Along the western coast of Southern Africa, you'll find towering mounds of sand stretching across the horizon. These aren't natural dunes—but the legacy of decades of diamond mining by some of the world's biggest mining companies.

What may surprise many is that all this sand—millions of tons of it—originated not from land, but from the ocean floor.

How the Sand Mountains Came to Be

In search of ancient diamonds carried down the Orange River and deposited on the Atlantic seabed over countless millennia, mining operations use dredging vessels to extract vast quantities of sand from the ocean.

That sand is pumped to shore-based processing plants, where the diamond separation process takes place. What remains after extraction is an enormous volume of residue sand, which is piled into man-made mountains along the coastline.

The Challenge: Limited Space, Expanding Needs

These sand residue dumps occupy massive areas of land, and as mining operations continue, space becomes a premium. Companies need accurate surveys to understand:

• The area each dump covers
• The volume of material
• How to plan for expansion or rehabilitation

Without precise data, operational planning becomes inefficient—and costly.

The Solution: Drone-Powered Aerial Surveying

Darkwing Aerials was brought in by a major mining company to perform an aerial survey of three of their largest residue dumps—in just two days.

To take on this task, we deployed our toughest industrial drone:
the DJI M300 Enterprise, paired with the Zenmuse P1 camera.

Why the DJI M300 & Zenmuse P1?

This powerful combination offered exactly what the mission required:

• High-resolution imagery over large surface areas
• Fast and efficient data collection
• Superior stability in challenging conditions
• All-weather performance

Despite the strong coastal winds that can ground smaller drones, the M300 flew effortlessly—unshaken and reliable.

Results That Deliver Clarity

In just two days, our drone team:

- Captured comprehensive aerial imagery and video
- Generated data sets for accurate volume calculations
- Enabled the client to assess the condition of the dumps in detail
- Delivered outputs that support operational planning and land management

Thanks to the advanced capabilities of the Zenmuse P1, every inch of the residue dumps was mapped in stunning clarity.

Drones in Mining: A New Standard

This project demonstrates how drone technology is transforming mining operations. From faster workflows to safer data collection, the benefits are clear:

• Speed: What used to take weeks can now be done in days
• Accuracy: High-resolution models enable better decisions
• Safety: No need for manual measurement in hazardous zones

At Darkwing Aerials, we're proud to support South Africa’s industrial sector with cutting-edge drone surveying solutions. Whether it's diamond mines, infrastructure inspections, or agricultural assessments, we bring clarity from above—no matter the terrain.

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