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By A Jurg, F Leclercq

The total drill and blast concept is widely known in the mining industry. On the contrary, the quarry industry rarely adopts such working methods. Based on the experience of the CBS quarry in the North of France, this paper shows how up-to-date blasting technology and simple control methods can significantly improve the overall Mine to Mill efficiency of a quarry. The CBS quarry, in partnership with the EPC group and Nitro- Bickford Company, adopted a new working process three years ago aimed at increasing blast performance and related productivity of the downstream process (loading, hauling and crushing). The pattern geometry of each blast is controlled and explosive charging is carried out following the æconstant specific energyÆ CSE concept. This method provides a homogeneous fragmentation distribution and reduces vibration peak-particle-velocities. The impact on downstream productivity is controlled by means of a simple information management system, which collects and measures key parameters of the production process such as; hauling cycles, crusher throughput, secondary breaking and vibration peak particle velocity. This information system has clearly proved over time that consistent blast quality could be achieved, leading to a 30 per cent improvement in quarry productivity. Improved energy control of blasting through optimisation with electronic detonators, allowed a significant reduction in vibration impact on the environment. Improvement in blasting security, reduction in the environmental impact and productivity enhancement are major benefits that quarries can obtain from these CSE optimisation blasting methods.

Jan 1, 2007

By C Morley, B Costello

In 2002 the Argyle Diamond Mine upgraded the process plantÆs recrush circuit to include a High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR), or High Pressure Rolls Crushers (HPRC) as they are termed in the diamond industry. HPGR have generated considerable interest over the last decade, though there are still technical/processing unknowns to its effectiveness as a primary diamond ore crusher.The upgrade of the Recrush circuit at Argyle Diamonds has gone a long way to answering some of the key questions, and thus it has reduced the unknowns to a level more acceptable to the industry.This paper focuses on the results from the HPRC at Argyle, in particular the performance of the studded wear surfaces, comparison of energy efficiency against traditional quaternary cone crushers and the resultant increased liberation. Issues that have arisen, including edge wear of the studded surfaces, will be discussed and the steps taken to reduce this issue are presented.

Jan 1, 2004

The application of reinforcement techniques to enhance the stability of underground coal mine roadways subject to high stresses is discussed. Research conducted in the Illawarra Coal Measures has been aimed to delineate the factors which influence the behaviour of rock above roadways and the performance of the reinforcement placed. Design considerations for the reinforcement of mine roadways in the Bulli coal are based on a quantification of the rock response together with a reinforcement strategy to enhance the structural integrity of the roof strata.

Jan 1, 1986

The C.S.A. copper lead zinc mine, located seven miles north of Cobar in Central Western New South Wales, is the largest known mineral occurrence in the Cobar Mining Field. Hosted by the steeply west dipping, west facing sediments of the Cobar Group, the generally discordant orebodies occur within a strike width of 600 ft and an overall strike length of 1200 ft. They comprise lenticular steeply north pitching and east dipping zones of sulphide mineralisation which range in composition from massive pyrite-sphalerite-pyrrhotite--galena to less massive pyrite- pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite varieties. The thinly bedded siltstones, shales and graywackes hosting the mineralisation appear to have derived many of their constituents from volcanic sourcesä They have been metamorphosed to the greenschist facies of regional metamorphism. At least two stages of deformation and folding have occurred. The first stage folded the rocks on a south pitching fold axis into their present configuration, and super- imposed a strong axial plane cleavage which subsequently guided the emplacement of the mineralisation. The second stage of deformation is considered to have controlled the zonal distrib- ution of the orebodies and the appropriate fold axis appears to coincide with the long axis of the orebodies.

Jan 1, 1969

Introduction.History of Stope Filling at Mount Isa.The Need for a Systematic Fill Programme.Reasons for Filling.Fill Materials and Tonnages.Rough Mullock Fill.Quantities Readily Available.Fill Pass Development.Stope Preparation.Drainage.Hydraulic Sand Fill.Initial Experiments with Mill Tailings.Surface Layout.Operation Procedure.Underground Pipe Lines.Life of Sand Pipes and Cones.Drainage.Old Tailings Dam Sands.Quantity of Fill Placed.Pillar Tonnages.Conclusion and Acknowledgment.INTRODUCTIONFilling practice outlined in this paper refers exclusively to the Black Star section of the mine. The stope filling necessary early in the life of the Black Rock and portions of the Rio Grande sections is not to be confused with the current filling programme.

Jan 1, 1953

By Elliot B. J

Flash smelting is a complex and capital intensive technology. Although in use for 50 years the technology is still not well understood from a fundamental point of view and thus uncertainty is evident when significant change to the practice is necessitated. The application of effective design and process simulation tools has significant advantages when process change and improvement is required. Mathematical models have been used to simulate the processes occurring in the shafts of copper flash smelters. The present approach to flash furnace modelling differs from earlier work in that the burners were modelled in detail, the output from the burner model becoming the input to the shaft model. This paper serves as an introduction to the modelling process used to analyse the performance and provide a better understanding of the parameters applicable to the flash furnace at the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter.

Jan 1, 1992

By S Robson, T G. Blenkinsop, S C. Dominy

Golden Pig mine is in the central part of the Southern Cross greenstone belt within the Archaean Yilgarn craton. The mine has produced approximately 2.5 Mt of ore at 5.7 g/t Au to yield approximately 450 000 oz. The majority of gold mineralisation is hosted within extensively deformed and quartz-veined BIFÆs. In addition to the BIF-hosted mineralisation, an increasingly important part of the resource lies in the Taurus Lode, which is a N-NNW-trending amphibolite facies shear zone. The Taurus Lode lies within a continuous shear-zone that has a moderate to steeply WSW dipping foliation, and a mineral lineation of biotite, amphibole and pyrrhotite plunging consistently 10¦ S. Drive faces, subperpendicular to the foliation and lineation, consistently show evidence for syn-mineralisation reverse shear. Exposures parallel to the mineral lineation and perpendicular to the foliation reveal both sinistral and dextral asymmetries. These characteristics suggest that the vorticity axis of the Taurus Shear Zone is parallel to the mineral lineation, and that the simple shear sense is reverse. This geometry can arise when there is a major component of flattening across the shear zone, which may be due to interference between two adjacent granite domes. The BIF-hosted lodes plunge consistently 15¦ NNW coincident with the intersection of the axial planar cleavage of the regional folds and the Taurus Shear Zone. However, where the penetrative shear characteristics control the orientation and geometry of the mineralisation, oreshoots plunge SSW, parallel to the stretching and mineral lineations within the shear. The SSW plunge of strike extensive and laterally confined high-grade, economic ore shoots within the Taurus shear is fundamental to defining the economic mineralisation within this lode. Identifying the zones of maximum continuity and establishing the optimal position for future development will maximise ore extraction.

Jan 1, 2003

Before presentIng my address I wish to acknowledge the honour which has been conferred on me by my appointment to the position of President of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.It is a matter of great concern to us all to find our Empire at war. I am confident that, as was the case in the war of 1914-1918, members of this Institute and of kindred Institutes and Associations will contribute in full to the Empire's needs and that in the end our cause shall triumph.I think it appropriate that I should take as the subject of my address that of the Broken Hill Lead-Silver-Zinc Industry. The subject matter of this address has been confined to the operations of Mining, Ore Dressing, Lead Smelting and Refining and production of Electrolytic Zinc in Australasia. The review of the Broken Hill Lead-SilverZinc Industry would not, of course, be complete without reference to those Australian industries which trace their origin to the Broken Hill field, but· it is thought that an outline of these industries would make thIs review too extensive.HISTORICALMany efforts have been made to translate the early history of Broken Hill and its subsequent growth throughout the years into one of the wor~d's most famous mining fields in the form of a simple story.

Jan 1, 1940

By Schiller J. C, Both R. A

Base metal mineralisation occurs at several locations within the regionally metamorphosed Kanmantoo Group on the southeastern flank of the Mount Lofty Ranges between Kanmantoo and Strathalbyn, 50 km southeast of Adelaide. Sulphide mineralisation is of three main types (Seccombe et al, 1985):1. copper deposits, at the Kanmantoo and Bremer mines, South Hill prospect and several minor occurrences,2. lead-zinc deposits at Aclare, Wheal Ellen, Strathalbyn, St. Ives, Scott's Creek, and Glenalbyn mines,3. pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralisation of the Nairne pyrite deposit and many other pyritic schist units within the Kanmantoo Group.Syntheses of folding, metamorphism and stratigraphy of the Kanmantoo Group were given by Kleeman and Skinner (1958), Offler (1960, 1963), Offler and Fleming (1968), Marlow (1975), Mancktelow (1979) and Parker (1986). Studies of the general relationships of mineralisation to structure in the Kanmantoo area were given by Grasso and McManus (1954), Mirams (1962), Poole (1969), and Lindqvist (1969).Several conflicting views on the origin of mineralisation in the Kanmantoo Group have been proposed. Thomson (1975) considered much of the mineralisation as a late-stage product of regional metamorphism and he, like Parker (1986) and Lambert et al (1987), stressed the importance of major lineaments as an ore control. However, Lindqvist (1969) and Verwoerd and Cleghorn (1975) tentatively suggested a syn-sedimentary origin to the Kanmantoo copper deposit and Jensen and Whittle (1969) and Seccombe et al. (1985) on the basis of sulphur isotope data proposed a bacteriogenic sulphur source and a sedimentary origin for sulphides in the Nairne pyrite deposit. The latter suggested that most copper deposits represent stockwork, vein or disseminated zones within subsurface vents whereas massive mineralisation at Wheal Ellen and Aclare mines probably accumulated on the ocean floor.This paper presents new geological information on the structural and metamorphic setting of the base metal deposits and attemptsto relate this information to previous regional studies of the Kanmantoo Group. Estimates of pressure and temperatureof peak metamorphic conditions based on silicate mineral stabilities are considered in relation to various silicate and sulphidegeothermometers which have not previously been applied to rocks in the Kanmantoo Group.

Jan 1, 1988

By A T. Spathis, K E. Leslie, K R. Blay

Many open pit mining operations seek to control blasting-related movement of ore and waste to minimise loss and dilution. Tracking the movement of ore boundaries can result in the maximisation of ore recovery and minimisation of waste sent to the mill, thereby optimising the economic performance of the operation.A novel solution for tracking the ore–waste boundary location before and after a blast uses subsurface markers placed along the boundary with all measurements and scans conducted remotely from the blast block. Upon system activation, user-operated equipment on the surface determines the three-dimensional (3D) location of the subsurface markers.The patented system concept combines two electromagnetic mechanisms, magnetic positioning and radio frequency through-rock communications to enable remote battery-powered markers, buried within the rock to be accurately located in 3D space.Field trials at a quarry have demonstrated the system can comfortably handle over 100 subsurface markers with a complete scan, including set-up, taking less than an hour. Location accuracy for each marker in 3D space is better than 0.5 m at a range up to 50 m from the magnetic source, and the system has an overall operational range in excess of 75 m.CITATION:Blay, K R, Spathis, A T and Leslie, K E, 2015. A remote, rapid and accurate three-dimensional ore waste boundary tracking system, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 297–306 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

Blasting is a common practice in mining whereby solid rock is fractured, using explosives, to a more manageable size. The effectiveness of blasting influences a number of downstream activities such as shovel digability, crusher throughput and mill throughput. As the cost of explosives is relatively low compared to milling costs (mainly due to power consumption), blasting practices can be optimised so that the downstream processes are made more efficient, and an overall cost saving made. This is the basis of the Mine to Mill approach. The effectiveness of the blasting is influenced by two main factors, the blasting practices used (eg explosive amount and type) and the geology of the area. As the geology cannot be altered, the blasting practices must be refined to create optimum blasting. Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) Fimiston operation, located in the heart of the Kalgoorlie Goldfields is the largest gold mine in Australia. Mine to Mill at KCGM has had varied success, with initial positive indications being lessened by a number of factors, including the increase in the amount of voids.

Jan 1, 2003

By Smith C. B

Major diamond pipes discovered in Western Australia in the late-1970s exhibited a number of unique features that not only resulted in Australia becoming the largest diamond producer in the world in volume terms by 1986 but also changed geological thinking on the primary occurrence of diamond. They were: - lamproite is an alternative primary diamond host to kimberlite. - the extremely high mean grade of the Argyle lamproite pipe at 5 ct per tonne. - the tectonic setting of the lamproite pipes in mobile zones mar- ginal to the Kimberley Craton in contrast to the traditional African setting within stable cratons. Diamond was one of the earliest economic minerals discovered in Australia but 128 years elapsed between its first recognition and the first Australian economic pipe discovery (Argyle). During that period some 200,000 ct of alluvial diamonds were mined in Australia (mostly in New South Wales), but such alluvial output is insignificant on the world scene where annual production today runs at 95 million ct of natural stones some 76010 of which comes from primary pipe sources such as Argyle which alone produces 30 million ct per annum. Of particular significance therefore is the geological nature of the primary diamond source rocks in Australia. The Argyle and Ellendale Pipes are lamproites, differing from kimberlite in their mineralogy and geochemistry, and characterised by the presence of typical lamproite minerals such as leucite, priderite, potassic richterite, and the abnormally high content of chemical elements incompatible with ultramafic rocks. But not yet widely appreciated is that many other Australian olivine-rich lampro- phyres also contain diamond. Such picritic alkaline rocks can

Jan 1, 1988

By R Witt, M Lowing

Tanking of tunnels is now often specified when inflows exceed as little as 1 L/s/km with a unit distance of 100 m. To demonstrate inflows over a 100 m segment of a tunnel are less than 0.1 L/s with a standard error of 0.01 L/s by timed, gravity filled, volume measurement up and downstream of the segment, the measuring cylinder volume (L) must exceed 10 Q, where Q is the flow in L/s, and the number measurements taken and averaged must exceed 20 . If a standard error of 0.02 L/s is acceptable then 5Q2 measurements must be taken and averaged. If gravity filling is not possible then the number, n, of repeat pumped container measurement required is given by: where: is the 100 m section leakage is the volume filling time is the standard error of volume measurementZ is the standard normal variateK is a coefficient dependent on physical measurement conditions Based on analysis of field data an indicative coefficient of variation of volume measurement is ~0.05.

Jan 1, 2008

By J Manuel, L Lu

Increasing bed depth is one of the main options sinter plants consider to increase production, since it is an incremental improvement and less expensive compared with a new plant. To maximise the benefits of increased bed depth, correct blend design and plant operation is critical. This paper discusses test work conducted to show the effects of ore type and bed depth on sintering performance and the adjustments required in both fuel rate and lime addition depending on ore type. The differences in sinter plug macro and microstructure were also examined to show the effect of bed depth on ore assimilation and matrix formation. Finally, the benefits of blending ores to achieve the best sintering performance as bed depth increases is discussed.

Jan 1, 2007

IT is intended in this paper to present in broad outline to the members of the Institute a short account of the conditions and operations that constitute what is, variously known as Subterranean Warfare, Military Mining, or Tunnelling. Realizing ,the magnitude of the operations, and the varied and minute details met with in them on,the Western Front, it is the writer's intention to confine these notes to operations carried out by the First Australian Tunnelling Company. In so doing there is no wish to detract from the very fine records of the Second and Third companies it is to be hoped that members of the Institute (or others) who were with these companies will write accounts of their doings-the former in the water-logged areas to the south of Armentieres, and later in the sand-dunes at Lombardzee, and the latter in the chalk area of the Lens coal...

Jan 1, 1920

By Marshall B, Gee R. D

Geological data processing by machine enables'an increased rate of coverage, better supervision and control of field programmes, increased effectiveness of field operators, and vastly improved access to old and new field data. Even a system of restricted felxibility enables a mapping programme to be organ- ized and conducted independent of personnel changes, whilst elimination of much compilation time increases the rate of cover- age such that it relates to mode of transport and geological complexity rather than to personality factors. A machine is useful only if applied to tasks suited to its capabilities, and must be aimed at those types of mapping in which a limited number of attributes adequately define the problem, and the data is of a form suited to coding and is normally collected in sufficient abundance to make compilation wearisome. Machine systems are therefore unsuited to most types of lithological mapping and to most types of exploration in new areas, but have proved useful in many branched of cartographic geophysics (e.g. gravity and magnetics), and in cartographic Geochemistry.

Jan 1, 1969

The silver-lead ores of Yerranderie occur in a series of narrow, flat-dipping lodes in small bodies of quartz porphyry, intrusive into Upper Devonian volcanics, which are exposed in the western flank of the Permo-Triassic Basin of central New South Wales, about 80 miles south-west of Sydney (Harper, 1930; Lawrence, 1953). The lodes strike about E.-W. and are from 1,200ft. to 2,000ft. long. They consist of a series of ore shoots from 3ft. to 100ft. long, and up to 5ft. thick, though commonly under 2ft. thick, interspaced with low grade sections. They dip at from 18°S. to 400 S., and have persisted down the dip for 1,450ft. (693ft. vertical depth) in the Wollondilly mine, for 1,120ft. in the Bartlett's mine, and for 850ft. in the Wonga mine.The grade of ore in the Bartlett's mine was from 32% to 40% lead, from 100 oz. to 130 oz. silver per ton, 0.5 to 4.0% arsenic, with ore ,as rich as 20% arsenic on the No. 6 and No. 7 levels of the Silver Peak mine, the underlay extension of the Bartlett's lode, about 1% copper, and up to 4 dwt. gold per ton. In the Wollondilly mine the average grade was 15% lead, with sections as rich" as 36% lead, from 75 to 165 oz. silver per ton, 0.6 to 3.3% arsenic, 0.2 to 0.7% antimony, 0.8% copper, and up to 7...5. Cl~t. gold per ton. The zinc content of the ores is slight, and has not been recorded.Mining began about 1898, and to date more than 110,000 tons of ore, valued at £1,800,000, has been raised. Large scale mining ceased about 1935. The chief mines operating were the Bartlett's mine (formerly Colon Peak), the Silver Peaks, which is the underlay extension of the Bartlett's, the Wollondilly (or Yerranderie) mine, and the Wonga' (or Tonalli) mine.

Jan 1, 1953

By J Nixon

I have to say that my story is not too much different to many others who grew up and worked in the great mining fields like Broken Hill, Mt Isa, Rosebery, Kalgoorlie or Kambalda and any one of them could have stood up here and spun you a good yarn.What does my paper offer you in this volume? By sharing my experiences I want to encourage you to consider your own experience with leadership, taking on change, learning from and contributing to the development of others.I have been very fortunate to be part of many new innovations into underground mining over the past 40 or so years; most of it with Conzinc Rio Tinto Australia (CRA)/Rio Tinto operations.•From hand-held drills and a homemade single boom Jumbo mounted on an old Airtrak, to the sophisticated twin boom jumbos with high speed drifters all controlled by an on-board computer;•from a Scraper winch and a Wagner 2D loader to fully automated electric LHDs that navigate to the tipple, empty the bucket and return to where they come from;•from hand-held cut-and-fill and timber stoping in Broken Hill to the bulk mining methods of a block cave where at Northparkes we mined more ore in a month than we mined in the total five years of operations at Currawang;•from hand-held scaling and bolting with no skin protection to installing ground support with Jumbos and sophisticated Cable Bolters and the introduction of in cycle shotcrete;•from hand-held ladder rising and shaft sinking to Box Hole rigs, Raise Bore Machines and Blind Hole shaft sinking; and•from Gelignite based AN60 stick explosives, ANFO, fuse firing and half second detonators to Powergel, Emulsions and electronic computer programmed detonators that can somehow be initiated by ‘Blast Ped’ travelling through the rock.

Mar 21, 2011

By S Grant, S Emeric, P Baker, E Jones, D Clark

As we strive for a sustainable and resilient future, repurposing assets has become a top priority. In Australia alone, we have a significant number of mineral projects in the pipeline, extensive existing operations, and over 50 000 legacy sites. Collectively, this presents a unique opportunity to be a world leader in mine rehabilitation. Complex stakeholder landscapes, inflexible policies, aged regulatory frameworks, technical uncertainties and increasing liabilities are all barriers hindering effective transition of legacy assets. The impetus for change is further catalysed by shifting consumer preferences, workforces in flux and regional Australians questioning what the transition means for their local community. We need innovative approaches to take a leading role in the industry and support global efforts more broadly. Co-designing an ambitious, shared vision spanning projects, operations and legacy assets with all key parties is a fundamental step to unlock and realise maximum societal, environmental, economic and reputational value. Serious play and gamification can further enhance this visioning process.

Aug 2, 2023

By Ho E

Analyses of several nickel mattes from around the world show a significant variation in their copper content. Typically, matte contains an alloy, heazlewoodite and a copper sulphide phase. The various commercial methods of processing these mattes are reviewed and some of the fundamental factors which determine the choice of leaching system are discussed. Electrochemical studies on pure heazlewoodite and millerite in sulphate and chloride media are compared which show that nickel sulphides react via a series of nickel deficient sulphides and exhibit passivation as nickel is removed. Differences in the electrochemical behaviour of nickel sulphides in chloride media are attributed to greater crystallinity of sulphur and less formation of'NiS2. The electrochemistry of mattes differs because of the presence of alloy and copper. Copper in the matte modifies the potential for alloy dissolution and the rate of anodic dissolution of nickel. At elevated temperatures, Cu(II) in solution exchanges with NiS and completes the leaching of nickel at relatively low potentials without significant oxidation of sulphur to sulphate. It is concluded that there are fundamental advantages to leaching nickel matte in chloride media using Cu(II)/Clz as the oxidant.

Jan 1, 1996