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By T Purvis, Z Liu

Ernest Henry mine (EHM) is an underground sublevel caving mine located in north-west Queensland with a production rate of 6.4 Mt/a. The mine has sublevels spaced with a 25 m vertical interval. The production process on each level starts with the drilling and firing of a blind uphole rise to start the slot extraction. These rises are fired as a single shot and routinely need to achieve a design height of 22 m to 30 m depending on the local mine geometry. If the rise fails to perform as designed then the production phase of the level is delayed with significant rework required to remedy the situation.This paper describes the process that the EHM team has followed to improve the first time performance of each rise. The improvement process commenced with a review of results from previous rises and resulted in the identification of a number of improvement opportunities. A revised holistic approach was established for the process, which included involvement from operators and engineers. Through continued measurement and review of rise performance, inputs to the process were improved to a point where reliable results can now be expected. The successful performance of subsequent rises has been verified through a comprehensive quality assurance quality control (QA/QC) program. Before quality control processes were implemented, the success rate of blind uphole rises was only 11 per cent (one out of nine rises) at EHM. In comparison, the success rates have been vastly improved to 25 per cent (one out of four) and 75 per cent (three out of four) respectively following two stages of improvements. This paper concludes with the ‘current’ series of best practices used at EHM and recommendations.CITATION:Purvis, T and Liu, Z, 2017. Improving the performance of blind uphole rises at Ernest Henry Mine – a case study, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 335–340 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 16, 2017

By J Walshe, G Duclaux, L A. Fisher, R Hough, J S. Cleverley, M F. Gazley

Characterisation of hydrothermal gold systems across multiple scales is increasingly important for our understanding of ore deposit genesis and for targeting new mineralisation. Published work on multiscale mineral system exploration focuses either on applying a single technique across scales or on incorporating a series of techniques across a limited scale range. Typically, these studiesÆ spatial scales vary from crustal to deposit-scale and have successfully linked the distribution and shape of major orebodies to fault systems or varying lithostratigraphy. But, is this scale small enough to answer fundamental questions about the relative timing, processes interactions and mechanisms involved in the formation of ore deposits? We illustrate the potential of a deposit to microscale study, using the Plutonic Gold Mine in Western Australia as an example, to better understand hydrothermal gold systems. Using an integrated approach combining lithological and alteration logs, various geochemical data set, meso- to microscale structural and textural observations and spatial data assimilation, we have revisited the fundamental processes involved in the formation of this significant gold deposit.CITATION:Duclaux, G, Hough, R, Gazley, M F, Fisher, L A, Walshe, J and Cleverley, J S, 2013. A multiscale approach to hydrothermal gold systems - unravelling mineralisation processes at the Plutonic Gold Mine, in Proceedings World Gold 2013 , pp 95-98 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 26, 2013

By J Zhang, R Dimitrakopoulos

A two-stage stochastic mixed integer non-linear program is formulated for a mining complex to optimise strategic and tactical plans. The objective is to find the near optimal decisions for a mineral supply chain in the context with uncertainties in both ore supply and the commodity market (price and demand). The endogenous spot price in the commodity market and long-term sales contracts are considered in the formulation of the mining complex’s optimisation model and an ad hoc heuristic is developed to deal with the throughput – and head-grade-dependent recovery rate in processing plants. Numerical results indicate that the proposed heuristic is effective and efficient in numerical tests. Based on the proposed model and heuristic, a long-term contract design strategy is proposed for making decisions on the contract price and strategic investments. A shadow price based method is also proposed to evaluate the existing mining schedule.CITATION:Zhang, J and Dimitrakopoulos, R, 2014. Optimising a mineral supply chain under uncertainty with long-term sales contracts, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014 , pp 25–32 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 24, 2014

By S Hancock, B H. Brady, H Muhlhaus

The aims of this paper are to present the governing science, verify the performance and demonstrate the potential engineering applications of a computational simulator for in situ leach mining of non-ferrous minerals. Assuming that the target mineral is deposited either uniformly within rock matrixes (matrix-hosted) or on fracture walls (fracture-hosted), in situ leaching can be treated as reactive flow and transport in geological media (porous media for matrix-hosted ore deposits and fractured media for fracture-hosted ore deposits). Under this treatment, the processes of in situ leach mining for non-ferrous minerals can be quantified through several sets of equations and these coupled equations have been numerically solved. The computational simulator has been applied to the simulations of one-, two-, and three-dimensional in situ leaching cases. The computational simulator, together with laboratory and in situ leaching tests, can be used to:optimise the leaching chemistry; optimise the in situ scale mining operations; scale up the in situ scale test operation to a full-scale mining operation; and evaluate the post-mining environmental restoration plan.

Jan 1, 2000

By Harper F

This paper outlines the authors' views of the methodologies which can be employed to value mineral properties at different stages of development for the purposes of project financing, mergers and public floats. This paper discusses the key issues in Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis including the importance of data verification and the shortcomings in DCF analysis. Stockmarket valuation measures and valuation methodology for exploration and pre development projects are examined through examples and pitfalls are identified. The use of valuations in corporate transactions and their strategic value is also discussed.

Jan 1, 1994

By P K. Singh

Recent advancements in understanding the detonation process are noteworthy, but they are still based on somewhat hypothetical situations. The actual variables that are essential parts of normal blasting practice have not yet been taken into account in such treatments. These include the various initiation practices employed to detonate a column of explosive, from single point initiation to multi-point initiation in blast holes, and the effect on detonation characteristics of both detonators and explosives under multi-deck and multi-hole blasting conditions. The in-the-hole velocity of detonation (VOD) of an industrial explosive is dependent on explosive’s charge diameter and blasthole diameter. The relationship between blasthole diameter and VOD provides a fundamental guideline to the rate of energy conversion and energy release within the detonation front on the interaction of explosives with the confining medium.The in-the-hole VOD of explosives was measured at four experimental sites in India for different blasthole diameters, ie 150 mm to 311 mm, but for identical explosive composition being same particle size, density, viscosity and loaded into blastholes with the same degree of confinement. The results of the studies demonstrated that there is definite relationship in in-the-hole VOD of the explosive and the diameter of the blast hole. The study also confirmed that the explosives initiated with concentrated boosters yielded higher VOD in comparison to those explosives that were initiated with multi-point priming. The measured increase in VOD of explosives for increasing diameter of holes was up to 24 per cent. The rate of change in in-the-hole VOD of explosives increases with increasing blasthole diameter. It can be further stated that the in-the-hole VOD of the explosive reaches a fairly constant value after reaching a limiting/threshold diameter of 311 mm.

Nov 8, 2011

By R Baumgartner

The Canahuire deposit is a recently discovered Au-Cu-Ag epithermal deposit in Southern Peru. A geometallurgy program is a key study element of the project Feasibility study. Metallurgical, mineralogical, and comminution studies have been completed over a suite of samples, spatially distributed among the various geological/ore domains. The early stage of Canahuire presents challenges as there is a lack of metallurgical information to guide geometallurgical sampling, in contrast with an established deposit at a more advanced stage of development or mining. Nevertheless, the available information will assist in the development of geometallurgical domains for Canahuire in order to ensure that future metallurgical, mineralogical, and comminution test work is representative of the deposit variability. This supplementary knowledge will be able to predict important metallurgical parameters which will be incorporated into a geometallurgical model to spatial predict material types, metallurgical recovery and through put. The information obtained will be a valuable addition to the future mine plan, influencing process design, engineering design, plant operation, operating and capital costs, and ultimately will reduce project development risk.

Sep 5, 2011

By F Owusu-Mensah, F Nsarko

The Obuasi Mine has been in operation for the past 100 years. Within this period a host of mining methods have been employed during its various changing phases. The causes for the changes are multiple, ranging from orebody capability, dynamics, technology, safety, economics, production levels, geotechnical, etc. Mining methods applied have also ranged from timber square setts, conventional cut-and-fill, shrinkage stoping, sublevel caving, mechanised cut-and-fill, longitudinal and transverse open stoping, and lately longitudinal retreat mining method (LRMM).The Obuasi Mine has a world class underground resource potential of about 27 million ounces. A third of this is in reserve. The orebody is subvertical, with multiple lodes and with widths ranging from 1.5 - 40 m. It stretches along 8.5 km N/S strike. A cursory statistical analysis on the various resource ore widths show a higher percentage (60 per cent) of the resource being within the range of about 1.5 - 10 m. Thus a high proportion of the resource is amenable to narrow vein mining methods. This has enhanced the choice of LRMM as an alternative method. Also, with the increasing cost of mining over time, LRMM, which eliminates expensive and time consuming footwall drives, will become far more advantageous as compared to the transverse/longitudinal open stoping methods which currently constitute about 40 per cent of the total underground production.The LRMM currently delivers about 20 per cent of the Obuasi Mine production. Plans are underway to improve total underground production from the current average of 160 000 tpm to about >180 000 tpm in the next few years and about 20 - 40 per cent more in the foreseeable future. Recoverable ounces will also increase from 26 000 to about 34 000 ounces per month. The proportion of LRMM in the business plan is also expected to increase from the current modest level to about 50 per cent. Despite its tremendous advantages in terms of economics and productivity, the method is facing some challenges during its inception. The objective of this paper is to highlight some of the emerging challenges and their effect on production and offer possible remedies that could mitigate the current and possible future challenges.CITATION:Nsarko, F and Owusu-Mensah, F, 2012. The Obuasi mine - longitudinal retreat mining method application and challenges, in Proceedings Narrow Vein Mining 2012 , pp 59-70 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Mar 26, 2012

By R R. Anand

Recent research by CRC LEME from an Australian mineral exploration perspective, has focussed on regolith architecture and mechanisms of geochemical anomaly formation, within transported regolith. Methods have been developed for the rapid production of regolith-landform maps which is the starting point for understanding regolith architecture in the third dimension. Methods for development of 3D regolith models are less well advanced, and require integration of all available geological and geophysical datasets, but still with a heavy reliance on drill-hole information. The base of the transported regolith û the unconformity û remains the most important regolith boundary for geochemical sampling in transported regolith terrains. A new generation portable spectral logger, employing a broader spectrum can interpret important features from drill chips within the regolith. This allows internal architecture, redox fronts and the all-important interface to be objectively identified. Transported lateritic components can provide vectors to mineralisation in depositional regimes. Palaeomagnetic and new radiometric methods which date individual phases of the regolith provide evidence of different episodes, each characterised by different geochemical dispersion patterns in transported regolith. Along with lateritic residuum, calcrete is prime sampling medium. Calcrete is probably enriched in gold through physical and biological processes, rather than straight chemical processes. In South Australia, the lowermost calcrete layer buried within the depositional regime, especially where it lies directly over the silcrete layer at the buried interface, is the desired sampling medium. Certain gum trees, with deep roots in transported regolith have been shown to record anomalous values of gold and basemetals in leaves, twigs and bark. Anomalous metals in acid-sulfate soil seeps can also provide a window through sedimentary cover in respect of mineralisation in the basement. A number of Yilgarn occurrences of gold anomalies in transported cover, strongly infer hydromorphic and biological mobilisation of gold. This inference is supported by micro-analyses of regolith mineral hosts in hardpans and mottled sediments, which show gold and pathfinder elements prefer to reside in goethite and specific types of clay minerals. This creates anomalies in specific mineral phases. However the inference that that these are sites of mobile or labile metal ions remains enigmatic. Similarly there is inconclusive evidence that selective extractions will provide an anomaly not otherwise detected by conventional total dissolution methods. Hydrogeochemistry is a promising exploration tool for basemetal exploration. The importance of microbes in both the dissolution and precipitation of gold in the Australian regolith is demonstrated. We are on the verge of identifying the functional gene sequence of individual active microbes. A consideration of possible mechanisms for creating anomalies in soils above transported regolith, presents difficulties in facilitating upward movement of ions from the watertable to the surface. Perhaps the best avenues of research lies with surrogate soil gases, and biotic transfers.

Jan 1, 2004

By X Hill

Throughout the 2016/2017 financial year, the NSW Resources Regulator conducted an assessment of each underground metalliferous operation across the state to assess how each operation managed the principal mining hazard of ground and strata control. The assessment considered all aspects of the mining process, including all aspects of managing geotechnical risk within drawpoints. This assessment is ongoing and, therefore, this paper is limited to the first six mines assessed in the program.In 2015 there were three fatalities in and around underground drawpoints in Australian metalliferous mines. Whilst many of the systems of work around underground development are consistent across the industry, there are large discrepancies around how each underground mining operation manage the risks associated with drawpoints.For drawpoints to be effectively managed, their management needs to be considered at the earliest stages of the mine planning process. By using downholes and adopting remote systems of work – systems that are continuing to improve with technology – the risks drawpoints posed can be greatly reduced.The assessment by the NSW Resources Regulator revealed a number of common failings across the state in the management of the risks that drawpoints pose. The assessment also observed a number of innovative practices that particular operations have adopted in the wake of serious incidents occurring within drawpoints at their operation; however, these practices have not been communicated to other operations.It is hoped the learnings from the assessment can be considered by industry and reduce the risks drawpoints pose in underground metalliferous mines.CITATION:Hill, X, 2017. Learnings from review of drawpoint management across New South Wales mines, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 143–150 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 16, 2017

By M Davies, G Theletsane, A H. Gray

Recovery of gold from gold ores has been driven by the available technology and its configuration in the process plant flow sheet.Conventional practice in test work programs has the ore being ground fine (to 106 or 75 microns) to ensure liberation ahead of leaching or flotation. This paper identifies that, in many cases, gold and gold sulfide carriers will liberate and be recovered to a concentrate at much coarser sizes.There is an exponential increase in energy consumption relative to particle size reduction. This impact becomes extreme when comparing crushing a product to 1 mm against grinding to 75?microns.The resultant reduction in energy consumption when liberating and separating at 1 mm or coarser compared to grinding to 75 microns can be in the order of 15 kWh/t or 60 per cent of energy in the comminution circuit.Recovery of free gold and gold sulfide carriers by preconcentration (using continuous gravity devices such as the InLine Pressure Jig), combined with flotation of the fine gold and gold carriers, can result in significant power savings.There are multiple locations within the flow sheet that can be targeted using this process, including recovery in the cyclone underflow of existing plants, preconcentration ahead of the plant or complete greenfield, low-energy process plants designed from first principles based on data from a Gekko developed test work regime.We will describe the process of defining mineralogy in the laboratory and the decision-making process through to actual applications in the field.Several examples will be provided, including a South African Witwatersrand gold ore, several Australian gold ores and others, indicating the benefits of this process and where it has been brought to commercial reality.CITATION:Gray, A H, Davies, M and Theletsane, G, 2014. Coarse liberation and recovery of free gold and gold sulfide carriers for energy reduction in process plants, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 117–128 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 1, 2014

SOME notes on the works of the Electrolytic Refining and Smelting Company of Australia will no doubt be of interest to members of the Institute, more especially as much of the work is new to Australasia.As many of the members who may read this paper have not been in a position to visit works of this kind, and are consequently not thoroughly acquainted with all the operations carried on, the author has taken the liberty, in some cases, to enter into explanation which would otherwise be unnecessary.The works are situated at Port Kembla (New SouthWales), about fifty miles south of Sydney, and are approachable both by rail and water. The Government has recently built a low-level jetty upwards of five hundred feet long, and intends installing at an early date an electrically operated portable crane to facilitate the handling of material to and from the boats. Thi.s will mean a considerable reduction in the length of time that boats are laid up at the jetty. There are also under construction two breakwaters, which, when complete, will materially assist shipping operations. The works as they exist are capable of turning out 1200 long tons of refined copper per month. It is gratifying here to note the unqualified success with whichthe E.S.A. refined copper met with on first being put on the market.

Jan 1, 1911

By L Thorburn

In 2009, the Queensland Government developed a series of amendments to environmental authorities (EAs) for mines throughout the Fitzroy Basin in response to studies that assessed the cumulative impacts of mine water discharges in the basin. One of the key amendments was the requirement for all mines in the Fitzroy Basin to develop and implement a receiving environment monitoring program (REMP). The intent of the REMPs was to provide baseline information on the condition of the receiving environments of the mines and any impacts resulting from release of mine-affected water. Since this time, the requirement to complete a REMP has been incorporated into new or revised EAs for mines (including metalliferous mines) in other regions, as well as for other industries that discharge to natural watercourses (such as coal seam gas). This paper discusses the approaches that can be used to incorporate biological monitoring and direct toxicity assessments into REMPs. It highlights the importance of collecting biological data using sound experimental design principles to investigate whether releases resulted in environmental harm; and the use of monitoring data, coupled with direct toxicity assessments, for setting more realistic, site-specific trigger values and release limits (compared to the default guidelines such as Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), which may not be appropriate to the region). Implementation of a robust REMP can maximise outcomes for both the proponents and the environment.CITATION:Thorburn, L, 2013. Receiving environment monitoring programs - making the most out of biological indicators and direct toxicity assessments for monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013 , pp 143-148 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 26, 2013

By D Clarke, I Minniakhmetov

The Olympic Dam deposit is truly a world-class IOCG-Ag deposit, the world’s fourth largest deposit of copper and the world’s largest known single uranium deposit. Traditional and non-traditional methods have been used to accurately model the geology and mineralisation of the Olympic Dam deposit. Conditional simulation models have long been used as the most robust method for estimating risk and uncertainty in mine planning decisions at other mines around Australia and the world. There are many challenges associated with simulating the Olympic Dam deposit at a selective mining unit size sufficient for underground mine planning purposes. These include the size of the deposit, resulting in hundreds of millions of grid blocks; the disseminated nature of the zoned sulfide mineralisation. And lastly the direct relationship of the relative abundances of the sulfide mineral species that are crucial to the Olympic Dam smelter performance. Several geostatistical techniques have been utilised in the workflow for the Olympic Dam Conditional Simulation model to address these challenges. The key techniques are: • Projection Pursuit Multivariate Transform to de-correlate the main elements before simulation. • Pluri-Gaussian implicit boundary simulation method to simulate the mineralisation domains. • Spectral simulation method of de-trended and de-correlated attributes with account of local varying variance. The resulting conditional simulation models have been validated against histograms, grade-tonnage curves, cross-plots and assessed for variogram reproduction. This paper presents how the final conditional simulation models compare to benchmarking models created using alternate estimation techniques of ordinary kriging and local uniform conditioning. It also presents a validation process using historical samples to test final estimate accuracy of the simulation models.

May 24, 2023

By G M. Mudd

Mine tailings represent one of the two largest sources of mine waste from the minerals industries (the other being waste rock). Given the problems of declining ore grades and growing production, tailings generation is increasing exponentially across the global mining industry. Common practice is for mines to build large containment dams to store tailings during operations, which are then rehabilitated following mine closure. At some sites, however, the controversial practices of riverine or marine dumping of tailings is still practiced. As recent tailings dam failures have shown, there are legitimate questions being raised about the long-term viability of leaving tailings above ground due to the risks of collapse and failure. At present, it is rare for mines to emplace tailings back into former mine voids following mine closure, most commonly into a former open pit mine void (although a fraction of the tailings may be used for underground mine backfill, this is minor in scale). The approach of in-pit tailings has numerous advantages, such as inherent physical stability, low to negligible acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) risks, as well as allowing more productive use of formerly mined land. In tropical areas where surface repositories are prone to leakage with potential for AMD and widespread dispersal of radionuclides (in the case of uranium mining), in-pit management provides particularly strong advantages – thorough hydrogeological studies are required, however, to address residual groundwater contamination risks and to establish sound, long-term environmental monitoring regimes for groundwater quality and subsidence issues. This paper presents a study of in-pit tailings management and compares it with surface repositories established in a tropical climate. The comparisons lead to the conclusion that, at least under tropical conditions, in-pit tailings management should be considered as world’s best practice – especially for radioactive uranium tailings.

Aug 8, 2011

By C J. Greet

Oil can enter a flotation circuit from a number of sources (for example, from mining equipment, oil leaks from the grinding equipment and coatings on the grinding media, but to name a few). Folklore generally states that any oil that contaminates the ore entering the flotation circuit is considered to have a negative impact on flotation. That is, a loss in concentrate grade and recovery.This represents a dilemma for some grinding media suppliers, who use a variety of quenching medium (air, polymer, oil or water) to achieve the desired physical properties of the ball. In the case of high chrome grinding media it is necessary, in some instances, to quench in oil to give the ball the right degree of toughness, which invariably leads to these balls having a thin film of oil on their surface. Once the grinding media arrives on site and site personnel recognise that the balls are “covered” in oil, they generally insist that the oil will have a deleterious impact on flotation performance.Obviously, any supplier “worth their salt” would take remedial action at the point of manufacture to minimise this problem. However, does quenching oil actually present a significant “threat” to the flotation process? This paper provides both laboratory and plant data describing the effect quenching oil has on the flotation of copper sulphide ore, with surprising results!

Aug 8, 2011

By H-S Yang, H Park, S-J Kim, Y-H Ko, H-S Kim, S-H Cho, J-K Kim

An investigation was undertaken to devise a new method for reducing dust spread during blasting demolition utilising water tube and detonating cord. Modelling of smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) with AUTODYN software was initially completed to determine the expected diffusing behaviour of the water tube. The actual behaviour was then captured with high speed videos during each experiment, and each result analysed in detail. Water mist diffusion was generated and analysed by changing three key variables. In sequence, these included changing the location of detonating cord in the tube, the charge quantity and the tube diameter.As a result of experiments and simulation, optimum design for ideal diffusion behaviour was suggested and each behaviour of water mist was classified by diffusing shape of water tube as the design criteria.CITATION:Ko, Y-H, Kim, J-K, Kim, S-J, Park, H, Kim, H-S, Cho, S-H and Yang, H-S, 2015. Mist diffusion experiment and evaluation of water tube for blasting demolition dust control, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 809–814 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

ABSTRACTFor the binary system copper-lead two relationsEquation 1andEquation 2have been derived for the activities of copper and lead at compositions and absolute temperatures within the liquid region of the phase diagram.These relations give, with greater accuracy than is given by previously published relations, the activity-composition temperature variations for all regions of the phase diagram of interest to metallurgists.These relations are essentially simple forms of the Margules equations but with linear temperature dependence applied to their coefficients. This has been done in such a manner that a phase diagram obtained from these relations agrees well with the data available for this system. The methods of obtaining the relations and constructing a phase diagram from them are both given in detail. The enthalpies and entropies of mixing are compared with those derived by other methods.

Jan 1, 1971

By S Sullivan

A recent review of resource reports lodged to statutory bodies found geological models with oversmoothed or unrealistic lithological boundaries, many of which do not represent geological appearance in the field, pit or underground drive. The underlying data is often too complex or messy to be incorporated into the resource model and is thus a simplification of reality, to the detriment of the mining operation and its shareholders. Volumes can be over- or underestimated and subsequent grade predictions can be misplaced, combining to cause over- or understatement in resource reporting to stakeholders and statutory authorities. Domain models can be improved with new modelling techniques such as machine learning. However, with poor data or improper use of machine learning techniques, the conclusions can be just as misleading as with current techniques. Machine learning rarely offers a single ‘right’ outcome, rather a range of possible outcomes from the data provided. But importantly it can take advantage of the full richness of data for more informed models. Machine learning also provides confidence in its predictions so that uncertainty in the resultant models can be quantified and passed through for risk assessment during mine planning and operation. This paper will discuss the factors accentuating complexity in deposit modelling: data diversity, structural controls, chemistry, data volumes, process workflows and external non-geological constraints. A case study illustrates the risk of reducing or ignoring complexity, which can result in an overly simplified geological model.

Mar 22, 2022

By J Cronin

For the last decade, we have read about the great technical innovation that is coming to the mining industry that will increase safety and productivity. There is consensus that it will be a technical innovation that will produce a step change in mining costs and outputs (as opposed to bigger machines or less people); however, this innovation (while freely available) has not taken hold in the industry. While there are a few mines that have embraced technology, the majority of underground mines simply do not have the expertise or technical capability to implement innovation and automation.With unexploited mineral deposits becoming deeper and more remote, and thus more hazardous to mine, telepresence offers the ability to remotely execute production tasks while separating personnel from hazards. As the technologies required to deliver telepresence mature, the potential for there to be no personnel underground during production activities is becoming a reality (the ‘dark factory’). So significant is the capacity of telepresence to mitigate risk, it is proposed that it be included as a separate entry in the hierarchy of hazard mitigation controls.Technical innovation such as the optimised short-term interval control of the production process and the automation of underground mobile fleets offer significant increases in production along with lower operating costs. This paper explores the most critical components for the successful implementation of technology in underground mining; redundant, robust and high-bandwidth communications networks to carry data from distributed networks of smart sensors and to convey teleoperation commands; and high-definition video to provide operators with detailed, real-time data. The days of analogue ‘leaky feeder’ as a base case for communications are over. The human resources required to support the expected wave of innovation are significant and will be difficult to maintain in remote areas as the same skills and expertise are in demand in other industries.The paper highlights barriers to innovation in the mining industry, and a lack of technical and scientific expertise within the industry to be able to identify, implement and manage technologies that can increase safety and productivity. As well, an over-reliance on basic net present value (NPV) financial analysis that is used in the industry punishes investment in technology (capital expenditure; CAPEX) and accepts higher operating expenditure (OPEX) due to the discounting of future savings in operating costs.CITATION:Cronin, J, 2017. Telepresence – the application of remote control and automation technologies for increased safety and productivity, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 213–224 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 16, 2017