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By M F. Lee

Although the Mt Charlotte gold resource was discovered in 1893, it was only in 1954 that geologists correctly interpreted drill data and defined a large low-grade orebody. The mine has been a large, low-cost and profitable producer since 1962 when bulk mining commenced using cut and fill. From 1968 a combination of long hole open stoping with delayed mass blasting was used. This proved to be an excellent mining method for the large, separate subvertical orebodies. The structured but otherwise good quality rock allowed very large stopes to stand unsupported. Exceptionally large equipment, for its time, was used to efficiently mine, muck and move the ore at low-cost. The mine only just survived severe cost pressures in 1974-76, due to very low gold prices. Better gold prices in 1979 and a need to access deeper ore meant a bold commitment to sink the Cassidy Shaft and refurbish the mine to sustain future profitability. In 1997 the Sam Pearce Decline connected to the underground workings, making it profitable to mine upper level remnant ore. Mining-induced seismicity has been a feature of mining at Mt Charlotte. The main cause has been shearing on structures. A mine-wide seismic system was installed in 1994. Large seismic events have occasionally made management question whether a safe working environment can be maintained. Thorough investigations led to an understanding of the problem and development of procedures to minimise seismicity.

Jan 1, 2000

By J Holdsworth, L Sutton, A Lavrinec, D Ilic

Air quality is a big topic of discussion in regional mining communities as well as urban environments situated close to port terminals handling bulk solids. Community perception of poor air quality can significantly affect the reputation of the mining operation and handling facilities. Dust monitoring for regulatory compliance relies on using a handful of accurate but very expensive sensors, usually situated at the boundary, relatively far from the activities that generate the airborne dust. These reference monitors measure dust leaving the site but dust mitigation and management on-site largely relies on operator judgement. At a fraction of the cost, small wireless solar powered units can be used to supplement reference monitors in real-time. Due to their compact nature, portability and low price, these units can be implemented on a mass scale to increase spatial resolution of dust measurements and, more importantly, in much closer proximity to both the dust generating activity and the sources of dust. This can provide valuable insights into the origins and timing of dust generation thus producing datadriven decision-making while minimising subjectivity. Similarly, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is another supplemental technology that can be used to increase the spatial resolution of dust measurements in near real-time, however, the cost of commercial systems even exceeds that of regulatory monitors. LiDAR also presents difficulties in quantifying dust plume concentrations. This study presents learnings of implementing both technologies for dust emissions management. Several low-cost sensor units and a fast-scanning custom-built 3D LiDAR system operating at a range of 1.5 km with a resolution of 1.5 m were deployed on a surface mine to monitor dust emissions from different activities. The project explores the use of real-time sensor data to quantify LiDAR measurements in parallel with integration into mine planning. The approach can assist in prioritising dust mitigation activities thereby reducing instances of emissions exceedance and minimising water use through databased and targeted application. Demonstrated is an opportunity for a step-change in industry best practice as well as commercialisation and operationalisation of the method across different industries, including future mineral extraction.

Sep 18, 2023

By J Li

Cannington Mine has been developing through paste backfilled stopes since the year 2000. These paste drives have been used as either production drill accesses or long-term bypasses. Prior to this study, the ground support requirements for each paste development cut were: an initial 50 mm layer of fibrecrete, weld mesh bolted with 2.4 m split sets, followed by a second coat of 50 mm fibrecrete. Both layers of fibrecrete and the layer of mesh were to be installed before the next cut could be bored and fired. This support regime proved successful at Cannington, however, the total cycle time for each cut was lengthy due to the installation and curing times associated with each layer of surface support. In an effort to reduce the cycle time a study was carried out, with the aid of RocScience’s Phase2 numerical modelling software. The modelling reviewed all of the parameters controlling the stability of a newly excavated development cut. The parameters studied included the early strength of fibrecrete, the ground support load capacity, and the strength of the paste fill masses which varies depending on the cement content. As a result of the study, the ground support standard was revised. The revision has significantly decreased the cycle time as well as fibrecrete consumption, all the while maintaining the safety of personnel and equipment.

Mar 21, 2011

By A R. Sale

This paper highlights two aspects of the mineral sands industry in Australia: the development of the industry from approximately 1870 through to 1980, and the author’s experience in the industry from 1966 to date.The first real heavy mineral (HM) mining in Australia started in 1870 with the mining of heavy mineral slicks on the beaches along the east coast of Australia. The real potential of Australian heavy minerals was however only realised in the 1920s with the first production of a heavy mineral concentrate that was shipped to Canada for processing. Post WW 11 and the Korean War, Australia was the largest producer of mineral sands products in the world as well as a significant developer of associated separation equipment and technology. The number of producing companies in the east coast peaked at 33 in 1957, was reduced to ten by 1965, and subsequently further reduced to five in 1980 as a result of potential mining areas being declared National Parks or Conservation Reserves. Today there is one company, Unimin Australia Pty Ltd (formally Consolidated Rutile Ltd) operating on the east coast. In contrast there were three companies on the west coast in 1965, four companies in 1980, and four companies today (albeit not the same companies).There have been considerable ups and downs for the industry in Australia, however world wide it was renowned in the past as being an industry that attracted numerous interesting and innovative characters that played a major role in developing it into the vibrant industry that it is today. This, given the current climate, is predicted to continue into the future.The author has been continuously involved in the industry for over 45 years from 1966, initially as an electrician at Consolidated Rutile Ltd culminating in the role of General Manager/President of Iluka Resources Limited USA, prior to his retirement in 2009. His exposure has been world wide and has covered all aspects of the industry but in the main focused on project development and operational areas. During this time there have been significant technological advances, yet to some extent the basic principles have not changed at all. Some of the most noteworthy advances include the development of the Wright Spiral in 1977, the development of the Reading High Intensity Wet Magnet (WHIMS), the rare earth magnets, the CRL floating thickener and the improvement of analytical techniques. From a safety, health and environmental perspective there has been significant advances that the industry has much to be proud of. These include wetland restoration both in Australia and in the US, the restoration of farmland in Virginia and Capel, and the re-establishment of native species, for example at Eneabba and Richards Bay to name but a few.

Oct 5, 2011

As students progress further into a degree, the decision of vocation selection, and even more importantly û securing employment in a particular industry sector, can become quite daunting. However, with a little initiative, students can overcome these issues by not only researching what employment opportunities exist, but by applying for summer vacation employment. Undergraduate vacation employment, especially with a world-leading hydrometallurgy research organisation such as the Parker Centre, can dramatically alter a studentÆs perspective of particular industries and possibly even alter their selection of vocation pursuits upon graduating. Students can also use vacation employment to enhance their networking capabilities, technical skills and knowledge by dealing with challenging new topics such as sulfur dioxide leaching, which is also discussed in this article.

Jan 1, 2005

By L P. Trout, D G. Reid

PanAust Limited (PanAust) has successfully constructed and commissioned two mining operations in Lao PDR over the past decade and undertaken major studies for three new mine developments. The management of potentially acid generating mine waste and tailings in close proximity of local communities sensitive to water discharge quality have been recurring themes that have confronted PanAust’s project study, development and operational teams. Further compounding challenges, such as the effects of intense annual tropical monsoonal conditions, staging of embankment raises and regular lifting of spillway structures, integrating mine waste and tailings management into production plans and ensuring the long term stability of structures, have been addressed by implementing leading practice management solutions.A recognition of the criticality of managing the substantial business risks associated with these crucial activities led to the early establishment of a governance structure to ensure that the highest standards are embraced for planning and execution. Importantly, these are guided and monitored by a panel of highly experienced and qualified international specialists reporting directly to PanAust’s Managing Director – the Tailings Independent Review Panel. The stewardship process has been effective in identifying potential shortcomings in management systems and has led to enhanced executive commitment to risk informed designs, assurance and overall process rigour.CITATION:Trout, L P and Reid, D G, 2018. PanAust Limited’s approach to mine waste and tailings stewardship, in Proceedings Mine Waste and Tailings Stewardship Conference 2018, pp 135–155 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 23, 2018

By Davis RA, Wasp EJ, Cowper NT

The transportation of solids by pipeline is not new. In 1891 a United States patent broadly covering a method of pumping coal with water was granted to W. C. Andrews. His pilot plant was constructed on what is now the site of the New- York Public Library in Manhattan. His process was applied to pumping coal mine waste back into the worked out portion of coal mines. On October 26, 1967, the world's first long distance iron ore slurry line was put into service by Savage River Mines. The commissioning of this 5.0 million dollar installation climaxed three years of development, testing, and construction and proved the Company's faith in pioneering' this unique transportation method for iron ore. This paper will discuss some of the more pertinent items in connection with that three-year period. Also to be discussed will be the operation of this line during the past eleven months.

Jan 1, 1969

By P Corbett, P Sheffield

Springvale Mine is an underground coal mine in the western coalfield of New South Wales which utilises retreat longwall mining technique. The mine encountered significant gateroad floor heave issues during retreat of LW415. Floor heave has subsequently impeded longwall advance as well as longwall bolt up and recovery to some extent during the extraction of the next five longwalls. Floor heave at Springvale Mine develops throughout the lifecycle of the mine roadways, and is most prevalent in longwall gateroads. Floor heave has been measured as early as 2 weeks after roadway development and continues to develop through the post-development phase, with a rapid increase in close proximity to the longwall face. This paper presents a case study of the evolution of understanding of floor heave behaviour at Springvale Mine based on geotechnical characterisation, an intensive convergence monitoring program (roof and floor movement) and spatial correlation of monitored locations with longwall face position. The analysis considers previously known factors contributing to floor heave including mining depth, geological and physical properties of the rock mass and mine design geometry. Investigation results indicate a strong correlation between floor heave magnitude and roof dilation magnitude, geophysically inferred faulting in underlying strata, areas of localised stress concentration and mine roadway dimensions. This paper also discusses the predictive model which was developed as a result of the study, which is now the basis of the floor heave removal program used to manage roadway convergence at the mine. Floor heave monitoring, prediction and management strategies (including floor reinforcement and removal) are also discussed. CITATION:Sheffield, P and Corbett, P, 2018. Managing floor heave in an underground longwall coal mine, in Proceedings The Fourth Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference (AusRock), pp 78–94 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 30, 2018

By S J. Schafrik, C Keles, C Schlosser, E S. Gilliland, A K. Louk, N S. Ripepi, S Keim, J Amante, E Diminick

Three legacy coalbed methane production wells have been converted to injection wells for a one-year carbon dioxide (CO2) injection test to evaluate the potential for CO2 storage in the coal reservoir and the potential for enhanced gas production at offset wells. The injection reservoir is composed of 15–20 individual coal seams with an average thickness of 30 cm (1.0 ft), spanning a depth range of approximately 240 (800 ft) to 670 m (2200 ft).The monitoring program for this test includes gas and water sampling of the three injection wells, three dedicated monitoring wells and approximately 20 offset production wells. Key technologies used for monitoring the study area include time-lapse GPS and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) acquisitions for surface deformation measurement, a 28-station buried passive microseismic monitoring array, real-time downhole pressure and temperature sensing and perfluorocarbon tracer fluids, which will be injected with the CO2 stream. The schedule for the monitoring program includes pre- (baseline), during- and post-injection data collection. This schedule will allow data to be analysed for time-lapse changes and trends, which are important for understanding the migration of gas and fluid phases in the reservoir – including CO2, methane, other hydrocarbons and water – and for observing the changing distributions of reservoir pressures and stresses.The results of the monitoring efforts for this study have implications for monitoring mining operations. The combined use of GPS and InSAR geospatial data to evaluate elevation changes across and beyond the study area may prove to be an accurate option for measuring surface deformation, including mining-induced subsidence, in unstable terrain. Long-term microseismic monitoring using high-sensitivity instruments has several applications in mining operations, including rock stability monitoring, production monitoring and miner location detection during emergencies. Tracer studies and short-term microseismic monitoring used to assess methane extraction can also be used to develop and optimise degasification systems for underground coalmines.CITATION:Gilliland, E S, Ripepi, N S, Schafrik, S J, Schlosser, C, Amante, J, Louk, A K, Diminick, E, Keim, S, Keles, C and Karmis, M, 2015. Monitoring design and data management for a multiwell CO2 storage/enhanced coalbed methane test in a stacked coal reservoir, Buchanan County, Virginia, USA, in Proceedings Third International Future Mining Conference, pp 47–56 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 4, 2015

By S Bluhm, LádeáOliveira, R Funnell

Taquari Vasouras potash mine (Vale Fertilizantes) has many interesting features including virgin rock temperatures of 50¦C at depths of 700 m. The mine has a relatively small shaft system with limited ventilation carrying capacity, which was not adequate to exploit the full extent of the deposit. This limitation was overcome by installing two large-scale recirculation systems with underground reconditioning centres. This paper describes this unique mine ventilation and cooling system and some of its history over the past two decades. The two controlled recirculation systems have been operating safely for some ten years and the use of large-scale recirculation has been a fundamental component in the increase of production and extending the mining further-and-further from the shaft centre. The recirculation systems have played a huge role in the mine profitability and comprehensively extending the mine life. The paper also discusses a number of novel design and operating features such as reverse running pumps for energy recovery. The underground chilled water system design required a number of special safety features in order to minimise the risk of water leakage since this could be catastrophic in a potash mine. This paper describes a good example of a mine in which the final ventilation and cooling system design ends up very different to what was envisaged at the greenfields stage.CITATION:Bluhm, S, Funnell, R and de Oliveira, L, 2013. Controlled recirculation and refrigeration at ValeÆs Taquari Potash Mine, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference , pp 237-248 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 1, 2013

By E M. Jones

On 26 June 2000 a hydraulic fill retaining barricade failed at the Bronzewing mine in Western Australia. The barricade failure resulted in the release of 19 000 m3 of saturated hydraulic fill into the mine, which caused the deaths of three miners. Following this tragic accident, the practices and procedures of mines using hydraulic fills came under intense scrutiny by regulatory bodies and mining companies. At this time, the use of hydraulic fill at NormandyÆs zinc/copper Scuddles mine was suspended and waste rock became the sole backfill material in use underground. By 2003, development of the mine adjacent to Scuddles, Gossan Hill had progressed to a point where a self-supporting fill material was required to enable full recovery of high-grade ore. Cemented hydraulic fill (CHF) was identified as the optimal fill type and work began on designing appropriate management procedures and controls to ensure the safe implementation. This work included definition of the fill properties, plant design and construction, reticulation system design, design of stope barricades and drainage systems and fill placement control and monitoring practices. CHF placement began on 16 July 2004 and has continued to date. Significant operational experience has since been gained in areas including plant performance, fill product quality assurance, barricade construction, stope drainage and in situ performance.

Jan 1, 2008

Located 350 km west of Sydney and 20 km outside Orange, NSW, lies the Ridgeway Gold Mine û NewcrestÆs flagship Underground Gold Mine. Key to success at Ridgeway has been the fast tracked development of the 3.8 km, 1 in 5.3 conveyor decline which houses the 850 t/hr conveying system feeding the dedicated Ridgeway Concentrator, built adjacent to the existing Cadia Hill Concentrator. Eroc was contracted to develop the steep conveyor decline, drawing on its personnel and experience from past metalliferous, tunnelling and coal mining projects to complete the ambitious schedule within 12 months. This paper deals with the complexities and experiences in safely delivering what is understood to be one of AustraliaÆs steepest declines of any substantial length in a metalliferous mine.

Jan 1, 2002

By M Ziemski

The provision and management of energy in both fuel and electricity forms is an increasingly important consideration for mines. Pressures from communities, governments and markets are increasing towards more transparent and improved energy management. Combined with the energy-water nexus, where water and energy are closely related in the operation of a mine, this emerging business climate means a more thorough and responsible approach is required for the acquisition and use of energy, as well as the release of emissions. Many of the complexities in potential new ore bodies are borne in remote locations, high altitudes, low grades, arid climates and deep deposits. Each of these challenges affects the successful provision of energy. In combination, such challenges can leave an operation seemingly unviable from an energy perspective, especially when approached from a traditional mining energy feasibility lens. This paper discusses some of the energy alternatives currently available and emerging in the mining industry. Both energy supply and demand options are considered, which can provide a very different energy footprint with the flexibility to address, and potentially overcome, major energy challenges for a mine. CITATION: Ziemski, M, 2018. Energy complexities in complex orebodies, in Proceedings Complex Orebodies Conference 2018, pp 106–111 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 21, 2018

The 1990s present many challenges, not the least of which is in the area of health and safety. Integrating of safety and health into the management process to suit the overall needs of a company will require commitment. Organisations which consistently perform to high success levels do so because they plan it that way. By using tools of total quality management, the potential to continually improve all safety processes exists. The successful integration of total quality measurement principles used in the improvement of safety processes, and the measurement of performance-based activities allow for prevention of accident causing scenarios and performance improvement.

Jan 1, 1993

Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) manages eleven mines in the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Three of these mines have previously or are currently mining black shale that contains varying amounts of pyrite. Several new deposits currently being evaluated and existing mines that may progress below water table in the future, will also encounter this waste material. The black shale presents not just an acid rock drainage risk but also a spontaneous combustion risk. This paper presents the black shale management strategy and provides an overview of the relevant activities undertaken by RTIO. The strategy can be divided into two components which firstly involve defining the risk and secondly involve managing the risk. The mineral waste management plan is used to identify specific mineral waste hazards by:geochemical characterisation of waste material,undertaking mine site specific risk assessments,characterising the receiving environment,identifying sulfidic boundaries in geological and mining models,quantifying the amount of sulfidic material in medium and long-term mine plans, anddesigning and sequencing black shale waste dumps. Once a mine exposes black shale the Spontaneous Combustion and Acid Rock Drainage management plan is used and the major activities are: regular site meetings with a representative from every group that works with black shale;compliance with safe working procedures for site specific and detailed activities;regular training;the use of specific explosives to prevent premature detonation;ongoing geochemical characterisation;acid water management, monitoring and analysis;regular internal and external auditing of procedures and practices; andclosure planning assessments and preparations (ie cover trials, geochemical void modelling, geochemical waste dump modelling). The success of this holistic strategy is evident by the awareness of personnel within the business, thorough understanding of the geochemistry and by undertaking proactive management of black shale during mining. The strategy and management plans adopted by Rio Tinto Iron Ore have activities that other mine sites with potentially acid forming material may like to consider implementing.

Jan 1, 2009

By Kesser Z, Vincze T

The Western Mining Corporation mining lease on the Bendigo Goldfield measures 5krri x 18km with more than 20 anticlinal folds parallelling th long north-south boundaries. Numerous closely spaced shafts and extensive underground workings on the reef lines along the folds flooded with groundwater following the progressive abandonment of the field. Preliminary water sampling and assessment demonstrated that a major dewatering programme and acceptable disposal methods were necessary to dewater interconnected old workings in areas of interest prior to any underground work taking place. A field wide geohydolic investigation was undertaken to establish geohydraulic parameters, groundwater recharge rates and water qualities. Data from the field investigation together with estimates of the volume geometry of the submerged workings as obtained from old mine plans, production history, and limited pump testing results were used with an appropriate analytical model to obtain estimates of water discharge rates required to reach various dewatering targets. Water disposal options were limited by relatively high salinities, arsenic levels, contained hydrogen sulphide, and the mine locations within the urban areas surrounding Bendigo. Direct disposal to the surface drainage system could not be considered, treatment to acceptable discharge standards was not economically feasible, and it was necessary to adopt a strategy of collection, containment, and evaporation.

Jan 1, 1988

Underground space can be defined as space below natural ground level which can be used as an alternative to an above ground location. While many of our above ground structures inherently involve underground excavation for foundations and services, the term underground space specifically refers to organised development of underground openings and of the underground domain. For example, the services to a city such as power, gas, sewerage, water and communications are installed in a congested array which usually requires roads to be dug up when the services need to be accessed. An underground space installation of services would involve a well planned conduit which is easily accessed without any excavation. The concept of using this virtually untapped land resource to the advantage of our expanding cities is gaining considerable interest in Australia. Overseas, in the Scandinavian countries and some Asian countries, underground space has been used for centuries; in Great Britain, France and the United States of America over the last century and in Japan for over a decade. This paper focusses on the types of underground space usage which should be competitive with above ground use and suggests areas in which the competitive edge may be improved in favour of underground space. In particular, considerable advantage is seen by using well-planned underground space developments in major cities, where the strategic central location of the development takes advantage of proximity to potential users. However, the largest single factor affecting the acceptance of underground space is the high capital cost of construction, even though an underground space development may result in lower operating costs and reduced long-term maintenance costs. While excavation methods and associated costs are very much site-specific, the importance of applying the latest technology in rock breakage, with consideration of ground vibration, excavation rates and ground support, remains a major challenge to the development of underground space.

Jan 1, 1995

By A Kamaraj, M Mohanasundaram, R Kumar, P Tikare

This study presents a comprehensive thermodynamic optimisation and sustainability analysis of the secondary copper smelting process for Waste Printed Circuit Board (WPCB) recycling. The study investigates various scenarios with different proportions of WPCB in the input stream, ranging from 0 per cent to 100 per cent. Through thermodynamic modelling using FactSage™ version 8.1, the optimisation process is conducted in three stages. The results of the thermodynamic modelling indicate that the best-case scenario for WPCB recycling is achieved with a 40 per cent proportion of WPCB in the input stream. This case exhibits a maximum copper recovery of 99.93 per cent while minimising the formation of other waste. In addition to the thermodynamic analyses, environmental factors such as the carbon emission index and resource utilisation efficiency are studied. The 40 per cent WPCB recycling case exhibits a resource utilisation efficiency of 93.055 per cent and a carbon emission rate of 0.133. The present investigation highlights the significant benefits of a 40 per cent WPCB recycling scenario through a secondary copper smelting process in terms of base metal recovery and energy efficiency, thus emphasising its potential for sustainable PCB waste management and resource utilisation.

Aug 21, 2024

By Caelli T, Robey M

Most research into planning of open pit mines has been based on evaluation of volume-element block models in terms of their net present value. The major issues revolve around two interdependent problems the optimum ultimate pit and time-based scheduling. Despite feedback between the two problems, they are usually treated as separate tasks.The ultimate open pit is defined by the removal of whole blocks so that their net present value is maximised. This gives planners an estimate of the total worth of the venture in present terms, and is crucial to obtaining funding. All cost and profit values are assumed to be static throughout the mine life, and the only physical constraint usually taken into account is that of safe, average, wall slopes, which must be approximated by the removal of whole blocks. Modelling of any further constraints (for example, access roads and true wall slopes) is usually achieved by adding them to the optimal pit by hand. Typically this degrades the model by between five and 20 per cent of its value - which then brings into question whether it is still the true optimum.This paper reviews the dominant methods in use for this first task the ultimate open-pit planning problem. Some new optimisations are given, and the algorithms are examined in terms of their efficiency and accuracy. Finally, suggestions are made for improvement of model accuracy and eventual expansion into solutions of the more complete dual problem - that of simultaneously finding the optimum ultimate pits and dynamic schedules for the venture.

Jan 1, 1996

By A K. Raina, V M. S R Murthy

Rock mass response in blasting is an important element to determine the performance of a blast along with its other outcomes. The near-field monitoring for rock mass response analysis is vital for determining the behaviour of a blast; however, due to costly and cumbersome methods involved in such measurements the subject has received scant attention so far and the publications on this account are perfunctory in nature. This paper presents a non-destructive method to monitor the blast-induced pressure in the rock mass at a distance from a blasthole. The methodology of monitoring and a few examples of actual field monitoring are detailed in this paper. The responses of the rock in the near-field of a blasthole under dynamic loading have been documented to predict fragmentation and throw. The proposed method has also been used in limited cases earlier by the author to predict flyrock using a semi-empirical method and trajectory equation. The pros and cons of the method are discussed while throwing light on the actual response and the prediction of fragmentation and throw of blasted rock.CITATION:Raina, A K and Murthy, V M S R, 2015. Measurement of blast-induced pressure in bench blasting and deciphering explosive performance through rock mass response analysis – a methodology, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 501–508 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015