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In the wake of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, evolved AGENDA 21. This document which was adopted at the Conference, provides a global action guideline for sustainable development into the 21st century.Sustainable mining requires a complete understanding of the `mineral cycle', including government legislation, mineral exploration, mining operations, rehabilitation, product use, re-cycling and waste disposal that takes into consideration associated social and environmental considerations and achieves economic objectives.

Jan 1, 1993

By Middlebrook PD

The problems of education and research in the extractive metallurgy area are being tackled by the University of Melbourne through activities centring on the Department of Chemical Engineering. The establishment of the G.K. Williams Laboratory and the enhance- ment of the teaching of material relevant to extractive metallurgy in the Chemical Engineering course aim-at providing graduates and experienced researchers for the industry and at providing a strong research group carrying out industrially significant research in the area of pyrometallurgy.

Jan 1, 1986

By Harris HR

This paper documents the selection, installation and performance of six, seventeen cubic metre, Dorr-Oliver flotation cells for primary zinc flotation at the North Mine in Broken Hill. The cells were installed to replace fifty, small cells, and despite initial design problems, have per- formed satisfactorily.

Jan 1, 1988

People in the work environment (and often elsewhere) are seen as a commodity (we use them for our purposes).The general accepted view of a Company is that shareholders are "The Company" and that they employ people to utilise their money in a particular field to generate more money to give a return on investment. To achieve this, capital equipment is purchased to fulfil a task and people are employed to use this equipment. Equipment and people are commodities purchased with money.The focus of this approach is MONEY. The equipment and people, and the use of them, determines the amount of money that can be generated. In this approach people are motivated by financial concerns. The harder the times the more money becomes the focus.

Jan 1, 1998

Modern off-highway trucks have evolved over 30 years from small 20 ton units to vehic- les with capacities of up to 170 tons. Diesel engines are used by all manufacturers while transmissions are either mechanical or electri- cal. Development over the years has kept pace with component availability from engine, trans- mission and tyre manufacturers.Computer simula- tion studies are recognised for purposes of vehicle evaluation and costing under various op- erating conditions. Several manufacturers are currently manufacturing or evaluating vehicles with capacities of up to 260 tons. This paper describes the essential facts associated with the operation of off-highway trucks of the rear dump type in the mining industry.

Jan 1, 1973

The Plant Control and Data Logging System for the Loy Yang Open Cut (LYOC) is part of a control and communications network designed to provide a high level of surveillance of open cut plant and facilitate the efficient co- ordination of operations and plant maintenance. The computer system selected utilises a central dual mini-computer and multiple microcomputer data transmission network ,linked to the plant controllers using distributed, microcomputer based remote data collectors or outstations. Several aspects of the computer system are outlined.

Jan 1, 1982

The excavator selection process is quite complex due to the large number of influencing factors, many of these are variable and difficult to accurately define. The majority of mining companies prepare a tender of general specifications and suppliers will then match a product to those specifications. The mining company will then evaluate the tenders on the basis of the best available deal. In this paper, the importance of open pit excavator selection in terms of its impact on operating costs is analysed and discussed. A rigorous process for selection is then outlined.

Jan 1, 2003

By Morgans DJ

The aim of this paper is to highlight the social aspects involved in the preparation of environmental impact studies (E.I.S.'s) for mining developments. In particular, the paper will reveal that the social information provided in such E.I.S.'s can achieve much more than simply satisfying government requirements. Such information can form the basis of a strategy to deal with the settlement of a mine workforce in either an existing or newly developed community. A strategy of this type can go a long way towards avoiding many of the social problems and related industrial disputes often created in such circumstances. It will also be of significant benefit to the mining company in negotiating its infrastructure package with the local authority.

Jan 1, 1987

The competitiveness and future growth of the Australian mineral resources industry face a number of challenges. The paper addresses key factors likely to influence the attainment of high performance and continuous improvement including organisational leadership, management/employee relations, technology, safety, health and the environment. Business practices such as benchmarking, Total Quality Management and re-engineering to achieve process and performance improvements are commented on. Future success for the industry will largely hinge on global business skills, a sustained focus on Quality principles and achieving performance through people.

Jan 1, 1997

Staff turnover percentages on projects in the minerals sector are at levels that would not be accepted in business less than five years ago. While this is being driven in part by the shortage in skills to service the industry there are underlying factors, beyond the increases in remuneration, adding to the turnover. Having identified the five major reasons why people do not stay, this paper confirms that leaders and the various styles are common to all companies. The paper comments briefly on these major reasons and suggests the problem is firmly with management. It also offers possible remedies to reduce the attrition and therefore improve the opportunities for a quality project evaluation.

Jan 1, 2009

By Blom W. M

Shareholders, creditors, government agencies and auditors all have a different perspective of financial reports which is determined by the uses to which they put the information disclosed in the report.Shareholders today are better informed than previously and are more aware of the market in which they are investing. This is the result of the increasing role of institutional investors and the increasing reliance being placed on analysts to interpret financial information.

Jan 1, 1990

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

Your Worship the Mayor, Ron McCullough; the Honourable Tony McGrady M.L.A., Minister for Minerals & Energy; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.It's both a pleasure and a privilege to have been invited by the North West Queensland branch of the AusIMM to speak at a forum in Mount Isa to discuss the potential, and more importantly, the development of the great North West. I spent 25 years of my life proudly living and working in this part of the world, marvelling at its riches, exploring its potential, assisting in its development and responding to its challenges.As President of the North West Queensland branch of the AusIMM in the early 1970's I can clearly recall helping to organize a major symposium extolling the geological potential of the region, revealing the extensions of the Mount Isa copper orebody at depth and describing the potential of the then untapped Hilton Mine. Our optimism in the North West so obviously reflected two decades ago remains today.

Jan 1, 1993

The word `environment' may have many different meanings but, for the purposes of this paper, I have assumed the definition included in the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (Western Australia). This Act defines `environment' as `... living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings, and interactions between all of these'. The Act further defines the `social surroundings of man' as `... his aesthetic, cultural, economic and social surroundings to the extent that those surroundings directly affect or are affected by his physical or biological surroundings'. This gives a very broad meaning to the idea of environment and environmental issues, and it is therefore understandable that the influence that environmental issues have on mining activity can vary so much from state to state, and even within states, and why the degree of influence can change so much with time.

Jan 1, 1990

By P C. Pistorius

Previous mineralogical investigation of all effluent flotation streams of Mimosa mine (Zimbabwe) indicated that appreciable amounts of liberated platinum-group minerals (PGMs) of the Pt-Pd-Bi-Te class are not recovered û despite electrochemical measurements showing interaction between xanthate and such minerals. In this work, the flotation recovery of synthetically prepared Pd-Bi-Te was compared with that of chalcopyrite (a typical fast-floating mineral) and pyrrhotite (a typical slow-floating mineral), with microflotation tests. These indicated Pd-Bi-Te to be a fast-floater with flotation rates exceeding that of chalcopyrite. Predicted flotation rate constants (from the Ralston model) were significantly lower for small particles (with diameters similar to those lost to the effluent streams) compared with those of particle with intermediate sizes. This supports the suggestion that losses to effluent streams are caused by particle size effects.

Jan 1, 2005

Aberfoyle sought to reduce Hellyer project development risk to a greater degree than usual. Consequently the ore reserves estimate and feasibility study were particularly comprehensive. A detailed ore reserve study was completed based on extensive drill core and underground sampling, large scale pilot plant work and a detailed feasibility study. Leading external consultants were used for advice on commercial matters which impact on ore reserves and to audit major technical conclusions, including the results from pilot plant work and the ore reserve estimate. Other project risks were diminished by negotiating a State agreement covering security of title, royalty formula and environmental management procedures, by obtaining sales contracts, and by analysing Hellyer's position on an industry cost curve. The task of financing the project was much simplified by the extent and quality of information available from the ore reserves estimate and feasibility study report.

Jan 1, 1990

By M S. Gallagher

In todayÆs high tech world, systems are getting bigger, faster, better. To remain at the leading edge, in any business, depends on accuratebut flexible design thereby allowing operational managers to providealternatives to improve their operations. The ultimate goal is to deliver to plan, with optimum economics. Mining is no different; with falling prices and escalating costs,improved margins become the focal objective. There are many ways toachieve this, ranging from operational efficiency improvements through production scenarios to planning initiatives. Of all, planning usually receives the least attention, yet it is the area of most influence on the Net Present Value (NPV) of the reserve. With computer technology, numerous concepts and iterations are possible thereby closing the gap between optimal and actual design. This paper discusses the application of the split shell design at the De Beers Venetia open pit in South Africa.

Jan 1, 2001

By T Galvin

Drilling and blasting at Westside Mine near Wallsend, NSW, has presented a challenge for Orica Explosives, Australia. The colliery produces 600 000 tonnes of steaming coal per year from two seams using surface mining techniques. Tapping into underlying coal will greatly improve the yield, but there are many issues which make this an enormous challenge. Hunter Valley Earthmoving engaged Orica Explosives to supply the explosives products and to provide much of the blasting expertise that is needed on the minesite. Hunter Valley Earthmoving and Orica Explosives have proven to be an outstanding, unified technical team on this project. The success of the team is based on good communication, progressive attitudes, extensive expertise in blast design and most importantly, care and accuracy in implementing the agreed upon designs.

Jan 1, 1999

By E G. Thomas

"This paper details the many improvements possible in narrow vein mining from the use of treated mining/milling waste as mine fill. Such fill can be: treated mill tailing, cemented or uncemented; development muck, treated or untreated, cemented or uncemented; andsome combination of these materials, or surface sands/gravels. Treatments involved may be both physical (optimisation of particle size gradings) and chemical (neutralision of potentially harmful milling chemicals).Potential benefits include a reduction in: back stress; vein closure; alternate ground support requirements; mining dilution; potential for surface subsidence; and extent of surface disposal of mining/milling waste, resulting in reduced environmental impact. Considering the usually small production tonnages involved, preparation and placement of a highly applicable fill material can be economically accommodated.Emphasis is placed on steeply dipping orebodies being mined overhand, although practice in the much less steeply dipping RSA gold/platinum-type orebody is also considered.CITATION:Thomas, E G, 2012. Mine fill in thin vein mining, in Proceedings Narrow Vein Mining 2012 , pp 215-218 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 26, 2012

By F Jiao, J Wang

By the year 2000, China was the sixth largest gold producer in the world, with about one-quarter of total production being derived from refractory or semi-refractory deposits. Although bacterial oxidation plants had been previously tried in China using local technology, these plants had not been commercially successful. The Laizhou Gold Enterprise (Tarzan BioGold Co Ltd) located in Shandong Province, undertook to modernise their gold processing facility in 2000 with the introduction of Bacterial Oxidation (BACOX) Technology. In 1997 BacTech Australia and Mintek of South Africa had formed a technology partnership, combining forces in the provision of bioleach technology. Under a cooperation agreement, BacTech/Mintek were chosen as the preferred technology providers for this first application of commercially proven bacterial oxidation technology within China. The paper describes the successful operation of this plant over the last three years. The events of project implementation are described, from the metallurgical testing of concentrate; through to the commissioning at the design throughput of 100 tonnes per day resulting in 80 000 ounces (2.5 tonnes) per year of refined gold. Process aspects of the operation encountered over the last three years are discussed which illustrate the robustness of the operation. The success of the bioleach facility has led to an advancement of plans to double plant capacity and some of the innovations, which may be employed in this expansion phase, are discussed.

Jan 1, 2004