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Jun 1, 2010

By O J. Restrepo Baena, S Nowosad, R Webber-Youngman, N Mojtabai, P Foster, A Binder, S Hazuria, erson, S Raval, L Liu

As the mining industry faces times of change, new challenges arise to ensure raw material supply for the younger and future generations. Different scenarios are currently shaping the way we mine and teach mining engineering. Led by an increasing demand for raw materials, net zero requirements for improving long-term operation performance, technological advancements such as automation and digitalisation, safety improvements, environmental considerations and a need for social acceptance, mining is pursuing to change and adapt to these requirements at a faster pace. Such changing times raise new concerns, one of the most relevant is the lower number of students interested or enrolling in mining engineering and related fields leaving mining engineering as one of the less preferred career options between the younger generations. Nonetheless, it is essential to continue addressing and supplying the skill sets that is suited to contemporary and future of the mining industry. To this end, globally, academia is currently undergoing several initiatives such as curricula updates and adaptation, up skilling, improving teaching practices and techniques, including e-learning techniques, enhancing industry-academia and inter-university collaboration, and much more

Sep 1, 2024

By Napier-Munn T. J, Morrison R. D, Moloney M. J, Corrans I. J

A dynamic simulator for CIP / CIL gold recovery plants has been developed at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre within a collaborative, industrially - funded AMIRA project and with the participation of the Western Australian School of Mines. The simulator incorporates kinetic models for the leaching of gold from ore and its adsorption onto activated carbon, and the residence time distributions of the leach liquor, pulp solids and carbon in the circuit. Features of the simulator include the effects of gold loading distributions on both the ore and carbon on reaction rates, and the difference in residence time distribution between the leach liquor and pulp solids. The simulator allows for the estimation of kinetic model parameters from full scale applications, as well as some scale - up of parameters from laboratory batch tests. The laboratory tests were conducted at the WASM as part of the collaborative research project. The simulator can operate in both steady - state and dynamic modes, and has potential applications in design, optimisation and control of CIP / CIL plants.

Jan 1, 1991

Legislation, if it is to be effective, must be enforceable by the state and acceptable to the industry. In the mining industry the relationship between the government inspector on the one hand and the mine management and employees on the other, must be one of full co-operation before the system can be effective. To understand our present system, which is-duplicated in most countries of the world, an examination of the history from which it evolved is necessary.

Jan 1, 1975

By Johnston S

A blending trial was conducted on 60 per cent Perseverance/40 per cent Rockys Reward underground ore at WMC Resources Leinster Nickel Operations to compare the benefits between batching and blending treatment of the two ore sources. Milling, f

Jan 1, 1997

A novel problem-solving exercise for undergraduates is described which is directly relevant to production supervision. It is based on the fictitious Metwin Plant which produces refined metal from sulphide concentrates via a hydrometallurgical route with six unit operat- ions. Students are given details of the chemistry, process engineering and normal operating conditions. They are also given min- imum data for the Plant when it is operating with a fault. By requesting further data, for which they are 'charged', the students must diagnose the fault. The responses of students to the exercise are described. The data were produced by computer simul- ation of steady state operation under normal and various faulty conditions. The development of this program was an educational experience for the author and it stimulated new interest in metallurgical process engineering.

Jan 1, 1984

The reasons for selecting two stage pebble milling in preference to conventional methods of grinding are discussed. Commissioning of the first section was completed in October, 1969. Improvements in both the operating and engineering aspects were then incorporated in the section commiss ioned in March, 1971.

Jan 1, 1975

Since 1975 two electric hydraulic drills, a Robbins 11ND and an Atlas Copco C0P1038, have been part of the production drilling fleet at Mount Isa Mines Limited's Isa Mine. As might be expected with innovative and technically more complex machines, breakdowns and mainten- ance problems have been greater than those experienced with pneumatic drifters. This has been especially so with the COP1038 but in co-operation with Atlas Copco, many modific- ations have been made to alleviate operating problems. The training and quality of the maintenance workforce is of great importance. The use of coloured pictorial diagrams for hydraulic trouble-shooting will aid in minimising maintenance downtime. Both machines have achieved good operator acceptance. This is the result of many factors, the major ones being the more acceptable environmental conditions, the relatively low amount of physical effort and the high degree of mechanisation. The drilling area is one in which there is great potential for cost savings and product- ivity gains. Because both machines are capable of a high drilling output, Isa Mine is confident of achieving these aims.

Jan 1, 1978

By R G. Barker, A B. Christie

Minerals are necessary for providing almost everything we take for granted in our daily lives including food, shelter, and supplies of energy and water. Minerals are therefore essential for the maintenance and improvement of the standard of living of all New Zealanders.

Jan 1, 1998

By J Vann, S Jackson, O Bertoli

Ordinary kriging and non-linear geostatistical estimators are now well accepted methods in mining grade control and mine resource estimation. Kriging is also a necessary step in the most commonly used methods of conditional simulation used in the mining industry. In both kriging and conditional simulation, the search volume or ækriging neighbourhoodÆ is defined by the user. The definition of this search can have a very significant impact on the outcome of the kriging estimate or the quality of the conditioning of a simulation. In particular, a neighbourhood that is too restrictive can result in serious conditional biases. The methodology for quantitatively assessing the suitability of a kriging neighbourhood involves some simple tests (which we call æQuantified Kriging Neighbourhood AnalysisÆ or QKNA) that are well established in the geostatistical literature. The authors argue that QKNA is a mandatory step in setting up any kriging estimate, including one used for conditioning a simulation. Kriging is commonly described as a æminimum variance estimatorÆ but this is only true when the neighbourhood is properly defined. Arbitrary decisions about searches are highly risky, because the kriging weights are directly related to the variogram model, data geometry and block/sample support involved in the kriging. The criteria to look at when evaluating a particular kriging neighbourhood are the following: the slope of the regression of the ætrueÆ block grade on the æestimatedÆ block grade; the weight of the mean for a simple kriging; the distribution of kriging weights themselves (including the proportion of negative weights); and the kriging variance. Outside of the technical geostatistical literature, there is little in the published domain to describe the nature of QKNA and no practical presentation of case examples. In this paper we attempt to redress this by setting out the calculations required for QKNA and defining some approaches to interpreting the results. Several practical worked mining case examples are also given. Finally some comments are made on using the results of QKNA to assist with block size selection, choice of discretisation and mineral resource classification decisions.

Jan 1, 2003

By H Zahiri

Utilisation of the InSAR technique for monitoring of subsidence in mining areas, employing open pit and underground mining methods, has large potential due to sensitivity and safety issues associated with usage of the classical surveying techniques. InSAR can also be very competitive concerning the cost of provided results. However, there are a few issues that may significantly limit InSAR applicability for subsidence monitoring in mining areas. The altered terrain topography, involving steep slopes and deep pits, may lead to the layover of radar signal for specific satellite and pit geometry. Also, the highly dynamic character of subsidence induced by mining, especially using mass mining methods, may lead to issues such as apparent heave and ambiguous results. In this paper the authors analyse the above-mentioned issues and demonstrate how InSAR technology was applied, as a supporting system, to monitor large scale and highly dynamic subsidence for a real case study in Western Australia.

Jan 1, 2008

By King ND

This paper presents an economic study comparing two gold recovery processes, zinc precipitation (Merrill-Crowe) and carbon-in-pulp (CIP). Capital, operating, and gold losses costs from an actual CIP plant study are compared to costs developed from a hypothetical Merrill-Crowe process flowsheet. ' Results indicate an overall economic advantage to CIP over Merrill-Crowe for plants processing slurries within the range of the five gold solution grades selected for this study.

Jan 1, 1982

Environmental impact and rehabilitation on completion are primary considerations in obtaining approval for mine projects from government authorities.This paper focuses on the planning and commencement of rehabilitation during the mining of an open cut mine (Hedges Gold Mine) in an environmentally sensitive area in the southwest of Western Australia.

Jan 1, 1992

By Royston, Woods R

ANI Bradken Vortex Pulp Lifters and Grates, both as original equipment and retrofitted to existing SAG mills, are now in field operation. The development of the Vortex leading curve pulp lifter was based on an analysis of traditional radia

Jan 1, 1997

By Grey D, Turner R, Capsanis J

Coal fines are recognised to have a major impact on the cost and efficiency of the recovery of saleable coal. Fines affect the productivity of the whole mining cycle because of the low yields obtained in washing this material as well as affecting the moisture content and handling characteristics of the final product.In 1990, Coal and Allied Hunter Valley Mine initiated an internal study into coal fines based on the assumption that a reduction in fine coal in ROM material will lead to increase yields in the preparation plant. The initial results of this study indicated that the level of fines in the ROM coal can be reduced by more than 40 per cent by simple changes in blast design and implementation.

Jan 1, 1992

The changing characteristics of raw materials has highlighted the limitations that conventional vibrating screens have in the handling of fine wet sticky materials. These' limitations have led to the development of a totally new concept of screening, the Rotating Probability Screen. In order to illustrate the practical benefits to be gained by the extraction of fine materials ahead of subse quent processes particularly in the coal industry, the experiences gained in Ro-Pro installations in America, Australia, Europe and Britain are drawn upon.

Jan 1, 1984

By Woodcock JT

This paper deals with some innovations and current proposals for the treatment of gold ores and considers the possibilities of incorporating new developments in new or revised ore treatment flowsheets. The main topics considered are I. typical practice in relation to the size of gold particles, 2. concentration of coarse gold, 3. leaching reagents, 4. in situ leaching, 5. heap leaching, 6. carbon-in-pulp adsorption, and 7. treatment of complex ores (gold in pyrite, gold tellurides, and carbon-containing ores).

Jan 1, 1982

The Porgera gold project is now in its seventh year of operation as one of the world's prime gold mining projects in one of the most underdeveloped and remote regions of the world. The unique gold deposit was development in stages to its present size of operation with an underground mine of 2000tpd, an open pit operation moving 210,000tpd and a complex metallurgical plant treating an average of 16,500tpd of ore. During the past years the operation had to address an array of issues relating to the "development" of the region and this is still ongoing. Development means different things to different people and though the parties that signed the different agreements relating to the Mining Development Contract were aware of this, none has real- ised the extent to which this is true. The developing company (a joint venture between Placer Pacific as the Manager, Goldfields Porgera, Highlands Gold and the Government of PNG), provided funds for risky exploration and the capital for development of the project. Its shareholders ex- pect an economic and viable mine operation from the deposit to ensure them returns on their investment. The local people gave up their land, their isolated way of living and accepted to be out of their comfort zone for some time in anticipation of a better lifestyle and economic benefits in support of that lifestyle. The PNG Government has a leg in both camps and expects both outcomes at the same time. The Government is also the regulator and expects compliance on top of that. If development in general is to be successful, all parties must substantially satisfy all expectations. It is evident that the outcome of some elements of development are reasonably defined (i.e. develop a viable mine to exploit the deposit), whilst other elements are moving targets (i.e. a better lifestyle). The seeds for conflict are thus abundantly present and to resolve them requires the will of all parties in all areas to come to a solution. This path to problem solving is many times torturous as each party comes from a different culture and background and has a different understanding of the parameters in the equation.

Jan 1, 1997

HIGHWALL MINING - DECISION TO MINEUlan had completed operations in the first Open Cut area due to high stripping ratios and the presence of geological features which destroyed a significant portion of the coal in the upper part of the seam. The pit had been abandoned in 1994 and operations had moved to a new location to the north west.

Jan 1, 1998

The cost of constantly extending a decline tunnel that plays a part in the actual extractive process is a revenue cost. The characteristics of such a decline tunnel are that it is dug in a series of relatively small excavations. It follows the ore body and is dug as close to the ore body as practicable. In addition, the decline allows for the extraction of ore in the immediate vicinity, with the ore being extracted in a relatively short period of time.

Jan 1, 1990