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By R Wheeler, E Stalenberg, J Lemon, M S. Crowther, D Lunney, K Ross

Gunnedah, in north-western New South Wales (NSW), including the town, the surrounding Liverpool Plains and the Pilliga forests to the west, are currently the subject of intense mining interest for coal and coal seam gas. Achieving positive outcomes for koala conservation on mined landscapes will require a sound grasp of koala ecology; and local knowledge of koala movements, tree choice and associated threats to the continued survival of koalas, particularly roadkill from increased mining infrastructure. This requires a research-oriented approach to testing ideas applicable to the long-term survival of koala populations. Our recent koala research in NSW has shown that, in 2006, Gunnedah had the largest koala population west of the Great Dividing Range, and the only population in NSW that was expanding. That prompted us to instigate a detailed study in 2008 - 2011 to determine, inter alia, whether the koalas were using trees that were planted in the 1990s to cope with rising soil salinity. Our GPS-tracking has shown that regrowth trees as young as ten years old can attract koalas. In 2009, the demise of about a quarter of the local koala population from an intense heatwave gave us a foretaste of how habitat and climate change interrelate at the landscape scale. We are now examining the optimal combinations of tree choice, and patch size and shape, for habitat restoration. This will be relevant to local coal seam gas and coal mine proposals, and ongoing mitigation actions. The Senate enquiry of September 2011 on the koala and demonstrated the intense public interest in the survival of this iconic species. Its subsequent listing for Queensland and NSW under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 further raises its profile and obligations for management of koalas and their habitat. It will take considerable effort to manage the Liverpool Plains koala population for the next 50 years in the face of extensive land-use changes from mining, and the attendant threats from road kill, compounded by the new threat of climate change manifesting itself as an increased frequency of heatwaves and more severe droughts. This paper describes the research that underpins these conclusions, identifies some of the research approaches needed, argues for working strategically now, rather than try to patch up matters after the event, and presents a set of guides for environmental plantings. CITATION:Lunney, D, Lemon, J, Crowther, M S, Stalenberg, E, Ross, K and Wheeler, R, 2012. An ecological approach to koala conservation in a mined landscape, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012 , pp 343-352 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 10, 2012

By C J. Moran

Given that the mining industry is committed to sustainable development principles and that Australia is experiencing changes to the regulatory environment that aim to modernise the water sector and encourage adoption of consistent approaches, there is a well defined need for the Australian minerals industry to develop a water accounting framework. This requires: key terms and definitions for water metrics for use in the Australian minerals industry that is consistent with the wider water sector, a suite of metrics representing key components of an operationÆs water balance, a calculation method for some of the metrics, and a reporting protocol. This paper presents the methodology that was used to derive these four components. Existing accounting frameworks were reviewed and key terms and definitions that were consistent with current requirements were proposed. A calculation methodology was developed to obtain some of the key indicators and variables that cannot be easily measured directly (water loss through evaporation is an example). The adopted terms and definitions dictated model development, with the conclusion that a systems approach was the most effective calculation process. To test the proposed definitions and calculation methodology, values for water metrics were derived for eight sites. The proposed framework and definitions could deal with the specific situations selected as case studies. The associated calculation methodology produced complete accounts at various levels. Some elements of the accounts could be directly checked against available data and simulations. The framework captured well variations in the reuse efficiencies; reuse efficiency could even vary for similar processes. It is concluded that this preliminary accounting framework provides a consistent language and metrics for quantifying and communicating water management, both at the intersection of the site with the surrounding landscape (through detailed reporting of site inputs and outputs) and within operational activities. Using this consistent framework for quantifying and documenting water use within an operation will provide a platform for compiling and comparing minerals industry water use with other sectors. This may support benchmarking activities within regions or companies and help demonstrate leadership amongst water users in water resource stewardship. The approach presented here is applicable to a wide variety of mining and processing activities, and biophysical environments, and can be adopted as the first step towards developing national water accounts for the Australian Minerals Industry.

Jan 1, 2009

By J M. Galvin

History attests to the catastrophic consequences that fire, explosion and contaminated, noxious andirrespirable atmospheres can have for workplace health and safety in underground coal mining. It also confirms that fires and explosions present the greatest risk of partial or total loss of underground mines and equipment and that this risk continues to materialise. The design, implementation, operation and maintenance of the mine ventilation system are core controls for managing the hazards associated with these risks, both for preventing them from materialising and for mitigating their consequences if they do materialise. These are most effective when embedded in a risk management approach.

Oct 12, 2022

By H Utama, R Heryadi

PT Indo Muro Kencana (PT IMK) is a surface gold and silver mine located in Mt. Muro area, Central Kalimantan province, Indonesia. The mining operations of multiple open pits using combination of excavator and haul truck is operated. This operation is performed in two shifts in a day. The articulated dump truck (ADT) with capacity of 40 t and 60 t deliver ore to the mineral processing plant and discard waste material to the waste dump area. Overall, PT IMK’s mining operation department is consisting of two sections, namely mining operation section and drill and blast section. Firstly, mine operation section is responsible to manage loading, hauling, pit service (mine dewatering, earthwork, road maintenance) and mine operation engineering. Secondly, drill and blast section is in charge to manage drilling and blasting (blast engineering, blasting operation, explosive permit and magazine or explosive storage). Additionally, conventional blasting method (ore-waste blasting) with non-electric initiation system is used and sleep blasting is undertaken as bulk explosive is buried for maximum two days. The first purpose of this paper is to elucidate about role of mining engineer in mining operation department (mining operation engineer and D&B engineer). At this point, mining operation engineering practice (fleet management system, production control and mining manpower management) and also blasting daily practice will be elucidated. Daily blasting practice is consisting of surface blast design, explosive engineering, sleep blast practice and the concept of scaled depth of burial to ensure a safe work environment in blasting activity. Next, the second purpose of this paper is to explore workforce evolution and future skills for mining engineer in surface mining operation. Furthermore, strategy to advance future skills such as mining continuous improvement program, training and skills development for mining engineer (mining operation engineer and D&B engineer) in order to develop their skills is also discussed. It is expected that in the future, these future mining leaders will become new mining leader, for instance mining superintendents, D&B superintendents and mining managers. In conclusion, it is clear that awareness about workforce evolution, professional development, training, skills development, mining economics awareness and mining continuous improvement program are essentially required as professional development for mining engineer (mining operation engineer and D&B engineer), in order to be commercially competitive in their future career and in order to be adapted with future workforce evolution in mining.

Sep 1, 2024

Technical control in an industrY invariably leads to a basic contribution from the science of chemistry. It is interesting to note. that the change from the "Assay Office" to the "Chemical Laboratory" has already taken place on the majority of progressive mining fields.Although the serlvices of an efficient chemical staff are freely availed of by operating departments, it is not generally realized that practical chemistry is definitely expensive. A great deal of misplaced energy and expense can be involved in an enthusiastic research campaign where a full appreciation of laboratory economics and a balanced sense of analytical values are lacking.In order to supply data to the various departments concerning individual costs, it was decided at the North mine to issue a supplementary sheet concerning laboratory activities.The costs are compiled under the Unit System, which is based on a relative comparison between the total cost of the various determinations. carried out and the number of such determinatiQns converted to an equivalent aggregate of units.The introduction of the system necessitates the initial compiling of a table of relative units for the various estimations carried out on the works. Each laboratory will find it necessary to draw up such a table governed by local conditions, and, as will be anticipated, a relative comparison of the cost for any particular estimation will show a variation on a lead field, a copper field, or a steelworks, etc.This is due, of course, to the predominating type of routine work, cost of landing reagents, frequency of assays, etc. The satisfactory preparation of the Unit Table requires a good knowledge of laboratory procedure.

Jan 1, 1940

In essence, these statements concur, However, management predominantly controls the organisation's communication environment (5), Consequently, the participation by employees in safety is greatly influenced by the quality of upward communication, (See section on authority for discussion on two way communica-ò tionò) Emotional survival contributes to the communications and it is said to occur as follows: -- We. aU tend to move towaAA 6.itw tLon,s which aid the achievement oj5 owc goa o and way {y/wm ones which testh ict achievement." Consequently, although the work force are prepared to contribute, they will not make the effort for long if management does not respond in deed. The Robers report includes the following statement; "Satiety and heat h at wank is a matte o6 e66ic,ient management. But it .L not a management pn.enogative. Wank people muht be encouAagad to pattiaipate úu.Uy in the making and movutoni:ng ob a/vua.ngements ban .6aJety and heath, at their. pace ofj wonk.t'(3) Attitudes dominate within this region. Emotional surviv- al is paramount. Management is the catalyst. They dominate the communication channels. Participation does not exist without two way communications and positive responses by those involved, Fault Doctrine. Eliminate faulty human behaviour. This concept lives with us as the predominant prior- ity of many safety programs. The concept is a drain on limited resources., Remember, malaria. At one stage this disease was believed to be caused by the mat or bad air emanating from persons whose profaneness or impious behaviour incurred such reprisal. Today, such a concept of malaria seems so ridiculous, (9)

Jan 1, 1979

By C C. Souza, S C. Amarante, A C. Arauj

All major companies now producing iron ore in Brazil currently employ or are planning to employ some sort of concentration method to upgrade their fine sized products (sinter feed fines and pellet feed fines). The criteria for the selection of the most suitable concentration method for each application include a series of parameters; the most important among them being related to ore mineralogy. This paper reviews the concentration operations currently employed in Brazil and shows how ore mineralogy plays a fundamental role in the selection of a given method. Examples involving gravity concentration (jigs and spirals), magnetic separation (Rare Earth wet drums, ferrous wheel, and Jones type magnetic separators) and flotation (especially column flotation) are discussed. Fundamentally important for the selection of a concentration method is the mineralogy of iron-bearing minerals and gangue minerals presented to the feed to the concentration unit operation. For instance, the presence of liberated quartz as the major gangue mineral for a pellet feed size stream generally indicates that flotation will be the best selection for the concentration of that stream. However, even if magnetite is present only in the form of crystal relicts within hematite grains, it may lead to the selection of either magnetic separation alone or a combination of magnetic separation and flotation for concentrating such material. Presence of gibbsite and/or kaolinite as the major phase containing alumina will also affect the selection of the concentration method in all cases. Again for the case of pellet feed size streams, kaolinite does not interfere with flotation whereas gibbsite tends to contaminate flotation concentrate (pellet feed fines) as it is depressed together with iron oxides and hydroxides during the reverse cationic flotation process.

Jan 1, 2002

By S Vianna

Mineralogical information obtained from plant surveys is subject to errors, both due to sampling and experiment. To reduce these errors, and to ensure that information is consistent, a data reconciliation model has been developed for mineralogical data. Its capability includes mass balancing size data, total assays, assays within size-classes and liberation data. Unlike any other mass balance package, this package also allows reconciliation of the complex mineralogical information. For example, particles cannot simply be treated as binary, but consist of combinations of many minerals. Hence the distribution of mineralogical information is multidimensional and the mineralogical distributions are referred to as multiphase. In this paper, the different levels of mass balancing are explained, including how to mass balance liberation data. Furthermore a new technique based on probability theory can be used to infer distributions even when there is insufficient information to perform a mass balance, and this technique is also explained. Results for various stages are given.

Jan 1, 2002

By W Stange, N Hanson

An important aspect of the project evaluation process is the achievement of a clear and quantitative understanding of the primary drivers influencing project value and risk. A business scenario-based approach is required to ensure that the project meets value and risk hurdles over the short, medium and longer term. Adopting an optimising approach can aid significantly in the development of a project concept into a business that is optimal and sustainable in the longer term. Through the application of case studies, based on work performed with various mining organisations during the last five years, this paper will demonstrate how project value and robustness can be optimised. Experience has demonstrated that applying this approach results in significant value improvements and risk reduction û primarily by application of a rigorous, fact-based analysis and optimisation process that rapidly increases management team understanding and insight of key driver of value and risk.

Jan 1, 2007

By Budd B

this paper outlines the operating advantages gained through applying a mine processor (MISA), to various underground and surface operations. On the surface, MISA monitors and/or controls ventilation fans, crushers, fill plant and stockpiles. Underground, MISA monitors and/or controls dewatering pumps, fill reticulation and high voltage electrical distribution on most levels.

Jan 1, 1988

By Gadsden R. W

Physical and chemical requirements are defined for coke and ferrous materials used in modern high productivity blast furnaces operating in Australian conditions. Recent developments in the type of equipment required to be installed at the steelworks to ensure these requirements are described with illustrations from current plant practice provided.

Jan 1, 1976

By K H. Esbensen

The critical role of representative sampling is featured and illustrated by selected examples from the geosciences and beyond. As there already are many demonstrations of the potential (and potentially large) economic consequences of ignoring proper standards with respect to representativity, eg for mining and minerals processing companies, which æstand to lose millions of dollars by failing to optimise exploitation of their mineral resourcesÆ, such need no further iteration here.This keynote lecture, rather, takes a point of departure from the opposite perspective: what is to be gained by a scrupulous stand for representativity? Honesty, reputation, credibility, market advantage - is what!CITATION:Esbensen, K H, 2012. The critical role of representative sampling, in Proceedings Sampling 2012 , pp 9-12 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 21, 2012

The southern portion of the Swan Coastal Plain, a geomor-: phological element formed since late'Tertiary times, contains commercially exploitable accumulations of ilmenite, zircon, rutile'and monazite associated with a series'of raised'shorelines. The:location'of the deposits is controlled by a locally outcropping*Archaen-granite/granulite complex and a sea':current pattern'determined'by'local geography and a prevailing wind direction.'-A progression from medium. to high titanium ilmenite is'evident parallelled by. progressive leucoxenisation as the age of the deposits increases. Variation's in trace element content accompany this process. Circulating groundwater has caused vertical mineralogical variations within-individual deposits and' by p'ecipitation of iron has formed layers of hardpan. The economic sig- nificance''of the Geographe--Bay deposits is'briefly discussed,

Jan 1, 1964

THOSE who dabble in m.ining are no exception to the general rule that persons who know a little of a subject are apt to think that they know all about it. Some colour may be lent to the belief that anyone may succeed in mining when we hear stories ofsuccessful diggers and others who have accidentally dropped on to something good through no foresight on their part; but we seldom hear the contra account of the far larger number who fail. Those who go more thoroughly into the subject, and take up mining as a profession, know very well that it is not one that can be carried out successfully by rule of thumb, but when they point this out to the public they are credited with trying to make it a closed profession; and outsiders are for ever trying to find out the 'trade secrets,' at the same time spurning the main one, which is hard study, experience, and the ability to apply their knowledge.The average mining man is not rich. When he amasses a fortune it is generally through speculation rather than professional work, thought no doubt his technical knowledge may have assisted him. However, making a fortune and running a mine are twodifferent things.

Jan 1, 1911

Heavy medium separation is widely used because of the precision of separation achievable and the flexibility of control. Good design is manifest in the eventual achievement of the operational objectives. These objectives which take account of the assessed quality of raw feed, market requirements and production cost levels need to be carefully prepared and realistic.

Jan 1, 1987

I am very grateful to have the honor of delivering this Key- note Speech to all of you here today, to the Chairman Mr Cope- man, and to all the organisers. As you heard, I was mainly involved for a very long time in the purchase of iron and steel raw materials for Nippon Steel Corporation. Today, however, I would like to talk to you about a much wider issue, namely, how the Japanese steel industry is going to change towards the 21st Century, and what will be the main technical innovations and trends behind those changes. I will also mention the effect that the changes are likely to have on the procurement of raw Materials.

Jan 1, 1988

By LaBrooy S. R

Crushing for the gold industry involves fine crushing and a degree of primary milling, and this presents new problems and challenges, partiuclarly on many of the new ore-bodies now being opened up. All of this calls for a better understanding of some of the basics of fine crushing and milling. Accordingly, in this paper the "typical" contemporary Australian gold mining operation is firstly delineated, in terms of representative ore types and typical crushing and milling tasks. Then some of the technical and economic basics related to fine crushing are re-examined, including: energy relationships in crushing and milling; concepts of reduction ratio; recirculating load controversies; and questions of realistic economics in crushing gold ores. The economics of the typical gold mining operation are shown to be rather marginal; not the lavish "bonanza" many may imagine. Likewise, crushing cost expectations are frequently quite Unrealistic.

Jan 1, 1987

By E Ahern

In exchange for issuing minerals rights from the Crown Mineral Estate to explorers and miners, the Crown expects a æfair returnÆ on this investment, ultimately for the benefit of all New Zealanders. In the case of mining permits, this return is in the form of a tangible asset û royalties from mining activities. But for exploration activity, the return sought by the Crown is an intangible asset û information. The information obtained serves three purposes û in helping Crown Minerals to set work programme conditions during permit allocation, for monitoring the performance of permit holders in accordance with permit conditions, and for archiving and making available for future interested explorers and other parties. Difficulties can arise during the allocation and monitoring process when either party has more information than the other that is not shared. To date not enough emphasis has been placed on the intrinsic value and content of the information generated by explorers and the importance this information can have in the exploration process leading to new mineral discoveries. For attracting exploration investment, the quality and availability of such information, combined with other geoscientific data, is a fundamental determinant for potential explorers when choosing to explore in a global market, and strongly defines the mineral prospectivity for a country. This is something the Australian States and other jurisdictions seeking mineral investment learnt long ago, and who now provide substantial amounts of cheaply or freely available packaged geoscientific datasets, increasingly over the Internet. To have a vibrant mineral exploration industry so that the benefits from the mineral estate can be realised for all New Zealanders, a shift in emphasis to the value of its mineral information base itself is required. Such an approach is befitting of a true Knowledge Economy, and would enable the Crown to make better-informed decisions regarding utilisation of its natural resources.

Jan 1, 2002

Mining companies around the world are seeking methods to coordinate operations between the mine and the concentrator to achieve an overall improvement in enterprise performance. In several instances very significant increases in productivity (more than 20 per cent) and profitability (more than $US 10M per annum) have resulted from such efforts. The key to realising these large benefits has for the most part arisen from improved communication between mining operations and plant operations personnel and the judicious use of new tools to evaluate alternatives for improvement and to minimise the risk of implementation. This paper presents a systematic approach to mine-to-mill optimisation . The importance of systemic thinking and systems optimisation methodologies is emphasised. New tools for evaluating operational performance are discussed. Recently reported benefits are summarised. Finally current research is discussed and projections for the future are given.

Jan 1, 2000

By R Ahola, M D. Henschel, M A. McParland

With the introduction in recent years of third-generation interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) techniques, monitoring of mine slopes, benches and surrounding areas has benefitted from increased accuracy and coverage. Fundamental research into point and distributed scattering techniques has pushed the use of InSAR to provide higher spatial and height resolution. In this paper we discuss the operationalisation of third-generation InSAR techniques and show its application to active mining operations.This paper will discuss the use of multiple independent measurements of ground movement obtained from operationally-derived InSAR products over a wide variety of deformation areas within an active open pit mining operation (ie pit slopes, dewatering depressions, tailings containment and waste dumps). A technique that shortens the time between observations (increased observation frequency) and provides ongoing estimates of measurement accuracy will be described. The methodology exploits available satellite data by using multiple satellites and multiple beams. The paper will also examine factors in the design of a mine survey with third-generation InSAR and illustrate some of the necessary engineering trade-offs to efficiently monitor a mine from space.Overall, this paper aims to demonstrate the capabilities and advantages of operational third-generation InSAR techniques for ground movement monitoring of mining operations and provide a framework for proper design of a mine InSAR survey.CITATION:Henschel, M D, Sato, S, Ahola, R and McParland, M A, 2014. Designing interferometric synthetic aperture radar surveys for mine monitoring with accuracy assessment, in Proceedings AusRock 2014: Third Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference , pp 233–238 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 5, 2014