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By Stubbs B

In conjunction with Charles Copeman, we have arranged the presentation of a paper by Charles with a support paper by myself presenting alternatives to currentaccepted legal concepts involving the ownership of minerals by the Crown and the absence of ownership in any minerals or entitlement to benefit therefrom by the owner of the land on or under which the minerals occur.2. The current situation has its historical route in the concept of gold and silver being royal metals and belonging wherever situated in the Kingdom to the King and it is submitted it can be'seen as being archaic in nature perhaps even feudal and perhaps worthy in this day and age of reconsideration.Our purpose in these papers is to present an alternative view supported by argument challenging the present system and hopefully, creating room for comment and interchange amongst those involved in the industry. My solutions are not Charles Copeman's solutions and vice-versa. However, we do share a common belief that the present system may not be the best system.

Jan 1, 1990

By K Schiefelbein, P OÆGrady, R Balusu, T Ren, T Harvey

"An extensive research program has been undertaken over recent years to reduce the risk of fires and explosions in underground coal mines. The research projects have integrated extensive field studies and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of goaf gas flow behaviour to develop optimum proactive strategies to prevent and control spontaneous combustion and fires ingoaf areas. The research has developed a fundamental understanding of the air and gas flowbehaviour in goaf areas and provided a detailed understanding of the eff ects of various geological,ventilation, operational and inertisation design parameters on goaf gas distribution. The researchinvestigations have also provided a better understanding of the flow behaviour of gases from the heating in the goaf areas and the effect of various gas and spontaneous combustion controltechnologies and strategies. Field studies conducted at a number of underground coal mines have shown that the proactive strategies were successful in reducing oxygen ingress into the goaf areas and in reducing the risk of fires and explosions in the underground coal mines. The results of various research investigations and guidelines for reducing the risk of fires and explosions in underground coal mines are presented in this paper."

Jun 1, 2012

By S Coughlan

"A personal account of my journey from a student from suburban Melbourne in the 1970s through 40 odd years in and around the mining industry including the important events that have moulded my thinking and, as result, have formed the guiding principles of the mining contracting business and related entities that make up the Byrnecut Group. On reflection the game of chance has played a big part in the journey, from the selection of initial study based on my parents financial capability and the one and only offer of early employment by Western Mining Corporation where the formative phase of my career took place in what was the vibrant can do environment that existed in Kambalda in the 1970s and early 1980s. Subsequently the unplanned meeting with Frank Lubbock drawing me back to Kalgoorlie from Fiji in 1987 and the resultant formation of a private mining contracting business, the excitement of the mid 1980s Kalgoorlie mining environment followed by the turmoil of the 1987 stock market crash where business survival was the game, resulting in a relationship with the German based Thyssen Group.Thereafter the development of a large privately owned international multifaceted mining services group and the principles behind that growth. These include: development of strategic personnel and retention of those personnel cashflow management and debt within a private company scenario recognising opportunity for synergetic growth but insisting on market forces driving those business elements, as opposed to internal divisions group-wide sustainable business systems, particularly in relation to leading safety and training processes innovation and renewal to provide the elusive advantage in a competitive market the role of entrepreneurial small businesses in development of technology.The above principles combine to make a margin in a cut throat contracting environment, competing on the world stage against other contractors and owner mining options.CITATION:Coughlan, S, 2014. A miner’s journey, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2014, pp 3–10 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 24, 2014

By U Dzharlkaganov, B Bekmurzayevand M

The principle conception is presented of timely planning of winning operations in complex-structural blocks and faces in week-24-hourly regime. For adequate description of complex interconnections of open cast operation in space and in time and solving of optimisation problems in timely regime it is necessary using of complex logical and calculation procedures.

Jan 1, 2003

The paper considers the factors that will control the importance and the nature of R & D required by the Australian mineral industry over the next decade. The process required to determine the appropriate priorities for research and how it must be managed is described. The work of the Australian Mineral Industries Research Association is used to illustrate this process.

Jan 1, 1986

What is the real value of your data?Given that the cost of collecting and analysing an individual sample is always rising, it is important to understand the true value of a sample and that you are confident that you receive good value for your exploration dollar. Unfortunately too many samples are still collected today that will end up as worthless data; a liability to those who own it and a hindrance to finding that ore body.

Jan 1, 1986

During the past seven years silver recovery has been increased from 9 per cent to over 61 per cent. The changes in plant practiee which have led to this increase are described. Gold room clean-up procedure has been varied, so that half the additional silver is obtained as pure silver chloride, which.is converted to silver bullion for marketing.

Jan 1, 1964

By H Jha, M C. Thomas, P Gupta, S K. Sit

The modern jig with a state-of-the-art control system is much more effective than its older version. This improved control system is used to modulate the amplitude and the frequency of the jig cycle. These two prime parameters are optimised with respect to feed characteristics for best jigging performance. Based on this understanding any jigging plant can be optimised. In addition to these established facts present study shows process efficiency improves further through optimisation of the feed quality.

Jan 1, 2007

The history of civilisation continues to register a steady tide towards the urban life as the basis of its social organisation. The manifestation of this movement is a continuous growth and increasing density of population in our towns and cities, as the favourite space for the development of humanity. Naturally, this trend raises a certain number of problems which grow proportionally with the size of the city. The use of the underground space has an important role to play in solving such urban problems. But various issues must be taken into account when developing urban underground space.

Jan 1, 1999

The mining industry in common with the rest of Australian industry is in the critical situation of facing a rapidly diminishing insurance market. Huge industrial complexes and massive mining risks with limits of liability of millions upon millions of dollars are becoming increasingly difficult to insure. Insurance underwriters are still reeling from the financial shocks of cyclones, floods and fires in Australia over the past couple of years. Risk Management which calls for manage- ment involvement in the control of losses offers a serious challenge to miners, industrialists and insurance underwriters alike. Without it the insurance market could disappear altogether.

Jan 1, 1975

Many aspects of best practice resource evaluation do not create value, but poor practice can certainly destroy value. Generally companies prefer to present how their good practice adds value and for this reason few publications exist on examples of how poor practice can destroy value. However in big and small companies there are many previous and current examples of poor practice destroying value. The incremental expenditure required to move from poor practice towards best practice can be looked upon as insurance against destroying shareholder value. Examples of how poor practice in geology has destroyed value are presented as well as the improvement model used by BHP Billiton to add value and insure against destroying value.

Jan 1, 2002

The curbing of expansion in tertiary level education in Australia and the question- ing of its objectives which are now occurring are likely to have important effects on mining and metallurgical education. Student enrol- ments are low but the serious shortage of specialised minerals industry graduates pre- dicted during the boom of the late 60's has not eventuated. Other manning problems of a less quantitative but possibly equally import- ant kind have been identified. They point to a need for a full and deep review of the education and training programmes available to Australian graduates planning to enter product- ion areas of the minerals industry. An alter- native educational structure providing greater flexibility is suggested.

Jan 1, 1977

During the post war era, the requirements of the "Third" World for modern civil works, energy and industry, coupled with an insistence that these capital installations are understood and controlled by indigenous people, have crea- ted a demand and flow of technology from those countries with well developed skills. Thus has grown a real trade in technology - an activity in which consultants play an important role. An indication of the magnitude of this trade is given, together with an outline of some of the special problems. Australia is shown to be dis- advantaged and has been slow to offer the incen- tives to consultants which other countries offer.

Jan 1, 1975

By Hutchinson H

Froth flotation is applied to mineral sand concentrates in order to produce commercially viable xenotime concentrates. Experiments indicate that a xenotime product containing 38% Y203 at 47% recovery or 34% Y203 at 83% recovery can be obtained from a 27% Y203 feed. The process involves a primary stage of reverse flotation at which oxide and silicate gangue is floated, and secondary stage of direct flotation at which xenotime is floated. Of the various collectors screened an amphoteric compound was found to be effective at both stages. This was made possible by the addition of sodium silicate at the second stage, which acted as depressant for the remainder of the gangue. Similar studies on a low grade feed material were somewhat unsatisfactory as the grade achieved fell short of what was targeted.

Jan 1, 1990

By Martin CH

Over the past forty years colliery management has coped with intensive mechanisation and other rationalisation of traditional conditions to accomplish increases to outputs by miners, mines and nationally. The basic managerial function of planning, organising, directing and controlling have adjusted and expanded to current management demands, including the detail of achieving the highest possible efficiency, particularly in forward planning. Although industrial aspects have vastly improved, there are lingering problems. Safety is not necessarily the basic ingredient of any industrial events-which occur but is always paramount. Likewise some legislative changes may have elements of political and particular vested interests and conservation of technical expertise may be threatened by such frustrations. Not only technical excellence is required, but particular attributes of the individual are required in management evolving from "simple owner management to the complete corporate approach required for the multidisciplined operations of to-day".

Jan 1, 1988

Courses in chemical engineering and metallurgical engineering at the University of Queensland were compared and the main difference was found to be the greater emphasis on the application of chemical engineering fundamentals, particularly chemical thermodynamics, to specific processes in the metallurgy course. This reflects the distinctive features of extractive metallurgical processes which are not common in other chemical engineering processes and which justify the study of extractive metallurgy in its own right. B.Sc. courses in metallurgy provide one way in which the specialist knowledge of extractive metallurgy can be taught. General metallurgy courses are considered to be preferable to those restricted solely to extractive metallurgy since graduates of a general course have a wider choice of employment, while excessive emphasis on extractive metallurgical applications in chemical engineering courses could reduce the non-specific nature of these courses. Postgraduate diploma and higher degree programmes are avenues for non- metallurgists to acquire knowledge of the discipline.

Jan 1, 1984

By Enichlmayr E

Lignin grouts are cheap and easy to get. They have some desirable properties, but they aag less used now because environmental pollution is often caused by Cr from the lignochrome component of the grout. Their usefulness was researched in an earlier paper on lignin as a grout from other viewpoints. A non-toxic grout FUL was made composed of furfural, urea and lignin. After initial tests, including tests by spinning regression design, some response equations in which FUL's properties are described were obtained. Optimum formulations have been established by using optimization methods based on response equations. The engineering quality was assured by formulations whose properties were measured in further tests. The mechanical feature of gelling sand was measured by means of triaxial tests. This provides a basis for using FUL grout in-situ. Finally, an in-situ experiment on FUL was completed successfully. The results were that cracks in stratum were filled or blocked, the gelling of FUL had high strength, and low permeability and consolidation were achieved.

Jan 1, 1988

Alliance Gold Mines was established in the early part of 1994 to acquire the assets of Diamin Resources NL at Maldon, Victoria. These comprised Exploration Licence 3422, some 20 sq km in area and enclosing the main part of the Goldfield, and a CIP plant - with a nominal capacity of 250 000 tpa - which was commissioned in 1988. Between 1988 and 1992 Diamin had mined - by open pit methods - and milled around one million tonnes of low grade gold ore, and recovered 55 000 ounces of gold. By 1992 the known shallow resources had been depleted. Historical gold production from the Maldon field is about 1.75 million ounces, at the surprising average recovered grade of 28 g/t. The last significant mine closed in 1926: since then there has been no comprehensive exploration program, though Lone Star Exploration NL tested part of the field for shallow open-pittable resources in the 1970s and Carpentaria Exploration Company Pty Ltd carried out widely-spaced drilling on the three main reefs from 1979 to 1982. Diamin (1983 - 1994) commenced a careful compilation of old mine records and newspaper clippings, and drilled several cored holes.

Jan 1, 1996

By M A. Faizulin, N G. Stukalova

The present till now practice of averaging of ore by metal content at mining-dressing enterprises does not allow evaluating objectively really existing regularities of dressing process. The processing of large statistical data by specially designed methods has revealed the relationships of extracted mass of metals into concentrates when processing of ore at preparation plants. The analysis of the obtained relationships points to necessity of timely control by flows of ore with due account of different sorts of metal. For this problem solving it is offered to use specially designed methods on carrying out of calendar planning of a mining and shipment of ore at open casts, based on ranked arriving of flows of different sorts ores to preparation plant. The given methods includes economic-mathematical model forming and its implementing by worked out method. The formed model allows taking into account different technological and organisation limits, typical operation conditions of open cast and preparation plants. Using this methods of control of mining operations and designed on its basis the complex of software allows increasing volume of metals, extracting into concentrate, up to two per cent without any additional costs and saving of the existing technological schemes at preparation plant.

Jan 1, 2003

By A Saghafi, S Day

The control of spontaneous combustion in spoil piles is an area of concern for a number of open cut coal mines. Spontaneous combustion in spoil may occur when carbonaceous waste materials are exposed to air. In large piles, the relatively high voidage within the pile may allow sufficient movement of air through the pile to sustain oxidation and heat generation. Over the past decade, ACARP and CSIRO have funded a number of projects aimed at providing a better understanding of the causes of spontaneous combustion in spoil piles and the development of control strategies. Work has focused on prevention measures but has also considered measures available to deal with well-developed fires. Field, laboratory and numerical modelling methods have been brought to bear on the issues. Individual projects have addressed: causes of spontaneous combustion including the relative reactivities of mine waste materials; the use of cover layers to prevent spontaneous combustion; the use of flyash grout to control an active fire; the emissions of air pollutants; and the emission of greenhouse gases. This paper provides a description of the work carried out to date with an emphasis on the major findings of the research and its application to open cut mines.

Jan 1, 2005