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By D E. Ralph, D-J Kim, G-J Ahn, Y-H Rhee

The amount of discarded dry batteries are presently found to be increasing globally and waste cathode active materials of the lithium ion battery industry are among them. Hydrometallurgical operations are being applied to recover the valuable metals from these waste batteries. To find an economic and environmentally friendly process, the bioleaching process was applied in the present investigation for recovery of valuable metals. Its principle is the microbial production of sulfuric acid and simultaneous leaching of metals. Bioleaching of spent lithium ion secondary batteries, containing LiCoO2, has been studied in this investigation. A new method for recovery of cobalt, potentially the basis of an economic and environmentally friendly process was examined. The present study has been carried out using chemolithotrophic and acidophilic bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, which utilises elemental sulfur and ferrous ion as the energy source to dissolve metals from spent batteries. Bio-dissolution of cobalt was found to be faster than lithium. The effect of initial Fe(II) concentration, initial pH and solid/liquid (w/v) ratio were studied in detail. Higher Fe(II) concentration showed a decrease in dissolution due to co-precipitation of Fe(III) with the metals in the residues. Similarly, at higher initial pH values and higher solid/liquid ratio (w/v) metal dissolution was found to be inhibited. The optimised conditions for bio-dissolution were solid/liquid (w/v) ratio û 10 g/L, initial Fe(II) concentration û 3 g/L, elemental sulfur û one per cent (w/v) and initial pH û 2.5. In the optimised conditions, cobalt dissolution was observed to be about 60 per cent, whereas that of lithium was ten per cent after 20 days. A first order kinetic model was derived to study the rate of dissolution of both the metals.

Jan 1, 2006

By A Jha, R Merz

The substantial growth in world demand for Queensland coking coal has seen a number of new coal mine developments in the Bowen Basin in recent times. The Bowen-Broken Water Supply Scheme (BBWSS) is presently based on water supplied from Eungella Dam and storages at Collinsville to two major pipelines. In early 2004, three successive years of well-below average rainfall had left Eungella Dam at critical levels, threatening the regionÆs mines, which rely on it for their essential water supply. SunWater noted that without significant inflows into Eungella Dam, or the development of a new water supply to the region, existing mines would be severely restricted in water supply, and downstream economic impacts to the region would follow. SunWater investigated the opportunities for additional supply capabilities, including combinations of off-stream storages, additional pipelines, and raising Eungella Dam. An off-stream storage (OSS) was selected as being the preferred option to improve the reliability of the system and head off impending falls in announced allocation for the system. The integrated quantity quality model (IQQM) is the Queensland GovernmentÆs preferred model to define and assess total catchment performance against water security and environmental objectives. Modelling of the performance of the water supply system, with and without the proposed OSS, was required to provide justification to the customers of the system that the OSS was in fact required, and also to optimise the configuration of the OSS within time and budgetary constraints. In the case of the BBWSS, no environmental base flows are dictated by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water (NRM&W) at present and the primary reason for applying IQQM was therefore to investigate the trade-offs between supply options and reliability. SunWater produced IQQM outputs for a range of scenarios for the proposed off-stream storage, and these IQQM outputs were then used as input to a decision-support tool based on the GoldSim modelling package. The GoldSim model was then applied to investigate the water supply reliability for high priority users resulting from various existing and/or proposed water supply infrastructure configurations coupled to the hydrologic system. The GoldSim model included the ability to assess the long-term water supply reliability impacts for each of the water supply end-users for a wide range of user-defined scenarios. Non-technical model users were able to change the size of the off-stream storage, pipeline capacities and assumed climatic conditions and test for themselves the relative benefits (in terms of water supply reliability) of different infrastructure configurations under consideration. The decision tool was of significant benefit in assisting the decision process to SunWaterÆs mining customers. These customers needed to decide if they felt that the increased reliability in their water supplies from the system that would be created warranted the estimated increased charges that would require to be levied to recover costs of the new infrastructure with appropriate profit margins. The conjunctive use of IQQM and GoldSim was successful in demonstrating the impact of both hydrological and non-hydrological issues on the future water supply reliability in the BBWSS and resulted in a decision to proceed with the construction of a new OSS.

Jan 1, 2006

By Sroka J

A comprehensive feasibility study should be submitted as part of the loan application to a financial institution for debt funding of a proposed project. Its scope should include technical, costing, marketing and other aspects pertinent to the project. The technical presentation should be sufficiently detailed to show that the assumpt- ions concerning future performance are realistic. A lender needs to be convinced that the capital and operating cost estimates are conservatively based with adequate allowances included for contingency and escalation. The marketing assumptions determine the level of revenue from which operating cost, debt servicing, and other commitments are to be met. The foregoing aspects establish the economic viability of the project, and are therefore relevant to the risk assessment and cash flow analysis carried out by a potential lender which determine his ultimate lending Decision

Jan 1, 1978

By R Puglisi, G McPhail, B D. Jilbert

The increased international focus on sustainable development and cost improvement, coupled with the unpredictability and adverse impact of droughts in Australia and globally, has highlighted the critical need for responsible management of water within the minerals industry. The Rio Tinto Technology Group recently initiated a priority program to examine how water management practices could be improved within the GroupÆs spheres of activity. Rio Tinto Technical Services (TS), the technical services consulting group of the Technology Group, has for many years been undertaking water management reviews and assisting group operations with the development of responsible water management strategies and plans. Rio Tinto therefore requested that Rio Tinto Technical Services develop a world-class approach to mine water management that will drive improvement in strategic assurance and operational efficiency of water at the companyÆs managed operations across the world. The initiative, known as æExcellence in Water ManagementÆ, includes the selection and use of state-of-the-art management, technical tools and methodologies to strive for best practice. The Rio Tinto Technical Services approach facilitates a consistent and objective assessment of performance across the entire spectrum of complex water management issues within a mining operation, from initial exploration through to decommissioning and close-out of the operation. Based on this rigorous assessment, detailed action plans can be developed, prioritised and scheduled for subsequent implementation. This paper presents the progress and experience gained to date in the æExcellence in Water ManagementÆ program, demonstrated by means of a pilot study conducted at Northparkes Mines in New South Wales.

Jan 1, 2003

This paper examines the reform of mining legislation over recent years, the establishment of new Crown land management agencies, and the role of the Crown and environmental groups in nature conservation in New Zealand. It describes the relationship of the minerals industry to the Department of Conservation and environmental groups over recent years, and the prospects for mineral development on the Conservation Estate in future.

Jan 1, 1995

By D Brennan, S Jahanshahi, F Jorgensen

The recycling of metals can be very efficient with careful selection of the material being recycled. The volume and value of recycled ferrous scrap has lead to the development of steel mini-mills which in turn has caused major changes to the steel industry. Although much smaller in volume, the recycling of lead is very significant, with battery recycling accounting for 60 per cent of annual world production. This high recycle rate can be attributed to the relatively uniform feed-stock from lead-acid batteries. The recycling rates of other metals are considerably lower due to longer use and non-uniform product usage that results in less efficient segregation and processing. It is clear that recycling of metals has advantages but its sustainability is uncertain. What are the key benefits of metal recycling? Metal recycling has technical, economic and social impacts. It is relatively easy to assess recycling on a technical basis, but the social impacts are harder to evaluate. This paper examines some of the issues in evaluating the sustainability of metal recycling.

Jan 1, 2002

By S Grano, M Fordham, H Manouchehri, J Curral

This paper focuses on the impact of high pulp temperature on sphalerite flotation after the zinc regrind circuit in the Zinc Plant of Somincor, owned and operated by Lundin Mining Corporation. In the zinc circuit, the zinc rougher concentrate is reground with forged steel media before flotation with one stage of roughing and scavenging, and three stages of cleaning to obtain a zinc final concentrate (zinc grade >50 per cent). After regrinding, sphalerite flotation has been found to be seriously affected by high pulp temperature which may occur during the summer months. Mineral recoveries were found to be seriously reduced at pulp temperatures above 60¦C. At this high pulp temperature, neither elevated copper sulfate concentration nor a decreased pH alone appreciably increased Zn recovery. However, a combination of these two (eg a decrease in pH from 11.5 to 10.8, and an increase in copper sulfate dosage from 400 g/t to 800 g/t) was found to reduce Zn depression at high pulp temperature. At pulp temperatures below 45¦C, the negative influence of pulp temperature on mineral recoveries was minimal. A systematic series of flotation tests and solution/surface analyses were performed to reveal causes for poor sphalerite flotation at high pulp temperature after regrinding. The decrease in mineral recovery was shown to be associated with variations in the surface species on mineral particles in response to the increased pulp temperature. These variations in the surface species include collector desorption and superficial oxidation to form lead/zinc oxide/hydroxides on mineral particles. The influence of the type of regrinding media on sphalerite flotation at high pulp temperature was also addressed in this work.

Jan 1, 2008

By Kelly BJ, Smith GA

The recommendations of a recent American report on "Better contracting for Underground Construction" are considered in relation to Contracting practices on major Australian projects by representatives Of the "classical trilogy" - the Owner, Engineer and Contractor.

Jan 1, 1976

-in 1961,.West Australian Petroleum's Eneabba. No. 1 bore encountered twenty-two' seams of coal totalling forty feet in thickn' ss between the..'depths of 6373 feet and 64,/,1 feet. 0n'ana:lysis; this coal had a. similar calorific value (8000 - 9000 B.

Jan 1, 1964

By Rao SR, Finch JA

Sphalerite flotation without Cu activation in the presence of iron ions has been reported and studied as a function of pH, dissolved oxygen content and pulp potential with both single mineral and ore samples (Leroux, Rao and Finch, 1987; Xu et al, 1992; Zhang, Rao and Finch, 1992). The flotation was attributed to ferric hydroxy xanthate. As a prelude to surface analysis to try to identify the species responsible, bulk precipitates formed from iron salt and xanthate solutions under different conditions were obtained and analysed. Analysis techniques included ultraviolet spectroscopy,infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy. It is tentatively concluded that the bulk precipitates contain three ferric components, two hydroxy xanthates (Fe(OH)2X and Fe(OH)X2) and iron oxide (FeO.).

Jan 1, 1993

Taxation is a major factor in evaluating mining project developments. The availability or otherwise of effective tax relief for project expenditures can have a crucial bearing on the decision to proceed with a project. The special position of the mining industry is recognised within the Income Tax Assessment Act (the "Tax Act") by special legislation, namely Divisions 10, 1OAAA and 10AA. The legislation both extends the scope of items which are eligible for deduction and affects the timing of deductions. Generally, the legislation separates expenditure into 3 categories: 1. Expenditure on exploration 2. Capital expenditure on the development and the running of the mine; and 3. Facilities used in the transport of minerals. Companies evaluating a project should carefully analyse their proposed expenditures, allocating them between these categories so as to identify potentially non-deductible expenditures and to determine the period over which tax relief will be Obtained.

Jan 1, 1983

THE Taranaki oil-field is situated on the western side of the North Island of New Zealand, at about its widest part, and may be said to be the most compact and fertile part of the Dominion, for, with the exception of the. upper half of Mount Egmont and of the ranges adjoining, which absorb 36,000 acres, the whole of the area, miuus what is taken up by the rivers land streams-is suitable for settlement, and certainly two-thirds is good land. The gross area oE the district is 2,417,299 acres.The principle rivers are the Wanganui, Mokau, Waitara, Patea, and Waiwakaiho. Mount Egmont, which is 8260 ft. high, used to be called Taranaki, and from it the district takes its name (the Maori meaning of which is "sloping peak ").

Jan 1, 1911

By the 1990's Australia could be the largest coal exporter in the world and one of the few industrialised countries potentially able to supply the shortfall in its domestic oil requirements by utilizing its oil shale and coal resources to manufacture synthetic oil. The major challenge to both industry and government in implementing the new role for Australia will be to ensure that their actions and policies enable the timely mobilization of resources needed to meet the potential demand for energy, both domestic and overseas. Australia's potential for coal production and exports and for the production of oil from shale and coal are discussed and the potential constraints to development Examined.

Jan 1, 1981

By Chisholm J. M

Why go to the CIS? The vast mineral potential of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has long been recognised, but it has taken the lowering of the iron curtain to open up the region to serious mineral development consideration by the Western World. The advent of a free market economy and the emergence of the Independent States with pressing needs for foreign investment has led to a greatly improved investment climate. Coupled with the desire for some of the more entrepreneurial resources companies to head the wave of investment to the region, this sequence of events has promised a great deal, but delivered only modest progress to-date. Potential gold project development has provided the major focus, for three reasons: the region is highly prospective for gold, gold projects tend to have a relatively lower start-up capital cost compared to base metal and fossil fuel projects and finally bullion or refined gold is more readily transportable and easier to sell.

Jan 1, 1996

Drilling has disclosed a sequence of Cainozoic sediments immediately to the west of the Ediacara mineral field containing little or no dolomitic debris in the lower and middle sections, but with gravel beds of dolomite derived from local rocks in the upper part. It is suggested that the lower and middle sequence of Cainozoic strata was deposited over the area of the Ediacara Range, and that this range was uplifted, probably as a horst block, during Quaternary times and was first exposed to subaerial erosion during the upper Pleistocene epoch.Lower Cambrian dolomites with associated stratiform lead mineralization, which formed the target of drilling on the western downthrown block of the Ediacara Fault, were eroded before deposition of Cainozoic sediments.Intense leaching of basal Cambrian dolomites around the periphery of the Ediacara Basin took place during Mesozoic and Tertiary times. This leaching process has resulted in enrichment of copper and lead mineralization in a thick marginal zone of residual clayey material overlain by dolomitic collapse breccia. These zones of leaching and enrichment were preserved under Cainozoic sediments which have subsequently been eroded. The Ediacara Fault appears to have been a major conduit for mineralizing fluids and is the main lineament of the Torrens Hinge Zone. Contemporaneous movements on this fault have controlled rates of depositionand thickness of sediments across the fault during Adelaidean and Cainozoic times. Though latest movements of this fault have been west block down, the predominant movement has been east block down with associated thickening of sediments to the east in the Adelaide Geosync1ine.

Jan 1, 1972

By J L. Kanau

In this study some drawbacks of using Bond grindability as a measure of grindability characteristics for mill control have been discussed. After reviewing the merits of alternative methods of determining the Bond grindability published in the literature, a new alternative method has been proposed.

Jan 1, 2000

By Gottlieb P, Sutherland D, Jackson R

The QEM'SEM system for automated image analysis of mineral samples is described. Details of the equipment are given together with information on the methods of measurement. Finally some practical applications are described where QEM*SEM has been used for the solution of metallurgical Problems.

Jan 1, 1989

The general characteristics of bauxite deposits in Temporary Reserves held by Bauxite Exploration Pty. Ltd., Western Australia are briefly reviewed. The deposits (slide) are 'near the eastern limit of the bauxite laterite cap which masks the basement rocks of the Darling Range.

Jan 1, 1964

I.T.H. Drilling has been accepted as a tool used daily for both production and service work in Australian underground mines. For this reason, it is of interest to examine the rigs and drilling equipment in use to do this work, also to review the technique necessary to ensure that this drilling is done efficiently.

Jan 1, 1978

Contractors are used extensively in the development of underground mines in Australia. Often problems arise, some originating as far back as the feasibility stage of projects, through inexperience, lack of preparation and inflexibility by both parties.Guidelines are put forward for both principals and contractors which are seen as necessary to ensure that disputation is avoided and the full benefits of the use of contractors are obtained.

Jan 1, 1985