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The early history of the mine is traced from the beginning of shaft sinking in 1886 to the purchase by the Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. in 1949. A necessary preliminary to mechanisation of the Borehole Seam was development of the Young Wallsend seam, andthis development is described. Surface reorganisation and coal handling arrangements are dealt with in detail. Then follows a description of the Borehole Seam mechanisation, the provision of power supply for this purpose, arid pumping arrangements in themine.INTRODUCTIONStockton Borehole Colliery is in the Parish of Teralba, between the townships of Teralba and Boolaroo, and about 12 miles from Newcastle. The colliery holding, a freehofd area of 2,560 acres, was apparently an original land grant when acquired by Teralba Co-operative Coal Company who decided to mine for coal and named the mine "Teralba Colliery." Shaft sinking was commenced in 1886 but was delayed by financial and water troubles to such an extent that it was not until 1901 that the Borehole Seam was reached.Coal was won until 1904 using a single 16 ft. diameter shaft, ventilation being achieved by means of a wooden boxing down one side of the shaft. This collapsed, and operations ceased until the mine was taken over in 1906 by a company known as "Borehole Colliery Limited," the principal stockholder being the Stockton Coal Company. It renamed the mine "Borehole Colliery." This new company immediately commenced sinking a 13 ft. diameter air shaft. In 1908 the Stocktol1 Colliery at Stockton was abandoned, and during the following year much of its equipment was transferred to Borehole Colliery. The name was again changed becoming "Stockton Borehole Colliery." From this period on, coal was produced from the Borehole Seam by...

Jan 1, 1957

By E. A. van Wyk, M. R. de Villiers

"Mining companies strive to increase and maintain production, while simultaneously remaining competitive in the global economy. Furthermore, they must ensure workers’ safety and maintain good safety records. The use of virtual reality (VR) facilitates the development of tools and systems for various purposes that can improve knowledge and understanding of the work environment. VR is a rapidly growing technology that uses the ever-increasing power of computing to simulate real-world and imaginary environments and situations with a high degree of realism and interaction. The availability of 3D modelling tools and simulation programming engines that work effectively with a mid-range desktop PC and standard 3D graphics card, make VR technology viable and attractive for mainstream training applications. The design, development, and implementation of interactive VR training systems is proposed as an innovative approach to augment safety training. However, in order to assess the impact of such VR training systems it is of particular importance to determine the effectiveness of the design of such systems. This article proposes an evaluation framework for this vital purpose. This framework comprises criteria to assess VR training systems, specifically relating to usability, instructional design, VR systems design, and mining industry context-specific aspects. Although the framework was developed as an evaluation tool to assess effectiveness of the design of such systems, it can equally well be used as a set of design principles to inform the design of VR training systems for mining. IntroductionMining in South Africa has been the main driving force behind the history and development of Africa’s richest and most advanced economy (Coka, 2012). The South African mining industry is frequently criticised for its poor safety record and high fatality rate (Stoddard and Skweyiya, 2016). Inadequate or insufficient training is often cited as a root cause of accidents (Van Wyk and De Villiers, 2009; Tichon and Burgess-Limerick, 2011). Virtual reality (VR) is a rapidly growing technology that utilizes the ever-increasing power of computing to simulate real-world and imaginary environments and situations with a high degree of realism and interaction (Webber-Youngman and Van Wyk, 2013). VR is currently being used or investigated as a training solution in a variety of industries. VR technology has developed rapidly and costs have fallen to levels where it can now be considered for mainstream training applications. The availability of 3D modelling tools and simulation programming engines that work effectively with a mid-range desktop PC and a standard 3D graphics card, make VR even more attractive to mine training centres (Van Wyk and De Villiers, 2009)."

May 1, 2019

By Dermot Winters

The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA, or the Act) was enacted on August 3, 1977. The Act was written, in part, to put an end to uneven environmental standards and to establish minimum national standards. Certainly, one of the motivating factors for passage of the Act was the success of the Federal Coal Mining Health and Safety Act of 1969 in reducing deaths and injuries in the coal industry nationwide. Section 516 (b) (1) of the Act requires *that subsidence be prevented from causing material damage to the extent technologically and economically feasible except in those instances where the mining technology requires planned subsidence in a predictable and controlled manner. Section 516 (c) of the Act authorizes the regulatory authority to suspend underground mining if there is imminent danger to inhabitants of urbanized areas, cities, towns, and communities. On December 13, 1977, the interim program, which applies a portion of the performance standards of the Act, was promulgated. Then on September 18, 1978, the proposed permanent program was published for public comment. Finally, on March 13, 1979, the final permanent program was promulgated and the States were given a period of time to submit their programs for approval.

Jan 1, 1986

PolyMet Mining is developing the NorthMet property near Duluth, Minnesota. Laboratory investigations had led to the development of the PLATSOL process to dissolve in one step the base metals (copper and nickel) as well as the gold and PGM’s. To complete the pre-feasibility study, a fully integrated ten-day pilot plant trial was undertaken, comprising of: high temperature (>220ºC) pressure oxidation in the presence of 5-10 g/L chloride (the PLATSOL process), followed by solid/liquid separation, gold plus PGM’s recovery from solution, conventional Cu SX/EW and recycling of the copper raffinate to the autoclave. The concentrate tested was a NorthMet bulk flotation concentrate assaying 14.7% Cu, 3.05% Ni, 0.14% Co, 26.7% S, 1.4 g/t Au, 2.2 g/t Pt and 9.9 g/t Pd. Laboratory results were fully confirmed and with minor adjustments of the laboratory PLATSOL® conditions, the following leach extractions were obtained during the pilot plant trial: Cu 99.6%, Ni 98.9%, Co 96%, Pd 94.6%, Pt 96% and Au 89.4%.

Jan 1, 2001

By Michael Radnor

The purpose of the study was to 1) examine the social and economic impacts of surface mine blasting in relation to variations in conditions of terrain and geology, population density and type, levels of ground motion and air blast; 2) consider technical, legal and government policy issues; and 3) examine the potential, nature and extent of surface mine blasting impacts and its regulations upon both communities and surface mining companies. Phase One designed the empirical research and technical analyses of Phase Two, focused upon surface coal mining and quarrying in the Eastern U.S. Several broad conclusions are evident: 1) blasting is not the major issue for communities or surface mine companies; 2) while the number of instances of severe cracking or annoyance are relatively small, the impact can be severe for individuals immediately involved; 3) blasting/drilling cost curves tend to rise significantly at intervals below 1.0 particle velocity, in/sec, dependent upon the size of a permit area and the size of a mine; and 4) the legal, complaint, cost and density analyses do not suggest the need for a general lowering of present regulations.

Jan 1, 1981

By Woodcock J. T

When an aqueous suspension of pyrite and manganese ore reacts with oxygen, manganese is dissolved by the ferrous sulphate and sulphuric acid produced by the oxidation of pyrite. The kinetics of certain steps in the overall reaction were studied. A rate equation for the oxidation of ferrous sulphate by gaseous oxygen was derived for the temperature range from 1000 to 200° C. An exact rate equation for the production of ferrous ion from pyrite could not be established but it was shown that the temperature, oxygen pressure, pyrite surface area, and the reduction of ferric ion by pyrite are important. A rate equation was derived for the reaction of manganese dioxide with ferrous sulphate. A major facfor controlling the rate was whether or not ferric oxide was formed by hydrolysis at the manganese dioxide surface.It was shown that if hydrolysis was prevented the factor cpntrolling the rate of the overall reaction ,was the rate of production of ferrous ion, and little ferrous ion was oxidised by oxygen. When hydrolysis of iron did occur, the overall rate was not a simplefunction of anyone factor and much ferrous ion was wasted by oxidation with oxygen.INTRODUCTIONIn another paper (Cornelius and Woodcock, 1958) the results of the reaction of an aqueous suspension of a manganese ore and pyrite with oxygen are reported. It is shown that the ferrous ion and sulphuric acid generated in situ by the oxidation of pyrite, dissolves manganese as manganous sulphate. To obtain a better understanding of the process as a whole, the kinetics of certain steps in the overall reaction were studied.When an aqueous suspension of a manganese ore and pyrite reacts with oxygen, the overall reaction may be conventionally represented by equation (1) (Cornelius and Woodcock, 1958).2Mn02 + 2FeSz + 6i02 + 2HzO= 2MnS04 + 2H2S04+ F'ez03 ... , .. (1)

Jan 1, 1958

By Cadia Geology Team

The Cadia Hill Gold Mine, located near Orange in Central Western New South Wales, is owned and operated by Cadia Holdings Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Newcrest Mining Limited. Construction including pre-strip mining occurred from 1996 to 1998. The mine was officially opened in October 1998 following commissioning of the concentrator and mine fleet in June of that year. The Cadia Hill orebody is a porphyry related gold and copper system. The final pit has a strip ratio of approximately 1.3:1.0. Mining is undertaken on 15 metre benches using large capacity diesel hydraulic face shovels at an annualised rate of up to 70 Mtpa. The concentrator is currently rated at 17Mtpa and includes the worldÆs largest single line grinding circuit. The feasibility Mineral Resource was estimated at 352 Mt at 0.63 g/t Au and 0.17 per cent Cu. Initial reserves totalled 200 Mt at 0.74 g/t Au and 0.17 per cent Cu yielding a mine life of approximately 12 years. During the pre-production period mine geology systems were developed to support the operation. By design these systems were intended to add value to the business through minimisation of material miss-classification, provision of accurate and timely production information and mapping and reconciliation as a continuous model improvement tool. Variances that would prove to be material to the life of mine plan were recognised during the first year of production. These included identification of additional ore tonnes, higher copper grades and higher gold recoveries relative to the model. Gold grades and copper recoveries also reconciled favourably. Testwork was undertaken to determine the underlying causes of each variance. Re-modelling was then undertaken to capitalise on those variances. The Cadia Hill Gold Mine life of mine plan was re-evaluated with updated geology, grade, geotechnical, metallurgical and environmental inputs. Operating strategies were also reviewed and revised. Despite application of reduced metal prices in the evaluation, the outcome was one of extended mine life with more metal produced at lower cost. Development of robust mine geology systems, including a pro-active reconciliation process contributed to tangible improvement of the Cadia Hill Gold Mine operation. On-going system development and improvement initiatives are planned to add further value for the future.

Jan 1, 2000

Ore from the "Staimite" lode in the Oonah mine, Zeehan, has a complex composition and contains an exceptional number of elements. Its chemical composition has been indicated by the following published figuresà

Jan 1, 1931

By E. Harris

Frithia humilis is an endangered succulent plant species. Its distribution range overlaps with the coal fields of Mpumalanga and it is therefore threatened by opencast mining activities in particular. One of the 11 known populations of F. humilis was translocated from a licensed coal mining site to three suitable receptor sites within the species? distribution range. A longterm monitoring programme was initiated to track the progress of the newly established populations. Temporal trends in population demography, size classes, and fecundity were recorded. Population numbers of size classes fluctuated annually. However, flower frequency increased over time and seedling recruitment contributed significantly to population growth. Receptor sites with similar geological conditions to the donor site had more persistent cohorts, which suggest that such sites should receive priority during the translocation of endangered edaphic specialists. This study not only confirms that a Frithia humilis population can successfully establish after a translocation, but also serves as an important baseline for future comparative purposes to gauge the long-term success of the translocation effort.

Jan 1, 2014

By Jim Rozek, Robert A. Gee

The Epping to Chatswood Rail Line project is the largest publicly funded infrastructure project in New South Wales. Construction commenced in November2002 with opening scheduled for 2008. The work includes 13 route km of twin TBM driven 7.2 m diameter lined running tunnel, three cross-overs and three new underground stations. The new stations have platform caverns of 20m span with similarly proportioned concourse caverns alongside. The ground is bedded sand stone and shale with high horizontal stresses. Predicted stress-relief induced ground movements during staged excavation led to innovative use of rock anchors for permanent support.

Jan 1, 2005

For tax purposes a mining company is a New Zealand company whose principal source of income is from the business of mining, or exploring for certain specified minerals in New Zealand. New Zealand tax law distinguishes between a non-resident mining operator and a mining company, with the only major difference in tax treatment being the corporate tax rates. New Zealand mining companies are taxed at 28 per cent, whereas non-resident mining operators are taxed at 33 per cent of taxable income. These provisions also apply to the petroleum mining industry. Individuals who carry on the business of mining are also specifically defined in the Act. They are termed as 'resident mining operators'. Non-resident mining operators are non-residents of New Zealand who carry on mining ventures as a business in New Zealand. Mining ventures are defined as the exploring, searching and mining of specified minerals, including development work carried out for profits. Similar provisions apply to the petroleum mining sector. Specified minerals are defined in the Income Tax Act 1976 ('the Act') and while no useful purpose is obtained by listing them in the paper, they include a larger number of industrial and commercial minerals. The Minister of Finance is also empowered to add to the list by publishing his determination in the Gazette.

Jan 1, 1988

By K. Drescher

Excavations in deep level hard rock mines show rheological or time-dependent deformation responses to mining-induced stresses. These are generally not as dramatic as those seen in soft rock environments, such as potash and salt mines, but these deformations can nevertheless become substantial in time. It is usual to see total excavation closure at a much earlier stage than predicted by numerical models, and real-time measurements underground have confirmed that closure takes place on a more-or-less continuous basis, with highest closure rates observed after a blast and then slowly diminishing with passing time. This paper describes laboratory tests to determine the time-dependent response of hard rocks to loading, the results of the tests, and then quantifies these effects to explain the time-dependent phenomena observed underground. The primary intention of this work is to help explain the various time-dependent deformation processes around typical deep level hard rock tabular excavations. Three mechanisms were investigated in two typical hard rock types present in the deep level gold mines in South Africa, namely Ventersdorp Lava and Elsburg Quartzite. Uniaxial compression creep studies were done as the first part of the study followed by shear creep studies on discontinuities where crushed lava and crushed quartzite as well as a natural gouge were used as infilling. The last part of the study consisted of triaxial post-failure relaxation tests. The compression creep tests and the triaxial post-failure relaxation tests showed that the amount of energy dissipated by the lava is significantly less than for quartzite. For mines operating at depths greater than 2000 m the implication is that the lava must show a greater rockburst-proneness than the quartzite. Since the lava shows a lower post-failure stress relaxation, it can store sufficient energy for multiple rockbursts, which is seen in the clustering of multiple seismic events in the deep level mines. This study provides the first data available for energy change calculations in fractured rock masses, and provides the first general indications for rockburst intensities ahead of active mining faces.

Jan 1, 2003

By William Paxton Hewitt

In the Santa Eulalia mining district, Chihuahua, Mexico, the main mineral zone occurs in a gently warped dome with simple associated structures and contains orebodies distributed through a vertical range of over 900 m. The stratigraphy of 1945 m of geologic column is described and an abrupt shrinkage is documented in the volume of limestones immediately associated with large orebodies. Termed collapse, this shrinkage occurred during the course of mineralization. Contacts of limestone with igneous sills, and 366 m of fossiliferous limestone beds, particularly the main fossil bed, have been important localizers of ore-bodies. Up-dip gravitational controls may have been important. Fractures have exerted only local controls and over short distances. Thrust zones have displaced diabase sills and in turn have been intruded by upper members of a group of rhyolite porphyry sills. Mineralizers were related to the rhyolite porphyry, and ore has been introduced to the limestone where certain sills lie between the displaced segments of diabase and have been cut by north-south fissures. Speculations are raised that fields of unreleased strain may have influenced orebody locations; the district's zoning pattern may be a reflection of the filtering effects of large volumes of limestone; and that metal-rich brines mobilized by or incorporated within the invading porphyry might be the source of the mineralizers. PRODUCTION AND LOCATION The Santa Eulalia district has a production record approaching or exceeding 35 million tons of silver-lead-zinc ore from replacement bodies in limestone. In operation since the first years of the 17001s, production has been confined to two intensely mineralized areas separated by 2 km of barren limestone, the West Camp and the East Camp. Probably 50% has been mined since 1908, with over 90% from the West Camp. The West Camp, exploited through a vertical depth of 1945 m and now approaching exhaustion, is the subject of this paper. The district lies in the northern part of the Santa Eulalia Mountains in central Chihuahua in northern Mexico, 400 km south of El Paso, Texas, and 22 km southeast of Chihuahua City. Dominating the northern part of the range is the Cerro de Santa Eulalia, a broad rolling upland which contains the district's West and East Camps. The West Camp, on the west side of the range, centers around the village of Santo Domingo, which is 2 km northeast of the Real de Santa Eulalia (Fig. 1). REGIONAL GEOLOGY Thick-bedded middle Cretaceous limestones, probably Aurora, form the great bulk of the Cerro de Santa Eulalia. These beds, warped into a gentle dome, are severed on the west by a faultline scarp and truncated on the north by the Dolores Pass, a wind gap that

Jan 1, 1969

By Enrique Hauser

Discussion of the paper of ENRIQUE HAUSER, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1916, and printed in Bulletin No. 110, February, 1916, pp. 521 to 534. GEORGE A. BURRELL, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Hauser determined the influence of inert gases on the properties of fire-damp mixtures, and one might take some issue with his work on the effect of hydrogen, on those mixtures. It is valuable information to have, but as far as the practical application of it goes, it is not of much significance, because one does not find it in mines, at least not in any appreciable amount. The same Fig. 1.-APPARATUS FUR DETECTING COMBUSTIBLE GASES IN AIR. thing can be said of ethylene. Ethylene is formed in considerable quantities as a product of heat reaction, but normally, in the coal mines, as a result of a great many analyses we have made at the Bureau of Mines, we cannot say that ethylene is a combustible gas found in the fire-damp in coal mines.

Jan 5, 1916

By K. L. Paciorek

The aim of this program was to develop a reliable and meaning-ful basts for assessing certain safety aspects, namely fire and, in particular, toxicity hazards of articles employed in underground coal mining operations. This investigation was centered on the thermal oxidative degradation of "pure" ingredients used specifically in the formulation of conveyor beltings. To achieve this goal all products formed on thermal oxidative degradation of the materials studied were analyzed, identified I and the amount of each individual species present was determined quantitatively on a weight of product per weight of material basis. The weight/weight data thus obtained can then be factorized to reflect the relative toxicity of each individual species present, using for example the Threshold Limit Values adopted by the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists, whereby an overall "toxicity index" can be arrived at which makes it possible to compare the different potential formulation components in a quantitative manner insofar as their "toxicity" is concerned. Furthermore, knowing the off-gassing characteristics of the commonly used additives I their contribution to the product mix obtained from actual belting can be postulated. Conversely, from the species obtained on thermal oxidative degradation of conveyor belts the type and to a degree the content of additives can be deduced. Based on the se data meaningful regulations governing the material selection for underground use can be developed. For these studies a quiescent system at 370°C was employed. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses were performed to supplement and extend the sealed system investigations and to provide information regarding thermal oxidative behavior under dynamic conditions.

Jan 1, 1975

By W. E. Tournay

In accordance with a cooperative agreement between the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, and the Linde Air Products Co., an investigation was made at the Bureau Explosives Testing Station, Bruceton, Pa., to develop suitable test methods for evaluating the performance and sensitivity characteristics of liquid-oxygen explosives. This report presents the results of the investigation. The unique nature of liquid-oxygen explosives necessitated both modification of standard techniques and development of entirely new test methods. The latter requirement was due to the fact that differences exist in the kind of information that must be developed for studying relative safety and performance properties of these explosives compared to that of fixed explosives.

Jan 1, 1949

Modem mineral exploration and development takes place within a data-rich context underpinned by a wide range of data acquisition, processing and interpretation technologies. This leads to requirements for consistent and explicit methods by which the relative risks - or success probabilities - of exploration programs can be assessed and communicated. Bayesian risk assessment methods are outlined which provide a starting point for this more rigorous approach to exploration investment.   Effective governance of information technologies becomes a core function of the modem competitive Board. As such it becomes a component of any business audit and any assessment of the quality and success potential of a company. Limited data however suggest that the average Board may be under-represented in this increasingly critical skill area.

Jan 1, 1997

By Ashley P, Neale T

Alluvial gold was discovered on Sudest Island in 1888, and by 1893, an official production of 10 000 oz had been won by expatriate miners from shallow alluvial and colluvial workings. Hardrock sources were located and while one was developed at Mt Adelaide, production is unknown. Sudest Island comprises mostly phyllites and lesser coarse grained rocks which are cut by metamorphic quartz veins and basic (locally shoshonitic) intrusives. Sheared and altered basalts and serpent- inites represent are believed to be elements of an ophiolitic suite inferred to be associated with metamorphic core complex development and thus similar to tectonic environments on Misima and the D'Entrec- asteaux Islands. No epithermal-style quartz suggestive of a target similar to that on Misima Island has been identified on Sudest. A hardrock source for the alluvial and colluvial gold is interpreted to be metamorphic quartz veins similar to those in the Bendigo- Ballarat Zone of central Victoria, possibly remobilising gold derived from the meta- sedimentary and meta-igneous rock pile. The present focus is on development of a small scale alluvial gold mining operation in conjunction with exploration for hardrock targets. This latter programme remains at a reconnaissance stage.

Jan 1, 1991

Stripping of Fe (III) from D2EHPA Using Different Reagents The common way to extract Fe(III) from an organic solvent is by using concentrated acidic solutions. The stripping of Fe(III) from organic solvent Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) by hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions has been found to increase with increasing the acid concentration. However, the use of a concentrated acidic solution such as 6 M HCl can degrade the organic molecules. In this research, to increase the efficiency of Fe(III) stripping from D2EHPA, effect of some acids, salts and buffer solutions was studied. Influence of Tri-butyl phosphate (TBP) as modifier on the Fe(III) stripping operation was also investigated. According to the results, the best Fe stripping recovery was achieved in the presence of low acid concentration and the salts which was 72.4 per cent oxalic acid, 70 per cent ammonium oxalate and 75 per cent buffer of oxalic acid and ammonium oxalate. The results also showed a better recovery in the presence of the buffer rather than the salt. Finally, increasing the concentration of TBP, HCl and H2SO4 resulted in a higher stripping efficiency of Fe(III). However, in the presence of oxalic acid and its salts increasing the reagent concentration did not increase the stripping efficiency and at this condition, the recovery of iron remained constant.

Sep 13, 2010

Variations in product distribution in the carbon-sulphur dioxide system due to variations in reaction temperature, sulphur dioxide concentration in the feed gas, and gassolid contact time were studied in detail for a brown coal char. The results were compared with those for two wood chars, a coke prepared from Liddell coal and two cokes prepared from Ac1and coal. Conditions were chosen such that gas-solid diffusion rates did not hinder chemical attack of the carbon.With brown coal char under suitable conditions, the selectivity of sulphur in the sulphur dioxide fed, to either elemental sulphur or carbon disulphide, was in excess of 90 per cent. The wood chars gave very similar product distributions Ito brown coal char. However, the cokes from Ac1and and Liddell coals were respectively approximately three and seven times less reactive than the brown coal char.The approximate carbon holdup required to just achieve total conversion of sulphur dioxide, and thereby achieve high selectivity to elemental sulphur, is given as a function of reaction temperature.

Jan 1, 1974