Search Documents

By J Johansson, B Johansson

The mining industry needs to attract and recruit young talented people. An important task is, therefore, to create an attractive mining workplace that engages with, and motivates youngsters who are not particularly interested in working in the industry. This paper aims to illustrate a way forward for the mining industry to form healthy and safe workplaces honouring key components such as knowledge, skill, co-operation, continual development and acceptance of diversity. This is a way to create a vision of healthy and safe mining work. The mining industry must work towards zero vision; a future without accidents and hazardous environments. In this paper the authors discuss different aspects of an ‘attractive workplace’ and summarises lessons learnt in 26 statements dealing with safety, both physical and social work environments, and social responsibility. The authors hope these recommendations will provide some guidance for how attractive workplaces should be designed for future deep mining.The paper is based on lessons from two large European projects, a Swedish-Polish project: The Smart Mine of the Future; and a European Union project: Sustainable Intelligent Mining Systems (SIMS). One of the authors was the WP leader of health and safety in both projects.CITATION:Johansson, J and Johansson, B, 2017. Attractive workplaces in future underground mining, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 99–102 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 16, 2017

Geotechnical conditions in the Lochiel Deposit are somewhat unusual, and thus geotechnical and hydrological investigations have assumed a high priority. The cost of mining the deposit has been shown to be very sensitive to geotechnical design parameters, and it is now seen to be of paramount importance to establish a high level of confidence in the design parameters used for mining cost estimation. Geotechnical investigations in the Lochiel Deposit reached a crossroads in 1985, when there appeared to be several quite different and equally attractive routes to follow to establish a satisfactory level of confidence in geotechnical mine design parameters. Three main options were identified, referred to as the No Further Work Route, the Drill and Trench Route, and the Trial Pit Route. The No Further Work Route was ruled out as being technically unsound and as satisfying none of the Electricity Trust of South Australia's (ETSA's) or the State Government's requirements. The planning process for further geotechnical investigation involved: clearly identifying the current status of work and significant geotechnical and geological factors planning and costing the alternative schemes for improving knowledge assessing the increase in knowledge to be gained from the alternative schemes . choosing the preferred scheme This process resulted in ETSA's

Jan 1, 1986

By Tuck M. A

The increasing depth, mechanisation and distance of working areas from surface connections places an ever greater contaminant burden on ventilation airflows. Some British Coal mines are already experiencing significant problems in providing adequate climatic conditions in the working areas and have had to introduce air conditioning. Previous work has shown that in mines of low to moderate virgin strata temperature the application of controlled district recirculation could serve to improve climatic conditions at the working area.

Jan 1, 1988

There is a significant amount of historical mining and exploration information available. This information is often distributed throughout a number of reports or plans, available from a variety of sources, and in many differing formats. The ability to capture paper-based historical information in a modem digital format provides mining and exploration companies with valuable information that can be used in a number of ways; for example, reassessments of exploration or mining work previously undertaken, or used in conjunction with current exploration information.   The purpose of this paper is threefold. Firstly, to present the paper-based historical information; highlighting some of the problems encountered, solutions to those problems, and any assumptions used. Secondly, to present the historical data in digital format, and demonstrate the tools available to analyse geological and associated information, and finally, to illustrate some of the potential future applications of the information, including mining optimisation, mine design and scheduling.   The Glenorchy scheelite/gold prospect has been used as an example. Within the overall prospect two smaller areas were selected. The Mount McIntosh and surrounding areas, focuses on exploration and surface excavation information. The Mount Judah area (State and Kelly-Taylor workings) focuses on underground mining and exploration information.  

Jan 1, 2001

Advances in technology have led to larger and deeper open pit mines and, consequently, also increased the potential economic impact associated with slope failures. If the ultimate aim of mining operations is to maximise project profit, it is surprising to see related research activities have mostly been focusing on technical areas such as slope stability modelling, but with limited studies conducted to date to assess the relationship between geotechnical uncertainties and economic risk. Given most major decisions in the mining industry nowadays are made by management staff with financial background, any design approach that would help to link slope stability analysis results with monetary values would no doubt enhance communication between geotechnical practitioners and decision makers. This paper presents a study which assesses economic impact of slope failures to assist in mine planning. The study also estimates the impact of slope failures on project value, which would enable economic risks associated with pit slope designs to be closely examined. The proposed risk assessment techniques, used by financial institutions for many years to assess portfolio risks, can assist geotechnical practitioners in quantifying risks of slope failures. Risk-adjusted concepts are also suggested to assist management in selecting a slope design with optimal risk and return ratio.

May 1, 2010

The provision of professional engineering services in Queensland is regulated through the Professional Engineers Act 2002. The Act requires that anyone providing professional engineering services must be registered and is subject to continuing professional development requirements. The engineering profession is actively requesting the Queensland Government to expand registration to include associate and technologist engineering practitioners. In view of the strong moves at the Federal level towards national registration of professional groups the lessons of the Queensland experience are very relevant across Australia. This paper describes the rationale behind the Act and outlines its operation. It discusses some misconceptions regarding the applicability of the Act to various engineering activities. There is much that the Act has to offer individual engineers and industry generally in establishing, articulating and maintaining standards for professional engineering work. The paper considers legal actions taken to date under the provisions of the Act and discusses the way in which this parallels industry moves towards quality assurance of work force capability.

May 1, 2010

The development of a robust belt sampling strategy and protocol inunderground gold mines is a fundamental requirement for effective grade quality control, ore accounting and mine-mill reconciliations. As part of the ore management system, a belt sampling system has been developed by the author, which is used to predict monthly gold grade and its error for underground/belt/mill reconciliation and grade control. This paper presents the step-by-step development of the belt samplingstrategy and sample preparation protocol at Target, an underground gold mine in South Africa. The belt sampling system at Target consists of an underground belt transporting run-of-mine material into an underground transfer point, a weightometer, a two stage crushing system, a tube splitter and a catchment device. The design allows run-of-mine ore on the belt to be sampled automatically by a go-belt sampler. GyÆs sampling theory of particulate materials forms the basicframework of the belt sampling strategy. The theory is used to quantify the optimum sample mass of broken material to be taken from the belt and to predict its reliability. It is also employed to determine the Fundamental Sampling Error (FSE), time interval between samples and particle size requirements of the final underground belt sample. Further, GyÆs sampling theory provides the means of analysing the crushing processes, splitting, segregation error, analytical variance, and the best sample preparation protocol. Although the belt sampling strategy developed in this study was forWitwaterstrand gold ore, the process is entirely general and may be very successfully used in any underground or surface mine.

Jan 1, 1999

By Y Xie, L O’Connor, S C. Dominy

"Sheeted vein gold deposits are characterised by multiple subparallel veins and free milling gold. In situ heterogeneity of mineralisation results in grade and process parameter variability, which will increase project risk. Measured variability is often enhanced by poorly designed sampling and test work protocols. Protocols that are optimised within the framework of the theory of sampling to suit the ore type, together with quality assurance/quality control systems, will reduce variability and provide fit-for-purpose results. The geometallurgical approach requires spatially distributed samples within a deposit to support variability modelling. Diverse attributes from core logging, mineralogical/textural determination and small-scale tests are used to measure variability. This contribution emphasises early stage geometallurgical intervention during project development. It presents a discussion of representative sampling in the context of the theory of sampling. A case study presents a protocol that exemplifies how data can be gained from a well-designed and planned program to support a resource estimate and prefeasibility study.CITATION:Dominy, S C, O’Connor, L and Xie, Y, 2016. Sampling and Test Work Protocol Development for Geometallurgical Characterisation of a Sheeted Vein Gold Deposit, in Proceedings The Third AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2016, pp 97–112 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jun 15, 2016

The Role of Mineral Processing in the Development of Cement with Low Carbon Emissions

Sep 13, 2010

Most people are familiar with Euclidean dimensions: zero for a point; one for a line; two for a plane; and three for a volume. Howeverbobjects are not actually Euclidean, but lie somewhere between Euclidean æend-membersÆ with a non-integer fractal (or æfractionalÆ) dimension. The fractal dimension D is a measure of the relative importance of large versus small. Consider the trace of a coastline on a map. It has a fractal dimension (1 =D =2) somewhere between a line (dimension = 1) and a plane (dimension = 2). The more tortuous the coastline, the higher the fractal dimension, and the closer it becomes towards a plane. The concepts of fractals and spatial geometry can be applied to a wide range of geologicaVmining problems as well as than those dealing with space. One commonly quoted fractal relation is the log-log relationship of ore-grade and tonnage. Until recently, we have never been able to define or measure spatial-geometry, but new developments in mathematics have provided a means by which to quantity and apply it to our problems.

Jan 1, 1992

By H Utama, R Heryadi

PT Indo Muro Kencana (PT IMK) is a surface gold and silver mine located in Mt. Muro area, Central Kalimantan province, Indonesia. The mining operations of multiple open pits using combination of excavator and haul truck is operated. This operation is performed in two shifts in a day. The articulated dump truck (ADT) with capacity of 40 t and 60 t deliver ore to the mineral processing plant and discard waste material to the waste dump area. Overall, PT IMK’s mining operation department is consisting of two sections, namely mining operation section and drill and blast section. Firstly, mine operation section is responsible to manage loading, hauling, pit service (mine dewatering, earthwork, road maintenance) and mine operation engineering. Secondly, drill and blast section is in charge to manage drilling and blasting (blast engineering, blasting operation, explosive permit and magazine or explosive storage). Additionally, conventional blasting method (ore-waste blasting) with non-electric initiation system is used and sleep blasting is undertaken as bulk explosive is buried for maximum two days. The first purpose of this paper is to elucidate about role of mining engineer in mining operation department (mining operation engineer and D&B engineer). At this point, mining operation engineering practice (fleet management system, production control and mining manpower management) and also blasting daily practice will be elucidated. Daily blasting practice is consisting of surface blast design, explosive engineering, sleep blast practice and the concept of scaled depth of burial to ensure a safe work environment in blasting activity. Next, the second purpose of this paper is to explore workforce evolution and future skills for mining engineer in surface mining operation. Furthermore, strategy to advance future skills such as mining continuous improvement program, training and skills development for mining engineer (mining operation engineer and D&B engineer) in order to develop their skills is also discussed. It is expected that in the future, these future mining leaders will become new mining leader, for instance mining superintendents, D&B superintendents and mining managers. In conclusion, it is clear that awareness about workforce evolution, professional development, training, skills development, mining economics awareness and mining continuous improvement program are essentially required as professional development for mining engineer (mining operation engineer and D&B engineer), in order to be commercially competitive in their future career and in order to be adapted with future workforce evolution in mining.

Sep 1, 2024

By W Midgley, M Torok, I Canbulat, J Katupitiya, S Saydam, S Akdag

The green energy transition is expected to require a range of valuable minerals, which could be supplied through deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining. Deep-sea polymetallic nodules are mineral deposits with a composition well suited to produce lithium batteries, which are expected to be a necessary energy storage solution (Diouf and Pode, 2015; Paulikas et al, 2020) for the energy transition. By 2050 the annual demand for both cobalt and lithium is estimated to increase by around 450 per cent from 2018 levels (Hund et al, 2023), with the annual demand for nickel being greater than 2 million tons, and copper greater than 1 million tons. Polymetallic nodule mining is well positioned to provide these minerals in the near future. An intricate and comparatively unexplored ecosystem thrives within and surrounding the nodule fields (Smith et al, 2008). Deep-sea mining operations have the potential to disrupt and permanently damage this ecosystem through introduced pollution, artificial noise and light, and habitat destruction. Hence, there is a pressing need for new engineering and scientific endeavours to focus on developing new technologies to reduce any environmental impact from mining.

Sep 1, 2024

By K P. Tully

In August 1996 a Microseismic Monitoring System developed by ISS International Limited was installed at the Pasminco Broken Hill Mine -Southern Cross area. The project aims were to:Assist in daily safety management in a mine environment which exhibits one of the highest occurrences of microseismic activity recorded in the Australian mining industry. Be used as a proactive tool in design of future development and stoping. The project to-date has been an unqualified success in achieving both goals. Consequently the system is being expanded from 6 to 14 monitoring sites.

Jan 1, 1998

Brunswick Mine, one of the largest underground zinc mines in the world, is scheduled to close in 2010 after almost half a century of production. All mines eventually close; some suddenly as a result of unsustainable economic or technical conditions and others, as in our case, as a result of the depletion of the orebody. When the mine is the most significant employer and an economic driver in the region, it is key that the closure is handled in a planned, communicated, well-executed fashion. The following paper documents strategies, plans and activities that are currently taking place in order to ensure a seamless closure that satisfies all stakeholders including employees, management, regulatory bodies and the public. It is an important deliverable for the company that the good will, credibility and reputation that has been built up over the years is sustained throughout the closure process and beyond. A life of mine labour agreement with the unionised workforce, staff retention and recruiting programs, regulatory closure plans, communications and transition adjustment activities will be discussed. The use of a stage-gate style project management tool analysing the risks and key deliverables will be highlighted. It is hoped that the concepts and approaches discussed here may be of value to other operations that will be faced with closure, and its inherent challenges, in the not too distant future.

Jan 1, 2006

By Mine F. J, Woods P. H

The Top End of the Northern Territory lies in the monsoonal zone and receives rain during the November-April period. Initially, at the start of the wet season, rain storms are localised, but, following the descent of the monsoonal trough from below the equator, widespread rain occurs. Overflow incidents at mine sites tend to arise midway through the annual wet season when excess water accumulated in ponds begins to discharge to the external environment. Remote-access monitoring may be undertaken at mine sites using equipment to continuously measure water quality parameters with storage of the information on a data logger. The data is then retrieved by visiting the site and transferring it to a portable computer or by remotely accessing the system using a telemetry system and transmission via telephone, VHF/UHF or satellite. Such systems are readily available and vary in cost depending on the sophistication of the data transfer system. Available sensors for continuous monitoring include those for conductivity, temperature, pH and other ion selective electrodes, eg nitrate, and water level. Of these variables, conductivity is most useful due to its inherent accuracy and stability of reading. Remote monitoring capability is able to provide: (i) more intensive monitoring of key issues; (ii) more timely information; (iii) correct perspective on the degree of environmental problem; and (iv) information from remote locations, which would be difficult to monitor by more conventional methods. Examples are given for applications of continuously logged measurement of conductivity of waters discharging to drains and in creeks at Pine Creek, Ranger, Nabarlek and Woodcutters mines in the Northern Territory. These applications demonstrate the timeliness of the continuous monitoring technique.

Jan 1, 1994

The role of government and the community has changed significantly over the last two decades in relation to environment protection, particularly in the mining sector. Increased community expectations have moved well ahead of regulatory requirements, and there is now a much greater appreciation generally of the concepts of ecologically sustainable development and intergenerational equity, and the gap between current practice and practices which would be in harmony with these concepts. Besides providing a `safety net' through regulations to ensure that basic environmental performance standards are met, government is now working proactively with the mining industry to encourage higher levels of environmental performance. This paper describes some initiatives between the Commonwealth government and the industry designed to achieve these higher levels of environmental performance, through programs aimed at the paradigms of best practice environmental management and continual improvement.

Jan 1, 1997

Truck fires in a tunnel can create heat release rates (HRR) significantly higher than 100 MW. Because of a fast spread of smoke and heat the self-rescuing period is shortened significantly. Furthermore, it was experienced that firefighters are not able to approach the fire because of enormous heat and radiation. As consequence, the fire may spread to adjacent vehicles, which is reported for distances of more than 50 m. Tunnels can be damaged severely by fires and the repair works causes long closing time of tunnels. In addition to direct costs for the refurbishment of the tunnel, further economic losses will occur due to the closure time. Conventional deluge systems in Japanese and Australian road tunnels have been known since the 1960s. During the last years the research work was concentrated in the development of more effective and cost-effective solutions based on water mist technology. Orientating fire tests as well as specifications of minimum requirements were carried out within the European research project UPTUN. This basic work was extended by the safety of life in tunnels (SOLIT) research project, funded by the German government. The scope of SOLIT was not only to study the effects of water mist fire suppression systems in tunnels, but also the interactions with other safety systems, such as fire detection, passive fire protection or ventilation. Furthermore, the integration of active fire suppression systems into a holistic tunnel safety system was part of the work program. Within this research project a large-scale fire test program with more than 50 fire tests, including 25 truck fires with a potential HRR of almost 200 MW, was carried out in the test tunnel of San Pedro des Anes (Spain). Furthermore, a two-week testing and training period with the Madrid Fire Brigade was carried out after the SOLIT program. Two fundamental results were achieved during the fire tests:Primarily, water mist systems are able to control the HRR of fires in tunnels, so the atmosphere will be improved significantly. Hazardous effects of toxic smoke on people will be reduced and due to the reduction of temperatures and radiation, a firefighterÆs approach is improved significantly. Furthermore, the fire spread will be hampered and the thermal load on the building structure also be reduced. Secondarily, due to positive interactions with the ventilation system, the effectiveness of a tunnel ventilation system, longitudinal as well as semi-transversal, is increased significantly. Based on the results of the SOLIT research project, a water mist system was applied into several parts of the M30 tunnels in Madrid. As a basic principle the technical equipment and the methodology of implementation comply with the UPTUN 251 guidance, recommending minimum standards for water-based fire suppression systems in tunnels.

Jan 1, 2008

The mining industry continues to faces significant challenges due to increasing resource constraints (quality of ore bodies, water, energy, human resources) and increasing license to operate requirements (safety, health, environment, location) from society, employees and shareholders. Technology advancements and hence research are necessary to ensure that the industry remains viable in this changing environment. Collaborative research is an important part of a company's research portfolio and offers the opportunity for the industry to work on generic issues that it is facing. Obvious benefits include the reduced cost to individual companies by sharing the costs, the opportunity to leverage government funding and the opportunity to conduct longer term projects resulting in skills development (PhD and MSc). Limitations of collaborative research include the reduced focus on company specific issues and the loss of competitive advantage from owning the outcomes of the research. The challenge for researchers and research managers is for them to demonstrate the value derived from longer term, pre-competitive collaborative research. The competitive advantage is not necessarily derived only from the outcomes of the research but rather from the company's ability to direct the research, translate the generic research outcomes to address company specific issues and to implement improvements at its operations. Implementation remains the greatest challenge. In this paper, case studies of selected collaborative research projects are presented to demonstrate key success factors required for implementation of research outcomes. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Sep 13, 2010

By I Zulkarnain, H Permana, R A. Binns

Through an ambitious but relatively low-cost program of marine fieldwork, laboratory investigations and technology-transfer and training activities, three Indonesia-Australia-led marine expeditions were undertaken aboard KR Baruna Jaya VIII between 2001 and 2003. These IASSHA (Indonesia-Australia Survey for Submarine Hydrothermal Activity) cruises have sought to discover and investigate a variety of potential ore forming hydrothermal systems in a range of tectonic settings. All cruises have been successful, both scientifically and from the point of view of training, creation of capabilities and capacity building for such research in Indonesia. Over 60 scientists and technicians from Indonesian and Australian institutions and agencies have been involved. Three new sites and a possible fourth site of hydrothermal activity were discovered in the Sangihe arc in northern Sulawesi. Surveys in the Tomini basin tested a hypothesis based on previous data which suggested this might be an isolated anoxic, brine-filled basin over 2000 m deep where igneous heat sources existed to generate hydrothermal mineralisation. The bay, however, was found to be open to adjacent deep ocean circulation, and there was no evidence of massive base metal sulfides. Subdued evidence of hydrothermal activity was found in the Sunda Strait associated with the famous Krakatau volcano and the extension of the seismically active Semangko Fault. The BANDAMIN program (Indonesia-Germany) covered a portion of the Banda arc in eastern Indonesia, and also found evidence of recent hydrothermal activity and epithermal sulfide mineralisation.

Jan 1, 2004

The selection of the mining fleet can have as much of an effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of an operation as the mining method. This is not to say that inefficiencies are only attributable to inappropriate equipment selections, these aspects have many factors but are not the subject of this paper.This paper will give an overview of equipment selection processes that have been utilised to date. It will also look at the increase in application of study programs/simulations from an aspect of accuracy, as well as the importance of enabling the analysis of multiple sensitivity scenario planning. An aspect that is increasingly important in project planning with commodity market movements.Another aspect that is increasing in popularity is that of automation, what effect does this have on equipment selection? What additional aspects need to be taken into consideration when assessing Automation of equipment from the beginning of a project as well as introduction into an operating mine?Once the selection process has been finalised and equipment implemented, how do we, as an industry, 'close the loop' through analysis of estimated versus actual equipment application?

Dec 6, 2010