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The physical setting and background to mining operations on Misima Island and the overall plant lay-out are outlined. Developments and changes made to each section of the plant are described as they were encountered during commissioning and initial operation.

Jan 1, 1991

By J Elsen, R Snellings, K Van Balen

This research concerns the mineralogical study of the physico-chemical reactions taking place at the pozzolan-binder interface. Lime binder/ pozzolan mixtures have been prepared for different natural zeolites. Analcime, phillipsite, chabazite, erionite, mordenite and clinoptilolite were mixed with portlandite and water, after which the progress in the reaction was quantitatively determined by thermogravimetrical analyses from three to 180 days. A first and important step was the thorough characterisation of the raw materials by quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscope energy- dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) measurements of the zeolite minerals, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) specific surface area measurements, grain-size analyses and cation exchange capacity measurements. Beside these zeolite samples with varying Si/Al ratios, two clinoptilolite samples exchanged to the calcium, potassium and sodium form were studied and the difference in their short- and long-term reactivity was assessed. Also the difference in reactivity between identical clinoptilolite samples ground to different grain sizes, obviously having different specific surface areas, was determined experimentally. The results indicate that the external surface area only influences the short-term reactivity, whereas the cation content has effect on both long- and short-term. Na-exchanged samples combine clearly more portlandite in the first few days, whereas the reaction slows down afterwards compared to K- and Ca-exchanged samples. The early reactivity of the unexchanged zeolite samples could be explained by these two parameters, but their long-term reactivity seemed to be related to their Si/Al ratio. Samples with zeolites rich in Si reacted faster then their Al-rich counterparts.

Jan 1, 2008

Development of New Comminution Testing Methodologies for Geometallurgical Mapping of Ore Hardness and Throughput The emerging discipline of 'geometallurgy' is becoming increasingly recognised as a discrete and high-value activity that reflects an ongoing trend towards more effective mine site integration and optimisation. Constrained sampling that reflects and defines inherent ore body variability is a key geometallurgical requirement. This requires use of larger numbers of low-cost physical testing which can be applied to small sample volumes suitable for defining natural variability. The AMIRA P843 'GeMIII' project (Geometallurgical Mapping and Mine Modelling) is a major industry-supported research initiative designed to develop new tools, methods and protocols to support geometallurgical integration. As part of this integrated research a new more rapid low-cost comminution test (GeM Comminution index) has been developed which can be employed as a front line tool for geometallurgical mapping purposes and predictive throughput modelling. The test has been designed to be inserted into routine assay sample preparation and is based on constrained jaw crushing protocols linked to analysis of resultant size distributions. Extensive validation and modelling has shown the GeM Comminution Index (Ci) is correlated with the Drop Weight index A*b and Bond Mill Work Index (BMWi). Large scale trials have been conducted within a commercial assay laboratory to demonstrate and optimise incorporation of the Ci test into routine sample preparation protocols. While Ci based estimates of A*b and BMWi are not as precise compared to larger volume more expensive test-work, the ability to undertake large numbers of tests typically in a systematic down-hole manner, provides a high level of data support through adjacency. A Ci based approach is highly suitable for variability mapping, domaining and selecting large composite samples for more precise testing. Within the context of the AMIRA P843 project this forms part of an integrated work flow designed to support geometallurgical integration. The development of a comminution test linked to routine assay sample preparation represents significant value adding to a process that in most cases is already going to be carried out. This paper introduces the Ci test concept and application to geometallurgical testing for throughput modelling

Sep 13, 2010

By C De-Vitry

"The large Yandi channel iron deposit (CID) is located in the north-west of Western Australia and is currently mined via open pit methods. Drilling at Yandi is widely spaced and current estimates are mostly linear averages of the surrounding local samples. Linear estimates such as ordinary kriging (OK) based on block sizes that are significantly smaller than the dimensions of the drilling grid are less variable than the unknown reality (Armstrong and Champigny, 1989).Conditional simulation (CS) provides a series of plausible realisations that represent the actual grade variability at a small scale (eg 1 m + 1 m + 1 m). These simulations are very useful for a number of purposes, eg: optimising grade control, stockpiling and blending selection of optimal drill hole spacing assessing resource risk on contained tonnage and metal.At Yandi the major constituents of the ore (Fe, P2O5, SiO2, Al2O3 and LOI) are correlated to varying degrees. Independent CS of each assay variable will not reproduce these correlations. Reproducing the correlations (and the shape of scatterplots) is important if the simulations are used for the abovementioned purposes. This paper examines and compares various methods of CS that aim to reproduce the correlations between the assay variables.The CS methods evaluated in this paper are conditional co-simulation (CCS) using the linear model of co-regionalisation and two other, alternative multivariate simulation methods, which use min/max autocorrelation factors (MAF) or the stepwise conditional transform (SCT) to de-correlate assay variables before performing independent CS. It was found that CCS best reproduced the characteristics (histograms, variogram, scatterplots, etc) of the declustered drill hole data (Figure 1). Whilst simulation using MAF generally produced acceptable results, the method did not adequately reproduce the variance of the assay variables. The univariate statistics, histograms and experimental variograms were acceptable for simulations generated from the SCT. Bivariate statistics, cross-variograms and scatterplot reproduction for the SCT were unacceptable. The latter method produced inferior results because there were insufficient samples to obtain a reliable transform of the third assay variable in the transformation sequence.None of the abovementioned simulation methods provides good reproduction of all the scatterplots. This is due to the presence of clay pods, which cause some scatterplots to display two trends. These clay pods contain higher percentages of SiO2 and Al2O3 than the surrounding CID. The clay pods are generally smaller than the drill-grid dimensions. Thus their locations are typically unknown and they cannot be defined by manual interpretation, eg via wireframes. The locations of the clay pods were simulated via indicator CS. CCS was then performed separately for the clay pods and the CID. This significantly improved the reproduction of the correlation coefficients, the scatterplots and visually the simulation was more geologically realistic. Simulating the location of clay pods followed by CCS of assay variables is the recommended approach for simulation at the Yandi CID.CITATION:De-Vitry, C, 2013. Simulation of correlated assay variables - a case study from the Yandi Channel iron deposit, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013, pp 137-148 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 12, 2013

By D J. Woodward, A B. Christie, S A. Henrys

Low-level aeromagnetic data available in digital form have been combined to produce a new 1:100 000 scale map of total force anomalies of the Coromandel region, New Zealand. The map incorporates data from 13 surveys flown between 1977 and 1990 and shows the regional magnetic pattern as well as more detailed localised anomalies. In addition to magnetic anomalies, the map also depicts data to aid interpretation, including small-scale maps of topography, geology, magnetic intensity gradient and apparent magnetisation. The primary magnetic anomalies of the Coromandel region are associated with Late Miocene and Pliocene volcanic rocks, but have been locally modified by intense hydrothermal alteration caused by geothermal activity. Epithermal gold-silver and porphyry copper deposits are associated with zones of hydrothermal alteration. The map of magnetic anomalies can be used as an aid to mineral exploration and the interpretation of the processes that control the distribution of mineral deposits in the region.

Jan 1, 2001

By O Haavisto, N Khajehzadeh, L Koresaar

Online analysis of metal content can be used to optimise the grade and recovery of a flotation circuit. Compared to conventional laboratory analyses, the benefit of an online analyser is the speed of the measurement, therefore disturbances (eg changes in feed grade and decrease in recovery) can be reacted to in real time by an operator or automatic process control system. In some cases traditional X-ray fluorescence analysers can be applied to silica analysis in iron ore when the SiO2 grades are high enough and have a negative correlation with iron; however, generally a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analyser is more suitable for low Z elements.The Outotec Courier 8® analyser is a LIBS based analyser able to measure elements starting from lithium (Z = 3), thus being able to measure impurities; eg silica and aluminium directly in iron ore slurries. Besides online elemental analysis, the analyser can be combined with optical measurements for rapid continuous measurement of each sample line. Laboratory testing has also shown potential for mineralogical analysis using the combination of LIBS and reflectance spectroscopy.CITATION:Koresaar, L, Khajehzadeh, N, Haavisto, O and Timperi, J, 2017. Online elemental and mineral measurement of slurries in iron ore beneficiation, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2017, pp 561–566 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 24, 2017

By Lottrey A. L, Sowerby B. D, Cutmore N. G

On-line monitoring of low rank coal quality during input to a process has the potential to provide benefits through: ò anticipation of coal quality variations prior to utilisation; ò provision of a tool to help determine the influence of coal quality on process behaviour, and ò provide a direct measure of coal quality for pricing. Moisture and ash are the two most significant coal quality parameters for combustion. They determine the energy content which can be derived from the coal and the problems arising from the presence of ash in the process (eg ash fouling, corrosion, erosion, particulate emissions and ash disposal). Extensive pilot-scale testing and full-scale experience has shown that specific coal/ash constituents (eg Na2O/ash ratio, acid-soluble aluminium, silica, sulphur contents, etc) are also important for the behaviour of Latrobe Valley brown coal during combustion, ash formation, deposition and removal of ash in precipitators and furnace ash hoppers. This paper discusses the range of on-line analysis techniques which have been investigated and their application to low rank coal analysis. Preliminary results from a joint SECV/CSIRO project which aims to develop two separate advanced instrument systems are also presented. These systems are based on: ò microwave attenuation and phase shift - for direct determination of moisture content; and ò inelastic neutron scattering - to provide total hydrogen, carbon, chlorine and ash contents, with potential for calculation of moisture content, specific energy, sodium content and Na20/ash ratio using correlations.

Jan 1, 1992

THE ore treated is almost pure copper pyrites (chalcopyrite) in a gangue of quartz and quartz-felsite. Very little free iron sulphide (pyrite) occurs, and at the time of the erection of the flotation plant the stopes in the oxidized zone had been almostentirely depleted. This zone only extends to a shallow depth, and, below the l00-ft. level, the sulphide for the most part is clean and bright but in the crushed and brecciated parts of the ore channel, where surface water has circulated freely, the gangue is decomposed and kaolinized, and the copper sulphide badly tarnished. This class of ore gave considerable trouble at the mill, but unfortunately, was very limited in quantity. A sample of rich ore assayed-Copper, 21.2 %; iron, 24:.3 %; silica, 28.9 %; sulphur, 25.1%.The concentration in the original mill was effected by handpicking, jigging, and tabling. A considerable portion of the copper mineral arrives at the surface in the form of large lumps of very pure quality, eminently suitable for sorting out by hand.The rich ore is tipped over a grizzly at the shaft bins; the oversize hand-picked, and the undersize bagged direct.

Jan 1, 1912

Drill blasting is a widely used method for rock fragmentation in mining, quarrying and construction industries. Environmental effects such as air shocks, dust, flying rocks and ground vibration are unavoidable results and undesired effects of blasting. Among these ground vibrations can have a damaging effect and may influence on long distances. Therefore various researchers have developed mathematical models to predict ground vibration after blasting. These models take into account the amount of explosive, distance and several coefficients related to the field under investigation. The developed models to predict ground vibration may yield different results for the same case. Selection of the most suitable model requires engineering judgment and evaluation of models. At this point, a computerised system helps the engineer to evaluate and select the most suitable model in order to design and plan a blasting pattern. The safe charge of explosive and magnitude of vibration after blasting should be predicted beforehand. Therefore a computer program namely 'prediction of blast induced vibration' (P-BIV) has been developed. This paper introduces and presents a computer program (P-BIV) which includes the set of models developed to estimate ground vibration to provide blasting engineers a tool to determine the amount of explosive for safe blasting.

Dec 6, 2010

If lead buttons are cupelled under closely controlled conditions in a suitable design of furnace, silver losses during cupellation are given by a simple equation. The effect of copper on these silver losses has been studied and a "copper limit" for cupellation has been determined. Scorification and crucible fusion procedures for copper-bearing materials have been designed so that the lead buttons produced will not contain amounts of copper greater than this determined copper limit. Silver losses during these crucible fusion and scorification procedures are given by the distribution law, and can be calculated. Thus, silver can be determined in copper-bearing materials with a satisfactory degree of accuracy provided that the appropriate corrections for losses are applied to the weight of the silver prill produced.

Jan 1, 1957

By R Tweedie

'The politics of mining in New Zealand' is a topic I chose myself because of its importance in the future of the New Zealand mining industry. There are many people in the industry who are cynical about politics, cynical about politicians and definitely cynical and often critical of political decisions. In fact, many industry people say they don't want to get involved in politics, they just want to get on with the business of exploration or mining. The point of my address is that politics is important and the industry cannot afford not to participate in the political process.

Jan 1, 1991

Recycling and Recovering Fine Particles from Auto Shredding Residue (ASR/SR) to Conserve Raw Materials and Protect Environment

Sep 13, 2010

Preparation of MgO Nano-Particles with Magnesite

Sep 13, 2010

To form a true picture of the early history of Queensland, we must think of white settlement advancing like an incoming tide, wave by wave; each wave lapping ahead a little further than the last. The credit for opening up the country belongs to a large number of pioneers, each of whom pushed out just a little further than his predecessors.Contrary to what one might expect, Rockhampton district was settled by overlanders from the south and not from the ocean side. When the Archers, the pioneers of the Rockhampton district, reached Gracemere in 1853, settlement had already made its way down the valley of the Dawson River; for it was from Leith Hay's station at Rannes (a few miles below Mount Morgan) that the Archers advanced northward into the unknown, to find the river that the explorer, Ludwig Leichhardt, had told them must enter the sea somewhere near the Tropic of Capricorn.The Archers travelled northward from Rannes up the valley of the Dee, coming out on the edge of the Razorback Range not very far from the point at which the Dawson Valley Highway drops over into Poison Creek. (Their diary records the bearings from a lookout point to various peaks around Rockhampton, and to-day, by plotting back from these peaks, we can determine the exact spot at which they descended on to the Fitzroy Flats.) We can be certain, then, that they must have been the first white men to set eyes on Mount Morgan; though to them it would have seemed to be nothing more than an insignificant hill...

Jan 1, 1939

Two structurally and mineralogically distinct sulphiderich veins cross-cutting the disseminated sulphides of the Nairne Pyrite Member appear to be products of local remobilization of sulphides under fracture-induced free energy gradients during regional metamorphism and tectonic deformation.The contrasting mineralogy of the two vein types may have arisen as a result of differences in the structural orientation of the veins and!or the relative ages of the veins.

Jan 1, 1969

By Greenwood J. N

This is the fourth paper in the series on Australian w,ar materials and the work was undertaken as part of the programme for producing hard carbides. It had been intended to determine the influence of tantalum and columbium' carbides in mixtures with tungsten carbide. Owing to other, urgent developments, it has not been possible to proceed with that programme.1. THE PROCESSING OF A TANTALITE ORE(a) The OreThe minerals in which tantalum and columbium most commonly occur are tantalite and columbite. These two minerals are the end members of an isomorphous series of tantalates and columbates of iron and manganese, but in nature the series grade into each other.Some of the best deposits of tantalum and columbium ores in the world occur in the north-west of Australia. Until recently tantalite low in columbium was the only mine~al in demand but discoveries of extended uses for columbium, e.g., addition of ferro-columbium to high chromium I steels inhibits intergranular corrosion (weld decay), have created a demand for columbite low in tantalum as weB. Both of these types of' ore occur in the Pilbara district in Western Australia and most of the ore mined is exported to America after a preliminary grinding and concentration by gravity.A sample from the Bynoe Harbour locality, west of Darwin, was used in this investigation. It consisted of coarse lumps of tantalite with quartz in minor amounts. Cassiterite w.as also present. A recent investigation!l) gave the analysis as:

Jan 1, 1943

A paper presenting an overview of legislative and best practice approaches to the management of OHS&E and business risk for Australian tunnelling operations. Best practice can be achieved in Australian tunnelling through ærisk awarenessÆ by decision-makers and line personnel. This will identify problems before they occur and lead to implementing controls appropriate to avoiding loss throughout the life cycle of the underground opening. The author draws on legislative approaches from all Australian states together with practical experience from risk management and risk engineering work from six recent tunnelling projects. This describes a process that:commences with concept risk assessment,involves quantification of major hazards,conducts assessments of operating risks, andleads to implementation of an integrated management system that keeps construction activities connected with the controls identified in the design and planning phases and minimises the losses sustained as a result. Key points addressed include:where the industry is going with respect to risk û methods and considerations,how tunnelling risks are perceived by the industry and legislation,how tunnel constructors and owners can minimise exposure by using proper risk engineering ætoolsÆ, andreflections on best practice methods for transferring knowledge from designers to contractors/operators.

Jan 1, 2008

By S M. Iveson, K P. Galvin, D Kumar

Dry separation of iron ore fines and other heavy minerals has previously been achieved using one of two main approaches. The first is an inclined table with an upward airflow via small holes to help form an autogenous dense medium. The second is based on fluidised beds comprising a dense medium formed by fine particles suspended in an upward flow of air. In either case, vibration can be introduced. This paper describes recent findings using a novel system referred to as the Sink-Hole Fluidiser, which utilises elements of both these two former approaches. This device consists of a conventional gas-fluidised bed of fine medium with a 1 mm aperture mesh located at the surface. This mesh contains relatively large holes that act as sink-holes. The fluidised media flows upwards through the sink-holes and then falls back into the fluidised bed via the fine apertures in the mesh. The particles being separated, which are much larger than the fine media, pass over these sink-holes, where they either sink or float. The sink-holes offer a more precise balance of forces, applied on a single particle basis, resulting in robust density separation.Experiments have been performed using 2.0–4.0 mm tracer particles of density varying from 2.4 to 4.8 relative densities (RD) separated in a 200 mm diameter Sink-Hole Fluidiser with a single 13 mm diameter centrally-located sink-hole. In this preliminary semi-batch work, it was found that the Sink-Hole Fluidiser was able to achieve sharp separations (Ep as low as 0.20). This work underpins the development of a new continuous steady-state Sink-Hole Fluidiser, applicable to the dry separation of iron ore fines.CITATION:Kumar, D, Iveson, S M and Galvin, K P, 2017. A novel sink-hole fluidisation method for dry separation of iron ore fines, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2017, pp 221–226 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 24, 2017

By Lancucki C. J, Nickson N. M

X-ray diffraction and differential thermal methods were used to determine the mineralogy of some clays used by the heavy clay industry in the Adelaide area. A detailed analysis was made of the mineralogy and particle size distribution of eighteen samples from beds in two pits in the Recent sediments in the Adelaide plains, of six white clays developed from the weathering of the Adelaide series of sediments, and of four Recent alluvial clays from a pit in the Mount Lofty ranges south of Adelaide. Structural clay products in the Adelaide area are manufactured from mixtures of these clays, so the mineralogy and particle size distribution was determined of eighteen clay mixtures used to make red bricks, cream bricks, facing bricks, pipes and tiles.Knowledge of this mineralogy is important in understanding the ceramic behaviour of the clays.INTRODUCTIONIn this investigation an account is given of the clay mineralogy and particle size distribution of some ceramic clays from the Adelaide area. The clays are used in the manufacture of structura,l clay products and the results to 'be described are part of an overall 'plan of study covering the heavy industrial clays and shales of Australia. Previous work has been published (Cole and Carthew, 1953; Ferguson, 1954; Ferguson and Hosking, 1955; Cole and Nielsen, 1958/59).In this work no attempt has been made to examine clays from all pits engaged in supplying materials for the structural clay industry. However, in 1954 the senior author collected detailed samples from two pits working in Recent alluvial clays in the Allenby·Gardens and Beverley areas near...

Jan 1, 1963

By C Hall, J L. Mauk

New 40Ar/39Ar dates of vein and wall rock adularia from seven epithermal deposits and one porphyry copper prospect help constrain the ages of mineralisation in the Hauraki Goldfield. Vein adularia from the Paritu region yielded a single 40Ar/39Ar plateau date of 16.315 ¦ 0.066 Ma. Five 40Ar/39Ar plateau dates of three samples of vein adularia from the Opitonui deposit overlap within error to yield a preferred age of 13.149 ¦ 0.016 Ma. Two samples of vein adularia from the Night Reef at the Broken Hills deposit yield exceptionally flat 40Ar/39Ar plateaus, and all dates overlap within error to provide an age of 7.121 ¦ 0.010 Ma. Two 40Ar/39Ar plateau dates of one sample of vein adularia from the Wharekirauponga deposit overlap within error to provide an age of 6.318 ¦ 0.061 Ma. Four 40Ar/39Ar plateau dates of three samples of vein adularia from the Maratoto deposit overlap within error to provide an age of 6.411 ¦ 0.022 Ma. Two samples of adularia from altered wall rock at the Sovereign deposit yield three 40Ar/39Ar plateau dates that range from 6.547 ¦ 0.021 to 6.806 ¦ 0.028 Ma. This suggests that mineralisation formed around 6.6 Ma, but the results are complicated because the adularia contains minor illite that post-dates adularia formation. Results from the Karangahake deposit are complex. Two samples of vein adularia yield three 40Ar/39Ar plateau dates that range from 6.116 ¦ 0.116 to 6.901 ¦ 0.101 Ma, whereas one sample of wall rock adularia that contains minor late illite yields two 40Ar/39Ar plateau dates that overlap within error to provide a date of 5.734 ¦ 0.041. The range of dates indicates that more work is necessary to understand the history of mineralisation at this deposit. Two samples of vein adularia from the Tui deposit yield four 40Ar/39Ar plateau dates that overlap within error to provide an age of 5.714 ¦ 0.017 Ma. These results confirm previous work that indicates that the ages of epithermal deposits young southward in the Hauraki Goldfield. These results are also consistent with previously postulated different ages for deposits hosted in Kuaotunu Subgroup rocks in the northern goldfield (>10 Ma), and deposits hosted in Waiwawa Subgroup rocks in the southern goldfield (7.1 to 5.7 Ma).

Jan 1, 2005