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By W Skinner, C G. Kelsey, J R. Kelly

The iron ore industry has reached the end of an unprecedented period of expansion triggered by China’s demand for iron ore. Lower ore prices have led producers to focus on optimising mining operations while extracting the maximum tonnage from the infrastructure presently in place or from projects already underway. A rising global surplus is expected to further force ore prices down and lead to output curtailments, which in turn will help to restore market balance. However, investment in the development of new resources and the development of new infrastructure will inevitably become necessary. Making the right decisions in relation to future processing infrastructure in a climate of uncertain demand and price volatility will not be as straightforward as in the past, where expanding the scale of a proposed operation has been the answer to ensuring economic viability. Overall cost and environmental pressures particularly in relation to wet processing will dominate the decision-making process. IMP Technologies (IMPTEC) has anticipated the need for a dry low cost processing alternative, which can open the way for the development of lower grade magnetite deposits and ensure the sustainability of processing in Australia. The lower grade magnetite deposits are generally fine grained and require grinding to p80 of 30 to 40 microns. Historically, the cost of grinding to these sizes has been and remains a key factor determining the economic viability of a magnetite processing operation. The IMPTEC Super-fine Crusher and Cyclomag Separator are the key components of a proposed radically simplified dry processing alternative, which addresses both cost and environmental issues. This paper reports on the results of pilot super-fine crushing and cyclomag separation test work, focused on supporting the feasibility of the proposed dry processing route for the production of high-grade pellet plant feed from fine grained low-grade magnetic ores.CITATION:Kelsey, C G, Kelly, J R and Skinner, W, 2017. Dry processing of magnetic iron ores – addressing cost and environmental issues, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2017, pp 215–220 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 24, 2017

By Gui DeReamer

Located on the Wabash River in the central portion of the state, the city of Lafayette, IN is relatively small compared to most cit-ies that incorporate tunnels into their combined sewer overflow (CSO) systems. The original CSO plan for the city was to replace two aging lift stations that were built in the 1950s. The original con-cept was to build a new sewer using conventional cut-and-cover construction to eliminate one of the lift stations ? the Parking Lot Lift Station ? and build a new regionalized one at the location of the Pearl River Lift Station. The initial sewer design was sized just to handle the flow that would eliminate the Parking Lot Lift Station. The planning for this project was being developed as part of the city?s CSO long-term control plan (LTCP) that focused on reducing the overflows from the city?s 14 overflow points. However, during the development of the CSO LTCP, a major industrial user indicated it would be increasing its flows to the system, which required additional conveyance capacity to meet the city?s CSO LTCP. After reviewing the design concepts with city representatives during the planning phase of the project, the mayor indicated that he wanted to minimize impacts to downtown businesses; therefore, trenchless alternatives were considered. The last piece of the puzzle that drove the project away from a small diameter pipeline was discovered during a flow monitoring program to collect flow data for the CSO LTCP project. This study revealed a major restriction in the 100-year-old Pearl River Trunk Sewer, located beneath four active railroad tracks. To eliminate this flow restriction, provide more overflow storage and reduce the impact to local businesses, a new 2.7- to 3.6-m- (9- to 12-ft-) diameter tunnel sewer became the most viable solution.

Jan 1, 2011

By E. D. Calvert

Molybdenum has been successfully cast into static and rotating molds in conventional equipment used for casting titanium and zirconium. Melting was accomplished by using an arc potential of 36 to 40 volts with a current of 10,000 amperes. Pouring efficiency, after a skull had been formed in the crucible, averaged 70 percent. Techniques are described by which four successful castings were made. Tensile properties on specimens cut from one centrifugally cast tube averaged: Tensile strength, 39,800 p.s.i.; yield strength (0.1 pct. offset), 35,300 p.s.i.; elongation, nil; reduction in area, nil; impact strength, 2 ft.-lb.; hardness DPH (diamond pyramid hardness) 180. Mold reaction was not evident in shapes cast in machined graphite. This was not true, however, for rammed graphitic-base molds.

Jan 1, 1960

By Dennis R. Jr Bell

Before beginning any site development or mineral extraction activity, it has been well documented that it is first prudent to gain an understanding of the prevailing geologic conditions.Whether it’s identifying the depth to type of bedrock, or determining the quality and quantity of the in place mineral deposit, these factors should always be considered in a project’s fatal flaw analysis. In situations where there is limited subsurface information, geologic models have been proven to be one of the most valuable and cost-effective tools used by the developer and/or his consultant.

Jan 1, 1997

By Henry P. Cole

A comprehensive review of published research was carried out to identify methods for teaching and assessing critical but nonroutine skills needed for coping with emergency situations. Specific methods for assessing critical skills proficiency in aviation, medicine, organization management, the military, and other industrial/technical workplaces are described. The potential application of these methods for teaching and assessing (1) critical first aid and (2) self-rescue and escape skills to underground coal miners in annual refresher training is explored. Research and development activities that may improve mine health and safety training are suggested. Most of these research and development activities were completed later in the project. This additional work is reported in the project technical report #2 and the final report. The research reported in the present document was completed in 1984 -85. Many of the initial findings reported in this document are updated in the later project final report.

Jan 1, 1988

By N. W. Kirshenbaum

"The Marconaflo slurry system was originally developed to reduce costs and solve technical problems in the marine transport of mineral cargoes. In the short time since its inception, it has been found to offer economies and advantages for land-based and in-plant materials handling. This efficient method of reclaiming and slurrying particulate materials at very high pulp densities can be directly utilized in a wide variety of mineral process systems. These include: storage-reclaim applications, where even cohesive, compacted materials can be reclaimed from settled storage ""on demand""; the growing number of hydrometallurgical operations wherein slurried materials are processed to extract or yield metals; certain applications associated with pyrometallurgical treatment; and as a means of augmenting the performance of conventional mineral dressing equipment, such as thickeners.INTRODUCTIONIn the continuing effort to lower costs of producing minerals and extracting metals, the field of handling and transportation often receives too little attention from those engaged in the mining and winning of ores and metals. This comment, which pertains to ferrous and non-ferrous as well as to non-metallic producers, is especially pertinent to products having relatively low value, where transport costs can be a major portion of the delivered selling price to the minerals receiver.One method which was developed recently for the purpose of reducing costs and solving technical problems in marine transport and handling of mineral cargoes is the MARCONAFLO slurry system. A notable feature of this system is its versatility; in addition to its use in marine transport1*, some of its diverse applications have included the mining and reclaiming of tailings2 and in-plant materials handling3. As the concept and fundamentals of this system have been well explained previously4,5, the mechanics of the system will not be elaborated upon here. Rather some specific ways in which MARCONAFLO can be applied to processing and extraction will be explored."

Jan 1, 1973

An Ammonia Leaching-Solvent Extraction-Electrowinning-Flotation Process for Copper Oxidised Ore Treatment

Sep 13, 2010

Eco-Efficient Gravity Separation Solutions in India Sustainable development and social responsibility issues are a principal aspect of mineral processing operations around the world. With the need for more environmentally effective technologies, some gravity separation systems have provided eco-efficient mineral processing solutions in places where it is not otherwise viable because of lack of fresh water or for other environmental reasons. Advanced spiral separation technologies developed in Australia offer a cost effective and environmentally viable way to process minerals. In particular, we review recent case studies of spiral plants commissioned in India where environmentally sustainable solutions to design problems included the use of spirals operated with sea water and the use of high capacity (HC) spirals to provide low consumption of energy and materials and a reduced plant footprint. This paper evaluates the performance of various spiral plants in India and how critical environmental issues which affect the overall viability of wet concentrating processes where resolved.

Sep 13, 2010

Beaches contain the residue of eroded rocks which have resisted weathering, and it is common to find in all beaches some of the harder, heavy minerals. The natural sorting action of waves and winds tends to concentrate the heavy minerals into banded deposits.The value of such deposits is extremely variable. Even amongst the more concentrated deposits, the principal minerals, in the vast majority of cases, are magnetic, titaniferous magnetite and other forms of iron oxide, which, in the present state of mineral economics and technology, are of little or no value.Valuable minerals of fairly common occurrence in beach sand deposits are rutile, zircon, ilmenite, monazite and chromite, and each of these minerals, as well as others of less common occurrence, is obtained from beach deposits in various parts of the world.Along a stretch of 300 miles of coast from Coff's Harbour in New South Wales to North Stradbroke Island in Queensland, occur unique concentrations of heavy minerals. The principal minerals which occur are rutile, zircon and ilmenite, and for some years these deposits have contributed half to three-quarters of the world's consumption of rutile and zircon 1, ,2. The only other notable beach sand concentrations in Australia are at a number of places in the southwest of Western Australia, where deposits containing highgrade ilmenite are being developed.

Jan 1, 1950

By Fred N. Kissell

In This Chapter [Measuring the gas emission from the coal Methane at the top of the silo Methane at the load-out area and Actions taken after a silo explosion] Methane accumulations in coal silos have resulted in the occasional silo explosion. These can be quite violent and dangerous because coal dust adds to the strength of the blast. However, with the appropriate precautionary measures, methane accumulations in silos can be greatly reduced. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations at 30 CFR2 77.201 require that the methane content in the air of any coal silo be maintained below 1.0 vol %.3 Also, MSHA requires that methane tests be conducted before any electrical equipment is energized, unless a continuous monitor capable of deenergizing the electrical equipment is used.4 Measuring the gas emission from the coal. The first necessary step in dealing with silo methane issues is to measure the gas emission from the coal going into the silo. Such measure-ments allow one to estimate the silo ventilation needs and permit a comparison with the methane controls used at other mines that have similar gas levels. The gassiness of the coal can be measured by taking conveyor belt grab samples.5 Matta et al. [1978] measured the gas emission from conveyor belt grab samples using a simple desorption test. To conduct the test, they collected several grab samples of coal, weighing a few pounds each, from the conveyor belt entering the silo.6 They then sealed the coal into an airtight sample container that was equipped with a valve and short hose along with a pressure gauge. Every few hours they opened the valve and bled the emitted gas into a water-filled graduated cylinder that had been inverted and placed in a pan of water (Figure 11–1). The results are shown in Figure 11–2.

Jan 6, 2006

The Australian Gas Light. Company was established in 1837, the first gas being sent out from the Kent Street Works, then the headquarters, in 1841. Mortlake Works were opened in 1886, and has since grown to the vast undertaking inspected by members of the Institute.The Kent Street Works were closed in 1921. The area of the, company's property at Mortlake is 117 acres.Some interesting figures from the statistics of the company's activities for 1937 are:-

Jan 1, 1938

By D Craw, P Whigham, C Rufaut

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computerised management systems for spatial data, offering improved data management, extensive data manipulation techniques and greater understanding of data. At the Wangaloa Coal Mine, South-East Otago, ArcGIS is being used to manage, integrate, analyse and visualise the diverse range of datasets being generated from an interdisciplinary research team. GIS will assist with identifying spatial and temporal patterns associated with the current site rehabilitation strategy. This paper will present an overview of how GIS can be a useful tool for understanding ecological recovery during mine site rehabilitation.   The Wangaloa opencast coal mine, owned by Solid Energy NZ Ltd, was closed in 1989 after more than 40 years of operation. Rehabilitation efforts involving more than 60 000 native plants began in October 2001. At Wangaloa sample points were randomly selected at 100 m intervals and recorded using a differential GPS. Plant, soil and invertebrate data have been collected at each sample point. Plots of 8 - 9 plants have been established within approximately 5 m of each sample point. Since September 2003 seasonal monitoring of plant growth and survival has been carried out. Chemical and physical datasets have been generated from soil collected in June and December 2003 for each sample point. A more restricted dataset is being generated for soil collected on a seasonal basis from March 2004. Plant and soil characteristics from these datasets have been attached to each sample point and GIS layers have been created. Relationships between data layers can be explored based on their spatial patterns. Examples presented from Wangaloa include distribution of planting success and temporal variation; temporal change in pH; interpolated pH map; digital elevation model; relationships between planting success and growth with pH and organic matter. GIS is proving to be a valuable tool on the integrated project at Wangaloa.

Jan 1, 2004

By Dave Rose, David G. Meadows, Mike Westendorf

"Copper Mountain’s concentrator was commissioned in May 2011. The circuit consists of a 34’ x 20’ EGL SAG mill, a Raptor 900 pebble crusher and two 24’ x 39’6” ball mills. Each mill is equipped with a 2 x 8500 HP dual pinion drive system. The plant was designed to process 1585 mtph of SAG feed. From startup, the mill struggled to meet the required production rates. Over time, a major initiative that involved blasting and fragmentation, optimization of the SAG mill in terms of discharge grates, ball size and slurry density, and operation of up to three mobile pre-crushing plants resulted in significant increases in throughput. In parallel, a number of modeling tools, including JK SimMet, were run based on plant benchmarking exercises. Samples collected at the mine site during ramp up confirmed the very competent nature of the ore with drop weight - A*b values of less than 24 being recorded on a variety of plant feeds and lithologies. After due consideration including demonstration of proof of concept, a new pre-crushing circuit incorporating an XL2000 cone crusher and associated screening equipment was designed, constructed and commissioned at the site in August 2014. This paper reviews the history of the original circuit design, the various optimization steps taken and impacts, together with the final pre-crushing circuit and net results.IntroductionThe Copper Mountain Mine is located approximately 20 km south of Princeton, British Columbia, Canada (refer to Figure 1). The region has a long history of copper mining dating back to 1923. The Copper Mountain camp occurs in the 'eastern volcanic belt' of the Nicola Group (Monger, 1989). It is an alkali copper-gold deposit in which the volcanic strata are intruded by early Jurassic dykes, sills, irregular plugs and zoned plutons (Woodsworth et al., 1992). The stratified rocks are relatively fresh with slight metamorphism in the local contact regions."

Jan 1, 2016

By M J. Shearer

An investigation into the reliability of the data being collected at the Mount Isa Mines site operated by Glencore in Queensland allowed on-site ventilation personnel to scrutinise pressure and volume measurements collected from the primary surface fans. The investigation effectively identified discrepancies being reported to the on-site remote monitoring system. The difference between the real-time and static measurements on the P63 RAR shaft identified that the in situ differential pressure transducer and piezo annubar system was not operating correctly. This indicated a deficiency of approximately 30 per cent reporting back to the remote monitoring software versus the live readings measured with the Pitot tube bomb and ALNOR AXD610 pressure micro-manometer.Constant monitoring of an operations ventilation network is imperative to ensuring that the underground atmosphere provides a safe and healthy workplace. Further benefits to real-time monitoring allows for the early indication of network failures and promotes increased availability. An innovative approach to out engineer and improve the existing measuring equipment from the 1970s was sought.The use of ultrasonics in the mining industry is not new with ventilation management systems (VMS) equipment available within the marketplace. The introduction and implementation of a reliable product for real-time monitoring was a challenge to overcome due to limited access and suitable measuring points within the mine. The available equipment on the market through mainstream suppliers was not suitable for the unique application required due to the in situ installation of the surface fans. A solution was identified in the oil and gas industry through collaboration and innovative thinking. This paper describes the sustainable approach to implement a reliable air flow monitoring system on-site.CITATION:Shearer, M J, 2017. Case study – an analysis of reliability and efficiency: ultrasonic versus annubar technologies, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 51–56 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

By D Craw, L C. Kerr, P Wopereis

Gold placers in the Nokomai and Nevis valleys are dominantly Quaternary in age. They occur mainly in western tributaries of the upper Nevis, eastern tributaries of the middle and upper Nokomai, and in the trunk valleys themselves. Placer gold in both valleys is dominantly a-phase Au-Ag-Hg alloy. Au-Ag alloy is absent or rare in most of the deposits, except in the lower Nokomai. Alpha-Au-Ag-Hg alloy is typically coarse-grained (up to 2 cm), angular, and rarely flattened or folded. Crystalline texture, quartz intergrowths, and psuedo-hexagonal crystal-pluck cavities are common. Fluvial transport distance predicted from the maximum Flatness Index ofAu-Ag-Hg alloy particles is typically less than 10-20 km. Coarse (up to 2 cm) cinnabar is commonly associated with the Au-Ag-Hg alloy, and both were probably derived from hydrothermal sources in western tributaries ofthe upper Nevis and eastern tributaries of the upper Nokomai. Minor secondary Au-Ag-Hg alloy occurs locally in the lower Nokomai, where it coats or cements detrital a-phase Au-Ag-Hg and Au-Ag alloy particles. Au-Ag alloy dominates over Au-Ag-Hg alloy in the lower half of the lower Nokomai alluvial plain and gravel of a raised channel incised into semischist basement adjacent to the plain. The Au-Ag alloy is rounded and commonly flattened and folded. Crystalline texture, quartz intergrowths, and pluck cavities are rare, and a fluvial transport distance of 25-40 km is estimated from maximum Flatness Index ofAu-Ag alloy particles. The Au-Ag alloy, three types of gamet, magnetite, clinozoisite and well foliated schist boulders in the abandoned channel are not found in the pumpellyite-actinolite facies bedrock in the Nokomai. These components were derived from greenschist facies schist and sedimentary sources in Otago, many tens of kilometers north of the Nokomai catchment. They were transported to the Nokomai either in Wakatipu Glacier till or fluvio-glacial outwash that entered the valley via Nokomai Saddle, the confluence with the Mataura, or both.

Jan 1, 2000

By S. Rivard

"This paper demonstrates the selection of grinding circuit technology for a number of recent projects including discussion of the key drivers and the role of energy efficiency. Decreasing head grades combined with a strong and sustained increase in operating costs has forced miners to examine increased project size, increased equipment capacity and efficiency improvements in order to reduce their unit operating costs and improve overall project economics. Comminution energy consumption, safety and capital cost considerations play a critical role in the success of projects. This paper presents some key guidelines for a successful and cost effective comminution circuit design and includes a case study on three projects, outlining the issues and the drivers which led to the ultimate circuit selection and the critical role that energy efficiency played.IntroductionComminution circuits for minerals processing are selected based on their suitability and efficiency in reducing run-of-mine ore to the desired feed size for the downstream process. The input material (ore) properties and downstream process requirements are the key determinants and there are standard approaches for each circumstance.The minerals processing industry has been a fast adaptor of efficiency improvements based on increasing capacity of equipment (e.g. trucks, crushers, mills, pumps) but less successful in adapting radically new technologies that disrupt incumbent flowsheets or processes.The installed power of grinding mills has increased linearly over the past 25 years (Meka & Lane, 2010) and pumps and classification equipment have kept pace. The autogenous grinding (AG) and semi- autogenous grinding (SAG) mills displaced stage crushing as a dominant method of coarse rock breakage in many applications causing crusher manufactures to increase the capacity of cone crushers to meet the competitive demand.Examples of new comminution technology in the 20th and 21st centuries are the development and adoption of cyclone classification in the 1940s (Newtech, 2016), AG milling in the late 1950s, vertical grinding mills in the 1980s, high pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs) also in the 1980s and ultrafine milling technology in the 1990s (Meka & Lane, 2010)."

Jan 1, 2017

By J Parnell, B Manson

Bitumen occurs in the basins in reservoir sandstones, in veinlets close to hydrocarbon source rocks, in veins through lava beds and in sulphide-mineralised veins where it is closely associated with, but predates, the sulphides. The role of organic matter was probably in enhancing metal reduction by creating a low-Eh environment rather than in metal transport. Coeval euhedral quartz crystals or albite in sulphide-bearing carbonate veins provide evidence of an aqueous component to the hydrocarbon fluid

Aug 1, 1995

By Ludger Suarez-Burgoa

At the Porce III Underground Powerhouse Complex in Colombia, the observational method (Peck, 1969), was used to provide information to an underground wedge and a 2D Finite Element Method numerical models, both used to estimate the mechanical behavior of the hoisting rock mass. The observation process consisted in collecting fault events in the field and in interpreting Multiple Point Borehole Extensometers and Surface Convergence Displacement Points readings. The calibrated models were employed to predict the behavior of the pillars formed between the machine and transformer caverns. The observational method is an important activity during excavation of large openings and provides arguments to understand the rock mass mechanical behavior.

Jan 1, 2008

By R. L. De G. Solms

INDEX 1. INTRODUCTION 2. FLOODING 3. THE PLUG 4. THE FIRST ATTEMPT 5. THE SECOND ATTEMPT 6. PUMPING 7. TIGHTENING OF THE PLUG 8. SHAFT REPAIRS 9. POST-MORTEM 10. CONCLUSION

Jan 1, 1987

By Marc Dondelinger

Interlocking H sections with deep webs and high section modulus are being used for cofferdams and shore enclosures where pressures are excessive. The H sections can be as much as a meter deep; they can be used as continuous interlocked wall. A steel saving alternate is spacing the H and driving deep for stability then filling between with shorter interlocking sheet piles. Templates provide for exact positioning.

Jan 1, 1985