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By Groves J

The sizing and classification circuits at the Mt. Newman Beneficiation Plant have performed satisfactorily. Investigations have been aimed at solving minor problems and achieving small' improvements. Emphasis has been placed on cost reduction rather than metallurgical performance. It has been found that some circuits will give better performance with the sieve bends removed. 1.0 BACKGROUND Mt. Newman. Mining operates a major iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Rainfall is sparse (average 250 mm/year). Current mining is all above the water table. What rain there is tends to run off quickly instead of soaking in. The total operation produces about 30 Mt/ year of saleable product. Most of this product comes from high grade crushing plants where ore from the quarries is simply crushed and conveyed to product stockpiles. About 3 Mt/ year comes from the Beneficiation Plant.

Jan 1, 1984

By D Maconochie, S Pradhan, M Reed

The Waterview Connection will provide a high-quality strategic alternative to State Highway One and complete Auckland’s Western Ring Route connecting State Highways 20 and 16. The project includes twin three-lane motorway tunnels 2.4 km long and 13.1 m internal diameter (ID). The tunnel construction started in November 2013 using the tenth largest earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel boring machine (TBM) in the world. The tunnels will pass beneath urban and greenfield areas as well as a major local arterial road. The project is being delivered by an alliance of constructors, designers and the New Zealand Transport Agency. This paper describes some of the key innovative and cost saving design solutions that have been achieved through collaboration in the alliance environment with the construction team, owner’s verifier, the segmental lining precast suballiance and the M&E suballiance for the underground works. The key design elements of the tunnel comprise a three-lane roadway, invert culvert and backfill, precast segmental lining, sixteen mined cross passages including a low point sump cross passage and steel segments for opening to the cross passages. This paper reviews interdisciplinary design integration and the economies achieved in the permanent works tunnel lining design, including reduction in lining thickness and optimising reinforcement, cross passage separation of 150 m, efficient design of the invert culvert and backfill design, main drainage pipe and low point sump. The paper also describes the attributes of the TBM and the invert culvert construction methodology.CITATION:Pradhan, S, Maconochie, D and Reed, M, 2014. Tunnel design in an alliance for Waterview Connection, New Zealand, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 425–430 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

A pilot plant has been constructed for the low temperature carboni-zation of Wallarah (N,S,W6) coal at the rate of 300 pounds per hour. The plant was built and tested at Australian Mineral Development Laboratories for Broken Hill Pty, Ltd. Char product was required within the specifi-cation 15.5 `S' 1 per cent volatile matter. The design was based c atz an entrained state carbonizer developed by Parry and U.S. Bureau of Mines co-workers at Denver, U.S.A. The method involved the carbonizatioan of fine coal by entrainment with air in an externally heated reactor.. The heat required for carbonization of tits coal was supplied to the be, both through the reactor walls and also by internal cambustion of products .

Jan 1, 1963

By M Haest, O Dominguez, D Mittrup

With the current focus in the mining industry on reducing costs, while simultaneously improving ore quality, infrared spectroscopy is a tool that can potentially assist companies to meet both challenges. Changes in the nature of infrared spectra are strongly influenced by changes in mineralogy, which is a key input variable for exploration (geology and orebody modelling and ore characterisation) and mining (pit design, mine scheduling and processing plant design/management).Infrared spectroscopic logging of drill holes has been embedded as a standard tool in BHP Billiton Iron Ore exploration, with a process set up to automatically deliver mineralogy and associated imagery to the end users (typically exploration geologists). The availability of consistent and automated mineralogy drill hole logs across a project is improving the output quality and reducing re-work.BHP Billiton Iron Ore is now looking into using the same infrared spectroscopic data for other applications, including improving predictions of geometallurgical and geotechnical parameters. Trials show that addition of infrared spectroscopic data to conventional data sets (element analysis and depth information) is significantly improving the accuracy of regression models to predict the lump-fine ratio.Further initiatives around infrared spectroscopic data in BHP Billiton Iron Ore include the installation of infrared spectroscopic sensors over conveyor belts, infrared spectroscopic mine face scanning and infrared spectroscopic blasthole logging. The ultimate vision is to have consistent, seamless mineralogical data from infrared spectroscopic sensing available throughout the mineral value chain (exploration/mining/processing). This seamless infrared spectroscopic data ‘bridge’ will allow the transfer of knowledge between the different sections of the value chain (exploration, mining and processing). For example, ore handle-ability could be predicted on exploration samples using regression models built from processing plant observations. In the opposite direction, information gathered about the buried stratigraphy by infrared spectroscopy utilised during exploration, could be used to predict the stratigraphy encountered during mining. This collaboration across BHP Billiton Iron Ore is expected to deliver significant savings, while improving the quality of the final product, thus helping to drive efficiency over the next decade.CITATION:Haest, M, Mittrup, D and Dominguez, O, 2015. Reaping the first fruits – infrared spectroscopy: the new standard tool in BHP Billiton Iron Ore Exploration, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 277–284 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By A Li, H Jinto, M Laxman

The behaviour of tailings under cyclic loading has an impact on the stability and deformation of tailings dams and a good understanding of the cyclic behaviour of the tailings under earthquakes is important for tailings engineers and tailings operators for the design and safe operation of tailings dams. This paper presents an investigation into the cyclic behaviour of tailings using both laboratory cyclic direct simple shear (DSS) testing and numerical modelling. The laboratory testing involved cyclic DSS tests on gold tailings and zinc-copper tailings under different loadings and loading frequencies. The gold tailings specimen tested at a higher loading frequency and a higher cyclic stress ratio experienced spontaneous liquefaction during cyclic shearing and the zinc-copper tailings specimen tested at a lower loading frequency and a similar cyclic stress ratio exhibited ductile behaviour and liquefied due to cyclic mobility. The liquefaction behaviour of the tailings was modelled using an advanced constitutive model (UBCSAND), which was developed specifically to model soil liquefaction and strain softening under cyclic loading. The constitutive soil model presents the nonlinear soil behaviour under dynamic loading using a hyperbolic stress-strain relation. Dynamic analyses were carried out using a finite difference program FLAC. The cyclic stress-induced excess pore water pressures measured in the laboratory were modelled using numerical simulations of the laboratory tests under different loading conditions. The results of the non-linear dynamic analyses demonstrated the capability of numerical modelling of cyclic shearing induced excess pore water pressure and the onset of the spontaneous liquefaction. The laboratory investigation and numerical modelling technique provided the key properties and parameters for the dynamic analyses to assess the stability and deformation of tailings dams under design earthquake events. More importantly, the laboratory tests and numerical modelling provided some insights into liquefaction behaviour of the tailings during earthquakes. CITATION:Li, A, Laxman, M and Jinto, H, 2018. Liquefaction behaviour of tailings under cyclic simple shear testing, in Proceedings Mine Waste and Tailings Stewardship Conference 2018, pp 250–262 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 23, 2018

By R Witt, M Lowing

Tanking of tunnels is now often specified when inflows exceed as little as 1 L/s/km with a unit distance of 100 m. To demonstrate inflows over a 100 m segment of a tunnel are less than 0.1 L/s with a standard error of 0.01 L/s by timed, gravity filled, volume measurement up and downstream of the segment, the measuring cylinder volume (L) must exceed 10 Q, where Q is the flow in L/s, and the number measurements taken and averaged must exceed 20 . If a standard error of 0.02 L/s is acceptable then 5Q2 measurements must be taken and averaged. If gravity filling is not possible then the number, n, of repeat pumped container measurement required is given by: where: is the 100 m section leakage is the volume filling time is the standard error of volume measurementZ is the standard normal variateK is a coefficient dependent on physical measurement conditions Based on analysis of field data an indicative coefficient of variation of volume measurement is ~0.05.

Jan 1, 2008

By R Justa Cámara, L M. Pinillos Lorenzana

Barcelona Metro Line 9 (Line 9) is an essential infrastructure, improving the transversal transport in Barcelona by connecting the greater part of the currently existing radial lines. The purpose of Line 9 is to create a peripheral line surrounding the city of 1.6 million people (metropolitan area exceeds five million), and includes 52 stations, of which a total of 32 are deep shafts and 19 transfer stations in a densely populated area with several geographical constraints.The tunnel has an inner diameter of 10.90 m, bored with an earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel boring machine (TBM) in soil sections with precast concrete lining type universal ring and segments 40 cm thick.A single tunnel solution was adopted, driven by functionality and costs savings. The internal tunnel section is divided into two levels to allow for one way rail transit including the platforms in each station on each level in order to optimise the space created by the TBM excavation and comply with the operational needs. The division in two areas of the tunnel was carried out through the construction of a horizontal slab resting on the tunnel segments with a constant thickness of 40 cm at the central part of the slab and supporting side walls.CITATION:Justa Cámara, R and Pinillos Lorenzana, L M, 2014. Two transit levels in one tunnel tube – an innovation in Barcelona Metro Line 9, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 387–398 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By Morgans DJ

The aim of this paper is to highlight the social aspects involved in the preparation of environmental impact studies (E.I.S.'s) for mining developments. In particular, the paper will reveal that the social information provided in such E.I.S.'s can achieve much more than simply satisfying government requirements. Such information can form the basis of a strategy to deal with the settlement of a mine workforce in either an existing or newly developed community. A strategy of this type can go a long way towards avoiding many of the social problems and related industrial disputes often created in such circumstances. It will also be of significant benefit to the mining company in negotiating its infrastructure package with the local authority.

Jan 1, 1987

By M Scoble

This paper addresses the importance of collaborative approaches to resolving future mining challenges. It attempts to provide some insight into understanding the theory, measurement, mapping and management of collaboration. This is related to the design and planning for successful research and educational initiatives. Reference is made to Canadian and global case studies and personal experiences.

Nov 22, 2011

By R Jones

OneSteel Whyalla’s grate-kiln-cooler pelletising plant was commissioned in 1968 processing haematite feed from the local South Middleback Ranges mining area. The existence of a magnetite resource beneath the haematite ore at Iron Duke had been known for some time. In 2004, a decision was made to covert the primary iron source for the Whyalla steelworks from haematite to magnetite – known as project magnet. The intent of the project was to convert the feed to the steelworks from haematite to magnetite and to free up the remaining haematite resource for export. The pelletising plant was cut over to a magnetite feed in 2007.The thermochemical differences of magnetite compared to haematite are threefold:1. the introduction of an exothermic reaction during conversion of magnetite to haematite,2. the absence of bound water which existed within the haematite, and3. lower gangue content requiring lower fluxing levels and therefore lower calcination energy demand.The combination of these differences results in a significantly different induration requirement for magnetite as compared to haematite. The change therefore required extensive research and test work to design modifications to the furnace and to ensure appropriate risk mitigation for the Whyalla steelworks.Preliminary pot-grate test work was performed to define the pellet chemistry and confirm the suitability of the magnetite to produce pellets suitable for the OneSteel blast furnace. A heating curve was developed by use of computer-based heat and mass balance modelling. Extensive pilot scale grate-kiln-cooler test work was then performed to confirm the heating curve and to verify and fine-tune the pellet properties. Computation fluid dynamics was used to design the physical changes to the furnace required to achieve the proposed heating curve.Following installation of an additional preheat zone, including a wall and dilution air fans, into the preheating furnace, and installation of an additional wall into the cooler, the modified furnace was commissioning in December 2007. The plant performed as expected during commissioning with the actual heating curve matching the proposed curve and the produced pellets within blast furnace specifications.

Jul 11, 2011

By M Kent, D Elder, J Woodward, R Edwards, B Catto

At Tropicana gold mine (TGM), mine planning is completed from ‘one source of truth’ known as the Integrated Planning Model (IPM). The IPM is a block model which forms a core component of the TGM Mine Planning System – used for short, medium and long-term mine planning cycles, and for Mine to Mill reconciliation.The IPM was developed from a desire to consolidate long-term information contained in mineral resource and ore reserve models, with short-term information from the grade control processes, including grade control models and ore polygons.The IPM is informed initially by resource models, upon which the longer term budget and schedules are based. The IPM is routinely updated with grade control models and ore design information, providing increased confidence for short to medium term mine planning. In this format, the IPM also provides a framework for reconciliation of resource performance with grade control, mining actuals and mining schedules, and ultimately milling. As well as a means for analysing past performance through reconciliation, it has proven its worth as a predictor of variation and an input to successful schedule sequencing and change management. The IPM is a critical component of the TGM Mine Planning System, providing a centralised framework for short interval mill feed prediction through to life-of-mine (LOM) planning.Current development of the IPM is working towards incorporating Mine to Mill optimisation and real-time material tracking projects at TGM. If successful, the model will provide a truly powerful mine planning data source. Current development outlines a mechanism for tracking material from Mine to Mill, and for transferring mill performance data back to the IPM. Increasingly advanced material classification and mine planning, incorporating the multiple geometallurgical variables, will enable the mine to provide consistent mill feed products and result in a steady state and optimised mill.This paper outlines the vision, creation and benefits of the IPM at TGM. It also introduces the ongoing developments to ensure the IPM becomes only more relevant to successful and integrated mine planning as TGM matures from the new kid on the block to the old hand in the neighbourhood.CITATION:Catto, B, Elder, D, Edwards, R, Kent, M and Woodward, J, 2017. An integrated approach to mine planning – building the integrated planning model at Tropicana gold mine, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 305–314 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 20, 2017

By R Knight

The spatial variability of geometallurgical characteristics in a mineral deposit can have significant impact on financial and mine planning, mineral processing, concentrate quality and tailings composition throughout the life of a project. These characteristics that may determine the success of a project are not readily apparent to geologists unless they are integrated with deposit geology and assay data, modelled in 3D and incorporated into resource block models.One of the primary objectives of geometallurgy is to integrate and incorporate various geologic, geotechnical and geometallurgical parameters into resource block models, which typically are limited to in situ tonnes and grade of economic metals. Critical attributes, such as concentration of deleterious elements that affect the project viability need to be identified and integrated into the resource block model early in the exploration stage to predict project profitability and address potential environmental impacts.Using data from a volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit we present an example of the integration of ore geochemistry (cadmium, arsenic and antimony) with the results of preliminary, bench-scale metallurgical test work in a 3D geometallurgical model that predicts subdomains of poor-quality concentrate and tailings containing environmentally-sensitive elements. This critical information was incorporated into the existing resource block model in order to inform both financial modelling and mine planning.This example demonstrates that geometallurgical data can be effectively integrated with geological and assay data using Leapfrog MiningTM software (Leapfrog Mining) early in the exploration stage of a project. Three-dimensional representations of geometallurgical data can be created directly using primary additive data, as well as from proxies of non-additive parameters. Resource block models can be updated continually with new information as the project passes from exploration through production. In addition, the software allows for 3D visualisation of the characteristics of the materials that will eventually constitute the mill concentrate, tailings, and waste. This study emphasises the critical importance of establishing a systematic geometallurgical approach early in the exploration stage that can be continuously updated with new information throughout the life of the project. In the example that we present, sulfide ore that had otherwise been identified as high-value (in the absence of geochemical and metallurgical data) turns out to be low-value ore due to concentrate penalties and increased environmental impact.

Sep 5, 2011

By C Jenkins, J Jasper, Y Suryaputradinata, S Lozyk, M J. Hartmann

The primary objective of mining companies is to function as a profitable business by delivering products that fit customer requirements in a safe and sustainable manner. Optimum resource utilisation is a critical focus area to achieve this objective, and the long-term sustainable business performance of a mining company is determined by the extent to which this is achieved. Technology improvements and/or new technology development could improve resource utilisation. However, adding new projects to a Brownfield operation carries risk. Overall project schedules, tie-in schedules and safety risks normally receive adequate attention, but the introduction and integration of new technology to a Brownfield site also carries the significant risk of failure to achieve design performance (quality or throughput). This risk must be addressed via rigorous design phase risk assessments and piloting. Post commissioning, the effective metallurgical integration of any new technology/circuit/process plant into an existing process plant calls for critical assessment, through circuit performance testing, and optimisation to ensure alignment with design criteria. In addition, this approach provides clear focus areas for further optimisation of the new plant and additional opportunity for overall plant optimisation. Roy Hill recently navigated this process successfully, and this paper provides feedback on the journey that led to improved resource utilisation.

Nov 8, 2021

By M Zlatev, S Silge

Producers of primary resources such as iron ore face the challenge of processing crude materials with increasing levels of impurities, which may result in the requirement for wet processing. This results in a significant increase in water usage, power consumption and operating costs. Given the remote locations of most operations in Australia (Stewart et al, 2013; Prosser, Wolf and Littleboy, 2011), the required volumes of power and fresh water for wet processing can be very difficult to achieve.HAVER&TYLER is renowned across the world for their screening technology in wet and dry processes. Its innovative Hydro-Clean® system represents a cost-effective and eco-sensitive way to clean any crude materials and material blends with a grain size distribution of 0–150 mm that are contaminated with adhesive clay, slit and other impurities.CITATION:Silge, S and Zlatev, M, 2015. Iron ore washing – achieve more with fewer resources, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 519–528 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

Early in 1950 a new laboratory was set up to deal with problems in mineragraphy, petrology and metallography. This paper describes the equipment, the organisation and association of the laboratory with the various departments of the company, the work that has been done and future plans.At Mount Isa it was soon realised that the microscope would play a most important role in mineral dressing problems and aiding geological research.As early as 1928, R. J. Colony submitted a petrographic report on Black Star ore for Consolidated Limited; much later, in 1934-5 Dr. Grondijs published for Mount Isa Mines Limited a preliminary study of the Mount Isa orebody, followed by a mineragraphicinvestigation of mill products, and in 1937 a Study of Mount Isa Ores by H. GrondIjs and C. Schouten appeared in Economic Geology, for June-July. Other papers dealing with the petrology and mineragraphy of Mount Isa ores are appended at the end of the paper.The mill research metallurgical staff has endeavoured to incorporate mineragraphy in solving milling problems and determining the effectiveness of laboratory as well as examining minerals sent in by the geological department.For many years the amount of equipment available was limited and much of it was locally made or improvised. An improvised briquetting machine, and grinding and polishing lap gave moderate results in conjunction with an old, but serviceable, Leitz microscope. However, for more detailed and accurate work not possible with improvised equipment, many mineragraphic problems were sent to specialist in.

Jan 1, 1953

This paper describes the development of an approach to sustainable development for application at the feasibility study stage for a proposed bauxite mine near the community of Aurukun, south of Weipa on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. The general environment for development was complex in all dimensions. In particular, the socio-demographic profile of the Aurukun community (population 1200) characterised it as being amongst the most disadvantaged communities in Australia. The traditional owners of the area, the Wik and Wik-Way people, were at the forefront in the efforts of Indigenous people in Australia to secure land rights over the past 30 years, and they had previous experience negotiating an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (the Western Cape Communities Coexistence Agreement) with Rio Tinto Alcan, the operators of the Weipa bauxite mine. Through this they had shown a well-founded sense of entitlement with respect to the development of resources on their traditional land. The Queensland State Government had recently cancelled an existing mining lease over the bauxite resource as the holder of the tenement had not fulfilled the terms of a development agreement that had been in place for 30 years. The Government was anxious to avoid any future æbankingÆ of the resource, and had decided to offer tenure to the resource on an international competitive basis, subject to the requirements of the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993. This would require a negotiation process with traditional owners and potentially involve companies with whom the traditional owners had no existing relationship (typically developed during the projectÆs exploration phase) and who possibly had no project development experience in Australia. As well, the State Government envisaged an approach to development that drew on the significant work that industry and other stakeholders had undertaken over the previous ten to 15 years, commencing with the mining, minerals and sustainable development (MMSD) process. This work was aimed at rectifying acknowledged deficiencies with industry recognition of stakeholder interests, in particular with respect to environmental management and socioeconomic development. The approach adopted aimed to define the strategic community interests and sustainable development outcomes to which the development of the resource would be expected to contribute, and to embody these within an easily usable management structure that could be applied to each stage of project development from feasibility study through to mine closure. The logical framework (AusAID, 2006; ICMM, 2005) was the management tool utilised to order the identified interests and desired outcomes. The structure included components aligned with the key areas of development interest expressed by the community, and the initial baseline sustainable development plan (SDP) developed established component objectives, outcomes, indicative outputs and activities for the feasibility stage of the project. This established an objective framework to guide potential bidders when developing their response to the State GovernmentÆs Request for Proposal. The paper will describe the evolution of the competitive process and the parallel process for development of the SDP. While the institutional environment was politically and socially complex, the use of simple visual representations of the environment and the analysis and ordering of issues, objectives and criteria through methods such as stakeholder analysis and the logical framework approach, enable the development of a dialogue on the contribution that the development of a mining project can make to sustainable community development, and for the development of an agreed program of community support to capture the contribution. The use of the logical framework was found to have good functionality for plan development. Achieving plan outcomes though, is highly dependent on the skill of key project personnel in facilitation, team building, conflict resolution and leadership, as well as their ability to influence the behaviour of key stakeholders with the capacity and authority to require the integration of local economic development criteria in to key project development decisions.

Jan 1, 2009

In this year marking the centennial of the Geological survey of Western Australia, it is appropriate that we should review the value of the contribution of the Survey, and Australian Geological Surveys in general, to the exploration industry. Most geological surveys in Europe and North America had their origins in the first half of the 19th Century when the burgeoning Industrial Revolution was demanding the identification of new sources of coal and iron ore. Australia, as a young nation, essentially dependent on an agricultural and pastoral industry, and with already discovered vast coal resources in Eastern Australia, had, no great need to explore for new mineral resources. However, with the discovery of gold in 1851, the mineral potential of the country became apparent to the whole world and the first Geological Survey in Australia was set up in 1852 in Victoria under A.R.C. Selwyn. After a number of false starts all Australian States had an established Geological Survey by 1900. It is hard to assess the contemporary value of the early work of the Geological Surveys with respect to exploration, almost all major mineral discoveries were made by prospectors and most mining companies had little time for geologists - although the Chamber of Mines in Western Australia in 1910, did recommend that the Geological survey be granted an additional ten thousand pounds over two years to map all existing goldfields and the country between them, and produce a reconnaissance map of the area east of a line between Wiluna and Edjudina as far as the South Australian border!

Jan 1, 1988

By T Baumgartl, M Edraki, L Huang, D R. Mulligan

"Phytostabilisation with tolerant plant species has been advocated as a cost-effective solution for sustainable cover of tailings from metal mines and bauxite refinery. The development of sustainable plant ecosystems on such wastes requires not only tolerant plant species compatible with local climatic conditions, but also the formation of stable and functional root zones through systematic processes to develop functional soil matrix and horizons (eg A-B-C). However, the process requirements for reconstructing functional root zones in tailings are poorly understood. Based on a review of current literature and industry experience in tailings revegetation, the present paper conceptualises three key phases in the process of root zone development in amended tailings: hydro-geochemical stabilisation resulting from the interactions among tailings characteristics, amendment measures and local climatic conditions the rehabilitation of soil biological capacity the establishment of ecological (carbon and nutrient) linkages between the rehabilitated root zones and the above ground plant communities.Key research is required on: the relationship between hydro-geochemical stability and mineralogy and geochemistry of tailings, in response to rehabilitation treatments under local climatic conditions the relationship between soil biological capacity and hydro-geochemical stability in the root zone the transition of soil microbial communities specific to exogenous organic matters into those required for mineralising litters of in situ plant communities.CITATION:Huang, L, Baumgartl, T, Edraki, M and Mulligan, D R, 2012. Sustainable phytostabilisation of mine tailings - A critical analysis of system requirements and approaches, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012, pp 105-116 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 10, 2012

By P Wood, S Leveritt

This paper will introduce some innovative strategies for simulator training that are intended to improve the level of safety and operational performance of heavy equipment operators. The key strategy is to design simulator training to deliver improved work performance outcomes. This strategy is underpinned by a process for engaging workers in knowledge discovery and transfer that has been developed as an outcome of an Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) funded project conducted at open cut coal mines in Australia. The process is expected to deliver improvements in the safety and operational performance of heavy equipment operators by informing training content about how experienced operators manage unexpected situations around the site. Tapping into the tacit knowledge that experienced operators gather over time can provide site specific and timely information about situational cues used to manage the unexpected. This type of information complements basic skills training by helping the trainee understand the operational context in which the acquired skills will be applied. Inexperienced operators have traditionally gained experience through their own actions, observing the actions of others and by taking the advice of mentors who have æbeen there, done thatÆ and developed operational decision making skills for safe and productive work performance. Leadership and mentoring techniques that contribute to effective knowledge delivery will also be discussed.Other simulator training strategies include refresher training, change management, emergency response training and testing the usability of new equipment and technologies prior to their introduction on-site. A key challenge ahead for the resources sector is the development of knowledge elicitation techniques that suit the operational workforce. A challenge for simulation and modelling professionals is to develop and refine techniques that support cost-effective customisation and regular updates of simulator scenarios.CITATION:Leveritt, S and Wood, P, 2012. Raising the simulator training bar - Strategies for improved work performance and effective utilisation of site-based simulators, in Proceedings Eighth Open Pit OperatorsÆ Conference , pp 65-70 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 18, 2012

By T D. Jolly, L A. Balzan, A R. Harris, Z Bauk

"The availability of real-time data in any process control system is critical for effective management of that system. At MMG LXML Sepon Copper Operation in Lao PDR, controlling the copper grade of the feed to the leaching circuit is paramount for maximising both productivity and copper recovery. Since 2008, real-time analysis data has been available to the process engineers from the Geoscan on-belt analyser installed on the Copper Mill feed conveyor, and highly accurate results on copper grade have allowed the process engineers to strictly control blending to overcome the variability in plant feed grade. The availability of real-time analysis data is crucial, as effective sampling of this stream is both difficult and error-prone, being only a snapshot in time of highly variable ore stockpiles, as well as having significant laboratory turnaround delays. Periodic sampling is used to verify the Geoscan data as accurate. Since its installation, the copper result has been the most critical output of the Geoscan. In recent times, the process engineers have sought to utilise other results from the Geoscan to further improve and control the process. One measurement of particular interest involves the real-time measurement of calcium and magnesium as a gauge of ore feed gangue acid consumption. To satisfy this end, accurate measurement of calcium and magnesium is becoming increasingly more important and has been the subject of ongoing collaboration between Sepon and Scantech, the manufacturer of the Geoscan. This paper discusses this work, describing the calibration process and results obtained, while also providing a basis for Geoscan use in operations to enable enhanced process control for all potential Geoscan users.Citation:Balzan, L A, Jolly, T D, Harris, A R and Bauk, Z, 2016. Greater Use of Geoscan On-belt Analysis for Process Control at Sepon Copper Operation, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2016, pp 231–238 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Oct 10, 2016