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A mineral exploration manager's prime function is to provide a frame- work within which new mine production can be achieved. As part of this framework, the manager should know his employerb future requirements, and should direct exploration towards those particular mineral commodities which indicate satisfactory growth in consumption and price. Selection of these commodities can be assisted by studies of world reserves, and long term trends in price and consumption. Exploration planning is most efficient with an assured and reasonably uniform supply of funds.

Jan 1, 1980

The high maintenance of load-haul-dumps (LHDs) and front end loaders in hard rock affects mine planning with reduced availability and productivity. Intensive study of maintenance costs and availability of machines related to machine age and life provide the basis for planning from available operational alternatives.Derived programmes and experiences have led to the beginnings of unmanned operation and automation through reduction of manual diesel units and spreading electrification and use of radio. But electrification has obvious layout limitations. This approach to the present has resulted in better utilisation, costs and safety and the computerised monitoring and control provides continuous awareness of machine and work conditions with the promise of future improvements.

Jan 1, 1991

By Isaac AK

The combination of shot-firing and stage loader, and a prop and bar support system is an accepted drivage method. The support configuration is based on the final prop density, and assumes relitively uniform load sharing between the props. During the development of a longwall faceline at a medium depth (approximately 600m) British coal mine using such a drivage method, a fall occured overnight, effectively closing approximately 40m of the drivage. The severity and speed of the fall prompted an investigation into the performance of the temporary support system installed prior to chock installation. This paper deals with the investigation which disclosed some major contributory factors towards loss of strata control.

Jan 1, 1986

Types of structure found in 'Jest Australian beach sands are described. Their recognition by geostatistical methods follows nth a discussion of the effectiveness of sampling patterns. Examples of structures are given, and an account of their effect on valuation procedures.

Jan 1, 1977

The Hellyer deposit, hosted in the Cambrian Mt Read Volcanics, displays features typical of volcanogenic massive sulphide orebodies. These include a well developed stringer zone, metal zonation within the orebody, a polymict volcaniclastic sequence flanking the deposit and a hangingwall alteration plume in overlying basaltic pillow laves.Mapping and core logging is very detailed in order to extract as much data as possible from the deposit and its host rocks. A geological log suitable for direct computer input was adopted shortly after the deposit's discovery.

Jan 1, 1990

Copper grades of diamond drill hole and development samples are determined in the core shed logging area at Mount Isa Mine using a Bulk Mineral Analyser. All geological and grade data on the copper orebodies is collected and stored on computer file.The raw data can be manipulated interactively using a computer terminal or by input of forms to produce output as computer plots or printouts. Grade distribution of copper or cobalt is obtained by the geologist using a computer kriging package followed by grade contouring. Computer plotted cross-sections and plans of individual stopes or several stopes can be produced showing geological structures, kriged grades at points and as grade contours.

Jan 1, 1985

By Follington I. L

Various methods for stress measurement in the coal industry are briefly reviewed. Methods for presenting and interpretation of measured stress and displacement data are discussed with a view to assessing the mechanisms of failure. Arguments are presented for reviewing the current practices in this regard with reference to coal pillar and strata stability analyses.

Jan 1, 1991

Creating Value and Improving Environmental Performance by the Recovery of Valuable Products from Tailings from the Athabasca Oil Sands in Alberta, Canada

Sep 13, 2010

By McDougall I, Claoue-Long J

A combination of high precision 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb dating has been used to determine the age of hydrothermal minerals and host rocks in a number of Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB) gold deposits in New South Wales, Au4 ralii In particular, this investigation demonstrates that the UAr/ Ar technique of K-Ar dating can be used to determine the timing of mineralization in Palaeozoic systems.A close temporal link between mineralization and Late Ordovician to Early Silurian magmatism is indicated by the dating work. Hydrothermal sericite from the Goonumbla p8rph gy Cu deposit and Glendale Au prospect yieldsAt/ Ar step heating ages between 437.9 ¦ 1.1 and 441.2 ¦ 1.1 Ma (16), and4 minjrnum age of about 425 Ma has been obtained by Ar/ Ar dating of hydrothermal amphibole from the Browns Creek Au-Cu skarn deposit. Hydrothermal aluniI8 frog the Gidginbung epithermal Au deposit yields reset 44 Ar/ Ar ages of 401.0 ¦ 1.3 to 417.3 ¦ 1.3 Ma (16). U-Pb dating by ion microprobe on magmatic zircons from the vicinity of the Goonumbla and Gidginbung deposits gives ages of 438 ¦ 3.5 Ma (2 6), and 435 ¦ 2.5 Ma (2 (7) respectimly, W a minimum age of 435 Ma has been obtained by Ar/ Ar dating of magmatic phases from volcanic rocks adjacent to the Browns Creek skarn deposit. Magmatic episodes near the Sheahan-Grants gold skarnpost give ages of 479.2 ¦ 1.1 and 467.9 ¦ 4o1 by 'Ar/ 9Ar dating of magmatic amphibole. Most Ar/3yAr age spectra show the effects of partial Ar loss at between 360-420 Ma, probably due to heating caused by granitoid emplacement.The radiometric dating work in this paper suggests a restricted metallogenic epoch in the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian LFB, NSW, of similar duration to that found in the Andean margin and the western Pacific island arcs around the Pacific Rini.

Jan 1, 1990

By Wasp E. J

A review is given of recent commercial long distance slurry pipeline systems in- stalled worldwide. The technological advan- ces in slurry engineering and system opera- tion are discussed, together with a brief re- view of the economics of slurry transportation and future trends in the industry.

Jan 1, 1973

Various software packages are discussed. These are components of an Integrated Planning and Scheduling System developed by MVM with the aim of providing up-to-date information for the Whaleback operation on: 1. Mine Topography. 2. Status of equipment in the mine. 3. Material moved from and within the mine. 4. Volume and density of same. 5. Quality of same.

Jan 1, 1986

Programmes of environmental investigations to identify and minimise impacts and satisfy government and community requirements have become an integral and rate determining component in the planning and development of new mines in Australia. This paper reviews the essential features of the environmental project management Function.

Jan 1, 1983

The granulites and related "dry" igneous rocks tend to be passed over during exploration for metals. Preliminary data show that high trace concentrations of Cu, Ni and other metals of economic interest are common in orthopyroxene and some of the other granulite minerals. During retrograde metamorphism of granulites, pyroxenes are converted to amphiboles or phyllosilicates, and significant quantities of metals are released and become available for incorporat- ion into new mineral phases, or may be transported elsewhere. S--rich scapolite is the normal scapolite of granulites. Its retrogression to secondary plagioclase provides much S which scavenges Cu, Ni, etc., from pyroxenes undergoing retrogression, thus producing ore-fluids. A full analysis of a scapolite with 5.10 per cent S03 is given. Beryl is unstable in granulites but the rare Be mineral taaffeite (Al4Pf (Be,Fe)O3) with 5,50 per cent BeO occurs in central Australia as a pale green Tabular mineral easily confused for chloritoid in hand-specimen. Metamorphic differentiation and mobilization of primary ore concentrations are major factors controlling their post-granulite attitude and grade.

Jan 1, 1969

By F Palkovitz, S Wilson, F Felipe

The management of waste from mining operations is a significant aspect of bringing a mineral commodity to final market. The ore beneficiation process and transport/disposal of waste involves significant consumption of costly resources. A number of options exist to dispose of mill waste on surface and as a backfill material. These range in complexity, risk, capital cost, operating cost and ultimately business performance. This paper discusses the value delivered to a business in using dewatering systems including paste as opposed to conventional slurry tailings disposals. This is illustrated through various case studies and serves to demonstrate how paste can add value and reduce risk to a successful business.

Jan 1, 2009

By Bourke J. H, Ashcroft T. B

Many changes have occurred in the world market for manganese over the last five years. Among these, the emergence of divided steel processes for the hot metal refining of pig iron is affecting the use of both ferruginous manganese ore and ferro manganese, at this stage particularly in the Japanese steel industry. Subsequent demand for higher quality manganese materials is promoting the use of thermally beneficiated products such as sinter. In addition, many processes are being developed for the direct smelting of fine manganese ores, of which plasma technology is the most advanced. Cost pressures and product quality requirements are encouraging pre- viously self sufficient countries such as The People's Republic of China and the USSR to import high grade manganese ores to supplement indigenous lower quality supplies. At the same time, Brazil has been provided with the impetus to convert its substantial reserves of ore to value added products.

Jan 1, 1988

Geological. engineering is a field of engineering practice concerned with design and construction of excavations and structures in soil and rock masses. The role of geological engineering in mining practice is defined in this paper, and the scope of the various disciplines in engineering science and geoscience which support geo-engineering research is discussed. The current national research capacity in geo-engineering is considered, and current and future needs for geo-engineering research for mining practice are proposed. Education programmes to sustain the proposed level of research and its industrial implementation are Suggested.

Jan 1, 1986

By Morrison RD, Peberdy NJ

Simulator training provides a cost effective method of training operators in both the process and control aspects of a metallurgical plant. The components and requirements of a training simulator are described along with the benefits to be gained from simulator training. A table summarizing some applications of metallurgical training simulators is Given.

Jan 1, 1991

The mining industry has been slow at adopting the latest management philosophies from other industry sectors, such as manufacturing, and in retrospect, with good cause. With the plethora of three-letter-acronyms such as TQM, JIT, TPM and now, BPR each touted as the panacea for profit improvement, you wonder if you must choose one or attempt to embrace them all! In truth, each new insight into organisational behaviour bears some investigation. This paper looks at the underlying principles and elements of successful change strategies, and how several mining companies, including coal mines, in Australia, Chile and Canada, are applying these principles to their operations. These examples illustrate the need to think radically, and to view mining as an overall process delivering value to the customer rather than a collection of functional silos. They also show that often, a continuous improvement initiative is not enough when a fundamental redesign, a paradigm shift, is needed for a performance breakthrough.

Jan 1, 1998

By Bockhorst R. W, Christopher D. A

Over the past fifteen years, horizontal drilling in coal seams for advance degasification has become an established practice in the United States of America. Consolidation Coal Company pioneered the development of the horizontal drilling system and licensed the technology in the U.S. A. and to Du Pont (Australia) for commercial production. This paper discusses the most recent developments in the equipment design, especially the borehole telemetry system, known as the Downhole Drill Monitor (DDM).

Jan 1, 1988

The Fosterville goldfield, situated 25 km east of Bendigo, Victoria was at its peak between 1894-1910 with some 47 600 ounces produced (Figure 1). Since that time intermittent mining and tailings retreatment was undertaken until Bendigo Gold Associates delineated a viable resource and commenced an open cut heap leaching operation in early 1991. Unfortunately they encountered financial difficulties and Perseverance Exploration purchased the mine in April 1992. Perseverance operated a successful heap leach operation nearby Nagambie, 100 km east of Fosterville. Based on its acquired heap leaching experience, Perseverance Exploration was able to instigate operational changes to create a successful small gold heap leach operation. The major change was the using of the original multi-use leach pad as a single-use leach pad. The available data allows for a comparison of the two operating systems.

Jan 1, 1994