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By S Wangchai, D B. Hastie, P W. Wypych, A P. Grima

Industries that handle and process ‘dusty’ ores are facing increasingly difficult challenges to ensure sustainable operation and development. Most existing dust-control measures treat only the symptoms of dust generation and do not deal with the root cause/s of the problem. Many of these methods are also relatively inefficient in terms of controlling dust emissions. This paper summarises the various existing options available for dust control and some of their features, advantages and disadvantages. It then describes some of the new technologies that are being researched, developed and employed to minimise dust emissions by addressing dustability or dustiness and the dust generation mechanisms found in industry. Recent research results and case studies are presented to demonstrate some interesting findings obtained from this work. With improved understanding and modelling of dust generation mechanisms and bulk material dustiness, it is possible to achieve a step-change improvement in the design, troubleshooting and application of more efficient dust-control technologies.CITATION:Wypych, P W, Hastie, D B, Wangchai, S and Grima, A P, 2015. Research and application of new dust control technologies for the iron ore industry, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 529–536 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By L van Latum, A Koh, I Thomas

Haul truck drivers are at a high risk of developing fatigue due to the monotonous nature of the work and demanding shift rosters. In the mining industry, fatigue is identified as a major contributing factor in several fatal accidents a year. A number of fatigue detection devices are now available, that can contribute to improved fatigue risk management in the mining industry. This paper describes the technology and algorithms behind one particular product which is both predictive and un-obtrusive to the operator. The Advisory System for Tired Drivers (ASTiD), was developed by Fatigue Management International (FMI) in collaboration with the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre (LSRC), both in the United Kingdom. While this system includes a model of the human circadian rhythm as a bias for predicting expected fatigue risk by time of day, it also uses yaw data generated by a solid-state gyroscope in the horizontal plane. Algorithms analyse this data to determine the level of monotony of actual driving conditions and to detect changes in steering control caused by driver fatigue. During normal levels of attention, a haul truck driver applies continuous, small adjustments to the steering wheel. As the level of fatigue increases, steering adjustments become less frequent and more erratic. Differentiating between these modes of control in the highly variable mining environment is accomplished by chromatic processing of the gyroscope data. This paper will go into some detail explaining the principles behind chromatic processing and the specific application of these in detecting fatigue in haul truck operators.Technology in itself is not the solution to addressing operator fatigue, but it plays an important role in ongoing monitoring and maintaining awareness with mining personnel. Furthermore, the specific principles behind ASTiD technology support a risk-based approach to fatigue management, allowing optimisation of the mining operation for productivity as well as safety.

Sep 26, 2011

By L A. Balzan, F Nieuwenhuys

GEOSCAN on belt analysers have been widely utilised in iron ore for nearly two decades. Since the first installations in 2003, the availability of accurate and reliable grade data has become standardised across iron ore mines in the Northern Cape in South Africa, where various streams are monitored continuously to ensure the optimal functioning of plants. Assmang Khumani has been at the forefront of technology adoption, and has implemented 19 GEOSCANs at various locations throughout the plant, monitoring run-of-mine, stockyard feed, beneficiation plant feeds, and products. Over the years, collaborative advances in the technology have allowed for numerous benefits and gains to be made. In recent times, there has been a concerted effort on the development of analysis for phosphorus in the material flows, and based on Scantech’s experience in the phosphate industry, this element has now been calibrated to achieve statistically acceptable and repeatable accuracies for real time analysis of this element on many of Khumani’s GEOSCAN analysers. This paper provides an overview of GEOSCAN use at Khumani, while focusing on the development of phosphorus analysis. A case study of analysis results is presented for a range of analysers that have been calibrated for this element, as well as a discussion on the benefits obtained as a result of this analysis.

Nov 8, 2021

By D P. Sainsbury, J Western, B L. Sainsbury, V Mutton, P E. Petrie

Remnant rib pillars at Castlemaine Goldfields Ltd’s Ballarat Gold Project have been sterilised by the placement of loose rock fill in production stopes. The application of selectively injecting low-viscosity grout into the backfilled stopes to form a stabilised material has enabled recovery of the previously sterilised pillars. This paper outlines the engineering design, quality control and quality assurance program implemented to ensure the safe and efficient recovery of the rib pillars. The successful program included laboratory testing, numerical exposure stability modelling and in situ monitoring.CITATION:Sainsbury, B L, Sainsbury, D P, Western, J, Petrie, P E and Mutton, V, 2014. Pillar recovery adjacent to stabilised rock fill at the Ballarat Gold Project, in Proceedings AusRock 2014: Third Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference , pp 77–86 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 5, 2014

By K T. Mandisodza, T J. Cartledge

The principal objective of Geotechnical Engineers supporting operating mines is to provide safe working conditions and ensure that pit designs are geotechnically optimised to site conditions and pre-defined stability requirements. Pit slope designs are delivered in advance of pit excavations. Making changes to these designs is usually slow to enact and involves a layered sign-off before implementation, leading to unwanted delays in their adoption and subsequently increased production pressures. When unexpected ground conditions are encountered during the mining process, or short-term mining schedule requirements demand it, changes to these designs may not be easily feasible in certain situations. It is when these scenarios arise that Geotechnical Engineers need to be proactive and consider unconventional options to deliver safe operating conditions while satisfying short-term requirements to the mine schedule. Essentially, the geotechnical short-term strategic designs double-pronged approach supports the mine schedule while providing safe conditions and minimising geotechnical risks for people and equipment. Common short-term strategic geotechnical designs include; slope buttressing, over-steepening cut slopes to increase reserve recovery through unplanned or emergency cutbacks, and accepting risk threat and operating under unstable slopes. When implementing strategic design options, the Geotechnical Engineer must consider the broader implications for such designs. They must think of the plan’s long-term effects on the mine schedule and pit wall stability. Initiating aggressive designs to recover additional reserves to satisfy a short-term scheduling demand could result in-pit wall instability or suboptimal pit layout. Before and during the implementation phase, the Geotechnical Engineer must communicate and engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the plan is executed accordingly and geotechnical risks are effectively managed. Proactiveness to ground response and implementation of risk management strategies will improve safety performance and optimise mining schedules.

Jun 22, 2022

By B J. Monaghan, R J. Longbottom, S Prabowo, D Del Puerto, B Maisuria, C W. Bumby

The use of hydrogen as a reducing agent can substantially reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the ironmaking process. Iron ore fines can be reduced in a fluidised bed (FB) using hydrogen (H2) at high temperatures (>800°C), although several studies have reported the sticking of particles which causes the bed to defluidise, effectively shutting down the process. Here, we report results from the reduction of New Zealand (NZ) titanomagnetite (TTM) ironsands in a small-scale laboratory FB (100 g) at temperatures between 800–1000°C using H2 flow rates up to 5 standard L/min. No sticking phenomena are observed under any of these conditions, which is attributed to the formation of a stable titanium-bearing oxide layer on each particle’s exterior, preventing iron-iron contact at the particle surfaces. Pre-oxidised NZ TTM ironsands have also been studied and shown not to stick. Interestingly, at lower reaction temperatures the reduction kinetics for pre-oxidised ironsands is faster than for as-received ironsands. This increased kinetic rate can be attributed to the preoxidation stage inducing micro-fractures that create a void for the hydrogen to diffuse into the inner regions of the particle. In addition, oxidation of TTM appears to segregate the particle into two distinct phases, a high Aluminium-Magnesium (Al-Mg) phase and a high Titanium (Ti) phase. The findings are important as increasing the operating temperature of the FB reactor results in a faster reaction rate and higher gas utilisation, making the process more economically attractive. Furthermore, oxidation of NZ TTM ironsands results in a faster reduction rate at lower temperatures (800°C– 900°C) opening the opportunity to reduce the reaction temperature which might be beneficial in a final commercial-scale process.

Sep 18, 2023

By N Currey, G W. Wilson, P Ritchie

Kidston Gold Mine in Queensland, Australia has a 310 ha tailings impoundment that has undergone final closure rehabilitation. Kidston Gold Mine evaluated their closure options for this low acid generating tailings impoundment, and due to a lack of cover soils and the cost of importing material, the mine decided to investigate the possibility of direct vegetation onto the tailings impoundment surface. The mine subsequently embarked upon a well planned and detailed research program to determine the feasibility and sustainability of this closure option. The research program included vegetation trials, toxicology studies for metal uptake by vegetation, as well as a comprehensive closure water balance model for the tailings impoundment complex. This paper describes the results of the long-term closure water balance for the tailings impoundment complex for the pre-closure state of the impoundment, as well as predictions towards the impoundment performance once final rehabilitation of the tailings impoundment complex has been achieved. The water balance presented is unique in that it is founded on unsaturated flow principles and accounts in full the impacts of the surface flux boundary conditions. This novel approach enables the prediction of actual infiltration rates into the tailings impoundment surface, which in turn allows for the calculation of how much seepage will exit from the tailings dam toe drains.

Jan 1, 2003

By Chappell B

Backfill in the form of mine waste tailings has inherent problems associated with attaining adequate strengths upon placement. Fines are usually removed to ensure adequate drainage, which lowers the cohesive strength of the fill, leaving the fines to he placed in a tailings darn. Electro-drainage and electro-chemical grouting is examined to investigate its effects on densification and shear strength within a silty clay tailing having low permeability and shear strength. Two separate grouting mechanisms are observed for the iron and silica grouts used. Electro- osmosis is associated with iron grout that deposits within the tailing matrix under a converging pH gradient, and increases the permeability of the tailing. This process initiates cation exchange and causes cementing of the granular contact points between the clays. Electro-phoresis causes sodium silicate solution to deposit silica grout in the voids of the tailings. The resultant effect of these mechanisms results in an increase in cohesion, leaving the void ratio of the iron grouted tailings as it was but significantly reducing the void ratio of the silica grouted tailings.

Jan 1, 1998

By D Luppnow, C Hore

In-pit tailings storage can provide many advantages when compared to typical above-ground tailings storage facilities (TSFs). As regulations become more restrictive and existing mines expand into new pits, the motivation and opportunities for in-pit tailings disposal is increasing.The Langer Heinrich uranium orebody follows a palaeo-river channel and is mined as an open pit operation. The mine pits intersect two main aquifer systems, one at the surface and one at the base of the orebody/pits. The tailings storage methodology is full in-pit disposal in multiple TSFs for the life-of-mine. Continuity of the initial hydrogeological conditions is incorporated in the design by the use of the pervious surround concept and the reinstatement of the lower aquifer (palaeochannel aquifer) at the base of the pit. Containment embankments are required to facilitate the staging of the TSFs development and are constructed using waste rock liberated during the mining of the pits. All of the TSFs are equipped with decant structures and an underdrainage system is included to improve water recovery, enhance consolidation and increase tailings density.This paper presents the design of a unique in-pit tailings storage solution for the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia owned by Paladin Energy Ltd.CITATION:Hore, C and Luppnow, D, 2015. In-pit tailings disposal at Langer Heinrich – tailings storage facilities in a unique hydrogeological setting, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century , pp 373–380 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015

By S P. Young, K R. Monro

Reducing metal prices have forced mining operations to become more efficient and innovate in order to do more with the existing base. Much of this effort has focused on improving the efficiency of load and haul operations. The key to this is to understand and quantify where delays and missed opportunities exist. Metrics such as utilisation of availability, efficiency utilisation and asset availability are helpful indicators of performance; however, uptime-based time usage models and performance analysis tools using productive operating time models help to identify additional improvement opportunities.Phu Kham is a copper-gold mine operated in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) since 2008 by PanAust Limited. The mine is a single large open pit of 450 m depth, running a fleet of 51 100 t class rigid dump trucks and 300 t and 200 t shovels controlled with the aid of a fleet management system in order to achieve ex-pit material movements of 56 Mt/a.Commencing in late 2014, a range of initiatives were implemented in order to improve the efficiency of the mine haulage fleet. These include hot seating of all operator changeouts via changeout ramps, split shifting of crews to minimise queuing delays, maximising blast volumes and minimising blast event days to reduce blast exclusion delay events including opportune refuelling of equipment during blasting events, inspections of trucks during refuelling events, implementation of a dedicated haul road services team to help reduce wet weather related delays and infrastructure development for haul path efficiency improvements.These and other initiatives have allowed the mine haulage fleet utilisation of availability (UofA) to be sustainably increased from 85 per cent to 97 per cent (see Figure 1), efficiency utilisation to increase from 85 per cent to 90 per cent, and productive operating time (POT) to increase from 73 per cent to 84 per cent. The corresponding increases in efficiency of the haulage fleet has allowed an equivalent reduction of eight haul trucks from the fleet to meet continuing life-of-mine production requirements.CITATION:Monro, K R and Young, S P, 2016. Truck haulage improvements at the Phu Kham mine – the journey to 97 per cent utilisation of availability, in Proceedings International Mine Management Conference, pp 339-346 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 22, 2016

By J Heyes

Historically mining engineers haven't spent enough time planning waste dumps, but waste movement costs often outweigh ore haulage costs. There is a real incentive to plan waste dumps right the first time to minimise rehandle and final closure costs. At BHP Billiton Iron Ore there has been an increasing sophistication in waste dump design and they are becoming as important as the pit design. Closure landforms are now included in mining studies. Closure is embedded in the business planning cycle. The results from the recent life of mine study at Whaleback is a case in point where a base case of the shortest hauls with no closure constraints was compared against a closure case. A properly planned and executed waste plan revealed that no rehandle was required and haulage costs were eight per cent less if closure design implementation was carried out concurrent with mining. At cessation of mining the landforms were such that decommissioning of critical acid rock drainage dams and coverage of exposed pyrite areas could occur straight away, without the need for additional rehandle.  The paper also covers design and scheduling elements of waste design both in-pit and ex-pit, management of potentially acid forming material (PAF) and trends in PAF management and designing for final landform closure. This paper illustrates that there is value in terms of costs savings, sustainable outcomes and reputation if the mine planners are involved in the closure planning process.

Jan 1, 2009

By C M. Stewart, P Bowen

McArthur River Mine, in the Gulf Country of the Northern Territory, exploits one of worldÆs largest deposits of zinc, lead and silver. It was officially opened in September 1995, 40 years after its discovery in 1955. This paper describes the geological, engineering and metallurgical assessments which made up the feasibility study. It then relates how these study components compare with the first two years of operation. The challenges that had to be overcome before the McArthur River Mine became economically viable included the metallurgical problems associated with extremely fine grained ore and the development of an effective mining process.

Jan 1, 1998

By B Murphy

Safescape Laddertube provides an improved system for emergency egress in ventilation shafts. The addition of Laddertube in a rise has very little impact on ventilation flow, studies have indicated that the difference in flow velocities are difficult to measure due to the minimal impact. Due to the size and open-ended nature of Laddertube, the air velocity inside and out of the Laddertube is mostly linear. Laddertube can be used either permanently or during an emergency as a secondary ventilation duct. One project involved a 385 m ladder installed in a surface return air raise that could be made to bypass the primary circuit and supply fresh air to a sea container fresh air base at the bottom of the raise. Laddertube has been designed to be installed to any feasible length and can be fitted with a climb assist system ensuring enhanced speed and reduced fatigue during ascent. The climb assist used in association with Laddertube is a Tractelift system which applies a weight relief of up to 36 kg off the climber’s body weight when using the ladder. This system has successfully been tested for ladders up to 600 m in length and is currently in use for a ladder of 185 m length. The use of refuge chambers in underground coalmines has long been a contentious issue due to the concern that while it may provide temporary shelter, the risk of being exposed to high heat or the inability for rescuers to access them due to fire or explosive atmosphere means that they may be effectively trapped. The additional application for coal environments includes Laddertube installed alongside a refuge chamber concealed behind a blast proof door ensuring a secondary means of emergency egress. In certain operations designs may allow for this chamber to be provided withpositive pressure fresh air.

Oct 12, 2022

By D Giddings, S A. Silvester, S Pickerin

Underground fires represent a constant threat to the safety of underground personnel. Miners in the immediate vicinity may face intense heat, blinding smoke, toxic fumes, fall of ground and other direct effects of a fire. However, the vast majority of victims never actually see the fire, and are overcome either by deadly fumes in the ventilating current or by asphyxiation. The mine ventilation system, which maintains a sustainable atmosphere to the working places, can transport products of combustion with equal efficiency. Miners who are remotely situated from a fire may be forced to evacuate considerable distances, through dense smoke and fumes, or even become cut-off from escape. Additionally, miners may become confused by unfamiliar ventilation characteristics caused by fires. Conveyor belts are widely used for transporting minerals in mines as well as in many other industrial situations. Because they contain large amounts of polymeric materials their use in certain environments, especially coal mines, but also in steel works, power stations and other enclosed areas must be controlled to minimise the fire risk. Over last nine years there have been 60 fires in underground mines in the UK alone and that of these, half have been associated with conveyors. This paper summarises the results obtained from a recent research project that has developed a preliminary computational thermal and fluid dynamic model to represent the spread of flame along a typical conveyor belt used in UK deep coal mines. The results of these models have been calibrated against a series of experimental tests performed within a surface fire test gallery. An improved knowledge of the burn characteristics and rate of release of the products of combustion from conveyor belt fires will assist in the development of better fire detection and fire fighting techniques.

Jan 1, 2005

By H S. Mitri, A Sainoki

Destress blasting techniques have been widely employed in underground mines for the purpose of preconditioning highly stressed rock mass. Appropriate applications of the technique successfully contribute to increasing mine safety (eg mitigating the risks for rock bursts). This paper presents a simulation technique to estimate the extent of damage zones induced by destress blasting. A 3D numerical model with a single blasthole is constructed with FLAC3D code, whereby static analysis is carried out in which horizontal and vertical stresses are applied to the model in order to simulate stress conditions in a deep underground mine. Afterwards, dynamic analysis is performed whilst applying time-varying blast pressure along the blasthole. The blast pressure profile takes into consideration an instantaneous increase and gradual decrease in blast pressure as well as the propagation of detonation along the blasthole. In this paper, constitutive models allowing for shear and tensile strengths of rock mass that are dependent upon strain rate are newly implemented into FLAC3D code with C++ programming language, whereby blast-induced damage is assessed by the extent of tensile and shear failure zones. The results obtained from the dynamic analysis show significant decrease in the extent of yielding zones induced by destress blasting with increasing the magnitude of in situ stress. They indicate that considering in situ stress state is indispensable in order to propose proper blast design for each level in underground mines. Based on these results, the relationship between the extent of the damage zone and depth at which destress blasting is performed is established. Furthermore, stress dissipation induced by destress blasting is examined with static analyses, in which the modulus of elasticity is decreased according to a rock fragmentation factor, a, only for the area where tensile and shear failures takes place during the dynamic analyses. A model parametrical study with respect to a is undertaken. The relationship between the rock fragmentation factor and the stress dissipation in the yielding zones is developed from the parametrical study. The developed relationship can be useful when destress blasting is designed for massive rock masses.CITATION:Sainoki, A and Mitri, H S, 2015. Simulation of damage zones induced by destress blasting, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 245–256 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By A Bagis, T Baker

In 1983 the New South Wales (NSW) Government began to construct a 35 km freight rail line to provide additional rail capacity to Port Kembla in the Illawarra region, south of Sydney, through a direct connection between the Unanderra to Moss Vale line at Dombarton to the Main South rail line at Maldon in the Southern Highlands. The project area lies within the carefully managed Sydney Water catchment and is also underlain by previous coal mining activities.Construction of the line halted in 1988 prior to its completion after the NSW Government reassessed the demand case and found that the project was not as viable as originally forecast. However, by this stage the line was partially constructed, including the majority of civil earthworks, approach structures to the main river crossings and establishing the portals for the Avon tunnel as a precursor to major tunnelling works.In 2012, the Commonwealth Government funded Transport for NSW to undertake the necessary engineering and environmental preconstruction works. Most importantly here, the 1980s rail link was predicated upon the use of electrically powered locomotives, whereas the locomotive fleet in operation today in NSW is diesel powered. This fact has a significant impact upon the approach and development of the Avon tunnel section, as the diesel powered locomotives combined with the length and grade of the tunnel alignment produces a unique set of conditions requiring specialist engineering design and systems to ensure safe and functional operation of the railway through the tunnel section.Given the above, the Avon tunnel will need to be supported by a ventilation and smoke control design based on the heat rejection from the locomotive consist, consideration of ambient air quality compliance, comparison against in-tunnel air quality goals, and providing safety systems in line with the fire and life safety strategy it requires.This paper explores the current development of both the tunnel civil works responding to the geography, geology, rail functional requirements, as well as the tunnel ventilation systems being revised to suit the diesel locomotives.Further, this paper describes the importance of combining the design outcomes with the procurement methodology in order to achieve the project objectives, a functional outcome and value for money across the project life.CITATION:Baker, T and Bagis, A, 2014. Maldon to Dombarton Rail Link – design development of the Avon Tunnel, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 487–494 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By R Austerberry, S Green

The discovery of the Cuffley Lode at Mandalay Resources Costerfield Operations provided an opportunity to extend mine life via mining the offset depth extension of the previously worked Alison Mine. Access from the existing Augusta Mine placed the initial Cuffley underground workings at approximately 250 metres depth from surface. As the new orebody transitioned towards production, a secondary means of egress needed to be established. The depth of the initial capital development presented a challenge in establishing a secondary means of egress that could be confidently relied on. The availability of land to locate a surface shaft collar further reduced available options and geotechnical drilling further limited suitable shaft locations. Time limiting factors such as permitting and having a secondary means of egress in as soon as possible, further highlighted that an innovative secondary means of egress was needed. A consideration of using an emergency gig lowered by a suitable sized crane supplied by an external crane contractor was investigated and found to be a suitable outcome. This Emergency Gig was deployed via the Cuffley Return Air Raise. When trialled, the emergency gig was found to provide a reliable, repeatable extraction method with an acceptable level of risk. Issues discovered during such trials further improved the process to a point where this extraction method became the adopted secondary means of egress for additional lodes that existed at depth. When assessing possible methods of secondary means of egress, the use of a third-party crane and custom designed and fabricated emergency gig should not be discounted. Where a crane can be sourced within an acceptable timeframe, the emergency gig extraction method provides a reliable safe and cost-effective means of secondary means of egress, especially when multiple shafts are to be developed. Local laws may negate the ability to employ such a system, although it is believed with good communication and well-constructed risk assessments, this system can be safely deployed.

Mar 15, 2021

By A B. Christie, R Barker

Recent studies carried out to support the development of a strategy for the New Zealand mineral industry by the NZ Minerals Industry Association have included investigations of mineral potential, and the development of scenarios for realising this countryÆs mineral potential by 2010. New economic research is applying a general equilibrium model to quantify the opportunity cost of this potential. The model analyses separately four categories of land (private land and three categories of Crown land) and identifies four distinct mineral classes û precious metals, industrial minerals, coal and aggregate. It investigates the economic effect of the increased availability of mineral resources on the mining industry itself, on other industry sectors and on the NZ economy generally, including its impact on unemployment, GDP and household welfare.The analyses suggest that increases in the level of GDP of between 1.9 per cent and 3.4 per cent may be obtained by utilising New ZealandÆs mineral wealth to varying degrees. The mineral industry sectors are significant beneficiaries under all scenarios; mineral output increases by between two and five times its current level. However, the flow-on effects to the rest of the economy, and to households, are also significant. The analyses show that household income, adjusted for changes in consumer prices, can be expected to increase by between 1.6 per cent and 2.7 per cent. This results largely from increased employment.

Jan 1, 2002

By W B. Edgar, S C. Dominy

High-nugget effect vein-gold systems are generally considered to be one of the most challenging of deposit types to evaluate and exploit. To potential investors and mining companies, they are viewed as high risk because of the associated uncertainties in the grade estimate and general paucity of Ore Reserves at production start-up. However, despite the well-known risks, these deposits often have a grade upside that makes them potentially attractive. The reporting of resource grade is of importance and perhaps even more so is the reporting of the associated uncertainty attached to the grade estimate. The use of the grade estimate supported by a grade range is recommended to achieve more complete and useful disclosure. The definition of the grade range can be somewhat subjective, ranging from opinion based estimates through to data-based estimates and geostatistical conditional simulation. Whichever method used, the over-riding issue must be the provision of enough data of appropriate quality and full disclosure to the public of relevant uncertainties.CITATION:Dominy, S C and Edgar, W B, 2012. Approaches to reporting grade uncertainty in high-nugget gold vein projects, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2012 , pp 95-108 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 24, 2012

By R M. S Watsford, M Davis

In 2015, MMG Limited commenced further action to improve operating margins and establish a blueprint for future growth in the Australian environment. This action was taken in the context of weakening metal prices and high input costs that arose during the Australian minerals boom.MMG was formed in June 2009 following the purchase of the majority of assets of OZ Minerals Limited by China Minmetals Corporation (CMC) through its subsidiary China Minmetals Non-ferrous Metals Co Ltd (CMN).Since formation MMG has been implementing a business model to deliver a standard way of operating. The overarching purpose of the business model is to enable fast integration of acquired assets to realise improved productivity and performance. CMN established MMG as a vehicle to reach their growth targets through further development or acquisition of mineral assets in jurisdictions external to mainland China.The business model is underpinned by the MMG operating model. The operating model defines how MMG is arranged to deliver the company strategy.This paper describes the application of the operating model to the formation of the Australian operations into a single business unit from multiple stand-alone operating sites. The development and impact of the business model on MMG’s performance is also presented.The extension of the operating model to the Australian operations has led to improvement in safety performance, direct costs and productivity. These improvements have been achieved through reducing duplication, simplification of systems and rapid deployment of improvement initiatives.The successful implementation of the operating model to Australian operations strengthens the platform for further growth. Hence, delivering on the aim of the business model.CITATION:Watsford, R M S and Davis, M, 2016. MMG’s Australian operating model – the implementation, successes and learning, in Proceedings International Mine Management Conference, pp 291-302 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 22, 2016