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Drum winders have now been built to attain depths of 3000 m and more in a single lift in accordance with the South African Code of Practice SABS 0294, which was introduced at the time of the last hoisting conference in 2000. Since then, this code has not only been followed for several winders in South Africa but was also followed in deep mines in Canada. Design of winders and their braking systems are described in the paper. Koepe winders are in use for high payloads of up to 50 t and to hoisting depths of around 2100 m. As known, the stress range of the hoisting ropes is the key parameter for rope fatigue. However, as per the SABS Code of Practice 0294, relying on static design is not the answer to the question of where the limits are for Koepe installation. The paper describes factors that are recognised to have influence in rope life and suggests definition of new design criteria for friction winders in order to get viable solutions for high-capacity hoisting from deep mines similar to drum hoisting.

Jan 1, 2005

By M Roper, M Lovitt

WMC Resources Olympic Dam Operation located in South Australia, is a poly metallic underground sublevel open stoping (SLOS) mining operation with a current annual production rate in excess of 9.0 Mt. Stope size, geometries, geotechnical considerations, drilling and blasting are critical components in stope performance. These factors are further influenced by stringent ventilation requirements due to the presence of airborne radioactive contaminants from uranium mineralisation. Stope planning is complex and mass blasting methodologies have been trialled at Olympic Dam with the view to reducing the frequency of stope blasts, improving stope stability, productivity and ultimately improving overall stope performance. A key aspect in the ability to undertake underground mass blasts of this scale is the application of i-konTM electronic initiation technology by Orica. In the past two years in excess of three million tonnes has been initiated utilising this electronic technology, with an average blast of 250 000 t ranging to the largest to date being 580 000 t. By providing flexibility in blast designs, the use of electronic detonators has allowed mass firings over multiple sublevels. This has resulted in a significant reduction in stope extraction steps compared to conventional pyrotechnic firings. The benefits of this reduction in the number of stope blasts are wide ranging from improved stability of interim stope voids between blasts, reduced blasthole damage, improved blast vibration management and reduction of complex changes to ventilation systems for blasting.

Jan 1, 2004

The geology of an area in north-western New South Wales, bounded by the South Australian and Queensland borders, latitude 32° S. and longitude 14° E. is discussed.The area involved includes sixteen 1:250,000 standard military sheets and covers approximately 96,000 sq. miles.The geology of the Willyama Complex is not dealt with but a small area of metasediments previously included in this unit is separated and a possible correlation with Precambrian to the east is suggested. Torrowangee Group sediments are described and the problem of nomenclature using a glacial implication is raised.Nine areas of proven Lower Palaeozoic sediments are considered and their relationship to the boundaries of the Bancannia Trough outlined. It is possible that some exposures not yet substantiated by fossil evidence may prove to be Lower Palaeozoic rather than Precambrian in age.The sediments of the Lachlan Geosyncline in the area of the Cobar massif are described and new concepts on the age and distribution of some of the established stratigraphic units are introduced. The absence of rocks of Middle Silurian age probably indicates the time of a major orogeny in this area.Lithology, thickness, and distribution of the Upper Devonian sediments is considered and some of the more recently found fish plate localities are listed.Mesozoic sediments occur in isolated areas of Lower Jurassic age and in the Great Australian (Artesian) Basin. A four-fold subdivision of sediments of the basin has been possible in some areas but lack of sub-surface information at present, precludes the possibility of correlation with the type sections in Queensland.Units in the Cainozoic are subdivided and a five fold subdivision of the Quaternary, at present being used throughout western New South Wales, is described.

Jan 1, 1969

Anodic stripping voltammetry is an analytical technique which has established some popularity for trace analysis of metals because of its sensitivity, selectivity and capability for simultaneous analysis of some elements. The technique can be readily adapted for field use because of its relative simplicity and low power requirements. This paper describes a relatively new instrument, the Portable Digital Voltammeter, developed by CSIRO, which utilises the glassy carbon electrode in a novel cell design and provides parts per billion (ug/L) sensitivity in an instrument which can be field operated. Ten elements, Zn, Cd, Tl, Pb, Cu, Sb, Bi, Hg, As and Au can be routinely analysed. Many of these elements are of interest to the mining industry, and to exploration geochemistry in particular. Case histories where the instrument has been successfully employed for stream and stream sediment analysis of Cu and Pb, for soil surveys of Cu and Au, and for Au in stream sediments and drill chips indicate there are advantages in having on-site data, during Exploration.

Jan 1, 1987

By M I. Pownceby, N Karimian, A Frierdich

These may be found with goethite through mechanisms including direct substitution or coprecipitation of nanocrystalline phases. Understanding P incorporation in goethite has significant implications for Australia’s iron ore industry as it lowers their commodity value. The current study tests a novel low-temperature technique to extract P impurities from synthetic goethite phases under O2-free ambient conditions by utilising Fe(II)-catalysed recrystallisation. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the Fe(II)-catalysed recrystallisation of goethite on the geochemical behaviour (mobility and speciation) of co-associated P. To achieve this, we tracked changes in labile P (aqueous and 1M NaOH extractable) concentrations over time in goethite suspensions which were reacted with Fe(II)aq for 14 days under circumneutral pH conditions and room temperature conditions. Temporal changes in Fe mineralogy were investigated via synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Iron K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy confirmed goethite as the only mineral phase in P-free treatments while goethite (~86 per cent) and feroxyhyte (~14 per cent) were the main phases in 1.0 per cent P-containing treatments after a 14- day reaction with Fe(II)aq. According to our findings, the treatment of P-goethite with Fe(II) for a duration of 7–14 days, followed by a 24-hour extraction of the reacted solids using 1M NaOH, results in the removal of approximately 79.5 per cent of the initial P content. This removal encompasses both the aqueous fraction (~4.5 per cent) and the surface adsorbed fraction (~75 per cent) from the 1 per cent P-bearing mineral phase. Notably, this approach demonstrates an improvement in P extractability, with approximately a 10 per cent increase compared to the 1 per cent P-goethite sample that was not reacted with Fe(II).

Sep 18, 2023

By M, C Silveira, C Ellice, D Christensen

Peak Gold Mines (PGM), a member of the Rio Tinto Group, is an underground and open cut gold mining operation located near Cobar, NSW. A multi-phase study was initiated in 2001 in support of developing a dry æmoisture store and releaseÆ cover system design for the PGM tailings dam, which contains potentially acid-forming tailings material. The first phase consisted of characterising the tailings and potential cover material (waste rock from an open cut operation) as well as soil-atmosphere cover design modelling. The second phase involved construction of two cover system field trials on the tailings dam and installation of a variety of field instruments to monitor the hydraulic performance of the test covers during all seasons of the year. Field performance monitoring commenced in April 2002 and will continue for a minimum of two wet-dry climate cycles (third phase), prior to using the field data for calibration and subsequent validation of numerical models developed for the cover system trials (fourth phase). This paper describes the work completed for the first two project phases and also discusses the initial performance of the cover system trials.

Jan 1, 2003

By Chapman RL

A new process has been developed to remove the impurities copper, cadmium, cobalt and nickel from a zinc plant electrolyte by cementation on zinc dust. The process has been tested in the laboratory and in a continuously operated pilot plant. It has been found that cadmium, in the presence of small amounts of antimony in solution, assists the removal of cobalt. Cementation is conducted in two stages: the first stage for removal of copper with a small excess of zinc dust to produce a relatively high grade product, the second stage for removal of cadmium, cobalt and nickel by addition of zinc dust in the presence of anti- mony. The excess zinc and the cadmium present in the second stage cementate can be selective- ly recovered by slow leaching in spent electrolyte. Zinc dust processes in use elsewhere are described and compared with the present system for use in the Risdon circuit.

Jan 1, 1984

By R Huntley, D Sims

Pajingo gold mine produces over 240 000 oz Au per year from underground mining using longitudinal bench stoping methods with a 15 m sublevel interval. Average mine head grade is around 12 g/t Au, contained within quartz veins between 0.5 to 16 m wide. The veins dip steeply (>60¦) and exhibit strike variations which lead to many curved and meandering drive/stope geometries. Unplanned dilution at Pajingo is predominantly controlled by fault planes that subparallel the vein and commonly lead to slabbing failure from the stope walls. Initial efforts at determining maximum spans were based on using the Stability Graph method of stope stability. However the method had a number of shortcomings that did not address mine site observations, including previous mining, interaction of different joint sets and the presence of discrete shears which resulted in poor prediction of stability. A method was developed to rate the risk of dilution for a stope based on observations made in the ore drives. The method utilises profile mapping of the ore drive, structural features observed and the orebody itself, on 10 m spaced sections along the ore drive. A matrix of factors determines the dilution risk for stoping at the time of mapping and the rating is transferred to longsection plots in the office. The dilution risk rating is used to determine the position and density of cable bolt support aimed at lessening the risk, and can be used to review blasthole designs prior to finalisation. The method has been used for more than two years and has proven to be a good indicator of potential unplanned dilution (ie waste outside of ring design). A recent review of the dilution risk mapping process has indicated it is assisting in reducing the impact of dilution at the operation and has the scope to be utilised further in the design process.

Jan 1, 2002

In the past two decades the global metalliferous mineral industry has trended away from pyrometallurgical (pyromet) and towards hydrometallurgical (hydromet) technologies including biometallurgical (biomet) processes. Pyromet, biomet and hydromet technologies have all developed considerably over this period. New projects have been biased or directed by legislation towards supposedly cleaner and greener hydromet and biomet technologies. The environmental cost and energy cost of pyromet production processes for copper and cobalt are compared with comparable hydromet processes using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The æreal costÆ of the global warming obsession and negative public perception of pyrometallurgy include greater carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption per unit, associated with current hydromet technologies. Specific examples for copper and cobalt produced via the different routes are provided. The poor science involved with the global warming hypothesis is discussed. The use of LCA with sensitivity analysis as a decision making tool for mineral processing projects and technology developers is discussed.

Jan 1, 2004

By S R. Grano

The selection of the proper frother, specifically for a given ore, is essential in flotation. Traditionally, strong and stable froths are required in the scavengers, where metal recovery needs to be maximised, while selectivity must be achieved in the roughers and cleaners, where grade of concentrates is the main issue. The physical properties of a froth are determined both by frother type, by process water composition and by the amount and nature of the suspended particles. The evaluation of different frothers, in terms of metallurgical performance, is complicated at plant scale, since it may lead to periods of malfunctioning of the process and unacceptable decreases in recovery. On the other hand, evaluation based on frother chemistry only, is often unsatisfactory, because the frothing response is strongly ore dependent. A procedure, and proper tools, was developed at the Wark in order to perform the screening of candidate frothers at batch scale on real pulp samples. The main parameters related to froth stability (half-life time, froth height) are measured after introducing the pulp samples into a foaming column, where different conditions in terms of frother addition, agitation and aeration can be maintained. The approach has been applied to the selection of frothers for the flotation of an Australian sulfide ore. Procedure and results are discussed.

Jan 1, 2006

By A Quigley

The Northside Storage Tunnel Project in Sydney includes over 20 km of TBM driven tunnels, over 3 km of declines and major caverns and pump rooms. The paper describes methods used for design on the project. Emphasis is given to the refinement of the use of empirical rock mass classifications, and to the use of discontinuum numerical methods.The use of empirical rock mass classifications in Sydney sandstone has usually led to conservative design because the systems are based on a random orientation of joints in the rockmass. Because the joint sets are usually oriented in a way that is beneficial for tunnelling, limits must be placed on the parameters used in the classifications system. The paper discusses these limits and the derivation of the parameters.The use of numerical methods in Sydney sandstone is discussed. Continuum methods have their uses, but discontinuum methods are preferred. The use of UDEC has been validated against a previous project, the New Southern Railway. Recommendations are given for UDEC models.

Jan 1, 1999

Sampling and sample preparation systems at the Hamersley Iron Pty. Limited port of Dampier, W.A., were developed for two separate objectives. 1. The need for rapid determination of physical properties. On stream size analysis enables lump ore and pellet- ized ore physical properties to be monitored and controlled whilst shiploading is in progress. As a control procedure this facility allows optimum shiploading rates con sistent with physical quality control. 2. The need for accurate chemical analysis. Chemical analysis on ship- loading forms the final link in overall quality control procedures encompassing the operation of mining, railway and port blending. Thus maintenance of specification products with minimum variation in chemical characteristics is ensured.

Jan 1, 1976

By B P. Banerjee. S Raval, P M. Ranasinghe

Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) is an important technology that enables autonomous robots to navigate independently and create detailed, real-time maps of their surroundings. This capability is crucial in underground mining settings, where it enhances operational efficiency and significantly strengthens safety in these subterranean environments. SLAM algorithms typically rely on identifying and using distinct geometric features, such as plane and edge features, to understand the spatial layout of the environment and to track how it evolves as the sensor moves through it. In underground roadways, the scarcity of noticeable edge features, coupled with the repetitive nature of walls and corridors, poses a significant challenge, making it difficult for these systems to distinguish one area from another. Furthermore, the absence of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals in underground adds more challenges, leading to the accumulation of errors in both the mapping and localisation.

Sep 1, 2024

Mining projects have long since presented challenges for the protection of the water environment. Lessons learnt from historical pollution incidents and increasingly stringent environmental controls have significantly improved the environmental performance of mines in developed countries. In contrast, water protection legislation and guidance in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries, based on the æpolluter paysÆ principle, has not promoted the prevention of water pollution, and examples of poor environmental performance in mining still exist. However, there is now evidence of emerging legislation encouraging the protection of the water environment. This paper provides an overview of water protection legislation in the Russian Federation and Armenia and highlights some of the challenges facing international mining companies developing projects. A mining case study is described, which highlights how communities in Armenia increasingly value their water environment. Here, greater public participation in development projects is playing a vital role in influencing water protection legislation. It is considered that public opinion and emerging legislation will increasingly present challenges for the development of mining projects.

Jan 1, 2006

By Sulanto J, Talonen T

In the mid 1960's Outokumpu considered building a lead Flash Smelter on the basis of Flash Smelting technology developed first in the late 1940s for smelting copper concentrates. Pilot scale tests were carried out and the process was found technically sound. The project was however not economically viable under Finnish conditions and it was cancelled. In 1981 pilot plant tests were restarted after many enquiries from the primary lead producers. All the know-how and development made in copper and nickel smelters was applied to the Lead Flash Smelting process and the tests were successful. Outokumpu has so far tested several types of lead concentrate with lead contents ranging from 28 to 75 per cent. The concentrate is oxidized and smelted to metallic lead and slag directly in the Flash Smelting Furnace using high oxygen enrichment of tonnage oxygen. Fossile fuel is used in the Flash Smelting Furnace in cases when the feed material does not contain enough latent heat to smelt the furnace products even though pure oxygen is used for oxidation. Thus the process results in a low consumption of extraneous energy. Use of oxygen results in a small gas flow but it is rich in sulphur dioxide. The gas treatment facilities and sulphur recovery plant will be small in size and low in investment cost. The process is flexible and can produce stable quality of products from different types of raw materials. Quality of lead bullion especially the sulphur content can be regulated over wide a range, from 0.1 per cent upwards according to the needs of the refinery.

Jan 1, 1984

By H Rouhullahi, E B. Veshki an, R Kottnauer

The Galandrud coalfield is located approximately 20 km south from the coast of the Caspian Sea, Ruyan town, on the north slopes of the Alborz mountain range, in the elevation between 500 m (the Galand River valley) and 1350 m. For the time being, 32 coal seams (generally of small thickness û 0.8 m on average) have been recognised within the. On the other hand 72 coal banks of balanced properties have been included in reserve calculation, which means that some of the seams consist of several banks. The general dip of strata belonging to the south limb is about 30¦ to the South (with drags close to the south overthrust, where the dip reaches 85¦), while the dip of beds at the north limb is rather steep and usually between 45 to 75¦ to the North. The coal quality is in a rank of high volatile bituminous coal. The steep dip, unstable lithological development, complicated tectonics and comparatively lower coal seam thickness are the characteristic features of the Galandrud deposit. Environmental protection of this area makes exploration and exploitation more complicated. During mine exploration several adits were driven at three levels with 50 m vertical distances. About 4000 m of gates and crosscuts were up to now driven. During mining test the down-cut mining method (with one cut), the strike cut mining method and the down-cut mining method with two cuts were tested. The paper describes outlines for the selection of mining methods on the base of classification of the effective hangingwalls and footwalls, hazards of mining operations, and possibilities of the mechanised mining.

Jan 1, 2003

The paper examines the value of very small-scale indigenous gold mining operations to developing countries. The paper looks particularly at this type of activity in two neighbouring countries, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, considering technical, economic, social and environmental aspects.

Jan 1, 1990

The Pike River Coalfield is located on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand near the top of the Paparoa Range approximately 45 km north east of the coastal town of Greymouth. The Pike River Coal Company Ltd (PRCC) is owned jointly by New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (NZOG) and private investors.   The project has followed a long and difficult road towards project implementation which is now a reality with mine construction scheduled to commence in November 2005. The first stage of the project, the consent and land access process has been the most difficult. Resource consents for the project were first applied for, granted and appealed in 1998. A second round of modified resources consents followed a similar path in 2001. Following consultation with a range of parties including local and central government as well as the Department of Conservation, in March 2004 the Minister of Conservation granted PRCC access through Department of Conservation land. In October 2004, the Environment Court issued a Memorandum of Consent granting resource consents with conditions that had been negotiated between PRCC and the appellants.   The second stage of the project, investigation and design, commenced in December 2004 and was completed in June 2005 with the PRCC board ratifying the project capital and operating budgets. While the investigation and design work was proceeding, PRCC were also engaged in securing private equity and bank debt funding for the project. Formal Board approval to proceed with project construction was granted in September 2005 following completion of fund raising.   The project consists of a number of significant construction activities, namely: +        10.5 km of mine access road through previous logged and virgin rain forest; +        2.2 km of tunnel through metamorphic rock; +        a coal preparation plant about 8.3 km from the mine portal; +        an underground coal preparation plant; and +        a major slurry pump station, high and low pressure underground water supply systems to support hydraulic mining units and underground coal transport respectively.   Project construction is expected to be completed in April 2007 with completion of the ventilation shaft. Mine production will commence in December 2006 with coal from pit bottom development which will be carried out by the mine owner.

Jan 1, 2005

By T Roberts, D Faulkner, G Watt

Traditional mechanised resin rock bolting in hard rock underground mines requires the installation of resin capsules into a pre-drilled hole prior to the rock bolt being spun into a hole to mix the resin and set the bolt in place. In poor rockmass conditions, especially at depth or in highly altered faults and shears, the condition of the holes often deteriorates as the poor ground around it unravels and falls into the hole. This results in partially or fully blocked holes that either damages the resin capsule when they are being inserted into the holes or prevent it entirely until the hole is continuously cleaned of debris. This deterioration of the hole condition, and continuous need to clean and re-drill holes, also increases the diameter of the hole which in turn affects the continuously mechanically coupled anchorage mechanism of the rock bolt to the rockmass as there is simply not enough resin in the hole to fill the annulus between the bolt and the rock. This results in a large increase to critical heading cycle time and, more importantly, results in the rock reinforcement not performing as per design specification and increases the risk of instability. To overcome the quality control issues with resin bolt installation in poor ground, a single pass drill, install, inject and tension self-drilling resin bolt application was designed and implemented for use in such conditions. This system allows the operator to inject a two part polyester resin through a self-drilled hollow bolt to mix and fully encapsulate the rock reinforcement. The self-drilling bolt allows for post injection of the hole after the bolt has been installed into the rock and gives the operator manual or automated control on the amount of resin used in the hole to ensure complete encapsulation and continuously mechanically coupled anchorage to the rock. This allows the reinforcement to work as designed and provide the Geotechnical Engineer extra quality control confidence in these conditions. The implementation of this single pass resin bolting system resulted in significant decreases to the resin bolting cycle time and rock bolt quality control failures. In this paper the design, implementation and embedment into the development cycle will be discussed and the in situ quality control checks used to validate the increase in rock bolt installation quality will be shared. CITATION:Watt, G, Roberts, T and Faulkner, D, 2018. Single pass drill, install and inject self-drilling resin bolt application in poor ground, in Proceedings The Fourth Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference (AusRock), pp 323–343 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 30, 2018

By P W Haines

The McArthur, Balma (new name) and Habgood Groups are thick (up to 4.5 km) correlative sequences of shallow water evaporitic carbonates, mudstones and sandstones that are exposed largely within the Batten, and southern and northern Walker Fault Zones (Batten and Walker Troughs) of the McArthur Basin respectively. Recent re-mapping of the Walker Fault Zone has provided data for refined stratigraphic correlations between these groups. Two significant hiatuses are now recognised within the Balma Group (base of Vaughton Siltstone and base of Yarrawirrie Formation) and these may represent tectonically-generated sequence boundaries which may correlate with similar local hiatuses within the McArthur Group such as at the base of the Teena Dolomite and Lynott Formation respectively.

Jan 1, 1994