Search Documents

INDEX OF CONTENTSIntroductionThe slag samplesGranulated SlagGlass-spinel-magnetite-metallic leadRapidly Chilled SlagSlowly Cooled SlagSpinel - magnetite - zinc melitite (hardystonite) willemite - olivine -lead silicate - metallic lead - lead sulphide - copper sulphide - copper arsenide - nickel arsenide.ConclusionsIllustrationsINTRODUCTIONThis paper presents the results of a mineragraphic examination of representative samples of granulated lead blast furnace slags from the Port Pirie Smelter, and of slowly cooled samples of t:b.e same slags, undertaken at the request of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters Pty. Ltd., as part of the research programme of the Mineragraphic Section of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.THE SLAG SAMPLESThe chemical composition of the slags examined is given by the following three analyses of the granulated slags, supplied by the Broken Hill Associated Smelters (Table 1).

Jan 1, 1949

The treatment plant of the Gold Mines of Kalgoorlie Ltd. is situated on the Oroya South Lease, on the Eastern edge of the Kalgoorlie Golden Mile.It was designed and erected by Messrs. Alex. Stewart and Company, in consultation with Mr. Harry Hey, and was completed in November, 1937.Its original capacity was 9,000 tons of all-sulphide ore per calendar month, l?ut the plant was extended in October, 1939, to treat 13,000 to 14,000 tons per month of mixed sulphide and oxidised ore.Recovery of the gold is accomplished by cyanide treatment, followed by flotation of the cyanided residue, roasting and cyanidation of flotation concentrate and precipitation of the gold from the cyanide solutions. In the cyanide section, the crushed ore is finely ground in cyanide ,solution and the pulp is agitated to dissolve further gold. It is then thickened and filtered. In the flotation section, this filter residue is conditioned with S02 gas and a pyrite-gold concentrate recovered by flotation.This concentrate is roasted and then cyanided.KALGOORLIE ORE DEPOSIT.The Kalgoorlie ore deposit occurs within a wide area of Pre-Cambrian rocks, ,and consists essentially of two series of basic igneous rocks known as the older greenstone series (calc schist) and the younger greenstone series (quartzdolerite- greenstone) . The older greenstone is a group of lava flows. The younger intrusive greenstone series can, in the main, be classified as a chloritised and carbonated...

Jan 1, 1948

By Lownds C. M

Several classes of commercial explosives and blasting agents behave non-ideally, especially in diameters near their critical diameter. A direct and convenient measure of non-ideal behavior is the detonation velocity (VOD); if the VOD is less than the ideal value, usually obtained by calculation, then the explosive is detonating in the non-ideal mode. Such lowering of the VOD is usually due to both lateral loss of energy and post-CJ release of energy. The second of these factors, namely slow release of chemical energy, is of most interest in blasting. While the observation of a low VOD clearly suggests slow reaction of part of the explosive composition, it does not necessarily mean that the energy is lost to the overall rock-breaking process. The partition of the energy of the explosive into various useful and wasteful categories is considered. Simple models of energy partition in blasting, and of explosive reaction kinetics, are presented. The models consider the effect of explosive type and rock type, the explosive being described in terms of the most common phases namely liquid, air bubbles, porous ammonium nitrate, dense or crystalline ammonium nitrate, and aluminum. Over a range of combinations of the above phases, the model predicts reasonable critical diameters and VOD's. Results are presented which show the effects of non-ideal detonation on fragmentation and heave in different rock types. Conclusions are drawn about those blasting conditions in which ideal behavior is beneficial, or Disadvantageous.

Jan 1, 1990

The Honeymoon Well nickel sulphide deposits are located in the Agnew-Wiluna greenstone belt, about 45 km south of Wiluna. Both disseminated and massive sulphide nickel deposits are hosted by komatiitic rocks within the deformed and metamorphosed Honeymoon Well ultramafic complex. Fresh ultramafic bedrock is covered by up to 50 m of highly conductive transported material which greatly hampers both exploration and understanding of the bedrock geology. In the early-1970s, mineralisation was discovered by diamond drilling geochemical anomalies defined by wide-spaced percussion drilling over ultramafics that had been outlined by ground magnetics. Subsequent drilling has defined a resource of 158 Mt at 0.71 per cent nickel (based on 0.4 per cent nickel cut-off, 300 m below surface, December 1995) in four deposits. Over the life of the project a wide range of geophysical techniques have been used including airborne and ground magnetics, time domain clectromagnetics (EM), induced polarisation (IP)/resistivity, gravity and downhole techniques including EM, IP and physical property Measurements.

Jan 1, 1996

By Gonzalez JM

The Pao gold prospect in N. Luzon, is an example of a high sulphidation epithermal gold system hosted in Mid-Tertiary alkaline volcanics, in the Philippine Arc. Styles of mineralization include: quartz-enargite veins, vuggy silica alteration bodies, and pervasive low grade (0.5ppm) gold mineralization, associated with kaolinite-pyrite-quartz alteration, and geochemically characterized by high As and Hg. Early magnetite-epidote-chlorite alteration linked to an unexposed granitoid is overprinted by an extensive zone of advanced argillic alteration (kaolinite-pyrite-quartz). No alunite is recorded. Important controls of mineralization include; a broad anticline intersected by axial faults, permeable pyroclastic units, and upward confinement of the alteration system by a highly impermeable, clay-rich volcanic unit. At this stratigraphic position the most important mineralization waz developed. The Pao high sulphidation system is not closely related to a stratovolcanic centre, and has formed subsequent to deformation of the volcanic field. It may, however, be related to an unexposed comagmatic intrusion.

Jan 1, 1990

The Nickel Rim Depth Cu-Ni-PGE deposit, discovered by Falconbridge Limited in 1993, illustrates several trends in exploration in the Sudbury area. Recent discoveries tend to be deep, high grade, footwall hosted, close to or straddle property boundaries and made using a multi-disciplinarian exploration approach that integrates economic considerations with geology, metal geochemistry and geophysics (borehole EM). The Nickel Rim deposit occurs down dip of Inco's Victor Deep deposit (4.2 million tonnes at 2.25 per cent Ni, 7.30 per cent Cu) in the eastern margin of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) at a depth of 2650 m. Before commencing drilling an economic evaluation was done to determine the minimum size needed to be economic at the expected depths and determine the expected value of an exploration venture. The subsequent surface exploration program discovered a drill indicated, undiluted mineral inventory of 1.6 million tonnes of 1.58 per cent Ni, 10.13 per cent Cu, 4.17g/t Pt and 3.50 g/t Pd including 519 000 tonnes of 4.13 per cent Ni, 25.53 per cent Cu, 9.76 g/t Pt and 8.42 g/t Pd. The deposit is hosted by gneiss, migmatite, gabbro and pseudotachylite (Sudbury Breccia) 100 m below the base of the SIC.

Jan 1, 1996

By Lynch P

Oaky Creek Coal Pty Ltd. currently mines high quality coking coal from both underground and open cut operations at its Oaky Creek Mine. Coal is transported by rail to the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal south of Mackay and to the Gladstone Coal Terminal. Oaky No.1 Underground Mine, Open Cut and Highwall Mine have concentrated on seams from the German Creek Formation, one of the major productive coal measure formations in the Bowen Basin Coalfields. (Fig. 1) location map.

Jan 1, 1998

By Waqinwright M. S

The underlying principles of dewatering theory have recently achieved considerable practical application in the washing and dewatering of alumina trihydrate in Bayer plants. In particular, the influence on residual cake moisture contents of trace amounts of surfactant added to the wash water reveals that significant energy savings can be achieved. The influence of organic compounds produced by the caustic extraction of bauxite in the Bayer process is shown to be significant. These humic species reduce the cake permeability and the effectiveness of certain surfactants in dewatering operations.

Jan 1, 1989

The Olympic Dam smelter utilises Outokumpu Oy, flash smelting technology to produce blister copper direct from high grade copper concentrate.This paper describes the unit processes involved, including filtering/drying, materials handling, smelting, gas/dust handling, waste heat recovery, sulphur fixing, anode refining and casting.

Jan 1, 1993

In 1874 a stockman, JE Wright of Foxlow Station, recognised copper mineralisation when he was about 12 kilometres south of the station. The find was on the banks of the Molonglo River. Several small mines were soon operating along the ridge above the river, and the village of Captain's Flat was established.One mining company established in the 1880s was Lake George Mines. It's name was to remain synonomous with the name of the town until mining and treatment ceased on 11 March 1962.

Jan 1, 1993

By Mills JC, Belcher CB

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is used videly for routine quality control of the mining, )lending and agglomeration of iron ores. Most )f the procedures used, cannot tolerate significant changes in matrix composition or be Lpplied to a wide range of elements. Accord- ngly, a graphite briquette technique which is Lpplicable to some fifty elements in widely Tarying iron ore matrices is described. The ignificant advantages are suitability of the ame preparation for both optical emission and -ray spectrometry, a complete elemental overage for the range 5bcg/g to 100%, and the recision and accuracy of the methods are om.parable with the standard chemical.methods hich have been superseded in the authors' boratories. The proposed methods become ore attractive and economical as more prehensive information is sought.

Jan 1, 1975

In Europe there are many regions, where coal or lignite is mined with surface methods. In most of these regions coal/ lignite is mined below groundwater table and mining opera- tions require pumping big volumes of water. Drawdown of groundwater table has influence on surface water and ground- water on adjacent areas. Mine drainage requires purification and its discharge changes flow in existing streams. Some of mine water is used by mining companies themselves, some is used by other industries, some for communal purposes and some for irrigation. However, majority of mine water is dis- charged to rivers without use. The above issues are discus- sed on the background of general, technical and water charac- teristics of such regions in B European countries. Conclu- sions and prospects for future complete the paper.

Jan 1, 1988

By Schommarz KH, Dunne RC, Goodall CM

Column cells are widely used today for the recovery of base metals by flotation. Their use for the flotation of iron sulphides has not been as rapid. Australia has pioneered the use of large rougher flotation columns. During the last six years, seven rougher columns have been installed on gold mines treating iron sulphides and the technical viability of this technology has been demonstrated. Laboratory column testwork on a gold bearing iron sulphide ore demonstrated the effects of both physical and chemical parameters. In general the large commercial columns operate over a broad range of conditions depending on the downstream treatment of the flotation concentrate. The addition of wash water to commercial columns is not universally applied and there appears to be a need for a better wash water System.

Jan 1, 1993

Weinberg, born and educated in Germany, worked in'the American West for 10 years as a mining engineer and metallurgist. He was the first head of the Queensland Smelting Co. and from 1889 through 1915 was a prominent mining figure in Queensland. He was a competent manager at Aldershot, Dapto, and Chillagoe, but always lacked huge ore deposits for his smelters.

Jan 1, 1985

By Tilyard P. A

Recent exploration has established depos its of nickel sulphide in several areas of Western Australia. To assist in their develop- ment Amdel has investigated the beneficiation of many samples from these deposits and has estab- lished flowsheets for the recovery of nickel values by flotation. Metallurgical data are presented for the samples according to four factors which were encountered in their respective treatments.

Jan 1, 1973

Selective leach analytical techniques applied to surface geochemical samples in the search for deeply buried mineral resources gained popularity in the late 1990s. Several commercial assay laboratories introduced their own selective leach methods, adding to the few established commercial methods at that time. Many of these laboratories promoted their methods with orientation data showing favorable responses to both precious and base metal mineralisation, concealed beneath extensive thicknesses of overburden. However, many explorationists remain confused about the utility of these geochemical methods. This confusion is due primarily to the lack of objective orientation surveys over significant mineralisation, comparing all commercially available selective leach methods and to the lack of a creditable theory explaining the formation of these selective leach anomalies. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. An orientation survey was designed to fill the first void û an objective survey over significant mineralisation. With the help of 17 mining companies and assay laboratories, an orientation survey was conducted over five significant covered gold deposits in Nevada, USA , representing over ten million ounces of gold. Hopefully the results of this survey will help provide fuel for those working on the second void û a theory to adequately explain the formation of these selective leach anomalies.

Jan 1, 2008

When a joint venture is established between a major and a minor, the co-venturers often have a number of divergent interests; the major may have put up significantly more capital into the project and will want to protect its investement; the major may have more financial resources and be more readily to commit capital to the project; the major may have more technical resources and expertise to provide to the project; the major may have other competing demands for its capital; the minor may be relying on rapid development of the project as its sole source of cash flow. Successful joint ventures arise when the co-venturers understand each others' interests and attempt to satisfy these interests. This could be achived by having a clear process and timetable for development of the project coupled with clear rules for distribution of income, the commitment of capital to the project and the provision of inter-company services. If divergent interests are either regulated clearly or eliminated, both co-venturers are more likely to seek common objectives in the joint venture with less scope for conflict. This paper, written from the perspective of a major, examines means of establishing successful joint ventures between majors and minors.

Jan 1, 1997

During the past decade geopolymer technology has emerged as a possible solution for the effective stabilisation and solidification of waste materials. Amorphous to semi-crystalline geopolymers form by the co-polymerisation of individual alumino and silicate species, which originate from the dissolution of silicon and aluminium containing source materials at a high pH in the presence of soluble alkali metal silicates. It has been shown previously that geopolymerisation can transform a wide range of waste alumino-silicate materials such as fly ash and blast furnace slag into building and mining products with excellent chemical and physical properties, including high compressive strength as well as fire and acid resistance. These chemical and physical properties suggest that geopolymeric matrices derived from waste materials are well suited for environmental and other applications such as the encapsulation of mine tails, the immobilisation of heavy metals and also the fabrication of structural products. The current challenge is to demonstrate that a wide variety of natural Al-Si minerals could serve as potential source materials for the synthesis of geopolymers. Moreover, it should be shown on a large commercial scale that it is possible to encapsulate waste materials into the geopolymeric structure without compromising the chemical and physical properties of the final product for the desired application.

Jan 1, 2000

IN any assay office it is of paramount importance to keep the men interested in their work; and in order to do this, men on routine work, such as lead, zinc, and sulphur deterrrrinations, slag analysis, etc, should be changed around monthly. This gives some variety and helps to keep a man's interest on his work, so that better work results. It may be maintained that to keep a man on the same class of work indefinitely makes him more expert at his work. This is certainly true; but in assaying, where accuracy is so essential, it is absolutely necessary for a man to keep his mind on the work, and not 'get' into a mechanical method of working. He is also on the alert to discover means for shortening his analytical methods, and his capacity forwork is increased. Another advantage is that the men get a good all-round training, and one is never at a loss to replace a man on any class of work when he is absent from any cause. This tends to smoother and more efficient running of the assay department. In industrial assaying it is often advantageous to have a result quickly, so that it will be of maximum benefit in the running of some part of the plant, In such a case it pays to sacrifice a little accuracy to speed up a method. The shortest method is less costly, and a quick approximate method is all that is required to give the superintendent the requisite information. Time is thereby saved, and the cost is less. In carrying out assaying for any large industrial plant, such as a smelting works, there is always a tendency for superintendents running the different departments to send in more samples for assay than are absolutely necessary when no system of costing is in operation. Some of these samples may involve a lot of work and heavy expenditure, as, for example, the estimation of only one impurity in a sample of refined lead. If the superintendent knows that the cost of assaying all samples sent in by,him is charged up directly against...

Jan 1, 1922

Supergene enrichment of ilmenite occurs through a complex series of reactions with initial oxidation and hydration followed by leaching and dehydration. Lateritization appears to be associated with the early phase of the supergene process and if ilmenite grains are encased in iron oxides no further alteration proceeds.

Jan 1, 1986