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The company was formed in 1926 to exploit tin bearing veins adjacent to Aberfoyle Creek in north-east Tasmania. In 1928 a 923ft tunnel was driven to explore and develop the mine 150ft below surface. This put the company on a path to become Australia's second largest tin producer by the late 1960's. Recently, Aberfoyle Resources Limited completed a 1.1km tunnel to access the major Hellyer zinc, silver, lead orebody at 300m depth. Production at 1 million tonnes a year is likely, and will make the company a significant world supplier of zinc by the late 1980's. The intervening 20 year history of survival and diversification illustrates principles of mineral exploration which proved valid in the Australian context. The objective of exploration should be to develop mines which can survive rigorous competition and downturns in commodity prices. Such mines will be based on orebodies with many of the following characteristics described by Richards (1986).

Jan 1, 1987

By A M. L Smith, W E. Dubbin, K A. Hudson-Edwards

Jarosites (KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6) are examples of minerals that are highly effective scavengers of toxic elements, and are abundant in acid rock drainage systems, acid sulfate soils, metallurgical wastes and other contaminated sites. The K, Fe and S sites can be filled by toxic elements such as Cd, Cu and Zn, but the mechanisms of this incorporation are not well understood.We have used atomistic simulation methods to model the jarosite (102) surface and its interactions with Cd, Zn and Cu, in order to understand the mechanisms by which these potentially toxic elements are incorporated into the K-jarosite structure. Our results suggest that incorporation via a defect complex consisting of an impurity cation at the K site charge balanced by a K vacancy stabilises the (102) surface in the order Cu>Zn>Cd.

Jan 1, 2008

By Ranford LC

Modern, research-based approaches to mineral exploration are essential to the future maintenance of the mineral industry. These need to fully utilise the rapidly expanding growth of understanding of the evolution of the earth's crust, and be properly integrated with advances in understanding of chemical and physical processes involved in ore formation. BMR has a major role to play in supporting the growth and utilisation of this research base, as well as maintaining the national geological and geophysical bases which are essential both to tactical and strategic interests of Australia and of its mineral industry. The objective development of data-process modelling is one target of such strategic research based on a more integrated approach to research by BMR, mineral companies, CSIRO and the universities with emphasis given to promoting positive feedback during research activities. Examples of the success of strategic research in Australia and overseas are noted in the Text.

Jan 1, 1986

By Whiteley M, Robinson T, Vernon B

The Western Australian gold industry has approximately 100 operating plants, mainly CIP/CIL. The nature of the State's rapidly expanding gold industry gave rise to concerns over management of the cyanide hazard, in that most plants are remote from major population centres, have a workforce with a high turn over and use highly saline process water. Approximately 4,500 workers in the industry have the potential to be exposed to cyanide in the course of their normal work.This paper outlines the risk management strategy developed by Government and industry to monitor atmospheric HCN gas in the work environment and the role of continuing education and training along with regular site inspections by Department of Mines Inspectors.

Jan 1, 1990

By Lee G, Stitt P

The term "industrial minerals" covers a vary wide field. However in Australia this field tends to be characterised by the follow- ing: (1) Relatively low unit values. (2) Product specifications can be exacting compared to the metalliferous field. (3) Product specifications often have to be tailored to the needs of the end user. (4) Beneficiation plants tend to involve low capital outlays relative to the metalliferous field. However they often have to produce products'to a range of specifications. (5) Technology often influences what can be considered as reserves. (6) Because of low unit values industrial minerals tend to be relatively cost sensitive. This is particularly the case in regard to transport. (7) Location of deposits near to major urban areas (markets) dictates a greater pressure on ecological aspects. (8) In Australia there has been a tendency to vertical integration largely due to the restricted market available. Reserves assessment is shown to be critically dependent upon the above Factors.

Jan 1, 1979

By R H. Boffey

The Osborne copper-gold deposit was discovered in North-West Queensland in 1989. Underground production activities commenced at Osborne deposit in April 1996. This paper will examine technical and operational aspects of the underground mine during its development to a 1.2 Mtpa operation . Technical aspects discussed include geology, mine design and mining methods, equipment fleet selection and capital infrastructure. Operational aspects discussed include the evolution and performance of the integrated work teams that are utilised at Osborne to perform all mining and maintenance activities.

Jan 1, 1998

As mines become deeper, the problems of heat in the workplacebecome more acute. An important response from the industry hasbeen the widespread adoption of microclimate cooling such asair-conditioned cabins. However, not all work in mines can becompleted from inside an air-conditioned cabin, and in any event,it is still important to keep the ambient air in the mine outside ofany microclimate to a safe temperature. An important method forbringing workplace temperatures under control is the appropriateuse of refrigeration. The application of refrigeration inmechanised mines has been recently described (Brake, 2001;Brake and Fulker, 2000). This paper provides an overview ofsome of the important engineering considerations in thespecification and selection of mine refrigeration plants. Thepurpose is to provide a basic understanding of refrigerationprinciples, practices, terminology, hazards and opportunities formining engineers or other personnel who may need to beinvolved in the introduction of refrigeration onto a mine site.

Jan 1, 2001

An intensely sheared and mineralisedIzone occurs in the Quartz Dolerite Greenstone (or Younger Greenstone) mass on, the western limb of the Kalgoorlie Syncline. This zone comprises the western part of the Golden Mile and has produced the greater part of the 33,000,000 ounces of gold produced to date from the main mining belts. A study of.th e general geological and structural features gives rise to the expectation that the lode shear system,will continue southward on a pitch similar to that of the maln syncline whose axial plane may be referred to as the "Boulder Dyke". Although payable ore has recently been found further south than previously, the expectation of large quantities extending southward from the present mining areas is Problematical.'

Jan 1, 1964

In those days no one worried - there were plenty of other things to do. But in'these days it is different. Everyone worries- and. because there is so much worry, emotion has entered the picture. And, worse than that, capital is being made in political circles. People who were quite unaware, five years ago, that any problem existed, have now become experts on the subject, and shout to high heaven that something should be done - and yet they go on using the leaded high octane petrol they deplore so much. And even scientists, who should know better, adduce only such evidence as fits the argument in hand. And the Press is not without blame - some of its reportings is open to serious question, whatever may be the excellence of its motives. The point is made that one should know what one is talking about. And make sure that the evidence quoted is fact - and make sure too, that all the evidence is used, not only that which suita the argument.

Jan 1, 1971

The last two years have seen a rapid change-over from mechanised cut and fill. stoping to the more economic and productive long hole open stoping method, such that today more than 80 per cent of total production is won from open stopes. At first drilling was by sub-level rings and/or parallel up and down holes from inter- mediate sill horizons using conventional exten- sion rod equipment. Sub-levels were developed no more than 40 metres apart to allow accurate drilling. Compact, crawler mounted in-the-hole hammer equipment was introduced as soon as it became available in Australia. Today, all open stope drilling is done with three Atlas Copco ROC306 rigs and two Ingersoll-Rand CMM jumbos. Fans of 115 mm diameter holes, varying from near vertical down holes to horizontal, are drilled with a burden of 3 m. Toe spacing varies from 3.5 m to 4 m. An Atlas Copco DG418 booster compressor is used to boost run-of-mine air from 700 kPa to 1400 kPa in the areas of longest drilling. This has improved overall drilling performance in these areas by 40 percent.

Jan 1, 1977

All sections of our community are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of uncontroll- ed erosion associated with modern earthworksy whether they be concerned with the protection of capital structures, reforestation of mine tailings or generally the aesthetic and ecol- ogical impact. Because of the many ecological variances and climatic conditions no single technique may be offered as the complete answer. Rather that a combination of a series of techniques is nec- essary to achieve an individual end result. These techniques may appear to be expensive initially, but when considered in relation to the overall cost, and we realise that this work represents our only insurance of the stability of our project, the cost of stabilisation is insignificant. Once erosion has commenced the cost of stabilisation escalates dramatically which highlights the definite need to include the requirement of stabilisation in early design of your projects. Stabilisation should commence during construction to ensure that control of mobile soils is gained at the earliest possible time.

Jan 1, 1976

By G Lind

Bridging of production stopes in narrow vein gold deposits contributes to significant financial losses and production delays. Bridging is caused when underbreak in the stope production blast occurs, resulting in less than the designed stope blast volume breaking out during blasting. Jundee Operations in the Northern Goldfields of Western Australia extracts ore from its expansive narrow vein orebodies utilising longhole open stoping. In 2006 it experienced bridging in ten panels, or 8.77 per cent of all panels, as well as multiple bridging in 30 per cent of these bridged panels. The Jundee orebodies are west dipping with the bridged panels dipping between 44¦ and 62¦. This paper examines some solutions from the drill and blast design perspective to minimise bridging occurrences. It was found that the then current drill patterns and number of holes were adequate from a longhole stope design perspective. However, changes to the blasting design, specifically modifications to the blast delay initiation sequencing, primer positioning and blasthole dump combined with timely stope surveying and back analysis, were implemented with the aim of preventing bridging in this narrow vein operation.

Jan 1, 2008

A review of publicly available coronial inquiries into fatalities that have occurred within the resources sector since the year 2000 reveals that a loss of corporate memory has been a contributing factor in 40 per cent of these accidents (National Coroners Information Service, 2010, Appendix B). With the highest levels of employee turnover within the Australian economy, increasingly complex operations and an ageing workforce, the management of corporate memory within the Australian resources industry poses a significant and often unrecognised safety risk.    The North Parks airblast of 1999 is used as a case study to highlight how corporate memory loss poses a significant hazard to resources projects and how such incidents will continue to occur if corporate memory is not effectively managed. Best practice from other industries is discussed to demonstrate how knowledge management systems can effectively work. This paper discusses how systems can be put in place within the geographically diverse resources sector, and how at the heart of any knowledge management system a culture of knowledge management needs to exist within an organisation.   The paper then discusses the importance of retaining key personnel and utilises findings from primary survey data collated in 2009 to show the size of the retention problem within the industry. From the data possible solutions to retaining key staff are proposed.   Finally the large and increasing role of contractors and consultants within the industry is discussed and methods of managing their knowledge are proposed.

Jun 1, 2010

By G Harbort, C Sola

The rapid development of geometallurgy in the mining industry has occurred in relatively recent times. Its importance as an independent discipline in the mineral processing world has been emphasised and recognised. To a large degree, this is the result of a growing understanding of the ore type being processed and their application to provide better metallurgical responses in different mineral processing techniques. The development has matured from early progress through to geological knowledge and into the realm of the metallurgist and mining engineer. Working together, they have developed a powerful framework that will interpret a body of mineralisation into measurable properties.The integration of geometallurgy and operations has become of increasingly important due to improvement in understanding of an orebody as a natural system formed by a number of processes and with a definite fabric of mineralisation within different geological domain. These have to be taken into account when creating techniques that will enable operations to extract the valuable components from a distinct type of ore. Incorporation of such knowledge at an early stage of development, such as the feasibility stage significantly reduces the project risk.This paper is written from the unique perspective of a process engineer embedded within a geological team. It discusses issues such cross discipline communications and misconceptions and details the numerous tricks, traps and treasures of geometallurgy encountered during defining of the Seminco and Taysan resources.CITATION:Sola, C and Harbort, G, 2012. Geometallurgy - Tricks, traps and treasures, in Proceedings 11th AusIMM Mill OperatorsÆ Conference, pp 187-196 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 29, 2012

By Lin C, Jiaxiang D

A series of experiments were carried out with Hallimond tube in order to test the effects of different reagents. A good result has been obtained when potassium-n-butyl xanthate is used as collector for molybdenite and graphite complex are depressed by the depressor mixed with nigrosine and iron (III) chloride. The separating mechanism has been studied with help of many modem instruments.

Jan 1, 1993

The results from three quick methods for the determination of W03 in scheelite ore samples, mill products and concentrates were compared with gravimetric results and tested with standard samples to establish which was the most reliable. Summaries of the methods, two X-Ray fluorescence and one colorimetric, are given. The best method was X-Ray fluorescence, with samples cast as glass discs.

Jan 1, 1988

By M Rispin, R Karlson

Chemical admixtures are not commonly included in the variety of backfill mixes used in the mining industry. This may be attributed to several reasons including, but not limited to: the perceived high added cost, the lack of awareness about their proper use, and the lack of knowledge about their features and benefits. In the construction industry today, however, chemical admixtures are used in the majority of the concrete produced, enabling concrete to become a more cost-effective building material. They also enable construction crews to meet demands for year-round construction, quicker completion of construction projects, and improved concrete properties. The high demand for chemical admixtures in the construction industry has led to numerous innovations in admixture technology in recent years. Some of these chemical admixtures have been found to enhance the production, transport, placement, and in situ properties of backfill mixes. Others have been found to reduce the cost of such mixes while maintaining, and in some cases improving, their physical properties. In this paper, a few of such innovative admixture technologies are discussed. The benefits, imparted by these technologies to backfill mixes as well as performance data on their use in several backfill applications at various mines, are presented.

Jan 1, 1998

By Aalbers J. P A

The State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV) operates 13 excavators, 3 travelling stackers and 4 mobile slew conveyors in their three open cuts in the Latrobe Valley. The majority of these machines have been designed and constructed to a German design code current at the date of order. The SECV has always ensured that the machines were manufactured and erected to the appropriate standards. The SECV has a policy of having all machines inspected by an independent inspector every two years. These inspections are based on those carried out in Germany. The inspections have been carried out by inspectors from Germany who have the necessary experience to do similar work in German open cuts. Major faults found during the inspections have been repaired, however,the gradual breakdown of corrosion protection system has continued. The structures on some machines have areas of bad corrosion. This, coupled with wear on major mechanical equipment, would require an extensive outage to overhaul the machines. Refurbishment of Hazelwood Power Station will result in higher levels of production and extended life for the station. This will require improvement in the total output from Morwell Open Cut (MOC). To meet this increased coal demand, the open cut equipment will need to operate more efficiently and for a longer period of life.

Jan 1, 1989

Mond gas-producer tar, and, in fact, all tars obtained from the retorting of coal where steam and air are admitted to the retort, are of entirely different chemical composition to the ordinary coal tar made in the gas or coke works. These tars contain none of, the aromatic hydrocarbons - benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and anthracene, sought after by the ordinary coal-tar refiner.The distillation of Mond tar shows it to consist of phenols of high molecular weight, unsaturated hydrocarbons of high gravity and low viscosity, paraffin wax, and resinous substances of whose composition little is known.The physical properties of Mond producer tar are also peculiar. It has a "short," granular texture when cold, which might be likened to candied honey. It "dries" (hardens) when exposed in thin layers to the air, and, for a coal tar, it cannot be considered sticky. This latterò property, combined with the short texture, prevents its being used successfully for road-making or macadamizing.The drying properties and the paraffin wax contained in: this tar cause it to hold up large percentages of water, probably in the form of emulsion. When containing as much as 10% to 15% moisture it appears to be quite dry.

Jan 1, 1918

By M Darby, B Burdett, F Lovell

The results of the process control improvement project aimed at improving the quality of Australian Bulk MineralsÆ (ABM) iron ore pellets produced by four vertical shaft furnaces are very positive. These results are achieved through process stabilisation and optimisation, improvement in process monitoring and taking early corrective actions when operating variables were outside the target ranges. A number of benefits are obtained from this project. These benefits include: More consistent and improved pellet quality. The average cold compression strength (CCS) value of pellets produced during the eight-month trial is 260 kg/pellet, which is 16 kg/pellet higher than that produced during the 12 months prior to the trial (244 kg/pellet). Reduction in the heat input by eight per cent, from 727 MJ/tonne to 668 MJ/tonne. Reduction in bentonite rate by six per cent, from 7.1 kg/tonne to 6.7 kg/tonne. Increase in the furnace throughput rate by four per cent and additional production of 10 000 tonnes per annum through process stabilisation. Better understanding of the process behaviour. This knowledge is valuable not only for setting the target operating conditions but also for developing the ABM expert system to control the process.

Jan 1, 2005