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By Rogers M, Sullivan B

Golden Crown Mine is a narrow vein gold mine producing 75000 tpa. Production has been predominantly by shrink stoping using hand held machine and airleg. Bogging from these stopes is done with Toro 150 LHD units.Previously the standard development method consisted of developing a sill drive, a footwall drive and millholes every 7 m. This meant that for every metre of ore development, 2 m of waste development was required.

Jan 1, 1993

By Fabjanczyk MW, Aziz NI, Hii J

The paper presents the results of a series of pull out tests performed on roof reinforcement systems currently being adopted in mines in Australia 7mm wire, dividag bar, 15.2mm strand cable, and birdcage cable. The study also investigated the load deformation chara- cteristics and the various design parameters controlling the effectiveness of a cable-grout system. Suggestions for continued work are Highlighted.

Jan 1, 1986

The Que River Mine is a small under-ground base and precious metals mine located in north-western Tasmania. Current production rate is 220,000 tonne/yr from reserves grading 0.37% copper, 7.1% lead, 12.2% zinc, 195 g/tonne silver and 3.4 g/tonne gold.Ore is mined using longhole open stoping techniques. Cemented fill is placed in primary stopes to permit safe and efficient recovery of pillars. The operation is trackless with both shaft and decline access from surface.Ore produced is trucked 40 km by road to be sold to the Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australia Ltd., for treatment at their Rosebery concentrator.

Jan 1, 1985

The sixth international symposium on mining with fill nearly coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Jubilee Symposium on Mine Filling. That symposium, held in August 1973 in Mount Isa, in part to commemorate the 80th anniversary of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, was the first in what has turned out to be a very successful series of symposia. Subsequent symposia were held in Sudbury, Canada (1978), Lulea, Sweden (1983), Montreal, Canada (1989) and Johannesburg, South Africa (1993). The series of symposia has now become an established part of the mining industry calendar, and it will be interesting to see which country is given the honour, and accepts the challenge, to organise the next symposium.One way of predicting the future, or some small part of it, is to revisit where we have already been with a view to determining the existence of any trends that may impact on the future. An historical review of filling practice and research, with special emphasis on Australian experience in particular and worldwide in general over the previous 25 years, will enable me to address the historical and predictive objectives. Controversy can always be achieved by producing a best of list; it can be guaranteed that everyone will disagree with at least one of the nominations. On this occasion, the best contributions by individuals or groups in a number of areas of mine fill technology, over the last 25 years, will be the basis for the nominal awards. The controversy can be increased by posing a number of questions that, hopefully, some of the authors will address during their presentations. I imagine the social functions will be busy enough, but the questions may just add to the cut and thrust of the debate.

Jan 1, 1998

By Howarth W. J, Sowerby B. D, Watt J. S

On-line analysis systems have found widespread application in the metalliferous mineral and coal industries. The continuous analysis and rapid response of these systems has led to improved control of mining, processing and blending operations, with increased recovery of valuable minerals and coal combustibles.The paper reviews developments in on-line analysis by CSIRO and Mineral Control Instrumentation Ltd which led to the award of the Australia Prize 1992. These commercialised systems analyse mineral and coal slurries; determine the ash and moisture contents of coal on conveyors, and the moisture content of coke on conveyors; and determine the carbon content of fly ash. These gauges are estimated to have resulted in productivity increases valued at $50 million per year to Australia.

Jan 1, 1993

General Gold was discovered in quartz veins at Wiluna in 1896, and the first lode was discovered in 1904. Since 1896, some 2.5 million ounces of gold have been produced from the Wiluna area. The mining operations at Wiluna are 100 per cent owned by Wiluna Gold Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wiluna Mines Ltd. Oxide and sulphide gold ore is extracted by conventional open pit mining techniques, and ran-of-mine ore is processed through two separate circuits. The oxide circuit has a capacity to treat 600 0(X) tonnes per annum and the sulphide circuit has a capacity to treat 400 (XX) tonnes per annum. Additional gold is won by dump leaching sub-grade oxidised ore and by retreating of primary ore flotation tailings from previous operations. Testwork carried out in 1990 indicated the viability of leaching dumps of run-of-mine oxide ore, and in June 1991 Signet Engineering of Perth, WA, was awarded an EPCM contract to construct a nominal 2.5 million tonne dump leach facility, for a total construction estimate of 51.75 million.

Jan 1, 1994

The basic flowsheet for the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kwinana Nickel Refinery are discussed in relation to the mineral components of Kambalda produced nickel concentrates. Both processes handle violarite and pentlandite satisfactorily but the smelter has limitations where high copper recovery is required and in its ability to handle magnesia containing minerals. While the latter can be more economically handled at Kwinana the limitations of this tolerance are discussed together with problems arising from treating pyrrhotite, pyrite and precious metals by the Sherritt Gordon process.

Jan 1, 1973

By Ichinose M, Tsuru T, Gotoh K

Since 1980, the Department of Mining Engineering at Kyushu University, in co-operation with the Ikeshima Colliery, Matsushima Coal Mining Co. Ltd., has been conducting a research project into longwall gateroad designs applicable to deep and poor strata conditions. During this period, the economic environment has drastically changed the situation of the domestic coal mining industry. Conventionally, the retreat longwall method, with re-use of gateroad, has been employed as it achieves higher recovery. However, from the view point of production efficiency, this method is not suitable because it requires intensive work in side packing and roadway maintenance. Therefore an interpanel-pillar system, or a two-entry gateroad system, was adopted to identify the factors responsible for excessive vertical closure in longwall gateroads. Field measurements and non-linear finite element analyses were undertaken to confirm the performance of this system. Study results indicate that the stability of the gateroad employing the rib pillar system is comparable to that of the conventional system of re-using Gateroads.

Jan 1, 1992

By Brett J. R

Some recent and current research and development projects relating to strip type open cut coal mining are reviewed. The projects include a dragline-hopper-truck mining system, an overburden slusher system, improvement of dragline operations, continuous excavation and conveying of overburden materials, and a steep angle coal conveying system. Most of these projects offer prospects for reducing costs in deep strip mining operations, but only the overburden slusher project has the potential for large cost reductions. A project on highwall mining of coal has demonstrated that this coal mining system is viable and capable of achieving high productivity rates. Production highwall mining operations are now starting to become established in Australia.

Jan 1, 1991

The Fosterville goldfield, situated 25 km east of Bendigo, Victoria was at its peak between 1894-1910 with some 47 600 ounces produced (Figure 1). Since that time intermittent mining and tailings retreatment was undertaken until Bendigo Gold Associates delineated a viable resource and commenced an open cut heap leaching operation in early 1991. Unfortunately they encountered financial difficulties and Perseverance Exploration purchased the mine in April 1992. Perseverance operated a successful heap leach operation nearby Nagambie, 100 km east of Fosterville. Based on its acquired heap leaching experience, Perseverance Exploration was able to instigate operational changes to create a successful small gold heap leach operation. The major change was the using of the original multi-use leach pad as a single-use leach pad. The available data allows for a comparison of the two operating systems.

Jan 1, 1994

By Will D

This presentation is to outline the current practice of mechanised stoping a one-metre wide, gold bearing ore body to optimise fragmentation, minimise dilution and reduce stoping costs.Coolgardie underground operations have historically been mined using traditional shrink stope methods, but in this recent economic environment (with falling gold prices and high costs of traditional methods) it was necessary to look for alternative methods in order to reduce costs and increase productivity.Although still in a learning and refinement phase, CGNL is satisfied that it is feasible, practical and more economic to use mechanised long up-hole stope and long-hole rising methods to significantly reduce the mining cost, reduce dilution, increase safety and increase productivity three-fold compared to traditional airleg methods used throughout the Fasten Goldfields.

Jan 1, 1993

By Hoppe AJ

Drilling and shooting techniques at Moura open-cut have evolved over a period of 16 years and are the result of hard earned experience combined with established practices and consul- tation with professional services. The wide range of overburden types encoun- ted in the field requires varying methods to achieve the best results at all times. Safe working conditions for the employees and protection of mining equipment is of para- mount importance and close liaison is maintain- ed with the Department of Mines Queensland to keep abreast with changing legislation. Drill patterns, charging profiles, types of explosives and ultimate results are des- cribed in detail along with a resume of equip- ment. Costs of drilling, labour and explosives are also analysed with a total of approximately 20c per cubic metre of shot ground. Future developments and improvements to facilities are also outlined.

Jan 1, 1978

By Shrivastava P, Humphreys M, Guibal D, Deraisme J

Customer requirements concerning the final products of iron mines are extremely stringent. Because of this, there is an ever-increasing need for mine operators to monitor and strictly control the quality of their product. This quality, as measured by the stockpile grade variability, is the result of a very complex process, where natural characteristics (the orebody and its geology) are transformed through the mining technique (open pit, shovel and truck fleet, blending into stockpile). The only way to reproduce and hence to control the variability of such a system, which is composed of several interactive sub-processes, is by simulation. A complete simulation of a Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd (HI) ore deposit has been undertaken to forecast the impact and cost of various mining methods, mining schedules and product stockpile sizes on variability of chemical and physical characteristics of the products. The mining simulation was made on a conditionally simulated orebody. On a range of criteria, the simulation was considered to fulfil the objectives set and was a valuable aid to analysis of product grade variability, operating and capital costs, selection of equipment, mine scheduling and setting of product grade targets.

Jan 1, 1994

By Smith PE

The main components of face design are the power loader, face conveyor and powered support system and the interaction of these components determines the effectiveness of strata control. A major influence upon the interrelationship of this equipment is the geological environment, of which seam thickness appears to play an important role. Recent thick seam experience indicates a significantly different characteristic behaviour pattern from that observed in thin seams The structural integrity of the face wall is particularly influenced by seam discontinuities such as natural joint planes and mining-induced fractures in the yield zone ahead of the faceline. In addition, the presence of stone bands or dirt partings in the seam offers interfaces for uncontrolled release of blocky material. Some case study experience at British collieries provides a comparison with performance data at a specific location, that highlights the importance of coal face layout and design.

Jan 1, 1986

By Jones KW, McClelland RA, Denholm WT, Taylor RN, OÆShea J

Associated Tin Smelters, Sydney, are developing tin smelting operations in a prototype commercial SIROSMELT plant comprising two furnaces of 5 to 8 tonnes capacity. Features of the plant and its operation are discussed and results of its application to tin slag reduction and high-grade tin concentrate smelting are presented. Development work is still in progress but experience indicates that the technology has potential for lowering the costs of tin smelting and relieving constraints on grade and iron content of concentrate imposed by conventional technology.

Jan 1, 1984

The selection of an appropriate mining method should take into account the geometry of the deposit and its physical properties. Other factors which assist in the determination are the requirements for flexibility in the mining process, minimisation of risk factors and maximising the financial return. Several established mining methods exist which can encompass the requirements to deliver the optimum mining method, this can be in both an underground or open cut environment. The objective is to outline these methods and where they can be applied in a mining project.

Jan 1, 1997

By Jones IO

Although small units have been in use formany years, particularly in opal mining at shallow depths, there has been little effort in the past to explore the potential of the vacuum lift system in other more demanding applications. Recent developments in Western Australia by a small number of mining companies, contractors and manufacturers have seen the design and construction of several larger, more powerful units for use in winzing, shaft sinking, hoisting and spillage removal. Some of these units have proved very successful and suggest that they could be developed for a wider range of applications and duties in future.

Jan 1, 1984

The late 1960's and 1970's saw the initial development of the coal resources of the Bowen Basin of Queensland. The projects developed relied on large scale, open-cut operations using draglines for overburden removal and, in the majority of cases, project viability could be established based solely on those open-cut operations. Many of the mines developed in the 1980's have the same characteristics.Unlike these mines, the German Creek Mine has limited open-cut reserves at low overburden to coal ratios, and planning of the complex involved a large open-cut mine capable of developing early cash flow, with phased introduction of underground mining to replace open-cut capacity as the strip ratio increased.

Jan 1, 1985

The Newmont Waihi Operations are centred on the Martha mine at Waihi, New Zealand. The mine has produced over 6.6 million ounces of gold from both openpit and underground sources since operations began in 1878. The current open pit operations commenced in 1988 and in the year to 30 June 2002 produced 129,790 ounces of gold at a cash cost of USD122 per ounce. This paper provides an overview of current operations and future directions.

Jan 1, 2002

The relative contents of Au in a series of groundwaters from water bores and exploration drillholes, located near Au mineralisation at Stawell, Ararat, Clunes and Ballarat in central Victoria, were found to be clear indicators of relative proximity to mineralisation in each region. In the same series, waters with anomalous concentrations of As distinguished Au mineralisation in bedrock from secondary palaeochannel or deep lead Au. In some groundwaters, acid pH values, high sulphate relative to other anions and detectable concentrations of reduced Fe reflected sulphide minerals associated with bedrock Au deposits. Close to some ore zones, locally anomalous groundwater concentrations of Mn reflected the Fe carbonates that accompany Au in these zones. In addition, elevated concentrations of other elements provided geochemical signatures for the aquifer lithologies associated with Au mineralisation. Of the lithological indicators Co and Ni, U and F, Rb and Cs, Mo and Li respectively reflected the mafic, felsic, potassic rich and quartz zones, principally in the Stawell mine area and to a lesser extent those at Clunes and Ballarat. Mineral stability diagrams, based on groundwater activities of K', Mgt and H`, demonstrated that a series of ore-zone groundwaters follow a trend that conforms with a biotite to sericite to kaolinite alteration sequence in aquifer mineralogy. This is a good illustration of how present day groundwaters under surface conditions can reflect the underlying mineral sequences that accompany these Au deposits. These observations around mine areas suggested that groundwater chemistry could provide a rapid and cost effective method of assessing prospectivity for An of extensive areas in central Victoria. To test this, regional sampling and analysis of 355 bore waters was carried out in a region where potential An bearing rocks are covered by Mesozoic and Cainozoic sediments and volcanics. Contoured elemental abundances and distribution from this program indicated five zones in which groundwaters had elevated Au and despite the cover, appeared to reflect variations in the underlying Palaeozoic rocks. Three of the Au zones could be in terrain affected by extensions or intersections of faults, a feature in common with the established Au deposits in central Victoria. Reflections of concealed Palaeozoic rocks included a possible zone of concealed Cambrian greenstones that coincides with three of the Au zones. It was concluded that each of the An zones represents a groundwater Au focus that warrants follow-up exploration.

Jan 1, 1997