Search Documents

I once read an æarticleÆ in FHM Magazine entitled æThe Coolest Jobs There Ever WasÆ. It was about a group of guys who were pursuing careers that any person on the planet would just kill for. I distinctly remember drooling over the pages, thinking how much I would love to be Michael SchumacherÆs Chief Engineer at Ferrari, or the Principal Designer and Tester for one of the big Dutch rollercoaster companies. From that moment on, I decided that I wanted a career that was cool enough to make it into the pages of that article. Throughout my time at university, I always had that article in the back of my mind. As a result I constantly wondered about what sort of job I could end up with once I left university. More importantly, I wondered if FHM would be banging down my door to put me in the magazine! After a long and stressful job hunting process (in between completing a thesis and studying for exams) I finally managed to land myself a job with Orica Mining Services. I can honestly say I didnÆt know what to expect when I first joined Orica. Most of my friends ended up working for big mining companies, while I was offered a position with one of the biggest suppliers to these mining companies. However, I had a feeling when I was discussing the role with my future supervisor during the interview process that the job was going to be awesome. I have now spent a year working for Orica and I absolutely love it! While I feel that my job is worthy of being in that FHM article, unfortunately, I donÆt think I am going to get my opportunity to be in the magazine. Apparently I donÆt look too good in a bikini! However, I would love to have the opportunity to discuss the journey that I have taken so far û from my time as an environmental science graduate, then moving on to mining engineering, to now, being part of the Orica Mining Services Graduate Program. My suggestion is to use this paper as a resource. I have learnt during my time at university, as well as my time in the workforce, that the best people you can learn from are your peers. Take what you feel is relevant from the paper; hopefully it will help guide you in shaping your own career.

Jan 1, 2005

Whilst the wider community is both a large consumer of mineral products and relies on mineral exports for much of the wealth which sustains it, the community generally has a poor perception of the minerals industry.   The role of professionals and The AusIMM in the "New Economy" minerals industry is reviewed. The new structure of The Institute is vital as we move forward in times of globalisation, rationalism, increasing litigation, criminalisation of risk and increased focus on corporate governance. This address looks forward to ways The AusIMM and professionals of the future are positioning themselves for these and other challenges.

Jan 1, 2001

By N Cusworth

The development of a resource project inevitably requires the investigation of a vast range of issues across most engineering disciplines û mining, metallurgical, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and environmental û as well as the geosciences. It is also a characteristic feature of the resource industry that no two orebodies û and hence no two development projects û are the same. So these technical issues have to be addressed to a greater or lesser extent in evaluating any resource projectÆs development potential. Not surprisingly then, technical issues tend to predominate when assessing the development potential of a project in the process typically referred to as ædoing a feasibility studyÆ. But the principal purpose of a æfeasibility studyÆ is to determine whether a development opportunity makes good business sense, not just whether it is technically possible. Resolution of technical issues is often seen as the primary focus of a feasibility study, whereas in reality, these technical issues are the basis upon which an asset delivery and business plan is built. This is not to say that technical issues are unimportant û they are a prerequisite to the demonstration of a projectÆs viability. The feasibility study process must therefore demonstrate that not only have the technical issues been satisfactorily addressed, but also that the broader commercial, economic and social issues have been considered in the development of a comprehensive business plan, which includes an assessment of the risk-reward profile of the proposed development. This paper will present a framework for the conduct of æfeasibility studiesÆ and provide guidance to minimum standards and best practice.

Jan 1, 2007

By Matthew I. G

A new process for leaching zinc sulphide concentrates with gaseous mixtures of SO2 and O2 in aqueous solution is described.The reaction of SO2/O2 with Rosebery, Mt. Isa, Broken Hill and Elura zinc concentrates yields zinc and iron sulphates, elemental sulphur and some sulphuric acid. Rates of zinc extraction are controlled by a surface chemical reaction without apparent interference from the elemental sulphur layer for SO2 concentrations up to 9 per cent in the gas phase. Pyrite in concentrate exerts an activating effect, possibly through galvanic interaction with the sphalerite. Metal extractions are dependent on SO2 and O2 tenors of the gas, particle size, and the acidity and zinc content of the solution, but are independent of the ferric ion level. Extractions also reach maxima at about 85°C.Generation of acid may be prevented by conducting the reaction in the presence of ferrous iron and at acidities of 40 g/l or greater. Zinc and iron levels in Elura lead concentrate may be reduced by leaching with SO2/O2.

Jan 1, 1981

Mount Isa Mines Limited first installed electronic data processing equipment in 1959. The decision to replace this equipment with a computer was motivated by the need for greater processing power and the availability of new and less expensive computers. Consideration of hardware software and delivery features of available equipment, resulted in the selectIon of an ICT 1900 series computer which was installed in March 1966. Special air-conditioning and power stabilization equipment was also required.Systems design and programming was carried out by personnel recruited from within the Company and trained by the computer manufacturer. Early work was hindered by the problems of remote location.Initial applications were basically accounting functions whIch were taken over from the EDP installation. Subsequently computer applIcatIOns of a more complex technical nature have been undertaken. Future work will include both "scientific" and data processing applications.

Jan 1, 1968

By Dhar B. B, Gupta R. C

Grinding of iron ore is an essential step to utilise ore fines for pelletisation needed for DRI units. While preparing iron ore pellets for DRI production, the iron ore needs extensive grinding which is highly energy consuming step causing the process to become non-viable in some cases. In the present paper an attempt has been made to evaluate grinding performance of thermally treated ore compared to normal ore grinding. Such thermal pre-treatment has been found to reduce the energy requirement with lower consumption rate of grinding media. It has been observed that by applying thermal shock the ore is rendered weak with improved grindability. The stresses generated due to thermal treatment may extend existing micro-cracks in the ore and in some cases it may even nucleate fresh cracks. Experimental studies carried out on thermally treated hematitite ore reveals that the heating to 400¦C followed by water quenching can cause a reduction of 45 per cent in grinding energy. The paper gives the details of the experiment and the Results.

Jan 1, 1999

By S L. Garwin

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Since the Eocene, New Guinea tectonics have been driven largely by the south-westerly-directed collision of accreted arc terranes with the northern margin of the Australian Craton, and subsequent westerly-directed transport of these exotic terranes by left-lateral strike-slip fault systems. The subduction of the Solomon Sea plate beneath north-eastern New Guinea in the mid- to late-Miocene led to magmatism and related gold-copper porphyry and epithermal mineralisation in the Maramuni arc and the formation of the Frieda River, Nena, Wafi-Golpu and other deposits.The development of the world-class porphyry and epithermal deposits in the Medial New Guinea magmatic belt, including Grasberg, Ok Tedi and Porgera, is localised by dilational zones formed about the intersections of north-easterly-trending, reactivated basement faults and north-dipping reverse faults related to the southward progression of the Papuan fold belt during the Late Miocene to Pleistocene. These deposits probably formed during short mantle-derived magmatic episodes in zones of regional isostatic uplift, which are attributed to the delamination of the lithospheric mantle beneath New Guinea.CITATION:Garwin, S L, 2015. The tectonics, geology and gold-copper metallogeny of New Guinea, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 151–164 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By Prosser A. P

The conditions under which vanadium is rendered insoluble by silica in the alkali-roast process have been investigated starting with both slag and reagent-grade materials. The inert phase is a glass formed slowlyfrom soluble NaV03 produced at lower temperatures. It contains approximately 30 per cent V in a partly reduced state; iron is not a principal component. Some of the vanadium in the inert phase is slowly returned to a soluble form by heating in an oxidizing atmosphere below the temperature at which the glass is formed (750°C). As the reaction leading to the required, soluble form of vanadium is also slow between 600 and 750° optimization and control of the temperature profile and atmosphere in the furnace, and the residence time of the solids, are necessary to ensure high vanadium extraction during subsequent leaching.

Jan 1, 1976

In formulating its strategic plan in 1998 the New Zealand Minerals Industry identified two related critical issues facing it. These are, broadly speaking, the issues of access to minerals; and the perception the public has towards the industry and its behaviour towards the environment. This presentation will report on the Industry's response to the public perception issue. The Industry has, through the NZMIA Council, and its Communication and Website Committees, developed and implemented strategies covering: communication through the print media, and through its website www.minerals.co.nz, a long-term educational outreach programme with schools, focussing on the significance of minerals, their contribution to community wellbeing and the negligible long-term environmental effects of the Industry's activities.

Jan 1, 2000

By K M. Brodie, D I. K McLeod, J Ruddock

Environmental incidents involving mine tailings and waste rock inevitably become highly publicised and serve to damage the credibility of the entire industry. The recent serious incident involving a spill from a Romanian mine, was blamed for triggering æone of the worst environmental catastrophes in Eastern EuropeÆ. It is important to clearly demonstrate to the general public that these incidents are not representative of the industry as a whole. Where such incidents have occurred, the causes are generally related to poor design and/or construction, inadequate supervision and/or monitoring and maintenance, lack of independent expertise, inadequate risk identification and treatment and no provision to ensure that rehabilitation and long term management of the site occurs. Many people are unaware that these issues have been considered and provided for at the Martha Mine. Despite the fact that the first tailings storage facility has performed very well over fifteen years of operation, the long term safety and security of the tailings storage facilities continues to be questioned and debated by the public. The best way to address this is to provide quality information to enable a better understanding amongst the general public.

Jan 1, 2002

Increasing demands on quality of metallurgical grade alumina and for lower production costs led to the development of a new fluid bed calcining process. The process, jointly developed in Germany by Vereinigte Aluminium Werke A. G. and Lurgi Gesellschaften m.b.H., takes advantage of modern chemical engineering methods such as counter-current flow of combustion air and solids, direct heat-exchange between combustion air and fine solids, and near stoichiometric combustion of oil in a fluid bed. Using a two-stage Venturi-type suspension preheater for heat-recovery from combustion flue-gases, the circulating fluid bed technique with internal oil combustion at 220°F for the calcining step and a five-stage fluidized bed cooler for heat-recovery from calcines, the process gives an outstanding heat-efficiency. In a first industrial plant for 560 sh. tons/day of alumina heat consumption figures of less than 1·400 B.T.U./lb Al203 g were achieved.

Jan 1, 1972

THE following short paper on the Blair Athol coal-field will no doubt have a twofold interest to members from the fact that its main seam, known as the "Big Seam" of a maximum thickness of 91 ft without a band, is unique, being probably the thickestseam of high-grade clean coal yet known, and also because of the interesting problem it presents the colliery engineer-viz., which system of mining is the best to secure the highest economical extraction.Location - Blair Athol is a mining township in Central Queensland, situated at an altitude of about 1100 ft. above sea-level at the end of a branch railway line 74, miles from Emerald, on the Main Central Western line, and 240 miles by rail from Rockhampton.Geology - The coal-measures appear to lie in a shallow basin of about four or five square miles in area, surrounded on all sides by slates and schists, which are overlaid oh three sides by alluvial deposits of up to 150 ft. in thickness, and on the fourth by a thick basalt bed, as yet unproved, some miles beyond which the auriferous slates outcrop. These alluvial deposits have been largely worked in years past and gave high gold returns, the chief diggings being Clermont and Macdonald's Flats in the south, the Springs and Black Ridge in the north-east, and Yankee Creek and others on the west. The surface of the coal-fields may be described as unbroken, but undulating, with gentle southerly dip, the watercourses opening out into wide flats. The absence of creeks or deep gullies accounts for no outcrops being visible on the surface, and the coal-measures...

Jan 1, 1918

IN the construction of a set of ordinary mine plans, two axes or coordinates are used; also, two different projections are essential viz., a plan (horizontal projection) and longitudinal section (vertical projection). In isometric projection three axes are employed-one axis vertical and the remaining two inclined to it at angles of 120°, also making an angle of 120° with one another, as shown in Fig. 1. The two inclined axes are used to plot the horizontal projection, while altitudes are plotted on the vertical axis. As an illustration, consider the ease of a simple object, such as a box. To show all the dimensions in the usual manner requires two drawings-a plan and elevation, as in Fig 2.

Jan 1, 1919

By Gunderson C. T

The use of carbide tipped integral drill steels and detachable bits is discussed in relation to the means of drilling or cutting employed. It is stressed that only by correct use can the full value of these tools be realised.Factors affecting carbide quality, the design of shanking steels and the requirements and techniques of brazing in inserts are considered.It is essential that the brazed jointing between carbide and steel be strong but ductile. The methods used for the manufacture of carbide tipped tools are briefly outlined.INTRODUCTIONIn recent years the application of tungsten carbide to various mining tools in the mining industry, has developed to the stage where it is now regarded as an essential item in the production of coal and metal ores. In fact it is claimed that certain mining operations would not be possible if it were not for the benefits obtainable from the characteristic properties of tungsten carbide. The advantages of this hardmetal have, to some extent, influenced manufacturers to revise design specifiations of some machines, while againsome machines have actually been designed with tungsten carbide as their basic medium for operation.In general the applications fall into the following three categories:(a) Drilling hard rock by percussive means.(b) Drilling soft rock and coal by rotary means.(c) Coal cuttingThis paper is concerned with tungsten carbide tools associated with these three activities in Australia, the effectiveness of their application and significant points in their design and manufacture.

Jan 1, 1958

By M Pizey, M Kingsbury

Since 1950 Stockton Open Cast Mine has excavated over 60 million tonnes of Brunner Coal Measures overburden sandstones and mudstones. The current operator, Solid Energy New Zealand, recognises that acidic drainage from this overburden and from historic underground mines has led to depressed pH levels and elevated levels of metals in streams draining the Stockton Plateau. These streams report to the Ngakawau River. To quantify the effects of mine site acid drainage remediation/mitigation on the lower Ngakawau River water quality, a catchment hydrogeochemical model has been field calibrated and ecotoxicology tests have been undertaken. The hydrogeochemical model indicates that pre-mining and present pH values in the lower Ngakawau River are similar but present aluminium and iron concentrations are elevated. Ecotoxicology tests have semi-quantified the critical metal concentrations and interim water quality targets to achieve ecological recovery are presented. Analyses of long-term total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity monitoring in the lower Ngakawau River and St Patrick's Stream indicate that TSS of 120 mg/L and turbidity of 20 NTU are exceeded for <20% per cent of the time. Hence, specific criteria to protect migratory native fish from turbid water are currently met in the Ngakawau River and St Patrick's Stream.

Jan 1, 2003

The mineral industry is an important element in the human environment and in varying degrees contributes to the general standard of living throughout most of the world, both by supplying the basic materials required for heavy industry, transportation, construction, scientific equipment, and many labour saving tools and also by its contribution to the international economy.When projecting population growth and per capita resource utilization against a finite amount of nonrenewable mineral resources, it is apparent that at some future time, if the established trend continues, the supply of industrial minerals will progressively become exhausted according to their relative scarcity and world demand.In one way or another all of nature's mineral resources are used in the sel'vice of man. Some of the products of their manufacture are essential to the survival and further development of our civilization, others are luxuries, desirable but not essential. Marine vessels are essential to maintain a flow of resollrces around the world, and as trade increases the size of the fleet will grow and the quantities of metals needed will be greater.The commodities they transport, may be used in an inefficient or extravagant manner causing unnecessary depletion which may adversely affect the activities of future generations. An example that comes readily to mind is fuel oil, the international transport of which uses a vast tanker fleet. When refined, large quantities of motor spirit are used in motor vehicles. The U.S.A. alone uses 70 billion gallons annually in the 90,000,000 automobiles in use.Much of this is used in private cars-of which there is one for every 2'3 people-for transport between home and city. Well organized community transport would serve the same purpose, conserve a scarce commodity, take some of the stress out of livingdriving in a major city can hardly be considered a relaxing experience-and minimize the problem of atmospheric pollution.Whilst man has demonstrated his great versatility...

Jan 1, 1973

Interest in industrial minerals in recent years has increased to such an extent that it has taken them into the mainstream of the Australian mineral industry. Notwithstanding that time series data on the values of production, exports, and imports show that industrial minerals are overshadowed by metals and energy minerals, their contribution to the national economy is important and more significant than would seem to be indicated by the statistics. Whereas the ex mine value of metals generally includes some processing (at least to a concentrate stage), most industrial minerals are valued at little more than their extraction cost, in addition to which such costs are generally low because most industrial minerals are exploited in low-cost surface operations. Consequently, values of mine production of metals and industrial minerals are not strictly comparable in that values of mine production of metals tend to be overstated Short term growth of the industrial minerals sector is assured because of several new projects already commissioned but not yet reflected in the statistics. Longer term growth is also assured, based on various other major projects that are likely to come on stream in the early to mid 1990s.

Jan 1, 1989

THE treatment by chlorination of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company's ores was first accomplished, early in 1886, by a works having a capacity of 25,000 tons per annum. Shortly afterwards another works was established, capable of dealing with 50,000 tons per annum. The extraction of gold was originally successful and satisfactory, but running expenses were high, averaging £2 19s. 6d. per ton of ore treated. These works were believed to be the largest chlorination pJants in the world at that time. As might have been expected, the mechanical details and chemical process had not been perfected, and, moreover, both works were hurriedly built, and operating expenses were not then considered of such prime importance, as the ore at that time was of very high grade the large quantities of low grade ore since dealt with not being then considered, since the bulk of it was not even known to be in existence.These two works consisted of lock-breakers, high speed rolls, screens, elevators, &c., for crushing; a large number of small handrabbled reverberatory furnaces for roasting; one-ton chlorination barrels and three-ton leaching vats for chlorination.

Jan 1, 1910

By Y Xiao, C Lei, C Shu, W Wang, K Wang, J Deng

To investigate the effect on coal spontaneous combustion with high geo-temperature, an experimental apparatus was developed to measure characteristic parameters of two kinds of coal samples at different temperatures: one was 40°C (G coal sample) and the other was a rising temperature from room temperature (C coal sample). Based on the relationship between CO concentration and the temperature variation, a calculation model of the apparent activation energy of coal was established. The results indicated that the oxygen consumption rate, the generation rate of CO and CO2, and heat release intensity of G coal sample were higher than C coal sample. This trend was more and more obvious as the temperature increased. Furthermore, the apparent activation energy of G coal sample was lower than C coal sample, especially at low temperature stage, which demonstrated that the more the oxidation and exothermic reaction of G coal sample was enhanced, the less energy was required to break the barrier of oxidation reaction. Under the same condition, the speed of oxidation reaction was faster for the coal in the high geo-temperature environment, which was more liable to spontaneous combustion.CITATION:Lei, C, Deng, J, Xiao, Y, Shu, C, Wang, K and Wang, W, 2017. The effect of high geo-temperature environment on spontaneous combustion – an experimental study, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 137–142 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

Mt Waruwari, host to the Porgera underground gold mine in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG), is a prominent ridge of sediments and dioritic intrusives rising approximately 600m above the surrounding valley floor. Consequently, mining occurs in a low stress environment where structural and material considerations are foremost in the design of ground support and reinforcement. Three major rock types are encountered in the underground mine. These are locally referred to as "black sediments" (slightly indurated mudstones and clayey siltstones), "altered sediments" (derived from black sediments by thermal metamorphism), and "intrusives" of dioritic composition. The rocks are moderately to highly fractured, the black sediments being generally weak and occasionally sheared while the altered sediments and intrusives are quite strong but often brittle. Mining takes place from a series of stopes extracted by either slot and mass blast or a modified vertical crater retreat method (VCR), which are backfilled with a cemented rock fill. Ground support and reinforcement has been relatively conserv- ative to date and generally relies on pattern reinforcement of all development with cement grouted "rebar" bolts and mesh, extending to pattern cable bolting with occasional mesh in stope backs. In addition there has been considerable reinforcement of stope hangingwalls in some cases. A programme of broad scale structural mapping, monitoring with extensometers, material property testing, and stress analysis has been devised to allow optimum design of ground support and reinforcement in the future. Considerable work remains to ,omplete this task.

Jan 1, 1991