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The copper and zinc contents of herbarium specimens of 11 of the 12 Australian species of Polycarpaea were determined in order to establish background and anomalous values of potential use in biogeochemical prospecting.Cumulative frequency curves were used to establish appropriate threshold concentrations for six species including the "copper plant"' P spirostylis. Collection localities of Polycarpaea specimens with anomalous copper or copper-and-zinc values are under investigation.

Jan 1, 1978

By A. Drouin, D. Lemieux, C. Chouinard

"A gold bearing pyrite concentrate was treated at the demonstration scale (15 t/d) for the extraction of gold using a cyanide-free process. The pyrite was depressed in the flotation circuit in order to promote the flotation of copper and to achieve a sufficient copper grade to meet the copper smelter criteria. However, the recoveries of copper were 80% and only about 50% for the gold was found in the copper concentrate. The balance of the gold (50%) and copper (20%) contained in the pyrite concentrate as a reject from an overall flotation circuit. The gold grade in the pyrite concentrate is 5.40 g Au/t and copper about 0.77%. About 170 tons of pyrite concentrate were processed in the DST demonstration plant. The concentrate was first oxidized using a fluid bed to produce a calcine. Copper was then extracted as copper sulphate using diluted sulphuric acid. The residual solid was submitted to the DST chlorination process for gold extraction. Thereafter, the gold was recovered from the pregnant brine by precipitation over silica using DST proprietary process. The maximum gold recovery by chlorination was 90%. The average gold recovery by cyanidation of these calcines was 71%.IntroductionDundee Sustainable Technologies (“DST”) has developed a chlorination process as an alternative to the conventional cyanidation process for the extraction of precious metals from ores or concentrates. The technology offers viable and efficient gold recoveries and the ability to handle refractory ores and contaminated material (As, Hg, etc..). The process was successfully demonstrated on hundreds of samples provided by various mines, exploration and development projects and has evolved from laboratory experiment to demonstration at an industrial scale.DST’s chlorination process operates in a closed loop circuit, which implies that no liquid effluents are generated. The chemistry and process design allows precious metal deposits containing base metals to be treated viably. The tailings from the process are inert and non-toxic, sulphide depleted and thus non-acid generating. The efficiency of the process has demonstrated excellent gold recoveries within a fraction of the time needed for cyanidation to obtain similar results. The company completed in 2015 the construction of the first industrial demonstration plant operating with the DST technology. The plant has a capacity of 15 tons per day of mineral concentrate, and the ability to extract gold and silver utilizing DST chlorination technology.DST has tested its chlorination technology at demonstration scale on the refractory pyrite concentrate containing 5.40 g Au/t and 0.8 %copper. This auriferous pyrite concentrate, was by-product of copper concentrate respecting the copper smelter norms, is produced in a country where cyanide is prohibited and refractory to cyanidation. The pyrite concentrate was initially processed successfully (gold recoveries: > 90%) by the DST technology at laboratory (2011: 20 kg) and pilot (2014: 5 tons) scales to extract gold. About 170 tons of this pyrite concentrate were processed in the DST demonstration plant located in Thetford Mines."

Jan 1, 2017

By Pullen G, Rose M

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is not just a catch-cry. It is an essential component of every-day life in many professions, including accountancy, law and public administration. Without realising it, many other professions are undertaking CPD activities in an un-structured way, including mining, metallurgy and geology. Examples include Annual and technical conferences of The Institute, Branch-level technical meetings and in-company training and development programmes and technical exchanges. Whilst approaches to date have undoubtedly helped keep the Australian mining industry at the forefront of mining technology, one cannot presume that technological development will stand still. To meet this challenge, human resource development must keep pace, not only to optimize utilization of technological developments, but more importantly to develop firm bases from which new products, processes and technologies can be developed within Australia.

Jan 1, 1989

The epithermal Au-Ag deposits of the Hauraki Goldfield have formed in the convergent plate margin setting of the Coromandel Volcanic Zone (CVZ). The deposits form as siliceous lodes in the upper parts of geothermal systems associated with andesitic and rhyolitic volcanism. Two types of low sulphidation epithermal mineralisation are recognised in these volcanic terranes. Vein deposits within the rhyolitic terrane in the east and south of the CVZ (Whitianga Province) are typified by Chalcedonic Silica-Adularia-Illite type mineralisation. The veins are hosted by both rhyolite-dacite volcanic rocks and the underlying andesitic basement. The mineralisation formed by episodic violent decompressional boiling of deeply circulating meteoric water, with some magmatic fluid contribution; this boiling was associated with hydraulic fracturing and hydrothermal eruptions in geothermal systems where the piezometric surface of the deep geothermal reservoir lay near-surface. Such episodic boiling provides chalcedonic veining, banding and brecciation textures, adularia stability, bladed calcite, and extreme loss of H2S gas from the fluid to cause major gold deposition.   Crystalline Quartz-Illite-(Adularia-Kaolinite) type mineralisation is widespread in the andesitic terrane forming the northern and western portions of the CVZ (Kuaotunu Province). There is a spatial association with weak mineralisation of the high sulphidation (Vuggy Silica-Alunite-Kaolinite-Illite) epithermal type and porphyry eu-Au type. Crystalline Quartz mineralisation is probably formed by the mixing of shallow acidic groundwaters with the ascending deep geothermal fluid in geothermal systems beneath andesitic stratovolcanoes. The piezometric surface to the deep geothermal reservoir in these systems is likely to lie at considerable depth, with acidic gases rising from the geothermal reservoir condensing within the overlying vadose zone. The cooling effect, oxidation and pH decrease accompanying mixing apparently overcomes the dilution effect, and results in quartz deposition, illite (and locally kaolinite) alteration, and precipitation of gold. A high level of base-metal sulphide precipitation also enhances gold deposition. Violent boiling of the mixing fluids may occur at local structural dilation sites, producing high grade "bonanza" gold mineralisation.

Jan 1, 1991

In preparing a paper such as this it was thought that the Newstan Colliery Company Ltd., being comparatively new, would need some introduction to mining people in general.The Newstan Company was formed by the Joint Coal Board in December, 1948 during a period of acute coal shortages. The Company took over the holdings of what were known as the Olstan and Northumberland Collieries, situated at Fassifern, alongside Lake Macquarie and adjacent to the Great Northern Railway, within easy rail access of Sydney and Newcastle, as shown on the locality plan (Fig. 1).The Company was developed in order to produce steaming coal for the power house trade and has continued its activities in the steaming coal trade since its inception. The Olstan and Northumberland collieries were together producing some 300 tons per day when the Company was formed, and it was from this foundation that the colliery was built. The planned development of the Company has been along the lines of producing coal by modern, highly mechanised methods, together with the preparation of theproduct for the consumer, to the highest degree possible consistent with up to date methods.In the comparatively short time of 5t years the mine has developed from a small hand-won coal unit to a high capacity modern mine, one of Australia's largest producers, with an output capacity as high as 3,000 tons per shift.

Jan 1, 1954

By D Mnller, J L. Mauk

The Oblaga Cu-Au skarn deposit and porphyry prospect is located in the south-eastern edge of the Gobi Desert in western Inner Mongolia. The deposit occurs within metamorphosed middle Paleozoic volcanic, plutonic and sedimentary rocks.   Ivanhoe geologists recognise eight main rock types in the area. Calcareous sediments include conglomerate, interlayered siltstone-sandstone, and limestone. Covering the calcareous sediments is a slab of thrusted biotite granite, and above it is rhyodacitic lithic tuff which, in places, is overlain by alluvial sediments. Various plutonic rocks and related intrusion breccias have intruded these units. Monzodiorite, quartz-monzonite and monzonite tend to form thin, high-angle intrusions and the youngest andesitic intrusions are generally wider and subhorizontal.   The Oblaga Cu-Au skarn, which occurs in the calcareous sediments, shows typical prograde and retrograde mineralogy. Petrographic studies show that prograde skarn minerals have been overprinted by retrograde skarn minerals, and original host rock minerals have been texturally obliterated and completely replaced. The mineralogy of the Oblaga skarn deposit is very similar to other Cu-Au skarn deposits worldwide.   Sericitic and minor chloritic alteration occurs throughout the study area and may relate to porphyry-style mineralisation. Generally, this alteration is not intense and most rocks have retained their original texture. Geochemical analyses suggest that K-metasomatism is not widespread at Oblaga. XRD analyses suggest an upward and outward transition from sericitic to chloritic alteration.   Comparisons between Oblaga and other porphyry Cu-Au deposits worldwide show that Oblaga has very similar characteristics to deposits that have undergone sericitic alteration. However, Oblaga is special because it also has relatively intense chloritic alteration, which is uncommon in other porphyry Cu deposits described in the literature.

Jan 1, 2005

Water rights and availability are extremely contentious issues in many mining regions around the world, in some instances leading to violent confrontation. This situation has the potential to only get worse because competition for 'scarce' water resources will increase with population growth. In this environment the dilemma facing the mining industry is how to generate confidence in developing a responsible, sustainable and transparent water management strategy that is recognised as such by all stakeholders. Whilst the water needs of the mining industry are minor compared to those of agriculture, an operating mine requires a relatively large quantity of water on a daily basis to carry out operations. Another contentious aspects of new mine development is the debate between all stakeholders on the amount and quality of water that a mine is able to discharge into the environment should this be required. There are a multitude of water resources available to the mining industry for operational needs however much of this water is saline and over the last two decades there has been a continual decline in water quality (ie salinity has increased). In today's world there are enormous internal and external pressures to reduce water consumption at a mine and/or alternatively use water not considered a resource by the local community (ie sewage, saline or salt water, desalinated water). Strategies to meet these objectives can be achieved by implementing good water management practices, by recycling process water, reducing water losses by evaporation and seepage (ie by increasing and improving dewatering practices) and employing new technologies such as dry stacking and dry processing. Recycled water, acid mine drainage water and water collected in the mining area have the potential to impact mineral processing performance, unless they are treated, because of the build up of mineral salts and decomposed chemical products in these types of waters. Besides this the regulatory requirements of any water discharged from a mine site (quantity and quality) have also become more stringent. For these reasons there is now some form of water treatment practiced at most mining operations around the world. This paper provides an overview of water stewardship undertaken in the mining industry over the last two decades and provides examples of water treatment practices that have recently been installed at mining operations that may be of interest to the reader.

Sep 13, 2010

By G. Kosick, G. Dobby

CEET, an acronym for Comminution Economic Evaluation Tool, was jointly developed by MinnovEX Technologies Inc. and 13 major mining companies for the purpose of designing and predicting the performance of grinding circuits. It fundamentally differs from other methods by using as its’ data set a geostatistically significant population of hardness data distributed across the mine block model. Historically the characterization of an orebody for the purpose of either designing a grinding circuit or predicting the performance of an existing circuit has been done with a relatively limited number of discrete samples. In addition to power selection, shell sizing, and costing for multiple circuit options, CEET also outputs tons per hour, P80, and operating cost on every mining block for subsequent integration back into the block model. This paper will provide an overview of what CEET is and how it works.

Jan 1, 2001

In undertaking to write a few notes on practical mining in Bendigo, the great quartz mining centre of Victoria, which just now is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary of gold mining, satisfaction must be expressed which is, no doubt, shared by all mining men and inyestors, that Bendigo has not lagged behind other Australian mining districts in the evolution of mining from its crude state, subsequent to the discovery of gold in 185 to its present more perfect state; and though it may be said that it has not yet reached the high pinnacle of perfection towards which advanced science and change of conditions may yet lead it in the course of future progress, yet, what has already been done in this respect, the adoption of the most approved methods appliances and modern machinery, tending towards greater and still greater efficiency, facility, and economy in our mining industry, must be accepted as a guarantee that in tne future as well as in the past, progress in our means of developing our mining resources will ever remain our watchword, by means of which future difficulties will be overcome as well as they have been removed in the past.The adoption of this principal, combined with a study of rigid economy, has raised gold mining here, as well as in other places, from a state of speculation, and sometimes wild speculation, to the status of a solid, stable industry, the strong supportand backbone of the country in which it flourishes. Two of the principal factors which have been to a great extent instrumental in bringing about this satisfactory state, must be specially mentioned.

Jan 1, 1902

By J Petrolito

"To improve the economic and environmental performance of underground mining operations, it is common practice to return the metallurgical waste material underground as backfill. This is called hydraulic backfill and is used to fill the mined-out areas not exposed to further mining. To provide mechanical support for underground mining a cemented backfill is normally used. Since its introduction, cemented backfill has allowed mining companies to increase their ore extraction and improve working and environmental conditions. However, cemented backfill represents up to 50% to 85% of the mine’s operating cost compared with 5% to 10% for hydraulic backfill.These economic pressures have led mining companies to carry out research into the partial or total replacement of cement using a variety of alternative materials. The materials are generally site-specific materials, readily available, and cost-effective relative to cement. Such investigations have led to reduced cost of many backfill mixes while maintaining, and in some cases improving, the physical properties of cemented backfill. However, in most cases, cement still remains an integral part of any binder combination. This can be attributed to the alternative binders investigated being either non-binding materials or capable of generating only low-strength backfills, except when used in conjunction with cement.This paper provides a historical review of backfilling binder materials and their characteristics. In particular, it reviews the many alternative materials that have been proposed to either partially or fully replace Portland cement as the main binder."

Jan 1, 2005

Coking coals are very much in demand on a world wide basis, particularly the higher rank coking coals, which form an important part of many coking blends and which represent the smallest portion of the world'scoking coal reserves. Conventional coke oven plants, using these coals, will predominate at least until the next century.Blending schemes for conventional coking require definition of the basic properties of coals so that the factors influencing the carbonization behaviour may be assessed. Several concepts, which are relatively simple, ate available to help promote a better understanding of the bask factors controlling -coke strength and are also useful in suggesting possible lines to follow in the blending of coals for coking.The interpretation of carbonization behaviour and coke structure in terms of petrographically defined coal rank and type provide a basis for planning and exploitation of coal Teserves. The optimum parameters for coking are suggested as follows.1. Type- Vitrinite content (% m.m.f. by volume) 55 ± 5%2. Rank- Mean maximum reflectance of vitrinite 1.30 ± O.10% Carbon content of vitrinite (% d.m.m.f.) 87·5 ± 1·0%The value of a coal should be assessed in relation to all its possible uses in blends. This is a more realistic and productive approach, as compared with considering coals only in relation to the results of blending with"good" coking coals. Blending schemes have been outlined to assist in the assessment of the blend potential of coals of all ranks and types.Reserves of higher rank coking coals in N.S.W. are very limited and should be conserved by blending with the low rank coking coals, of which there are large reserves.Examination of blending theories in relation to N.S.W. coals suggest that blends in the broad categories of minimal downgrading of the higher rank N.S.W. cok...

Jan 1, 1972

The fundamental features of the Cable Belt Conveyor are described. It consists of independent wire ropes which take the transmission load, and a special reinforced rubber belt which acts 'only as carrier of material. The first cable belt installation in Scotland is described briefly.A general description of this type of conveyor is followed by details of the rubber belt construction and the method of joining sections of belt. The drive unit, the tensioning arrangements and the power requirements are outlined.Applications of the cable belt conveyor are 'dealt with and its advantages summarized.INTRODUCTIONThe cable belt conveyor, as its name implies is a conveyor composed of steel wire ropes and a rubber belt, in which the ropes serve as transmission members, and the belt merely as a carrier of materials.Over the years it has been the ambition of engineers connected with the belt conveyor industry to develop a conveyor that would use the high tensile strength of wire ropes to transmit the stresses involved in the driving of large capacity belt conveyors. Different lines of approach have been adopted in the United States of America and in Britain. In the United States the method adopted was to introduce a large number of flexible steel cables into the rubber belt itself, in the form of a closely packed layer arranged across the full width of the belt. These small cables are packed in a nylon filled duck envelope which is incorporated in the rubber belt. This is commonly known as the steel corded conveyor belt. In Britain, a Scottish firm developed a rubber belt conveyor in which full advantage was taken of the high tensile features of wire rope, without embodying or moulding the wire rope into the rubber belt, so that the two wire ropes and the rubber...

Jan 1, 1957

By Eleanor Sonley

In October 2000, temporary seismographic stations were installed above the Trail Mountain Mine, Emery County, Utah, USA to supplement a regional network. Over seven months, 1826 mining-induced seismic events were recorded with a magnitude range of M 0 to M 2.2 (Arabasz et al., 2002, 2005). Routine event locations for this dataset cluster around the longwall mining activity during the recording interval. However, applying a double difference relocation technique to the routine locations significantly improves the correlation between mining activity and event location. The resulting relocations depend greatly on station distribution and the number of arrival time picks. We use this dense temporary array to assess station distribution requirements for applying the double difference technique at other mines by systematically removing data from available stations, thus simulating sparser networks. The insight gained using the Trail Mountain dataset is used to develop a metric for assessing the usefulness of above-mine networks and to develop a tool for expanding seismic network coverage. To verify the appropriateness of these tools for wider application, we examine data from two additional mines located in the western United States. Improving the relative locations of mining-induced seismic events highlights the association of these events with active portions of the mine. Clusters, regions of quiescence and relative timing of events can be used by mine operators to assess hazard, optimize production, and evaluate performance of mine plans. The lessons learned from this study may be used in future network design to improve accuracy of event locations at other mines.

Jan 1, 2009

By Mary E. Cocklan-Vendl

Regulatory processes associated with development of major mining operations in Alaska and British columbia were evaluated using specific case studies. Included were one hard rock mine in Alaska (Red Dog Mine), one hard rock mine In British Columbia (Snip Mine), and one offshore gold dredging project in Alaska (WestGold SIMA). Based on a comparison of the three case studies, it became clear that the primary incentives for cost effective permitting are: 1) early and continuing coordination of proposed project plans, designs and schedules with key regulatory agencies and local area residents and 2) development of a sufficient level of baseline information on air quality, water quality, wetlands, endangered species, fish and wildlife, and socia-cultural conditions to support the required permit application. The U.S. permitting process worked in much the same way as the Canadian permitting process. Disincentives of mine permitting include high initial costs for baseline data gathering. However, a relatively high early investment resulted in more efficient permit acquisition and reduced long-term monitoring requirements. A common problem Identified was the inadequate supply of trained agency personnel with the requisite technical and permitting experience. This sometimes resulted in poor decisions and unnecessary changes in project plans and schedules.

Jan 1, 1993

By Takuya Taguchi, Toshihiro Ogata, Atsuio Inoue, Shigeyuki Sasaki

Highly improved drilling machines and mucking machines have been used for the underground construction. To have rapid construction, the roles of blasting operation ha ve been growing more important. At the most tunneling of present, cartridged emulsion explosives have been used for a blasting in Japan. Under this circumstance, a blasting system of ANFO explosives using loading machine has been used recently for a tunnel blasting. However, ANFO has some problems, such as a useless explosives in wet boreholes, bad blasting fumes and the ammonia gas due to the decomposition of ammonium nitrate in contact with the sprayed concrete in tunnel.

Jan 1, 2005

By Rony Yupanqui C

El presente trabajo señala el proyecto de remediación de los relaves mineros realizado en la relavera Ticapampa, ubicado en el Distrito de Ticapampa – Huaráz, región Ancash, con el objetivo de remediar los relaves de TICAPAMPA depositados por más de 30 años y que contaminan al río Santa, fuente principal de irrigación del Valle del Callejón de Huaylas. El proyecto comprende la extracción de contaminantes del pasivo ambiental de Ticapampa a través de la flotación de los sulfuros de fierro, y la obtención de un material inerte (con bajo contenido de sulfuros contaminantes) para la fabricación de productos cerámicos por medio de resinas recientemente desarrolladas.

Sep 12, 2011

By B. Stimpson, K. Kosar, K. Barron

"A number of high wall failures have occurred in some of the Alberta coal strip mines of a type called by the authors ""Multiple block plane shear slope failure "". They cause rapid deterioration of the dragline bench, reduced productivity and maintenance costs.The failures are invariably associated with the presence of almost horizontal (± 5 degrees) bentonitic clay bands in the overburden, often immediately above the coal seam, and regress behind the slope as a series of tension cracks which isolate detached blocks. As many as 17 sets of cracks have been observed, at lateral distances in excess of five times the slope height from the toe.The theory of this mode of failure is presented and a limiting equilibrium computer program which will produce deterministic or probabilistic (Monte Carlo) solutions is briefly described. A case history of one such failure is documented. It is shown that the extent of the regressive failure is exceedingly sensitive to the water table elevation, leading to the conclusion that drainage, if practical, represents the best control strategy. IntroductionA number of high wall slope failures are occurring in some of the coal strip mines in Alberta of a type called by the authors ""Multiple block plane shear slope failure""(I). These failures cause a rapid deterioration of the bench from which the dragline operates, reduced productivity, and necessitate conregresses into the slope as a series of tension cracks and detached blocks. As many as 17 prominent cracks or crack zones have been observed, the last being in excess of five times the slope height distant from the toe.The block between each pair of cracks must be at limiting equilibrium, i.e. the factor of safety equals one. This condition can be used to determine the locations of the cracks which develop in sequence behind the face."

Jan 1, 1986

By Sahoo K. C

Traditionally, the blast furnace (BF) has maintained a dominant position as the primary source of iron units. Notwithstanding the efficient nature of the process in respect of its material and energy consumption, the conventional blast furnace route is faced with limitations such as stringent quality metallurgical coke, high capital investment, etc. While BF will continue to retain its predominant position as the foremost ironmaking technology, the alternate processes may also have a role to play. Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) or sponge iron industry is all set to take a firm root in India as one important solution to the problems of shortage of metallurgical coal and ferrous scrap and high investment costs faced by the country's steel industry. The commercial proven DR processes coupled with electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking have also offered a viable alternative to the blast furnace - basic oxygen furnace (BF - BOF) route for the installation of integrated plants under specific local conditions. The performance and efficiency of DRI processes mainly depend upon the chemical and physical behaviour of the raw materials especially the iron bearing materials. Iron oxide pellet and sized lump ore constitute the oxide feed stock, while pellets form an ideal feed stock for direct reduction, use of lump ore is economically advantageous because of its lower price. National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC), being one of the major producer of iron ore in the country since last four decades, has established technology and developed process flowsheets for production of suitable calibrated lump ore for DRI production, besides supplying the natural lump ore for conventional blast furnace requirements. In addition to the above, extensive pilot plant tests have been carried out at the R&D Centre of NMDC for preparation of iron ore concentrates suitable both for direct reduction and blast furnace grade pellet feed using the iron ore fines from its own mines and as well as from the other iron ore mines in the country. For utilisation of the huge quantity of slimes generated in its ore processing plants, NMDC has planned to set up the first commercial plant adopting the smelt reduction process (ROMELT Process) for production of pig iron from Bailadila slimes. The paper mainly deals with various beneficiation techniques adopted for production of DRBF grade pellet feed from iron ore fines. Also presented in the paper, the extensive work carried out at R&D Centre on preparation and evaluation of calibrated lump ore (Natural Pellets), based on which, suitable modifications are incorporated in the ore processing plants of NMDC for production and supply of the same to sponge iron industries.

Jan 1, 1999

By H. Golzarpoor

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts associated with a product during its life cycle. LCA is identified as the most reliable method for verifying environmental impacts; however, current LCA-based approaches have certain limitations for environmental analysis of construction products. Integration of the LCA methodology with Discrete Event Simulation (DES) provides a sound framework for modeling and analysing the environmental impacts of construction products. LCA and DES is one possible combination for analysing the cause and effect of various scenarios where time, resources, and randomness of input variables affect the outcome and, therefore, has the potential to address the shortcomings of LCA in construction. Recent studies in disciplines other than construction such as manufacturing systems have revealed positive effects on evaluation of environmental metrics while integrating LCA with DES; however, this integration has not yet been applied for environmental analysis of construction products. By implementing LCA data in a DES model, this research proposes an environmental model of earthmoving operations in a case study. Environmental variables are simultaneously assessed with production variables in the same simulation model and the integration of DES and LCA is discussed.

Aug 1, 2013

By Rudiger Baltz

The sudden failure of bodies of rock is a serious problem commonly experienced in the international mining industry. These explosive releases of energy are referred-to as ?bumps?, ?outbursts? and ?rockbursts?. Rockbursts can occur at such a rapid speed that they present a direct threat to safety in large parts of the mine workings. The build-up of excess stress within the body of rock can be attributed to different causes. In shallow workings, for example, sudden and violent failure of the roof strata can be caused by leaving insufficient pillar width when practising room-and-pillar mining. At much greater working depths, as it is the case in the German coal industry, rockbursts are generally attributable to high levels of rock pressure. This can even result in coal outbursts when driving individual roadways. More than thirty years ago the German coal industry suffered from numerous rockburst incidents which caused many deaths and serious injuries. This led directly to the establishment of the Rockburst Prevention Centre, which was created at the instigation of the mining companies and the chief mines inspectorate. The consistent logging and analysis of all rockburst incidents has led to the development of a system that is still used as a basis for preventing underground rockbursts and minimising the risk of such phenomena occurring. Working closely with the mining authorities and mining companies the accredited experts of the Rockburst Prevention Centre have played a key role in helping to develop and implement a range of methods for the early detection and prevention of rockbursts.

Jan 1, 2008