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By P Worsey, B Lane

The recommended maximum explosive weight for boulder blasting using internal charges is 0.15 kg/m 3 (Olofsson, 1988). Normally this charge results in excessive scattering and flyrock, creating increased liability for the operator, especially in congested areas. An alternative technique using smaller explosive charges is being developed at the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR). It is designed to reduce boulder scatter, flyrock and fumes and allows shooting in close proximity, using common blasting products. The method comprises drilling a hole into the top of the boulder, inserting a small primer, filling the hole with water and shooting it. The hole is drilled approximately two thirds into the boulder and the charge (10 g/m 3 ) is placed half way into the hole filled with water. Upon initiation the primer produces a small volume of gas at extremely high pressure which acts upon the surrounding (relatively incompressible) water. The water transmits this pressure to the surrounding blasthole, hydraulically fracturing the rock. As the fractures propagate and the boulder expands a rapid increase in the blasthole volume occurs. Because of the small charge the gas pressure quickly dissipates reducing rock movement, resulting in a fractured boulder with minimal material leaving the immediate vicinity. The current work includes both laboratory and field testing programs. The laboratory program is focussed on determining optimum parameters at reduced scale using concrete cubes. The field program focuses on determining a minimum powder factor and includes shooting smaller boulders up to 1 m 3 underground and 1.5 to 5 m 3 boulders in a surface quarry. In both cases the boulders were obtained as oversize from regular production blasts.

Jan 1, 1999

By K Edwards, A J. J Mouton

Hematite represents the vast majority of iron ore exported from Australia as the development and processing cost of magnetite is generally seen as a barrier to the development of vast magnetite resources. However, a number of magnetite projects have attracted a significant amount of interest and investment from large Chinese steelmakers.This paper compares the relative merits of the development of Australian magnetite and hematite ore from the point of view of the steelmaker, taking into account the factors that influence the capital costs of the development of the ore types and the relative costs of operating the process plants to treat these ores. By modelling the relative operating cost for the production of hot rolled coil in China for the two ore categories, the paper demonstrates the economic drivers behind the Chinese steelmakers’ large investments in the magnetite resources of Western Australia. It does this by estimating the potential value of magnetite concentrate to the steelmaker in the event that the maximum potential is realised by operating the blast furnace with a 100 per cent pellet burden.Under the conditions described, it was found that direct reduction (DR)-grade magnetite concentrate could command a price premium over 62 per cent Fe fines of up to 46 per cent (December 2014 on a cost and freight (CFR) basis). The corresponding premium for blast furnace (BF)-grade magnetite concentrate is 17 per cent, which demonstrates the dependency on grade.The capital expenses for a 14 Mt/a concentrate plant is estimated at US$3.1 B for BF-grade magnetite and US$3.35 B for DR-grade, with operating expenses at US$45 and US$50 respectively. The corresponding free on board price for a break-even net present value is calculated at US$82/t for BF-grade magnetite and US$90/t for DR-grade. The minimum long-term iron ore price (62 per cent Fe) that would be required to underpin such a project is estimated at US$78/t CFR for BF-grade magnetite and US$68/t CFR for DR-grade concentrate.Apart from the financial benefits, it is demonstrated that the use of magnetite concentrate in ironmaking has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 400 kg per tonne of hot rolled coil.CITATION:Mouton, A J J and Edwards, K, 2015. Magnetite – a higher-grade blast furnace feed and its potential benefits for the ironmaker, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 613–620 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

The transition from low stress to high stress conditions is a challenge eventually faced by most mines in Australia that extend to depths greater than (generally) about 1000 m. In areas with strongly adverse 'stress versus depth' gradients, such as some parts of Western Australia, significant stress-related problems have occurred at depths as shallow as 300 m below surface. The actual depth at which the 'transition' occurs is a function of the local pre-mining stress field, the strengths of the various rock types hosting the deposit and the layout and sequencing adopted in the mine. Stress-related damage can result in increased support costs, and delays associated with rehabilitation and disruption to production. In the worst case, where strong seismicity and associated damage occurs in active mining areas, 'exclusion' zones and 're-entry' protocols may be required. These can severely disrupt production. A key aspect of managing the transition is the recognition of the onset of stress-related ground behaviour. Damage mapping can be used to develop understanding of the relationships between mining activities and the local and regional response to them. Carefully documented case histories provide a basis for calibrating numerical models. This paper discusses some of the typical styles of ground behaviour observed in higher stress conditions in underground mines. A simple damage classification scheme is described to assist in 'damage mapping' of mine tunnels. An example of damage mapping is presented to illustrate an approach commonly used for recording stress-related damage.

Nov 25, 2010

The future of the United States (US) mining industry will be affected greatly by recent coal mining disasters. These have resulted in new legislation which will have an impact on mining economic costs as well safety and health of miners. This paper discusses the changes that new legislation and regulations are making to the industry and current research that is producing technologies to make mining safer and will likely impact the future of mining.

Jan 1, 2008

By Behl S

Flocculation behaviour of six different dolomite samples, four from the Florida mining district, one from Perry, South Georgia and another from New Jersey was examined using polyethylene oxide (PEO) as a flocculant. The samples were similar in chemical composition, however the porosity of the samples from the Florida mining district was higher than the others. FT-IR, adsorption and surface modification by leaching revealed that flocculation was directly related to the presence of isolated hydroxyl groups on the surface. The adsorption mechanism was believed to be hydrogen bonding of the ether oxygen of PEO with isolated -OH sites on the solid.

Jan 1, 1993

By B Taylor

The Perseverance deposit is the most southerly known economic copper/gold deposit within the Cobar gold field. The deposit is situated approximately 12 km to the south-southeast of Cobar and is essentially blind to surface with the top of economic mineralisation occurring 750 m below ground level.Based on the December 2010 resource estimate (inclusive of reserves and net of depletion) the deposit contains 3 011 000 tonnes at 6.1 g/t Au and 0.90 per cent Cu (590 000 oz of gold and 28 000 tonnes of copper). The deposit is comprised of four principal lenses, the Perseverance, Hulk, Zone B, and Hercules lenses. In excess of 90 per cent of the known resource tonnes are contained within the Perseverance and Hulk lenses. The deposit is shear related and hosted within lower Devonian rocks of the Cobar Basin. The competency contrast of rhyolites juxtaposed against sediments by the Peak-Perseverance shear is the principal control on mineralisation. Both the Perseverance and Hulk lenses are primarily hosted by brecciated rhyolites juxtaposed against Chesney formation sediments across the Peak-Perseverance shear. This faulted rhyolite sediment contact roughly defines the global orientation of the deposit. The Perseverance lens continues within the shear for up to several hundred metres beyond the extent of the faulted rhyolite sediment contact. Mineralisation within the shear beyond the faulted rhyolite contact zone is hosted by sheared silicified sediments. The Perseverance lens remains open at depth and to the south.The Zone B and Hercules lenses, which are significantly less important in tonnage terms, are hosted by rhyolite breccias within the main body of the rhyolite and appear to be only tenuously related to the Peak-Perseverance shear. Within the Perseverance lens, the presence of northeast trending high grade breccia veins developed oblique to the north-south trending shear system has led to the development of steeply north plunging high grade ore shoots within a globally north-south trending mineralised domain. These high grade shoots have limited horizontal continuity but significant down plunge extent.The presence of coarse gold and the resulting strongly skewed nature of the gold grades, in conjunction with controls on mineralisation which are not parallel to the mineralised domain, has led to predictive difficulties regarding stope performance.Strong heterogeneity of the gold content of the ore and geological controls on mineralisation which are not parallel to the global trend of the mineralisation impose a set of difficulties which sound geological control is helping overcome.

Aug 22, 2011

By Hargraves AJ

Pre-drainage experiments have been conduct- ed at Appin, Cook, John Darling, Leichhardt, Macquarie, Metropolitan and Moura No. 2 Collieries. Appin (550 m deep) experiences particular gas problems in development drivages, and the almost pure CH4 seam gas makes difficult tiro compliance with statutory maxima in intakes and returns. Patterns of 43 mm diameter drain- a,.;e holes drilled ahead and laterally into virgin coal have improved gas conditions in working places and have allowed tolerable advance rates. Cook, Leichhardt, Metropolitan and Moura No,. 2 Collieries have experienced gas and stress phenomena ranging from conical bursts less than one tonne to full scale instantan- -us outbursts of hundreds of tonnes with tens ,f thousands of cubic metres of seam gas. Gas ~Irainage experiments with patterns of holes up a,, 200 mm diameter have been undertaken with ;,;siness monitors on the coal to establish .lative effectiveness. Incremental flows into mg 43 mm diameter boreholes have investigated drainage patterns relative to length, and at comparative incremental flows have nlicated lowered permeability zones at stress ,.,utments. In some CO2 seam gas areas where iammability problems are reduced to perhaps ii, but where outbursts proneness is increased,

Jan 1, 1982

By A Audétat, W T. Li

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The Middle and Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt is one of the most important polymetallic resource areas in China. Iron oxide-apatite deposits, mainly distributed in Ningwu and Luzong volcanic basins, are a distinct type of iron deposits in this region. These deposits have a close temporal and spatial relationship with Mesozoic dioritic porphyries and are characterised by magnetite-apatite-pyroxene/actinolite ± anhydrite assemblage and large-scale sodic-calcic alteration.Widespread multiphase inclusions in pre- to main-mineralisation stage pyroxene and garnet in Meishan (in the Ningwu basin), Luohe and Nihe (both in the Luzong basin) iron deposits were trapped at ~780°C in extremely saline brines (~90 wt per cent NaCl equivalent), consisting of Na (13–24 wt per cent), K (7–11 wt per cent), Ca (~7 wt per cent), Fe (~2 wt per cent), Cl (19–47 wt per cent) and SO4 (3–39 wt per cent), based on petrologic, microthermometric, Raman spectroscopic studies and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses of natural fluid inclusions and synthetic analogues. The high Cl/Br, Na/B and S/B ratios in brine inclusions and the heavy sulfur isotopic values of anhydrite and pyrite (d34SAnh = +15.2 to +16.9‰, d34SPy = +4.6 to +12.1‰) suggest a significant contribution from both halite- and anhydrite-bearing sedimentary rocks. The involvement of evaporites caused the production of large amounts of high-salinity brines with apparently enhanced capacity to extract iron from the dioritic intrusions.According to their geologic features and the above characteristics, these iron oxide-apatite deposits are considered to be a special type of iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) deposits characterised by high contents of Na, Ca, Cl and SO4 in the ore-forming fluids. Moreover, we believe that evaporite-bearing sedimentary basins are more prospective than evaporite-free ones for these kinds of deposits.CITATION:Li, W T, Audétat, A and Zhang, J, 2015. The connection between evaporites and iron oxide-apatite deposits, Yangtze River, China – laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis of Na, S, Cl and Br in fluid inclusions, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 623–630 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By Willis GM

The matte-metal-equilibria in the system Pb-Cu-S have been studied at temperatures between 720 and 920¦C by direct sampling and D.T.A. methods. These results are compared with those of other workers. The applications of such data to a continuous copper drossing process, and to a number of other metallurgical processes are discussed.

Jan 1, 1975

The Ravensworth-Liddell area is part of the Muswellbrook- Singleton Coal District of the Northern Coalfield. It lies in the Parishes of Liddell, Ravensworth, Vane and Howick, in the County of Durham, midway between Singleton and Muswellbrook, and is traversed by the Great Northern Railway, and the New England Highway.Ravensworth and Liddell railway stations are 57 miles arid 61 miles, respectively, north from Newcastle (Fig. 1).The area has been the centre of an intensive search for open cut coal during the past few years. More than 1,200 bores, of which about 10% were cored diamond drill holes, were drilled to depths of about 200ft. Portions with thicker cover have been explored by 10 diamond drill holes to depths of over 400ft. but core recovery from these deeper holes was poor, and the lack of detail in the recorded logs limits geological interpretation. The drilling has proved about 34,000,000 tons of open cut coal, and about 246,000,000 tons under deeper cover.GEOLOGYThe Ravensworth-Liddell area lies on the eastern flank and southern extremity of the Muswellbrook Dome, extending from Hebden in the north, to Jerry's Plains in the south, and the rocks under consideration belong to the Tomago Stage of the Upper Coal Measures. On the north they are truncated by the Hebden Thrust fault, which has a throw of about 4,500ft. (Raggatt, 1929). On the west they are bounded by outcrops of the Upper Marine Series, which conformably underlies the Upper Coal Measures, and...

Jan 1, 1953

By Bernard G, Limpach R, Ulveling L

A major aspect in competitive ironmaking is to replace metallurgical coke by injecting alternative cheap fuels. Whereas in the past, heavy oil injection as well as on a lower scale natural gas injection have proved to be reliable, the progressing high price level of these fuels has prompted international interest in looking for alternative cheaper fuels, especially pulverized coal. Theoretical analysis and practical operations showed that for constant adiabatic flame temperature, potentially more coke may be replaced by injected coal than by heavy oil, because of less endothermic cracking of hydrogen components. Since about 1974, the ARBED-Group has been looking for alternative fuels and in 1976 came to conclusion to select for first trials pulverized lignite for the following reasons:

Jan 1, 1981

By O Joneydi, J Viljoen, R Funnell

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling is a useful tool that can assist engineers in designing effective ventilation systems for the control of airborne dust generated during mining operations. Thistechnology can save time, effort and the costs associated with re-work or the traditional on-site experimental field trials by running desktop 3D simulations of the various proposed scenarios using state-of-the-art CFD analysis tools. Before implementing a dust management system, an understanding of the behaviour of airborne dust particles in the face zone can be achieved, which can improve the confidence in the secondary ventilation and dust management design. Usingadvanced numerical models, suitable dust extraction strategies can be foreseen, and multiple scenarios can be simulated and investigated quickly. As a case study, dry drilling operations in Kimberlite orebodies produce large quantities of fine dust which poses health and safety risks. An effective dust management system is required to achieve acceptable face conditions. A possible practical solution is a ducted exhaust ventilation system with a force fan in the face zone. This paper demonstrates how CFD analysis can be used as a tool to assist the design engineer with validating and optimising the proposed ventilation design by tracking the trajectories of different size dust particles, to determine the best equipment layout and appropriate flow rates which minimises airborne dust.

Oct 12, 2022

In seeking to improve the economic performance of mines, the management or human aspects are usually seen to be quite seperate from, and more significant than, the technical aspects. There are obvious aspects of industrial relations, man-management, skills training and supervision that are currently the focus of efforts to improve the productivity and quality of the mining process. However technology also has a lot to offer. Analysis of the costs involved suggests that innovations leading to improvement in the productivity of the excavation and transport of overburden and the recovery of coal (both in the mine and preperation plant) can lead to improvements in the economic performance of a mine that may outstrip the obvious non-technical or management opportunities for improvement. While there are some innovations currently being investigated within the industry that relate to the design of mining equipment, the type of machinery being used in open cut mines has not changed dramatically over the last twenty five years. It is also likely that mining equipment will remain essentially of the same form in the forseeable future. If significant improvements to mining performance are to be achieved other than by futher increases in the scale of machinery, then we need to seek ways to operate these same types of machines in a more productive and controlled manner. This paper discusses the identification of mining processes the improvement of which is likely to have a significant effect on mining costs and performance. Some areas of current research are discussed and potentially fruitful areas for future development are identified.

Jan 1, 1991

By M Allen

By its nature, the mining industry is energy and emissions intensive. In the future, the world will still require the outputs of mining but the industry will need to adapt to the low emissions economy. Understanding the risks of climate change to a particular site or at a company level is key to managing this transition.CITATION:Allen, M, 2018. Assessment of climate risk in the Australian mining industry, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 13–16 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

By K Lee, L Mann, J Bygrave, G Sheldon

Ausmelt is supplying commercial quantities of an alkyl hydroxamate flotation collector AM28 for flotation of oxide and supergene base metal ores and tailings. AM28 is a non-hazardous product used as a ten per cent to 50 per cent solution in dilute potassium hydroxide. It is a selective flotation collector for oxide or oxidised base metal minerals and replaces conventional sulfidisation for oxide mineral flotation. At Radio Hill, the AM28 is used in conjunction with traditional sulfide collectors, which allows simultaneous flotation of oxide and sulfide copper minerals. The Fox Resources Radio Hill copper concentrator near Karratha, Western Australia, is currently configured to treat supergene copper ore sourced from the West Whundo open pit. This Archean VMS type copper deposit has been deformed and remobilised with uplift, erosion and weathering to form a significant supergene zone. The sulfide copper minerals present in the upper zone are digenite and chalcocite with lesser chalcopyrite and covellite. Oxide copper minerals present include cuprite, with lesser malachite and azurite. Gangue minerals include quartz, talc and chlorite. Plant trials at Radio Hill are reported for supergene West Whundo ore, where the AM28 was stage added into the circuit at nominally 80 g/t. Plant data over three months shows the copper recovery increased consistently from around 50 - 60 per cent to above 70 per cent when AM28 was added. This has been proven statistically. The grade of the concentrate was consistent with and without AM28, at nominally 22 - 24 per cent copper.

Jan 1, 2007

By D S. Perera, P Wal, D C. Southam, J L. Lowe

The Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing (CSRP) is undertaking a large research project involving partners from industry, universities and government, which aims to develop the necessary chemical and structural understanding of geopolymer materials made from waste products for them to be used to capture a significant market share of the concrete business for a given industrial region. We are investigating the suitability of a range of soluble silica-bearing waste streams for use as geopolymer concrete feedstocks. In order to utilise a variety of waste streams, either singly or blended, an understanding of the role of secondary metal ions (Fe, Ca, Mg, Ti, etc) in the geopolymerisation process is essential. A range of experimental and analytical techniques is therefore being used to better understand the structure-chemistry-property relationships of geopolymers. Currently, we are investigating geopolymers made from a variety of waste streams (fly ash, kaolinite, red mud, etc) available in the Kwinana Industrial Region, Western Australia. This paper will detail how the basic scientific research underpinning the project is vital if waste streams of varying composition are to be successfully used in a commercial concrete product and the regional synergies required to develop geopolymers from waste streams.

Jan 1, 2006

By D Connelly

Magnetite orebodies generally means mining lower grade iron ores, crushing and grinding with significant energy costs in processing and the capital costs being significantly higher than for direct shipping ores (DSO). Overseas, the mining and processing of magnetite ores has a long history of production due to the lack of DSO deposits. This raises the question as to why the new magnetite projects have been so problematic and also whether there is a future for the long list of potential magnetite projects in Australia.The quality of the magnetite concentrate product is superior to most DSO products and the magnetite contains energy benefits when converted to hematite in sintering or pelletising. The industry’s hopes for new projects have been dashed and questions are being raised as to the financial viability of such projects.A comparison of Grange Resources Savage River, Arrium’s Project Magnet, the Sino Iron Project and Gindalbie’s Karara Iron Project is used to understand the differences between the projects and why some are more successful than others.CITATION:Connelly, D, 2015. What is the future for magnetite projects in Australia and why have some of the new projects been so problematic?, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 107–114 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By C Mark, Z Agioutantis

This paper presents an empirical design methodology that is based on successful US roof support systems using both primary and secondary support in coal mining entries and intersections. The recent nationwide dramatic reduction of roof fall rates, especially in areas with weaker roof, can be directly correlated to the effectiveness of the roof support systems. A large database of roof fall histories at several mines is used to define the approximate boundaries of three modes of roof support with respect to roof strength as classified by the Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) and in situ vertical stress as indicated by the depth of cover. These roof support classifications are: • Suspension, where roof bolts mainly provide skin control for strong roof. • Beam building or reinforcement, where a roof of moderate strength can be supported by roof bolts only. • Supplemental (secondary) support, where the primary support by roof bolts may be augmented by several secondary support systems, eg cable bolts, trusses, additional roof bolts or standing supports. The Primary Support Rating index (PSUP) captures the capacity of the primary roof bolt system as a function of the actually implemented roof control plan, ie roof bolt length, roof bolt density, and roof bolt capacity, while it does not consider the type of bolt. The actual PSUP value is compared against a suggested PSUP value derived from statistical analysis of US case histories. Where secondary support is indicated, the expected rock load determines the necessary capacity of the secondary support system. A new (free) software package, Analysis of Mine Roof Support (AMRS), implements the design methodology and also allows comparison with other international indices such as the Reinforcement Density Index (RDI), the PRSUP, etc.

Nov 29, 2022

By E Amini, M Scott

Grade Engineering® involves the planning, integration and operation of coarse preconcentration techniques to reject uneconomic material as early as possible in the mining value chain to improve the quality of ore delivered to mineral processing activities. These preconcentration techniques include screening for natural and induced deportment of grade to finer size fractions during blasting and coarse breakage, sensor-based measurements of grade and mechanised sorting at particle or bulk scales and coarse gravity separation. Over the last decade, the Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction (CRC ORE), with the support of its participants, has developed a framework for the holistic evaluation of economic and production impacts attributable to these preconcentration techniques. The framework combines the characterisation of preconcentration responses, geostatistical modelling, process modelling and simulation of downstream and upstream production impacts and the optimisation of strategic mine plans to quantify changes in net present value due to different preconcentration strategies. This framework has been applied to evaluate preconcentration techniques at numerous metalliferous operations and can also be used to quantify changes in the environmental metrics for energy, water and steel consumption and emission, tailings and waste rock production. This paper collates the results of these Grade Engineering® studies to show the range and magnitude of economic and environmental impacts attributable to preconcentration. The studies have shown that rejection of uneconomic material prior to mineral processing activities can have a pronounced improvement in energy, water and comminution steel productivity, emission intensity and the profitability of metalliferous mining.

Nov 10, 2020

By Connell JE

The Worthing Mine near Hallett Cove. 20 km southwest of the cite of Adelaide, belongs to Aus- tralia's first mining era, which took place in South Australia between 1841 and 1851 (Figure 1). Oper- ations began in 1849 only six years after the com- mencement of metal mining in Australia at Glen Osmond. Although not as historically significant as Glen Osmond (1841), or the much larger copper mines of Kapunda (1844) or Burra (1845) its importance lies with its Cornish enginehouse and chimney. The Worthing enginehouse, built in 1851-1852 is the oldest remaining in Australia and certainly the most significant relic of Australia's first mining era. Six other stone enginehouses were built during that period: at Kapunda in 1848 and 1850: at Burra in 1849, 1850 and 1851; and at Tungkillo in 1849. All of these houses have long since dis- appeared although the foundations of one (Kapunda, 1850) still remain. The significance of the Worthing site is enhanced by its magnificant environmental setting in the bare, steep valley of Field River. Currently (1986) the Worthing Mine is the only site within the City of Marion which is on the Register of State Heritage Items. The site is also included in the Classified List of the National Trust of South Australia and on the Register of the National Estate.

Jan 1, 1987