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By M Zoorabadi, Y Zhang, D Bringemeier, S Nicoll, N Kerr

Lihir operations of Newcrest Mining Limited (NML) are on Lihir Island (PNG) which is located approximately 900 km north-north-east of the national capital Port Moresby. The mine is located within the Luise Caldera of the Luise Volcano which is located on the east coast of the island. The caldera is an extinct volcanic crater that is geothermally active. Volcanic activity on Lihir Island is limited to remnant hydrothermal venting in the Luise Caldera in the form of hot springs and fumaroles. Steam and gas (including H2S) naturally discharge within the pit area and along the Kapit beach and near shore region. The hydrothermal reservoir temperatures can reach 100°C at the water table and exceed 200°C at depth. Newcrest maintains a Geo-hazard Management Plan to identify and manage the various geotechnical and geothermal hazards on-site. The major geothermal hazard to mining at Lihir is the occurrence of geothermal outbursts, which have occurred in the past with varying intensities and caused two ‘near misses’, production delays and material losses.

Nov 29, 2022

Mining companies often view water quality as an environmental issue. The importance of water quality as a production related issue in mineral beneficiation is greatly underestimated at many mineral processing operations. While most mine sites have comprehensive water balance data for water quantity, the information regarding the quality of water supplies available on site is limited, inadequate or non-existent. The seasonal variations in process water quality and changes in the composition of various water streams are not known. Despite the fact that water represents about 80 to 90 per cent of the volume of mineral pulp processed in a flotation plant, the influence of process water composition on flotation performance is often poorly understood. The process water used at mineral processing operations is made up from a number of available water sources, which can be classified as recycled water streams or make-up waters. The recycled water streams are commonly the tailings and concentrate thickener overflows, filtrate from the concentrate filtration plant and tailings dam return water. Make-up waters can originate from a variety of sources: surface waters (rivers, lakes, reservoirs, dams), groundwater (wells and springs), mains water (potable water), treated and untreated sewage waters and industrial effluents. Mineral processing plants are increasingly recycling water to reduce demand for fresh water and minimise the discharge of wastewater to the environment. However, increasing water recycling can have adverse effects on process water quality and ultimately on the performance of mineral separation processes. The main reasons for reduced plant performance due to water recycling are the accumulation of organic and inorganic compounds in the process water and increased microbiological activities. Other detrimental effects of water recycling can be increased reagent consumption and inefficient dewatering of tailings and concentrates. Recycling of water also tends to accumulate very fine suspended particles. Excessive amounts of slimes in the process water can also have an adverse effect on mineral beneficiation processes. The main constituents of process water are dissolved gases (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide), colloidal and suspended solids of inorganic and organic nature (including micro-organisms: dead or alive), dissolved organics (natural organic matter, residual reagents, reaction and decomposition by-products of chemical reagents, impurities in the reagents and metabolites originating from microbiological activities) and inorganic compounds (acids, alkalis, inorganic salts, metal ions, anions and heavy metals). Inputs to the chemical composition of process waters are: dissolution of soluble mineral phases present in the ore, surface oxidation followed by dissolution of mineral particles during grinding and mineral processing, the chemical composition of various make-up waters and recycled water streams, and reagent additions during mineral processing. The beneficial or detrimental impact of process water quality on flotation performance can be attributed to a number of subprocesses: adsorption and/or precipitation of inorganic and organic species present in the process water onto the surface of mineral particles, chemical reactions between process water constituents and the chemical species present on the surface of mineral particles and interactions between the chemical and microbiological species present in the process water and the various reagent species added in solution during mineral processing. Dissolved chemical species such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, sulfates, phosphates and carbonates can have a strong effect on the electrokinetic properties of oxide and sulfide minerals, at certain pH ranges. Several reactions can occur at the solid-liquid interface that can play an important role in determining surface adsorption of reagents. Solid-liquid interfacial properties of mineral particles can be significantly affected by the conformation of adsorbed and precipitated reagent layers, which in turn are determined by solution chemistry. The chemical and microbiological constituents of process water can have a significant effect on liquid-gas interfacial properties and have a strong influence on froth height, strength and stability during flotation. Water chemistry can play an important role in determining the interactions between minerals present in the ore and the chemical reagents added in the mineral processing plant by altering the reagent-solution and mineral-solution equilibria. These interactions can include dissolution, micellisation and precipitation of reagents, dissolution of minerals contained in the ore followed by hydrolysis, complexation, adsorption and precipitation of dissolved chemical species and reactions between dissolved ions and various reagent species present in solution. All of the above mentioned subprocesses can ultimately have a significant effect on the efficiency of mineral processing operations. In this presentation, a systematic approach for assessing the composition of water supplies available at the mine sites and for investigating the influence of process water quality on the efficiency of mineral processing operations will be discussed. The consequences of mixing different quality water streams to produce the required volumes of process water for some flotation plants will be highlighted. To substantiate the water quality issues described in this paper some examples are given from a metalliferous processing perspective. However, the topics described in the paper are not only relevant to metalliferous processing but to all other type of mineral processing operations as well. In fact the principles described in this paper have also been successfully applied to the coal flotation industry.

Jan 1, 2006

By N TassT, J Cyr

At the East Sullivan site, wood wastes covering the abandoned mine tailings impoundment prevent sulfide oxidation by creating an anoxic environment. The addition of coarse ligneous wastes and their high permeability favour infiltration, resulting in a water table rise that maintains most tailings under water saturation and thus provides an additional protection against sulfide oxidation. Moreover, high infiltration allows a more rapid flushing of acid prone groundwater generated prior to the cover placement, which could cause acid mine drainage over a long period of time. Finally, the pore-waters under the cover are characterised by a strong reducing potential, high alkalinity, and near neutral pHs. These conditions favour sulfate reduction and base metal precipitation as sulfides and as carbonates. Pore-water composition monitored from 1992 to 1998 showed a significant Fe2+ decrease, following cover placement. Thereafter, the restoration strategy capitalised on the alkaline and reductive properties of the waters underlying the wood-waste cover. An original treatment of acid effluents, based on the recirculation of water discharging around the impoundment through the organic cover, was implemented. In 2002, the recirculated water from May to October had a mean pumping rate of 240 m3/h, for a total volume of 800 000 m3. Data gathered near the dispersal zone from 2000 to 2002 show that despite the recirculation of acid water (pH ÿ3), the pH decreases by only one unit from 7 to 6, during the recirculation period, ie from May to November. However, alkalinity decreases from 800 to 100 mg/L-CaCO3. Despite this decrease, the alkalinity is back up to 800 mg/L-CaCO3 the following May, thanks to sulfate reduction. From 2000 to 2002, Fe2+ concentration in the pore waters near the dispersal zone is maintained below 2 mg/L. Evolution of surface water quality suggests that the contaminated groundwater flush is completed in the north and north-west area of the impoundment; the east sector is under recovery, while the south sector remains the most problematic. A wood-waste cover, besides limiting sulfide oxidation, can fill the role of alkaline reducing barrier for the treatment of these acidogenic waters, until a balance between acidity and alkalinity in the effluent is reached.

Jan 1, 2003

By P J. Fairfield

This paper reflects on the author’s experience working in site-based technical and management roles over a 29 year period, and the past 12 years in internal and external consulting roles. It discusses the author’s experiences and observations of operations management, and the significant value of the technical specialist’s role in providing management with information on what to base tactical decisions, which may or may not be part of a defined strategy.The landscape of mine management changes with the cyclical nature of commodity prices driving operating and capital prudence, as operations change their focus from expansion and growth to staying in the game. The role of the mine manager and management team in navigating through these changing times, attitudes and stages of the project life can influence the success or otherwise of many projects.Technical knowledge is one of the key drivers in realising or destroying the value of a project or operation. As managers focus on people management, management systems and processes, recognising and understanding value in underlying technical knowledge, and getting back to the fundamentals/basics, can be overlooked. In reaction to the fluctuating commodity cycle, managers implement changes through optimisation, fast tracking or parallel streaming, expansion projects and changes in the application of technology. These responses occur against the background of changes in the appetite for risk, acceptance of project uncertainty and changes in personnel which result in a loss of knowledge and experience – often at critical times.This paper shares the author’s experiences and lessons learnt in dealing with and observing these issues. The author questions whether we really understand our projects and are valuing the most important asset, our people and, in particular, the technical specialist and their experience and knowledge.CITATION:Fairfield, P J, 2016. Staying in the game – the importance of engineering-based decisions, in Proceedings International Mine Management Conference, pp 67-74 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 22, 2016

By L Torckler, J Hobbins

Favona is a blind low-sulfidation epithermal vein deposit in the Waihi Vein System approximately two kilometres east of the world class Martha Hill deposit that has produced nearly 6.8 M oz Au to date. The Favona epithermal system has surface expression in variously altered and mineralised hydrothermal eruption breccias forming a series of low hills that are windows through post mineral dacites and ignimbrites. The tip line of the Favona vein is about 50 û 100 m below surface with a steeply east dipping principal vein structure carrying numerous hanging wall splays in the upper flatter section and thickening down dip where the vein steepens. Host rocks comprise feldspar phyric andesite flows with minor pyroclastics. Although Favona has a strike length in excess of 1000 m and vein widths up to 25 m over a vertical range in excess of 400 m it was only recently discovered after nearly thirty years of exploration by various companies involved in the Martha Hill joint venture that operates the Martha Mine. Since discovery in 2001 a feasibility study based on 27.5 km of diamond drilling in 83 holes has been completed reporting a reserve of 1 Mt @ 10 g/t Au against a resource of 1.8 Mt @ 10.3 g/t Au. Exploration is continuing with a further 20.5km of diamond drilling completed to date on nearby prospects.

Jan 1, 2004

By J Mukhopadhyay, J Gutzmer

Most world-class high-grade (60 - 67 wt per cent Fe) hematite iron ore deposits are the product of enrichment of Precambrian iron-formations but processes responsible for enrichment are still unclear. Different models, ranging from syngenetic and diagenetic (King, 1989), deep-seated hydrothermal (Powell et al, 1999; Barley et al, 1999; Taylor et al, 2001; Gutzmer et al, 2002) and ancient supergene (Morris, 1980; 1985; Van Schalkwyk and Beukes, 1986) to modern supergene (MacLeod, 1966) have been suggested. The high-grade hematite deposits stand in contrast to martiteûgoethite ores which are generally accepted to be the result of supergene enrichment of iron-formation because they are found along Cretaceous to Tertiary lateritic weathering profiles (Morris, 1980; Harmsworth et al, 1990). Uncertainties about the origin of the high-grade hematite ores appear largely due to the monomineralic composition of the ores. They are almost exclusively composed of hematite (as microcrystalline hematite and martite), a mineral with wide stability field and very simple chemical composition that reveals little about its origin. Second, many of the deposits have been overprinted by later deformation and chemical weathering obscuring primary ore characteristics and zonation (Taylor et al, 2001). Third, surprisingly few detailed geological studies have been undertaken on the deposits with the aim of unraveling ore genesis. Most studies focus on the present-day structure of orebodies and their general physical-chemical composition for mining and beneficiation purposes. A more thorough understanding of the origin of high-grade hematite iron ore deposits may be gained by combining available mining-orientated data with systematic petrographic-geochemical analyses of different ore generations and hematite phases. This paper presents a first summary of results of an ongoing study, started some two years ago, of high-grade iron ore deposits in South Africa, India and Brazil, including a comparison with the rather well studied deposits of the Hamersley Province in Australia.

Jan 1, 2002

By Tack K

During its 28-year life the MHD ISP smelter has gone through two phases, each of about a dozen years. The first phase was a learning one; in the second phase the lessons were applied and throughput and production rose strongly. Early experience revealed the robustness and the flexibility of the Imperial Smelting Process. The experience was demonstrated by strong increases in the throughput of mixed lead-zinc concentrates and of secondary (oxide) zinc materials. Purchased material quantities rose from 175 000 tonnes/year to 200 000. The required capacity increase of the IS furnace to smelt the higher throughput was achieved by relatively minor modifications; for instance a change to the internal furnace profile gained an extra two square metres in cross sectional area. The furnace hearth area has remained practically unchanged over its entire history. The paper concludes that there is still more potential to be drawn from the process and MHD intends to sustain raw material input at a new level of 240 000 tonnes/year. However, this rate will have to be achieved under the imposition of more stringent environmental and product quality standards than ever before.

Jan 1, 1993

By L Chaffey, M Buckland

The minerals industry has enormous potential to positively contribute to sustainable development and many leading companies have concluded that their long-term success is directly linked to their ability to leave a lasting positive legacy. While there are many examples of success, there have been failures as well and much work has been done in recent years to define the role of the minerals industry in sustainable development and identify the key elements for success. In the past, our sector could point to the taxes and royalties it paid, the exports it generated and employment it created and felt confident that its contribution would be recognised and duly acknowledged. This is no longer the case. Critics of the industry have highlighted resource-rich countries that have failed to capitalise on their resource wealth and have arguably lower standards of living than their resource-poor peers û the æresource curseÆ hypothesis. Recent research has done much to clarify the factors that contribute to a countryÆs success or failure and all stakeholders in the industry now need to include these learnings in their approaches going forward. We know that our long-term success relies on embedding a company- wide approach to sustainable development into all aspects of our business operations. In this paper we highlight BHP BillitonÆs experience in the development and implementation of policies and systems designed to enhance our contribution to sustainable development. We detail the business drivers for excellence in this area and the key external codes and initiatives that have shaped our approach. The values-based BHP Billiton Charter, Sustainable Development Policy and associated Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) Management Standards are central to our approach. Implementation is reviewed through our HSEC audit program. One area in which we have placed particular emphasis is our approach to community development. BHP Billiton has a corporate target to contribute one per cent of its pre-tax profit on a three year rolling average to voluntary community programs. As our profit stream has increased with the minerals boom this is approaching an A$100 million commitment. In our paper we detail how we are working to ensure we maximise the value of this contribution for our communities and our shareholders.

Jan 1, 2006

By J E. Powalisz

"The application of automated sampling techniques can help to provide a representative sample of process fluids and slurries that provide data for controlling process, custody transfer and quality assurance and quality control purposes.The automation of sampling provides a more consistent and reliable sampling process and eliminates many of the human-induced errors. Automated sampling can also provide a higher degree of safety in the plant/processing environment as well as better bottom-line results.Automated, fixed volume samplers can provide a very representative sample by integrating many small ‘grabs’ of sample from a process. Automated samplers can be controlled in a variety of ways to optimise the sampling process, including:cycle ratedwell timetotal volume.Properly selected and applied, an automated sampler can effectively isolate the operator from the process fluid during sampling and, to a great degree, during sample container collection.A variety of materials of construction, including seals, are available to handle demanding mining applications. Alloy 625, alloy 2205, AL6XN® and even certain plastics are used successfully in mining slurry applications.This paper explores the application of automated, fixed volume, batch style samplers in copper/nickel and gold processing, specifically pregnant leach solution and extraction fluids.Several specific field applications are discussed, including process installation details, hardware and operation.CITATION:Powalisz, J E, 2014. The application of automated samplers in copper/nickel processing, in Proceedings Sampling 2014, pp 35–42 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 29, 2014

In the late 1970's Western Mining Corporation, Exploration Division considered the purchase of a major multi-element spectrometer as an adjunct to our existing atomic absorption spectrophotometers. The analytical work proposed for the unit included barium, uranium and rare earth elements from Olympic Dam, uranium, sulphur, vanadium and strontium on Yeelirrie type deposits, major element and whole rock analysis, multi-element analysis of samples from the laterite, chromium and manganese exploration programmes and tin and arsenic analysis. These were all analyses that were not readily or easily performed by flame atomic absorption or were where we expected that a simultaneous multi-element instrument would be an advantage. Also the turnaround times for the commercial laboratories was considered unacceptably long for some determinations. Other factors, important when considering the spectrometer were the ability to ensure confidentiality of results and the ability to assign our own priorities and not to have to rely on commercial laboratories. The two techniques considered were X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. The decision was made in favour of the ICP unit for several reasons. The ICP fitted in with our existing methodology, ie samples digested for atomic absorption or colorimetric techniques would also be suitable for ICP analysis and vice versa. The technique was suitable for water samples and for major element analyses and for rare earth elements. X-ray fluorescence spectrometers were installed at the Kambalda and Belmont laboratories and would be available to us for routine checking and for elements not suitable for ICP analysis. The final consideration was price. ICP was considerably cheaper than XRF.

Jan 1, 1987

By M L, G Maddocks, A Ferrier, ers, A Forbes

Evolution’s Mount Rawdon Operation (MRO) produces gold and silver through open pit mining methods. The mining operations are scheduled to be completed in FY24 (Financial Year 2024), after which low-grade stockpiles will be processed until the end of FY27. As part of MRO’s Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan (PRCP), RGS Environmental Consultants (RGS) and Deswik were engaged to develop the final landform surface and a whole of site probabilistic water balance/water quality (WB/WQ) model to evaluate the viability of several closure options with respect to water quality in the various site water storages, particularly the final void which will form a pit lake. This case study details the closure option which included (amongst other things) covering the final landforms and directing water toward or away from the final void post closure. Closure and rehabilitation for MRO had previously been planned and evaluated on a ‘domain’ basis. Furthermore, the rehabilitation plans and final water management plans for the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), Waste Rock Storage Facility (WRSF) and other domains were not coordinated, possibly resulting in competitive rehabilitation material requirements at the commencement of closure activities. An assumption was that a legacy non-acid forming (NAF) stockpile would provide sufficient material to both supplement ex-pit material for the construction of the TSF embankment raises and to complete all closure activities, but the volumes available and the volumes required to complete the closure activities had not been quantified.

Aug 2, 2023

By J Pearce, R Ramanathan

hortly after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the words ‘social distancing’ entered the global lexicon. The effects on the public of social distancing, lockdowns and travel bans are well documented. They also present unique challenges to the mining industry. For Hexagon’s Mining division, this posed a significant challenge. We have built our business – our reputation – on regional, customer-focused service and support. True to Hexagon’s values of being professional, engaged and customer-focused, we innovated to overcome the distance dilemma. Making automation a reality for our customers by implementing and supporting technology projects from a distance has helped deepen partnerships by making it easier to tap into our global experts’ knowledge. For example: • Body cameras were at the heart of a successful safety installation at a mine in Ghana. Despite the pandemic lockdown preventing travel by our South Africa staff into Ghana, the project was completed with minimal delays. • Traditionally, implementation and training for our Blast Movement Technology solution is done physically at the mine site. With COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, we have developed and successfully employed a remote deployment methodology. • Using RealWearTM headsets in the field and utilising the knowledge management platform from HINDSITE, Hexagon workshop technicians have been able to support hardware repairs in local offices, which once would have been undertaken in our overseas offices. • The same headset is being utilised to provide clients with remote mentoring sessions by our skilled team members who are based in our regional locations and unable to travel to their site without extensive quarantine commitments. • In instances where our team members have had to travel to site, we have provided consumer technology such as VR headsets to help them cope with long periods of quarantine to and from site. Post-pandemic, Hexagon will continue to refine and improve this method of working. INTRODUCTION Shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 (COVID) a pandemic, the words ‘social distancing’ entered the global lexicon. As governments, healthcare organisations and the public scrambled to respond to the crisis, one thing became abundantly clear: isolation was and, for most of us, still is the key to maintaining our health. Hexagon, a leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions, was well positioned to pivot and assist in the global response to the crisis. From simulations of the effects of social distancing to mapping the spread of COVID in real time, to drone technology delivering COVID tests, to providing communities with transparent geospatial information, Hexagon solutions continue to help ensure that innovation is readily available to those who need it most during uncertain times. The effects on the public of social distancing, lockdowns and travel bans are well documented. They also present unique challenges to the mining industry.

Jun 22, 2022

By A Nigam, K Biswas, R Sarkar

Because of the problems with 1st and 2nd generations of Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS), a 3rd generation of AHSS steels has become prominent and these steels have properties in between the 1st and 2nd generations of AHSS. However, although the 3rd generation of AHSS is a promising candidate as a replacement for its predecessors, there remain some challenges in processing these steels which are essentially medium Mn (Mn content ~ 5–7 wt per cent) and high Al (Al content ~ 1– 3 wt per cent) steels. The use of conventional casting powders based on the CaO-SiO2 system is unsuitable for high and medium Mn/Al steels. This work investigates the development of CaO-Al2O3- based mold fluxes for casting third-generation AHSS steel. Mold fluxes, with otherwise similar compositions but different C/A ratios, are tested and their crystallisation behaviour is examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A calcium aluminate phase having a composition Ca12Al14O33 was found to be the main crystalline phase in the mold fluxes. A decrease in crystallisation temperature was observed as the CaO/Al2O3 ratio increased from 1.00 to 1.33. The effective crystallisation rate constant exhibited an increase with decreasing crystallisation temperature, indicating a potential influence of nucleation rate on the overall crystallisation rate and suggesting an anti-Arrhenius behaviour in the crystallisation process of these mold fluxes.

Aug 21, 2024

By S Jeon, K Aikawa, M Ito, A Kusano, I Park, N Hiroyoshi

In mineral processing of complex sulfide ores containing copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), flotation has been commonly used. Typical Pb mineral in the ores is galena (PbS), while some types of the ores contain anglesite (PbSO4). This article reviews our recent studies on the effects of coexisting PbSO4 on the flotation of complex sulfide ores, and a method to suppress the floatability of sphalerite (ZnS) in the presence of PbSO4 was proposed. Comparison of flotation experiments for different types of model samples showed that PbSO4 makes the separation of Zn from Cu difficult; that is, for the model sample containing PbS without PbSO4, Zn could be separated from Cu, while when the model sample containing PbSO4, Zn was recovered together with Cu as froth. Solution analysis and thermodynamic calculation suggested that Pb2+ was released from PbSO4 and reacted with ZnS to form PbS, acting as an adsorption site for the flotation collector, xanthate. This would be the main reason for high floatability of ZnS in the presence of PbSO4. As a method to suppress ZnS floatability for the ores containing PbSO4, a pre-treatment of the ores to remove PbSO4 prior to flotation was proposed. The results of model experiments using mixture of ZnS and PbSO4 showed that ~97 per cent of PbSO4 was dissolved within 30 minutes of pretreatment using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as extractant, and thus ZnS floatability was markedly suppressed. Moreover, Pb2+ extracted from PbSO4 during the pre-treatment could be recovered as zero-valent Pb by the cementation using zero-valent Fe as a reductant. The details of ZnS flotation in the presence of PbSO4 and the effects of the pre-treatment are discussed based on the results of surface analysis like XPS.

Aug 24, 2022

By Grady B. V O, Cavell K. J, Ault A. R, Newman O. M G, Malcolm J. McPhersqn

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) has been evaluated as a technique for monitoring the quality of an industrial zinc sulphate electrolyte. The basis of the method involves measuring a change in the polarisation of the zinc nucleation reaction at an aluminium surface and relating this to the impurity content and/or the overall quality of the electrolyte. Specifically, the technique aims to be able to indicate and quantify detrimental synergism between impurity elements, something which traditional analytical techniques are incapable of providing. The technique has found some success with regard to monitoring glue additions in a range of metal electrolytes. It has been found that investigations by a number of workers over the past 15 years have produced variable and often misleading results due to the inadvertent use of commercial purity aluminium working electrodes. It has been shown that impurity elements in the working electrode can give rise to a range of responses that are not obtained when pure aluminium is used and that the response is variable due to the lack of surface homogeneity of commercial purity aluminium electrodes. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that previous detection limits reported in the literature were based on the presence of additional peaks in the cathodic scan and not polarisation effects. The results of this study have shown that when a pure aluminium working electrode was used, the method was incapable of detecting any change in polarisation for an electrolyte containing three common impurities (Co, Ni and Ge), at concentrations that would significantly reduce optimum electrolytic performance. A range of methods was tried to sensitise the technique, including raising the temperature and acidity, and adding antimony in order to induce some synergism. In all cases the polarisation response was unchanged. Consequently, apart from the commercialised application for monitoring additions of antimony and levelling agents such as glue, CV has very limited application as an electrolyte screening technique.

Jan 1, 1993

The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) is a professional society for all those associated with the activities of the mineral industry. Differences of opinion exist within the membership of the AusIMM on the role it should play in the future as a professional society in a changing industry and world environment. This same dilemma is concerning other professional societies of which the author is a member. Some of the activities and priorities of the AusIMM are reviewed in order to clarify a frequently expressed opinion that it identifies with and supports industry at the expense of representing the interests of its individual members. By definition and by action this is certainly not the case and it is concluded that all activities whether seen to be industry or member orientated serve to benefit both. The AusIMM plays a most important role in integrating and promoting the interests of all sections of the mineral industry whether corporate or individual and the Presidential activities in education this year provide an excellent example of this.

Jan 1, 1997

By A Grant, H Thomas, C Clarke, B Fuller

Native seed and plants are often a core input into the rehabilitation process of mine closure. Native plant establishment rate and performance is a function of many input elements including seed quality (purity and germination percentage), processing, treatment, storage, supply chain handling, application and ongoing management. Traditionally native seed has been supplied with very limited supporting information which in some cases has led to establishment failures, repeated attempts at successful plantings, and biosecurity issues, leading to increased rehabilitation costs for mining companies. Product procurement scrutiny, and sustainability credential requirements, in all supply chains is increasing the need for transparent, accurate, verified, and certified information. This collectively continues to evolve towards a social license to operate in all industries, including mining. The Australian Seeds Authority (ASA), in partnership with native seed supplier AustraHort, traceability software company Trust Provenance and supporting partners including Transport for NSW and Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR), were recipients of a DAWE National Traceability Grant. The project team has developed a framework and traceability software platform currently being piloted within the Australian native seed industry. The framework and platform allow for all critical-tracking-events along the journey of a native seed batch to be easily captured utilising a smart phone application (APP) and the global standard for data capture. The platform provides a unique identification for each batch of seed and critical tracking event. The batch ID belongs to that batch and all supply chain stakeholders can contribute to batch traceability by providing more information/data to increase information integrity. This gives the end user, and other stakeholders, increased levels of trust in the product to support value, increase efficiency and reduce costs. For mining companies these efficiencies and cost reductions are in the form of information availability across site/company, potentially improved vegetation establishment, less rework and efficient monitoring. Ultimately this contributes to safe, stable and sustainable rehabilitation. By capturing data on harvest, logistics, storage (including temperature and humidity), aggregation/blending, treatment, application and ongoing management, the native seed industry and end utilisers of native seed have a greater level of product integrity, brand integrity and information integrity.

Aug 2, 2023

Strata bolting/dowelling reinforcement techniques are being reintroduced into the mines of the National Coal Board. There are strong reasons for the selection of the full hole anchorage principle of bolting and for the development of the wood/resin dowel. There are strong reasons also for the measurement of strata bed separation as the method of assessing the effectiveness of a roof bolting system. There are several designs of bolts. Instruments have been developed for investigation and control purposes. Different drilling and bolting machines have been employed in trial sites. In addition comparative laboratory model work has been conducted on simple non-bolted and bolted systems.

Jan 1, 1971

With mining development on hold and other underground works in a slowdown, the development of nuclear wa te repositories takes centre tage on the American rock engineering scene. Three repositorie for commercial spent fuel-in salt, tuff, and basalt-are in the phase of site characterisation and conceptual design, and one pilot project for defense high-level wa te in salt is under construction. A repository design for crystal line rock has recently been postponed.Because of strict quality assurance requirements throughout design and construction, and because of the need to predict and ascertain in advance the satisfactory performance of the underground openings, much intellectual energy has been expended to analyse underground openings in the unusual circumstances of the repository environment. In the long term, these efforts will lead to an improved understanding of rock behaviour and improved methods of underground analysis and design. For the shorter term, a formalised ground control plan was developed, the principles of which may be applied to other types of projects.This paper summarises the status of underground design and construction for nuclear waste repositories and presents some details of the ground control plan and its individual elements.

Jan 1, 1988

By M L. Leybourne

In 2012, in response to an increasing potential unfunded liability, the Western Australian Government passed the Mining Rehabilitation Fund Act 2012. The intent of this Act was to introduce an annual levy on tenements covered under the Mining Act 1978 based on the area of disturbed land. The fund generated from these levies could then be used to rehabilitate mining sites where all other options to ensure rehabilitation had been exhausted. The fund could also be used to rehabilitate abandoned sites or features which, in Western Australia, number over 10 000.The Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) was implemented on 1 July 2013 for an initial voluntary year. It becomes compulsory on 1 July 2014. By the end of March 2014, nine months into the voluntary period, over $6.5 million had been paid into the fund. The incentive for tenement holders to voluntarily enter the fund was the opportunity to have unconditional performance bonds held against their tenements retired. While there will be circumstances where bonds will continue to be applied, it is the State Government’s intention to retire most of the bonds.The MRF has received mostly accolades from industry and companies that have entered. Most have found the system easy to use. The MRF was also cited as a reason for Western Australia’s improved position in the Fraser Institute’s annual survey of mining jurisdictions. Work is now starting on processes to select priority abandoned mines for rehabilitation.This paper explains the background to the MRF and its development, and reviews its implementation during the first, voluntary, year. It also discusses how the fund will be managed into the future and what this will mean for both abandoned mine features across Western Australia and any future abandoned mine sites.CITATION:Leybourne, M L, 2014. Ensuring rehabilitation into the future – The Western Australian Mining Rehabilitation Fund, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 441–448 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014