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Surface oxidation is one of the most important factors that influence the flotation selectivity and recovery in the processing of complex sulphide ores. It is an inherent part of surface chemical reactions that determine whether the surface film formed on a sulphide mineral will act as a hydrophobic or hydrophilic one. Because of the highly complex surface chemistry and mineralogy involved the results of flotation tests may often be difficult to interpret. In this paper, the flotation behaviour of nickel-copper ores processed in the Sudbury area is discussed with emphasis on the effect of oxidation on individual minerals, primarily pyrrhotite. In general, moderate oxidation of a freshly ground ore promotes the flotability of all principal sulphides in the ore leading to a bulk flotation concentrate. The ease of individual mineral flotability under normal aeration conditions, which is chalcopyrite > pentlandite > pyrrotite, changes to pentlandite > chalcopyrite > pyrrhotite under oxygen-deficient conditions. This behaviour is correlated with the catalytic activity of these minerals for oxygen reduction. On the other hand, preferential oxidation of pyrrhotite may lead to a selectivity increase in flotation. Such a behaviour has been noted in the flotation of a pyrrhotite-rich process stream. The results have been discussed in the light of fundamental electrochemical interactions involving pentlandite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pyrite and grinding media and a mechanism has been proposed to explain the selectivity.

Jan 1, 1993

The subject of heat sources in deep hard rock mines, the limitation of forced ventilation to cope with these heat loads and the sizing of refrigeration plants to boost the cooling effect of the ventilation air are discussed. The development of plant selection criteria and operating experience at North Broken Hill Limited is outlined. Future options for North Broken Hill Limited and like deep mines are summarised.

Jan 1, 1982

By Frith RT, M D. Goodz

Drilling has been accepted as a major exploration tool. However its use in mine planning and development has been overlooked.This need for drillhole data was highlighted during the redevelopment boom of the central Victorian gold mines. During the 1980's numerous old mines were evaluated and successfully drilled to yield mineable parcels of quartz reefs close to existing workings.Invariably the initial decision was always to attempt reopening and rehabilitating existing access. The four case studies described have proceededsufficiently to show that major cost savings would have been made if underground drilling had been used as the main tool in mine planning.Savings not only in expenditure, but in the time required to make key decisions. In two cases the mines would have experienced far earlier expansions in production. In one case the mine would be currently producing rather than awaiting further finance. In the fourth example, the decision to case development would have been much earlier providing capital to other projects.

Jan 1, 1990

By Svenson D

Most exploratory drilling in the N.S.W. coal fields has been conducted using convent- ional diamond drill rigs of modern design, us- ually truck or trailer mounted. Conventional diamond drill rigs have also been used exten- sively by the Queensland Department of Mines for coal exploration. However almost all of the exploratory drilling of surface mine coal prospects throughout Queensland has been conducted using rotary rigs typified by the Mayhew 1000 truck mounted unit. The rotary rig has proved capable of both rapid non-core drilling and core drilling with high core recoveries when modern core barrels have been used by experienced drillers. For deep or continuous core drilling, wire-line equipment is now in general use. Both wire-line and conventional coring is effected using stationary split inner tube barrels, for minimum core disturbance, maximum core recovery, ease and accuracy of logging and sub-sectional sampling. Diamond core bits are generally required in N.S.W., with water circu- lation. In Queensland, the generally softer coal measures strata can be successfully cored using tungsten carbide bits and air circulation is the preferred method where possible.

Jan 1, 1977

By Jackson E

The general level of awareness amongst members of the professions that they are faced with an increasing number of claims for breaches of their professional duty was dramatically heightened by the decision of Rogers J. at first instance in Cambridge Credit Corporation v Hutcheson (1985) 3 ACLR when the auditors of the failed company were found liable for breach of contract and faced a damages award of $145 million - well in excess of their insurance cover. No comfort should be found in the fact that this decision was overturned on appeal, for that result rested on the issue of whether there had been a causal connection between the breach of contract which had occurred and the loss suffered rather than on the fundamental principle of auditors' liability.

Jan 1, 1989

The Kundana underground narrow vein gold mine had a recent history of large and damaging seismic events. Following a period of seismic events on 30 July 2001, in which nine miners were temporarily entrapped at depth due to falls of ground in several parts of the decline, the mine operation was required to develop a seismic management system to mitigate seismic risk to the operation. A micro seismic systems and boundary element modelling of mine sequence highlighted large-scale footwall faults and the mining of gold bearing shear veins to be focal structures for seismic energy release between depths of 300 m to the base of mining at 650 m. The integration of seismic data, identification of geological structures and mapping of zones of failed rockmass led to the successful generation of a non linear boundary element model and a seismic hazard strategy. This enabled mine sequences to be assessed daily, monthly and periodically for potential seismic hazards and therefore assigned both economic and personnel risks for the recovery of the ore reserve at the Kundana Underground Operation.

Jan 1, 2005

Geological models for the exploration and evaluation of epithermal Au and porphyry Cu-Au deposits rely upon a classification of different deposit styles and an understanding of the evolutionary processes of deposit formation. These models guide the interpretation of subsurface deposit anatomy in order to target drill testing and assist the explorationist to focus on the more prospective projects. It is important for the explorationist to distinguish between different styles of magmatic arc Au deposits as each style displays distinctive characteristics with exploration implications. Magmatic arc Au deposits are distinguished as porphyry Cu-Au formed at depths of 1 - 2 km at the apophysis to larger, buried, magmatic sources which are also the ultimate metal sources for the varying styles of shallower level epithermal Au deposits. Low sulfidation epithermal Au deposits characteristically develop from dilute circulating meteoric waters and are distinguished as the group with a closer relationship to intrusive source rocks, and slightly higher sulfide contents (still generally

Jan 1, 2004

Epithermal gold mineralisation was discovered at the Muyup prospect during regional reconnaissance exploration in 1986. Further exploration utilising routine techniques of stream sediment, panconcentrate, rockchip sampling and geological mapping resulted in the discovery of five auriferous vein systems located along northwest-trending fault zones. Scout diamond drilling was conducted on two of the vein systems. Mineralisation is hosted by a poorly exposed, mid-Tertiary volcanic inlier composed of intermediate and minor felsic volcanic rocks intruded by intermediate hypabyssal por- phyries. Gold is wholly contained in narrow steep-dipping hydrothermal breccias and quartz vein stockworks in which chalcedonic silica and fine grained quartz is the predominant gangue with minor adularia, carbonate, and sulphides. Alteration zoning is manifested as intense fracture-controlled silicification mantled by narrow clay-rich envelopes which in tam grade outward and downward into propylitic alteration or unaltered host rocks. Late advanced argillic alteration is superimposed on the vein-related altera- tion assemblages. Alteration assemblages and fluid inclusion data suggest that gold mineralisation occurred in response to episodic hydraulic fractur- ing and boiling of low to moderate temperature, dilute alkali-chloride fluids. The Muyup prospect represents the shallow eroded remnants of an epither- mal gold deposit enriched in Au, Ag, As, Sb and Hg. Low sulphur fugacities reflected by vein and alteration assemblages support an adularia-sericite classification (Heald et al, 1987) for this epithennal gold deposit.

Jan 1, 1991

It is possible from simple gas behavioral theories to develop more complex relationships which allow prediction of transport phenomena such as diffusivity and viscosity of gas mixtures. Such physical data can be used in engineering calculations for both bulk gas movement and gaseous chemical species movement. Both of these are important in the solution of mines ventilation systems. There are specific limits of flammibili!'y of some common mines gases.

Jan 1, 1983

By J E. Eberhardt

Ore sorting has long been used to raise the efficiency and thus lower the environmental impact of mineral processing operations. It was first instituted as hand sorting, according to a humanly perceived difference in the ore, but is now automated using large mechanical sorters in order to meet the high tonnage throughput required in most minerals processing applications. In the past, ore sorting was generally used as a niche processing route when other approaches failed, and in this context, consequential environmental benefits are often not the first consideration in adopting sorting. When applicable, ore sorting offers environmental benefits in reductions in fines waste, reagent usage and energy consumption in milling. Although there are significant opportunities for the use of ore sorting technology in many minerals processing operations, industry applications, to date, have been limited mainly to the processing of diamonds, magnesite, talc and uranium ores. This limitation has principally been due to a lack of suitable sensing technologies for a wide range of ore types. The authors report on a wide-ranging review of the automated sorting of mineral ores, and in particular, on methods for discrimination of ore characteristics prior to mechanical sorting.

Jan 1, 2002

My forebears migrated to South Australia in the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s. All of them were literate but, because they moved about South Australia looking for work, family papers have become scat- tered and I am left with a few fragments. Some years ago I was intrigued to find among my fath- er's books a frontispiece in an old Anglican Book of Lessons. As can be seen Joseph, a mining smith, was also a Freemason. Thus my interest was aroused. I know some- thing of modern day mining communities in South Australia and wondered what they were like 100 or more years ago.

Jan 1, 1987

This paper describes the characteristics of blasting which set it apart from other methods of breaking rock. The mechanism of rock breakage and the influence of rock proper- ties are then discussed. The strain and fragmentation produced by a cylindrical charge does not change once the charge is longer than 16 blasthole diameters. The influence of bench geometry, charge length and drill diameter are then examined. It is shown that spherical charges have advantages over long slender cylindrical charges. By selection of the appropriate drill diameter, explosive and charge configuration the optimum blasting practice for a given rock to give suitable fragmentation and muckpile profile for sub- sequent handling can be found. The fragmentat- ion depends not only on rock and explosive properties but also on the pattern which dictates how effectively the cracking is utilised. The size distribution of the fragments is given by the Rosin - Rammler equation. Undesirable cracking of the rock in the final wall can be controlled by the careful design of blasts as they approach the final wall. Finally, it is concluded that because of the distance to which blasting can fracture and then displace rock it is suited for the breakage of large volumes of rock.

Jan 1, 1978

The risks faced by organisations are part of a risk continuum. They can be evaluated in terms of hazard, uncertainty and opportunity as well as by the degree of influence they have on conformance, operating performance and strategic objectives. This paper discusses the application of risk management techniques for mitigating blasting hazards, reducing blasting output variability, and implementing blast improvement opportunities. Effective risk management practices can identify and evaluate risks across all levels of the continuum and can deliver realistic assessments of the likelihood and impact of risks on the companyÆs safety and business objectives. This paper does not attempt to present technical details about blasting, rather it aims to provide enough blasting context and examples so that the practical benefits of applying the risk management process to blasting can be fully appreciated. The topics discussed include: explosive management plan; statistical process control; quality blasting, rock-on-ground; Blast Management; Mine to Mill optimisation; and blasting information systems. The concept of a blasting risk management system employing a continuous improvement loop is also introduced. On reflection the insights presented should be extremely useful for observing and understanding which risk face has management focus at a mine site or for a blast site.

Jan 1, 2001

Not so many years ago the reason for an inadequate result from a geophysical survey was insufficient data or poor quality data. In many instances such as gravity, magnetic and radiometric surveys, both these constraints are vanishing or have vanished. High quality sensors, improved data storage, accurate differential GPS and top quality interpretive software now enable the interpreter to understand not just the cause of the anomaly but the host environment in which it resides. Examples of potential field data and also data provided by the more complex electromagnetic systems, from Australia Ghana, West Africa, are used as illustrations.

Jan 1, 1997

By Lightfoot BW, Wand PD, Towne DV

Sampling and e.m.f. probes were used in the liquid flow from the blast furnace and in the forehearth to evaluate the performance of the copper smelting system at E.R. & S. Significant variations in temperature, oxygen potential and copper content with slag depth and with position in the forehearth indicated that convective currents were causing considerable stirring in the forehearth. This was attributed to temperature fluctuations in the stream from the blast furnace, which resulted in colder slag being underlain by hotter matte. Tracer tests in the feed to the smelter and in the feed to the forehearth revealed considerable holdup of material in the plant and confirmed that the forehearth involved small scale turbulence but little large scale mixing. The results indicated that the copper content of slag continuously tapped from the forehearth could be lowered by at least 0.15% if better settling could be achieved and means of attaining this are discussed. As part of the investigation the recovery of copper from spent refractory bricks recycled through the smelter was evaluated. It was found that the recovery was high but it seems likely that the brick material is partly responsible for a build up of solid material in the forehearth.

Jan 1, 1981

By T Tran, F Lucien

Supercritical fluids (SCFs) have gained recognition as solvents for the extraction of a wide range of organic materials. Their principle advantages over conventional organic solvents are that they possess much more favourable transport properties and that such properties can be easily altered by adjusting the system temperature and/or pressure. More recently, SCF solvents have been employed in the extraction of metal ions. The direct extraction of metal ions using SCFs such as CO2 is normally not possible due to the charge neutralisation requirement for solubilisation. However, extraction can be achieved with a SCF solvent containing an organic complexing agent as a cosolvent (Laintz et al, 1992; Laintz and Tachikawa, 1994; Dehghani, 1996). The role of the SCF is therefore similar to the role of a diluent in conventional liquid-liquid or solvent extraction processes. In this regard, SC-CO2 is a particularly good diluent since it exhibits good solubility for many organic complexing agents. The extraction of metals with SCF solvents has been examined mainly in the analysis of environmental samples and the treatment of metal contaminated wastes. Nonetheless, some interesting results have been reported recently on the extraction of rare earth metals, which highlight the potential of SCF solvents in mineral processing applications (Laintz and Tachikawa, 1994; Dehghani, 1996).

Jan 1, 2000

By C M. Hill

This paper aims to provide a brief overview of the Australian Coal Bed Methane (CBM) industry and more importantly the challenges to sustainable management of the industryÆs by-product, groundwater. In a country where water is scarce and having gone through one of the worst recorded droughts it is vital that this important industry be seen to be managing water in a responsible manner with the greatest environmental and social benefit. Benefits of the water from CBM wells can be enhanced through treatment to produce potable water for domestic or stock purposes, water for irrigation or aquaculture or lower quality or untreated water for industrial or mining purposes. Other options are re-injection of raw water or waste from the treatment processes or discharge to surface waterways. The critical change and difference between CBM projects and traditional oil and gas operations should be that where possible water is no longer disposed of via evaporation ponds with the dual legacy of waste of the water resource and an environmental contamination problem with the remaining salt and brine product.

Jan 1, 2003

In-situ leaching of gold deposits has not become an option largely as a result the lack of suitability of cyanide as a lixiviant due to sluggish kinetics and high dependence on the availability of oxygen. A second problem area is the excessive cost of drilling the required number of injection and production wells needed to service a wellfield capable of maintaining any significant throughput or providing and acceptable level of gold production. Well spacing in in-situ leaching operations is limited by solution life, dissolution rate, and the need for solution control. With cyanide the life of an active solution capable of dissolving significant gold is severely limited by the availability of oxygen which cannot be readily replaced while the solution remains underground. The extremely slow gold dissolution rate also necessitates excessive contact periods in order to dissolve coarse gold.

Jan 1, 1991

The Sydney Coalfield, Nova Scotia contains extensive undersea longwall mining operations which are expected to continue well into the 21st Century. A long term research program has been initiated by the Cape Breton Coal Research Laboratory to investigate the full spectrum of problems associated with undersea mining and develop specific guidelines for use by the mine operator. At present, research is centred on the detailed evaluation of existing undersea sub- sidence guidelines, the identification and development of instrumentation capable of moni- toring seafloor subsidence profiles and the effective sealing of offshore exploration boreholes. In addition, work is also planned to examine in situ strata permeability changes occurring between the mining horizon and seabed and the feasibility of using artificial islands.

Jan 1, 1986

By Brzezniak W

Conversion to trolley assist is a means of minimizing diesel fuel consumption, which in many mining situations offers a rapid payback of capital investment plus the inherent flexi- bility and maneuverability of truck shovel op- eration. Whendiesel electric truck shovel mining opera- tion with trolley assist is compared to alter- native mining methods such as conveyor systems, the trolley assist system can be easily justi- fied in terms of return on investment, payback and increased productivity. A review of present technology, performance requirements and past experience in the min- ing industry has led to the development of a trolley assist system for diesel electric haulage trucks which, is proven in the mining environment, offers significant reduction in fuel consumption and increased productivity.

Jan 1, 1981