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By Ellson I. G

Advantage has been taken of the need to build the new mining town of Shay Gap to incorporate a new standard of living in an isolated area, which suffers from climatic extremes. The various problems associated with living in the Pilbara area of Western Australia are outlined, together with their effect on the design of Shay Gap.

Jan 1, 1973

By Cusack BL

The addition of cement to underground backfill at The Zinc Corporation, Limited and New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited, Broken Hill commenced in 1967. This resulted in a deterioration in metallurgical performance with increased loss of lead and zinc to residues at each concentrator. Investigations to determine the cause of the problem and methods to counteract it have been undertaken. This paper outlines the effects of cement on lead-zinc beneficiation at Broken Hill and presents an interim report on attempts to overcome the metallurgical Deterioration.

Jan 1, 1970

Underground mines in Australia and worldwide are extending to greater depths. The effect of depth brings a number of challenges to mining engineers including geotechnical, ventilation, haulage and selection of mining method. The main effects of depth from a ventilation perspective are increased heat and humidity leading to reductions in productivity, occupational safety and health issues and the potential for fatalities. Numerous approaches have been undertaken over the years to mitigate against these effects. In this paper a review of various approaches to improving climatic conditions at a number of mine sites worldwide is undertaken. From these case studies it is argued that for mines at depth with the potential for a climate problem perhaps an alternative design philosophy to the established design philosophy should be utilised. In conclusion, the paper proposes some simple rules of thumb for use in mines with climate problems or the potential for climate problems.

Jan 1, 2008

By Ciminelli VST

Thiourea leaching has been applied to a refractory gold concentrate previously treated by bacterial oxidation. Following the bio-oxidation, gold has been leached in acidic thiourea solutions, under different pH(1 - 2.4), thiourea concentrations (2 - 15 g/1), ferric ion concentrations (0.04 - 3 g/1) and temperatures (298 - 333 K). Through this procedure, it was possible to increase gold extraction from 40 to 77 per cent. The increase in temperature raised gold extraction and reduced reagent consumption. Sodium sulphite addition was also very effective in lowering thiourea consumption. Staged leaching operations with interstage acid washing and carbon-in-leach experiments were tested, in an attempt to increase gold extraction. The results of thiourea leaching were compared with those obtained with cyanidation.

Jan 1, 1993

The following is a discussion of a new approach to safety when developing or applying a new mining technology. In the form of an engineering process, the following approach had its inception in the military and aviation industries and is also very strongly evident in the chemical industry.The process has been developed and applied in the mining industry by the author. It is called 'Incremental Development and Management of New Technology'.The process is a composite of carefully selected System Safety Management, System Engineering and Financial techniques and methods. It consists of modules which can be modified to suit the requirements of a specific project. Modules provide an organised framework of activities to facilitate a gradual acquisition of pertinent knowledge and information and to enable progressive evaluation or verification of produced outcomes against specified requirements.

Jan 1, 1992

By Zhang P, Wang T, Duan X, Sheng T, Kong L, Wang Y

This paper puts forward an artificial neural network (ANN) for the forecast of deformation of the surrounding rock deformation. On the basis of this, this paper gives some examples of its application. The results show that the ANN model has a high forecast accuracy.

Jan 1, 1995

By Jefferson CB

Adaptive optimisation is the adjustment of operating conditions to maintain optimum process performance as the feed quality varies. This strategy has the potential to be economic- ally better than the maintenance of a constant optimum performance with a blended feed. Application of the strategy is hindered by practical difficulties and economic risks. A computer simulation of leaching processes has been used to identify ore-process systems which have the greatest potential benefits from adaptive optimisation. They are systems with low value feed materials and a broad distribution of reactivities, in pro- cesses which are sensitive to the operating variable that is being manipulated (e.g. residence time). Improvements of up to 13% in throughput and 5% in the economic operating margin can be achieved. The results are sen- sitive to the precise model which is used for the process kinetics. It seems that the kinetics of the last few per cent to react are particularly relevant. A realistic situation has been identified where a synergistic inter- action occurs in blended feeds which makes adaptive optimisation disadvantageous.

Jan 1, 1984

By M A. Ward

On 23 May 1977 the Hon Mr George Gair announced an amalgamation of the present Ministry of Energy Resources, the New Zealand Electricity Department and the Mines Department. Hopefully it will prove to be the solution of many national problems in energy planning and policy making, in energy distribution and use, and energy discovery and production. The name of this new giant is the Ministry of Energy which gives a firm indication of its future direction. For those amongst us involved with mineral energy resources the establishment of this new department must be encouraging. For those amongst us who are involved in non-energy side of the mineral industry it is the very opposite. The loss of the Mines Department a year short of its centenary is a loss for the mineral industry without a doubt - but how much of a loss?

Jan 1, 1977

By P H. Warton

It is proposed to construct a gold extraction plant at Matatoki, near Thanes. Ore to be processed at the mill will come from reopened and enlarged underground mines north of Thanes. The project has been described in some detail in environmental impact reports (Worley Consultants Ltd 1984, 1987), and is now at an advanced stage in terms of obtaining the required statutory approvals.

Jan 1, 1987

By K H. Esbensen

During the next five years Denmark will implement a significant reduction in the national CO2 emissions to fulfil the Kyoto Protocol. The energy sector is central for achieving this goal and extensive use of renewable energy is the most important single factor contributing to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. DenmarkÆs renewable energy sources comprise wind energy and biomass. Wood chips and straw are the dominant type of biomass in Denmark. More than 500 000 tons of wood chips are used annually, currently with rapidly growth prospects. This contribution focuses on sampling of wood chips.

Jan 1, 2005

A Master of Applied Science degree course in Mining Geomechanics commenced in 1983 at The University of New South Wales, taught by extern- al (correspondence) studies. The course is aimed at graduates employed in the mining indust- ry, and especially people involved in geomechan- ics projects on a routine basis in remote locations. This kind of course is unique in Australia and is one of only two correspondence programmes available at this University. The author designed the course and nursed it through the early years, and was Director until 1986. The paper describes the teaching and assess- ment methods and also discusses aspects of admin- istration and coordination of such a course. It is concluded that an important need of the mining industry is being catered for and it appears that similar correspondence course for- mats would also be useful in other areas of the minerals industry.

Jan 1, 1986

The Filblast Cyanidation Process incorporating intense high shear mixing, high gas mass transfer efficiency and high oxygen concentrations under conditions of elevated pressure has now been been successfully applied in gold cyanidation mills since May 1993. The first commercial unit had a slurry capacity of 110 cubic metres per hour. Since then 230 and 450 cubic metre per hour units have been installed and a 1000 cubic metre per hour unit has been designed. Laboratory and pilot plant Filblasts have also been built.The reactor is a robust, compact in-line or end-of-line device and may be constructed out of a wide range of materials including wear and corrosion resistant alloys and ceramics. The Filblast Process may be applied to high temperature leaching of refractory gold ores and base metal concentrates.

Jan 1, 1997

The Australian mining industry can expect to be working internationally competitive high quality coal mines during the twenty-first century. Cost efficient mining methods such as high productivity longwall units with heavy reliance on remote control will be standard and worked by well paid and intensively trained operators. Major changes in mine ventilation engineering can be expected in the use of computers and mine telemetry, the understanding of the mine environment and the frequency of mine disasters, the utilization of mine air contaminants for profitable purposes and the provision of a pleasant and comfortable work environment. New approaches to mine ventilation such as air recirculation will have been considered. There will be an increased need for highly trained ventilation engineers. With the present pace of technological change, quite revolutionary new approaches to mining and ventilation can be expected by the end of the twenty-first century.

Jan 1, 1988

Field investigation of surface subsidence events associated with both active and abandoned underground coal mines in the United States has established criteria that enable the prediction and classification of mine-related subsidence. The key was establishing the role of geology in all types of subsidence and the recognition of beam subsidence in specific geologic settings. The classification is based on overburden thickness, variations in stratigraphy, topography and mine plan. Types of subsidence are Pit, Room, Sag, and Beam. Pit subsidence is associated with three geologic settings: shale overburden, seasonally wet unconsolidated overburden, and perched water table in unconsolidated overburden. Room subsidence occurs where the roof across the width of the room fails to the surface and a shallow depression develops.

Jan 1, 1992

By P W. Cleary, M D. Sinnott

Cross-belt cutters are commonly used for sampling coal. They are generally cheaper than falling-stream cutters, particularly when a cutter must be retrofitted. The major mechanisms thought most likely to lead to sample bias are being investigated by discrete element modelling (DEM) in a project funded through the Australian Coal Association Research Program. This paper describes a benchmark run and the current direction of research.

Jan 1, 2008

Material sampling theory is well established in mineral process monitoring, improvement and control. It has been much enhanced by fundamental contributions due to Gy. When GyÆs sampling theory is applied to sampling inspection and monitoring, it provides estimates of average quality or extent of contamination. It also provides estimates of uncertainty, but these often ignore uncertainty in estimated variograms or other measures of variability. Risk assessment is often an implied task in sampling inspection and quality monitoring. A valid technique of risk assessment needs to take into account the uncertainty in the variational measures themselves. Standard statistical tolerance limit calculations which do take such uncertainty into account can be adapted to develop a technique for handling uncertainty in variational measures such as the variogram. Data from a published example is used to illustrate the technique.

Jan 1, 2005

By Valenti M

A by-product of the lead smelting operations at BHAS is a copper-lead matte typically containing 35% copper, 38% lead and 12% sulphur. A hydrometallurgical treatment process has been developed for the treatment of this matte to recover copper as cathode and results in a lead-sulphur residue which is recycled to the lead smelter. A commercial plant with a nominal capacity of 4000 tpa utilising this process was commissioned during 1984. This plant has been shown to be capable of producing copper cathode at rates approaching 4000 tpa over short periods of time.

Jan 1, 1989

The Key Centre for Mines consists of the School of Mines of the University of New South Wales and the Departments of Geology and Civil and Mining Engineering of Wollongong University. The Key Centre for Mines/International promotes, markets and develops overseas activities in applied geology, mining engineering, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy specifically in response to the perceived needs in the region for mineral resource and other related earth-science based development. the Key Centre for Mines/International will be involved in the overseas marketing of formal courses; special training activities such as short courses and in-house programs; technical and educational consultancy; research and development projects, and in the establishment of regional links through twinning, exchange and various network arrangements with other organisations in the region. Activities which are now being developed include a training program for Korean mining engineers and geologists, teaching and curriculum development in the Mineral Resources Engineering Faculty of the University Sains Malaysia and a staff development proposal for the Department of Geotechnology of Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Jan 1, 1990

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

Portland cement is a finely ground mineral powder obtained by intergrinding a mixture of 95 parts of clinker and five parts of gypsum. It is the generic name for hydraulic cement a man made product which hardens in the presence of water. Today's cement started formally with a patent granted in 1824 to Joseph Aspdin, a Leeds bricklayer. He called his patented cement 'Portland' because it resembled a gray brown stone quarried on the Isle of Portland off the coast of England. The first cement to be made in the southern hemisphere is accredited to Nathaniel Wilson, a pioneer farmer who with his brother John began experimenting in 1874 with the limestone on their property near Warkworth. In 1884 they produced the first Portland Cement to be made in this part of the world.

Jan 1, 1978