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The building is a lofty, well-ventilated one of hardwood frame, with galvanized-iron walls and roof, and consists of five spans running north and south, covering a total length of 236 ft. Each span is composed of nine bays of 1:3-ft. centres, making the total width of the building 117 ft. The refinery is situated conveniently at a distance of 100 yds from the smelters. Through the third span of the building runs a 5-ton electric overhead travelling crane, of a 3-motor type, with a span of 29 ft. The crane runway extends over a railway line, which connects the smelters to the refinery. This crane is llsed for handling bullion, coal, melting kettles, lead pumps, &c. A 3-ton crane of similar type, but with a 50-ft. span, runs through the fifth span of the building and also extends over the railwav line alreadv mentioned. This crane is used to load the soft lead into railway trucks, or to stack lead awaiting shipment in the area covered by the crane's operations.

Jan 1, 1918

By Jaques A. L, Heinrich C. A

Mt Todd lies towards the south end of the Pine Creek Geosyncline, sandwiched between the Cullen Batholith and the Edith Falls Basin, in an area of regionally metamorphosed sandstones, siltstones and shales. The Batman deposit, some 3 km west of Mt Todd is a sheeted quartz vein system hosted within greywackes of the Palaeoproterozoic Burrell Creek Formation (Finniss River Group). The gold-bearing quartz veins, trending 010¦-020¦ and dipping 60¦-70¦E, are commonly 0.5 to 5 cm wide and occur at intervals which are from 10 cm to 1 m apart. Gold tends to be restricted to the quartz veinlets and immediately adjacent country rock. Grade Control utilises two 4 m 'collar' samples which are collected from each 8 m production blasthole. The irregular distribution of the quartz veins and erratic gold mineralisation has resulted in a disseminated 'salt and pepper' type of gold occurrence, with only a poorly defined footwall. Delineation of ore and waste blocks for mining uses an approach which combines the smoothing effect of kriging with a pragmatic view of the raw data. Large ore blocks with simple geometry help to minimise mining dilution, reduce block variance and give good reconciliations to interpreted ore tonnes and grade. Daily mine face advance is reported against truck counts and provides continual comparison with budgeted production. All data processing uses Gemcom software, together with Lotus spreadsheets.

Jan 1, 1994

Mt Todd lies towards the south end of the Pine Creek Geosyncline, sandwiched between the Cullen Batholith and the Edith Falls Basin, in an area of regionally metamorphosed sandstones, siltstones and shales. The Batman deposit, some 3 km west of Mt Todd is a sheeted quartz vein system hosted within greywackes of the Palaeoproterozoic Burrell Creek Formation (Finniss River Group). The gold-bearing quartz veins, trending 010¦-020¦ and dipping 60¦-70¦E, are commonly 0.5 to 5 cm wide and occur at intervals which are from 10 cm to 1 m apart. Gold tends to be restricted to the quartz veinlets and immediately adjacent country rock. Grade Control utilises two 4 m 'collar' samples which are collected from each 8 m production blasthole. The irregular distribution of the quartz veins and erratic gold mineralisation has resulted in a disseminated 'salt and pepper' type of gold occurrence, with only a poorly defined footwall. Delineation of ore and waste blocks for mining uses an approach which combines the smoothing effect of kriging with a pragmatic view of the raw data. Large ore blocks with simple geometry help to minimise mining dilution, reduce block variance and give good reconciliations to interpreted ore tonnes and grade. Daily mine face advance is reported against truck counts and provides continual comparison with budgeted production. All data processing uses Gemcom software, together with Lotus spreadsheets.

Jan 1, 1994

The excavation of a tunnel through rock and mixed ground of basalt and silty clays presents a challenge to engineering organisations. Such was the situation facing the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) in constructing the 15.3 km, 5.5m dia. tunnel component of the new Western Trunk Sewerage System. The tunnel geology showed that there were two distinct components to the excavation - rock and mixed ground. By drawing on extensive experience in the use of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM's) used previously by the MMBW and using techniques developed for predicting TBM per- formance, a comparison of the options of drill and blast versus TBM was made. The conclusion was that TBM methods would provide the best solution to the problem. Tenders were called for the supply of a TBM. A performance specification was used to attract tenders offering designs which re- flected the state of the art on an internation- al level. Particular features required by the MMBW were included in the specification. The excavation planning and operation are described in this paper. The production achieved has shown that the TBM can very adequately handle rock excavation (best weekly production 167.9m). Extreme conditions of mixed ground with heavy groundwater inflows have been handled using an auxiliary thrust system to maintain gripper reaction through the soft ground encountered.

Jan 1, 1987

By Regan R

Appin Colliery mines the Bulli Seam with a gas composition of 98.5% methane and 1.5% carbon dioxide. Relaxation of the strata generally occurs to below the base of the Wongawilli Seam, some 40 m below the Bulli Seam, and approxim- ately 125 m above the Bulli Seam, for longwall face widths of 135 m or more. Previous exper- ience showed that when longwall faces were mined for a distance approximately equal to the face width, the mine ventilation could not provide sufficient dilution due to methane emissions from the underlying measures. Postdraining downholes were drilled to intersect the Wongawilli Seam below the operat- ng longwall. These holes were connected to an underground to surface gas range and various suction levels were applied to improve gas drainage. The resulting gas flow rates and purity from all the downholes were regularly monitored and peak flows in some holes exceeded 160 1/sec. The surface plant drained almost 20 million m3 of gas for the period July 1981 to January 1982 at an average methane purity of approximately 70%. Distinct patterns emerged for different downholes from curves illustrat- ing their variations in flow rate with distance subsequent to passage of the longwall face. The difference between free flow characteristics and those obtained with the application of

Jan 1, 1982

Proposals designed to use stockpiles and buffer stocks to achieve price stabilization and better resource use have a long history. They are super- ficially simple to understand. The benefits seem clear. And yet I am well aware that this is not a simple subject: the more one studies it, the more complex it becomes. Worldwide interest in re- source management, while receiving fresh impetus from the OPEC actions, also has a long and chequered history. Those venturing into such ter- ritories must be forewarned of the traps and pit- falls which abound. Interest in these schemes has waxed and waned over the years with the fluctuating fortunes of the producers or consumers. As I write this paper towards the end of 1977, I am acutely aware of the low ruling prices for zinc, copper, and nickel. These sacrifice prices remind me that it is difficult, for example, for a surveyor, to be calm and rational if he is up to his neck in a swamp full of crocodiles. He might be forgiven for forgetting that the aim was to drain the swamp! I am also aware that when swamps are drained, painful and dangerous stumps sometimes stick out. Hence, in looking at the subject of stockpiles and resource management we must not set our sights too high, perhaps not initially hope for perfec- tion, if we want to secure worthwhile changes. My approach is to acknowledge a bias for the market system. We have, however, had experience (remember the 1930s) of some weaknesses in the untrammelled operation of free markets. Thus our international economic relationships over the past 20 or 30 years have been based on a desire to retain as much as possible of a liberal world trading system backed by such organizations as the GATT, IMF, and the U.N. to ensure the necessary cooperation. Some nations have seen this system work only partially in their best in- terests. GATT, for example, has been reasonably effective in liberalizing trade in many manufac- tured goods but far less so in regard to agricultural or semi-processed goods.

Jan 1, 1978

The story of the rise, progress, and development of our modern railway system is a long but an exceedingly interesting one. The phases it has passed through, the discussions that have arisen from time to time on the most economic modes of construction and working, and the final result these various discussions have led to, are full of importance and interest to the engineer. It is not my intention to deal historically with the subject. I desire simply to speak to the requirements of the hour in Australia. It will not be disputed, I think, that these colonies have reached a point in railway construction and management when, if additional lines to any extent are still to be built, a different principle must be adopted. There are yet large tracts and areas of country to be tapped by the rail and the locomotive, which for years to come must remain untouched if the same expensive gauges and modes of construction are continued. We have yet to see clearly the necessity of introducing a system of light lines that will pay their own way and at the same time augment the traffic of our main lines. This question really no longer remains an unsolved problem. It lies, in a few words, in the acceptance of the, narrowest gauge and the simplest mode of construction that can constitute a pacticable railway. I fear it is hopeless to suggest that private companies should be legally permitted to construct such lines. It seems as if it were next to impossible to move official authorities to enter upon the construction of lines on this principle. It is, all the same an undoubted fact that if private companies could obtain Acts of Parliament, that in several of the colonies a new impetus would be given to railway construction.I may point out that not only has the principle of narrow gauge light railways been adopted in India but private companies are obtaining power to build them. Outside of :England many narrow gauge lines have been made, and in France, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden they have been highly successful.

Remnants of Plio-Pleistocene hot spring systems in Northland, New Zealand contain sulfide minerals, principally pyrite, marcasite and cinnabar. The climate is warm temperate to subtropical, with up to 3 m of rainfall per annum, and rocks are deeply weathered. Decomposition of the iron sulfides in natural outcrops and human excavations results in acid rock drainage with pH typically between 2 and 5, and locally down to pH 1. Deeply weathered basement greywacke is clay-rich and has negligible neutralisation capacity. Some overlying volcanic flows have resisted weathering, and pH is kept near neutral by relict secondary calcite in small areas. Natural rainforest soils commonly have pH between 4 and 5 over mineralised and unmineralised greywacke. Mineralised zones are enriched in arsenic, which occurs in solid solution (up to 1 wt per cent) in sulfides and phosphate minerals. Mercury also occurs in solid solution in some of these minerals, as well as in cinnabar. Base metals are present in low (background) concentrations only. Decomposition of the iron sulfides and phosphates releases the solid solution arsenic and mercury into the acid rock drainage solutions. Arsenic is readily adsorbed on to iron oxyhydroxides formed in acid rock drainage situations, and can be effectively removed from the biosphere. However, this arsenic is released back into the environment if the pH rises, as adsorbed oxyanions become less strongly bound and are displaced by hydroxyl ions. Behaviour of dissolved mercury is similar to that of arsenic but less well understood in these settings. Both arsenic and mercury are readily leached into pH 6 solutions from solid material collected from acid rock drainage sites. These observations suggest that neutralisation of acid rock drainage sites is undesirable in this setting, as arsenic and mercury will become more mobile in the environment. The naturally low pH of 4 to 5 of the forest floor, or even lower pH of natural acid rock drainage, is a preferable management option.

Jan 1, 2003

By J-S Zhang

In this paper, the author briefly introduces the resource characteristics of Chinese iron ore, as well as the present increasing market demand for iron concentrate. The SHP-3200 wet high-intensity magnetic separator (HIMS) is used to separate complicated weak-magnetic iron ores being composed of specularite, limonite and siderite in Jiuquan Iron and Steel (Group) Co Ltd. Some technologies have been used to improve SHP-3200 HIMS, including modifying the angle of magnetic polar from 90¦ to 83¦, cooling the exciting coils by oil instead of air, adding reverse-washing equipment to wash off magnetic particles and adjusting the tooth-space of the matrix from 5.0 mm to 3.5 mm or 2.5 mm to enhance the recovery of fine particles. It is still difficult to meet the requirement for recovering more difficultly separated iron and the demands for high-grade concentrate of iron. In order to improve the recovery of difficult-separated iron, the film-magnetic separation technique is applied into the HIMS and a new LY matrix is designed to form magnetic gradient vertically. A flowing-film feeder is also added and the feed mouth is modified to make a slurry flow formed in the form of film along the wall of matrix. The microstructure and dissemination character of the mineral particles is studied, and the specific susceptibility of the primary minerals is measured. Then the distributive characteristics of a magnetic field for the separator with film-magnetic technique and the motion of particles in the process of separation are all analysed. By introducing the film-magnetic separation technique to SHP-Φ700 HIMS, the recovery of iron can be raised from 69.45 per cent to 76.07 - 78.96 per cent with the similar grade of concentrates of iron. Such an increase of 9.51 per cent in the recovery also shows that it is feasible for such film-magnetic separation technique to be applied into HIMS.

Jan 1, 2005

Kumba Iron OreÆs Sishen Mine is one of the worldÆs largest iron ore mining operations situated in the Northern Cape, South Africa. It produces 29 million tonnes of iron ore products per annum using a dense medium separation (DMS) beneficiation process. Kumba is currently commissioning the Sishen Expansion Project (SEP) which will produce a further 13 Mtpa product through a jigging beneficiation process. The products from the Sishen Mine are highly sought after and consumed by domestic and various European and Asian customers. During beneficiation iron ore slimes are generated and discarded as waste material to the slimes dams. A study was initiated in 2005 to investigate processes to beneficiate these slimes to saleable products û prompted by the current high demand for iron ore products and the high grade in the Sishen slimes thickener underflow of approximately 54 per cent Fe. Initial laboratory scale test work indicated that a 66.5 per cent Fe iron ore concentrate could be produced from the Sishen slimes thickener underflow through a process of classification, two stage wet high intensity magnetic separation (WHIMS) and five stage flotation. This process, however, did not produce the desired results during pilot plant testing and numerous alternative process routes were investigated. The process that did achieve the desired product grade of 66.5 per cent Fe at economically feasible product yields consisted of two stage WHIMS using SLON magnetic separators. Results achieved indicate that the thickener underflow slimes can be upgraded from 54 per cent Fe to 66.5 per cent Fe at a product yield of ca. 40 per cent. Product yield could be increased through the further beneficiation of the SLON tails. The Sishen slimes thickener underflow production rate is ca. 3 Mtpa û resulting in a potential concentrate production of ca. 1.2 Mtpa. The slimes concentrate will be fed to a pelletising plant that will produce 66 per cent Fe pellets destined for domestic and or export markets.

Jan 1, 2008

By LeJuge G. E, McKenzie C. K

Innovative mining and blasting techniques were demanded at the Richmont Mines, Francoeur Mine in Quebec, Canada, by a narrow, shallowly dipping high grade gold ore body. The ore body being mined occurs as a thin tabular deposit varying in thickness between 1.5 and 3.7 metres, and dipping at 36¦. The mine proposed experimenting with open stoping techniques using small diameter drill-holes. The hangingwall required progressive, full face rockbolting after each production blast, utilising a specially manufactured machine which provided access to the hangingwall for both scaling and bolting. Blasted material is mucked from the stope by scraper and hoisted directly to surface without benefit of primary crushing.

Jan 1, 1992

By G R. Ballantyne, B Putland, I Lovatt, M Di Trento

The Tropicana Gold Mine, owned by AngloGold Ashanti Australia Ltd (70% owned and managed) and Independence Group NL (30%) is located 330 kilometres east-northeast of Kalgoorlie, Australia, in the newly developed Albany-Fraser Orogen. Following extensive feasibility studies, a high pressure grinding roll (HPGR)-ball milling circuit was selected based on the reduced power requirements and thus reduced operating expenses. The HPGR-ball mill circuit was estimated to require 75% of the energy of a standard semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill circuit. Even with an anticipated greater capital cost, the HPGR-ball mill circuit was found to give significantly better financial returns in all cases investigated in the feasibility study. A comparison between the specific energy requirements of the HPGR, crush and SAG based circuits (SABC) from the feasibility work was conducted and the HPGR circuit was found to be considerably more energy efficient. A survey was conducted and the efficiency of the HPGR was similar to both the overall circuit design and the HPGR laboratory results, reflecting the accuracy that is possible for design and operation of HPGR circuits.Between 2015 to 2016, the Tropicana circuit has achieved a 20% increase in throughput from 780 to 930 t/h, and this increase has been maintained in 2017. This improvement can largely be attributed to upgrades to material handling processes, increased HPGR speed and smaller HPGR screen apertures. The result of these changes has been to increase the ball mill capacity by increasing the breakage conducted by the HPGR.CITATION:Ballantyne, G R, Di Trento, M, Lovatt, I and Putland, B, 2017. Recent improvements in the milling circuit at Tropicana mine, in Proceedings MetPlant 2017, pp 73–83 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 11, 2017

Throughout the industrial world, Ilmenite, Rutile, Monazite and Zircon mineral sands play a KEY role in numerous industrial processes. Australia's ilmenites, rutiles, and synthetic rutiles are of vast importance in the world of titaniferous ores, and Australia has been the world leader in the field, and continues to adapt to new demands with alacrity. These materials enter a world titanium dioxide market that will exceed three million tonnes in 1990 at an expected growth rate of 2.3%. Many experts place current use in excess of 2.5 million tonnes of contained Ti02. Here we have a slide that illustrates projected growth rates in consumption, in SCM's view.

Jan 1, 1986

By Parks T. C

A low-grade disseminated nickel sulphide serpentinite ore from W.A. had a relatively high permeability after drying. Various techniques indicated that the permeability resided within a fine network of fibrous vein- lets and especially within coarse cracks along which the sulphides lay. The ore minerals were therefore open to selective extraction by chemical leaching. A IM ammonia-7.8 wt.o "ammonium carbonate" solution, oxygenated at 1 bar oxygen pressure and about 23¦C, released nickel, copper and cobalt from the sulphides, leaving a permeable residue of goethite, while calcium, magnesium and iron concentrations remained negligible in the leachant. The nickel and copper was electrodeposited directly from the pregnant liquor in a deposit which included 16.5 wt.% sulphur. Enhanced copper/ nickel ratios early in the extraction suggested that valleriite (not amenable to flotation) was leached preferentially. Th$ controlling influence of the pore structure was demonstrated by the dependence of leaching rates on the size of the ore particles used, and on the measured porosity of different ore samples. A 2mm size was probably the optimum for exposing sulphides to the leachant. Leaching was accelerated by increasing the temperature and oxygen pressure.

Jan 1, 1974

By Abdurazakov A, Avrakhov A, Solozhenkin P

The flotation properties of acetic acids modified by xanthic and dithiocarbamic fragment in regards to copper and ferrous minerals and their noble metal containing ores have been investigated. The effectiveness of the co-using of these reagents with xanthates and dithiocarbamates has been shown, ie using of proposed reagent regimes for the flotation of Au-containing ores increases gold recovery by 4.2 - 4.7 per cent, and in the case of flotation of copper Re-containing ores copper recovery increases by 3.3 per cent, rhenium recovery - by 15.5 per cent. The mechanism of the action of these reagents has been explained by the data of UV and ESR-investigations of their sorption on mineral surface. The information on structure and properties of co-ordination compounds of some metals with (Diethyldithiocarbamato) acetic acid were used also for the explanation of flotation mechanism.

Jan 1, 1993

By L C. P J Fonteneau, B Godel, E R. Ramanaidou

The Hamersley Province in Western Australia hosts large iron ore deposits. Each deposit displays various iron ore types that were defined on their metallurgical properties, especially in terms of porosity and mineralogy. Conventional porosity and mineralogy information on iron ore types are provided on 2D thin sections using automated image analysis with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-based techniques combined with chemical analyses. However these techniques cannot accurately quantify the 3D porosity. High-resolution X-ray computed tomography (HRXCT) is a non-destructive technique providing a 3D image of the sample with a resolution close to 0.5 - 0.7 ¦m for samples size of up to few centimetres in length. 3D image analysis using customised algorithms now provide accurate quantitative porosity and mineralogy of iron ore types.CITATION:Fonteneau, L C P J, Godel, B and Ramanaidou, E R, 2013. Application of high-resolution x-ray computed tomography to iron ore characterisation, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013 , pp 243-250 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 12, 2013

The hydrological cycle in nature, with particular reference to Australia . 2. The definition of water pollution drawing on the experience of several major countries. 3. A description of the pollutants in water, and why they are pollutants. 4. The classification of waters as defined by major overseas countries. 5. The criteria and standards developed by major overseas countries for the classification of waters. 6. A brief- summary of the legislation adopted by overseas countries for the control of water pollution, and of the organisation and administration of controls. 7. A study of Australian legislation and administration of controls of water pollution. 8. General observations and conclusions.

Jan 1, 1971

By S-C Shim, H-R Lee, Y Kang, H Shin

Since iron oxide and silicon oxide are major gangue components in various types of ore, FeO-SiO2 base slag, ie fayalite slag, has been often encountered in pyrometallurgical processes of non-ferrous metals. During most matte production processes such as the smelting of Cu, Pb, and Ni, the FeOSiO2 based slag is inevitably formed and plays an important role in refining crude metal as well as engineering aspects. Recently, similar pyrometallurgical approaches have been attempted in the recovery of valuable metals (Ni, Co, Cr) from wasted secondary batteries. Thus, the viscosity of the FeO-SiO2 based slag has great significance in properly controlling smelting processes. However, when molten metal or matte does not coexist with the slag during the measurement, there has been a serious difficulty in maintaining Fe valance and consequently, the slag composition. In the present research, the viscosity of molten FeO-SiO2 slag was measured in 1573~1673 K using a rotational viscometer. In order to keep the state of iron oxides, the oxygen partial pressure was controlled using CO/CO2 gas mixture. The optimised ratio of CO/CO2 could be calculated using Fe/Fe2+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ equilibria at each temperature. The composition of the slag, particularly Fe valance, after the measurement was analysed with the aid of an inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and an automatic potentiometric titrator. The measurement showed that the FeO-SiO2 slag has considerably low viscosity values in the molten state, and it sharply increases as the temperature decreases. In spite of the careful oxygen partial pressure control, a part of Fe2+ was found to be oxidised to Fe3+, with a maximal case reaching about 20 per cent. The increase in viscosity of FeO-SiO2 at low temperatures can be attributed to the composition change due to an unavoidable Fe2+ oxidation. In addition, the relationship between the change in the viscosity and the liquidus temperature of FeO-SiO2 based slag was discussed to understand the composition dependence of viscosity.

Jun 19, 2024

Atlas Copco is one of the worldÆs leading providers of industrial productivity solutions (Atlas Copco, 2009). Furthermore, the company spans 160 markets and held 34 000 employees at the end of 2008. The company is organised under three ætechniquesÆ whereby the Construction and Mining TechniqueÆs business division is located within +rebro, Sweden. This paper is aimed at briefly facilitating information on how the company and more specifically, the Construction and Mining Technique is run. Also, by sharing my experiences, this paper is intended to encourage and motivate students currently studying for a degree relevant to the minerals industry, to apply for this extremely beneficial scholarship. Through a number of presentations relating to the various divisions, products and aftermarket services of the company, I came to realise that Atlas Copco extends beyond simply selling equipment suitable for the mining and civil industries. This tour through Sweden also contained highlights of visiting the Underground Rock Excavation factory, Surface Drilling Equipment factory and Secoroc divisions. I was also fortunate enough to participate in a tour of the LKAB mine in Kiruna. In addition, time was allocated to less industry related activities, and I was able to go dog sledging, sip vodka cocktails out of ice glasses at the Ice Hotel and enjoy traditional Swedish foods of moose and reindeer. Most important and memorable to me; however, was the ability for employees of Atlas Copco to speak of the company and their products with such passion and enthusiasm, which truly made this a motivational and unforgettable experience.

Jan 1, 2009

This address is set deliberately in the broadest possible terms. A review of the place of mining in Australian life today will serve to point up the changes that we can see in the life of people in the industry. Some of the influences on the future welfare of mining people bear also on the progress of this Institute, now approaching its 90th year. As mining becomes more and more dependent on higher technology and therefore, on the higher skills of the people in the industry, the role of The Institute, I suggest, becomes more and more significant.With investment per employee in mining generally continuing to rise, our ability to handle problems of manpower and human relations becomes a matter of greater importance.Questions that flow from these general thoughts form the substance of what I have to say.

Jan 1, 1982