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Gold mines produce unique water treatment requirements. This paper focuses on case studies of innovative processes used for treatment of water resulting from gold mining and processing. The case studies include treatment of mine dewatering water for beneficial application from an Australian gold mine, Bendigo Mining, as well as treatment for arsenic removal of tailings water from mining and processing at Goldcorp mines in Canada. Gold mining can often require dewatering to prevent groundwater seeping into and flooding the mine workings. Gold mining and processing often accumulate wastewaters in a tailings dam. The mine water can contain contaminants such as dissolved salts, iron, arsenic, manganese, heavy metals and odorous sulfates. Environmental discharge requirements as well as community needs for water drive mine operators to consider the most appropriate water treatment process. Treatment of gold mine water can require processes including oxidation, pH adjustment, coagulation, flocculation, clarification, further oxidation/adsorption of specific metals such as manganese, filtration, salt reduction utilising reverse osmosis, brine minimisation and other innovative technologies. These processes are discussed through the case studies with examination of the specific treatment process that is required. This paper uses real case studies of gold water treatment processes to explain and examine the technology and the reasons for designing specific processes. The focus is toward explaining innovative processes where the water is used for sustainable environmental discharge or treatment to a quality that can be beneficially used by the local community.

Jan 1, 2007

In 1961, West Australian Petroleum's Eneabba No. 1 bore encountered 22 seams of coal totalling 40 ft in thickness between the depths of 6373 ft and 6441 ft. On analysis, this coal had a similar calorific value (8000-HOOO B.T.U./lb, assuming 20 per cent water) to the coal from the Collie Coalfield, Western Australia's only known area of commercially exploitable coal. Being buried to depths in excess of 6000 ft, the coal at Eneabba had developed weakly-coking properties, and thus, although much younger than the Permian coals of Collie, gave promise of being a major potential source of power for Western Australia.West Australian Petroleum undertook a programme of stratigraphic drilling and shallow test drilling to determine whether this coalhorizon persisted into the outcrop of the Lower Jurassic sediments in the Hill River district, 140 miles NNW. of Perth, and, if it was present, if the quality and quantity of the coal would warrant development of the deposits by open cutting. The coal horizon was identified in the near surface, but the poor quality of the coal and the complexity of the structure made development (in the area examined) uneconomic at the time.A strong seismic reflection in the Eneabba area occurs at the same depth as the Jurassic coals. This event originates within the upper beds of the Lower Jurassic and it is probable that the velocity contrast between the higher velocity siltstones and the very low velocity coals enhances this very strong, distinctive seismic reflection.This event can be followed on continuous seismic data over a large area of the northern Perth Basin, from 13 miles SE. of Dongara to 20 miles SW. of Coorow. It can be followed from a depth of 4000 ftnear Dongara to over 17,000 ft to the SE., so development of thisvast potential source of power will depend on the economics ofprocesses being developed for the production of power from theburning of coal seams in situ.INTRODUCTIONThe discovery of 22 seams of economically useable coaltotalling 40 ft in thickness in the Lower J urassic sedimentsof the Eneabba No. 1 bore (Fig. 1) led to the search forthese seams at economically workable depths. The Ministerfor Mines in Western Australia granted to West Australian1. Supervising Geologist, West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd.Manuscript received at The Institute, 25th May, 1964. and presented to the 1964Annual Conference.

Jan 1, 1964

Chelopech Mining EAD and Best Available Techniques for Management of Waste Rock in Mining Activities

Sep 13, 2010

By Brown H. R, Wright E. A

The authors identify the workable coal seams, their distribution in relation to quality and economic occurrence and relate their analytical characteristics to industrial use. The development of established collieries is also discussed with regard to increased production demand.The authors also indicate the potential of the coal resources of the Southern District and postulate their ultimate development.INTRODUCTIONThe Southern Coalfield yields 30 per cent of the total production of bituminous coal in New South Wales. The economic potential of the coalfield was examined last by Harper (1915). Since that time additional knowledge has been gained by prospectors, mining companies and public authorities. Expansion in the steel industry and the building of power stations on the coalfields together with improvements in fuel technology, mining methops and road transport have resulted in production of coal from seams mice thoughtto have no economic value.DESCRIPTION OF THE COALFIELDFor the purpose of this paper the term Southern Coalfield includes also the South-Western Coalfield which together comprise the following Coal Districts:IllawarraDouglas ParkWollondilly-NattaiMoss Vale-Berrima (Hanlon, 1953).Geographically the coalfield is contained by the Illawarra Range in the east, the Shoalhaven River to the south, the Wollondilly River to the west, and in the north by a line...

Jan 1, 1958

The Hyde Macraes Shear Zone (HMSZ) is an extensive low angle semibrittle mineralised structure in the Otago Schist Belt, New Zealand. The shear zone is located on the lower limb of a late metamorphic recumbent fold. Structural observations suggests that the shear zone initiated as a high strain mylonite zone and transgressed the ductile/brittle boundary (D4) later in its development. A surge zone at Round Hill is bounded to the south by a NE-SW striking lateral ramp which displaces the hanging wall shear (HWS) by 50 m. Oblique strike slip displacement during surge zone propagation created space for deposition of the sheeted vein complex or stockwork. Quartz recrystallisation in stockwork veins suggests that the veins were deformed in a ductile manner and implies that surge zone propagation may have occurred during late D3 deformation. A macroantiform was produced during D3/D4 shortening below the HWS. Over tightening of the antiform hinge created SW and NE-dipping ramp thrusts. Continued strike slip displacement along the lateral ramp rotated the antiform and associated ramps into a south plunging drag fold. Post-mineralisation (D5) structures include NE-dipping nonna! faults below the HWS and SW-dipping low angle imbricate thrusts above the HWS. The development of these structures was kinematically compatible with normal movement on the HMSZ and is related to mid Cretaceous break up of Gondwanaland in the SW Pacific.

Jan 1, 1992

By Matthew I. G

A new process for leaching zinc sulphide concentrates with gaseous mixtures of SO2 and O2 in aqueous solution is described.The reaction of SO2/O2 with Rosebery, Mt. Isa, Broken Hill and Elura zinc concentrates yields zinc and iron sulphates, elemental sulphur and some sulphuric acid. Rates of zinc extraction are controlled by a surface chemical reaction without apparent interference from the elemental sulphur layer for SO2 concentrations up to 9 per cent in the gas phase. Pyrite in concentrate exerts an activating effect, possibly through galvanic interaction with the sphalerite. Metal extractions are dependent on SO2 and O2 tenors of the gas, particle size, and the acidity and zinc content of the solution, but are independent of the ferric ion level. Extractions also reach maxima at about 85°C.Generation of acid may be prevented by conducting the reaction in the presence of ferrous iron and at acidities of 40 g/l or greater. Zinc and iron levels in Elura lead concentrate may be reduced by leaching with SO2/O2.

Jan 1, 1981

Recovery of Tantalum Capacitors from Waste Printed Circuit Boards Using a Pneumatic Separator

Sep 13, 2010

The method of investigation was to study the distribution of ore in great detail, to make a thorough structural study of the lode and the mine area, and then to compare the results of the two studies. Such a comparison usually reveals a very close relationship between geological structure and ore distribution, and can often lead to important conclusions which would not be reached in the ordinary working of a mine.The Triton mine lies 30 miles E.N.E. of Cue, or 380 miles N.W. of Kalgoorlie, in typical pre-Cambrian rocks, consisting of gTeenstone lavas and tuft's, interbedded with slates and some sediments, and intruded by granite and porphyry. Fig. 1 (at end of paper) is a longitudinal section of the mine and shows that the workings consist of the main North Emu and the smaller South Emu, separated by a distance of about 1 of a mile. Both orebodies occur on the same lode, which strikes north and south and dips practically vertically. On the same line, and of 1/2 a mile and a mile respectively to the north of the North Emu, are the small Rand and North Rand workings, where a big width of lode material has proved to be very low grade. In the North Emu the lode width averages 12 to 15 feet; it is seldom less than 5 feet and in places reaches 30 feet. In the South Emu the lode is wide, but only portion of it is payable.The lode is a mineralised bed occurring between massive lava flows on the east and a mixed series of tuft's and thin lava flows on the west. The lode material is hard, fine grained, and dark coloured, and generally has a faint banding which is believed to indicate a tuft'aceous origin of the original lode rock. Microscopic examination shows that the original lode rock has undergone considerable albitisation;' there has also been considerable formation of biotite which gives the lode material a characteristic sheen. The mineralisation consists of abundant fine pyrite, which is auriferous, and a lesser development of pyrrhotite which is, however, barren of gold.THE OREBODIES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICSThe distribution of ore is best studied from gold contours, as these reveal features that cannot be detected in an ordinary assay section. Gold contours (see Fig. 3) are developed' by plotting the width and grade of all development and stoping assays throughout the mine on a longitudinal projection, representing each sample by a coloured dot according to a suitably chosen range of assay values, and then outlining areas of similarly coloured dots (see H. J. C. Conolly, Econ. Geol., April, 1936). Both width and grade must be taken into account and the simplest method of gold contouring is to use dwt.lft. values, but difficulties arise here with big widths of low grade and small widths of high grade ore. To choose an extreme case, 30 ft. of 2 dwts. and 2 ft. of 30 dwts. both equal 60 dwts.lft., and would therefore be given the same value in dwt.lft. contouring...

Jan 1, 1943

By W Dodson, S Dogramaci

Isotopes and hydrochemistry were used to define groundwater flow systems and better understand the hydrogeological setting of the Karijini National Park, which is in the Central Pilbara region adjacent to the Marandoo iron ore mine. Based on the stable isotope composition of the water samples, the data can be divided into two main groups. Groundwater is characterised by depleted dD and d18O, suggesting no significant evaporation effect. Surface water on the other hand is more enriched in dD and d18O due to evaporation. The relatively high concentration of Cl- compared to rainfall and depleted dD and d18O values of groundwater indicate that recharge of the aquifers is occurring during intense rainfall events when rapid infiltration occurs. Evapotranspiration then acts to concentrate ionic species prior to recharge. Relationships between the major ion concentration and catchment area, surficial Tertiary cover and distance between recharge and discharge were identified. The results show that these catchment variables combine to determine unique water chemistry for each sub catchment in Karijini National Park. The TDS concentration of the groundwater in the Marra Mamba Iron Formation that hosts the Marandoo ore body is higher than most of the water bodies surrounding the mining area suggesting significant modification or different recharge mechanisms to that of the Karijini groundwater.

Jan 1, 2009

By J Canterford

There is an apparent push to develop and commercialise "new and innovative" process flow sheets. A not-too-difficult reality check clearly demonstrates that the success rate of this push is not particularly significant and in fact could be regarded as a waste or misappropriation of R&D funding and the associated brain power. As Julian Sumner Miller would comment "why is this so?" To put it bluntly, many of the so-called innovative developments are equivalent to gold plating the dunny door - visually interesting but of very limited practical value. This presentation encapsulates some personal lessons learnt over the past 45 years.CITATION:Canterford, J, 2013. Developing a ænew and innovativeÆ process flow sheet - Traps for all players of all ages, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013 , pp 1-5 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 15, 2013

The placer mining industry of the West Coast region of the South Island is based largely around the production of alluvial gold, although other valuable minerals are also present. Since the first major discoveries in 1864-65, reported gold production has totalled around 264 t (8.5 Moz). During the past 10 years, annual production has totalled around 1460 kg (47,000 oz). It is anticipated that gold production over the next three years will continue at a level of 1400-1800 kg.   Annual gold production peaked during 1866 at approximately 17,170 kg (550,000 oz) and has not exceeded 100,000 oz since 1885. This reflects the ease with which gold was won from shallow, rich deposits that were present at many localities. Subsequently, there has been a general decline in the availability of this type of deposit, a trend that will continue in the future. This paper outlines the present state of placer mining in the West Coast region, gives some historical background to the industry and briefly predicts future trends.

Jan 1, 1997

Computer applications are ideally suited to the day to day operations of grade control and short term planning on a mine site. By refining this part of the operation there is scope to increase profits by more accurately predicting ore grade and tonnage, and allowing the mining engineer more flexibility in his approach to scheduling. Large numbers of blasthole or ditchwitch samples need to be processed in a fast and efficient manner, and stored in a database for future reference. The mining engineer has to calculate tonnages and subdivide the blast or digging area into mineable areas of waste, low and high grade ore. New grade and tonnage information must be used by the mining engineer to update his short term plan. Answers must be obtained quickly and efficiently, but a high level of individual input is necessary in order that maximum use is made of the information. Geostatistical analysis of samples can be used to refine the interpolation techniques. Reconciliation between the original grade model, the newly sampled area, and the final product should be monitored continually.

Jan 1, 1989

By S Hapugoda, J R. Manuel, M J. Peterson

Microindentation testing using the square–pyramid–shaped Vickers indenter is a well-established technique to determine the microhardness of minerals and materials. However there is a paucity of published microhardness data from Fe ore samples. It is acknowledged that an iron ore’s particle mineralogy and texture is critical to its processing properties, and it is therefore considered that the microhardness of different mineralogical/textural types may also relate to these properties. Mineral microhardness potentially provides inputs to the modelling of breakage characteristics during comminution, as well as the relationship between mineral chemistry and microhardness, and mineral microporosity and microhardness. Microhardness can be determined as single crystal microhardness, for more coarsely microcrystalline samples, or as ‘aggregate microhardness’ for cryptocrystalline or finely microcrystalline samples.Variations in the texture and mineral chemistry of common Fe ore minerals (eg martite and microplaty hematite, ochreous and vitreous goethite etc) are well established and this study provides microhardness data on different textural forms of Fe (oxyhydr)oxides from a variety of different Fe ore deposits. The data indicated that in general, the mineral grain size, microporosity and texture were the main influences on Fe (oxyhydr)oxide microhardness. There were no apparent systematic variations between microhardness and minor element mineral chemistry, with the possible exception of Al content in goethite (for goethites with Al content >0.5 wt per cent), and for goethite total element contents >90 wt per cent (determined by electron probe microanalysis, EPMA). Higher Al concentrations and lower total element concentrations in goethite EPMA analyses correlated with lower goethite microhardness. Microporosity and grain size were more important than texture to hematite microhardness. Different textural forms of dense hematite (eg martite, recrystallised interlocking hematite and specular hematite) with similar grain size exhibited comparable microhardness. Microhardness values for hematite and hydrohematite with little or no evident microporosity were also similar, whereas more porous forms of martite, microplaty hematite or hydrohematite exhibited lower microhardness.CITATION:Peterson, M J, Manuel, J R and Hapugoda, S, 2017. Microhardness testing of hematite-goethite Fe ores – implications for their textural characterisation and geometallurgy, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2017, pp 319–330 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 24, 2017

Exerting the Advantages of National Key Discipline, Outstanding the Training of Engineering Capability, Cultivating Talent to be with Innovation Ability

Sep 13, 2010

The mineralogy of the rocks now observed in the Nairne pyrite deposit developed under conditions of internally-controlled sulphur activity during amphibolite facies metamorphism. In the sulphide-deficient metasediments the activity of sulphur was low, and pyrrhotite developed with iron-bearing silicate minerals. At higher sulphur activity, in the sulphide-rich meta-sediments, pyrite formed in addition to pyrrhotite, and the associated silicate minerals are iron-deficient.

Jan 1, 1969

By Met B. E

The increasing pace of modern mining makes constantly greater demands upon the several contributing departments of rock breaking and transport, and rock-drilling, as the spearhead of attack, has received a great deal of attention with respect to both machines and steels. By a series of mechanical improvements, combined with the application of selected heat-treated alloy steels, the rock-drill has now been developed into a machine capable of rapid drilling and long service under severe working conditions. As a factoryproduct made under strict metallurgical control it is as foolproof as, say, the modern automobile, and, like its prototype, it can be kept in efficient operation by a minor amount of attention during use and by periodical adjustments and replacements.The same cannot be said, unfortunately, of the drills with which the machine is supplied; in conventional mine-shop practice these are made of the best tool steel shaped and heat-treated under the poorest of metallurgical conditions.The crudities of steel-shop practice have, in fact, always prevented the full exploitation of the steels available at any time, and even at the present day the general standard of treatment offers a contrast with the quality of the steels which moves the metallurgist to amusement, despondency or outrage, according to his temperament. Nevertheless, the tendency persists to meet the increasing demands of the rock-drill primarily by the use of still better steels, and secondarily by improvement, of the steel-shop practice. Athird type of development is the introduction of factorymade tools in the form of detachable bits and rods. It is proposed in this paper to deal with these three aspects of the recent developments in rock-drilling.*Re-written from a lecturette given during the First Ordinary Meeting, 1936.

Jan 1, 1936

By Matters C. W

THE following paper embodies the present practice and the results of past experience in the survey departments of two of the leading Broken Hill mines, the Central (Sulphide Corporation Ltd.) and the Broken Hill South S. M. Co. N. L.The authors intend to limit the scope of this paper to a consideration of office methods, as much has recently appeared in technical literature concerning field work, both surface and underground. Special reference may here be made to a valuable paper on 'Mine Surveying' by H W Gartrell, in Vol XIII of Transactions, in which the author gives considerable attention to field work. Moreover, much of the office work described in current literature is American, and sometimes not suited to local conditions, being ·often exceedingly elaborate and demanding a large staff of assistants. It is believed that the methods of recording information described in this paper are sufficiently simple and flexible to be adapted to most Australian mines. Brief acknowledgement must be made to the work done by Americans, who have raised mine surveying to the position of a separate profession, instead of being merely an unimportant branch of land surveying.

Jan 1, 1912

By Budiselic C, Hefter G

The uptake of gold by activated carbon from acid chloride solutions involves the reduction of gold(IIl) to metallic gold. Deposition occurs only on the surface of the carbon at localized active sites at first, and subsequently at less active areas. The rate of uptake depends on the surface area of activated carbon, which confirms results from a recently published study (de Siegel and Soto, 1984). Increased rates of uptake were observed at higher temperatures and lower chloride concentrations due to the decreased stability of AuCI4-, the major gold(IIl) species present. Recoveries of gold approached 100 per cent for a contact time of 60 minutes at 20°C in a well stirred solution initially 5 ppm in gold(III) and containing 0.5 per cent w/v coconut-shell carbon. The presence of 0.25 Mnitric acid or 100 ppm iron(IIl) had no detectable effect on either rate or efficiency of gold uptake.

Jan 1, 1985

By F T. Suorineni, L Baird, A Papaioanou, D Hines

The Mathews et al (1981) stability graph was developed to provide guidance in the determination of stope sizes to control dilution in bulk mining of large orebodies. Longhole and sublevel open stoping (LHOS and SLOS) are the lower end in scale of underground mass mining with panel and block caving (PBC) at the higher end. Currently, the stability states of stopes in the stability graph are described qualitatively as stable, unstable or cave. The alternative quantitative option to the qualitative stability graph is the Equivalent Linear Overbreak Slough (ELOS) stability graph. The ELOS stability graph only applies to narrow vein orebodies. It is easy for the Mathews et al (1981) and the ELOS stability graphs to be applied outside the limits of their databases. What is currently referred to as ‘stable’ in the present stability graphs has diverse interpretations at different mines depending on their acceptable dilution values. In 2014, a research program was conceptually conceived at the UNSW Australia School of Mining Engineering to develop a quantitative dilution-based stability graph independent of orebody width to address some industry concerns on the use of the stability graphs. A dilution-based stability graph provides the mining engineer the flexibility to determine open stope sizes based on what dilution amounts are acceptable. The graph also unifies both the Mathews et al (1981) and ELOS stability graphs for wide and narrow vein orebodies, thus, eliminating their potential misapplications. To date, the concept is proven with case studies from metalliferous underground mining operations located across Australia. This paper presents the dilution-based stability graph concept, the initial results and future plans to account for other critical factors and increase confidence in its application with the addition of more data outside Australia.CITATION:Suorineni, F T, Papaioanou, A, Baird, L and Hines, D, 2016. A dilution-based stability graph for open stope design, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 511–522 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

By Edwards A. B

Renison Bell is on the Emu Bay Railway, midway between Zeehan and Rosebery on the west coast of Tasmania. The tin deposits in this area have been described by G. A. WaIler (1902), L. K. Ward (1909), H. Hermani (1914), and Hartwell Conder (1918), for the Tasmanian Geological Survey. The ore-bodies occur in the slates, grits, altered lava flows and tufts of the Dundas Series, and consist of fine-grained cassiterite disseminated through massive sulphides (chiefly pyrrhotite or pyrite), or through bodies of quartz and sulphides. Some of these bodies show a N.W.-S.E. strike, parallel to the strike of the tin belt, but others strike N.E.-S;W. or E.-W.The ore-bodies are of two types: (1) steeply dipping fissure veins,' spoken of locally as "feeders," and (2) flatter-lying bodies more or less conformable with the bedding planes of the slates (bedded veins), spoken of locally as "floors."The feeders range from 5-12 ft. in width, with occasional bulges as great as 4q ft. Their lengths vary from 100 ft. to several hundred yards, and they are known to continue to Clmsiderable depths. 'They dip steeply, generally at angles of 45° to 60° to the east or south.The floors, where they occur, 'are directly connected with the feeders, and are sheet-iike bodies of sulphide ore. The composite ore-bodies thus have the shape of an inverted L, or a T, according to whether 'the floor extends out from one side or both sides of the feeder. Most of the floors extend from the hanging-wall side of the feeder. Where erosion has removed the connection, they appear as separate bodies.The feeders as a rule carry more quartz and arsenopyrite than the floors, and are richer in tin. In addition, the cassiterite tends to be coarser grained in the feeders than in the floors. The floors, on the other hand, carry a greater proportion of -sulphides, chiefly pyrrhotite, and the grade of ore and grain size of the cas,siterite tend to decrease as the floor is followed down the dip away from the feeder, so that the outer and lower extremities of the floors may be too low-grade to work economically. The average grade of the ore worked at present is 0·9,0/0 tin. The slates forming the roofs of the floors are commonly much contorted and silicified,' so that they form hard rocks in which the contortion and shattering of the original slates are well preserved. Joints extending upwards, more or less at right angles to the roof of the floor, are occasionally filled with finely crystalline quartz, similar to that in the orebodies, and are often rich in tin, so much so that the slate as a whole may average 0·4% tin.Some carbonate gangue is present in all of the ore-bodies, commonly on the footwall side, and, in places it becomes an important constituent...

Jan 1, 1943