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By Manlapig EV, Lawson F, Clarkson CJ

A low grade middling sample from Mount Isa, Australia, assaying 31.7 per cent zinc, 12.9 per cent lead and 14.5 per cent iron was leached under atmospheric pressure in sulphate and sulphate-chloride solutions with ferric ions as oxidants. About 96 per cent of the contained zinc was dissolved into a 0.5 M H2SO4 - 0.5 M Fe2(SO4)3 solution at 90¦C within three hours from a five per cent by weight slurry density mixture. The leaching process is very temperature-dependent, suggesting a surface chemical control. In the latter stage, the leaching rates levelled off and the leaching was most probably controlled by both surface chemical reaction and diffusion processes. The addition of chloride ions in the leach solution resulted in an increase in the leaching rate. About 95 per cent of the lead sulphide contained was converted to lead sulphate which precipitated and remained in the residue. Essentially no lead remained in solution and the low chloride concentration did not affect the precipitation of lead sulphate. Half of the iron orginally present remained in the residue as pyrite although essentially all the cadmium and 90 per cent of the copper initially present were dissolved. Some three per cent of sulphide sulphur was oxidised through to sulphate, about 67 per cent was converted to elemental sulphur which can be recovered by solvent extraction, the rest remained in the residue mainly as pyrite. Ferric sulphate and sulphate-chloride solutions can be used to effectively leach finely ground lead-zinc middlings and other bulk sulphide concentrates. A complete separation of zinc from lead and silver has been demonstrated.

Jan 1, 1993

Government established and financed the NZ Steel Investigating Co in 1960. Its investigations showed that a steel industry was feasible and desirable based uponNorth Island titanomagnetite ironsands, and charted a route for its establishment. The initial processing used post-1945 preheating and prereduction developments, but later innovative improvements created what was essentially a new New Zealand technology. Of the North Island titanomagnetite deposits: the small ones at Waipipi were best made available for export; those at Kawhia and Taharoa were too remote for the economic siting of a mill; that at Raglan proved too small; while at Waikato North Head three times the requirement of 50 million tons of concentrate were located in two sand areas averaging 18 per cent titanomagnetite. Economic studies showed that a South Auckland site would be ideal, close to New Zealand's biggest market. The mill site, on a basalt flow at Glenbrook, was located by a half-day's fieldwork - near both the Waikato North Head deposit, and a railhead for bringing in Waikato coal, etc, and taking out steel products.   This development was one of several since World War II which altered significantly the lives and homes of New Zealanders (others were natural gas, oil, geothermal power, epithermal gold, aluminium, opencastable lignite, etc). All had the essential ingredients of the highest government backing, direct or indirect government finance, and first-class New Zealand scientific and engineering skills (eg to create new technologies). Not one such project failed.

Jan 1, 1993

By G Stephenson, G MacDonald, A Yeomans, S Sinclair, V Knott

Rio Tinto has actively committed to progressive reclamation, concurrent with commercial operations, at its Diavik Diamond Mine. The most significant piece of progressive reclamation undertaken at Diavik to date has been the construction of an engineered thermal rock cover for the mine’s largest waste rock storage area. This 80-metre-tall and 2000-metre-long area is known as the Waste Rock Storage Area – North Country Rock Pile (WRSA-NCRP) and contains the operationally segregated potentially acid-generating waste rock mined over the last 20 years. As part of the mine plan, an opportunity was recognised where a limited 1.5 per cent of the WRSANCRP surface area was required for storage of the balance of life-of-mine generated waste rock and a decision was made to advance the closure design almost a decade ahead of final closure. With over 12 860 000 tonnes of material placed and 57 443 dozer hours logged since cover construction, progressive reclamation on the WRSA-NCRP is scheduled to be complete in mid-2023, three years before planned cessation of commercial operations in 2026. The progressive closure of the WRSA-NCRP demonstrates Rio Tinto’s commitment to not only closure, but modern best practices with integrated mine closure. Over the past seven years, Diavik has overcome multiple implementation hurdles for this project including the psychology of operational standby, the financial mechanisms required to support closure, working within the constraints of a mine plan and the associated operational organisational structures. This paper outlines the lessons learned to provide an example of successful integrated mine planning for closure. The North Country Rock Pile project had three major learnings which resulted in an effective organisational structure that allowed for the execution of an integrated planning model for progressive closure. The initial hurdle the project faced was adapting the psychology of an operational open pit mining team. The team was an experienced mining group who came in with the perspective to target the shortest haul possible resulting in the initial perception that the longer haul of material to the NCRP was an un-necessary task impacting operational performance metrics. After the installation of an improved dispatch tracking system and performance metrics, it was possible to demonstrate that the mine was shovel constrained. This showcased the short haul was generating an increase in queue time not production. With updated performance metrics, the team was aligned to target a decrease standby through haulage to the NCRP. These performance metrics had to be reinforced by financial mechanisms. The operations team was able to offset costs by charging time to the capital project set-up for the closure of the NCRP. This allowed the operations team to receive credit for time that would have otherwise likely been standby. As well, the progressive closure project was able to receive the benefit of not having to incur costs for the drill, blast and load as that was done as part of the operation. This was a significant benefit to the project and one of the primary drivers for the early approvals of the work as the project costs were limited to the incremental haulage distance and placement of the material. Life of Mine Conference 2023 | Brisbane, Australia | 2–4 August 2023 114 While the combined operational and progressive closure approach provided financial advantages, it did result in the project being constrained by the operational activities. A traditional capital project is managed through a linear execution plan where the deliverables within a project are within the realm of control of the project execution team. However, the NCRP project had to be continuously adapted to the outcomes of the pit operations. This included geotechnical constraints, ore delivery, and other operational delays. To adapt, the planning module had to be dynamic but not reactive to allow for adjustments on a shift-by-shift basis. Based on this requirement the Diavik Closure Projects structure adopted a mine planning format. The team executed a similar planning timeline and reporting structure as the mine operations team, allowing planning to be integrated into the operational planning structures on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis. This resulted in the Projects team as a core pillar of the mine planning team. The process of continuous improvement spanned six years and has resulted in the project being ahead of schedule and under budget for the project’s scheduled progressive closure completion date of June 2023. The North Country Rock Pile project supports the argument that bulk earthworks progressive closure projects should be integrated into the operational mine plan. If the project is aligned the mine plan it allows for dynamic adjustments which capitalise on evolving opportunities inevitable in an operating mine. These cultural and organisational alignments should be supported by appropriate performance metrics and financial mechanisms to ensure united priorities. The result of this alignment provides long-term financial savings for the business as well as delivery of closure objectives.

Aug 2, 2023

By P M. Dight

Shotcrete usage in declines and developments has become pervasive as operators strive to achieve production improvements. Issues of mix control, fibreload, thickness control, temperature and curing conditions all play a part in the quality control. Often to overcome some of the quality control issues designers over specify the strength requirements in order to meet their operational constraints. Adherence to the standard civil testing requirements of 28 days moist cured at 21ºC without properly calibrating these results to the changing environment underground leads to contractual disputes. There are a number of standard tests specified including cylinder tests, cored tests, beam tests and round determinate panel (RDP) panel tests. The logistics of storing these samples and then transporting them to concrete testing laboratories without due regard to temperature changes with time can influence the results. All the samples can be readily handled by personnel except the RDP panel. The standard RDP panel is 800 mm diameter by 75 mm thick and requires an ITH machine at the mine and a fork lift at the laboratory to move it around. This paper will examine the possibility of a panel which provides scalable results to the standard RDP panel but can be easily handled by personnel and/or tested on site with suitable equipment. This allows for faster turn around and better quality control for the sample prior to testing. This enhances the identification of quality control issues at the mine and improves safety.

Mar 21, 2011

By M Darvall

Magnetite ore blending has yielded signifi cant performance improvements in OneSteel’s magnetite concentrator. The magnetite concentrator beneficiates magnetite ore from the Iron Magnet Deposit and produces concentrate, which is pelletised, then fed to the OneSteel Whyalla blast furnace. Concentrator feed variability severely detracts from the concentrator’s performance, affecting both concentrate yield and grade, which impacts on all downstream processing costs.A coordinated approach has integrated mine planning, geological modelling and grade control, to minimise concentrator feed variability, through effective ore blending throughout the mining and stockpiling process.Mine planning personnel design shots that extend the full width of the orebody and hence across the stratigraphic profi le. Based on geological information contained in block-outs and in consultation with Geology, the Grade Control team allocates material to each primary stockpile, potentially from every stratigraphic domane in the orebody. This ensures primary stockpiles are designed with maximum practical homogeneity and consistency.Using only primary movement, the allocated ore is stockpiled in a layer-cake fashion. The ore is pimple dumped across the width of the stockpile footprint and on completion of a layer, it is dozed flat with an access ramp that allows dumping to commence on the next lift. The primary stockpiles are reclaimed normal to build direction and the magnetite is crushed, all in, to a concentrator feed stockpile.The ore is sampled at the crusher from a falling stream cut. These assay data, are used for benchmarking and control charting the grade and variability of concentrator feed stockpiles. The concentrator feed stockpiles have demonstrated a statistically signifi cant reduction of within pile variation, between pile variation and pile to pile variation, primarily attributable to the development of ore blending. The concentrator has seen sustained, improved performance as a direct result, which translates into lower concentrate cost per tonne and improved yield and quality.

Jul 11, 2011

By P A. Montoya

La Colosa is a world-class porphyry Au project located in Colombia, currently undergoing prefeasibility analysis. As part of collaboration between AngloGold Ashanti and the AMIRA P843A GeMIII Project, the application of emerging geometallurgical characterisation testing and modelling tools has been incorporated in early stages of project development. The aim of the geometallurgical study is to map inherent comminution variability across the La Colosa deposit providing information critical for mine/mill design and optimisation. In this study, site-based data incorporating multi-element assays, quantitative analyse X-ray difraction QXRD bulk mineralogy measurements, EQUOtip rebound hardness data, and routine geological logging information from 59 diamond drill holes has been integrated with a range of geometallurgically specific comminution test (ie GeMCi, A × b, BMWi). The work in this paper demonstrates the integration techniques used at La Colosa to link routine data acquisition methods with comminution test results through the development of proxy support models. The integration incorporates a range of statistical techniques including principal component analysis and regression modelling. By creating proxy models, comminution index estimates can be propagated into the geological database enabling comminution processing domains to be defined. These domains provide the first spatial representation of comminution performance and variability at La Colosa and can be compared against traditional geological domains. This study provides the foundation for ongoing comminution characterisation as the La Colosa project evolves through project cycles into an operational mine.

Sep 5, 2011

In an earlier paper(l) details of a laboratory method of extracting and separating tantalum and columbium oxides from tantalite have been given. In view of the fact that Australia may have need to be self sufficient in this field it was decided to erect a pilot plant for the production of tantalum oxide in the Metallurgy School, University of Melbourne. The plant was designed for treating about 40 lb. of ore in a batch over a period of two weeks, although; because of the sectionalized nature of the process, the capacity of the plant was 40 lb. ore per week.Australia is fortunate in possessing some very rich tantalite and columbite deposits, particularly in the Pilbara District in Western Australia. The ore used in this work was obtained from a small but high grade deposit near Greenbushes, Western Australia, and consisted of lumps, weighing up to 8 lb. each, of almost pure ferro-tantalite with occasional thin veins of the very' rare' mineral stibiotantalite.The main constituents were:

Jan 1, 1946

By J A. Wells, K G. Thomas, R F. Dewhirst

"One of the contributing factors to the extreme cost escalation in the first decade of the 21st century was the increase in the amount and cost of engineering work that went into studies and projects. Various reasons for this were identified, including unsatisfactory productivity due to a shortage of experienced/qualified engineers, the increased complexity and infrastructure requirements of many projects due to location, metallurgy that is more challenging and increasing environmental and social requirements. These conditions often led to unsatisfactory project results in terms of cost and schedule blowouts and created a loss of confidence – both internally and externally – in the industry’s ability to complete projects on time and on budget.Technical fundamentals aside, the experience and effectiveness of project teams has had, and continues to have, a major impact on project cost, schedule and ramp-up to nameplate capacity and operating parameters. There are unfortunately too many examples of where project teams have not been as effective as they could or should have been, all to the ultimate detriment of the project.Using the authors’ extensive experience on both owner’s and engineer’s teams, this paper discusses some of the main reasons for suboptimal team, and hence project, performance and offers thoughts on how best to build and maintain project teams. The analysis and conclusions drawn are built around the Tuckman model of group development known as ‘forming-storming-norming-performing’, which was first proposed some 50 years ago. Given the importance of good teamwork to project success, understanding how project teams grow and become efficient and productive is an essential part of good project management that should receive more attention.CITATION:Dewhirst, R F, Thomas, K G and Wells, J A, 2016. Building and maintaining effective project teams, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2016, pp 38–48 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 8, 2016

By D David

The development of Western Australian magnetite deposits has lead to the design of some of the largest grinding mills and plants in the world. One of the projects demonstrates the efficiency gains possible by developing a simple yet thorough test program for circuit design. By drawing on the experience of current magnetite operations in Australia and the Mesabi and Marquette iron ranges in the United States, a basic flowsheet was developed. Through comprehensive testwork with AG, ball and stirred milling the flowsheet was optimized to take full advantage of each grinding mill’s strengths to reach the required final grind size. Laboratory work was verified in the pilot plant to optimize the energy efficiency of each grinding step while ensuring adequate liberation at each step for sufficient gangue rejection. By using three stages of grinding, the ball mill can best be employed in ensuring all top size gangue material is liberated and removed in the second magnetic separation step. The inclusion of the IsaMill, with its inherent steep product size distribution, as the tertiary grinding stage ensured that maximum grade was achieved and simplified the downstream process while giving further improvements in total grinding capital and operating costs. In this way the combination of the two technologies downstream from the AG mill is far more efficient than either would be on its own by reducing the total installed power by 1/3 and annual grinding media cost by 2/3.

Aug 8, 2011

The QSL continuous lead smelting process incorporates two basically different pyro- metallurgical operations: roast-reaction, smelting of galena concentrate, followed by carbothermic reduction of some by-product lead oxide slag. Both steps are performed simultaneously in separate compartments of a long horizontal cylindrical reactor, which is lined with fused chrome-magnesite bricks. This converter-type reactor contains a liquid bath consisting of a shallow layer of lead bullion with a superimposed layer of slag, the lead content of which is gradually reduced from about 50% to discardible levels. Metal relative to slag, and slag relative to the gas phase are in continuous countercurrent motion. A lead well is arranged at the flue end of the reactor, and an overflow tap for slag at the opposite end. Tonnage oxygen for oxidation and smelting of the charge, and sub- stoichiometric mixtures of pulverized coal and oxygen for reduction and heating of the slag, are directly blown into the bath using fluid-protected Savard-Lee injectors. High gas-liquid momentum transfer ensures intensive local mixing, and enables rapid mass and heat transfer.

Jan 1, 1984

By P Ramsaywok

The use of saline water for mineral beneficiation in arid regions is general practice and also the case with Exxaro Namakwa Sands, situated on the west coast of South Africa. Although it is ‘cost effective’ to use sea water for mineral beneficiation, downstream process separation efficiencies may be negatively affected. This is more specific to surface dependent separation techniques such as electrostatic and high tension (HT) separation. If minimal fresh water is available then, proper washing is often neglected. Salt crystals can form on particle surfaces during the drying process before electrostatic separation.This paper describes a study that has been conducted to determine the effect of upfront salt water processing on downstream electrostatic/HT separation. The study indicated that minor quantities of salt can cause the separation efficiency to decrease substantially.

Oct 5, 2011

By Niemann G

The paper addresses certain mining provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 and the development of Mining agreements negotiated pursuant to Section 43 of the Act. Difficulties for miners and Land Councils alike arising out of the operation of the Land Rights Act will be discussed. Possible scenarios for the resolution of these difficulties will be proposed.

Jan 1, 1984

By Vynne J. F

Drill monitors for rotary blasthole drills have been available to the mining industry since the 1970s. The early monitors were pen strip chart recorders that were developed for the oil drilling industry and adapted to mining. They recorded drilling parameters such as depth, pull-down pressure, torque, RPM, and hailing air pressure. While these recorders could generate a large volume of paper, the amount of useful data was minimal. The data was not summarised and required an engineer to interpret the chart traces. Being a mechanical recorder, the devices were also susceptible to frequent failures. Modem electronics, and the development of the personal computer and its associated software have radically changed the type of instrumentation that is now available for blasthole drills. Perhaps more important is what can be done with the data. The PC allows the logged data to be analysed, summarised, and a variety of reports to be generated. The reports can be customised to meet the specific requirements of the mine and reduce the amount of time that is required to interpret the data. There is also an increased awareness in the mining industry of the importance of production drills. Blasthole drills have typically been the piece of production equipment that received the least amount of attention in a surface mine. Management focussed on the trucks and shovels or draglines. This situation is changing, and therefore the benefits that can be derived from monitoring drill performance are being recognised. Potential economic benefits of installing drill monitors have been documented in previous papers (Peck and Vynne, 1992). Mines are finding that pay-back periods of less than twelve months and rates of return in excess of 30 per cent are not uncommon. These benefits include the following: 1. Reduced overdrilling; 2. Increased rate of penetration; 3. Helping to locate coal seams; 4. Identification of weak and strong zones; 5. Reduce geophysical logging; 6. Optimising blasts; 7. Improved fragmentation and diggability; 8. Decreased coal dilution; 9. Increased bit life; 10. Reduced maintenance costs; 1 I . Improved accuracy of data and reports.

Jan 1, 1995

By R Klepper

Separation of leach residue suspended solids from pregnant liquor solution is an important step in hydrometallurgy flowsheets. Alternative flowsheet options are counter-current decantation (CCD) thickeners or counter current washing (CCW) horizontal belt vacuum filters. Extensive sedimentation and vacuum filtration simulations have been completed by FLSmidth on leach discharge slurries to indentify equipment capacity and performance. These data were used to compare Capex and Opex for CCD versus CCW alternatives. In addition, Capex and Opex for large horizontal belt vacuum filters with filtration areas greater than 250m2 are compared to current state of the art sizes of 150m2. This paper presents this information and discusses various advantages and disadvantages.

Aug 8, 2011

By Corbett GJ

The Bulolo Graben represents an intra-arc rift formed by activa- tion of transfer structures in an extensional setting formed be- tween the eastern and western sectors of the New Guinea Origin. Crustal thinning has facilitated the emplacement of dacitic Edie porphyry intrusions, locally as flow dome complexes, phreatomagmatic (diatreme) breccias and the Bulolo ignimbrite/ agglomerate as an extrusive equivalent of the Edie Porphyry. Gold mineralization is localized along intra-graben structures, com- monly at the intersection with cross structures and occurs in sub- sidiary dilational fractures and not the localizing major structures. Gradations are apparent in the styles of mineralization according to the degree of erosion of the hydrothermal system. Hamata occurs as the deepest mineralization of the quartz-sul- phide style Wau, Hidden Valley, and Edie Creek are dominated by carbonate-base metal styles. Kerimenge grades from quartz sulphide through carbonate-base metal to epithermal mineraliza- tion, the latter style also being present in the periphery of Edie Creek. Here, pre-existing fractures of the Edie Creek Structural Corridor have been reactivated by movement on NS structures to form the ore-hosting dilatant lodes. Fluid flow may have been from the vicinity of the Nauti diatreme margin and along the vein System.

Jan 1, 1997

By R Talebi

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

Mar 29, 2023

Radioisotope X-ray and neutron techniques of analysis can be used for the determination of a wide range of elements in minerals. The most important applications of these techniques to the mineral industry are for on-stream analysis of slurries and solids, and for geological assay. The radioisotope X-ray techniques are the more developed ones and two installations for on-stream analysis are in routine use in mineral processing plants in Australia. Neutron techniques are being developed, and should prove valuable for geological assay of large numbers of mineral samples, for borehole logging, and for specific on-stream analysis when the cost of the equipment is warranted.

Jan 1, 1969

By A Radici, M Attwill

The Dampier Port Upgrade Project (DPU) involves an upgrade to Hamersley IronÆs Parker Point iron ore port facility at Dampier, Western Australia. The $US700 million DPU Project will increase Hamersley IronÆs shipping capacity at Dampier from 72 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 116 Mtpa. The DPU Project comprises a new car dumper facility and rail spur, an upgrade to the existing stockyard and conveying system, a new screen-house and a 450 m wharf extension with two new shipping berths and a new ship-loader. This paper discusses the innovative design and construction of the new car dumper facility, which is capable of automatically unloading 240 car iron ore trains at a rate of 10 000 t/h. The facility design is unique compared to more conventional designs currently in operation, and greatly improves operation and maintenance functions.

Jan 1, 2005

Lateritic nickel ore occurs as a supergene or residual deposit as a result of the tropical weathering of underlying ultramafic rocks. The mineralisation may be as hydrated Ni-Mg silicates, like garnierite (silicate ore); or as hydrated Ni-Fe oxide (oxide) ore. Non-sulphide ore represents only 30% of the tonnage mined, but represents 85% of the total world's nickel reserves. A typical lateritic profile consists of 4 zones above the unweathered ultramafic parent rock: Zone 1: the "upper laterite" which is dark red-brown, porous and concentrically structured. It contains 0.2 to 0.8% Ni, 48.0 to 72.0% Fe, and 0 to 9.5% MgO. It is often capped by a ferricrete crust. Zone 2: the "middle laterite", which is red-brown to light brown and more porous than the above zone. It contains 0.8 to 1.5% Ni, 42.0 to 48.0% Fe and 0.5 to 6.0% MgO. Zone 3: the "basal laterite" which is yellow-brown to yellow-orange,

Jan 1, 1974

By P Vass, C Butler, J Condon, B Hooper

DeGrussa Copper Mine, resource status 10.2 Mt at 5.7 per cent Cu, 2.1 g/t Au (Sandfire Resources, 2013), commenced concentrate production through its 1.5 Mt/a conventional copper flotation processing plant in September 2012. Geometallurgical assessment during the feasibility study identified potential process-critical ore factors that required further investigation to determine potential impact on processing. Ore characterisation and metallurgical processing performance test work of ore types ensued and subsequently, the first quantitative DeGrussa geometallurgy model was born. Now one year into steady state production, the geometallurgical program has evolved significantly from its infancy and provides valuable insight into ore characterisation and behaviour in the processing plant. This paper details geometallurgical investigations undertaken at DeGrussa to date; from feasibility metallurgical test work through to geometallurgical modelling and management practices, as well as reconciliation between observations at feasibility study level and subsequent observations in production.CITATION:Condon, J, Butler, C, Hooper, B and Vass, P, 2013. DeGrussa Copper Mine, Western Australia - feasibility to first production: a case study in developing a working geometallurgy model from first principles, in Proceedings The Second AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2013 , pp 59-66 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 29, 2013