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By S Williams

The primary objective of most mining projects is to maximise the value delivered to the companyÆs shareholders. Achieving best practice performance and maintaining competitive advantage through low-cost production and high productivity is essential to achieving this aim. Benchmarking is an essential tool for the identification and implementation of best practice performance, and to realise continuous improvement by ensuring best practice becomes common practice. But to be successful, that is to deliver long-term value creation, benchmarking must be holistic and align operational performance with strategic intent. This paper outlines a rigorous and structured approach on how to conduct a successful benchmarking program that aligns operational performance with the businessÆs goals. Further it investigates the benefits that benchmarking can provide throughout the project life cycle and provides some key learnings from some of the worldÆs leading miners.

Jan 1, 2009

Cataclysmic or flood-like release of gas-charged brines, hydrocarbons and slurries accompanied widespread mineralisation of Upper Devonian environments. These are well represented in the Canning and Burdekin Basins of Western Australia and Queensland respectively.The Burdekin Basin provides particularly instructive vein structural sequences. These fall into organic residue to carbonate paragenetic sequences which are known elsewhere to record progressive decarboxylation. Fibrous veins indicate overpressure in fractures with organic residues, acids and gas derivatives driven to overlying groundwater flows. This combination of large flow rates and potent organic mineralisers led to extensive arsenical rare-metal mineralisation which is similar to that concentrated in Upper Devonian extinction horizons of the Canning Basin. Organic-residue mineralisation appears concentrated by certain hvdrostructures and targeted upon particular species. These controls need to be understood to guide modern management stragegies for mineralised organic and nitrogenous wastes.

Jan 1, 1990

By J W. Harris

There are numerous detrital diamond deposits worldwide with uncertain or disputed links to known primary kimberlite/lamproite sources. In this study, we utilise 40Ar/39Ar dating of clinopyroxene inclusions in diamonds as a provenance tool applied to the mega-placer deposits along the West Coast of southern Africa. These data demonstrate that most West Coast diamonds originated known Cretaceous kimberlites on the Kaapvaal craton with negligible input from proximal Permian glacial deposits. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

Mining epitomises the challenge of sustainable development, because few sectors have such a direct impact on the natural environment, yet few are more important to the economic and social health of almost every region in the globe. In a global industry, with increasing competition for exploration and mining investment dollars, sustainable development must also be resolved within an international competitiveness framework. In formulating a response to the challenge of sustainable development, the State and Federal Governments do not fully appreciate the extent to which technology drives the solution on a range of issues. In some cases` a dangerous fatalism about the state of science has led to an unhealthy æstop productionÆ attitude that puts our industry and economy at risk. As a technical institute representing the professionals in the minerals sector, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (The AusIMM) sees one of its roles as being to highlight the way in which industry innovation can facilitate solutions. The AusIMM is currently evolving a greenhouse gas emissions policy. As a case study it throws into sharp relief the way in which irresponsible ælimits to growthÆ policies could have a negative impact on the sustainability of the sector, as well as the importance of a technology- based solution. With 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the next twenty years projected to come from developing economies, such as India and China, major reductions will only be achieved if cost-effective, low emissions energy technologies are deployed in developing countries, and more energy efficient processes of producing key commodities for them are brought online. As a supplier of the key energy resources and materials that will be in high demand to feed developing economies, and with knowledge intensive industries with excellent R&D links across mining and manufacturing, Australia is well positioned to contribute to develop key low emissions technologies. However, we will only be able to take advantage of this position if the Federal Government commits to a holistic greenhouse emissions policy that does not penalise industry. We need effective æpushÆ polices aimed at leveraging investment in low emissions R&D that are closely linked in to æpullÆ policies aimed at stimulating technology uptake.

Jan 1, 2006

In recent years, wide consideration has had to be given to methods of improving the condition of the mine environment in many coal mines, and significant developments and changes have evolved. Thus even after substantial increases inòair flow rates at the working place (they have increased over three fold in the last generation), environmental conditions have arisen for which it has been necessary to introduce or consider: i) additional ameliorative measures, such as good housekeeping; ii) layout changes: such as Y or Z layouts; iii) homotropal ventilation; and iv) air conditioning. In certain countries, consideration has been given also to: v) additional payments reduced working times; vi) heat acclimatisation programmes; and vii) the use of cold or cooling suits At many hot and humid mines, the principal benefits from adopting (i), (ii) and (iii) have already been realised. At such mines,

Jan 1, 1983

In recent decades the awareness of environmental issues by the general public has developed at an accelerat- ing rate. This is the result of a number of factors including more scientific knowledge of environments and of the impacts of modern society upon them, higher levels of education, the opportunity for people to travel more, and the success of the various communication media in bringing in- formation to the communities of the world about such environmental crises or threats as the smogs of Los Angeles and London, the Torrey Canyon and Santa Barbara oilspills, Minamata disease in Japan, the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish, the disposal of toxic industrial wastes into the Upper Rhine, the discovery of high mercury and zinc contents in marine foods in southern Australian waters, and the proposal to mine limestone at Precipitous Bluff in Tasmania.

Jan 1, 1975

In recent decades the awareness of environmental issues by the general public has developed at an accelerat- ing rate. This is the result of a number of factors including more scientific knowledge of environments and of the impacts of modern society upon them, higher levels of education, the opportunity for people to travel more, and the success of the various communication media in bringing in- formation to the communities of the world about such environmental crises or threats as the smogs of Los Angeles and London, the Torrey Canyon and Santa Barbara oilspills, Minamata disease in Japan, the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish, the disposal of toxic industrial wastes into the Upper Rhine, the discovery of high mercury and zinc contents in marine foods in southern Australian waters, and the proposal to mine limestone at Precipitous Bluff in Tasmania.

Jan 1, 1975

By Collins J. L, Fytas K

Surface mining accounts for more than 50% of the world's total mineral production. In future years this status is expected to change somewhat in favour of surface mining. The production technology during the past decade has concentrated on greater degree of mechanization with high capacity heavy duty equip- ment. This trend will continue. Next two decades will also see microproces- ,or based equipment, health and performance monitoring and management information systems fully integrated with excavated and material handling systems which in themselves will be amenable to auto- matic and remote control. Computerized mine planning will also be integrated within the system providing a fully integrated planning, excavat- ing and materials handling system. The surface mines of the 1990's and beyond will be so computer dependent that manpower will be reduced to one third of current levels.

Jan 1, 1988

Despite extensive oil exploration in"Western Australia over the past 12 years no commercial oil fields have yet been found. A total ' of 66 test wells have been drilled throughout the State but only Rough Range No.s.. 1 and 1A have produced oil in significant quantities. Active oil exploration is now in progress in the" Canning, Carnarvon, Perth, Bonaparte Gulf and Officer Basins. Test wells have been drilled' in ,all of these except the Officer Basin, where the subsurface stratigraphy is still unknown. Large .areas of the other four have hot yet been drilled. It, is- probable that. commercial oil deposits will eventually be found' in these basins as they contain thick marine sequences, and have structures 'suitable for.,the. entrapment of oil. .

Jan 1, 1964

The issues which are the subject of this paper cover an extremely broad field. In themselves the components of the topic could be the theme, in considerably greater detail, of a two day seminar. Indeed a full course in an academic year would probably not do justice to the topic. I have therefore experienced considerable difficulty in condensing such a broad subject range down to a 30 minutes address and in doing so have tried to, hopefully, provide a little bit of everything for the wide range of professional interests and different levels of commercial, professional and legal expertise represented at this conference. Perhaps my address could best be described as a "bird's eye" view rather than a "worm's eye" view of the subject.

Jan 1, 1990

Geological modelling is a crucial preparatory stage to most facets of the mine planning of an orebody. The process of modelling involves skilled geological interpretation. Recent innovations in computer software and graphics hardware provide many tools which can be used to dramatically improve on manual methods of interpreting orebody data. Geological interpretation can be carried out quickly to produce accurate block models for many orebody attributes, such as grades, and these models can be easily updated locally as exploration and mine development data become available. The speed of the modelling process coupled with the mass storage capabilities of the computer now allows geologists to optimise the geological model or carry more than one model through to the mine planning phase.

Jan 1, 1987

Kensington is a joint venture between Echo Bay Mines and Coeur Alaska, a subsidiary of Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. The venture is of equalparticipa- tion and is governed by a management committee with Echo Bay as the operator. The project site is 50 miles north of Juneau, Alaska on the eastern shore of the Lynn Canal. The mine and mill are being planned for a production rate of 4,000 stpd. Currently, probable reserves stand at just over 11.3 million tons grading 0.149 oz Au/ton. The project is now in final feasibility study with a production decision anticipated by the end of 1990. Commercial production would begin early in 1993. This presentation dis- cusses the anticipated mine, mill and support aspects of the project.

Jan 1, 1991

By Moorrees C

The end uses of magnesia are determined by both its chemical and its physical proper- ties. There is seen to be an increasing need for products of high chemical purity. Prod- ucts containing 90-95 per cent MgO can be routinely produced by physical beneficiation and calcination of most magnesite ores, the dominant source of magnesia. However, pro- duction of grades containing more than 98 per cent MgO with low impurity levels is not readily achieved physically. Such products can only be readily produced by chemical processing techniques. This presentation outlines the types of impurities present in magnesite deposits and the general concepts that are involved in chemically upgrading them. Of the potential leachants, only hydrochloric acid and aqueous carbon dioxide appear to be commercially attractive.

Jan 1, 1987

By Thompson IR

This paper describes a Client Consultant Relationship and shows how an engineering team created an environ- ment which fosters the development of good, economical and sometimes unique solutions. A major factor in establish- ing this environment was the Client's instruction to the Consultant to "propose solutions which, in the Consultant's considered opinion, best satisfy the needs of the project - not necessarily solutions which reproduce methods adopted elsewhere in the past." The Consultant's experience in other projects and disciplines outside mining has contributed by providing a cross- fertilisation of ideas. The team approach also allows the Client's expertise to be applied positively throughout the design process. These factors and the Client's foresight in providing adequate time for planning, allow the Client-Consultant Team to apply sound fundamental engineering in developing effective solutions.

Jan 1, 1975

The problem of spontaneous combustion has long exercised the minds of Mining Engineers. The idea of inertising an area with a non combustible gas has seemed to be an attractive way to overcome the problem. Various agents have been tried but nitrogen has particular attractions and advantages. Britain adopted the idea from the German industry and found that it was particularly suitable for the conditions in British Mines. Over 8 years much development work has been done and specialist equipment has been developed as the requirements came to be better identified with experience. There is a continuing programme of innovation and the technique can be further developed in the future as a means of protecting the very heavy investments which are being made in today's large capacity, heavily capitalised faces.

Jan 1, 1988

Silver-lead mineralization at Indooroopilly, Queensland, extends upwards from Upper Triassic rhyolite which intrudes phyllite-containing Palaeozoic mineralization.Sulphides and magma were emplaced in a special structural site which underwent dilational fracturing while surrounding rocks were block-faulted and compressed. This site lies at tbe intersection of dykes, faults, and a lineament adjacent to a Middle Triassic granitic stock.Structural controls at Indooroopilly are attributed to the effects of piston faulting. Exploration for similarly controlled deposits should be directed towards structural intersections near stocks or batholiths which have intruded mineralized belts. Priority should be given to structural intersections which were sites of block-faulting and igneous activity under compressional tectonic conditions.Favourable sites lacking surface mineralization may contain ore at depth as piston faulting produces 'blind' ore deposits.

Jan 1, 1976

By Zamora C

The performance of a system for detecting the onset of overloads on rod mills is described. The system has bee,, tested at CODELCO E1 Salvador Concentrator where, due t,, variations on size distribution of the copper ore feed, th' rod mill is frequently subject to overloads. The main inpur signal to the system is the rod mill sound, after being measured and analog conditioned. This signal and othe signals measuring the fresh ore feed and the mill watt addition are fed to a computer containing a simpl mathematical model. The model parameters are empiricall estimated and an analog output signal is generated, whic gives an early prediction of the overload condition. The experimental results described in this paper show that the overload condition may be predicted with an anticipation of about three minutes.

Jan 1, 1985

By Wernick B. J

Recently, the Environmental Engineering Laboratory of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa Research Organization has made signifi- cant progress in the development of more accurate algorithms for assessing heat flow in gold mines. These algorithms have been incor- porated into an overall computer program, ENVIRON, which enables the complete thermo- dynamic analyses of mine ventilation and cool- ing systems to be carried out. Recently, efforts have concentrated on the development of an expert computer system which will guide engineers in the process of selecting the most appropriate environmental control strategy.

Jan 1, 1988

By testing rotary-drag bits in granodiorite it was found that an increase in bit clearance angle from 241 0 to 33° decreased insert wear. Severe wear has precluded economic application of rotary-drag drilling in abrasive rock even though fast penetration rates have been achieved.From a limited number of tests and from theoretical considerations, the insert wear was inversely proportional to the thrust on the bit This effect follows the marked reduction in the linear distance traversed by the inserts, for a given depth of penetration, as thrust increases...

Jan 1, 1969

At 11 p.m. on Tuesday, 24th July 1979, an explosion of methane gas in a three heading development panel at Appin Colliery resulted in the deaths of fourteen men. The explosion followed after or was asso- ciated with a changeover of the ventilation to achieve a central intake between two returns. Investigation by Inspectors was followed by separate Judicial and Coronial Inquiries. Investigational information aimed at understanding the circumstances of the ex- plosion was prepared for the Inquiries. Recommendations following the Judicial Inquiry have been adopted by the Department of Mineral Resources.

Jan 1, 1981