Search Documents

Tertiary laterite is extensively developed in the Darling Range area, but there is doubt that. the high relief areas along the Darling Scarp have been peneplaned. Three distinct laterite types are distinguished which are termed transported, introduced and residual laterites to avoid ambiguity. Transported laterites are recemented (primarily) lateritic materials and introduced laterites are chemical deposits of bog iron type. Residual laterites are formed in situ from the host material which can be either decomposed bedrock or detrital' clay, and the two varieties formed from these sources are termed residual A and residual B laterites. The genetic requirements for residual laterite formation are (1) host material, (2) porosity and permeability, (3) rainfall, (4) temperature, (5) relief and drainage, (6) vege- tation and (7) time. Previous theories on the origin of laterite appear to be inadequate and incompatible with field observations. Field investigations and drilling in the Darling Range area disclosed lenticular section and thickest laterite development on slopes and thin or oc- casionally no laterite development on crests. Lateritisation is considered a surface feature and the end product of the chemical weathering cycle. The relief and rain-water acting on a kaolinitic host material are con- sidered the major contributing factors in the

Jan 1, 1973

By G Milligan

This paper describes how water is being planned, managed and used in Queensland as both a precious natural resource, vital for healthy ecosystems, and as a valuable tradeable commodity, necessary to secure economic prosperity. Queensland has been progressively implementing a planned package of water industry improvements agreed by the Council of Australia Governments in 1994. The Water Act 2000 provides the legislative basis for implementing the COAG water reform framework in Queensland and sets out statutory water planning processes. A Water Resource Plan (WRP) is a strategic document that specifies water sharing and environmental flow outcomes across a whole catchment over a period of up to ten years. A Resource Operations Plan (ROP) sets out the details of implementing a WRP, including environmental flow rules, establishment of tradeable water allocations that are separate from land, rules for water trading, rules for operating water infrastructure, arrangements for the release of any unallocated water identified in the WRP, and requirements for monitoring and reporting. Water Resource Planning and Resource Operations Planning are progressing in priority catchments and aquifers across the State. Ways to obtain a water entitlement now depend on whether a WRP and/or a ROP exist in a particular catchment. Water trading provides for the buying and selling of water entitlements on a permanent basis where permitted under a ROP. Details of tradeable water allocations are securely registered on the Water Allocations Register, which is similar to a land titles register. Leasing and temporary transfers of water entitlements are also possible. Water brokers are emerging to facilitate water trading which aims to improve water use efficiency and move water to higher value uses. Queensland is leading the way in the implementation of the COAG water reform framework and the pursuit of sustainable water resource management. The StateÆs progress in this regard is increasing certainty for water users, while ensuring that considerations of equity amongst existing and future users and amongst various uses, as well as considerations of ecological sustainability and the wider community, are all taken into account. The mining sector stands to benefit substantially from these new approaches to planning, managing and using this precious resource.

Jan 1, 2003

By J Liu

In situ coal gasification is a method of extracting a high proportion of the energy value from coal without the need for mining. In situ conversion of coal to combustible gases is achieved by drilling wells into the seam, injecting gasification agents and initiating combustion. The product gases are then extracted to surface using production wells. These gases are clean energy sources for power generation, heating or synthetic fuel production. In situ coal gasification is of particular interest with respect to its lower environmental impact, potential application to otherwise inaccessible energy resources (ie offshore, deep deposits or beneath protected lands) and low capital intensity. Practical application of this clean technology is restricted primarily by lack of satisfactory quantitative descriptions of the processes involved, in particular the hydromechanical processes.In this study, three characteristic physical zones of an in situ gasifier are identified as the rubble zone, combustion front and virgin coal zone. Coupled mechanical processes of coal consumption and overburden collapse are used to describe the permeability profile in the rubble zone. Additionally, the redistribution of overburden load associated with coal consumption is accounted for with the formulation of a stress (compressive) dependent permeability profile, which is applied to the virgin coal zone. The model was implemented into and solved by FEMLAB, an advanced computer simulation tool. The flow process, according to DarcyÆs Law, is subsequently described in terms of permeability dependent injectivity. Injectivity is an indicator of flow velocity, which has been identified as a crucial factor in determining the commercial value of product gases from in situ coal gasification. The stress alteration to coal permeability was found to have a dominating influence on the flow process. This finding implies that a greater understanding of the in situ coal burning induced deformation of surrounding rocks would be of significant value in assessing the economic viability of applying this clean technology to potential sites.

Jan 1, 2004

By R Talebi

A research project to better understand the rock mass behaviour and the seismic response has been conducted during the design and construction of the 9215 level at the E-Block sector of the Northern Star Kanowna Belle Mine. The research program was undertaken at a tunnel located 1100 m below the surface with the results applicable to feasibility studies on underground mining projects in highstress conditions, where failure can occur very soon after tunnel construction. Semi-circular excavation shapes coupled with the use of de-stress blasting techniques were designed to monitor the excavation in conditions of very high stress. The ground support was designed considering high energy dissipation ground support schemes (HED) as described by Arcaro et al (2021). The results indicate a decreased rock mass demand due to the change of excavation shape. Also, localised reduction in rock mass stiffness was achieved due to the implementation of de-stress blasting. Finally, increased ground support capacity was gained by the implementation of the high energy dissipation ground support schemes. The Kanowna Belle Mine has significant ore reserves at depths exceeding 1000 m below the surface. The results of this research will be used to optimise the extraction of the remaining E Stoping Block at depths exceeding 1350 m.

Mar 29, 2023

By D A. Kepert, D Clark

During early 2004, Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) began an aggressive exploration and drilling program in the Chichester Range, targeting iron enrichment developed in the Nammuldi Member at the base of the Marra Mamba Iron Formation. The timely recognition by FMG of distinct zones of (hypogene) microplaty hematite (mplH) enrichment overprinted by extensive supergene mineralisation led to an early reappraisal of the geological history of the area and characterisation of the possible structural and stratigraphic controls on mineralisation. Regionally, the Chichester Range dips gently at less than 5¦ to the south, however, detailed mapping shows that this regional limb is overprinted by low amplitude, long wavelength, north/south to northeast/southwest trending folds. The locations of major structures in the Marra Mamba Iron Formation, combined with spectral analysis of known mineralisation, allowed extrapolation and prioritisation of exploration target areas. The delineation under cover and understanding of these structures was enhanced by detailed airborne magnetic data. Recognition that supergene mineralisation was associated with a palaeotopography that continued significantly under cover to the south under sediments of the Fortescue River valley led to the discovery of extensive supergene mineralisation together with additional mplH mineralisation. A model for the landscape evolution and preservation of enriched Nammuldi Member was generated in order to help communicate both the complexities involved with targeting drill holes beneath cover and the potential limits to the lateral extents of mineralisation.

Jan 1, 2005

By J Hadjigeorgiou

Underground mines often rely on ore pass systems to ensure the transport of ore and waste. Consequently, it is important to ensure the smooth operation of such systems. Ore pass degradation that may require rehabilitation results in production delays and high operational costs. The occurrence of hang-ups within an ore pass also leads to disruption of ore production. There are important safety concerns when worker intervention is necessary to re-establish material flow in the ore pass. In order to facilitate the design of ore pass systems, mining operations often rely on past experience, or semi empirical guidelines. This paper describes recent efforts to establish a comprehensive database on current practices; encountered operational problems and solutions in ore pass design in Quebec underground mines.

Jan 1, 2003

By R Butler

Contract m1n1ng in New Zealand developed in the coal industry and has become an element in the success of recently opened hard rock gold mines. At Martha Hill, the mining contractor is undertaking a wide range of activities from open pit mining, crushing, conveying, waste embankment construction and drainage.

Jan 1, 1991

The project is undertaken by Elgas Pty Ltd, a 50 per cent joint venture between AGL and BOC, to store 65 000 t of LPG in underground storage at Port Botany, NSW. The contractor, Concrete Constructions Pty Ltd, elected to use drilling and blasting techniques. The project specification called for the following works to be excavated: Access Shaft:122 m (out of 140 m total depth), 6.0 m diameter (selected by the contractor),Operation Shaft:125 m (out of 150 m total depth), 4.0 m diameter,Water Curtain Gallery:500 m (Later extended by additional 270 m), 4.0 m wide and 3.5 m high,Storage Caverns:910 m, 14.0 m wide, 11.0 m high,Top Heading:14.0 m wide, 5.5 m high,Bench:14.0 m wide, 5.5 m high,Connection Galleries:250 m, 5.5 m wide, 5.5 m high.A total of 156 000 cubm of rock to be excavated.

Jan 1, 1999

Universities have had a long history in the education of geology graduates, Analysis of this history reveals a record of success, as judged on a world basis. However there have been significant changes in the last 20 years that have impacted on the ability of universities to continue to provide their traditional style of geology education. These changes have increased in the last 10 years. In the teaching side, there has been a change in expectations. Additionally the increasing workload decreases the value of each academic to perform the tasks needed by the new education. In the area of research, the funds provided have continued to decline, in both real and absolute terms, and it is now necessary for universities to seek out funds to pay for their postgraduate research. Additionally, the universities have slipped into the error of what cahn only be termed "academic incest", and research student mobility has decreased to an undesirable level, stifling initiative and new ideas in a number of cases, The only solution is for Government monies to be "directed" - ie that the postgraduate student must leave his or her original university in order to receifve the research stipend/scholarship. On the government front, the government and its agencies have not adequately analysed and recognised the need for the redirection of education and research funds into the needy areas of science and technology, especially those that related to the minerals area.

Jan 1, 1986

The GDR has extensive lignite deposits at its disposal, which formed the basis for the development of an independent energy source after 1945 and which will retain their significance well beyond the year 2000 (see fig. 1). In 1946 lignite output was about 110 x 106 t. In 1985 312x 106 t was produced and in 1988 the planned output will be ca. 315 x 106 t. Thus, the domestic produc- tion of lignite covers ca. 75% of the GDR's primary energy requirements. More than 80% of the electrical energy is gener- ated by the use of lignite and about 12% by nuclear energy. In addition to this, about 18 x 106 t/a mineral oil and about 6 x 109, m3/a natural gas are imported, predominantly from the Soviet Union. The lignite deposits of the GDR are of Tertiary origin and are recovered exclusively by opencast mining. There are two large regions (fig. 2): - in the region east of the river Elbe (Cottbus/Senftenberg- "Niederlausitz") and - in the region west of the river Elbe (Halle/Leip- zig/Magdeburg). These deposits differ in geological age and conditions of depo- sition, consequently there are differences in their chemical and physical composition and, thus, in their uses. The younger Mio- cene coals of the main region in the East of the river Elbe belong to the epirogenetic type and have a low content of ash and sul- phur. Among other things, they are suitable for the production of brown coal high-temperature coke (Lauchhammer and Schwarze Pumpe). The older Oligocene coals of the Halle/Leip- zig region are bitumenous in certain areas. Therefore, they form the basis for production in low-temperature carbonizing and chemical plants. In the Halle-Magdeburg region, where the lig- nite is in contact with the underlying Zechstein subdivision, so- called "salt coals" are found.

Jan 1, 1989

This paper attempts to draw together the experience of over 30 years of research and practice in the United Kingdom on the rehabilitation of abandoned metalliferous mining wastes. The reliance on water when the mines were operating has implications for water quality and the techniques used to restore sites to alleviate the principal impacts of the mines. Drivers of reclamation included concerns about human health from wind blown dust and pollution of watercourses as well as perceptions of dereliction. Techniques of reclamation used involved removal of spoil from near to surface watercourses, capping of spoil, diversion of watercourses, use of impermeable membranes, prevention of surface sinks into underground workings and the use of constructed wetlands. The issues to be dealt with in mine reclamation have become more complex and sometimes diverge. The schemes in the 1990s described have been effective in dealing with pollution from spoil heaps and small but significant adit discharges; however, significant issues, particularly those of large flows of polluted water from mine sites, still need to be dealt with. Although the paper describes the legacy of mining, which largely finished in the late 19th/early 20th century, similar issues but on a larger scale are to be found in more recent mining, for example Eastern Europe. In many of these areas minerals still remain to be won and dealing with this legacy may fall on new mining developments.

Jan 1, 2006

Iron formation-hosted iron ore deposits account for the majority of current world iron ore production and consist of three classes: unenriched primary iron formation with typically 25 to 45 wt per cent Fe; martite-goethite ore formed by supergene processes, with abundant hydrous iron oxides containing 60 to 63 wt per cent Fe; and high-grade hematite ores thought to be of hypogene or metamorphic origin overprinted by subsequent supergene enrichment with 60 to 68 wt per cent Fe.Individual iron ore deposits range from a few millions of tonnes to over two billion tonnes at >64 wt per cent Fe, although most are within the range of 200 to 500 Mt. In the Hamersley Province of Western Australia, martite-goethite ores are largely developed in the Marra Mamba Iron Formation, although high (>0.08 per cent P) phosphorous mineralisation is also well developed in the stratigraphically higher Brockman Iron Formation. Whilst the vast majority of high-grade microplaty hematite ore is best developed in the Brockman Iron Formation, this paper provides the first textural evidence of locally significant microplaty hematite mineralisation in the Nammuldi Member of the Marra Mamba Iron Formation, in the Chichester Ranges at the Christmas Creek, Cloud Break and Mount Nicholas prospects. Petrographic studies have identified a high-grade Fe texture composed of nanometre scale plates of hematite in mineralised sections of primary microplaty hematite deposits in the Pilbara and elsewhere, well below the normal depth of weathering or dehydration. The population of nanometre to micrometre scale hematite plates is interpreted to represent various stages of nucleation, crystallisation and progressive growth of hematite from the primary ore-forming fluid in areas that were once iron-rich carbonates or silicates in the BIF.

Jan 1, 2005

Mid-ocean ridges host approximately 65 per cent of about 100 known sites of high-temperature venting and polymetallic sulfide deposits; most of them are located at the East Pacific Rise (EPR), while more diverse mineralisation styles occur at the Mid-Atlantic Rise (MAR). Seafloor hydrothermal activity at the EPR are related to MORB while different substrates, including MORB and ultramafic intrusive rocks, are associated with æblack smokersÆ at the MAR. Depth of hydrothermal activity ranges from 0.7 to 4.3 km. High-temperature vents precipitating Cu-Fe sulfides (chalcopyrite and isocubanite, rare bornite), pyrrhotite, pyrite (¦ marcasite), and sphalerite, and low-temperature edifices precipitating marcasite (with pyrite), sphalerite, barite, andsubordinate chalcopyrite (pyrrhotite and isocubanite are absent) occur in both environments. There are considerable differences in Fe, Zn, Cu, Ag, Au and trace element contents in ores and in theFeS contents in Zn-sulfides in these deposits. Acomparison with anhydrite and sulfide minerals precipitating from modern black smoker fluids sulfide reveals many similarities but also some important differences. Fluids with salinity values above and below that of seawater at 400¦C down to 130 - 170¦C deposited sulfide minerals. Mantle-derived He prevails in fluids trapped by sulfides in EPR 9¦N and 21¦N hydrothermal systems. Hydrothermal fluids in MAR and back-arc systems are richer in radiogenic 4He. The sulfur isotope composition varies in the different hydrothermal fields and within zones of a chimney. EPR sulfides display narrower range of d34S values, while MAR and back-arc sulfides can bedepleted and enriched in the heavier d34S isotope. The most important finding is that fluid temperature, salinity, R/Ra ratios and d34S values ranged more significantly in the polymetallic sulfide deposits than when measured directly on venting fluids. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By Kurihara K, Tanimoto C

Construction and mining sites are often subject to unexpected flooding and extensive delays may occur in locating and installing emergency pumps. This particularly applies to sites located in remote areas. A simple and effective pump, called an air-lift pump, can be built from the equipment available at the working site. The basic req- uirements are a compressed air supply, air hose and conventional water pipes. The air-lift pump is comparatively in- efficient but approximately 35 per cent of the available compressed air power at the site can be applied to pumping. Suprisingly high liquid discharge rates may be obtained in suitable applications. The theoretical and practical consider- ations of the air-lift pump are evaluated and a suggested procedure for the emergency design and construction is outlined. INTRODUCTION. Sudden inundations of water into mine and development excavations require the immediate removal of the water if extensive and often irrepairable damage is to be avoided. Pumps installed in shafts or tunnels may become un- servicable due to being totally submerged during the flooding. The emphasis is on rapid

Jan 1, 1976

By A Datar, D Mulligan

The extractive phase of broad-scale mining can have major impacts on landscapes and associated ecosystems. Post-mining ecological rehabilitation typically starts with reconstructing topography. A fairly common industry practice has been to use landform elements such as plateaus, terraces, and gentle slopes for stabilisation purposes. However, this approach can lead to the generation of fairly uniform landforms that do not necessarily reflect natural ecosystems. Previous research in undisturbed and agricultural landscapes shows that ecological attributes and diversity in microclimates is positively correlated with landform heterogeneity. An objective of this study was to investigate if those findings are still valid in post-mining rehabilitating landscapes on North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia. We investigated the relationship between landform heterogeneity and status of ecological recovery. The landform heterogeneity is measured through variance in three landform characteristics (relief, slope, aspect) using remote-sensing data and the status of ecological recovery is represented by ecological indicators measured through field surveys. The results indicate strong correlations between landform heterogeneity indices and native vegetation species richness with sensitivity to the spatial scale of investigation. It is recognised that climate, substrate and rehabilitation practices act as primary drivers of rehabilitation success. However, the results indicate that, in some examples, landform heterogeneity (heterogeneity in relief and slope angles) contributes up to 30 to 50?per?cent of the variance in native vegetation species richness. While the primary drivers of ecological recovery are difficult to control over extensive areas and extended time periods, landform heterogeneity provides a tool to indirectly control the micro-environmental parameters to improve ecological recovery. Reducing the uncertainties in the choice of ecological and landform indices and the degree of landform heterogeneity suitable for particular rehabilitating landscapes would be site specific. The introduction of desired landform heterogeneity may provide a very effective tool for significant improvement in ecological rehabilitation across broad-scale post-mine landscapes, an outcome of benefit to industry, government and local communities.CITATION:Datar, A and Mulligan,?D,?2014. Do we need to change the way we set up the stage?, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 29–46 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014

By J M. Parr, C J. Yeats

Discovered in 1991 by combined plume detection and bottom-tow photography (Binns and Scott, 1993) and for some years thereafter the highest tenor mineral occurrence known on the ocean floor, the PACMANUS hydrothermal field has since been surveyed and sampled in great detail by CSIRO and international research agencies (Binns et al, 1995; Auzende, Urabe and Scientific Party, 1996; Binns et al, 2002; Tivey et al, 2006). Since 2005 commercial surveys employing deep-tow geophysical packages and remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) have been conducted by Nautilus Minerals Inc and partners within Papua New Guinea-granted offshore exploration licenses (Nautilus Minerals Inc, 2008). Two academic drilling programs have been conducted, one under the international Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) directed at deep structure (Shipboard Scientific Party, 2002; Binns, Barriga and Miller, 2007), and one using a 5 m capable seafloor diamond drill to investigate the immediate subsurface at one site (Petersen et al, 2005). An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

The primary object of this paper is to describe the present metallurgical practice of the Emperor Combined Mill, wherein ores from the adjoining and Associated Mining Companies, Emperor Gold Mining Company Ltd., Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines, N.L., and Dolphin Mines, Ltd., are treated for the recovery of gold and silver.The mining field is located in the foothills, five miles from the sea, on the northern side of Viti Levu, the largest and most important island of the Fiji group.The orebodies occur in basalt and associated ash beds overlain by andesite, tuffs and sediments. The basalt is a dark greenish-black rock and in much of the ore mined is weathered with alteration of the olivine to serpentine and iron oxides, of the augite to chlorite and of the minute included crystals of iron ore to other iron oxides. Into the basalt intrudes a considerable number of andesite dykes, and the lodes occur as veins in these dykes, as "flatmakes" along fissures or, ash beds extending horizontally from the dykes and at the contact of the basalt and the andesite dices.The Emperor orebody is the largest and most important, and consists essentially of massive, shattered, well altered and mineralized basalt.Little or no free gold occurs in the ore at present being milled, the most important host minerals for gold being the tellurides sylvanite and hessite, next in importance being the sulphides, pyrite, marcasite and arsenopyrite. Chalcopyrite is present in quantities large enough to be troublesome in the subsequent concentrate treatment section, while sphalerite, tetrahedrite, bornite, galena and native tellurium are present in small quantities.Unimportant occurrences of native copper have been observed in both Dolphin and Emperor orebodies.

Jan 1, 1953

By B Beamish

"All underground coal mines in Australia are required to develop a Spontaneous CombustionManagement Plan (SCMP). The New South Wales Government has developed a guideline (MDG1006) to assist operations to comply with this requirement. A reference document is alsosupplied with the guideline that describes the type of information that is needed for input to theplan, including identifying possible tests that can be used for propensity assessment. However,there is no clear indication of what program of sampling and testing is suffi cient to provide adefi nitive assessment of spontaneous combustion propensity prior to and during mining. This paper reviews the existing methods available for quantifying spontaneous combustion propensity and discusses the sampling requirements that are needed from exploration to mining. A new, more defi nitive method of spontaneous combustion testing is also presented that benchmarks coal self-heating performance from mine ambient temperature to thermal runaway. Examples of the eff ectiveness of this new test method for identifying and quantifying reactive pyrite in coal as well as quantifying the diff erence between dry and wet season conditions are provided in the paper."

Jun 1, 2012

By Smith F. A, Both R. A

The application of biogeochemical methods in mineral exploration in the semi-arid to and environment of Western Australia was investiga- ted in an area near Norseman. The reliability of these methods was evaluated by comparing trace element characteristics of rock, soil and plants in the vicinity of the Pioneer BB pros- pect. The prospect is located in the south- western part of the Pioneer Dome, where granite gneiss core is surrounded by a 'greenstone' sequence of ultrabasic, basic and sedimentary rocks. Nickel-iron sulphide mineralization occurs discontinuously along one of the basic- ultrabasic contacts. Analyses of unweathered and partly weath- ered rock from diamond drill cores show the ultrabasic rock to be highly variable with re- spect to nickel, copper, cobalt, zinc and manga- nese. Samples of weathered bedrock and over- lying soil were analysed both for total trace element contents and for the trace elements associated with secondary iron and manganese oxides. Approximately 30 per cent of the total nickel content of the weathered basic rock is associated with secondary iron and manganese oxides, compared to approximately 15 per cent in the weathered ultrabasic rock. The soil is partly transported but has a residual component sufficient to provide a reli- able indication of the underlying rock chemistry, although the trace element content of the soil is less variable than that of the rock. Total

Jan 1, 1973

By J Isarua, R Mabiria

The Ok Tedi copper and gold project, located in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea, commenced operations in 1983. The open cut mine has undergone several significant transformations throughout its project life including changes of ownership, mine life extensions and varying production performance profiles. As of today, the Ok Tedi Mine is a 100 per cent PNG owned company (67 per cent State and 33 per cent Western Province and Communities) and has a life-ofmine plan extending out to about 2032.

May 5, 2022