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After four or so long years at university, where life revolves around lectures, assignments, and drinking coffee strong enough to keep you awake for five nights in a row to finish your thesis, preparing yourself for employment is not an ea

Jan 1, 1994

This paper attempts to put into perspective the implications of the legal disclosure requirements for promoters and consultants when making statements concerning ore resources and reserves. The need to take account of non-technical as well as technical factors is highlighted.

Jan 1, 1987

`WELL HE WOULD, WOULDN'T HE?' Public Relations people have something in common with advertising people and politicians: there exists a perception that their whole Raison d'Etre is to create, mould, and maintain images which are far removed from reality

Jan 1, 1994

Education and Training for the minerals industry has been identified as one of the key priorities by the AusIMM and many closely related groups. The AusIMM Education Taskforce has been engaged, through a visioning exercise, in evaluating what minerals education and training should look like by 2025. A common recurring theme is that for minerals education and training to be efficient and effective into the future, it needs to be comprehensive and inclusive. Some previous attempts to achieve efficiency and effectiveness have had limited success, mainly due to approaching the issues involved from a narrow, singular perspective. This paper outlines that the achievement of the desired outcome may require an approach that parallels the same techniques that are used for multi-dimensional mine planning, treating tertiary minerals education and training in a similar way to the planning involved for a complex orebody. Just as efficient and effective mine planning requires engagement and understanding of many factors, so too does engagement with tertiary minerals education and training. The major factors that need to be considered are outlined in the paper, including: levels of tertiary education and training; Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), Levels 1 to 13: systems of minerals education and training, such as higher education, (mainly universities), industry/professional associations and licencing requirements, vocational education, (mainly TAFE) and workplace programs; types of minerals or mining methods involved; volume of delivery; stage in the flow sheet, (geology, mining, beneficiation, extraction, refining). For comprehensive mine planning there is the need to develop links or roadways and openings between different levels of a mine. Similarly, to achieve a comprehensive tertiary minerals education and training model, there is a need to develop pathways, recognition and credit transfer between the various levels and components of minerals tertiary education and training.

Jan 1, 2005

By V Narayanaswamy

SustainabilityÆs imperative of economic development in tandem with social advancement and environmental protection is widely accepted, but much debate remains about the practical implications for the minerals processing technologies and practices for the future. Experience in other industry sectors however suggests that sustainability can be a value-adding framework for innovation in processing technologies, business models and management systems. This position paper explores how sustainability can drive innovation in minerals processing, by reviewing pertinent ideas and experiences gained in non-minerals sectors. Sustainable innovations can generally be broadly ranked from incremental to transformative, with each category having its own typical improvement potential, timescale and technological and operational challenges. This leads to a æmud mapÆ for sustainable innovation in minerals processing with three distinct tracks: eco-efficient operations; sustainable plant design and sustainable processing. Competing models for the sustainable innovation process through either forecasting or back-casting, have in common the strong reliance on vision, perspective and competency, which in turn highlights the importance of sustainability frameworks. Such sustainability frameworks provide normative goals and option elicitation prompts to assist with the analysis of current processes and scoping of more sustainable alternatives. A comparative analysis of five prominent environmental sustainability frameworks revealed three cross cutting sustainability themes that challenge current resource processing technologies and practices. These are: fate of materials (zero dissipation of materials); compatibility of materials and processes; and materials intensity of industrial products and processes. Although the sustainability concepts presented in this paper have not been extensively road tested in the minerals processing industry, there is ample evidence that recent initiatives in the Australian resource sector illustrate the applicability of the proposed framework. It is therefore argued that more in-depth assessment of sustainable innovation concepts would be a valuable contribution to the sustainable resource processing theory and practice.

Jan 1, 2004

By I Haine, J Penm, T Waring

During 1999 there was a considerable turnaround in world prices for most minerals and energy commodities, except for the bulk commodities (coal and iron ore). The main reasons for this turnaround were: improved prospects in demand for most minerals and energy commodities in the Asian region following a return to both economic and industrial production growth in key economies in that region; continued moderate growth in demand in Europe and North America; substantial production cutbacks in a range of minerals and energy industries; effective reductions in the supply of oil by OPEC nations; and an announcement by European central banks that they would cap the amount of gold they sell and loan in the next five years. Most of these influences are expected to be sustained into the first years of the new millennium. In 2000, with exception of coal, average world prices of minerals and metals are forecast to rise significantly. Gross domestic product and industrial production is expected to grow in some European countries and most Asian countries in 2000 and, with moderate growth expected to be sustained in the United States, demand for minerals and energy is expected to increase. AustraliaÆs main bulk commodities, iron ore and coal, saw prices set for 1999 - 2000 at substantially lower levels in negotiations in early-1999. Double digit price cuts were locked in. However, similar falls appear to have been avoided for coal in Japanese Fiscal Year 2001, while increases of between four and six per cent were achieved for iron ore. Forecast modest recovery in economic growth in Japan and increasing demand elsewhere in Asia are expected to lead to tighter market conditions in 2000. Beyond 2000, world minerals and energy markets will be influenced by the expected robust global supply responses of minerals and energy companies, against a background of sustained economic growth and industrial production growth in major consuming countries. Over the medium-term, a return to declining real prices which have been evident for most commodities in the recent past, is expected as exploration, mining and processing technological change and associated productivity growth continues to reduce industry costs. While lower rates of exploration and mining investment in Australia between 1998 and 2000 will modestly constrain the rate of future industry expansion, Australia remains an important contributor to expected growth in global minerals supply over the medium-term. Australian mine production is forecast to grow between 1999 - 2000 and 2004 - 05, boosted by production from recently commissioned mines and minerals processing facilities and comissioning of other projects at advanced stages of planning.

Jan 1, 2000

By S J. Schafrik, M Long

There are several factors that are increasing the need for new graduates to be ready to design and manage more autonomous operations at mines. Autonomous controls and systems range from the start-up, control, and shutdown of processing plants to the autonomous operation of vehicles. These operations require the workers, engineers, and management to have additional skills for programming, debugging, tasking, and maintaining the equipment. The future survivability of many mining operations will be influenced by a company’s willingness and ability to understand, accept, and utilise this technology for safe and productive operations. This is an educational opportunity and challenge that needs to be addressed throughout the student’s experience, from first year to graduate level. This paper discusses the lessons learned from a decade of multidepartment effort at all student levels and many courses that are able to incorporate data science, controls, and autonomous design into the already topic-rich national curriculum. This approach also exposes other engineering disciplines to the mining industry which is a valuable recruiting tool for talent outside of the mining engineering departments.

Sep 1, 2024

By D McInnes

Rather than look at the problems associated with sampling, this paper deals with the issue of sampling and blending to optimise revenue û predominantly in the mining industry. An example of the use of this methodology in the agriculture industry is also presented. Mining companies, in particular, are experiencing a boom in commodity prices and many believe the industry is in the middle of a æsuper cycleÆ. Production levels are being escalated dramatically to meet the demand coming from China and India. This in turn has further stretched the capacity of our rail and port infrastructure û resulting in significant shipping queues around most Australian commercial ports and increased demurrage costs for the producers. Mining companies are now looking for effective scheduling, planning and blending to maximise production and reduce demurrage charges û given the current infrastructure constraints. Mining companies can no longer use spreadsheets to run their business. This paper further looks at how these outcomes can be met by optimised blending using an integrated supply chain management system such as MineTrak together with effective sampling and analysis.

Jan 1, 2005

By N Bennett

This paper examines the practical and economic benefits of using bulk emulsion explosives in underground development mining; compared to ANFO, ANFO derivatives and packaged explosives. The key economic benefit of bulk emulsion is the replacement of relatively high cost packaged explosives with a bulk product. Key practical benefits include water resistance, improved coupling of explosive, reduced toxic gas production, increased shock energy and improved manual handling through the use of bulk products. Each of the benefits is proven using a variety of measurements and field results in order to quantify them. Where possible, dollar values are determined so that the benefits can be shown to translate into savings for the mine operator. The results show that, despite the difference in price between ANFO and bulk emulsions, bulk emulsions are most capable of delivering the lowest total cost of blasting. The savings potential of the introduction of bulk emulsion systems can result in an improvement in drill and blast costs for a mine operator, or a significant increase in profit margin for a contract mining company.

Jan 1, 2007

The mining industry represents a small part of the international economy. Comprising few large companies, the industry exhibits volatile returns and over the past 25 years has failed to produce a long-term return that meets its cost of capital. It is not surprising, therefore, that the minerals extraction and processing industry is under considerable pressure from the investment community to lift its game. Management and boards are responding to this pressure by implementing more exacting cost control measures, capital management programs and through the process of consolidation. However, the cost of capital to the industry appears to have increased in recent years and investor attention seems to be preoccupied with the ænewÆ economy. Both of these influences will conspire to raise the bar for acceptable industry economic performance. This paper provides a useful snapshot of the minerals and extraction industry as it enters the 21st century. It remains cautious about future performance other than to conclude that single digit returns are likely to prevail, albeit at higher levels than over the past 25 years.

Jan 1, 2000

By Boyack DJ

DEFINING AN ECONOMIC TARGETExploration usually begins with the corporate goal of finding a minimum tonnage and grade of a selected mineral. Sometimes this is expressed more simply as a minimum quantity of contained metal without any indication of the desired grade or implied profitability. Such a goal is useful in the selection of exploration areas and the planning of initial drilling programs. However, it should be reviewed as soon as significant mineralisation has been identified. To make rational decisions about exploration expenditure, the potential return from a deposit must be estimated from the outset and re-esti-mated frequently.The potential return will depend on:1. The proportion of mineral which can be economically recovered from the deposit by mining (the mining recovery).2. The quantity of valuable constituent that can be recovered after dilution with waste rock during mining and losses due to incomplete metallurgical recovery.3. Expectations of price and markets.4. Capital and operating costs applying to the selected mining and processing methods, and to transportation and marketing. Increasingly, environmental costs and constraints must also be considered.

Jan 1, 1990

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 Houghton BF

Ruapehu is an extremely active andesitic composite volcano, built in at least four cone- building episodes over the last 250 ka. The volcano was constructed by a variety of extrusive and subplinian, strombolian, phreatomagmatic and dome-related explosive eruptions from summit, flank, and satellite vents. The volcano may be subdivided into the cone itself, of volume 110 km3, and a surround- ing epiclastic ring plain of similar size. Four facies associations can be recognised at Ruapehu,-two each on the cone and on the ring plain. Neither cone nor ring plain provides a complete record of the history of the volcano. The cone is dominated by the products of extrusive eruption, as primary pyroclastic deposits are seldom preserved, being rapidly removed by erosion from the steep water- saturated and/or snow-covered flanks of the cone. The ring plain consists of the products of mostly explosive activity forming an alter- nation of primary pyroclastic fall deposits and material transported from the cone by lahars, floods and debris avalanches and then rapidly reworked in sediment-choked hyperconcentrated Streams.

Jan 1, 1987

This paper sets out to discuss some of the more common forms of geological data abuse in project development. The paper illustrates various types of abuse and the reasons behind that misuse of data. This paper is only a brief introduction to a very large subject.

Jan 1, 1983

A case is made for broader commercial education of executive and operational managers in Australian mining companies. The competitive advantages and disadvantages of Australian miners are examined. Areas of opportunity are identified which could be exploited by broader applications of proven techniques to commercial management of mining companies.

Jan 1, 1985

Australia is a significant exporter of uranium for use as fuel in nuclear generating plants around the world. Although Australia does not have any nuclear power plants the Australian Atomic Energy Commission has a research program on methods for the safe disposal of wastes produced by such plants.

Jan 1, 1986

By Rosentreter N

Difficulties with froth flotation recovery and vacuum de- watering equipment for the treatment of fine coal have been investigated. Mechanical alterations to cyclone desliming banks, and flotation cells are described. A large disc filter has been replaced by two drum filters for dewatering, and the improvement in plant. operation is discussed:

Jan 1, 1978

Australia is a highly significant hub in the global minerals business. This paper will present the results of global and national studies looking at the potential 20 to 30 year future evolution of the mining and metals industry.   Globally, the World Economic Forum launched a Mining and Metals Scenarios project in January 2009 to explore the question: 'How will the environment for the global mining and metals industry look in 2030?'. As part of a structured strategic foresight process, eight workshops were held across the world over the course of a year which brought together over 200 leaders from the private sector, government, academia and non-governmental organisations. The workshops were supplemented by personal interviews and guided by an international advisory board.   Critical uncertainties for the future of the industry were identified and compare extremely well with the outcomes of a national survey of AusIMM members identifying the key issues and drivers shaping the future of their operations. Global context was one of the most significant issues identified by The AusIMM membership, which is expanded in the World Economic Forum study in terms of: geopolitics; global governance; action on climate change; and economic outlook. More specifically, this global study developed three divergent yet plausible scenarios describing potential environments for the global metals and mining industry in 2030. These scenarios are compared with ground-breaking global foresight work coordinated by the Stockholm Environment Institute in the 1990s. The scenarios will help decision makers rehearse alternative futures, anticipate potential hazards and identify business opportunities - new solutions, new markets and new connections. The presentation will present these scenarios as a way of challenging thinking, testing established wisdom, and stimulating imagination about the business case for the mine of the future. As Marcel Proust put it, 'The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes'. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY no paper was prepared for this presentation.

Jun 1, 2010

The last decade of national water reform implementation has improved the availability and efficiency of water source allocation in Western Australia. However, it is critical to recognise that the concurrent mining boom witnessed the approach of full water allocation limits, and increasing trends in mineral processing, water infrastructure costs, and wastewater management costs. Water supplies are commonly viewed as absolutely critical to project feasibility in mining, industrial and energy generation projects, even if considered 'non-core business'.   An increasing density of mining projects and industrial estates in Western Australia (WA) creates an opportunity for water infrastructure cost sharing and synergies. The WA government and its agencies have given preliminary consideration to the establishment of independent water utilities in the goldfields (Kalgoorlie), the Pilbara, and Collie regions, and in the Kwinana Industrial Area. The impending Oakajee industrial area and Mid West regional development, and Anketell port in the East Pilbara, could also be considered for common non-municipal water supplies.   The critical issue of apparent commercial risk due to the large scale of water demands and the low customer numbers in the minerals sector relative to other water markets is expected to mandate government partnership in any non-municipal water utility ownership. The commercial feasibility risk is observed as a risk to water supply security for potential mining and industrial customers. Absence of proper water infrastructure planning and governance has the potential to create infrastructure access issues as observed for Pilbara rail developments under the Trade Practices Act 1974.   Other aspects of water cycle management which could be addressed by a non-municipal utility include resumption of mine dewatering water (required changes to WA legislation that are progressing) and consolidated wastewater management for maximising synergy or reuse opportunities and minimising cumulative environmental impacts.   Address of water infrastructure planning for non-municipal water demands must cover commercial and environmental sustainability outcomes to successfully progress minerals sector growth in the State.

Jun 1, 2010

Performance driver trees or KPI trees are reasonably well-known tools for analysing performance in mining operations. However, the tools are often not user friendly. They may be technically correct but they are often clunky. This means they donÆt promote simple management decision-making and donÆt encourage businesses to make them an integrated part of optimising their operations. This paper describes a simple but effective driver tree process and tool that has been successfully implemented and used to aid decision making across a number of mining and processing operations. The important aspects of employing driver trees to assist in management of operations are to ensure that the chosen solution:includes a reporting solution, provides the bottom line impact of the performance indicators, automatically gathers the necessary data that reconciles with existing reports, and is built around a review process that fits with existing management processes. An adequate solution enables operators to identify where there are performance gaps and to quickly prioritise the urgency for addressing these issues. Two case studies are chosen to illustrate the critical success factors of implementing a performance driver tree solution. The first is a large, complex open pit operation. The driver trees, reporting and management processes were initially established for the mining and processing aspects of the operations. Once the initial solution was bedded down, a follow-up project was carried out to establish the equivalent solution for the support areas of the business. The final solution covered stand alone performance driver trees for mining, processing, engineering, maintenance, health and safety, human resources and finance. These individual driver trees were integrated into a total solution that showed how all of the identified KPIÆs impact profit and quantified the dollar impact of all variations. The reporting solution that was put in place automatically creates prioritised lists of variances for the business to address. The second case study is a performance diagnostic project where driver trees were used to assess where gaps in performance were occurring, and then to evaluate the impacts of proposed initiatives.

Jan 1, 2007