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By Lawson F

The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy is a society of engineers and scientists formed in 1893 (incorporated by Royal Charter in 1955) to advance science and engineering in the mineral industries, and to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas to enhance the professional excellence of its members. The Institute has several grades of members. The professional members are linked with Student and Company Members, as well as an Affiliate grade covering other professionals and non-professionals with experience in the mineral industry. The diverse group covers all sections of the mineral industry, from exploration through production to marketing of minerals and petroleum. Corporate (professional) membership also covers science and engineering professionals from specialisms other than the "traditional" ones in geosciences, mining and petroleum engineering and metallurgy. The Institute has Branches throughout Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Oceania, whose activities complement the corporate occasions arranged for the benefit of all members by Headquarters in Melbourne. Members are drawn from all sections of the industry - private enterprise, government, research, education, and the support sector, including consultancies, manufacturers and suppliers. Membership of The Institute allows professionals to contribute to their profession through participation in The Institute's seminars and conferences, its many committees and Branch meetings, and through contribution to its many high standard publications. The Institute is the main body for the accreditation of professionals in the minerals industry. The activities of The Institute are directed towards the achievement of professional excellence. It provides opportunitites for contact with, and professional support from, colleagues, and the interchange of information on the latest industry developments.

Jan 1, 1989

By Duran A, Eggers M. J

It is standard practice in geotechnical studies for mine design to drill a series of inclined oriented boreholes into the proposed pit walls. However, this investigation tool is often used without an adequate understanding of the inherent shortcomings in the method and the many potential sources of error. Of the more commonly used orientation methods in Australia the clay imprint technique is probably the most reliable. Contoured stereographic plots of oriented core data are frequently characterised by diverse pole distributions and low concentration maximums compared with line mapping data. Common sources of error producing these poor results are misinterpretation of orientation marks or imprints, inaccurate marking of the reference line, errors in the structural measurement of the defects, lack of continuity information and blind zones sub-parallel to the borehole direction which correction methods frequently do not fix. Line mapping is the preferred method of structural data collection due to the lower overall cost, availability of continuity information and higher accuracy. The projectability of field mapping data to final wall positions can be assessed with a good understanding of the regional geology and local structural patterns. Where field mapping is not possible due to a thick regolith cover, core orientation should be carried out by experienced personnel to minimise the many potential errors.A series of case studies are presented which compare oriented core with mapping and highlight the inherent problems with the technique.

Jan 1, 1992

By Haeussler P, Christie A, Bradley D, Skinner D

Mesothermal gold deposits of southern Alaska and Westland, New Zealand have both formed at the seaward edge of major collisional zones in the Pacific basin. In Alaska, production of large fluid volumes correlates in time with the addition of heat into the lower parts of the accreted terranes in the late stages of collisional orogeny. This heat was critical for driving both the metamorphic reactions that released the large volumes of fluid that carried the gold, and the contemporaneous widespread anatexis and magmatism. In Alaska's Chugach terrane, this heat was produced by subduction of a spreading ridge beneath the North America continental margin in the Eocene. The resulting products were the S-type granites and gold-bearing veins. The similar widespread S-type plutonism and gold veining in Westland's Buller terrane suggest that a similar tectonic event could have triggered ore formation along the southeastern edge of Gondwanaland. Based on the Alaskan model, a Devonian or Early Carboniferous age is favoured for high volume metamorphogenic fluid generation and gold vein formation in Westland.

Jan 1, 1995

By Scott A

The object of most blasting operations is to destroy the insitu structure of the rock mass so that mechanical equipment can efficiently excavate the rock fragments. In achieving this objective the blasting engineer is also concerned with minimising damage to the adjacent rock which forms the mine structure relied upon to provide support. Damage to this "structural" rock is undesirable but usually occurs as a result of two distinct processes: ò readjustment of stresses around the excavation as a result of the mining process itself ò impact of vibration and high pressure gases from blasting operations. Gross damage to mine structures from either cause is observed as visible alteration to the appearance of the rock structure in the form of cracking, slabbing, back or over break and visible displacement. Recent work at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) has shown that significant reduction in the strength of a rock mass can take place well before the onset of these obvious signs of damage. It has been demonstrated that the effect of blast damage on the behaviour of the rock mass can be many times more prominent than the effect of stress redistribution. This offers the blast design engineer the opportunity to significantly reduce blast induced damage to rock structure by modifying blasting practices. This paper introduces the current JKMRC postgraduate research projects investigating the evaluation and control of blast damage.

Jan 1, 1990

Difficult ground conditions in the area planned for placement of vent rises to the surface at the Porgera Goldmine led engineers directing the project to chose blind shaft boring methods of shaft construction from the available alternatives. Zeni Drilling Pty Ltd was first contracted in 1988 to install a group of three closely-spaced, steel lined shafts. The success of these led to an order for a fourth hole in the same group followed by two more, less than a kilometre. away, under a separate contract in 1992. All of the shafts were completed on.schedule to within one day. The only significant difficulty arose during commencement of the last shaft when the strata collapsed trapping the drilling tools and jeopardising the stability of the surface collar pad. The situation was corrected by innovative lining techniques and the project went on to finish on schedule. This paper discusses the application of various technologies associated with the project including aspects of geotechnical input, drilling fluid chemistry, mining engineering and logistics.

Jan 1, 1993

By Guarascio M, Massacci P

In process simulation, more reliable prediction of industrial results and evaluation of data for design purposes and process optimisation may be attained by the combined use of: the modelling and simulation of ore characteristics, and 2. the modelling and simulation of the process. It is well known that geostatistical methods allow the defining of models of orebodies in which the variables considered are the grades of the valuable components. These models are proper for reserve estimation, geostatistical contouring, design and simulation of the exploitation method, and, in addition, for evaluating the variability of the ROM which is expected to be fed to the processing plant. However, no data are normally incorporated in the orebody model in order to evaluate the ore characteristics relevant for a reliable process simulation. The procedure for process simulation aimed at predicting plant results normally used so far consists in collecting samples from different orebody sites and building up a so-called 'representative sample'. On this sample, the ore characteristics (eg liberation, washability, grindability, etc) and the processing tests are referred to as the 'average behaviour in the orebody', assumed constant. A more reliable methodology consists in collecting samples from different orebody sites, in performing tests to characterise the samples from the point of view of the process (ore patterns), and in using synthetic parameters (process features). The values of the parameters are processed using geostatistical methods in order to develop a model for simulating the feed to the process. The estimation may thus be referred to the amount of recoverable minerals instead of to the existing minerals. Furthermore, the selection of the processes, the sizing of equipment and the design of control devices, as well as the prediction of results, become more accurate and reliable.

Jan 1, 1993

By Brinkmann J. R

The relative effects of the two basic mechanisms contributing to rock breakage during blasting, shock and gas penetration, are neither well understood nor well characterized, and need further clarification. Blasthole liner (BHL) tests separate the two effects, and by enabling direct measurement of borehole expansion give insight into the shock/gas energy partitioning in rock confinement. The hydrodynamic code DYNA2D is used to simulate the shock effect of the detonation of emulsion in a stainless steel lined hole, and the predicted expansion is compared with experiment. Workers in the past have neglected near-blasthole phenomena and have calibrated models based on stress measurements remote from the blasthole. Extrapolation back to the blasthole has inherent limitations, and indeed, one of the deficiencies of these models is that they have not been able to predict correct borehole expansions, as observed in BHL experiments. DYNA2D has been enhanced by the ICI group with a detonation model which resolves the explosive reaction zone. As a preliminary step towards the ultimate goal of devising a practical damage model, simulations are used to predict the maximum expansion that would take place if the rock were to remain undamaged. Various material parameters are investigated and it is shown that calculated liner expansions are appreciably lower than measured values for high rock yield strengths, while greater than values for low yield strengths.

Jan 1, 1990

Vaal Reefs Mine annually produces some 75 tonnes of gold. Stoping operations, using a scattered mining method, are conducted on several reef horizons within Witwatersrand Supergroup metasediments of the Klerksdorp Goldfield. Current grades average 7.19 g/t Au over a 133cm stoping width. The reef horizons, of which the Vaal Reef is the most important, consists of 2.9Ga palaeoplacer deposits at the base of low angle unconformities. Typically, a reef comprises a mature quartz and chert conglomerate with a siliceous matrix and intergranular pyrite and carbon. Geologists are primarily responsible for underground mapping and supervising of drilling programs. To a lesser extent they are involved with sampling, grade control, ore reserve estimation, mine planning and rock mechanics. Due to a general decline in grades of gold mines, an escalation of production costs, and with the current weak gold price, it has become essential to improve production efficiencies. Consequently the role of the mine geologist has moved away from that of simply keeping the mining people "on reef'. Greater emphasis is being placed on refining geological models to assist in selective mining of the reef and investigations of secondary reef horizons are encouraged. Exploration within fault losses and re-evaluation of pillars is important, and geologists are becoming more involved with sampling and grade control exercises.

Jan 1, 1990

By S Latchireddi

Close circuiting autogenous and semi-autogenous mills is an energy efficient way of grinding and a number of operations have utilised this in the design of their comminution circuits. Owing to the large flow of slurry through the mill that results from operating this way the grates and pulp lifters have to be designed to cope. However, the literature has little or no information on how grate and pulp lifter size and design are related to their ability to remove slurry from the mill. Over the last few years the JKMRC has been researching this area and has developed relationships between grate/pulp lifter design and flowrate capacity. At the same time it has determined the major causes of pulp lifter inefficiency and a solution to preventing this inefficiency (the Twin Chamber Pulp Lifter). This paper describes the models that have been developed through this program and uses industrial scale data to illustrate their accuracy. Results from the industrial trials of the Twin Chamber Pulp Lifter are also presented.

Jan 1, 2000

By K Verbeken, D Seveno, A Maslov, I Bellemans

Recycling and decarbonisation current metallurgical processes is key for our planet’s future and in both cases, digital twinning will play an important role. However, the various modelling techniques being used for digital twinning require a lot of input values on variables such as viscosities, diffusion coefficients and surface energies that need to be known as a function of temperature, atmosphere and composition, but which are not widely available, such as in databases, for molten slag phases. The need for more accurate data on physical slag properties is clear and will be extremely relevant for making more realistic and quantitative simulations. Some of these properties are difficult to determine, which is inherent to the very high pyrometallurgical temperatures. Therefore, this work focuses on some aspects related to determining electrical conductivities, viscosities and surface tensions of slags via a combined experimental-modelling method. Besides experimental work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can be used to investigate oxidic slag physical properties. With MD simulations, one can follow the time evolution of a system (consisting of atoms or molecules) by integrating Newton’s equation of motion. The input for an MD simulation mainly consists of a force field as well as initial positions, velocities and mass of each atom. The determination of the transport properties in existing literature of MD simulations in oxidic systems, is typically based on incorrect assumptions. For example, to determine the ionic conductivity, the frequently-used Einstein-Stokes equation fails to take into account all ionic types and neglects correlated motion. Furthermore, the viscosity determination via the Einstein-Stokes formula also assumes independent motion of the different ions. This paper gives a brief overview of the opportunities and challenges related to the use of MD simulations for oxidic slag systems.

Jun 19, 2024

By P Radulovic, W Y. Lui

The Mount Isa Mines (MIM) copper concentrator at Mount Isa processes both chalcopyrite ore from the MIM underground mine and rotary holding furnace (RHF) slag from the MIM copper smelter. There have been numerous changes to the processing practices since commissioning this concentrator in 1973. Current management of the concentrator extends from grinding and flotation to concentrate handling (thickening and filtration) and tailings disposal (fill plants, tailings thickeners and process water systems).Predominant mill feed through the concentrator is chalcopyrite ore. RHF slag is processed when concentrator production exceeds mined ore production. The chalcopyrite circuit has two stages of grinding in parallel lines (Line 1 and Line 2). Each line has parallel preflotation and rougher banks, combining into a common scavenger/retreat circuit (including regrinding) and common cleaner circuit. RHF slag may be milled in parallel with chalcopyrite, utilising Line 2 flotation roughers and a Jameson cell cleaner. All final concentrate produced is combined and pumped to the concentrate handling plant. The concentrate is thickened, pre-fluxed and filtered in hyperbaric disc filters. Fluxing specification is set by the copper smelter, and filtered product transferred via conveyor belt to the smelter concentrate storage facility.Wet fill and paste fill plants utilise flotation final tailings as hydraulic or cemented hydraulic fill for stopes underground. Cement ratios and fill plant utilisation are varied depending on underground stope fill requirements. Tailings from the adjacent lead-zinc concentrator are also processed at wet fill. All tailings that are not utilised for backfill are pumped via wet fill to three parallel tailings thickeners. Thickener underflows are gravity fed to the tailings dams with thickener overflows recycled for site process water use. In addition to summarising historical operations, this paper will provide a detailed outline of more recent changes in the concentrator flotation circuit, equipment upgrades, reagent optimisation as well as product and process optimisation at the final concentrate handling and fill plants.CITATION:Lui, W Y and Radulovic, P, 2013. Mount Isa Mines copper concentrator - An insight into current and historical practice, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013 , pp 553-574 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 15, 2013

By Vanderberg B

A 3D, PC based computer program is currently under development by Blasting Analysis International, Inc., to analyze the kinetics of full scale blasts with two or more high-speed motion picture cameras. Todays common approach of utilizing only a single camera system can, in some cases, lead to great errors and erroneous conclusions when motion is assumed to be in a predefined plane of motion. CMe phrase, "What you see is what you get, it no longer true in 3D."). This is especially true in blasting environments which exhibit complex and/or predominant structural geology. The 3D system eliminates this problem, and includes automatic corrections for vertical and horizontal camera optic axis orientation, dimensional controls, lens distortion, field set-ups, projection imaging and digitized inputs. The only information required is the surveyed or known coordinates of at least six non coplanar points in the field of view. Motitn from each camera view is then digitized, transformed through a direct linear transformation, and processed with the 3D software, which also automatically time matches the data, even when the high-speed cameras are operated at different speeds. Eleven calibration constants are generated using an overdetermined system of linear equations to output the true 3D coordinates of motion in the time domain. Applications for this 3D approach are not restricted to just analyzing the kinetics of a blast. The system is sufficiently flexible to allow an accurate, quick and economical method of bench face profile analysis, generate muck pile profiles and estimate volumetric calculations. The recording systems for these applications can be common 35mm still photography and/or video equipment. It is envisioned that this system will soon replace expensive laser surveying systems at a fraction of the cost in the near future. It is also an excellent system to accurately quantify drill pattern layouts and the spatial locations of each blasthole. This information is required for generating single hole based synthetic seismograms to accurately predict the vibrational outputs of full scale blasts. In terms of litigation concerning claims resulting from blast induced ground vibrations to structures, the system is proving to be an excellent and economical method of performing pre-blast surveys where differential settlement is suspect.

Jan 1, 1990

By T J. Sheer

The removal of airborne pollutants from underground ventilating air is discussed. The work concentrates on the removal of CO, CO2, NOx, SO2, radon gas and respirable carbon particles. The investigation combines techniques for multiple contaminant removal using forced chemical absorption and oxidation. Both dry and wet scrubbing techniques are employed. Mixed success has been achieved in the tests carried out and this paper is seen as a progress report on the work done to date. The interference and interaction of the gases on the individual removal efficiencies is a very important factor in the finalisation of a macro air conditioner (MAC) design for treating underground ventilating air. This necessitates a specific sequence of contaminant removal. Efficiencies are discussed and recommendations made. Wet forced chemical absorption and oxidation processes, though efficient in terms of removal efficiencies, cannot be employed in the confined underground environment due to safety and health risks. Impacts on the internal water reticulation systems of the mine have been analysed to determine the effect of future large-scale macro air conditioning practices, including blow-off liquids discharged into the water circuits. To engineer the safety and health risks out of such designs can be costly and it is for these reasons the research now concentrates on dry scrubbing of the contaminants from the underground ventilating air. The paper concludes with statements on the benefits of macro air conditioning in deep hot mines, in both recirculating and series air ventilation distribution strategies. These benefits include reduced re-entry times after blasting and increased production rate opportunities.

Jan 1, 2005

The underground coal mining industry in Australia has, in the last 30 years, undergone a revolution in production methods, techniques and results probably unparalleled elsewhere in the world. It can lay claim not only to leading the fight against pneumoconiosis and setting high safety standards generally, but has at the same time recorded comparatively high rates of increase in output per man shift. The latter has been achieved as a result of progressively matching the latest in production and underground transportation equipment with significant changes in seam development and extraction techniques and the introduction of stress-relieving extraction methods unique to the world scene. However, the seam recovery factor is still too low. Apart from the overall objectives of maximising production and commercial returns with the greatest safety, there must be a concentration towards maximising seam recovery, particularly in high seams. The search will continue for systems which are more completely continuous mining operations than the present stop-go operations, with longwall having long term potential in this regard, but as yet not sufficiently developed to engender confidence for its more general use. Techniques developed in the last 10 years make the development and extraction of deeper seams, perhaps to 2500 feet or more, feasible with continuous miners as well as longwall. The future will see a greater use of continuous shifts at mines, larger mines with more sophisticated management organisation, extensible belts at the face, better systems of immediate roof support at the face, remote operation of face equipment, greater use of roof bolts and the longer roof cables. With commercial confidence in coal mining now virtually assured to at least the turn of the century, the stage is set for heavy capital development in the industry which will undoubtedly include major research into the whole area of mining methods and equipment. We must ensure that our contribution to such research equitably matches other coal producing countries.

Jan 1, 1975

By N McKenzie, F Brodbeck

The North-South Bypass Tunnel is the first project to get underway as part of BrisbaneÆs transport plan, which aims to improve the urban road network. The total length to be excavated is 6.8 km, which includes 4.8 km of driven tunnel and associated road connections. Construction commenced in August 2006 with project completion targeted well before the contractual completion date of October 2010. Due to the local geology, in particular the hard Brisbane tuff and neranleigh-fernvale formation, a combination of tunnel excavation methods are used. The majority of the tunnel is excavated by two tunnel boring machines which have a rate of progress of 16 - 20 m per day in rock having a compressive strength of between 80 and 150 MPa. Ten roadheaders operate at a rate of up to 2 m per day excavating the remaining tunnels, such as ramps, access tunnels, cross passages and merges. The tunnel team are managing the challenges and complexities associated with tunnelling through the hard Brisbane rock. A major challenge arose during the planning of the initial mainline excavation underneath the Royal National Association Showground in Bowen Hills. This section contains low rock cover and historical maps indicate that the showground is located within a former topographic depression (alluvial valley), which a creek once flowed through.Due to traffic merge design requirements, both tunnel boring machine (TBM) and roadheader excavation methods were required to be used in this challenging geological profile. The answer was to stabilise the alluvium above both TBM section tunnels from the surface prior to excavation and to operate the TBM in single shield mode with immediate grouting of annular void from the tail shield. In addition, the roadheader section of tunnel required additional support by spiles and canopy tubes installed from the tunnel face.

Jan 1, 2008

By E Whiteman, L Reyneke, H Horsch

Heavy mineral sand deposits are a source for the economically important element titanium, which is contained in minerals such as ilmenite and rutile. In heavy mineral deposits ilmenite displays various degrees of alteration. Natural weathering of ilmenite involves the removal of Fe and thus results in an increase in the Ti-content. Minerals such as pseudorutile, ferropseudobrookite, anatase and the ill-defined mineral aggregate leucoxene, which consists mainly of various amounts of remnant ilmenite, pseudorutile, ferropseudobrookite and anatase, are typical replacement products of ilmenite. Ferropseudobrookite occurs as a recrystallised, optically and chemically distinct mineral phase. Textural relationships suggest a diversity of physicochemical conditions including weathering and metamorphism that led to the formation of complex mineral assemblages and textures. In the heavy minerals industry the alteration products of ilmenite are generally referred to as æaltered ilmeniteÆ and/or leucoxene. The distinction between æaltered ilmeniteÆ and leucoxene is not consequently defined and is very much dependent on economic factors and specific mining operations (ie determined by deposit specific mineral assemblages). Generally the term leucoxene is used in the heavy minerals industry as a collective description for ilmenite alteration products with TiO2-components ranging from 65 - 95 per cent. A detailed comparative mineralogical investigation including microscopic, SEM and QEMSCAN« techniques show that it is possible to identify and quantify the replacement products of ilmenite on a micron scale. QEMSCAN« generated particle maps were graphically compared with photomicrographs taken by applying reflective light microscopy. The resulting information can be integrated over the entire sample with respect to composition, absolute and relative mineral abundances, grain sizes, volumes, densities, textural relationships and liberation potentials. This provides a powerful tool for a first appraisal of the physicochemical behaviour of bulk samples and individual particles during metallurgical processing.

Jan 1, 2008

The paper is aimed at mining engineers and other mining practitioners in the metalliferous mining industry who are considering the use of roadheaders and wish to understand the basic geomechanical and operational principles controlling their performance. The paper aims to address metalliferous minersÆ general unfamiliarity with roadheader technology, which is one of the factors which has limited the application of these machines in such mines. The historical development of drag tool mechanical excavation machines is briefly discussed, and factors affecting the application of roadheaders are mentioned. The mechanics of cutting with drag tools is then reviewed as are the effects of these and tool wear on tool performance. The implications of tool performance to roadheader performance are mentioned, the potential benefits of high pressure waterjet assistance are discussed and the relative performances of different tool types and materials are compared. Roadheader performance factors including productivity and utilisation are mentioned, and the state-of-the-art of conventional roadheaders is discussed in the context of machine weight, power and cutting head configuration. The influence of these and rock strength on machine productivity is analysed. Alternative, developing technologies are discussed which may extend the effective use of mechanical excavation into stronger rock masses which are beyond the range of conventional roadheaders. Finally, conclusions on these discussions are presented, along with recommendations for continuing research and development.

Jan 1, 1997

By G A. Partington

Recent research has highlighted the potential of a relatively new style of gold mineralisation related to granite intrusion. New discoveries in Alaska, Central Europe and Asia and Eastern Australia with total resources of 1600 t Au offer attractive targets for regional exploration in areas which may have been overlooked in the past. A spatial information system was developed to target granite-gold systems in eastern Australia and the West coast of New Zealand, using well constrained geological and exploration models derived from current research. Target areas were recognised in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand that have similar spatial data relationships to known granite gold mineralisation elsewhere in the world. The second phase of the modelling better constrained the regional scale target areas by including more detailed geological, geochemical and geophysical data in the GIS to develop prospect-scale targets and to allow the acquisition of tenements over these areas. A geological review of each target area was carried out in the field to put the GIS models into context. The fieldwork has highlighted the potential for this style of mineralisation in New Zealand and will increase investment in mineral exploration and development in New Zealand in the near future.

Jan 1, 2005

By P D. Franzmann, D J. Readett, J Peterse

A better connection between laboratory- and pilot-scale test results, and heap bioleaching performance can be achieved by generating reliable information on the fundamental microbial, chemical and physical processes that occur in heaps and incorporating this information into a comprehensive and robust model. More efficient heap bioleaching, particularly of chalcopyrite, has the potential to add value to the mining industry as well as deliver attractive environmental and social benefits to the communities within which those companies operate.The results of fundamental chemical and microbiological studies of the leaching mechanism, the temperature dependence of chalcopyrite bioleaching, and the optimisation of leaching conditions are described with examples from full-scale heaps. The development and application of a number of novel techniques and tools has assisted our understanding of heap subprocesses mineralogy, hydrology, chemistry and microbiology. The heap bioleaching model HeapSim, which embodies a large number of effects not previously accounted for in other models, continues to be refined and has been applied successfully to the study of several heap bioleach systems.

Jan 1, 2004

By T J. Orr

The changing demographics of the mining industry make successful passing of knowledge and skills to the next generation critical. Training methods and technologies are being developed to meet this need. Twenty years ago classroom training was largely a one-way transfer of knowledge through instructor lectures. In contrast, instructors today can use virtual reality technologies to guide trainees as they fully participate in learning experiences. Trainees can interact with the virtual work environment, co-workers, and equipment without being exposed to workplace hazards. The speed of advancement in mine safety, health, and production training shows no sign of slowing in the next 20 years. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have studied and participated in the evolution of miner training. A look at training materials they have created in the past and those they are currently developing reveals changes in methods and technologies over time and also key characteristics which have remained constant. Possibilities for the future can be discussed in the framework of an implementation of virtual reality in new miner training sessions. The example computer-based training package teaches new miners to read mine maps and provides opportunity to practice navigation skills in a virtual mine. With this æserious gameÆ, trainees experience the look and feel of moving through an underground coal mine while in the safety of their classroom. During field-testing in 2007, trainees and instructors responded very favourably to this new way of learning. The software was usable by mine trainers with even limited computer expertise and could be installed on the affordable computers they were using for their more traditional slide presentations. The Underground Coal Mine Map Reading TrainingÆs foundation on past successful development strategies and its acceptance by todayÆs instructors and trainees provide valuable lessons for developing training materials, strategies, and technologies for miningÆs future.

Jan 1, 2008