming overland.

It's not a happy camp right now.

[jfunk]

Mate I am working on Tug boats now and we push around those coal barges all the time.

[GRUMPY]

Tugs? Shit, that's a big turn around for you isn't it?

[Leka]

Shit Grumps, running out of fuel will be expensive.
We must be in the same weather pattern here in Sarawak. No rain for nearly 2 weeks now. Bloody dusty on site, but good for progress. Dewatering excavations is a waste of time.

Speaking of running out of stuff, we were backfilling deep excavations in Qatar and ran out of sand!!!

FFS its a bloody desert, but the red tape to take 2nd grade fill sand from the desert was holding us up.
Another expensive issue to solve.

[GRUMPY]

Dad and Dave operation here mate. They run out of every bloody thing.

I'm not doing maintenace, I'm doing McGiver all day every day.

[jfunk]

Tugs? Shit, that's a big turn around for you isn't it?

Yea mate massive change. Having a ball, not doing much sailing now though, but wouldn't change it for the world.

[GRUMPY]

Good for you mate. Sometimes change is a boon.

I'm having a go at tapping rubber! (the tree's behind my donga in the camp on site)

[tuf-luf]

That's a facking stout rubber tree mate!!

Most rubber trees in Malaysia / Thailand reach full maturity at approx 30cm diameter.

Sure it's a rubber tree?

[Windward]

Won't that v cut really hurt the tree?

[CyberBOB]

Won't that v cut really hurt the tree?

I think the cut has to go all the way around to seriously harm it. I think it is similar to sugar maples.

[GRUMPY]

That's a facking stout rubber tree mate!!

Most rubber trees in Malaysia / Thailand reach full maturity at approx 30cm diameter.

Sure it's a rubber tree?

It's rubber. The tree's inside the camp, not in a grove they grow stouter

[Throatwarbler-Mangrove]

Good for you mate. Sometimes change is a boon.

I'm having a go at tapping rubber! (the tree's behind my donga in the camp on site)

Looks like you got just enough for one condom. Dwarf sized.

[DA-WOODY]

Good for you mate. Sometimes change is a boon.

I'm having a go at tapping rubber! (the tree's behind my donga in the camp on site)

Looks like you got just enough for one condom. Dwarf sized.

don't get him Grumpy

[Throatwarbler-Mangrove]

Good for you mate. Sometimes change is a boon.

I'm having a go at tapping rubber! (the tree's behind my donga in the camp on site)

Looks like you got just enough for one condom. Dwarf sized.

don't get him Grumpy

The condom is clearly for Mr. Happy.

[tuf-luf]

That's a facking stout rubber tree mate!!

Most rubber trees in Malaysia / Thailand reach full maturity at approx 30cm diameter.

Sure it's a rubber tree?

It's rubber. The tree's inside the camp, not in a grove they grow stouter

Cool - it's a biggun!!

[GRUMPY]

Couple days in Lombok, nice to get away.

[GRUMPY]

[GRUMPY]

[GRUMPY]

[Evo]

here's another jungle G. was standing next to young Mr. Greenfield when this was taken



not bad for an i phone shot eh!

[GRUMPY]

Noice!

[miscut jib]

Nice pics of Lombok and some nice sasak weaving. What's it like with the new airport? Has Kuta Lombok been developed yet? They were planning for it 3 years ago.

[GRUMPY]

Long taxi ride to anywhere with the new airport. 2+ hours.

Kuta Lombok is moving ahead but slowly. Hope it never gets like it's namesake across the way.

We snuck across to the Gilis for a day as well. Nice there.

[tuf-luf]

here's another jungle G. was standing next to young Mr. Greenfield when this was taken



not bad for an i phone shot eh!

Beauty shot!

[GRUMPY]

Another bike show 2 weekends back.


We sent 7 bikes. This one is just weird, see the belt drive and centreless hubs.



Young feller killed the pig. 7 trophies and 3 mill rupiah in prize money. We get a heap of orders out of the shows

[GRUMPY]

So we had a bit of a beach buggy Sunday. A modified honda oddyssey (stretched & widened track, 360cc 3 cyl 2 stroke) broke a throttle cable. Old mate went up the road and bought a "close enough" replacement and fitted it up.

Long story short, he wheeled it onto the beach and gave it some. Throttle stuck full open and the buggy ploughed through a little creek and just launched off the opposite bank. Old mate hit his scone on the roll cage (NO HELMET!) and knocked himself out and the buggy carried on with him hanging out the side held in by the shoulder straps of the 5 point harness that he hadn't done up. Steering got itself onto full left lock and it went into the piss. Bloody thing did half a dozen laps in and out of the water before we could catch it.

[GRUMPY]

Yes, it's the same guy with the head bandages posted previously. No shoes on either, ripped the sole of his foot wide open.

[hobot]

Crazy stuff!!

[stranded]

troppo ?

[Tunnel Rat]

Lucky he's still alive - I hope there is no long term damage.

[Guitar]

Damn, Grump, hope all is well with your mate.

[DA-WOODY]

I had a honda oddyssey


got it w a new top end


best thing it did was seize up again on 1st outing


POS Death Trap from the get go


Everything about them was Wrong


hopping one up & / or getting it to Not Die is counter productive


they made a 3 wheeler seam like a safety device

[GRUMPY]

Old mate's still got a headache but he's OK.

Dayak longhouse.



The little spirit house in front to leave all the baddies in.


Stairs are carved from solid logs.

[GRUMPY]

Pretty basic for the kampung people



A bit of a creek up the way from the mine.


All those little building/boats are pumping sand from the bottom

[GRUMPY]

The mine I'm working in is about 300 mile inland. I came across this hermit crab at a little local shop. Flash little house he's got.

[hobot]

great stuff Grumps, thanks!

[Leka]

Grumps,
Know a good guy that needs a job as a Mechanical/Mobile Plant Inspector?

Having trouble finding someone for our Malaysian project.
A good Indonesian (preferably Borneo) would fit the bill.

Got an older Diesel Fitter that wants an easier life?

[GRUMPY]

You need a guy? Probably do. I'll ask around tomorrow. Just about everybody where I am is looking and there's some good hands

[tuf-luf]

troppo ?

WTF does "troppo" mean? I've lived 25 years @ 1deg N and I still don't get it.

I know, I know...it means going tropical, so what! What does it mean exactly?

[Leka]

You need a guy? Probably do. I'll ask around tomorrow. Just about everybody where I am is looking and there's some good hands

Thanks for that.
PM sent.

(Come and work for the Safety Dept, next best thing to retirement on a Construction site!!!!)