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By Walker V

The 'MAGNADET' to provide a safe enhanced protection extraneous currents, electricity and radiodetonator was designed electric detonator with against the effects of current leakage, static frequency energy.It has found a particular niche in shaft sinking operations and Mount Isa Mines initiated trials of the system in 1983 as part of the design work for the 3000/3500 orebody access shaft.Initial surface blasts indicated a number of significant advantages which were confirmed during the bench and concrete phase of the M37 shaft sink. The application of 'MAGNADETS' was later extended to the horadiam phase of the project.Details of the exploder capacity calculations for the various M37 round designs are included with the paper.

Jan 1, 1985

By Sterns UJ, Weller KR

Grinding to sizes less than 80 per cent passing 20 ¦m in both primary and regrind circuits is becoming increasingly important in processing metalliferous ores, as many of the remaining orebodies are very fine-grained and refractory. The process of very fine grinding, however, is expensive, and neither the performance nor the design criteria are well understood. This paper presents some findings from a collaborative research program, one of the objectives of which has been to better understand and improve the performance of very fine grinding circuits. Data from surveys of an industrial tower mill grinding circuit are reviewed and analysed using the population balance models of the CS]RO and 7KMRC. The performance of both models with regard to changes in feed size distribution, ball load and feedrate is assessed using these data. From comparisons between pilot and full scale tower mill operation a prototype scaling methodology is also presented which shows promise in allowing the models to be used to predict the effect of changes in mill Design.

Jan 1, 1993

The working of alluvial deposits has from all times been a popular form of mining, not only from the simplieity of its operations, but also, in its more primitive stages, from the possibility of carrying it on without large capital, without skilled lahour, expensive plant, long terms of preparatory work, or, in fact, any other requisite than a shovel, a dish, and a stout pair of arms. It is possibly one of the oldest industries, and probably, also, it has been one of the most profitable.In tbe Australian States the happy days of rid alluvial deposits, when gold was to be hltd for the shovelling, are now almost over. The lust for gold has caused almost every corner of the world to be ransacked, and the more easily earned wealth to he exhausted: for the most part there remain now those deposits only which are too poor to be profitably worked by means of the implements and methods of old times. But, though the deposits have become poorer, the keen inventiveness of man has devised means whereby such large quantIties can be treated at a cost so low that he can still make a profit out of them. In this article, out of the many means devised, three only will be referred to-viz., hydraulic sluicing, bucket dredging, and hydraulic dredging. All mining may be divided into three principal operations-1st, the breaking down and conveying of the ground to where it is to be treated for the recovery of the metallic values, 2nd, the treatment of the material for the recovery of those values; and, 3rd) the removal of the worthless material or tailings. In all mining the object is to effect these three processes for the least expenditure of money commensurate with the highest degree of efficiency.

Jan 1, 1907

By J Morton

There are many avenues for potential liability facing the Mining Industry today. Liability for breaches of environmental statutes such as the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1997 include not only financial penalties but imprisonment and perhaps even more significantly will affect the reputation of the Industry. The potential for liability is not restricted to the employees that cause the actÆs to which liability attaches, but also potentially affects all the levels of management and even the company itself. There is also potential for liability through common law actions which can be utilised in cases of environmental harm. These should not be ignored by the Mining Industry. The Mining Industry must take a proactive approach to minimise exposure to potential environmental liability. This can be achieved by undertaking comprehensive environmental management initiatives and policies.

Jan 1, 2005

A series of physical tests have been conducted to determine the actual performance of bunton to shaft side wall connections typically used in new shaft construction in South Africa. The test set-up is described, together with the applied loading, which incorporates a cyclical load component and a quasi-static load component, in an attempt to simulate actual conditions in the shaft. The test results are given and it is shown that generally the performance is adequate, provided double-slotted holes are not used. Generally the fatigue performance is found to be good, with the only exception being cases where the bottom of the bunton is lower than the seating level for the bunton to side wall connection. Arising from the tests, typical design values of connection stiffness, strength and fatigue life are proposed and a design procedure including these three key aspects of connections is described.

Jan 1, 2005

By i, A Shirbazo, S Saydam, S Ata, H L. Ram, B Li

The integration of internet technology into industrial sectors has significantly accelerated the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, transforming communication, data aggregation, and information distribution. The mining industry has embraced this evolution by deploying IoT devices and advanced technologies like autonomous robots and sensors to enhance operational safety. These sensors enable real-time data transmission and continuous monitoring of key parameters, providing decision-makers with timely insights. However, the interconnected nature of these devices has introduced complexities, resulting in inconsistencies across operations. Addressing these challenges, this research explores the application of modern digital principles to the mining industry through the Reference Architecture Model Industry 4.0 (RAMI 4.0). RAMI 4.0 offers a robust framework that integrates digital and physical systems, promoting data transparency, interoperability, and decentralised decision-making. This study aims to briefly introduced framework designed for the unique challenges of mining operations, leveraging the latest digital technologies. The lack of standardisation in the mining sector highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle issues such as interoperability, scalability, security, safety, and repeatability. Establishing standard procedures can ensure smooth interaction between connected devices, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency in the growing IoT ecosystem within the mining industry. Introducing a well-defined reference architecture like RAMI 4.0 can streamline management processes and improve operational efficiency in mining. By adopting this framework, the mining industry can effectively navigate the challenges of digital transformation, leading to a more connected and resilient future. The study concludes that RAMI 4.0, with its structured approach, can significantly enhance the efficiency and productivity of mineral processing operations, fostering sustainable growth in a digitally driven industrial landscape.

Sep 1, 2024

Mining companies around the world devote considerable effort to production reconciliation and metallurgical accounting. However, although sampling, weighing and analysis methods used to obtain the raw data for metal balancing continue to improve, they are still areas that are sadly neglected. Using the latest metallurgical accounting package to improve metal balancing is fundamentally flawed if the data used are unreliable in the first place. The basic rule for correct sampling is that all parts of the material being sampled must have an equal probability of being collected and becoming part of the final sample for analysis. If this rule is not respected, sampling bias can easily be introduced. Unlike precision, which can be improved by replication, bias cannot be reduced once it is present. Sampling and sample processing procedures must therefore be carefully designed both to minimise bias and to obtain acceptable precision. The most suitable sampling location is the discharge point of a process stream, where increments can be obtained by taking a complete cross-section of the stream with a sample cutter. Sampling devices that take only part of the stream may introduce serious bias and must be avoided. The moisture content and wet mass of the material being sampled are of similar importance to chemical analyses for determining metal content. The accurate determination of moisture content is particularly difficult, because the moisture content of samples can change after the sample is taken, eg due to moisture evaporation. Hence, moisture samples need to be taken quickly and placed in sealed bags or containers that are impervious to moisture. The moisture content should then be determined without delay. To determine wet mass, a range of weighing methods are used in industry, including weighbins, weighbridges, conveyor weightometers and platform scales. The precision and accuracy of these methods vary considerably, so it is important to select a method with the appropriate precision and ensure that the weighscale is well maintained and regularly calibrated.

Jan 1, 2002

By T Akiyama, J A. de Castro, H Nogami

Blast furnace is a countercurrent moving bed reactor that produces pig iron from iron bearing materials like pellet, sinter or lump ore. The furnace has cylindrical shape and the lump solid materials are alternatively charged onto the top of the furnace. Hot air is introduced through tuyeres that are set on the lower furnace wall. Auxiliary fuels (pulverised coal, oil or natural gas) and raw materials (fine ore or fluxes) are injected into the furnace with blast air from the tuyeres. In front of the tuyeres, coke particles react with oxygen in the blast air and generate carbon monoxide. The hot reacting gas heats up the lump solids and reduces iron oxides in the upper furnace. In the middle height of the furnace, the reduced iron and slag are fused by the combustion heat and form the cohesive zone. The molten iron and slag that are generated in this region trickle down through the packed bed of coke particles and flow into the bottom of the furnace. Therefore, the flows of gas, lump solids and liquids exist at the same time in the lower part of the blast furnace.

Jan 1, 2000

By J Barnes

During September 2000, Nabalco management identified the need for a corporate system to deliver its key performance indicators (KPIs). In June 2001, a need was also identified to replace the existing metallurgical accounting system. After a review of the technologies available, the decision was made to develop the systems in-house, in preference to purchasing commercial software packages. This would allow much greater control over the structure, and provide for an iterative, concurrent development process between software and key business developers. This has proven invaluable in the development process. The purpose of the KPI system is to provide a unified reporting tool for all performance indicators. These indicators include production, safety, health and environment, personnel, costs, continuous improvement initiatives and opportunity losses. All of these disparate measurements are brought together into the KPI system and used to determine the performance for each department or area. The general principles of the balanced scorecard business approach (Kaplan and Norton, 1996) are applied to achieve a performance measurement for each area within Nabalco. The new metallurgical accounting system (MA) is a SQLServer database with web page and Excel interfaces. The database is structured around daily inputs of all measurements and calculations. The data is stored and adjustments and reconciliations can be made to this data as required. The focus is on accounting rigour, with all adjustments recorded in the database to allow for full auditing. The structure of the data focuses on the five input/output streams (bauxite in, caustic soda in, fuel oil in, residue out, and alumina out). In-circuit inventory provides a secondary measurement on which to check and calibrate the MA system. The KPI and MA systems were developed using Web technologies and are available to any internet-enabled device with Internet Explorer installed. This removes the need for software rollouts and user training. This will promote the wide use of the systems throughout Nabalco and Alcan.

Jan 1, 2002

By Golosinski T. S, Jorgenson J. D

Several methods are available for inspections of mine shafts. These involve use of inclinometers, moving beams, inertial platforms and decelerometers. Inspections which use decelerometers are of most interest since they allow assessment of conditions of shaft steelwork, conveyances and the shaft itself. This assessment is based on recording and analysing dynamic behaviour of shaft conveyances. Sample inspections of several WA shafts confirm feasibility of using this method for periodic shaft Inspections.

Jan 1, 1995

By C M. Hill

This paper aims to provide a brief overview of the Australian Coal Bed Methane (CBM) industry and more importantly the challenges to sustainable management of the industryÆs by-product, groundwater. In a country where water is scarce and having gone through one of the worst recorded droughts it is vital that this important industry be seen to be managing water in a responsible manner with the greatest environmental and social benefit. Benefits of the water from CBM wells can be enhanced through treatment to produce potable water for domestic or stock purposes, water for irrigation or aquaculture or lower quality or untreated water for industrial or mining purposes. Other options are re-injection of raw water or waste from the treatment processes or discharge to surface waterways. The critical change and difference between CBM projects and traditional oil and gas operations should be that where possible water is no longer disposed of via evaporation ponds with the dual legacy of waste of the water resource and an environmental contamination problem with the remaining salt and brine product.

Jan 1, 2003

Much has been written about leadership over the years. It is probably one of the most written about but least understood and defined concepts in business. Leadership and management are often confused and blurred, and inspirational words such as mentor, coach, motivator and the like, are often interspersed when describing a leader. There are a few things we do know about leadership:The only thing common to all leaders is that they are different.Leadership is not the sole domain of business; it applies to every aspect of human endeavour. We are all required to lead at times, and we all have it in our ability to lead. There is no set of predetermined competencies, which a leader must possess to be effective. Hence there is no course in the world that can teach you to become a leader. There is no such thing as the perfect leader. Leadership is a verb, not a title; you actually have to do it to be judged a leader. All leaders no matter how you define the term, must leave a legacy. Thus in the busy world we all live in, what are the lessons in leadership that we can all learn from, that will assist us all in our pursuit of leadership. The purpose of today is to put forward a framework for leadership that I have been researching and working on for many years. It is not the definitive framework, merely a framework. Out of today you will take your own collective thoughts, learnings, observations, experiences, education and training, and collective wisdom, and apply it to yourself.

Jan 1, 2004

After many years of studying the rock mass gravitational flow phenomenon, it is well known that moisture conditions may change the mechanical properties of the caved and broken material, causing different problems at drawpoints. One specific problem, perhaps one of the most unpredictable and uncontrollable, is that of mudflows (also known as mud rushes). The aim of this paper is to show how to establish optimal extraction rates at a drawpoint in order to avoid the closure of that drawpoint due to the high risk associated with having high-technology automated loaders working in the production level of panel cave and block cave mines prone to mud flow events. This optimisation should take into consideration critical restrictions related to mine planning, such as the need to reach the planned production. It is also important to consider the correct design of surface (in the subsidence zone) and underground drainage systems to prevent groundwater or rainwater entering muck piles, filled stopes, galleries or open cuts. With these considerations, and keeping in mind other factors that should be included in a sensitivity analysis of variables, it is possible to find a correlation between the percentage of extraction from a drawpoint and the possibility of occurrence of a mudflow. Finally, this paper proposes different draw strategy techniques in order to mitigate potential mudflow issues on a caving production level.

Sep 26, 2011

Over the last 15 years working in the mining, construction and extractive industries, one of the areas that has always concerned and at the same time drawn the author to it is the application of drilling and blasting in the underground development mining and civil construction tunnelling fields. In that time, the author has come across many drives and tunnels that are larger than design or badly damaged in the perimeter or both. When the question is asked as to why this is the case, the reply is generally æthatÆs the way it is and always has beenÆ. Sometimes it is blamed on bad ground, bad drilling, bad explosives, bad initiation or just plain bad. Most operators build a dilution factor into development and tunneling costs as an acceptance of overbreak and similarly pattern bolt everything to overcome excessive perimeter damage. This paper will attempt to unravel some of the mysteries behind perimeter drilling and blasting in underground drives and tunnels and discuss methods to reduce overbreak and therefore reduce costly dilution and to minimise perimeter damage which in turn will allow more cost-effective ground support. It should not be assumed that better drilling and blasting alone would automatically allow an operation to reduce ground support. The operator must still æreadÆ the ground and its characteristics in order to ensure sufficient ground support is placed to allow the operation to progress safely. This paper will not go into the intricacies of bolting, meshing, shotcreting, concreting and other ground support, but it will use indicative costs for the primary areas of drilling, explosives, excavation and labor to show the magnitude of cost-efficiencies which can be obtained through improved drilling and blasting applications. Drill and blast remains the most flexible and cost-effective method of underground excavation as long as it is applied safely and effectively.

Jan 1, 1999

By Cooper W. C, Stokes M. A

Proterozoic gold deposits in the Pine Creek Geosyncline are at present receiving renewed attention with the opening of old mines and several new discoveries. This important polymetallic province contains occurrences of gold, base metals, tin, tungsten, tantalum, platinum, palladium and aluminium. These resources have been exploited over the past century with periods of major interest during the turn of the century and during the past 20 years. Economically viable resources of predominantly gold, eg Pine Creek, Woolwonga, Brocks Creek and Union Reefs, and Ag-Pb-Zn, eg Woodcutters are currently in development or being mined. A variety of genetic models, ranging from magmatic through hydrothermal to syngenetic, have been postulated in the past for the formation of gold deposits in the Pine Creek Geosyncline. The first discussion on the regional geological factors that control ore deposition in the Brocks Creek-Howley District was by Sullivan and Iten (1952). They recognised that the most important ore deposits are associated with anticlinal and domal structures and that granites may be a controlling factor in the localisation of the mineralisation. More recently a group of authors, Needham and Roarty (1980), Goulevitch (1980), Nicholson and Eupene (1984), Sanger-Von Oepen, Friedrich and Kater, (1988), Nicholson and Eupene (1990) and Kruse, Whitehead and Mulder (1990) have suggested an exhalitive syngenetic origin, or remobilised syngenetic during dolerite intrusion and/or regional deformation, for gold mineralisation, especially those associated with South Alligator Group lithologies (eg Bridge Creek, Mt Bonnie group of mines and Cosmopolitan Howley). Studies carried out at the Bridge Creek and Western Arm Prospects over the last three years suggest that syngenetic models for gold mineralisation are less relevant to gold mineralisation in the Howley District than first thought (Wall, 1989; Partington, 1990). The Bridge Creek prospect has been cited as an example of a syngenetic-syngenetic remobilised deposit (Oepen, Friedrich and Kater, 1988) while the Western Arm prospect is more clearly a vein hosted epigenetic deposit and a comparison of the styles of mineralisation at both prospects will be made. The nature of the gold mineralisation at both prospects will be described and compared, and possible genetic models for gold mineralisation and their relevance to regional exploration discussed.

Jan 1, 1994

There is no good news! The market environment for raising capital for resource projects is getting tougher. The regulatory and accounting environment is fast becoming more difficult and the hurdles to successfully raising debt, lease, equity or hybrid finance are now considerably higher. As ever, well structured companies and capital issues can and will survive, if not thrive. An outline of the market and regulatory environment for successful issues is set out below, followed by some comparison of stockmarket values of resource assets compared to more technical appraisals.

Jan 1, 1990

The aim of this paper is to examine the problems confronting the planner, designer, constructor and management when rehabilitating the works associated with road building- and including quarry and borrow areas. The importance of further investigation into the many factors involved, including species, methods of planting and aftercare is stressed as is the need for trained personnel and the consequential availability of specialised training courses. Emphasis is placed upon the relevance of a rational and unemotional approach to rehabilitation with respect to the landscape and to the high degree of co-ordination and co-operation between all disciplines involved.

Jan 1, 1976

This paper reviews an analytical model that defines the relationship of weight-weighted or volume-weighted average haulage distance with bench height and other related parameters; presents the optimum bench heights under various conditions in terms of minimising the weighted average haulage distance of ore/waste during the full lifetime of an open pit mine, and discusses the truck-haulage economics of mining open pits by high bench, specifically by 15 m, 18 m and 20 m bench through marginal analysis. The observations from these analyses disprove the previous conflicting assertions that the overall weighted average haulage distance either increases or decreases monotonically with bench height. It is concluded that: (i) an increase of bench height to 15 m from 12 m is likely to be viable under the general conditions of large-scale deep open-pit mines; (ii) the reduction of haulage cost is limited with the case of increasing bench height to 18 m from 15 m; and (iii) the feasibility of mining open pits by 20 m benches is generally questionable. These conclusions may serve as a useful guide for those who advocate open pit mining by high benches.

Jan 1, 1995

The impact of computers on the mining industry has increased for the past twenty years in most parts of the world. The application of computers in the mining industry has been demonstrated in areas such as geological data analysis, ore reserve estimation, mine planning, and manpower training. There is also a general concern in this country regarding the computing background of graduating mining engineers from the Australian higher institutions of learning. This paper describes specific steps which have been taken at the Department of Civil and Mining Engineering, The University of Wollongong to provide adequate computing background to mining engineering graduates. Specific topics discussed include hardware and software available to students and how "computers" have been integrated into the mining engineering course.

Jan 1, 1986

By W J. Bruckard, M J. Vaisey

Ashton Mining Ltd (Ashton) and Lynas Corporation Ltd (Lynas) have established a joint venture partnership to develop and process rare earth oxides (REOÆs) from the Mt Weld deposit in Western Australia. The deposit is located in a deeply weathered volcanic carbonatite structure that contains approximately two million tonnes of rare earth oxides at an average grade of 20 per cent REO. As part of the 1999/2000 feasibility study currently being undertaken by Ashton and Lynas, an extensive laboratory beneficiation test program was undertaken by CSIRO Minerals on diamond drill core samples from the Mt Weld orebody. The aim was to develop a flowsheet, based primarily on flotation that could be confirmed at pilot plant scale. The target concentrate grade was 52 per cent REO with a REO recovery of at least 35 per cent. Two main ore types, nominated as CZ (limonitic siltstone) and LI (nodular limonitic ironstone) were identified for separate laboratory evaluation. The lower grade LI-type ore overlies the higher grade and more extensive CZ-type ore. The majority of the work was conducted on the CZ ore; only limited testing of the LI ore was undertaken. The latter contains a clay component that will present difficulties in processing due to its poor filtering and settling characteristics. Two processing options for treatment of CZ ore were presented for pilot plant consideration. One (Option 1) includes gravity concentration prior to flotation while the other (Option 2) includes finer grinding and four stages of open circuit cleaning. The benefits of each scheme are discussed in detail. Neither has been fully optimised and the definitive flowsheet is most likely to be a hybrid of the two schemes, incorporating the best features of each. Typical metallurgical results from each scheme were final concentrate grades of 49 per cent REO, 10-16 per cent Fe2O3 and 3.2-4.8 per cent CaO. REO recoveries were above 35 per cent in both cases. Features of the processes developed by CSIRO were the inclusion of a gravity concentration stage prior to flotation, a modified flotation reagent scheme, a change in the method of feed preparation, and incorporation of magnetic separation to upgrade final flotation concentrates. Metallurgical results obtained from flotation tests on LI ore were much poorer than those obtained for CZ ore. The best rougher/scavenger result, with the limited amount of testing so far completed, was an REO grade of 32 per cent with a recovery of 28 per cent. Further work is needed to develop a viable processing route for this ore type.

Jan 1, 2000