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Safety bulletins and stickers issued for the paste backfill plant at Cannington read as follows: æCannington Paste Fill Plant, First of ItÆs Kind in AustraliaÆ. We could even dare to state that the Cannington plant is different than any other paste backfill plant in the world because of the overall design, plant equipment and underground delivery. However, one thing to be certain of is, the paste backfill plant works as designed and a pump is not required to deliver paste underground given the general plant arrangement at Cannington. The past two years have been a process of evolution to design and construct the plant and make it work. This paper will describe the paste process using full mill tails along with placement of cemented paste underground. Discussions will include rationale of fixed plant selection along with various control requirements. BHP World Minerals recently commissioned its paste backfill plant in December 1997. Cannington is placing full mill tails underground via two surface boreholes that deliver either to primary or secondary stopes.

Jan 1, 1998

Milling operations at Misima Mine are discussed, with specific reference to the application of energy and cost saving concepts. Design stage innovations and post-commissioning developments are covered. General operational problems are described with specific reference to problems associated with operating in a remote location.

Jan 1, 1994

By M Hedley

Tracking plant and personnel in mining operations provides multiple potential benefits for a mine including improved safety, better monitoring of production, traffic control and, in the future, monitoring and control of autonomous vehicles. The main techniques currently proposed and used for wireless tracking are radio frequency identification (RFID), signal strength based techniques and time of arrival (TOA) based techniques. RFID provide poor accuracy in the complex radio propagation environment present in mines and does not provide continuous tracking and signal strength techniques. TOA based techniques are potentially the most accurate, however, most current equipment has not realised the potential of the technique. CSIRO has been developing the Wireless Ad hoc System for Positioning (WASP) system for wireless tracking in a range of challenging environments including underground mines and surface operations, where GPS reception is compromised by depth. The system utilises a number of ‘anchor nodes’ that are placed at fixed and known locations within the mine and tags attached to the plant or personnel to be tracked. The system provides an ad hoc data communication network, thus, wired data connections are not required to the anchor nodes. WASP uses transmissions in the 5.8 GHz ISM (instrumentation, scientific and medical) frequency spectrum to perform highly accurate ranging between nodes, hence tracking of tags. The localisation performance of the system depends upon the radio propagation environment, ranging down to 0.1 m in low multipath conditions. In this paper we describe the WASP system and provide results of testing in underground and surface operations showing the system achieving high ranging, hence localisation, accuracy.

Nov 22, 2011

By Y B. Kang, Y J. Park

Ti-added ultra-low carbon (ULC) steel is produced by adding Al and Ti during the secondary refining process to deoxidise molten steel and to bind C and N which are detrimental to the deep drawing quality of the steel product. However, the production of Ti-added ULC steel faces challenges, including submerged entry nozzle clogging and surface defects on cold rolled coils. The troubles were often attributed to ‘Al-Ti complex inclusions’ in the molten steel. However, the evolution of oxide inclusions including their stability has been still unclear. In the present study, the evolution of these inclusions in Ti-added ULC steel was investigated by phase diagram measurement, CALPHAD thermodynamic modelling, high-temperature stability test for the oxides, and observation of transient behaviour of oxide inclusions in the steel. The phase diagram of the Al-Ti-O system was elucidated with an emphasis on oxygen potential, which significantly controls the stability of the oxides. CALPHAD thermodynamic models and a self-consistent database were developed. The transient behaviour of Al-Ti complex inclusions in Ti-added ULC steel was observed in situ using a confocal scanning laser microscope. This was additionally validated by the new thermodynamic model. The equilibrium phases of the oxide inclusions were investigated using a high-temperature resistance furnace, and were analysed using a secondary electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, and electron back-scattered diffraction. By considering the morphology and crystal structure of these inclusions, the evolution of Al-Ti oxide inclusions was elucidated. Various behaviour of Al-Ti inclusions and their influence on steel cleanliness are discussed.

Aug 21, 2024

I congratulate The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy on its decision to hold its Annual Conference here in Western Australia. Western Australia, with its abundant mineral and energy resources, plays a key role in the Australian mining industry... and Western Australia will continue to figure prominently in this vital industry for many years to come. The success of our gold, iron ore, bauxite, mineral sands and other primary industries has enabled Western Australia to contribute significantly to Australia's export revenue and, therefore, to the nation's economic strength. The State's mineral wealth has also provided the impetus for a recent surge in mining related activity, including a dramatic increase in downstream processing of our raw materials. Billions of dollars worth of new project investment is either committed or awaiting final approval - and most of this new investment is a direct result of a healthy and vibrant mining industry. The North West Shelf Project - which has been providing natural gas for homes and industry in Western Australia since 1984 - has also played a key role in stimulating industrial development. The availability of abundant, competitively-priced gas from the North West Shelf has - along with the availability of other raw materials - made Western Australia a more attractive proposition for industrial investment. The company I represent, Woodside Offshore Petroleum, is operator of the North West Shelf Project on behalf of the Project's six Joint Venture Participants - Woodside Petroleum Ltd, BHP Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd, BP Developments Australia Ltd, Chevron Asiatic Limited, Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd and Shell Development (Australia) Proprietary Limited. The theme for this Annual Conference: "Excellence - the key to the continued success of the Australasian mining industry" is appropriate to the North West Shelf Project. The pursuit of excellence has been a hallmark of the Project. The Joint Venture Participants have been conscious of the need for stringent quality control at all stages of development. Procurement and purchasing policies, for instance, have demanded strict adherence by contractors and suppliers to the highest standards and specifications.

Jan 1, 1989

By D McLaughlin

This paper points to the timely importance of commencing a centrally recognised perpetual collection of mineral specimens in the Northern Territory which has as one of its objectives the collection and preservation of Northern Territory minerals of scientific, educational and heritage value. Currently in the Northern Territory there is no government department or institution that has a resourced coordinated state-wide objective to collect and document collectable mineral specimens. Specimens held in storage by the Department of Mines and Energy and the Museum and Art Galleries of the NT are not catalogued and owe their existence to fortuitous circumstances, not as a result of a planned systematic scientific approach to mineralogy. Northern Territory mineral species and unique specimens have and will continue to be driven to extinction while no central and active, recognised repository exists. This situation persists despite the fact mineral production is the Territory's largest income earner. The paper presents the arguments that hopefully will assist decision-makers to commence development of a state mineral collection lodged within an appropriate institution in the Northern Territory.

Jan 1, 1994

By H M. A Ilyas, M Yahyaei, S Amari, M Darestani

Tailings are generally deposited on or near to the mine sites, occupying the site area, and being an economic burden for mining companies. Tailings can cause several environmental impacts, such as leaking toxic substances and contaminating underground water, emitting greenhouse gases, and damaging natural bodies and wildlife. Geopolymerisation of mine waste effectively transforms mine waste into more valuable, environmentally friendly products. Geopolymers are inorganic aluminosilicate materials that are widely applied in the construction industry (Araya, Kraslawski and Cisternas, 2020). The high performance and the low-CO2 emission of geopolymers make this type of material potentially more desirable than ordinary cement, given that manufacturing one ton of traditional cement generates approximately 0.8 tons of CO2. This process is seen as a promising method for repurposing tailings and reducing the environmental impact of mining waste. However, the environmental impact of geopolymer production is not sufficiently comprehended (Mazzinghy et al, 2022). Moreover, geopolymerisation of mine waste can offer several economic benefits, including reduced waste management costs (Amari et al, 2019; He et al, 2022), reduced raw material costs, and potentially lower production costs. However, there are several challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the economic feasibility of the process. This study aims to demonstrate the potential environmental impacts of geopolymer concrete produced using mine wastes and industrial by-products such as blast furnace slag (BFS). For this, a comparative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was conducted on different geopolymer mix designs, and the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions results were compared to the ordinary cement. LCA can be used to evaluate the environmental impact of geopolymerisation of mine wastes in various ways. One important impact category is GHG gas emissions, which contribute to climate change and is the focus of this study. Another aim of this study is to evaluate the economic feasibility of the geopolymerisation of mine wastes via economic analysis (EA) to identify the key economic factors and trade-offs associated with repurposing mine wastes through geopolymerisation.

Aug 2, 2023

The Adavale Basin and Warrabin Trough are remnants of a much more extensive Devonian to Carboniferous depression which evolved through four tectonic stages; an initial period of rifting and three periods of foreland thrusting, which cannibalized much of the earlier depression. The Basin has subsequently been buried by sediments of the Galilee and Eromanga Basins.The Basin was initiated during the Early Devonian when the earlier cratonized Thompson Foldbelt rifted away to form a marginal sea comparable to the South China sea. This crustal extension was probably in a Northeast-Southwest direction. These initial rifts were the site of acid volcanism (Gumbarbo Formation) and later, deltaic and shallow marine facies (Eastwood Beds).

Jan 1, 1990

Expert systems have been employed in a number of areas for a considerable number of years. However, the traditional long development times associated with these systems have restricted their application. With the advent of powerful Expert System Development Tools such as COMDALE/X and the use of efficient development techniques, the time required can be drastically reduced. This results in the availability and applicability of this technology to a wide range of applications. This paper discusses some of the 'rules' which indicate amenability (or otherwise) of a particular problem to an expert system solution. Various problem types are examined and these are illustrated with reference to examples of their use at various operating sites.

Jan 1, 1991

With the continuing move towards digital signal based control and measurement, it is inevitable that such technology will be increasingly employed on remote sites. The benefits of increased metallurgical performance, of reduced energy and manpower requirements far outweigh the problems associated with high technology in remote locations, provided that the installation is well thought out from both technical and manpower viewpoints. The new accessibility of vast quantities of process data will uncover previously unthought of savings and profit opportunities but brings with it the responsibility to carefully design the data presentation methods. The resulting changes in installed hardware will force changes in the maintenance and engineering workforce and will affect even the stores and purchasing department methods.

Jan 1, 1985

By Whiteley M, Robinson T, Vernon B

The Western Australian gold industry has approximately 100 operating plants, mainly CIP/CIL. The nature of the State's rapidly expanding gold industry gave rise to concerns over management of the cyanide hazard, in that most plants are remote from major population centres, have a workforce with a high turn over and use highly saline process water. Approximately 4,500 workers in the industry have the potential to be exposed to cyanide in the course of their normal work.This paper outlines the risk management strategy developed by Government and industry to monitor atmospheric HCN gas in the work environment and the role of continuing education and training along with regular site inspections by Department of Mines Inspectors.

Jan 1, 1990

By Yu-Jun Z

According to site measurement and labora- tory experiment, the authors suggest a new mathematical model of grouted rock bolts. The rock bolt is taken as an elastic bar, and the grout is substituted by a set of springs the rigidity of which is given as K. Based on certain assumptions, a simplified formula is deduced. When the category of rock, depth of tunnel, the spacing of rock bolts and the rigidity of springs K values are given, so that we can calculate the radius of plastic zone, and subsequently the convergence of rock at the tunnel inner surface u, and the resis- tance exerted by the rock bolt p. Finally, the length of rock bolt can be determined.

Jan 1, 1987

Highwall mining commenced in the Appalachian region 50 years ago. With innovative equipment design introduced in more recent times, penetration distances over 300 m are now commonplace. It is only in the last three years that highwall mining has become part of the Australian coal industry. Geotechnical evaluation is an integral part of the Australian procedures, and although still being refined, has already proven its worth. Statutory guidelines have also been prepared for operations in Queensland. This paper explores trends in equipment design, geotechnical prediction, operating techniques and statutory requirements with regard to highwall mining Australia's coal deposits. A quick assessment guide to assist in the evaluation of potential sites is included.

Jan 1, 1992

By Campbell D. L, Nutt C. J

The Delta two-degree quadrangle is located in west-central Utah, in the eastern Basin and Range physiographic province but near the intersection of the Basin and Range, Rocky Mountain, and Colorado Plateau provinces (Fig. 1). The quadrangle lies in the region of interior drainage that includes western Utah and most of Nevada, and, like the rest of that province, it has an arid climate. This work is part of the United States Geological Survey's ongoing CUSMAP (Conterminous United States Mineral Assessment Program) project in the Delta quadrangle. Trace-element geochemical data presented here includes information from approximately 600 heavy- mineral-concentrate and 2500 rock sample sites from throughout the Delta quadrangle.

Jan 1, 1988

With production at Olympic Dam scheduled to commence in June 1988, it has been necessary to install a complete underground ore handling system capable of removing two million tonnes of material annually from the mine. The system comprises mucking from stope drawpoints, truck haulage to underground storage, primary crushing, conveying and hoisting. On the surface, material is conveyed to stockpiles at the Metallurgical Plant. Mining of the numerous special excavations within the system was incorporated into the mine's ongoing development program prior to the underground construction phase. Utilisation of a decline from the surface enabled versatile construction equipment to operate at the underground sites as well as simplifying the transportation and delivery of construction Materials.

Jan 1, 1988

By Whittle J

Definition of the optimum open pit, whether an intermediate phase or final design, will be sensitive to many factors. The most basic will include geological and mining constraints, mining and processing costs, pit slopes and product prices. The application of the three dimensional Lerchs-Grossmann pit optimization procedure to this task is described for a range of gold deposits. A new approach to the modelling and manipulation of the geological model enables complex geological environments to be assessed, and sensitivity analyses to be developed. Comparisons with manually developed pit designs have been made to validate the results. The computer implementation is simple to use and can be adapted by non-computer professionals at mine Sites.

Jan 1, 1986

By McCarthy P. L

With production at Olympic Dam scheduled to commence in June 1988, it has been necessary to install a complete underground ore handling system capable of removing two million tonnes of material annually from the mine. The system comprises mucking from stope drawpoints, truck haulage to underground storage, primary crushing, conveying and hoisting. On the surface, material is conveyed to stockpiles at the Metallurgical Plant. Mining of the numerous special excavations within the system was incorporated into the mine's ongoing development program prior to the underground construction phase. Utilisation of a decline from the surface enabled versatile construction equipment to operate at the underground sites as well as simplifying the transportation and delivery of construction Materials.

Jan 1, 1988

By R. A. Frith, M D. Goodz

Ore-bearing minerals that are located along microfractures are always susceptible to loss during the breakage and sampling of the material. Further losses occur with on-site sample preparation and splitting prior to laboratory analysis. In these cases solid whole rock channel or core samples should be handled with due care to ensure all fines and loose particles are collected and included in the sample for total chemical analysis.Similarly open hole and reverse circulation drill methods are not usable in areas containing old mine workings, heavily fractured ground or highly degraded/oxidised mineral assemblages. Nor are these methods usable to assess a bulk mineable target where the enriched zones were peripheral to or between old mine cavities.

Jan 1, 1993

By Canning RL, Pritchard J

The surface treatment works in the Mount Isa Mines Limited copper stream consist of a concentrator and smelter with annual capacities of 5.6 million tonnes of ore and production of 155 000 tonnes of anode copper respectively. Both plants have been sites for process optimisation in recent years, the emphasis being to achieve productivity gains in each particular plant. The continued low real world prices for copper resulted in an in-depth review of the entire copper process stream. This indicated the need for developments within both the concentrator and smelter, and changes to operating strategy to ensure that the entire treatment stream could be optimised. The paper reviews these changes.

Jan 1, 1986

By E R. Ramanaidou

Two unknown iron ore samples were found by a geologist from Ok Tedi Mining Limited copper, gold and silver mine at an old wharf site dedicated to a 1970s drilling program in Lake Murray in Papua New Guinea (PNG). These iron ore samples could not come from a PNG mine and it was decided that a study should be undertaken to understand their origin. Lake Murray is the largest lake in PNG with a total surface area of 647 km2. It has a high-water 2038 km long convoluted shoreline with seasonal water level changes (Osborne, Kyle and Abramski, 1987) and it is located around 200 km south of the Ok Tedi mine (5°13’25”S, 141°09’37”E). The petrology, mineralogy and chemistry of two Fe samples (Ok Tedi 1 and Ok Tedi 2) included optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and a comparison with worldwide iron ore deposits. The two rock samples were cut to produce two subsamples: (1) a polished thin section; and (2) a pulp that was used for XRF analysis including major, minor and trace elements. Ok Tedi 1 and Ok Tedi 2 were petrologically and chemically compared to a range of known iron ore samples from Australia, Brazil and South Africa. The petrological study of Ok Tedi 1 indicates that it is composed of granoblastic recrystallised hematite and the overall texture is uniform without any obvious original ‘sedimentary’ texture. Ok Tedi 2 is a ‘specular’ or platy hematite with recrystallised and fused grains. Using both petrological and chemical clues, the two Ok Tedi samples likely originated from the Iron Quadrangle in Brazil.

Sep 18, 2023