Search Documents

By P McCarthy

"This paper is based on 30 years of involvement in feasibility studies as a participant, study manager and the leader of a firm that provides study components and overall study management. The following topics are discussed:the purpose of feasibility studiesaligning the goals of the study team with those of the ownerthe difference between optimisation and designhow the types and levels of studies affect the organisation of the studythe relative merits of various management structures and contractual arrangementssetting scopes of work and tendering the work outthe selection of a study manager and the study management teamcommunications within the study team and externallythe project management trianglemanaging scope changes and maintaining flexibility to respond to study findingsprogress paymentsmanaging a study crisisinnovation, risk aversion and bankabilityreporting the resultsthe dangers and benefits of value engineering.CITATION:McCarthy, P, 2016. Making studies work – organisation, communication and management, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2016, pp 20–30 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 8, 2016

By T Ireland, S Eratne, W Newns, P Spies

The approach to risk management during the procurement of major projects often has a significant outcome on the ultimate delivery of a project. The NZ$1.4 B Waterview Connection project is the largest and most complex project yet undertaken by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and the procurement process for an alliance contract was refined to provide compliance with the International Tunnel Insurance Group (ITIG) Code of Practice for Risk Management of Tunnel Works (TCoP). The principle of shared risk within an alliance incentivises a common understanding of project risks prior to finalising the alliance agreement and therefore enables superior risk management through design, construction and beyond. Risk management practices need to be instigated well in advance of commercial phases, so that commercial competition does not lead to a significant elevation of project risk. In particular the practice of gaining commercial advantage by taking on a potentially unmanageable level of risk is one of the outcomes to be avoided by the TCoP.During the procurement phase the NZTA placed high value on design and construction mitigation measures proposed in order to address ground risks, as is appropriate for a major tunnel project. In order to achieve alignment on the level of geotechnical risks an Alliance Geotechnical Baseline Report (AGBR) process was developed.This paper describes the measures taken during the procurement process to achieve certainty with respect to outcomes and minimise project risks whilst also achieving value for money. Refinements to the procurement process to ensure compliance with the TCoP prepared by the International Tunnel Insurance Group (ITIG) are described along with the AGBR process applied as part of a suite of measures to achieve a successful procurement outcome.CITATION:Ireland, T, Spies, P, Eratne, S and Newns, W, 2014. Risk management and use of a geotechnical baseline report for a competitive alliance procurement?process, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 553–562 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By T N. Little

The grade control process undertaken at mines aims to maximise the value of the ore (valuable product) mined and fed downstream for processing or sale. The full range of grade control activities includes: reserve estimating, drilling/sampling, assaying, modelling, ore block design, blasting, ore mark out, excavating, stockpiling, processing and reconciling. Over the last 25 years, the grade control process has undergone significant improvements and this is in part due to the developments in grade control blasting. This paper discusses the development and classification of grade control blasting applications in surface mining. A review by the author in 1988 (Little and van Rooyen, 1988) is used as a benchmark for discussing the very significant progress that has been made.Two major technology initiatives have enabled this development. The first was the development of a method for the measurement and analysis of total displacement during the blasting process. Currently, the Blast Movement Monitor (BMM®) is a practical tool that has been used around the world to improve the industry’s understanding of three-dimensional blast movement dynamics. The second technological enabler was the development of electronic detonator systems. The unique aspects of electronic detonating systems are their higher accuracy and that all detonators are activated at time zero (initiation). From a grade control blasting perspective these features and other improvements allow experimentation and, ultimately, more complex, multiobjective blasts to be designed and implemented.This paper reports on a classification and review study undertaken by the author. In all, five selective blasting methods and nine bulk blasting methods are classified and reviewed. Five important observations are made: there is value in classifying the range of grade control blasting strategies, and the blasting objective framework presented is helpful in this regard the range of strategies available to designers is increasing as enabling technology develops, so too do the ambitions of blast designers and the expectations of downstream customersgrade control blasting and Mine to Mill concepts are merging, and this paper caters for this trend using multiple blasting objectiveshaving a technical primary blasting objectives framework, combined with the classification system presented here, should assist practitioners and stakeholders with lateral thinking in regards to future technological innovations, grade control blasting and Mine to Mill initiatives.CITATION:Little, T N, 2015. Classification and development in grade control blasting for surface mines, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 343–354 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By M A. Noppé

"Investors and other stakeholders assessing the risk, opportunity and relative value associated with a resource project need to appreciate the project in its correct context. Errors, omissions, biased reporting or conflicting information in project reporting may lead to a misinterpretation of technical and financial results, resulting in biased estimates or assumptions on project value.This paper provides a simple ‘Resource Project Framework’ for presenting a project’s status that may be readily benchmarked against other similar projects and to illustrate the stages required to advance the project outcomes to higher levels of certainty. The framework draws on definitions and guidelines readily available in various resource industry reporting codes and public company reporting requirements.The framework assesses three key areas for placing a resource project in its correct relative context, namely:the project development stagethe confidence in the Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and/or Ore Reservesthe level of accuracy, precision and confidence in the technical and economic studies supporting the reported results or options for the project.The application of the Resource Project Framework is illustrated using two project examples, one from publicly reported company project releases and the other for two development projects.CITATION:Noppé, M A, 2016. A framework for presenting and benchmarking resource projects, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2016, pp 260–274 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 8, 2016

By L J. de Lange

As a material asset for mining entities, the resources and reserves (RR) estimation processes are surprisingly underrepresented in the assurance landscape. When press reports expose them being inaccurately reported, or in merger and acquisitions processes, their importance becomes clear. The impact of erroneous RR numbers (both positive and negative) could have a material impact on an entity’s reputation and value.The technical nature and ‘black magic’ connotations of the RR estimation processes are possibly reasons why audit committees are not actively involved with it. Internal auditors avoid the RR processes for similar reasons. Also the traditional approach to obtain assurance on RR is expensive and is therefore only performed when it is absolutely required.However, stakeholders’ expectations of good governance are growing. Part of this increased focus is based on attaining a higher degree of certainty about the current and forecasted position of the entity. Stakeholders are also increasingly more interested in non-financial areas of entities, as the future success of an entity is more than a set of financial metrics.Consequently, the RR estimation processes should be visible on the agendas of audit committees. Monitoring of key controls is required as part of the governance obligations for senior management and the audit committee. So once it is on the audit committee’s agenda, the question then becomes, how will that agenda be supported by an assurance process that is cost-effective?The main objective of the paper is to describe a model of RR assurance that has been effectively applied in some mining companies. The paper discusses one particular approach that provides an audit committee with the required assurance regarding RR processes. The approach ties the assurance needs of the audit committee to the needs of the technical experts in the entity, therefore involving two important figures. It also offers assurance providers with a model to audit ‘through’ the RR processes rather than ‘around’ them. The paper then discusses top-down and bottom-up approaches that provide assurance at different levels of an entity.A governance audit that focuses on the RR processes is suggested as a top-down approach. A bottom-up approach assesses the design adequacy of internal control processes. A hybrid model is described which meets the needs of diverse stakeholders including the audit committee and the RR community.The hybrid model combines the expertise of professionals in both internal audit and RR. The right balance of these skills directed by a singular approach ensures that a credible result is achieved.This approach is not as expensive as some verification approaches used in the industry and can, as a result, be performed on a more regular basis.The last element of the paper looks at implementation of the reporting mechanism. An assurance process aimed at continuous improvement further enhances the robustness and reliability of RR reported by an entity.CITATION:de Lange, L J, 2016. Resources and reserve assurance processes – a framework for improved governance, in Proceedings International Mine Management Conference, pp 21-34 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 22, 2016

By K L. C Gontalves

In 1999, the Mineral Development Centre of CVRD (CDM) acquired a flotation device referred to as Mini Pilot Plant (MPP), which is able to run continuous flotation tests with drill core samples. Since then this equipment has been used to define the flotation circuit and process conditions during the pre-feasibility phase of CVRDÆs copper sulfide projects. Until now, the MPP results had not been validated for an industrial flotation operation. The present work consists of a comparison and correlation of the results from a flotation MPP and an industrial plant. In order to make this comparison, an industrial plant was completely sampled and the feed ore was tested on bench scale and on a MPP. The metallurgical and mass balances of each test were used for the comparison.

Jan 1, 2005

There is no doubt that the mining sector is considered to be the backbone of many countries. Furthermore, it has played an important role in the prosperity of nations, whether developed or developing. Saudi Arabia is one of these countries that has a large variety of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources that range in size and value occurrences of limited potential to deposits large enough to sustain profitable exploitation. Therefore, the Saudi government needs to reinforce the capacity of the sectoral institutions to better regulate and promote the sustainable development of the sector. The ability to overcome the administrative and legal complications that constrain private sector participation in the minerals sector, through new mining code which will streamline the procedures for obtaining licenses and will add more predictability and transparency to the application process, are proposed for increasing the sustainable development. This paper will outline how the Saudi government is tackling the major challenges that face the minerals industry. This paper provides the background to the Saudi Arabian mineral sector and its industrial base. Finally, the paper identifies the problems and constraints that face the minerals sector in Saudi Arabia and provides an assessment of the effects of government policies and planning efforts in the minerals sector, particularly during the period of the development plans which started in 1970.

Jan 1, 2009

By H Jones

The paper outlines the adoption and evolution of ‘sustainable development’ as a concept in tailings management practices in the mining industry over the last 30 years. Over 500 lives have been lost in tailings facility accidents since World War 2. The paper outlines commonalities in many of these accidents, particularly the role of excess water. It considers the role effective tailings management can play in enhancing the social acceptability of mining in the future.Tailings management is a major operating cost at many mines while the cost of successfully closing tailings facilities is also very high. Current tailings management practices in the industry are outlined. The technical and engineering challenges of reducing potential risks associated with tailings by reducing water entrainment are described. The successful development of practical techniques to better manage tailings and reduce water consumption and wastage are described. For example, water removal in the alumina industry to produce a paste for dry stacking is now a reality.The future adoption of these new risk reducing techniques by the industry is discussed and the implications of the adoption or non-adoption of these techniques on the industry’s future ‘social licence’ is considered.

Nov 22, 2011

By M Field

Kimberlite pipes, as opposed to dykes, sill and secondary deposits, are the primary target for diamond exploration companies because they have simple geometries and can contain large volumes of potentially diamond-bearing ore. Once discovered, important decisions have to be made regarding the sampling of these geological entities to establish the total volume of ore present, and to define the internal geology, which can be complex in nature and controls the distribution of diamond grade. It is essential that as part of this process the uncertainty in constructed geological models are assessed. In this paper the Orapa AK1 kimberlite pipe in Botswana is used as a case study to explore a potential methodology for defining this uncertainty. The uncertainty of the rock volumes of different types can be characterised by a geostatistical approach. Geostatistical simulations, based upon a plausible representation of the geological bodies, provide different possible images of the orebody that can be considered as different realities. By testing different borehole layouts and drilling the orebody virtually on the computer, many different, but equi-probable realisations of the pipes can be produced. It is then possible to estimate the rocksÆ volumes and compare them with the actual ones. A statistical analysis of the relationship between estimation error and the number of boreholes can then be used to optimise the next sampling campaign. The rock volumes are obtained from a two-step simulation process. Firstly, the pipe geometry is simulated by means of introducing variations around the geological block model, by an original method called centre point simulation (CPS), which has been developed for this purpose. Secondly, the internal geology is then simulated within the pipe. The methodology for simulating the internal geological zones has to be adapted to the level of information and to the geological structure itself. The upper portion at Orapa AK1 is filled with sedimentary crater facies. Here plurigaussian simulation techniques can be applied that are adapted to the simulation of sedimentary facies. The central zones of the pipe are typically subvertically-oriented massive volcaniclastic deposits and breccias and the lower regions comprise a complex root zone. CPS is appropriate for these zones.

Jan 1, 2006

By K Jupp, T J. Howard

Cliffs Natural Resources Pty Ltd (CNR) operates iron ore mines in the Koolyanobbing region of Western Australia, about 50 km north of the town of Southern Cross. Ore is trucked from three geographically isolated sources to the crusher at Koolyanobbing, where it is blended before and during crushing. Lump and fines products are produced and railed to Esperance for ship loading and export to Asian customers. CNR is examining alternative processing paths, from mining to ship loading, with the aim of improving efficiency and reducing costs. Modifications to the system must be consistent with potential future expansions and maintain the low inter-shipment grade variability on which CNR prides itself and has built a strong relationship with its customers. In searching for the optimum process design, many options from mine face to ship loading must be evaluated and compared. Pilot plant studies are infeasible, while complex mineralogical interactions, competing goals and numerous possible system configurations limit the applicability of theoretical analysis. It was therefore concluded that simulation modeling would provide the confidence to take the next step into production trials. This paper describes techniques applied at CNR to simulate grade variability resulting from potential process design changes. The simulation models are easily run Excel-based modules, with each module representing a different part of the process. The modules use extensive Visual Basic macros driven by Excel's user-friendly interfaces. Presentation of the results is enhanced by Excel's excellent graphical capabilities. The simulation software stores and graphically presents time-stamped data from a run, enabling detailed analysis of different process configurations. Final success of a simulation run is measured by inter-shipment variability (standard deviation and process capability) and in-process ore tonnages. Meaningful results from the simulations require the initial input data contain the same correlations present in the real production environment, between the mineral components, production linkages and across time. The data also have to allow simulation of potential changes to mining method and introduction of new pits into the blend. Mining data from the real operations under study are therefore used, with average grades and variability adjusted to match potential future development proposals. It is also necessary to filter out medium and long-term variations from the production data as this variability is best controlled through the conventional medium to long-term mine planning process, not by the process design being studied. The filtering was carried out using a Fourier transform technique, which is described.

Jan 1, 2009

By H Arvidson, V Chamberlain, J Joughin, N Pollock, F Cessford, T Flitton, T Rowl

Environmental, social and governance issues (ESG) have become a defining feature in the marketplace to differentiate preferred investments. With the sustainability commitment and reporting landscape anticipated to evolve exponentially, it is now imperative to rapidly develop the approach taken by mineral companies to adequately identify and address ESG risks and opportunities in the reporting of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve (MRMR). MRMR cannot be effectively reported as technically and financially assured and realistically executable, if ESG is not integrated into the strategy, business model, input assumptions and process that defines and drives robust MRMR public reporting. Regulatory reporting codes across the globe are presently in various stages of being updated and modified to ensure ESG factors are appropriately covered as a key part of diligent and transparent disclosure. Security exchanges are making it clear that companies must not omit ESG risks from reports to investors. This paper discusses associated challenges for MRMR reporting and suggests avenues for improvement. Key themes include: the importance of procedure rather than prescription and checklists; how ESG criteria impact Modifying Factors and determination of Reasonable Prospects for Economic Extraction (RPEE); the need for financial models to account for material ESG commitments; the uniqueness of each mineral asset; the need for education, upskilling and accreditation of both ESG experts about MRMR reporting and equally Competent Persons in ESG matters; and the need for clear and balanced reports that meet the needs of end users. (RPEE is adopted here for simplicity and consistency, recognising that some reporting codes still include ‘Eventual’ in the term (ie RPEEE). Whilst RPEE and RPEEE are subtly different the intent is to point to the process of assessing ESG factors in determining reasonable prospects.) The principles of transparency, materiality and competence remain paramount when considering the impact of ESG matters on MRMR reporting, and this necessitates an inclusive, cohesive, and integrated approach to assessing ESG issues to ensure the necessary expertise and diligence is applied.

May 24, 2023

By Y Shougu

Many mine accidents will affect the mine ventilation system when they occur. At present, there is a lack of monitoring means to capture the occurrence of accidents in time by monitoring the ventilation system, so as to take emergency measures to reduce the loss of personnel and property. Pressure wave is an elastic wave existing in air. Most accidents in mine will cause obvious changes of pressure wave. It is an innovative idea to monitor the occurrence of accidents in mine by measuring pressure wave. The development and functions of the pressure monitoring device and related software are introduced in detail. The pressure wave monitoring test is carried out in San Xavier underground mining laboratory, and the D-wave and S-wave waveform data are collected. The waveform characteristics are analysed, and the main frequency distribution of the pressure wave is found to be within 1 Hz by using FFT. At the same time, the influence of the propagation distance of the pressure wave on the waveform is analysed. The propagation velocity of D-wave and S-wave are roughly calculated, and they are 279.6 m/s and 397.3 m/s respectively. S-wave is slightly faster than D-wave. Although there are errors and uncertainties in the test, the test verified the feasibility of the existence and collection of pressure waves in the ventilation roadway, and provides a method for the future study of the propagation of pressure waves in the mine ventilation system.

Oct 12, 2022

By E Mare

Recent highly publicised incidences of disastrous containment failures, none more pertinent than the 2019 iron ore tailings dam failure in Brumadinho, have focused the world’s attention squarely on the often-challenging subject of tailings storage. Unwanted ultrafines, that are deemed to be unworthy of further treatment or not to have further saleable value, are therefore a significant issue for mine owners looking to reduce risks and perceptions associated with long-term storage of tailings. In this context, there are strong drivers to identify safer approaches to ultrafine tailings management, especially if it can also lead to increased revenue, together with better water stewardship and environmental outcomes. The better management of tailings needs to be considered from both containment challenge and processing opportunity perspectives. This paper focuses on the latter, reviewing from a technical and economic perspective, the feasibility of more extensive processing and/or reprocessing of specifically iron ore tailings, in a bid to reduce the overall volume for management in long-term storage. Herein the opportunity lies in recovery processing, as much as enhanced thickening and/or mechanical dewatering, and therefore the paper discusses both issues as equally important sides of the same coin. Recent interest in iron ore ultrafines processing and reprocessing studies suggests that the enhanced processing of iron ore tailings offers multiple perceived advantages. Apart from a potential reduction in tailings volume, associated with safer containment, lower environmental impact and improved water management, the prospect of increased revenue from additional Fe recovery presents supplementary motivation for iron ore players to embrace this approach, as further elaborated in this paper.

Nov 8, 2021

By K Morrison

Australia’s ageing population means that by 2050 there will be 2.7 people of working age to support each Australian aged 65 years and over compared with five working people per retiree today and compared with 7.5 in 1970 (Swan, 2010). This means that there is going to be a greater demand on social services – for medical and aged care – from a smaller private income base. How will this gap be met? Australia is fortunate in that it has vast resources of mineral wealth; from iron ore, nickel and gas in Western Australia to the giant copper and uranium deposits at Olympic Dam in South Australia.The prospect of a meaningful profit based tax on this vast mineral wealth has been lost through Australian government’s handling of the issue in 2010 and with an industry fiercely opposed to the prospect of a mining tax. Hence, new ways of thinking are required. This paper looks at the issues facing the implementation of a novel scheme whereby Australia leases the mineral resources it extracts and thus derives income over the decades the metals are in-use in pipes, wires and structures with a premium paid for unreturned material or that used in dissipative applications. Applicable minerals could include copper, aluminium, nickel and rare earths. If Australia simply digs up and sells the metals once, the buyer becomes custodian of that resource and they benefit from controlling the future ‘above-ground’ resource stock.A complementary driver for a leasing scheme is the increasing importance of chain-of-custody following initiatives of the Responsible Jewellery Council with gold and diamonds, now with the potential to extend across commodities. The Australian minerals sector could thus position itself as a premium supplier with high social and environmental credentials.Recognising the implementation challenges, this paper includes a review of how such a system could be enforced to ensure that the metal is tracked throughout its life. It concludes with a discussion of the rates and terms should such agreements hold and suggestions for institutional arrangements for enforcing compliance.

Nov 22, 2011

By G R. Ballantyne, A N. Mainza, M S. Powell, M Evertsson

Quantifying the performance of a comminution circuit relative to the potential that can be achieved is a standard requirement in justifying operating practice (the stick) and seeking operational upside (the carrot). Historic measures tend to focus on performance relative to laboratory design tests that provide a direct measure of specific grinding energy, such as the Bond Work index; or use dropweight breakage tests calibrated to a substantial database of operating sites, such as the SMC methodology. Although of value, such approaches are flawed in significant aspects. The assumption is that the laboratory prediction is correct and the single sample it is based on is representative. The database benchmarking methods are, by definition, locked into current average operating practice. These approaches do not illuminate upside; can ‘punish’ operations that are actually more efficient, such as grinding finer than standard operation; and reward poor operation that may comfortably produce a coarser grind than optimal for recovery or excess slimes that reduce recovery and increase water consumption and tailings volume. The authors present a set of established and easily applied measures, that draw together daily operation, highlight areas of opportunity and inefficiency, use simple samples and data, and can be used to provide the ‘size of the prize’ in pursuing specific areas of process improvement. These tools include size specific energy (SSE), overall operating effectiveness (OEE) which includes product quality, theory of constraints, and links this to the end objective – maximising the efficient production of valuable metals. Feeds into objective function driven by economics – financial return, energy, environment.

Aug 24, 2022

By S Love, M Anderson, M Boland

"The high rate of failure of new mine developments to meet feasibility study expectations has been the subject of many fine technical papers. Yet failure rates remain stubbornly high.Similarly, the common occurrence of disastrous acquisitions resulting from failed due diligence on projects is well known. Yet such mistakes continue to be made.The authors argue that project and due diligence failure are caused at least partly by cognitive biases. These biases pervade decision-making throughout project evaluations.A wider understanding of these biases (and their effects) is necessary. Only then can mitigating actions be taken.The opportunity for this wider understanding exists. A number of best-selling books have been published on the topic in recent years. With wider understanding of key concepts and terms, cognitive biases can be recognised and discussed. They can also be challenged and mitigated.The authors believe that these concepts should be entry-level, required knowledge for anyone evaluating, developing, reviewing or financing mining projects.Perhaps the most prevalent biases in project evaluation failure are the ‘over-optimism’ biases. In particular, the planning fallacy and confirmation bias.The anchoring effect is also pervasive. This bias propagates unrealistic assumptions from scoping and prefeasibility studies through to so-called definitive feasibility studies. Unrecognised anchoring biases also undermine the validity of many ‘independent’ due diligence reviews. They are also prevalent in corporate acquisitions.The availability heuristic refers to a mental shortcut that can lead to a number of biases. One of these is the narrative fallacy. The mind constructs coherent narratives and opinions, regardless of the amount and quality of the information that support them. Narrative fallacy commonly occurs in the evaluation of social and political risk. Another is disaster neglect, which is especially common in the failure to assess risks associated with tailings management.This paper outlines the relevance of these biases to mine project evaluations. It also provides examples where the authors have observed their effects.CITATION:Love, S, Boland, M and Anderson, M, 2016. Influence of cognitive biases on project evaluation, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2016, pp 226–235 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 8, 2016

By K Ringwood, J Cummings, C J. Moran

The development of a water accounting framework that enables consistent and contextual reporting of minerals operationsÆ water use, represents a key sustainable development objective that many Australian minerals companies have committed to. A future water accounting framework will require: key terms and definitions for water metrics for use in the Australian minerals industry that are consistent with the wider water sector, a suite of metrics representing key components of an operationÆs water balance, a calculation method for some of the metrics, and a reporting protocol. This paper presents the methodology that was used to derive these four components. Existing accounting frameworks were reviewed and key terms and definitions that were consistent with current regulatory requirements and voluntary approaches were proposed. A calculation methodology was developed to obtain some of the key indicators and variables that cannot be easily measured directly (eg water loss through evaporation). The adopted terms and definitions typically require a combination of empirical and estimated data. To test the proposed definitions and calculation methodology, values for water metrics were derived for eight sites, selected to test a variety of commodity and biophysical situations. The proposed framework and definitions could deal with the specific situations selected as case studies. The associated calculation methodology produced complete accounts at various levels. Some elements of the accounts could be directly checked against available data and simulations. The framework captured well variations in the reuse efficiencies; reuse efficiency could even vary for similar processes. It is concluded that this preliminary accounting framework provides a consistent language and metrics for quantifying and communicating water management, both at the intersection of the site with the surrounding landscape (through detailed reporting of site inputs and outputs) and within operational activities. Using this consistent framework for quantifying and documenting water use within an operation will provide a platform for compiling and comparing minerals industry water use with other sectors. This may support benchmarking activities within regions or companies and help demonstrate leadership amongst water users in water resource stewardship. The approach presented here is applicable to a wide variety of mining and processing activities, and biophysical environments, and following a period of stakeholder engagement and third party review, is being refined as a first step towards developing nationally consistent water use reporting for the Australian minerals industry.

Jan 1, 2009

By J P. Sykes, A Trench

"The common-held view of the future of copper mining is one of declining quality of mineral resources and increasingly limited long-term development options. This decline, in turn, is viewed as inevitably leading to increasing economic, socio-political and environmental costs. As a result, new technologies and innovations will be required to mitigate cost escalation. The future is therefore typically summarised as a battle of a ‘below-ground’ declining quality asset base pushing costs upward versus ‘above-ground’ technology and innovation driving costs downward. The role that high quality new mineral discoveries could play in mitigating industry cost pressures is typically understated, if considered at all. New high quality discoveries can be mined at lower cost than existing assets and potentially if discovered in the right locations within a more amenable contemporary environmental and socio-political setting. Such deposits, once discovered, would improve the overall quality of the industry asset base, as well as benefitting their owners substantially through higher margins. However, to target new high quality deposits explorers need some understanding of the nature of high quality copper mines in the long-term future. Conventional scientific and economic techniques for analysing the future of copper supply, generally by studying the project pipeline, ignore as yet undiscovered resources and also struggle to fully incorporate the multiple internal and external factors that could impact upon copper mining practices in the future.Scenario analysis is specifically designed to consider multiple factors interacting in the future, and is thus more creative than simply looking at the visible project pipeline. The use of scenarios is therefore potentially capable of providing insight into aspects of the future of copper mining about which little is currently known or that remains considerably uncertain. In this study, the Oxford University Scenarios methodology was employed to analyse different plausible futures for copper mining and the consequent implications for exploration targeting strategies. The scenario analysis highlights two key dimensions or axes that serve to map out potential industry futures: firstly the technical and economic optimisation of the existing industry; and secondly the generation of new prospects or ‘search space’ for the copper industry. These two axes in turn frame four different scenarios for the future of the copper mining industry. These copper mining scenarios are then compared to the 20 largest existing copper mines and projects, and their owners, to determine if any represent an appropriately robust exploration targeting proxy: none do. The paper therefore concludes that efforts by industry are required to generate mine concepts that would be viable across all scenarios, and thus act also as exploration targeting proxies. In the interim, companies will have to seek to build portfolios that create an overall robust asset base, out of individually less robust assets. Failure to do this implies that consequential, irreversible strategic decisions lie ahead for the copper mining industry, which may be a threat to both incumbents and the very industry itself. This situation makes strategic exploration targeting in the copper industry very difficult.CITATION:Sykes, J P and Trench, A, 2016. Using scenarios to investigate the long-term future of copper mining and guide exploration targeting strategies, in Proceedings International Mine Management Conference, pp 265-290 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jun 22, 2016

By R Fletcher

Pacific Hydro, a leading renewable energy company from Australia, is developing a series of cascading run-of-river hydro electricity projects in the Cachapoal Valley at the base of the Andes Mountains some 100 km south of Santiago in Chile.These projects involve extensive tunnelling and underground works. The first of these projects is called Chacayes (110 MW installed capacity) and is now under construction with Astaldi SpA of Italy and Fe Grande of Chile as the EPC contractor. Astaldi SpA also has an equity stake in the project. It involves 6 km of tunnels between 5 m and 7 m diameter, of which 2.3 km is by tunnel boring machine (TBM) (5 m diameter).This paper outlines the local and regional geology, the scope of the Chacayes project, actual tunnel excavation rates and support, and compares the decision making on Chacayes between a choice of traditional drill and blast excavation versus TBM.The paper also outlines the next project planned to be developed by Pacifi c Hydro in the valley – the 140+MW Nido de Aguila project involving a main tunnel drive of 11 km with two intermediate adits, plus a 388 m shaft and underground powerhouse. The main tunnel drives are likely to be excavated by two hard rock TBMs (5 m diameter) but will need to be able to withstand high overburden pressures of up to 1300 m.Subsequent projects in the planning stages include the downstream Coya II project with two tunnels totalling approximately 10 km, one of which may be by TBM.

Mar 8, 2011

A computerised cataloguing system for geological specimens is described. The catalogue is designed for use with a compactus-type storage system. The information stored in the catalogue for each specimen includes the type of specimen, locality information in terms of standard ~ap sheets and descriptive location, geological age, stratIgraphy, and specimen descriptions. The catalogue can be interrogated at any level of detail on the basis of any combination of these specimen parameters.Other information stored for each specimen 'is the compactus address, collection date, reference information and the type of analyses performed on that specimen:Any mterrogatlon produces a listing of those specimens which satisfy the search criteria.

Jan 1, 1974