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Operations at two open cut mines have so far commenced on two out of the five potentially mineable seams in the Fair Hill - German Creek Coal Measures. Due to seam splitting, up to seven mining units are present in the Dysart Seam interval at Peak Downs giving a total of 12 mining units in the section. The coal is low to medium volatile type and produces strong coke. Rank increases and fluidity decreases in the southern part of the area.

Jan 1, 1974

The Goldfields extend from Norseman in the Eastern Goldfields to Marble Bar in the Pilbara; a distance of approximately 1,500 km. (Figure 1). Tailings dams are conspicuous on the relatively flat and featureless Goldfields' landscape. They impound wastes from mining and processing operations. Tailings dams interact dynamically with their environment and progressively consolidate as water is removed. Water recovery systems have been used over the last decade to improve water conservation, increase dam stability and to extend the service life of the dam. Without water recovery, dams would need to be significantly larger to permit the tailings to dry back sufficiently to support subsequent depositions. The paper reviews inter-relationships between the tailings dam and its environment and discusses water recovery systems, that are commonly used. The effectiveness of water management is illustrated by reference to seasonal water recoveries measured by Western Mining Corporation (W.M.C.) at their number 2 dam at Kambalda.

Jan 1, 1988

By Maslov LA

We have considered the following characteristics of the crust and upper mantle of the Pacific Belt: seismic wave velocit> anomalies, mechanical stress and shear deformation rate fields, heat flow and the pattern of metallogenic provinces of the Belt. It has been noted that there exist certain regularities in distribution of the above mentioned geophysical characteristics and metallogenic zones within the Belt, displayed by prevalence of the lithophile elements in the Asia-Australian part of the Belt, and of the chalcophile ones within the American part.

Jan 1, 1995

By Medhurst TP, Trueman R

The aim of the paper was to model numerically some aspects of the extraction of coal pillars by split and fendering. A two-dimensional elasto-plastic plane strain model with strain softening and interface mod- elling was used. The model was able to simulate the improvement of conditions experienced in lifting from the fender, when the roof adjacent to the fender has caved. In contrast, when a stook was left, providing support to a span of uncaved roof, the model pre- dicted the fender would suffer considerably more de- formation and strain.

Jan 1, 1992

Dewatering tailing slurries by mechanical means is often not possible and gravity and solar driven processes must be used. It has been shown previously that better use of gravity is achieved when the tailing is drained as it settles. Not only are more compact sediments obtained but also the dewatering is faster. From the results of laboratory and field tests reported here, equations were established which describe the evaporation and drainage components of the dewatering. These equations were used to calculate the effects of ponding depth, solids content of the tailing and clim- atic conditions on the time required to dewater the tailing. Since the calculations can be made with and without the drainage component, the advantages to be gained with drainage can be determined. The tailing used in the work was a clay slime from a sand washing operation. However, it is anticipated that this approach will be applicable to other similar tailing.

Jan 1, 1978

By Aylmore M. G

Samples have been taken from a two-stage industrial gold roaster treating a pyrite/pyrrhotite/arsenopyrite concentrate, in order to describe the mineralogy, composition and surface area of the calcines. Sulphides oxidised to produce a porous magnetite in the first stage and a porous hematite in the second; pyrite predominantly roasted via a pyrrhotite intermediate. Sulphur was eliminated in both the first and second stages whereas arsenic was eliminated in the first but retained in the second, partly as rims on hematite particles. The finer sized particles from the cyclones and electrostatic precipitator, while having the greatest surface area, were the most refractory with respect to gold solubilisation, probably as a result of incomplete decomposition (through short-circuiting) in the first stage, and through a combination of factors such as overheating and entrapment of sub-microscopic gold in the second stage.

Jan 1, 1992

By D Ziaja, W Jaspers

A brief history of the development of pneumatic flotation cells from early in the 20th century to the present day and a comparison to conventional cells demonstrates the efficiency and simplicity of design and operation of the ænew generationÆ of pneumatic cells. Recent successful testwork on phosphate minerals in the USA and a variety of coal types in Australia confirm the utility and efficiency of the design. The key aspects of this technology are improved recovery and selectivity with lower capital expenditure and operating costs.

Jan 1, 2005

This paper reviews factors involved in the feasibility stage of underground mine project development. Emphasis is placed on the need to first select the best method of extraction and make the most accurate assessment of the expected output even with the uncertainties which may exist in structural interpretation, ground stress, geotechnical factors, and industrial conditions. The subsequent engineering planning should be undertaken from the point of view of the face requirements and is subject to constraints imposed by the method of work and nature of the deposit and, in the case of access, to surface constraints and services.

Jan 1, 1983

By J Tsiklieris, O Turner

Suppliers of products and services have a pivotal role in sustainable development in the mining and minerals industry. Reputable suppliers know their products and services, and the industry, and have unique knowledge of these in relation to their customerÆs needs. Petroleum hydrocarbon suppliers, in particular, impact upon a mineÆs sustainability because of the extensive reach of petroleum hydrocarbons into the mining and minerals life-cycle. The petroleum hydrocarbon life-cycle is a useful framework to enable engagement between supplier and customer on the issue of sustainability. The life-cycle starts with supply of fuels, lubricants and services at the mine, through to plant operation and maintenance, transport of mined products, ship loading, and finally through to mineral processing and other downstream value-adding. There are barriers to leveraging supplierÆs capabilities which have to be overcome before the industry will gain the potential benefits from such supplier engagement.

Jan 1, 2004

Mining projects frequently fail to meet their financial objectives. A significant area of poor performance lies in the areas of resource estimation, reserve definitions, selective mining and metal accounting. The processes leading to the exploi

Jan 1, 1998

By Williams RJ

This paper presents an overview of the design and development , application to date and potential of a real-time return gas monitoring system.Initially developed as an ACARP/Industry funded project, whose prime aim was to create a `turn-key', prototype, stand alone, real-time, Return Gas Monitoring System (RGMS) capable of providing quantitative assessments of gassiness levels on a shift by shift basis, enabling unusual gas emission patterns to be readily flagged.

Jan 1, 1998

By Eldridge B. J

During recent years, Central Queensland has experienced a boom in its coal mining industry. This has involved many companies in projects requiring large capital expenditure. As with most projects of this size, many operating problems are now being experienced which were unforseen at the feasibility stage. One of these problems is the failure of pit slopes and spoil piles at some of the strip mining operations. There have been serious stability problems associated with Utah Development Company's strip mining operations in Central Queensland, in particular the Goonyella Mine. A field investigation programme was under- taken to determine the cause of highwall and spoilpile slope failures. Spoilpile failures were found to result from weakness near the spoil/floor contact zone. Highwall failures were found to result from a combination of unfavourable bedding plane dips and weakness, and the presence of joints in weak o~erburdep; Satisfactory solutions fa the staiity, problems are difficult to formulate, and-field stability experimentation is still at an early Stage.

Jan 1, 1974

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 Carter LC

Following the perception by the Groote Eylandt Mining Company of a need to further beneficiate a fines product, and preliminary metallurgical testing to demonstrate the feasibility of such beneficiation, a comparison was made of the various configurations of cyclonic heavy medium separators available. This comparison consisted of (i) a pilot plant test in which a dynawhirlpool (DWP) and a pump fed cyclone were compared, and (ii) a survey of operating plants using the systems under consideration. Little metallurgical difference was found-between the different systems. The gravity fed cyclone configuration was finally chosen based on a particular need to minimise degradation of ore and on a desire, in so isolated a location, to use established and locally supported technology.

Jan 1, 1987

By Turner T. M, Jorgensen F. R A

The tendency of the concentrate to ignite was studied using four techniques, namely, laminar flow furnace, fluid bed, thermal analysis and boat-in-furnace. Exothermic activity occurred at two temperatures: minor activity in the vicinity of 200¦C, major activity at 330-350¦C. The low temperature reaction was due to the ignition of a small amount of free sulphur while the major activity was associated with the ignition of the sulphide minerals, notably pyrite. To avoid ignition of the sulphide minerals, the gas temperature should not exceed 300¦C and the oxygen content of the gas phase should be as low as possible. It was shown that little of the arsenic in the concentrate entered the gas phase during drying.

Jan 1, 1987

By Showers JAF

The Western Mining Corporation mining lease on the Bendigo Goldfield measures 5krri x 18km with more than 20 anticlinal folds parallelling th long north-south boundaries. Numerous closely spaced shafts and extensive underground workings on the reef lines along the folds flooded with groundwater following the progressive abandonment of the field. Preliminary water sampling and assessment demonstrated that a major dewatering programme and acceptable disposal methods were necessary to dewater interconnected old workings in areas of interest prior to any underground work taking place. A field wide geohydolic investigation was undertaken to establish geohydraulic parameters, groundwater recharge rates and water qualities. Data from the field investigation together with estimates of the volume geometry of the submerged workings as obtained from old mine plans, production history, and limited pump testing results were used with an appropriate analytical model to obtain estimates of water discharge rates required to reach various dewatering targets. Water disposal options were limited by relatively high salinities, arsenic levels, contained hydrogen sulphide, and the mine locations within the urban areas surrounding Bendigo. Direct disposal to the surface drainage system could not be considered, treatment to acceptable discharge standards was not economically feasible, and it was necessary to adopt a strategy of collection, containment, and evaporation.

Jan 1, 1988

By Guoqing Cao, Xinghong Wang, Fuqiang Liu, Rong Shen, Xiaoping Yuan

In this paper, an approach is proposed to monitor the rate of lump coal based on image processing. Using this method, we effectively improve rate of lump coal on comprehensive mechanised coal face.

Jan 1, 1998

The paper deals with the problems of grouting methods for fissured-porous rock. The paper describes design procedure, injection process patterns and hydrodynamic testing techni- que to plan grouting programs for fissured-porous aquifers. A number of case histories is given to illustrate the imp- lementation of developed methodology at various mining pro- jects.

Jan 1, 1988

I.T.H. Drilling has been accepted as a tool used daily for both production and service work in Australian underground mines. For this reason, it is of interest to examine the rigs and drilling equipment in use to do this work, also to review the technique necessary to ensure that this drilling is done efficiently.

Jan 1, 1978

Mill liners provide the wear-resistant surface within grinding mills, they also impart motion to the mill charge, ie the grinding process, by providing the key between the charge and mill shell, and, at the discharge end, they remove the ground contents of the mill. As semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills have grown in size the process aspects of liner design and their impact on mill performance have become particularly important. While feedback from practical experience is critical to good mill liner design, increasingly sophisticated computer-based tools are being developed to assist in mill liner design.

Jan 1, 2007