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By Morland R, Peck R

The Joint Committee of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and the Australian Mining Industry Council (AMIC) have published a Code for the Reporting of Identified Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. The Code is the result of an initiative begun in 1971 to achieve industry self regulation of Resources and Ore Reserves reporting which resulted first in guidelines for reporting standards but which have now been incorporated in ASX Listing Rules as a Code with significant sanctions ensuring compliance. This paper describes the background to the Code, its key provisions, and comments on practical aspects of working with the Code and compliance issues.

Jan 1, 1990

By Cole NH

Substantial savings in terms of project time, cost, and financial viability can result through the expert involvement of independent financial advisors in the early stages of any mining project's preparation. This role is not confined to project financing, financial modelling, valuations and corporate finance advice, but may in the early stages be much more strategic in nature, covering a wide group of subject areas. A number of separate examples and case studies are outlined, which show the manner in which financial advisors can be effectively used. The benefits arising from involving an additional professional team with the project group must be offset against the separate and additional cost factors involved.

Jan 1, 1986

Some only types of bank finance are appropriate for mining development, with conventional fixed rate finance having significant limitations of flexibility. New, innovative and flexible instruments have recently been utilised within project financing packages. A strictly limited number of specialist project finance banks exists, with the necessary specialist personnel able to address project cost-competitiveness, cost and commodity forecasting, joint venture negotiations, and completion and sales undertakings. Different techniques of internal bank appraisal are applied, with the usual equity investment project valuation criteria being seldom useful for loan assessment purposes. Company attention paid to the preparation of a sensitively structured bankable presentation can prove most effective for securing development project finance. Substantial scope is possible for savings of time and money.

Jan 1, 1983

By N Vagias, R Shaw, M Coghill, W Easman

Rio Tinto Technology and the Rio Tinto Foundation for a Sustainable Minerals Industry have funded the development of a practical floating module that can reduce water losses through evaporation from water dams at mining and mineral processing facilities by about 75 per cent. The modules, which are also suitable for use by farmers and communities, were designed for easy deployment, to allow the water to æbreatheÆ, harvest rainfall and resist wind speeds of more than 100 km/h. A large-scale demonstration trial will be conducted at the Northparkes Mine, located near Parkes (New South Wales, Australia). The objective of the trial is to demonstrate to Rio Tinto business units, community, farming and government groups the moduleÆs operating costs and water saving potential.

Jan 1, 2006

By James DG, Turner JH

This paper describes laboratory testwork for the beneficiation of a medium grade iron ore, using Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separation (WHIMS). Factors leading to the selection of machine type for this method of separation are discussed and the design of the WHIMS section flowsheet of an iron ore beneficiation production plant are described including methods to achieve operational flexibility and adequate protection of the WHIMS separating chamber. The results of the commissioning and operation of the production plant over several years are described, together with experience developed in plant operation. Data on recovery of hematite over the full range of size fractions treated is presented and compared with data in the literature. Potential methods of improving plant performance are discussed. KEYWORDS: Iron ore beneficiation, plant design, wet high intensity magnetic separation.

Jan 1, 1993

By Premur V

In industry and power production and distribution large quantities of fine wastes are produced. These are above all fly ash and phosphogypsum. Attempts are made to use them as secondary raw materials in industry and construction. Since they contain dangerous and harmful components or are nonhomogeneous their direct application is limited so that they are treated as waste. This paper reports on tests conducted with the aim of agglomerating the mentioned fine industrial wastes by pelletisation. The aim of this resarch was to obtain agglomerated product suitable for handling, transport and dumping. At the same time efforts were made to incapsulate harmful components by producing pellets with protective shells. Next, pellets without binders and with different binders were produced. Strength, resistance to freezing and solubility of pellets were tested. All the fine industrial wastes under survey were found to be suitable for pelletisation. The utilisation of appropriate binders ensures pellet strength required for safe handling and ecologically sound deposition of pelleted Material.

Jan 1, 1993

By R Dimitrakopoulos

Optimisation and mathematical formulations for open pit design and long-term production scheduling have been available since the 1960s. There are two main concerns in the application of existing mixed integer programming (MIP) models in open pit mines: a. the feasibility of generating both optimal solutions and practically mineable scheduling patterns and b. the inability to deal with in situ variability in orebodies and account for uncertainty. In dealing with these issues, a general open pit production scheduling method for multi-element deposits is presented and subsequently used to optimise the long-term production schedule in a nickel laterite deposit. The application shows the weaknesses of MIP formulations in terms of generating optimal solutions as well as practically feasible mining patterns. The application of the same formulation in the presence of in situ orebody variability and uncertainty uncovers a major reason for deviations of scheduled production from actual production, and outlines additional limits of traditional optimisation formulations as well as future needs.

Jan 1, 2003

By S Ramsay, D Povey

This paper presents recent case study data collected by field portable x-ray fluorescence spectrum analysers (FPXRF) as part of grade control activities at three separate (nickel, copper and copper/gold) mining operations. FPXRF has been under utilised for grade control in recent years, largely because the success of early versions of FPXRF was limited to a few metals (eg tin). Efforts to utilise these early versions for other metals was largely unsuccessful and created a perception that FPXRF could not be utilised more broadly within the mining sector and specifically the area of grade control. The structural setting of the analytical function within mining operations has also contributed to the under utilisation of more recent FPXRF instrumentation. The concept of FPXRF as a grade control tool straddles the boundaries of the geology and laboratory departments. As such, this option is often not considered as part of an assessment of grade control procedures for new and existing mining operations. This paper assesses data collected by Australian and New Caledonian miners using FPXRF technology as part of the grade control function and concludes that FPXRF can provide operational and cost benefits to certain mining operations.

Jan 1, 2003

By M Fisher, P Bradley, D Rogers

New England Antimony Mines has operated the Hillgrove Gold Plant at Hillgrove in New South Wales since 1969, producing stibnite and arsenopyrite products by selective flotation. Gold is present in the ore as fine free gold, gold associated with stibnite and gold associated with arsenopyrite, with some ten to 20 per cent of the gold reporting to the antimony stream and 35 - 50 per cent reporting to the arsenopyrite stream. Opportunity to process the arsenopyrite concentrate for onsite recovery of the gold values to improve upon the ten per cent recovery achieved by conventional cyanidation was recognised and subject to comparison with biological oxidation, roasting, nitric acid oxidation, low temperature oxidation (Activox«) and conventional pressure oxidation. Following further testwork and a feasibility study, a 7500 tonnes per annum concentrate feed pressure oxidation autoclave circuit was constructed at Hillgrove and commissioned in October 1999. The plant has operated at the close to design capacity since commissioning whilst optimising various operational and metallurgical aspects. The last three years has seen the process achieve an overall gold recovery of greater than 90 per cent for oxidised concentrates.

Jan 1, 2002

The paper explains the genesis of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education to its unique position in mining engineering education. A description follows of the development of the Graduate Diploma in Occupational Hazard Management which commenced in 1979 in the cooperative mode of four groups of three weeks full- time study followed by twenty-three weeks in industry. In particular an analysis will be given of the state of origin of students, ages and employing industries. Given the experience from the evolution of this course a similar process is described for the Graduate Diploma in Mining which has been accredited to commence early in 1987.

Jan 1, 1986

Part of a four-year course in metallurgy, dealing with metallurgical process engineering, was designed for students to acquire knowledge and skill from physical science, metallurgy, process engineering, and social science. Principles of education, and guidelines obtained from a study of professional practice, indicated that students may learn effectively through a planned sequence of problem-solving exercises based on the diverse functions of metallurgists in industry. The more important characteristics of the curriculum and a few illustrations of the problems are included. An outline is given of the current procedures used to develop parts of the curriculum, and of the students' diffic- ulties and achievements.

Jan 1, 1984

The paper explains the genesis of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education to its unique position in mining engineering education. A description follows of the development of the Graduate Diploma in Occupational Hazard Management which commenced in 1979 in the cooperative mode of four groups of three weeks full- time study followed by twenty-three weeks in industry. In particular an analysis will be given of the state of origin of students, ages and employing industries. Given the experience from the evolution of this course a similar process is described for the Graduate Diploma in Mining which has been accredited to commence early in 1987.

Jan 1, 1986

It is a facet of modern-day life that change, even of a revolu- tionary nature, normally passes without comment. People have become so conditioned to continuous improve- ments in every aspect of their lives that they would be surprised only if there were to be no change. This paper seeks to demonstrate the extent of technical change, and to indicate the need for a fuller advantage to be taken of the technologies available, or potentially available, to the profes- sion. It contends that the mineral industry has been particularly slow to embrace technical change, and has good reason to con- sider an improved attitude for both prosperity and survival.

Jan 1, 1988

This paper examines the properties of Australian indigenous crude oil and the changes to Australian refinery process- ing required after the Gippsland crude finds in the late '60s. In addition the paper details the dif- ferent crudes available to Australian ref ineries and the relative product yields in relation to Australian crudes. Market demand for petroleum products both now and in the future is then related to the products yields. The paper also examines the impact of the OPEC induced crude price spiral and the subsequent changes in refinery engineering, current and projected market demands, and energy conservation measures both inside and outside the industry.

Jan 1, 1982

I trust you know now or will know by the time you havecompleted your degree and added a little on-the-job experience,how to make the product from the mine you are working for. Butyou may not know the process to turn it into dollars, which ofcourse will be the life blood of your company. I am not going topromise to turn you into super salesmen, but I hope I can takeyou beyond the level of believing that selling our mineralproducts is as simple as putting in it on to a train, waving itgoodbye and waiting for the cheque to turn up in the mailbox afew weeks later.

Jan 1, 1994

Computer modelling is being used to simulate rock fracture, caving and stress redistribution about longwall panels with increasing confidence. The models are being assessed against field monitoring and have significantly increased the understanding of caving mechanics within the overburden. This paper discusses the modelling approach and provides some examples of its application to overburden damage and induced hydraulic conductivity. Computer models used in this study simulate the fracture process in the geological units throughout the overburden. Analysis of the mining induced fracture patterns and in situ joint patterns allows an estimation of the hydraulic conductivity within the overburden. The cubic flow relationship has been used in the examples presented.

Jan 1, 2005

The published safety policy of Mount Isa Mines Limited, together with details of the organisation and control techniques adopted by management to pursue an active safety programme within the company, is presented. The importance of communication by management through the organisational hierarchy and procedures instituted to ensure rapid and concise feedback on safety concerns are detailed. The paper also describes the role of the occupational health department and safety committees in assisting management to monitor the safety effort of supervisors and employees. Current safety performance levels are tabled together with details of some aspects of the programme on which safety effort will be concentrated in the future.

Jan 1, 1975

The Mineral Resources Act 1989 was assented to on 25th October, 1989 after more than two years of consultation and negotiation between Government, the mining industry and other affected parties particularly the major rural organisations.The legislation proposes major conceptual changes in a number of areas and adopts a totally new approach to the definition of land and the mechanisms available to the mining industry for accessing such land.Unfortunately the passage of the legislation through Parliament coincided with the lead-up to the State election. Ultimately it became an election issue generating much adverse comment in the media particularly from rural and landholder groups. It was obvious that much of this anti-mining propaganda resulted from a lack of understanding of the legislation and the benefits that flow to the majority of landholders as well as the mining industry.It is essential that the contents of the Mineral Resources Act be thoroughly understood by all parties. Only then will all the State's resources be able to be developed in a multiple land use environment.This paper outlines the philosophy behind the new Act and the more important provisions contained therein.

Jan 1, 1990

Nearly eighteen months ago Newmont Waihi Operations joined with the local district council and members of the Waihi community in the initiation and running of a community liaison forum.   This forum û the Waihi Community Consultative Committee (WCCC) û was set up with the objective of improving communication, providing a forum for discussion and ultimately working through a range of issues relating to the future of the town and district after the projected closure of Martha Mine in late-2006.   After 18 months of meetings where all represented groups have presented their views, the challenge now is to work together to investigate likely options, seek sources of funding, produce business proposals and plan for the future of Waihi in what we call the Golden Legacy Project.   This paper backgrounds the companyÆs experiences to date, the issues the group has addressed and its proposals for the future. Methods employed to set up an effective community liaison forum are considered, drawing on specific examples from the WCCC. The actions and structures required to ensure effective and ongoing community æbuy inÆ at all levels are also discussed.   This paper develops themes addressed in Taking it to the Streets presented in 2003.

Jan 1, 2004

The applicability of Bieniawski and Hoek-Brown empirical strength criteria has been assessed for different groups of coal and various types of intact rocks by using a vast number of published triaxial test data from various places. Analysis of individual data sets revealed that the traditional forms of the criteria do not have a perfect agreement with the data. A strong negative correlation has been observed between B in Bieniawski's criterion and m in Hoek and Brown's criterion with uniaxial compressive strength of materials. Both criteria have been modified and empirical relationships have been introduced for coal as follows:m = 62.903 - 34.213 (log pc) 0.9772B = 10.152 - 4.709 (log pc )0.8889Similar relationships have been developed for different rock types as well.A comparison between the applicability of each of the above approaches with the conventional criteria reveals a very significant advantage for new approaches and a supremacy for the Bieniawski criterion in all cases particularly in the case of coal.The modified Bieniawski criterion fits coal as well as different types of rocks with excellent accuracy.The modified Hoek-Brown criterion gives a good result for rocks but does not fit coal data quite well. In other words, Hoek-Brown criterion is not an suitable one for coal.

Jan 1, 1998