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The word "mine" means different things to different people. To a professional in the mining industry, it may mean trucks and shovels, overburden dumps, headframes, mill buildings, and the other conventional nuts and bolts that constitute an operating mine. To an environmental- ist it may mean bulldozed trees and tailings dams. To a mining engineer who has spent a significant proportion of his career in mine and prospect evaluation, it can mean a hole in the ground with a liar at the top. The liar in this case is frequently not so through design but through ignorance. The purpose of this paper is to contribute in a small way to en- lightening that ignorance. In doing so, it will foster more effective deployment of the pool of risk capital available to the industry.

Jan 1, 1982

By Wadsley MW

This paper gives an overall view of the CSIRO-SGTE computer system for thermodynamic calculations. The basis of the system is the coupling of a large self-consistent numeric data bank of thermodynamic information to a modular set of application programs. These seven programs cover management of data files, calculation of thermodynamic properties for species and reactions, plotting of predomin- ance area diagrams, equilibrium and enthalpy balances for complex processes, analysis of thermodynamic efficiency and the estimation of unknown properties. The data bank contains a wide coverage of species and data types so that the system may be applied to many areas of chemistry and metallurgy.

Jan 1, 1984

The alluvial diamond deposit in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia which became to be known as the Bow River Diamond Mine was discovered in 1982 by joint venture partners Freeport of Australia Inc and Gem Exploration and Minerals Ltd. Mining commenced in 1987. This paper describes the exploration programs and results from discovery to commencement of mining and reviews the public reporting of this process in the light of 1992 Ore Reserves Code (JORC, 1992). This case study illustrates the difficulties involved in resource estimation of alluvial diamond deposits. The study also shows that current reporting standards were, to a large extent, adhered to a full ten years before the diamond reporting section to the Code was formulated.

Jan 1, 1996

The unique characteristics of the Target orebody and modernistic approach to mining present significant challenges and a concomitant high potential for new opportunities. The break-away from the traditional labour intensive mining methods improves both safety and productivity significantly. The intention of the paper is to illustrate the application of well known mining methods to the particular requirements of a complex orebody at depth. The evolutionary process followed to establish the final mining method design provides insight behind the finished product, and the modern approach to the planning and service principles equips the reader with a suite of mining engineering ideas.

Jan 1, 2000

By Hall ST, Miles NJ

Recently an inorganic salt, sodium polytungstate (SPT), has become available that allows the preparation of non-toxic solutions of relative densities up to 3.1. It is relatively expensive and at the higher relative densities achievable, highly viscous. Alternative inorganic compounds may in the future be identified that overcome these limitations. The Australian Mineral Industries Research Association Ltd (AMIRA) has initiated a project to examine possible alternatives. However, it has been found that by the addition of finely divided ferrosilicon to solutions of SPT, relative densities of up to 4.0 can be achieved. A laboratory technique for density fractionation of sized mineral samples utilising this finding has been developed. This is currently being extended to study the potential applications of such liquids and suspensions in dynamic systems for mineral, coal and recycled waste separations.

Jan 1, 1993

The radiolarian biostratigraphy of the western part of the Gympie Province, north of Brisbane, has been examined. This part of the province comprises mainly the Amamoor beds and the Gympie Group, which have been assigned Permian ages on the basis of localised marine macrofossils. This study has shown that the Amamoor beds and the Gympie Group include older strata than previously supposed.The Amamoor beds consist of at least two tectonic units, namely a melange unit (unit A) and a well stratified sequence of sedimentary rocks (unit B). The former unit, regarded as an accretionary subduction complex, contains chert blocks ranging from Late Devonian to Earliest Carboniferous, while the latter unit yields Permian radiolarians. Latest Devonian to Earliest Carboniferous bedded cherts occur in sequence previously mapped as Amamoor beds and Gympie Group.

Jan 1, 1990

By Wauchope AMH

Arsenic residues from BHAS Refinery operations are currently treated to form a calcium arsenic compound and stored in lined dams on site. Laboratory and large scale work on these residues has resulted in the development of a hydrometallurgical process for production of arsenic trioxide. The process also recovers the material from the storage dams. The residues are hot water leached to produce an alkaline arsenic liquor. This liquor is mixed with material from the storage dams and lime to form a calcium arsenic precipitate. The precipitate is then reacted with sulphuric acid to form gypsum for return to the main plant, and an acidic arsenical solution. Metallurgical gas containing 3-6% sulphur dioxide is bubbled through the solution and on cooling arsenic trioxide is precipitated. The product contains in excess of 95% arsenic trioxide. Installation of a plant at Port Pirie based on this process is being evaluated by BRAS.

Jan 1, 1984

A continuous casting machine, of the Concast curved mould design casting billets in four strands, was commissioned at the Newcastle Works of The Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd., in November, 1967. Quality assessment of early casts from this plant indicated that steel cleanliness was sometimes inferior to that of equival- ent ingot cast steel. Extensive trials to develop a modified deoxidation technique were not successful in improving clean- liness to the desired level. A "contra-flow" gas shroud, to cover the steel stream between the tundish and the mould, was developed, and proved successful in achieving the required levels of product cleanliness. The inclusion content of six grades of steel ranging in carbon content from 0.10 to 0.70 per cent is examined, and an attempt is made to explain theoretically some of the results obtained.

Jan 1, 1972

People in the work environment (and often elsewhere) are seen as a commodity (we use them for our purposes).The general accepted view of a Company is that shareholders are "The Company" and that they employ people to utilise their money in a particular field to generate more money to give a return on investment. To achieve this, capital equipment is purchased to fulfil a task and people are employed to use this equipment. Equipment and people are commodities purchased with money.The focus of this approach is MONEY. The equipment and people, and the use of them, determines the amount of money that can be generated. In this approach people are motivated by financial concerns. The harder the times the more money becomes the focus.

Jan 1, 1998

This paper will examine some of the significant developments in the training field in Australia in the past decade and the application of these changes to the mining industry generally, and the coal sector specifically. Three major aspects will be examined:1. Competency - the use of Industry Competency Standards and how these can be used for achieving enterprise performance requirements2. Assessment - making judgements about an individual's competence, and using a rigorous assessment system as the basis for the "authorisation" system at a mine3. Evaluation - ways to evaluate the return on investment in training, and convincing CEO's/shareholders that your training dollar is being spent wisely.Before examining these issues, it is important to understand the drivers of change in the training systems in Australia, and the functions that Industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITABs) perform.

Jan 1, 1998

By I Testrow, M Wiggin

Scrutiny of the whole explosives industry has increased as a result of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on 11 September 2001 and the bombings in Indonesia, including the Bali bombings last year. This has been highlighted in specific press releases from governing bodies, like the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources û Western Australia, on the necessity of being in compliance with regulations for storage of explosives. As a result, audits by inspectors to assess compliance are to be expected. In a proactive move, DynoConsult has assisted several customers through benchmarking current practices, in order to identify any areas of non-compliance to the statutory requirements for explosive storage and security. This paper discusses the outcomes of supplier discussions and customer audits and highlights the implications for the industry.

Jan 1, 2003

This paper addresses the unique environ- mental programmes which prevail at Ranger and their importance in the future profitability, of Ranger Uranium Mines Pty Ltd. (RUM) Industrial relations, general safety, and occupational health have long been regarded as part and parcel of the concept to 'manage for profits'. More recently, the need for environmental protection has also become an important management consideration. This is particularly so at the Ranger Uranium Mine where environmental protection is very closely and continuously regulated. Since the commencement of operations at Ranger some three years ago the company has operated within these regulations and demonstrated clearly that yellowcake can be produced efficiently, economically and safely. The company also recognises that in order to ensure continuity of production, it will have to continue to operate within these strictly supervised Regulations.

Jan 1, 1984

In both exploration and mining, the laboratory is often seen as a cost rather than a profit centre. The aim in most mining companies is to increase profits by reducing costs, so the budget for the laboratory is under constant pressure.There is another option; to see the laboratory as the brain of the operation. By lifting the status of the laboratory and treating it as a profit centre, mine costs may be reduced in other ways, e.g. reduction in milling costs. This change of status will require investing more capital in better equipment, more training for employees and more employees to carry out project research.There are many examples of major costs being incurred because of inadequate laboratory work. Conversely, by spending more money on laboratories and their activities, overall costs can be reduced or profits enhanced.

Jan 1, 2002

Both blast furnace and steel furnace slags have been used extensively and successfully on main line railroads in the United States for more than 25 years. Annually, these slags are being used as ballast at the rate of about 4 million tonnes of blast furnace slag and 1 mil- lion tonnes of steel furnace slag, much of it on main line with 90 metric tonne car loadings. More steel furnace slag would be used if it was available. Both slags meet all the specification limits of the American Railway Engineering Association. Actual use on high density rail- roads has confirmed the long range economics of their use. Comparison of laboratory tests, such as Los Angeles abrasion, with actual field per- formance has shown conclusively that commonly used laboratory tests can not be used to accu- rately compare the quality of various types of ballast materials.

Jan 1, 1979

The occurrence is recorded of an indurated kaolinite claystone associated with red-beds in the Burralow Formation of the Narrabeen Group near Putty toward the north-west of the Sydney Basin. The claystone is similar in composition and structure to the Garie Member which immediately overlies the kaolinite-rich "chocolate shales" of the Bald Hill Claystone in the sofrthern part of the basin. Unlike the Garie Member however, the Putty claystone is lenticular and the associated red-beds contain abundant quartz and illite in addition to kaolinite.The source of the Putty claystone is not known. Possibly it is an extension of the Garie Member to the northwest or alternatively, it may represent fine outwash of detritus that produced the coarse-grained kaolinite claystones in the Triassic succession of the Merrygoen-Binnaway area. Although the material is suitable for the manufacture of aluminous refractories the limited size of the deposit precludes its commercial exploitation.

Jan 1, 1971

Contracts are widely used in mining to provide self motivation in an environ-ment of isolated work places. Which incentives to use and how to implement them has long been the subject of numerous discussions. The mines operated by Australian Mining and Smelting at Broken Hill have evolved several guidelines to follow when developing contracts.Identify the main purpose of the work and use this as the basis of measurement for the contract. Therefore stoping achievement would be measured by tonnes extracted, development by metres driven. Paying for other work activities such as standing timber in timber stoping must detract from the percentage of the total contract paid per tonne produced. Concentrating on the main activity and applying the majority of contract pay to that task reinforces at is beneficial to both the miners and the whole operation.

Jan 1, 1985

By Coppock BW, Scott TC, Firkin GR

The pollution control measures taken on the Imperial Smelting Process (ISP) operated at Cockle Creek are described together with environmental monitoring strategy and the statutory restraints applied in New South Wales. An outline of developments in the gaseous, liquid and noise control areas is given.

Jan 1, 1975

By Concha F, Sampaio R

In most of the literature, the hydrocyclone is viewed as a black box in which only global variables are present and where the equations are obtained by curve fitting. Recently some work has appeared where the Navier Stokes equations are solved numerically in the hydrocyclone geometry. However, in all of these works the air core surface, which has an important influence on the hydrocyclone dynamical behaviour, is modelled as being a cylindrical surface of fixed radius. In this work, we model the surface of the air core as a free-boundary which has to satisfy a jump condition, the Young-Laplace equation, relating the physics to the geometry. Based on this model, we are able to explain, qualitatively, some phenomena that have puzzled research workers in the field for many years, and can show, through the air core behaviour, the influence of material parameters on the performance of the hydrocyclone.

Jan 1, 1993

By Kellett KR

Gold Mining at the Lancefield Mine was commenced initially in 1897 and continued intermittently through to 1956 when rising costs and mine cave-in forced closure. The mine was redeveloped in 1981 and a new-oxide treatment plant commissioned, followed by a new refractory treatment plant in late 1982. Both these treatment plants are located within the Windarra Nickel Project plant area.The refractory ore is processed by fluidised bed roasting of flotation concentrates. This is carried out in two series connected reactors to maximise arsenic and sulphur eliminations and to minimise reagent consumption. For gold recovery the zinc precipitation process was initially used, to be later replaced by carbon-in-pulp.

Jan 1, 1984

Mineral sands make up only 3% of the value of mineral production in WA. However, the distribution of mining operations, close to the more highly populated south-west coastal areas, and the wide range of land-tenures and land-uses involved has resulted in the most complex range of regulatory procedures found anywhere in the State's mining industry.Mineral sands are mined on private agricultural and "minerals-to-owner" land, State forests, nature reserves, coastal reserves and vacant Crown land. Local Government authorities, State Government departments and private landholders can, depending on the land tenure, be involved in setting the environmental conditions for mining operations and supervising subsequent rehabilitation. In the past, rehabilitation was predominantly aimed at establishing an agricultural land-use after mining; however, it is now necessary for mining companies to rehabilitate mined areas to a much wider range of end land-uses.

Jan 1, 1986