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British Coal has always been a big mining company and its management has been beset with many of the problems one would associate with such an undertaking. These include its accountability to Government, its market vulnerability to competing fuels and to imported coal and its relationship with its workforce but also with its own history and size. As a fragmented private industry up to and including the Second World War, it was starved of capital and its management developed an historic relationship with its workforce which was often counter productive to success. Once nationalised, it contributed greatly to post-war industrial regeneration, investment was forthcoming to reconstruct existing mines, sink new ones and to mechanise production operations. British manufacturing companies contributed to this mechanisation drive, the very success of which drove up production and productivity and against a declining market, contributed to the reduction in size of the industry. Production machinery design evolved in the 1960s with close collaboration between manufacturers and users such that an inevitable proliferation of machinery types and specifications developed to meet local needs. Longwall mining internationally outside Western Europe only became significant in the 1970s. It became apparent that international operators demanded higher levels of plant performance from British manufacturers than British Coal did. This was the birth of the "heavy duty" plant concept. As international performances outstripped our own then British Coal moved in to invest in itself, in this heavy duty. This re-investment commenced in the mid 1970s but only gained real momentum in the 1980s when it became a virtual re-equipping exercise for the whole industry.

Jan 1, 1988

By N LaBranche

The resurgence of Silicosis and Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis (CWP) in coalmines has placed the spotlight back on the management of worker exposure to particulate matter across all mining sectors (Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Select Committee, 2017). There already exists a substantial body of knowledge on particulate matter and its impacts upon human health (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018). The contribution of silica to respiratory disease is well known and there is a growing concern for exposure to diesel particulate matter. However, it is also clear that there are major gaps in our understanding. In part, those gaps relate to the contribution to adverse health effects of mineralogical constituents in the dust (LaBranche et al, 2021a). It is also becoming evident that the size and shape of the particulate matter can affect its potential impact on human health.The University of Queensland has developed a methodology for characterising respirable and inhalable dust samples using scanning electron microscopy. Multiple samples from numerous mining operations have already been analysed using the UQ methodology. The process has been successful in showing the variety of mineralogica lcomponents and particle size distributions presentin various areas of the mines.

Oct 12, 2022

One of the more recent developments within the mining industry has been the adoption of formal continuous improvement programs. A continuous improvement (CI) program was launched across Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) in early-2002. The purpose of this program was to identify further operating improvements within departments. The focus of the continuous improvement program was not only on the areas of the operation which were performing below expectations but also on areas of the operation which were performing well but could still be further improved.The effectiveness of a continuous improvement program depends on the stability of the processes in place and the participation of many employees from all levels of the business.Continuous improvement has had some successes and failures at KCGM and this paper will discuss both within the open pits department. Further improvements that could be made to the process will also be discussed. Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Fimiston operation is located in the Kalgoorlie Goldfields and it the largest gold mine in Australia producing over 800 000 ounces of gold per annum.

Jan 1, 2004

The impact of moves to introduce Abori- ginal land rights was felt in the Northern Territory as early as 1972 when the Federal Government froze the processing of all appli- cations for mining interests over vacant Crown land. The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act was finally proclaimed on Aust- ralia Day 1977 and since that date the mining industry and the Territory legislature have struggled to make the Act work. Despite these efforts long delays have been experienced by those required to negotiate mining and explor- ation agreements under the Act. In fact explor- ation on Aboriginal land has been effectively stiffled since the introduction of the Abori- ginal Land Rights Act. The Northern Territory government and the mining industry have both sought amendment to the Act to remedy some of its more onerous problems. These efforts have generally been fruitless. Some of the recommendations put forward by Mr Justice Toohey following his recent review of the Act would provide relief in some important areas. However, any such improvements are more than offset by a number of Mr Justice Toohey's recommendations which would severely disadvantage the vast majority of Territorians. A recent survey of mining companies seeking exploration licences over Aboriginal land indicates that many of the existing diffi- culties could be overcome without significant amendment to the Act but rather by the adoption of a positive administrative approach by the Land Councils. It is now up to the Commonwealth and the Land Councils to demonstrate that their Act can work without crippling the Northern Territory economy and its mining industry.

Jan 1, 1984

By Hart J. G, Anderson J. S

The presence of platinum metals in the nickeliferous copper ore of the Thomson River Copper Mine near Walhalla, Victoria, was first revealed in 1905 by assays made in the laboratory of the Department of Mines (1).These disclosed the presence in the ore of 5 dwt. platinum metals, 1 dwt. gold and 13 dwt. silver per ton. Attempts to isolate the platinum-bearing mineral were unsuccessful, and the absence of obvious native platinum led the assayer, Mr. P. G. W. Bayley, to suspect that the platinum might be present as sperrylite. Subsequently, Mr. C. M. Lyons, then metallurgist to the Long Tunnel Gold Mining Company, Walhalla, tried to isolate the platinum mineral from samples of ore containing as much as 7 dwt. platinum metals, but again without success.In 1912, a sample of copper matte from this ore was submitted to Messrs. Johnson, Matthey and Company, Limited of London, for analysis. The analysis, which is quoted below by their courtesy, revealed tnat a large proportion of the metal pi'eviously reported as platinum was palladium, there being about two parts of palladium in the matte to one part of platinum.

Jan 1, 1942

Anglo Platinum recognised with its expanded operations the need to change its evaluation strategy due to increased sample volumes and the pressure it created at laboratories. The sender/receiver analytical scenarios had to change in order to curb costs and to prevent substantial investments in new sampling and analytical facilities. Given the high cost associated with correct sampling systems and sampling protocols and the shortage of technical resources a strategy of single point sampling and analysis was introduced. The analysis was then done at an ISO17025 accredited laboratory with ten per cent checks, subjected to careful statistical scrutiny. Logistical problems increased with respect to weighbridge congestion, maintaining sampling quality, throughput of samples in the sample preparation areas, manual quality control systems in place, audit trails and analytical capacity throughout all operations. This required the expedited improvement of existing sampling practices and the development of new sampling methods and equipment. Anglo Platinum is classifying and standardising sampling equipment, sample preparation and analytical procedures for all process streams with the view to minimise overall uncertainties. Major investments were made into a customised LIMS and automated equipment for data management, reduction of manual transcription errors and streamlining of sample processing. Anglo Platinum is committed in rolling out the enhancements to all sites as priority dictates.

Jan 1, 2008

By Selby J

South Australia's economic development has relied heavily on the mineral industry. In the late 1840s the rich copper deposits at Kapunda and Burra saved the Colony's economy when South Australia became a world copper producer. Copper lodes developed at Moonta-Wallaroo during the 1860s brought further prosperity when mining activities at Kapunda and Burra were in decline. In addition to those large mines there were many smaller workings scattered through the Flinders and Mount Lofty Ranges producing copper, gold, silver, lead and zinc. Most of the mines of this period were worked by Cornish immigrants who brought their own technology and mining methods with them. These people have left a cultural legacy unique in Aus- tralia. In this Jubilee 150 year (1986) the Department of Mines and Energy, working in conjunction with the Department of Environment and Planning, is helping to preserve and interpret selected historic mining sites, most of which have been neglected since their closure. This work is designed to draw people's interest to mining history by providing interpreted sites for them to visit and to demon- strate the importance of the mining industry in South Australia's cultural and economic develop- Ment.

Jan 1, 1987

The geologists at the Zinc Mine in Broken Hill have developed a method of logging core using portable MS-DOS computers and LOTUS 123. The computer based logging system has almost halved both the time and cost to produce a completed log. The system is fast, flexible, easy and pleasant to use.

Jan 1, 1990

The Plant Control and Data Logging System for the Loy Yang Open Cut (LYOC) is part of a control and communications network designed to provide a high level of surveillance of open cut plant and facilitate the efficient co- ordination of operations and plant maintenance. The computer system selected utilises a central dual mini-computer and multiple microcomputer data transmission network ,linked to the plant controllers using distributed, microcomputer based remote data collectors or outstations. Several aspects of the computer system are outlined.

Jan 1, 1982

Oxidation or sulphidization of the surface of pyrrhotIte partIcles enhances atomic interdiffusion at elevated temperatures and provides a mechanism for interface growth between particles in contact. In a mass of pyrrhotite-rich ore or tailing, where oxidation heating is not controlled, bonding of particles by diffusional mass transport contributes significantly to the agglomeration of the mass.

Jan 1, 1976

By B G. Blacka, O Salisbury, K W. Mills, R G. Jeffrey

Whitehaven Coal Limited operates an underground longwall mine near Narrabri, New South Wales. The mining horizon in the Hoskissons Seam is overlain by a 16–20 m thick unit known as the Digby Conglomerate, a unit that is sufficiently massive to have potential to cause a windblast during first caving at the start of each longwall panel and periodic weighting throughout the panel. A program of hydraulic fracturing has been successfully used to precondition the conglomerate strata to increase its caveability at the start of each panel. This paper presents a system of temperature monitoring that was used successfully to measure hydraulic fractures at Whitehaven confirming their rate of growth, orientation and interaction with previously placed hydraulic fractures.CITATION:Mills, K W, Blacka, B G, Jeffrey, R G and Salisbury, O, 2014. Temperature monitoring of hydraulic fractures used for preconditioning massive conglomerate strata to reduce windblast, in Proceedings AusRock 2014: Third Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference , pp 189–194 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 5, 2014

Thank you for the invitation to this forum today. I have a hectic schedule in the Mabo legislation process but it is important not to lose sight of the bigger picture and to attend today to talk to you about the Government's role in the development of our country.More importantly, I hope over the next couple of hours to get some feedback on developments in this area from people very much involved on a day to day basis.

Jan 1, 1993

The author presents various procedures for the choice of dri-ving systems for mining, including the method of indeterminate Lagrange factors and linear programming.The possible application of the points-awarding method is demonstrated.It allows for taking into account both surd and commensurable characteristics of a driving system for mining. Also, the method of economic efficiency factors is outlined.All these methods make possible the best choice of a driving system, from the as-pect of electric energy saving. Two examples are given.

Jan 1, 1985

By Fulton E, Ring RJ, Waters DJ

The Nabarlek uranium treatment plant of Queensland Mines Limited (QML) is currently treating 600,000 tonnes of ore which was mined and stockpiled in a single four month period prior to commissioning of the plant. During the mining phase, material from the open pit was sorted into ore,'below ore grade uranium material (bogum) and waste using a truck discriminator (radiometric analyser) developed by Australian Mineral Development Laboratories (AMDEL). Ore was stockpiled in a single heap with the location and grade of each truck load being recorded. Bogum and waste were stored separately. From the information recorded, both computer and physical models of the stockpile were constructed. These models are currently used in the planning of day to day reclamation of ore from the stockpile.

Jan 1, 1984

The Western Australian Mining and Petroleum Research Institute (WAMPRI) was established in 1981 by the Western Australian Government as a funding and co-ordinating Institute to foster research into the mining and petroleum industry within this State. To June 1984, the Institute has sponsored 34 projects with a total notional value of $2.5 million and an actual cash commitment of $1.5 million. Strong support for WAMPRI has come from Industry with 60 companies contributing half the money needed for the research grants.The 34 WAMPRI projects funded so far cover all aspects of the mining and petroleum geosciences.Several WAMPRI projects are concerned with gold including processing technology and the development of exploration models and techniques, they are providing successful results.Although well supported by Industry there is a surprising lack of applications being submitted to the Institute in the area of mining engineering, where it is felt there is much scope for research projects.

Jan 1, 1984

By Crawford M

During the initial development of Mount Isa Mines power was supplied from a temporary power plant situated near the Man & Supply Shaft. The main power plant was placed in service early in 1931 and then comprised two Babcock and Willcox boilers, fired by pulverised fuel, and two British General Electric Company's turbo-alternators of 5,000 kW. each. Both plants have been described by A. F. McAskill in the Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.From 1931 power demand progressively increased due to greater production, further mine development in the harder sulphides increased pumping for mine drainage and additions to mill and smelter until, by 1935, the plant was inadequate for further output commensurate with a reasonable safety margin.Coincident with the added power demand, operating conditions involved a fuel problem which could not have been anticipated. The ash content of the fuel supplied gradually increased from 13% to 16-5%, while the melting point of the ash decreased with higher pyrite content.Temperature conditions in the furnace required careful control to cope with ash formation and slag accretions.Consequently brickwork, excessively stressed on water walls, was constantly under repair, and required suspension periods of 50% of operating time for cleaning and overhaul.Load conditions varied continually, therefore the high heat liberations in the furnace, necessary to accommodate peaks in fluctuating output, resulted in ash fusion.

Jan 1, 1939

Sulphide Corporation Pty. Limited operates a Lead/Zinc Smelter at Cockle Creek, some 11 miles from Newcastle, N. S. W . Works effluents totalling some 8, 500, 000 gallons/day join Cockle Creek some 1. 8 miles from its mouth in the most northerly section of Lake Macquarie, The Creek is also the source of the Works cooling water intake of which approximates 8, 000, 000 g.p. d. In view of the wide use of the Lake for recreational activities by the people of Newcastle and the surrounding areas, particular care must be taken to ensure that the control of effluent quality is of a high order. This paper outlines the philosophy and measures taken for the treatment and control of plant effluents discharging into Cockle Creek.

Jan 1, 1971

Modern, research-based approaches to mineral exploration are essential to the future maintenance of the mineral industry. These need to fully utilise the rapidly expanding growth of understanding of the evolution of the earth's crust, and be properly integrated with advances in understanding of chemical and physical processes involved in ore formation. BMR has a major role to play in supporting the growth and utilisation of this research base, as well as maintaining the national geological and geophysical bases which are essential both to tactical and strategic interests of Australia and of its mineral industry. The objective development of data-process modelling is one target of such strategic research based on a more integrated approach to research by BMR, mineral companies, CSIRO and the universities with emphasis given to promoting positive feedback during research activities. Examples of the success of strategic research in Australia and overseas are noted in the Text.

Jan 1, 1986

Courses in chemical engineering and metallurgical engineering at the University of Queensland were compared and the main difference was found to be the greater emphasis on the application of chemical engineering fundamentals, particularly chemical thermodynamics, to specific processes in the metallurgy course. This reflects the distinctive features of extractive metallurgical processes which are not common in other chemical engineering processes and which justify the study of extractive metallurgy in its own right. B.Sc. courses in metallurgy provide one way in which the specialist knowledge of extractive metallurgy can be taught. General metallurgy courses are considered to be preferable to those restricted solely to extractive metallurgy since graduates of a general course have a wider choice of employment, while excessive emphasis on extractive metallurgical applications in chemical engineering courses could reduce the non-specific nature of these courses. Postgraduate diploma and higher degree programmes are avenues for non- metallurgists to acquire knowledge of the discipline.

Jan 1, 1984

In recent years a number of explosive blends including ANFO, emulsion and watergel products have been used in a variety of ground types and applications. These `standard' explosives' technologies are not new, but out of the uses and applications, have sprung a new generation of tailored explosives that match the ground type and the operating environment. This is in stark contrast to the norm, where various patterns and loading configurations have traditionally been designed to accommodate the explosive. This paper discusses these tailored explosives and the explosives' technology behind why they work. Active tailoring of explosive formulations can save mining dollars while essentially leaving the explosive price unchanged. Tailoring explosives may lead to increased rock breakage, heave, digging rates; lower digging maintenance costs and in some cases replacing earth moving machinery altogether. Tailored explosives may have other benefits such as reduced over pressure compared with standard alternatives. The tailoring of explosive performance generally involves three major methods (other than changing the bulk density and sensitivity): (i) replacing fast burning reactants with slower burning reactants or vice versa; or (ii) leaving the explosive intact and diluting the entire explosive with slow burning or `inert' material; or (iii) changing the concentration of the fuel/oxidiser mix. When tailoring explosives for particular applications, authorising, testing, costing, manufacturing, and delivery systems must also be taken into account.

Jan 1, 1995