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By S Q. Zhao, J H. Wei

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The Xitieshan lead-zinc deposit is located in the north margin of the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai Province, China. It is one of the largest massive sulfide deposits in China and is supposed to be of the sedimentation-exhalation (SEDEX) type. Based on the main ore mineral and sulfur isotopic compositions in sulfides found in the wall rock, the S of the deposit is considered to originate from the mantle, but the fluid potentially mixed with sea water during the hydrothermal circulation exchange. The study of lead isotopes shows that the metallogenic material is characterised by the mixture of orogenic and upper crust sources. The lead isotopic signature of the wall rock is similar to that of the ore, which shows synsedimentary characteristics. According to the composition of the rubidium and strontium isotopic signature, the value of 87Sr/86Sr is lower than the average value of that in the crustal rock, which is larger than that of the mantle. Hence, the metallogenic materials of this deposit mainly originate from the crust, which is related to materials of volcanic rocks activation and migration of the deep hot circulating water. The process of the metallogenic fluid circulation shows continuous interaction with crustal material and lead to continuous enrichment of the ore forming fluids. From the study of the fluid inclusion microthermometry of the ore and the associated minerals combined with the C, H-O, Si isotopes, it is believed that the metallogenic fluid is mainly coming from the mantle or the deep magma chambers. The rising deep fluid then mixes with the sea water. The carbon dioxide escaping and mixing with sea water during the hydrothermal exhalation process leads to the rapid precipitation of the hydrothermal fluid to deposit metal. That is proposed as the principal formation mechanism of the Xitieshan deposit. Further studies are proposed, including obtaining geochronology data from this deposit.CITATION:Zhao, Z X, Wei, J H, Liang, S N and Zhao, S Q, 2015. Advances in research on metallogenic mechanisms for the Xitieshan sedimentation-exhalation lead-zinc deposit, Qinghai Province, China, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 487–494 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

Since the announcement of early experimental work on rotating magnetic field (RMF) separation at the Sixth Mill OperatorsÆ Conference in 1997, the concept of RMF separation has been developed and tested further, and a range of separator designs is now being developed for the mineral processing industry. Shortened, but full diameter, prototypes of these designs are now available for test separations. The main advantage of RMF low and medium intensity attraction separation is the significant reduction in particle entrapment. This reduction is so significant that RMF separators are capable of operating very close to their theoretical limit for separator precision. This makes small laboratory RMF attraction separators ideal for low to medium intensity magnetic sample analysis, and larger separators ideal for applications requiring sharp magnetic susceptibility splits. Feedrates and separation rates are comparable to those of conventional attraction separators. Although RMF attraction separators are now well advanced in development, RMF rotation separation is still in the early experimental stage. The exception to this is the dry particle rotation eddy current separator that offers eddy current separation of small non-ferrous metallic particles from about 2 mm down to about 100 microns. Wet small particle eddy current separation is also possible, but has not yet been developed to a practical stage.

Jan 1, 2000

By Y. C. Han

The advances in seismic design considering soil-structure interaction or soil-pile-structure interaction are described using a substructure approach. The nonlinearity of soil is considered approximately using a boundary zone model with non-reflective interface, and computer programs are available for practical applications. The validation of model is confirmed with dynamic tests on piles in the field, and the results for a single pile are used to compare with the predictions in this study. The liquefaction for sand soil layer can be accounted for, and a case of liquefaction is discussed. Two practical examples are examined, a vacuum tower structure supported on foundation of steel pile group and a table top structure supported on foundation of concrete pile group. To illustrate the effects of soil-pile-structure interaction on the seismic response of vacuum structure, different base conditions are considered, rigid base, i.e. no deformation of the foundation; linear soil-pile system; and nonlinear soil-pile system. The method introduced can be applied to the design of tall buildings, bridges, industrial structures and offshore platforms with soil-pile-structure interaction under seismic or dynamic loads.

Jan 1, 2010

By R. J. Pruett

Selective flocculation enables the production of high-brightness kaolin products from kaolin ore once considered too poor in quality for beneficiation into paper-coating pigments. Anatase, Ti(1-X)FeXO2, with X = 0 to 0.05, is a common iron-bearing impurity in sedimentary kaolin that can be unresponsive to kaolin beneficiation processes, such as magnetic separation, due to its extremely fine particle size (<0.3 µm), or chemical bleaching, because of its chemical stability. Described here are selective flocculation technologies that separate anatase by flocculating anatase or flocculating kaolinite from dispersed slurries. Applying the advances in the chemical and mechanical dispersion of ultrafine particles and the selective aggregation of kaolinite or anatase particles have resulted in the selective flocculation processes practiced today that have increased process recoveries from those technologies practiced beginning in the 1960s.

Feb 1, 2012

By John Wallace

"Monitoring compound semiconductor crystal growth using multifrequency eddy currents for sensing illustrates some of the extreme problems of measurement and interpretation that are not often seen in metallic systems. Using sensor arrays and scanning sensors have produced a qualitative and quantitative understanding of some of the high temperature electrical conductivity mechanisms in several compound systems. A detailed review of the CdTe/CdZnTe data is presented showing some of the complexity in the data as opposed to what is found in elemental semiconductors.HistoryThe most common goal in the use of eddy current measurement in crystal growth is to deter-mine the curvature of the liquid solid interface during growth to test if the heat transfer estimates of the thermal design were adequate for single crystal growth[l]. This aim could be met but represented only a small fraction of the data that was produced observing a growth cycle. A secondary consideration was what could be discovered in the recorded data about the growth and subsequent heat treatment as the boule cooled. This is usually a more difficult task because a crystal growth process is not a controlled experiment so much as a process that continually sees modification. Using a sensor arrays or a scanning loop has produced a qualitative and quantitative basis for understanding some of the high temperature electrical conductivity mechanisms. The implication of the these measurements of electrical conductivity variations are important in that they reflect the complex defect states that will occur on cooling and heat treatment following crystal growth. In contrast to the complex behavior of the conductivity of these compound semiconductors in the solid and liquid state we have the very well characterized system silicon to compare. Initially the interest on using eddy currents to monitor compound semiconductors came from G. Westphal at the Texas; Instruments Company in 1987 to monitor aspects of growth and compounding of GaAs. This was followed by work on solution growth of HgCdTe with D. Witter. The initial interest in the use of eddy cur-rents for monitoring CdTe crystal growth came from Prof. Wilcox at Clarkson University in the practical interest to determine and control the crystal interface curvature during vertical brigdeman growth. The first actual work was done by one of his former students. G. Neuge-bauer at the II-VI Corporation which was carried on by G. Rosen at Clarkson and R. Shetty at II-VI Corporation and with A. Socha at Johnson-Matthey Electronics. The work on CdTe extends over four years and yielded sufficient data to allow one to evaluate the utility of the information produced as compared to what could be obtained from monitoring an elemental semiconductor such as silicon."

Jan 1, 1997

By Joseph T. Coe, Siavash Mahvelati, Alireza Kordjazi

This paper introduces recent advances in stress-wave NDT systems for use in assessments of in-service foundation integrity and drilled shaft construction. The primary results of the laboratory experiments are very promising, as the acquired image was capable of differentiating changes in pile cross section as low as 0.3 cm. The preliminary results with the same hardware components on a relatively large scale cemented sand model were also promising. A brief overview is provided of both systems including hardware, survey methods, and data processing techniques, followed by a discussion on application of the results to QA/QC of deep foundations. INTRODUCTION There are two main applications in which current QA/QC NDT technology fails to provide sufficient information regarding deep foundation conditions: (1) detection of flaws in outside cover concrete of drilled shafts and corrosion in steel piling; and (2) evaluation of anomalies beneath the bottom of drilled shaft excavations. Previous studies have demonstrated the capabilities of high frequency stress waves for geotechnical and foundation evaluation purposes (Lee and Santamarina 2005; Coe and Brandenberg 2010; Coe and Brandenberg 2012; Coe and Kermani 2016). Higher frequency waves can visualize smaller anomalous features at the expense of higher attenuation and smaller propagation distance. Therefore, the goal of this study was to advance the state of NDT practice by development of a prototype high resolution stress-wave imaging system as proof-of-concept. The equipment and hardware were modular, which allowed simultaneous development of two system configurations for application to in- service foundations as well as drilled shaft excavations during construction. Results are presented based on two large scale soil models. The first laboratory model simulated section loss in an in-service steel pipe pile and drilled shaft foundation (Fig. 1a). The second model simulated anomalous conditions beneath drilled shafts excavations as might be encountered in areas with significant karst (Fig. 1b). For both models, evaluation of foundation conditions relied on the propagation of small amplitude seismic stress waves using hardware similar to those described in Coe and Brandenberg (2010) and Coe and Brandenberg (2012).

Jan 1, 2018

By H. Y. Sohn

The considerable progress made in the sulfide smelting technology since the first International Sulfide Symposium of 1983 is discussed. The new developments and innovations have largely been driven by the recognition of environmental concern as well as the need for increased productivity. The smelting technologies for various nonferrous metals are reviewed, with an emphasis on the industry trend towards larger plants and continuous processes. The tremendous advances made in process modeling and computer simulation to describe the complex smelting processes are also reviewed. The goal of these mathematical models is the quantitative description of the processes and the reactors that will provide a means for the control and optimization of smelting operations as well as the optimal design of the operating conditions and the reactors. Environmental issues remain a key consideration in the smelting industry. One of the most remarkable improvements made in the last fifteen years since the 1983 Sulfide Smelting Symposium is the rapid increase in the sulfur capture by nonferrous smelters. This and other related issues are briefly discussed. Finally, the challenges that the smelting industry faces as the new millenium approaches are discussed. The industry continues to face technical challenges to improve productivity and efficiency, while being responsive to ever-increasing public pressure for environmental protection. It also faces external challenges from factors that may cause the reduction of metal uses as a result of substitutions by other materials. Another serious challenge and dire consequence that the primary metals industry is expected to face is the serious diminution of university-educated manpower as well as basic-research output. To remain competitive and healthy, the industry should take up the void left by the complete disappearance, at least in the U.S., and the reduction in other nations, of the governmental support of higher education and basic research in the field of primary metals production.

Jan 1, 1998

By D Lichti

This paper presents recent advancements in the MillMapper software technology, developed and used for thickness gauging of liners of cylindrical grinding mills used for mineral comminution. MillMapper uses calibrated laser scanner data captured inside a mill to determine thickness at several million points on all liner surfaces with millimetre accuracy. The paper is structured as follows. First, a review of the technology and its numerous advantages over existing techniques and the value it adds to operations are presented. These are followed by discussion of recently-implemented innovations, including improved visualisation and inspection tools, automatic ball charge volume measurement and automatic mill liner volume/weight measurement. Results from its application at several sites in Australia are presented throughout.

Jan 1, 2007

By Osvaldo Guilherme Comineli

While the hot cracking of Cu-containing steels is a serious and widely known problem for the industry, the literature reports that copper only slightly impairs the hot-ductility measured in laboratory. A distinction is drawn between hot ductility and hot shortness and the respective cracking operating mechanism involved at the respective range of temperature. The representability of the laboratory assessment of hot cracking of Cu-containing steels by hot tensile tests compared with actual results in industrial practice is discussed. The effectiveness of the variable affecting in each cracking mechanism and respective temperature range, focused in improving the hot cracking assessment of Cu-steels and the relative importance of oxidation will also be discussed. It is concluded that the hot tensile test in argon might be a good simulation if properly interpreted and that the role of oxidation is secondary in causing hot shortness. A schematic diagram for the hot tensile test is proposed.

Oct 30, 2017

By G. Deschênes

Silver minerals are known to have slow leaching rates and low overall extraction and require a high concentration of cyanide and a long retention time to maximize leach extraction. Their response to cyanidation is considered mild to moderately refractory, largely due to complex mineralogical compositions. New research on improving the dissolution of silver minerals in cyanide was performed using high-purity minerals, as well as a high-grade ore sample from the Kupol property, owned 75% by Kinross Gold. The high-purity silver minerals studied in the leach investigations included acanthite, stephanite and pyrargyrite, which were also the predominant silver minerals in the Kupol ore sample. Dissolution of silver from acanthite produced only 37% extraction in 48 hours of leaching with 500 ppm NaCN. Analysis of the leached acanthite surface showed appreciable formation of polysulfide species, which can interfere with silver leaching. Adding lead nitrate into a pretreatment stage increased the acanthite silver extraction to 86.2%. No polysulfide species were formed with the addition of lead nitrate from the surface analysis. Cyanidation of stephanite and pyrargyrite produced very low dissolutions of silver, only 12.6% and 10.4%, respectively, in the absence of lead nitrate. Silver extraction from stephanite improved to 98% by adding lead nitrate directly to the leaching stage, whereas pyrargyrite required a pretreatment with lead nitrate to extract 83.2% Ag. With the addition of lead nitrate, the mineral surfaces had a PbO species and minor amounts of Pb(OH)2 and antimony was oxidized on the stephanite and pyrargyrite surfaces during leaching. There was a much greater concentration of Sb(V) on stephanite relative to pyrargyrite. Therefore, lead forms a redox couple on silver mineral grains and favors the oxidation of silver minerals. The high-grade Kupol sample assayed 22.6 g/t Au and 359.3 g/t Ag following treatment by gravity separation. Gold and silver extractions from the Kupol sample were 94.5% and 82.9%, respectively, using 500 ppm NaCN and 250 g/t lead nitrate. The findings to improve the extraction of silver from the ore sample with lead nitrate addition were congruent with those to improve the extraction of silver from the individual high purity minerals. Pretreatment did not, however, improve gold or silver extraction significantly with the ore sample.

Jan 1, 2011

This paper presents recent advancements in the MillMapper software technology, developed and used for thickness gauging of liners of cylindrical grinding mills used for mineral comminution. MillMapper uses calibrated laser scanner data captured inside a mill to determine thickness at several million points on all liner surfaces with millimetre accuracy. The paper is structured as follows. First, a review of the technology and its numerous advantages over existing techniques and the value it adds to operations are presented. These are followed by discussion of recently-implemented innovations, including improved visualisation and inspection tools, automatic ball charge volume measurement and automatic mill liner volume/weight measurement. Results from its application at several sites in Australia are presented throughout.

Jan 1, 2007

By T King

This paper reviews the changes in the coal industry over the past 30 years and attempts to predict the trends over the next ten years. The last 30 years have seen a steady concentration of production into fewer, larger mines, which operate on 3: more continuous basis, and a major increase in productivity per employee. Coal exports have increased from zero to almost half the country&apos;s total production. As well as major changes in exploration and mining equipment and the increasing use of computer tools, the industry now operates in a relatively new regulatory and commercial environment. &nbsp; Safety legislation now requires the writing and enforcement of policies and procedures by the mining companies, rather than adherence to inflexible regulations enforced by an Inspector. Accident rates have decreased dramatically. The transition from coal mining licences to permits, requiring landowner consent and resource consents, is well under way. Environmental controls are now an essential aspect of the industry. &nbsp; Equipment suppliers now offer maintenance services, production guarantees and flexible financing. &nbsp;Contract miners offer mine design and restoration as part of the contract. In a similar approach, Solid Energy now offer an ash disposal service and assistance with resource consents to their customers as well as investment in technology to ensure a consistent product to demanding specifications. Solid Energy has proposals for energy centres which install and operate the coal burning appliances and simply sell energy to the customers. The next 10 years should see an intensification of these trends of bigger mines, more exports and greater technology and a &apos;package&apos; approach to customer service.

Jan 1, 1997

By Clayton V. Deutsch

Indicator Kriging (IK) is being commonly applied to mineral resource assessment problems. More recently, indicator simulation has also been used for sensitivity analysis and difficult change of support problems. The essential theory underlying indicator geostatistics has not changed since its introduction 10 years ago; however, the last decade has produced many important developments in its implementation. The objective of this paper is to consider some of the more important implementation details. Examples from the Porgera gold deposit in Papua New Guinea are used to illustrate the steps in an indicator geostatistical study and the importance of various implementation decisions. Specifically, in many precious metals deposits the continuity of the grades is typically quite anisotropic. This anisotropy varies in both magnitude and direction throughout the deposit. Building a model of this anisotropy can considerably improve the local kriged or simulated points. One approach to build this model is presented. In addition, there is typically more than one mineralization style and geological rock type; the spatial character of the mineralization can be quite different within each geological rock type. The rational treatment of anisotropy and geological subdivisions is common to all mineral resource assessment procedures; the importance of this qualitative geological information is not diminished with more sophisticated techniques such as indicator kriging. This paper presents an overdue comprehensive look at the practical aspects of indicator methodology. Many of the techniques and procedures documented in this paper have been developed during the course of detailed mine feasibility studies.

Jan 1, 1992

By Dever Ashmead

ANTHRACITE was first mined in the Wyoming Valley and sold as an article of commerce in 1808. As some preparation has always been necessary to make it ready to burn, the preparation of anthracite must date back over a hundred years. Two vital factors have determined to a large extent the degree and method of anthracite preparation. These are, first, the character of the beds worked and the methods by which they were mined and, second, the equipment used and practices followed in the burning of the coal. It is not the intention here to go deeply into these phases of preparation as a paper of no mean length could be prepared on the history of either. Rather, the intention here is to point out the main considerations and to show the influence they have exerted on the preparation of anthracite. MINING METHODS AND THEIR RELATION TO PREPARATION In the beginning f the nineteenth century, the coal beds were virgin with the possible exception of some outcroppings that had been worked, to a slight extent, by the Indians. It is known that the American aborigines had a knowledge of the use of this fuel, because when the Wyoming Valley was purchased from them, in 1754, they mentioned the fact that, by selling the land, they would lose their coal.

Jan 9, 1921

By T A. Helms, P Gottlieb, S E, R Bateman

In response to the ever-increasing challenges facing the modern gold mining industry and the need for improved gold recoveries within all processing streams, CSIRO has upgraded its latest automated mineralogical analysis system, QemSCAN (formerly QEM*SEM), with special purpose hardware that speeds up the location and measurement of precious metal-bearing phases. By rapidly scanning the surface of polished blocks, and accepting only fields that contain the minerals of interest, QemSCAN is able to find, map, and quantify target minerals in extreme detail. Phase identification and quantification is achieved by placing a grid of points over the target particle and collecting X-ray information at each analysis point. The resulting mineral maps provide the metallurgist with a complete textural description of all gold-bearing phases within the product measured, together with quantification of the gold phases in terms of their modal abundance, particle size, mineral associations, relative contributions to gold deportment and liberation characteristics. Examples are presented which illustrate how QemSCAN is able to find and quantify gold-bearing phases within low-grade ores from the Super Pit, Kalgoorlie. This work is the result of a collaborative project between Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM), CSIRO Minerals, and the University of Queensland, and is on-going.

Jan 1, 2000

By M M. Hilden, M S. Powell, B Foggiatto

In an environment of decreasing ore grade, increasing costs and uncertainty with respect to commodity prices, the industry could benefit from evaluating alternative technologies and innovative circuit configurations. The flexible circuit approach suggests that the design of grinding circuits can be adapted to changes in feed properties and economic conditions. Advances in modelling and simulation are enabling metallurgists to predict the performance of more complex circuit configurations with increased confidence. Ore variability information and processing costs may be used as modelling inputs to determine the optimum processing conditions at a given time. A case study has been completed demonstrating the value of combining a flexible circuit with a model-based optimisation of the process. Ore properties and equipment performance data obtained in operating plants have been used to model and simulate flexible circuit configurations.This paper explores strategies to introduce flexibility to existing circuit configurations when processing ores with high variability. Multicomponent models incorporated in the model developers’ kit (MDK) allow the simulation of more complex and flexible circuits. This capability enables demonstration of the potential to enhance metal production through adapting processing routes according to the ore type being processed. The simulation of different flow sheet configurations allowed the definition of the best option for maintaining the metal production when treating lower grade ores, highlighting the advantages of flexible circuit configurations compared with a one-process-fits-all approach.CITATION:Foggiatto, B, Hilden, M M and Powell, M S, 2014. Advances in the simulation of flexible circuits, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 391–398 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 1, 2014

By L. Cifuentes, J. M. Casas

The treatment of aqueous CuSO4-H2SO4- As-Sb solutions by electrodialysis in order to separate and concentrate species of interest has recently been studied. Results show that it is possible to separate copper from arsenic in electrodialysis cells. The separation of copper from antimony is also possible. Transport rate ranges that could be achieved, depending on experimental conditions, are 0.2 to 0.6 mol per hour per square metre of membrane for copper, 0.65 to 2.8 for sulphate, and 0.016 to 0.03 for arsenic. Transport rates for antimony were inconclusive due to its very low solubility in the studied systems. Solution agitation and increasing temperature markedly increased the process rates. Advancements in this area require further work in both the thermodynamics (speciation) and kinetics of complex CuSO4- H2SO4-H2O systems, where impurities, other than As and Sb, and additives should be taken into account to gain a deeper understanding of the application of ED to copper electrorefining electrolytes

Jan 1, 2004

By J. S. Bays

Industries are challenged to meet increasingly stringent regulations for selenium and metals. Cost-effective treatment is required to minimize the economic impact of environmental compliance. Low-cost biological treatment of selenium can be achieved passively using biochemical reactor cells composed of natural organic media components such as wood chips, sawdust, hay, composted manure, and peat. The reactor cells create an anaerobic microenvironment for biological reduction and sequestration of selenium and other metals. Biochemical reactors can be combined with constructed wetlands for flow equalization and to remove the organic byproducts in reactor cell outflow. Passive treatment reduces capital cost and operational effort compared to more expensive and complex physical and chemical treatment. Recent pilot and full-scale projects by mining companies and by the US Bureau of Reclamation demonstrate that passive treatment can achieve compliance with selenium concentrations over a range of flows and environmental conditions. Case histories of passive selenium treatment systems and their key findings are provided, and prospects for future applications are summarized.

Feb 27, 2013

"Previous studies on the effect of polytetrafluoroethylene addition during chalcopyrite leaching under conditions similar to those of the CESL process have reportedly resulted in complete leaching of the copper without the need for grinding of the flotation concentrate. However, these studies employed a pulp density of only 1% and finely sized PTFE particle that required the use of high impeller rotation rates that are not sustainable at an industrial scale. This paper explores the performance of 1/8” diameter balls of PTFE, that readily sink in the leach solution, on leaching performance at impeller rotation rates and ore pulp densities more typical of industrial practice. Possible routes for separation of the PTFE from the leach residues and their regeneration for recycling back to the leaching stage are also discussed.INTRODUCTIONChalcopyrite, CuFeS2, is the most important primary sulfide source of copper. While pyrometallurgical smelting of chalcopyrite remains the only widely accepted route for treating chalcopyrite concentrates, several medium temperature pressure oxidation processes are claimed to be economically feasible (Muir & McDonald, 2007). Among these, the CESL process has been extensively piloted and demonstrated at the prototype scale. The overall process chemistry of the CESL process may be summarized as follows (Marsden & Wilmot, 2007):4CuFeS2 + 5O2 + 4H2SO4 ? 4Cu2+ + 4SO4 2- + 2Fe2O3 + 8S0 + 4H2O (1)4CuFeS2 + 17O2 + 2H2SO4 ? 4Cu2+ + 10SO4 2- + 4Fe3+ + 2H2O (2)Though copper extractions of over 95 % are achieved, the CESL process requires extra grinding of the concentrate (Muir & McDonald, 2007). This is because leaching is conducted at temperatures around 150 °C, where the elemental sulfur produced is molten and grows thicker on the mineral’s surfaces as oxidation progresses, creating an increasingly large barrier for mass transport. In addition, the sulfur is sticky and tends to cause the mineral particles to agglomerate, effectively halting further oxidation of the particles that end up embedded within the agglomerates. Consumable surfactants, such as ligin sulfonate, have been shown to be effective at avoiding agglomeration, but they are not effective at removing sulfur from the minerals. Hence, their use does not obviate the need for fine grinding."

Jan 1, 2012

By James F. Archibald

In historic mining practice, typical thin liner support systems have been considered to comprise non-reinforced or mesh-reinforced shocrete linings. In the early 1990?s, development of alternate forms of liner systems was initiated in Canada which is now undergoing significant international growth in countries which sustain major mining activity. Now internationally designated as thin, spray-on liner systems, a wide spectrum of liner materials, ranging from liquid/liquid to liquid/solid component combinations, has become commercially available. This innovative family of products is characteristically identified as being rapidly deployable, capable of creating ultra-fast setting coverage over rock surfaces, and able to develop tenacious adhesion and pull strength capacities for resisting rock falls and movements. This paper presents a summary of current liner developments and use in principal mining districts world wide. Additionally, a database of material properties for principal product types used in mining and a review of common quality control testing procedures under development are provided. Such information is based upon recent Canadian and international efforts being taken to assess and develop user standards for the implementation of thin, spray-on liners as rock support in mines. This work is intended to continue for a period of years, with the eventual goal being to establish support and installation guidelines for mines based on quantifiable laboratory and field research.

May 1, 2002