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By Sneyd R. J, Walton M. C

In early 1987 Minproc acquired a license from the inventor to engineer and construct acid plants incorporating the Fattinger technology. The process offers a simple and reliable method of producing sulphuric acid from metallurgical off gases at significantly lower capital and operating costs than the more familiar contact process. The process also offers the simultaneous production of nitric acid, if the NOx content of the off gases is high enough. A development of this latter process has other applications within the minerals industry, particularly in conjunction with refractory gold ore preoxidation.

Jan 1, 1989

By B McCarthy

Mining has been typified of late as a boom and bust, cyclical industry operating against a steady decline in the size and quality of mineral deposits. Decreasing deposit grades and increasing costs of traditional mining techniques, all in the face of another commodity downturn, are forcing mining companies more than ever before to seek out new and innovative ways to operate. New technologies are emerging to model, control and track resources through the mining value chain, to move material about mines more efficiently, and to identify and separate ore from gangue early in the extraction process.Discovering such technologies however is only the first challenge for mining companies. Actually implementing technological change successfully has proved to be an even bigger challenge. Like for many industries, fulfilling the promised benefits for the expense and timing envisioned, has not been easy when innovative technologies are introduced.Citing the author’s insights and experiences in a number of emerging technologies, this paper explores barriers to implementing technological change in the mining context. Key elements of a change management framework, first developed for implementing mine management systems, are described to give mining executives insight into how they and their organisations can succeed through technology-driven change.CITATION:McCarthy, B, 2016. Successfully implementing technology-driven change in the mining environment, in Proceedings International Mine Management Conference, pp 89-104 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 22, 2016

By P N. Duan, Z G. Liu, M S. Chu, X X. Xue, B Liu, G J. Cheng, T Jiang, J X. Liu

High-chromium vanadium-titanium magnetite has not been exploited and made full use of on a large scale so far due to the immature utilisation technology and the reality that the utilisation efficiency of valuable metals still urgently needs to be improved. In the present paper, the isothermal reduction kinetics and mechanism of high-chromium vanadium-titanium pellets were studied at 800–1100°C. The mineral composition transformation of pellets before and after reduction was analysed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the microstructures were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) to reveal the elemental distributions. The effect of reduction temperature on the volumetric swelling degree and cold crushing strength was also studied. It was found that reduction temperature has a large effect on the reduction rate of pellets, and the increase in reduction rate is more obvious in the range 1000–1100°C than 800–1000°C. The volumetric swelling degree of pellets increased with increasing reduction temperature, while the cold crushing strength decreased. The transformation of mineral species can be expressed as Fe2O3 ? Fe3O4 ? FeO ? Fe, Fe2O3·3TiO2 ? Fe3O4· (2FeO·TiO2 ) ? 2FeO· TiO2 ? FeO·TiO2, (Fe0.6Cr0.4)2O3 ? FeO· Cr2O3 ? Cr2O3 , and Fe2O3· VO/V2O3 ? VO. The apparent activation energy of the reduction reaction was calculated to be 44.3 kJ/mol, and the reduction rate is controlled by the combined effect of interfacial chemical reaction and gas diffusion through the porous product layer. The rate controlling steps were further studied by calculating the resistance percentages. The interfacial chemical reaction was found to be predominant in the initial reduction stage, with the percentage effect of gas diffusion through the porous product layer gradually increasing during reduction.CITATION:Cheng, G J, Xue, X X, Liu, J X, Liu, Z G, Chu, M S, Jiang, T, Liu, B and Duan, P N, 2015. Reduction kinetics and mechanism of pellets prepared from high-chromium vanadium-titanium magnetite concentrate, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 349–358 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

The Mobile Miner MM130 was delivered to Broken Hill in February 1992. During March the machine was extensively trialled on the surface to test manoeuvrability, climbing ability and muck handling prior to being trammed underground in April. The first cutting test on 30 April 1992 provided promising results. The machine has undergone continual development since it arrived in Broken Hill with aims of ensuring reliability and achieving performance goals. The paper gives a detailed account of recent performance comparing this with the predicted Performance.

Jan 1, 1993

Interaction between rock and fluid plays a critical role in rock engineering ventures such as stimulation of oil and gas wells, geothermal energy recovery and nuclear waste isolation. Robust and reliable design of the related services and underground facilities is based on understanding of the mechanics and chemistry of the coupled hydromechanical- thermochemical processes. This paper explores the application of the theory of such processes in minerals engineering, with particular reference to rockburst mitigation, in situ solution mining and cavity completion of coal-bed methane production wells.

Jan 1, 1995

Depressed prices for minerals will force the mining industry to became more efficient. The continuous conveying of pit product is one area in which savings can be made. Conveyors are available, or can be adapted to provide the flexibility and reliability required. Each conveying system will need to be custom designed to suit the particular requirements of the mine. The Australian mining industry must take the initiative and accept the challenge of the new technology.

Jan 1, 1986

SLon magnetic separators utilise the combined force fields of magnetism, pulsating fluid and gravity to continuously beneficiate fine weakly magnetic minerals. They possess the advantages of high efficiency, low operative cost and high reliability. Until now there were about 600 SLon magnetic separators widely applied in processing oxidised iron ores, ilmenite, manganese ore and many other minerals. In this paper, several typical oxidised iron processing flow sheets with SLon magnetic separators are introduced.

Jan 1, 2007

By M I. Pownceby, J Manuel, S Suthers, A Poliakov, E Donskoi, N Ware

"The mining industry is constantly seeking methods for optimising the exploitation of mineral resources, such as iron ore, in a sustainable and eco-efficient manner for economic and social benefit. When faced with resources that have mineralogical or textural complexity, poorer grades or geological variability, it is particularly important to apply a comprehensive geometallurgical approach to the development of the mining operation, from resource definition through to processed product. Integral to this approach is the quantitative characterisation of representative samples across the whole orebody.A key factor that associates the geological characteristics of iron ores to their processing response is ore texture. While the classification of samples on the basis of chemical or physical properties alone is often not sufficient to predict their processing behaviour, classification and quantification of texture types can be effectively correlated to metallurgical performance in processes such as blending, beneficiation, pellet making, sintering and ironmaking. This paper describes some of the research conducted by CSIRO pertaining to the design and rationale of a texture-based classification system for Australian iron ores; some of the tools developed and used to apply such classification; and the application of the generated data to quantifying, modelling and predicting sintering behaviour and performance in the blast furnace.CITATION:Suthers, S, Pownceby, M I, Manuel, J, Ware, N, Donskoi, E and Poliakov, A, 2016. Geometallurgical Characterisation of Australian Iron Ores – from Ore to Processed Product, in Proceedings The Third AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2016, pp 351–360 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jun 15, 2016

By P Pieterse

Kumba Iron Ore Ltd is currently commissioning the Sishen Expansion Project (SEP) û a brownfields project on the Sishen Iron Ore Mine located in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. SEP is designed to produce 13 Mtpa of product from 21.7 Mtpa of ROM feed. The beneficiation section of SEP employs jigs to process narrow size fractions in the 25 x 0.8 mm size range. The -0.8 mm fraction is screened out ahead of the jig plant and rejected as waste without any prior beneficiation. The processing of this fraction was not included in the early stages of SEP development because no suitable beneficiation or dewatering technologies could be identified within the time-frame required to implement SEP. This paper presents the SEP 1B project, ie the metallurgical and process engineering study that was done to evaluate the techno-economic viability of processing the -0.8 mm material of SEP. To support this evaluation, metallurgical bench scale testwork was done on selected samples characterising the material types used in the SEP for gravity concentration beneficiation. Subsequently, pilot testwork on a 300-ton bulk sample demonstrated that an integrated teeter-bed/spiral circuit could be used to successfully beneficiate the -0.8 mm fraction. The study has established the viability of the proposed process and has concluded that approximately 390 000 tpa could be produced and added to the SEP fine ore product without violating the applicable product specifications. The proposed process has been designed to be implemented in modular units in order to facilitate implementation and ensure future expandability. Based on the recommendations of the study, approval has been granted for the detail design feasibility study. Production is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2010.

Jan 1, 2008

By R Steinhaus, D M. Frantois-Bongarton, P W. Cleary, G K. Robinson, M D. Sinnott

Multotec Process Equipment and Dominique Frantois-Bongarton have a patent for a mineral sampling device, which they call a æTrue-Belt SamplerÆ. This uses a plough, which is rotated about an axis parallel to a conveyor belt to throw material off the belt. A fixed sample cutter takes a sample from the material thrown off the belt.Discrete element modelling has been used to consider a range of plough designs, plough speeds, positions for the cutter relative to the plough, cutter apertures, cutter designs and frictional properties, prior to the building of a physical prototype. This modelling work will be discussed, both as an illustration of the role of modelling in the development of new materials-handling devices and in order to explain the likely strengths and weaknesses of this new type of sampling device.CITATION:Robinson, G K, Sinnott, M D, Cleary, P W, Steinhaus, R and Frantois-Bongarton, D M, 2012. Modelling of a ætrue-belt samplerÆ - A new device for sampling from a conveyor belt, in Proceedings Sampling 2012 , pp 33-40 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 21, 2012

By L Smith, R Beckie

Controls on environmental loading from acid rock drainage (ARD) are not well understood in waste rock material. In particular, relationships between subsurface flow and the timing, duration, and intensity of leaching of metals and acidity from waste rock dumps remain ill defined. This study investigates field-scale relationships between subsurface flow processes and geochemical processes in unsaturated waste rock. A 12-metre tall, unsaturated waste rock pile, constructed in 1994, was deconstructed and sampled at Key Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, during the summer of 2000. A detailed sampling methodology was developed to characterise physical and chemical properties of waste rock material within the waste rock pile. Physical properties were characterised by measuring soil-water suction, volumetric water content, and grain-size distribution at 60 random locations within the pile and grain-size distribution at 20 grid locations within the pile. Attempts to develop a field-based soil water characteristic curve from physical field-data failed due to spatial variability and hysteresis of waste rock properties. As a result, grain-size distribution was used as a relative measure of subsurface flow. Paste pH, pore-water geochemistry, mineralogy, and water-soluble extraction results were used to characterise geochemical processes and sulfide oxidation at each of the 20 grid locations. Geochemical characterisation results demonstrated the preferential weathering of marcasite relative to pyrite and chalcopyrite. Dolomite was the main buffering carbonate mineral. Gyspum, jarosite and iron oxyhydroxides were the main secondary minerals. Pore-waters contained up to 800, 11.7, and 6 mMolar (78 000, 690, 1400 mg/L, respectively) of sulfate, nickel, and uranium, respectively, suggesting significant weathering has occurred. Measures of weathering indicators show no discernable correlation with grain-size distribution nor do they show any spatial relationship within the sampled grid. Reasons for this may include limited duration of waste rock exposure to weathering and development of fluid flow-paths, and limitations of characterisation methods used. Indeed, six years may not be long enough for weathering patterns to develop due to fluid flow-paths in this unsaturated waste rock pile.

Jan 1, 2003

By M Khanal, J Qin, B Shen, Y Duan, X Luo

Gaining confidence in interpreting rock and strata properties of the coalmine roof is necessary for design, maintenance, modelling and optimisation of roadways supports. One of the key causes of roadway instabilities experienced in underground coalmines is an extreme variable nature (thickness, competence, discontinuities etc) of the coalmine roof. Normally, the thickness and strength of the roof are characterised with the geotechnical and geological data gathered from exploration boreholes, which are drilled often at considerable distances apart. This limited data cannot capture localised geological variations in the coalmine roof. With this background, this paper explores feasibility of using measurement while drilling concept to perform geotechnical characterisation of the coalmine roof. The parameters, for example, penetration rate, rotary speed, torque, sound, vibration, obtained during the drilling process can provide valuable insights into geotechnical properties. The paper describes the progress of the experimental work conducted at the laboratory on synthesized concrete samples representing various rock strata using a field-scale drilling machine. The samples with and without interfaces have been tested to replicate various underground roof strata. The signals returned from the drill machine, as the drill bit passes through the layers, have been analysed and interpreted to characterise whether the drill response data can differentiate various strengths associated with the rock layers. The initial laboratory results are promising as they show distinct responses of the various sample blocks in a controlled environment. The drilling data can differentiate the synthesized rock samples and detect ‘signatures’ of the roof strength variability and delineation of lithological interfaces (transitions). The weight and torque on the bit vary and show dependency on the strength of the blocks.

Nov 29, 2022

By R Lastra, Y Choi, C Hamilton, P Kondos

Hydroseparation (http://www.cnt-mc.com) was used to concentrate sized fractions (from <38 ¦m to 150 ¦m) of various ore products ahead of carbon-in-pulp (CIP)-treatment. The resulting size-by-size concentrates were mounted as monolayer polished sections and subjected to automated unattended precious metal searches by image analysis (see Lastra, Wilson and Cabri, 1999). Systematic variations in Au-deportment permit quantification of Au reporting as discrete grains from fresh-feed through to pressure oxidation (POX)- and CIP-feed. Application of hydroseparation, image analysis and assays to characterising tailings (from <10 ¦m to 106 ¦m) from four mine sites is also described. Results are encouraging enough to predict that the combination of hydroseparation (HS) and automated image analysis could become a standard methodology for study of precious metal ores and metallurgical products.

Jan 1, 2008

Mine planning for ore recovery by open stoping and pillar recovery is becoming more sophisticated, but there are basic operating constraints which must be imposed if this planning is to realise the production results on which the mine is dependant. The production reliability of an open stope is usually a high priority and common design problems can be identified. A range of practical considerations which should be considered at the mine planning stage are reviewed including equipment performance, blasting technology, ventilation requirements, development layouts, lead time, ground conditions, support, backfilling and ore recovery.

Jan 1, 1982

By A Poliakov, E Donskoi, K Vining

The automated optical image analysis software Mineral4/Recognition4 (M4/R4) is capable of performing comprehensive characterisation of different materials throughout the iron ore value chain, including ore fines, lump, sinter, pellets and coke. It has been successfully used by CSIRO for industrial and research projects and has been independently licensed to several world leaders in iron ore production and ironmaking. The M4/R4 software was strongly integrated with a Zeiss microscope to make use of the company’s powerful AxioVision software. This required users to own both Zeiss microscope hardware and AxioVision software in order to be able to use M4/R4 to its full image acquisition and analysis capacity. Therefore, it was not available to the users of equipment produced by other major microscope manufacturers. In recent times however, Zeiss has indicated that the AxioVision software will no longer be supported. To overcome this limitation, CSIRO has proceeded with the next generation of this software, Mineral5/Recognition5 (M5/R5). Importantly, the M5/R5 system has been developed without any dependence on a specific microscope hardware/software platform. Furthermore, the image analysis functionality is now based on openCV open access software and has been fully rewritten using stateof- the-art software development tools to allow reading and processing of all major image formats. Although past applications have been specific to iron ore and ironmaking applications, other improvements, such as an increased number of minerals allowing better gangue segmentation, flexible mineral definitions, improved software modules behaviour and refined analysis routines enables the platform independent M5/R5 image analysis system to be used by researchers in any area of mineralogical or materials research.

Nov 8, 2021

By J Vann

Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation is a challenging and demanding field, requiring application of professional knowledge, skill and experience of the highest order. If the many potential pitfalls are to be avoided, however, there are two other requirements which are of equal, if not greater, importance:good communication, and common sense. Estimation of Mineral Resources and particularly of Ore Reserves is almost always a team effort, involving a number of disciplines. Good teamwork requires good communication, both between team members and between the team and other parties having an interest in the process. Breakdown in these lines of communication can have far reaching effects on the project under consideration. The need to use common sense during a Resource or Reserve estimation exercise would seem to be self-evident. It is surprising, however, how often rigid adherence to procedures and methods prevails at the expense of clear thinking, usually with adverse and sometimes fatal effects on the project under consideration. This has become increasingly true as computerised methods have assumed a central role in Resource/Reserve estimation. The critical question that estimators should ask themselves at all stages of the process is: æIs what is being done sensible given the data available, what is known of this deposit and the purpose of the exercise?Æ

Jan 1, 1999

North Eastern Russia encompasses the northern part of the Circum Pacific. The region comprises various tectonostratigraphic terranes, including cratonic blocks, fragments of volcanic arcs, accretionary wedge terranes, oceanic crust and passive continental margins. The terranes have been accreted to the eastern margin of the Siberian Craton in the Late Mesozoic. The prominent structures of the region are extended zones of the Mesozoic flysch and turbidites. Another important structure is the 3000 km long Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic arc which marks the Cretaceous active continental margin of northern Eurasia. The youngest structure of the region is the 2000 km long Late Cainozoic Kamchatka-Kuril island arc system. North Eastern Russia is the main gold producing region of the Russian Federation. Since the beginning of recorded gold production in 1932 until 1995 the region has produced 2575 t (83M oz) of gold. Most of it, 2439.5 t, has been produced from placers. Owing to depletion of alluvial gold resources, exploration and mining emphasis is currently switching to the development of the lode deposits. At least five distinct types of the gold mineralisation are reported in North Eastern Russia - mesothermal gold mineralisation in the Mesozoic fold belts, Paleozoic epithermal gold mineralisation occurring within Omolon block, epithermal gold mineralisation related to the Mesozoic volcanics, Cainozoic epithermal gold mineralisation, gold-bearing Cu-porphyry deposits. The current paper introduces the metallogeny of lode-gold deposits of North Eastern Russia. It provides the review of the regional geology, the selected gold provinces and representative deposits with an emphasis on the mineralisation styles and distribution control.

Jan 1, 1999

By Minchinton A

CPeX is a non-ideal explosive performance prediction model. The model takes into account the rate of energy release, the extent of chemical reac- tion and the effect of confinement on energy release. The model resolves the explosive energy into `shock' and `heave' com- ponents as a function of explosive type, hole diameter and rock type. The predictions of the model are compared for a bulk emulsion, and a prill-doped bulk emulsion in soft rock. The predictions, based on calibra- tion of the model with simple unconfined detonation velocity measure- ments, show the significant effect of non-ideality on explosive Performance.

Jan 1, 1988

By V A. Maltsev, V I. Panin

The question of prediction and prevention of dynamic events û rock bursts (RB), tectonic rock burst (TRB) and mining-induced earthquakes (MIE), induced by large-scale mining, are discussed. The mine itself and the host geological environment are taken as a natural-technical system (NTS) whose evolution is characterised by alteration of the adaptation-bifurcation (catastrophes) periods. So, to predict TRB-MIE means to predict the limiting NTS states that are determined from the NTS geological monitoring data, and to prevent the said events means to control the processes of rock deformation and failure within the critical zone. The study considers particular examples of how TRB-MIE-events are predicted and prevented in apatite mines, Kola peninsula, Russia.

Jan 1, 2000

By T Raynlyn, S Hapugoda, V Nunna

The predominant phase in most Marra Mamba, channel iron deposits and detrital iron ore deposits is goethite. Goethite abundant iron ore fines tend to have complex mineralogical associations and fine dissemination of gangue material. These ores are typically challenging to process using conventional beneficiation methods. With declining ore grades, there is a need to develop new processing routes for low-grade goethitic ores/fines.Comparative process amenability studies were carried out using two different processing options to recover iron with low alumina and silica content from a low-grade goethite-abundant iron ore fines (-2 mm) sample from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The first option involved dehydroxylation at 350°C and 400°C, followed by grinding dehydroxylated samples to 100 per cent passing 106 µm and magnetic separation. The second option was processing raw sample by gravity separation using a Floatex density separator. The performances of the two processes are discussed in terms of the iron grade-recovery responses, and an optimal processing route is proposed based on the findings from these tests.CITATION:Nunna, V, Hapugoda, S and Raynlyn, T, 2015. Process amenability studies on goethite-abundant iron ore fines, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 165–174 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015