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This paper endeavours to lay as concisely as possible, before the members the salient features of local gold milling practice, and to point out in what respects this practice differs from that of other large mining camps. This is essentially a free milling ore the gangue being quartz and the gold occurring in a coarse form. At times the ore crushed contains a good deal of slate, the latter imparting to the tailings a somewhat leaden hue.Small amounts of sulphides, chiefly iron pyrites, and at times smaller quantities of arsenical pyrites, zinc blende, and galena are contained in the stone. The average amount of sulphides contained in the ore cannot well be ascertained, as the concentrate obtained in all cases contain too much silica to form a basis of calculation...

Jan 1, 1902

Flue dust from the sintering of base metal sulphides was leached to remove cadmium and arsenic. Leach liquor contained cadmium, zinc and small amounts of other base metals as chlorides. Results are reported of the use of a cation exchange resin Zeocarb 225 to separate the base metals from the arsenic. The resin was eluted with sodium chloride or sulphate to give a solution of relatively concentrated cadmium suitable for recovery by zinc cementation. The limited solubility of sodium sulphate presented some practical problems which were investigated. Another problem was the precipitation of lead sulphate in the resin during elution.INTRODUCTIONWhen lead-zinc sulphides are sintered prior to smelting, the gases passing to the flue are mainly uncondensable but contain a certain proportion of sublimates and dust particles which deposit in the flue or are carried, after condensation in the gas stream, to some form of dust extraction equipment.The recovered dust is a complex mixture of base metal sulphates, sulphites, sulphides, chlorides and oxides, the composition depending on the original concentrates. A large proportion of the cadmium and some of the arsenic originally in the concentrates finds its way to this flue dust, the treatment of which can be a convenient means of removing these elements and controlling their concentrations in the main lead-zinc smelter circuit. However, disposing of this material represents an appreciable waste of base metals as well as a serious toxicity hazard.Sulphide Corporation Pty. Ltd. was faced with this problem in planning the flow sheet of the new lead-zinc smelter at Cockle Creek, N.S.W. From a test run carried out on a pilot plant at Avonmouth, U.K., using a mixture of lead and zinc concentrates, a sample of dust was obtained for...

Jan 1, 1960

The epizonal Ag-Pb-Zn vein deposit at San Bartolome is characterised by a base-metal sulphide assemblage containing the spectacular development of interpenetrating, bladed networks of pyrrhotite which have been replaced by marcasite and pyrite. A similar assemblage displaying the same crystal habits and textures are also a diagnostic feature of the Sn and SnAg deposits ofBolivia. On this basis, it is reasonable to conclude that both deposits were formed from fluids of similar nature and origin. Although no economic accumulation of Sn is known in San Bartolome, further comparison of the geologic setting, age, mineralogy, fluid inclusion data and magmatic association of this deposit with the Bolivian systems has highlighted additional similarities consistent with a hypothesis that more extensive Sn mineralisation might exist in the San Bartolome area.

Jan 1, 1995

By B B. Beamish

Long-hole directional drilling for in-seam exploration was introduced to New Zealand at Huntly West Mine in 1989. Following the success of this initial drilling program the Coal Corporation of New Zealand (CoaICorp) purchased its own drilling equipment and proceeded to adopt the technique with in-housetraining. From July 1991 to September 1992 a total of 15 455 metres was drilled at Huntly West Mine. During this period several modifications were made to the drilling technology to suit the ground conditions. The resulting interpretations of the drill information enabled reliable seam definition to be incorporated in mine planning. Since January 1993, the technique has been transferred to the Huntly East Mine to assist with seam definition for the planned development westwards under the Waikato River. The benefits of this drilling technique to coal mine planning are now well documented in Australia and New Zealand as well as other overseas countries. The possibilities of adapting the long-hole drilling technique to hard rock applications has been illustrated recently with successful cross-measure drilling at Huntly East Mine.

Jan 1, 1993

Cyclone Process for Heavy Metals Decontamination of Sediments

Sep 13, 2010

By H Bibby

Initial analysis of Long Offset Time Domain Electromagnetic (LOTEM) data has traditionally been made in terms of early and late time apparent resistivities. By using more than one grounded bipole as a source, a tensor analysis technique analogous to the method used to analyse DC resistivity multiple-source bipole-dipole surveying may be formulated. We define the æinstantaneous apparent resistivity tensorÆ as the tensor that relates the total electric field vectors at each instant to the steady state (DC) uniform half space current density vectors due to each source. Instantaneous apparent resistivity tensors calculated for a 3D resistivity model suggest that profiles of LOTEM measurements across simple 3D structures can be used to create an image that reproduces the main features of the subsurface resistivity. Where measurements are distributed over an area, maps of the tensor invariants or the tensor ellipses at different times can be made into a sequence of images which provide a way of ætime slicingÆ down through the target structure.

Jan 1, 1996

By J R. Lang, J K. Mortensen

The Canadian Cordillera contains numerous classic porphyry deposits and several unusual subtypes, including the alkaline suite of porphyry Cu-Au deposits and the Tombstone magmatic suite and associated Au¦W deposits. The alkaline suite formed in collisional settings in island arcs whereas the Tombstone suite was emplaced in an active fold and thrust belt in a continental arc. In addition to different regional settings, these suites differ in the type of underlying basement, metallogeny, and the styles of mineralization. Both magmatic suites were emplaced over short intervals, probably in response to specific tectonic events. In the case of the alkaline suite, the tectonic event promoted magmatic processes suitable for the formation of porphyry Cu-Au deposits. The tectonic environment is less well constrained for the Tombstone suite, but the result was the formation of distinctive porphyry and intrusion-related Au¦W deposits.

Jan 1, 1995

By D Preedy, J K. Claflin, S R. La Brooy

A gold mine in north-eastern Africa has expanded throughput from 5 to 10 Mt/y in recent years. The original carbon regeneration kiln was incapable of achieving required throughput or meeting process conditions to reactivate the carbon due to heavy fouling by high molecular weight frothers and collectors. A new high temperature kiln was required.The design criteria for the carbon reactivation kiln and associated equipment were revised, then implemented in close cooperation with a kiln vender who had previously supplied kilns operating successfully on highly fouled carbon. The result is a whole facility, holistically designed to achieve the technical criteria.The new carbon reactivation facility has been operating since 1 July 2014. What have we learned? What has performed to expectations? What could be done better?This paper presents lessons learnt regarding the design, implementation, operation and maintenance of the Ausenco Carbon Reactivation Kiln. ‘Lessons’ are associated with threats and opportunities (risks) that have that have been realised. The importance of identifying and managing risks for even small straightforward projects is demonstrated.CITATION:Claflin, J K, La Brooy, S R and Preedy, D, 2015. Lessons learnt and performance – installing and commissioning an Ausenco carbon reactivation kiln in Africa, in Proceedings MetPlant 2015, pp 163–174 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 7, 2015

The commonly used Stopes-Heerlen coal petrographic classification and nomenclature has over the years been subject to variable interpretations. This paper discusses the problem with specific reference to the inertinite maceral group. The effect of various interpretations of the Stopes-Heerlen system on maceral analysis is discussed and illustrated by means of comparative analyses conducted by a number of laboratories in Australia.An attempt is made to define the reflectance thresholds used by the authors to subdivide the inertinite group; the genetic and technological significance of these thresholds are compared.The difficulties of distinguishing structured and nonstructured macerals of the inertinite group are discussed in terms of possible improvements to the present StopesHeerlen system by extending the classification to include transitional maceral types.

Jan 1, 1970

By W Donovan

Concern exists about the potential release of metals from the proposed mining operation at Martha Hill to the Ohinemuri River. Speculation on possible impacts is fuelled by the dearth of published data on existing metal levels not only for this river system but for streams throughout the Coromandel. At first sight this lack of data is surprising given the apparent interest in this subject and the fact that future mining activity in this region has been a possibility since at least 1979. That such a situation has arisen is not altogether unexpected given the difficulties faced by various organisations, including the mining industry, in determining metal levels which are generally acknowledged to be low. This paper presents data for a number of stations in the vicinity of the proposed operation; it explains the analytical procedures which were adopted and the rationale for them and relates the information which has been obtained to water quality criteria.

Jan 1, 1986

By D Reid, J Black

The adverse health impacts from diesel particulate matter (DPM) exposure are a well-known global concern. The building evidence has triggered underground mining operations to review existing atmospheric conditions and assess the scale of the challenge faced. South32’s Cannington Mine (Cannington) evaluated the ability to provide a healthy atmosphere from a whole mine approach, taking into account existing preventative controls including: maintenance strategies, fuel quality, mining operations, ventilation provisions, monitoring protocols and effective education and training programs.During the evaluation process, Cannington gave due recognition to the advice and guidance provided in the Queensland Guidance Note 21 (QGN21), the Guidelines of New South Wales’ MDG29 and Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) of Western Australia. Each of these documents advises a dilution rate of >0.06 m3/s/kW is best for reduction of DPM exposure in underground mines.Achieving the prescribed mine ventilation rate typically results in the need to directly invest significant capital into increasing ventilation infrastructure in order to further dilute contaminants. In today’s economic market of volatile metal prices and increasing pressures to meet regulatory requirements, it can become challenging for established metalliferous operations to create a balance between optimisation of current ventilation infrastructure and capital outlay.In order to obtain and correctly justify the requirements for capital investiture Cannington conducted a ventilation operational analysis for the life-of-operation, identifying the existing air volume envelope was adequate for current and future production rates by optimising existing primary ventilation infrastructure through the implementation of a modified ventilation on demand (VoD) and air conservation system.This process achieved sustainable operating and capital cost reductions without compromising delivery of adequate ventilation to work areas. The process also recognised that engaging mine workers’ ownership of their work areas is crucial to maintaining a technically efficient and operationally robust ventilation system.This paper will concentrate on Cannington’s existing preventative controls, their implementation and their management for the prevention of increased DPM exposure; reducing the risk of both short and long-term health impacts to ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA).CITATION:Black, J and Reid, D, 2017. Delivering a healthy atmosphere underground in a cost-conscious environment, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 159–168 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

The steps for the beneficiation of iron ores differ from ore to ore, depending on the mineralogical phases of the particular iron ore and the nature of the association of the gangue minerals with iron oxide in that ore. The extent to which the beneficiation can be undertaken economically depends both on the amount and the nature of the gangue. The analysis of the phases present in an orebody optimises the mining and process operations (separation, beneficiation, sintering, etc).X-ray diffraction (XRD) provides qualitative and quantitative information about the main ore phases as well as the gangue mineralogy and the amorphous content present in a sample. In addition, modern quantification methods such as Rietveld refinement allow the calculation of the distribution of elements in solid solutions such the substitution of Fe with Al in goethite or hematite.The use of high speed detectors has made XRD an important tool for grade and process control. Finger printing of XRD data can facilitate multi-dimensional mapping of ore deposits and drill cores, identifying regions of favourable mineral compositions. Grade control using XRD can be completely automated and controlled remotely.The two case studies in this paper demonstrate how XRD and finger printing can be used for grade control, process optimisation and quality control of a goethitic and a magnetitic iron ore. The enormous potential of XRD as an inexpensive, reliable tool, useful in the characterisation of iron ores will be demonstrated.CITATION:K÷nig, U, 2013. Application of x-ray diffraction to iron ores - potential implications for grade control and downstream processing, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013 , pp 275-280 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 12, 2013

As requested by my fellow members I shall endeavour to read a paper on the Treatment of the Auriferous Sulphide Ores of Kalgoorlie from a metallurgical standpoint. Before going into the subject it will be necessary for me to make some slight explanations. As most of you are aware many of our London friends holding interests in some of these mines think it necessary that their doings should be shrouded in mystery. The result of this is that in some cases it is impossible to get any official figures from the mines for this paper. I must ask you not to lose sight of the fact that in treating the sulphide ores of the Kalgoorlie mines we had absolutely no data to start on, and that to-day. we are just beginning to get a fair grip of tbe subject; and though very high extractions were announced when the first plants were started on sulphide ore, it was well known that this was only to maintain the public confidence in the mines to allow time to make necessary adjustments; and, as showing the advance made in the treatment of the ore, I notice several of the mines have published the results of the final or re-treatment of the residues of their first sulphide treatment. I have also had the opportunity afforded me of thoroughly sampling the residues of several of the principal mines, and find the results as now published absolutely correct.

Jan 1, 1901

An understanding of the way that solutes are transported in mining or natural environments is essential to the development of sound strategies for managing waste disposal. Research on miscible pollutant movement in unsaturated porous media is carried out both experimentally and numerically. Results of numerical modelling are obtained by solving the groundwater flow equation and the solute transport equation. The finite element method is employed and comparisons between simulation results and experimental data are found in remarkable agreement.

Jan 1, 1995

IN dealing with this subject the intention is not to write a detailed description of the various methods in vogue on the Kalgoorlie field, but rather to give a brief outline of three of the methods which are most universally in force, and from which, ultimately, a few comparisons may be drawn. The three methods which the writer proposes embodying in this article are known as "The Rill," "The Flatback," and "The Shrinkage." For comparative purposes each method will be applied to a block of ore 500 feet in length, and opened up by levels 200 feet apart."The Rin" System. It is necessary in this system, for facilitating mullocking, to make connections between levels by rising and winzing at about every 100 feet or 150 feet along the orebody. After the leading stope is beaten off for the full length ofthe drive, the level is timbered. Single stulls are put in up to a width of fourteen feet. If the span is too great for stulls, set timbers or saddleback stuUs are used. Stulls are lagged over with 4-in gimlet poles, and wooden chutes are built at intervals of 50-feet. Ore passes are cribbed up through the filling directly above each chute, and are constructed of 7-in. round timber or 9 in x 3 in square timber, the passes measuring 4 ft x 4 ft in the clear.Occasionally a double pass may be carried up, one side serving as a travelling way. Stoping is commenced off the winzes, and rills are gradually formed, one on either end of each winze. The rills are generally at an angle of 37° off the horizontal, this allowing for the boring...

Jan 1, 1909

The additional information that Clarke and Taylor (1982) provide about the important but poorly documented Ardlethan deposit is, of course, very welcome. However their contention that structural considerations, in conjunction with petrology, alter the interpretation of the mineralogical and geochemical data presented previously (Scott, 1981) is not accompanied by adequate supporting evidence. Indeed characteristics of the orebodies studied invalidate their arguments.Heterogeneity between matrix and fragments is not a problem in the South Cherry and Ardwest orebodies because most samples are comprised entirely of interlocking hydrothermal assemblages with a fabric and mineralogy that is uniform through both former breccia fragments and matrix. In hand specimen, the rock superficially resembles altered granite and, as indicated by Clarke and Taylor (1982), a brecciated texture is difficult to discern. In thin section, relict brecciated textures can be observed as localized changes in the grainsize or in the distribution of minerals that outline former breccia fragments (P. J. Eadington, 1982, personal communication).Because of the intense brecciation and comminution of rocks (fragments < 10 mm are usual) in the South Cherry and Ardwest breccia bodies, hydrothermal recrystallization was complete, resulting in homogenization of fragments and matrix. Furthermore, the amount of sample analysed (-100 g for drill core and 2-3 kg for hand specimens) is sufficiently large to be representative of both former breccia fragments and matrix. The Carpathia and Stackpool orebodies, with their abundance of sedimentary fragments, have alteration superimposed on a heterogeneous fabric, and were not studied. Thus the problems of differentiating between fragments and matrix (Clarke and Taylor, 1982) are irrelevant to the particular orebodies described in my paper.Within the alteration halo, which is several hundred metres wide (Paterson, 1976), the very uniformity of the alteration assemblages implies that subsequent, postmineralization brecciation is of only minor significance.Indeed tourmaline pipes in the Ardwest pit are less than several metres across (Clarke, 1979) and produce minimal alteration in the surrounding rocks. Therefore the interpretation of the mineralogical zonation is not compromised by the recognition of several periods of brecciation.

Jan 1, 1982

Uranium exploration over a wide area of the Southern Frame Embayment, South Australia, has defined a number of Lower Tertiary fluvial palaeochannels incised in older rocks. The buried channels contain similar stratigraphicsequences of interbedded sand, silt, and clay, probably derived from the adjacent uranium-rich Olarv Provinee. Uranium mineralization is pervasive within two major palaeochannels, and four small uranium deposits have been found in the basal sands of these channel sequences, at the margins of extensive tongues of limonitic sand.One of the channels is examined in detail with respect to channel morphology, stratigraphy, and rock alteration and the geology and ore controls of the contained uranium deposits are described.A geochemical zonation reflected by variation in limonite, pyrite, carbon, and humic malleI' is defined across one of the deposits. A genetic model is proposed suggesting formation by a uraniferous geochemical cell which migrated down the stream gradient and concentrated uranium on its lateral margins adjacent to the channel bank.

Jan 1, 1978

Extraction and Characterisation of Extracellular Polymeric Substances from the Mineral Surface During Bioleaching of Chalcopyrite Concentrate A mixed culture of moderately thermophilic microorganisms was used to bioleach chalcopyrite concentrate in a stirred tank reactor. The results show that up to 84.7 per cent of copper extraction could be achieved in 24 days at a pulp density of 6 per cent. The leaching rate of chalcopyrite concentrate tended to increase with an increase of dissolved total iron concentration. Furthermore, the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) on the surface of the chalcopyrite concentrate was extracted and analysed. EPS was extracted at the first, third, eighth, 16th and 24th day during bioleaching, which mainly consisted of proteins, lipids, sugars and ferric irons. After the eighth day the total amount of EPS remained relatively constant. However, the amount of ferric iron in the EPS decreased in a large scale. The ore residue analysis indicates that the decrease of ferric iron was mainly due to the formation of jarosite on the mineral surface.

Sep 13, 2010

Reason Analysis of Impurity Containing and Technology Discussion of Quality Improvement for Low-Quality Iron Concentrate

Sep 13, 2010

By C M. Evans, D Thomas

Solid EnergyÆs Wangaloa open cast coal mine was operated between 1945 - 1989, and remained closed and disused until 2001 when SENZ initiated a mine rehabilitation programme. It is nearing the final stages of physical and environmental rehabilitation, aimed at creating an aesthetically pleasing and useful landscape. The final goals of these efforts are to produce an area, which has recreational and educational value. SENZÆs holistic approach to rehabilitation has been undertaken, treating the entire historical mine footprint instead of focusing only on those disturbed areas and the minimum range of issues just to meet with legal compliance. Rehabilitation at the site has included overburden modification with an emphasis on stability, removal and replacement of unhealthy and invasive plant species, and an AgLime amendment to alter soil pH conditions, which would support native plant species. To date, most ongoing activities relate to final planting and plant upkeep, and maintenance of the landform including ongoing erosion control, pest control, environmental monitoring, and research. Environmental quality concerns at the site may be treated by using a combination of methods, including regrading and capping of acid-generating pyrites, soil treatment with AgLime, and passive wetland treatment within existing water courses. Following major works, the mine site area may be opened to the public for recreational activities, interpretive displays on historical mining activities, and observation and appreciation for otherwise unseen geological features. SENZÆs holistic approach to reclamation, rather than treating minor issues, will result in the former mine site being transformed into an asset and the environmental and financial liability associated with the closed mine being discharged. Former mine sites can be turned from environmental liabilities with no recreational or public value (and potentially dangerous to life) into sites that can be safely used by the public for recreational and educational purposes.

Jan 1, 2006