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By C Li, S Wang, L Qiao

Jinchuan nickel mine is the largest nickel mine in China. Cut-and-fill mining method with high density cementing materials is used in the mine. The original mining design divided the mining operation into two steps. The first step stopped the mining rooms and the second step stopped the pillars. Because the two-step method made big trouble for finally mining pillars and strongly limited the mining speed and production, it was successfully changed to a continuous cut-and-fill method without pillars. However, the mining operation in the mine has been down to 800 m and the mining condition is getting worse and more complicated. Through systemetical field investigations and 3D FEM analysis, it is proved that the mining method without pillars is feasible for mining deeper orebodies in Jinchuan nickel mine.

Jan 1, 2000

By Morrison R. D

This paper describes major events in the design, construction, camtissioning and operation of the Elura concentrator. It covers the period fran September, 1974 when laboratory testwork on drill core cotmenced to March, 1983 when the concentrator catmenced operation on run of mine ore following successful completion of initial ccnmissioning tests. The concentrator was designed to treat 1.1 million tonnes of lead-zinc-silver ore per year with a plant availability of 89 per cent. This treatment rate has been achieved for test periods.

Jan 1, 1983

Soil improvement technologies have been widely employed over the recent decades to overcome tunnelling problems in difficult grounds, their range of application growing proportionally to the technological development. The constant advancement in the different mechanical (flexible and more powerful equipment) and electronic (enhanced reliability and direct quality control) aspects of these technologies, fostered the confidence of engineers and tunnellers and, ultimately, allowed the entire tunnel industry to approach difficult excavations in a safer and cost effective manner.This paper outlines the main features of commercially available soil improvement techniques, with particular emphasis on permeation grouting and jet grouting. These two technologies, developed concurrently in Europe and Japan, and there customarily adopted in the design of underground structures, have known extensive and extreme applications worldwide in recent years. Case histories and current practice of soil improvement techniques, as they apply to tunnelling, are also rendered.

Jan 1, 1999

By J J. Cilliers

The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the FrothSim flotation simulator and to demonstrate its ability to predict the performance of real flotation circuits. Example simulations are presented in which the feed rate to the circuit is varied, followed by simulations in which a cleaner section and recycle loop are added to the rougher bank.The simulator is able to predict both the recovery and the grade produced by the cells at all locations in a circuit and the simulator is shown to produce plausible grade recovery curves. It also demonstrated that the performance of banks of cells improve as the feed rate to the bank increased (improved grade for a given recovery), but that more cells are required to give the same overall recovery.

Jan 1, 2005

By Berglin IK

Since 1962, ferro alloy production in Australia has been concentrated at Bell Bay, Tasmania with a major expansion occurring in 1976. This concentration was based originally on the perceived requirements of the expanding Australian steel industry, but recent stagnation within this industry has seen Temco become progressively more export oriented.In 1984, approval was given for a $47 million uprating of facilities which will allow for the introduction of the latest technology to ensure high quality, low cost production in a highly competitive export market.

Jan 1, 1985

By Walters GW

A countercurrent method of metal refining using crystallization and reflux is discussed. 4n account is given of the development of this technique for the separation of silver and bismuth from lead using bench-scale studies to the present small pilot-plant unit (around one tonne per day) in the "Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)" Division of Chemical Engineering.

Jan 1, 1975

Expert systems are a product of Artificial Intelligence (AI), a field of long standing, dedicated to the study of problem solving using heuristics, construction of symbolic representations of knowledge about the world, communications proce

Jan 1, 1998

This paper explores options worthy of consideration in the management of S02 produced from the gold roasting operations at Kalgoorlie. Some of the options have relevance to other sources of SO2 in the region, eminating from nickel smelting operations. The paper considers the following options: 1. Capture of SO2 within the roaster where sulphur-containing reaction products are mixed with the calcine. 2. Processes in which the sulphur-containing products are bled separately from the stack for further treatment or for dumping as a waste. These include: Seawater-based scrubbing of SO2; Sulphuric acid manufacture as a feedstock for fertiliser production or for leaching of bauxite; its use as Caro's acid: and the production of value-added sulphur-containing reagents eg liquid S02 and sulphonic acid.

Jan 1, 1992

By K M. Watling, F M, G K. Parker

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy at surfaces under electrochemical control has been applied to elucidate the adsorption of thiol collectors. SERS spectroelectrochemical studies at coinage metal electrodes have been carried out on ethyl xanthate and three iso-xanthates, O-isopropyl-N-ethylthionocarbamate, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, diisobutyl- dithiophosphinate and butylethoxycarbonylthioura. For each collector, adsorption occurs via charge transfer to form a metal-sulfur bond and, in situations for which the reversible potential of the formation of the bulk phase is known, at underpotentials.

Jan 1, 2005

The incidence of colliery disasters has highlighted the need for more centralised and directed coal mining safety research in Queensland, with particular impetus from explosions at Box Flat in 1972, Kianga in 1975 and Moura No 4 in 1986. Inquiries which identified the likely causes recommended measures and, research and two outcomes have been the present Mines Safety Research Advisory Committee and The Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station at Redbank, near Brisbane, dealing with all mining problems, coal and metalliferous. Already, important research into ignition and explosion and other health and safety matters has been accomplished; the Station has become an accredited testing laboratory; and international recognition has been achieved. Now the advisory, testing and research arms are soundly in place to pursue preventive investigations and be ready to provide assistance in any emergencies.

Jan 1, 1991

By He F, Zhu D

How to monitor and control the support and surrounding strata system on a longwall face effectively is one of the major research problems in ground control. Based on observations on movements of the support and surrounding strata of face No. 2703 of Dongpang colliery, the relationship between the downtime related to support and surrounding strata and other influential factors is analysed systematically in this paper. Monitoring indices and control measures are then determined by taking corresponding downtime as an objective function. When the monitoring method, developed from the above findings, was used on face No. 2703, the downtime due to support and surrounding strata was remarkably reduced, and the face advanced Normally.

Jan 1, 1992

By Withington J. T

The four major contracts for the construction of Museum Station are: 1) Installation of Soldier Piles, 2) Structural Contract including the temporary support, 3) Architectural Finishes which include Electrical and Mechanical Services and 4) Supply and Installation of lifts and escalators. Specific areas of interest include the fabrication, installation and removal of temporary support steelwork, the monitoring of ground loading, and the interface between the structure and. the temporary support. The information collated during construction confirmed the design assumptions and criteria. No major changes'were required in the design of the construction methods. The open cut excavation and construction of this major structure in an inner city area was significant by any standard and was successfully completed with minimum disruption to the public and without damage to adjoining or surrounding property.

Jan 1, 1981

Increasing use has been made of engineer ing geology and hydrogeology in the development of the infrastructure for mining projects. The Geological Survey of the Department of Mines, the Department of Main Roads, the Irrigation and Water Supply Commission and private consulting organisations and mining companies, employ spec- ialist staff to carry out engineering geological and/or hydrogeological investigations. Such in- vestigations have been of assistance in recent mining developments in northern Queensland, in- cluding those in the Cloncurry - Mount lsa, Weipa, Greenvale and northern Borten Basin areas.

Jan 1, 1974

Silica and limestone fluxing levels in copper smelting slags were studied. Copper concentrates with flux additions were smelted to matte (55.5 per cent Cu) and slag in a pilot scale submerged combustion furnace.Results indicated that oxidic and sulphidic copper levels in slags were minimised with a slag Si02 level of 36 per cent and a SiO2/CaO ratio of 5.5. Total copper losses in slags were 0.6 per cent under these conditions.To produce the desired slag chemistry, additions of bulk silica and limestone to copper concentrates of fluctuating grades were predicted numerically. The method employed the solution of two simultaneous equations, each respectively for silica and limestone calculations.The predicted flux additions were applied in a further series of tests and the resultant stages were found to be satisfactory. The method is applicable to smelting 'operations which employ two flux bins, with weigh feeders, so that slag chemistry may be controlled with the flux/concentrate feed mix.

Jan 1, 1985

The Mt Newman Beneficiation Plant uses a combination of heavy media deans, heavy medium cyclones and Reichert cones to produce saleable iron ore concentrates from low grade iron ores. The aim of this paper is to discuss score of the changes that have been made to improve the operation of the heavy medium circuits.

Jan 1, 1987

The design of a sand pump is similar in principle to that of a water pump but differs in several areas. Results of experiments on sand pump performance have been summarized and values of design parameters quoted for optimum results. Typical performance data are also Included.

Jan 1, 1973

In order to fully understand why Amax Coal puts such extreme emphasis on the drilling and blasting programs at each of our mines, we must review the past. This paper will discuss the drilling and blasting techniques we used in the 1970s and their evolution to current practices. As time progressed, major changes influenced the surface mining of coal through new more restrictive governmental controls and local communities organising into groups with two goals in mind, one to shut down the mines and the second to try and get rich by making false and unjust damage suits against the mines. In virtually all of our midwest surface operations we have at one time or presently are facing litigation that has reached into the millions of dollars. Amax Coal has worked in co-operation with the United States Bureau of Mines in the areas of blast vibration, shot design, highwall safety, blast casting studies and many more. Today we are continuing to work with Dr David Siskind and his expert staff seeking answers to old and new problems addressing the blasting of overburden and parting seams.

Jan 1, 1995

Changes in mining technology have led to an increase in the number of underground sulfide dust explosions reported in Australian and overseas mines. Samples collected at the Elura mine consisting primarily of pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite and galena, were tested in 8 litre explosion chamber. The dusts were found to be capable of producing dangerous dust explosions with maximum explosion pressures of 440 kPa and rates of pressure rise of 5200 kPa/s. The hazards of a sulfide dust explosion are associated with the pressure wave and flame front of the explosion and the toxic gases remaining after the explosion.

Jan 1, 1984

By P Hayward a, P Evans, K Prince, F Radke

Operating efficiency is becoming paramount as the mining industry moves towards globalisation and conglomeration. Mining companies are continuously searching for new technologies that can improve plant efficiency, by reducing operating costs and maximising metal recovery. Identification of how gold losses occur within an operating plant is crucial for determining appropriate operating strategies for improved metallurgical performance. Classical mineralogical and metallurgical techniques enable the operator to identify where losses occur in terms of particle size and mineral associations, however how the gold is hosted within the mineral grains (for example, as solid solution or as fine micro-inclusions) is more difficult to determine. This paper provides details of the testwork methodology, and resultant laboratory study to improve gold recovery.

Jan 1, 2004

To reflect on the early history of mining in South Australia requires considerable imagination and rashness. The people who were the chief actors in the scene have long since passed away. Accounts of their activities are hazy and debatable. A broad brush account is all that I can hope to accomplish under these circumstances. It is fitting that a picture be painted and possible lessons learnt from the achievements of our pre- Decessors.

Jan 1, 1987