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By M Nehring, M Kizil, P Knights, A Mousavi, F Sotoudeh

A cut-off grade is used to distinguish an economically viable block of ore from non-economical ones in mining operations. In order to obtain a high Net Present Value (NPV), a strategic and precise determination of cut-off grades (mill feed/marginal, marginal/waste) is required. In recent years, the significant depletion of feed grades and increasing mining operating costs have affected the viability of new and existing mining operations. Hence, the introduction of a pre-concentration system to process ore before sending it the main processing plant has gained increasing attention for its potential improvements in resource exploitation processes, mineral processing, energy consumption and environmental impacts. The primary potential advantage of implementing a pre-concentration system is the improvement of resource utilisation and increased reserves as a result of a reduction in cut-off grade. The objective of this paper is to present a new cut-off grade method, which can be used in the presence of a pre-concentration system for underground metalliferous mining operations. The results of this study illustrate the potential economic benefits of using a pre-concertation system prior to a mineral processing operation as a result of the reduced cut-off grade and increased NPV.

Nov 10, 2020

By M Xu and, P F. Wells, A N. Kerr, Y Shields

Triethylene tetramine (TETA) has been used in combination with sodium sulfite (sulfite) for pyrrhotite depression at Clarabelle Mill since 1998. This combination has been highly successful at reducing pyrrhotite levels in the bulk (Ni/Cu) concentrate. Although highly effective, the roles of TETA and sulfite are not well understood. Treating bulk samples of the circuit feeds through the miniplant enabled the effects of circuit configuration on the performance of the pyrrhotite rejection circuits at Clarabelle to be determined. Reasons for the different performance of the non-magnetic pyrrhotite rejection circuit in the miniplant were investigated and tested in the laboratory. The effect of different grinding environments in the laboratory was examined to better understand the depressing mechanisms of TETA/sulfite. Modification of the grinding chemistry improved the selectivity of pentlandite over pyrrhotite in the presence of TETA/sulfite at current plant dosages.

Jan 1, 2005

By C R. Fountain, W R. Cannings

The zinc-lead-silver mineral resource at Lady Loretta ranks amongst the worldÆs richest when measured in terms of in situ metal grades. However, the project remains undeveloped 28 years after its discovery in 1969. The primary obstacle to development has been the fine and complex grain structure of its ores, which make flotation concentration inefficient even with fine grinding. The size and remote location of the deposit have also hindered exploitation. BUKA planned to directly fume the volatile target metals from the ore when it acquired the project. Intensive, post-acquisition modeling showed the innovative processing route to be uneconomic, notwithstanding high metals recovery and low waste content in fume product. Progressive modifications and supplements to the underlying fuming process enhanced economics and resulted in a new mine-to-metal processing route for zinc-lead-silver ores. The proprietary, three-stage BUKA Zinc Process offers technical, economic and environmental advantages. It is expected to find widespread application in the treatment of ores and residues. However, neither continued R&D nor application to Lady LorettaÆs currently delineated resource can be justified under prevailing market conditions. The objectives and results of each step in the process development sequence are outlined with reference to their impact on the commercial viability of the Lady Loretta project.

Jan 1, 1998

By P A. Jenkins, I W. O Jones

WMC has mined the Perseverance disseminated orebody exclusively by SLC (sublevel cave) methods. Deteriorating ground conditions in the vicinity of an orebody inflection forced a re-evaluation of future mining at Perseverance and a strategy to drop down below the inflection zone and recommence the cave was implemented. This strategy has led to increased production at higher grades, resulting in lower costs and better mill recoveries. This paper describes the evolution of mine planning, development, support and production strategies through the successful process of implementing the ædrop-downÆ and re-establishing the SLC.

Jan 1, 2000

By K Hortin

Kidd Creek mine in north western Ontario is developing phase 1 of the deep mine project for mining between 2100 m and 3100 m below surface. Heat problems were experienced during the 2003 summer in working places about 2300 m below surface. At the time the mine had a æcold stopeÆ for cooling the air supplied to the mine below 1500 m from surface. The æcold stopeÆ is where during winter, ice is created in both the open pit and its connecting airways to the mine and used to cool air in summer. The operation and limitations of the existing cold stope were evaluated and led to the requirement for additional mechanical cooling to be available for the summer of 2004. The first stage of a surface refrigeration plant providing 7.5 MWR of cooling was approved, the compressor set was ordered in early January 2004 and the plant commissioned six months later in early July 2004. Based on the current modifications to the mining plan, further plant expansions are required in 2006 and 2009 leading to a total of 19 MWR of mechanical refrigeration and 8.5 MWR equivalent from the extended cold stope. The refrigeration system is described with emphasis on the specific adaptations necessary to suit Canadian conditions. Additional investigations were; using the refrigeration compressors in winter for heating and, extending the performance of either cold stopes or alternative ice storage systems. The winter use of refrigeration involve removing heat from the mine exhaust air to provide a cooling load and to use the hot water in the condensing circuit to heat the intake air and reduce reliance on mine air heating with natural gas. This paper follows on from an earlier one presented at the Seventh International Mine Ventilation Congress where the background and planning of the mine ventilation and cooling requirements were described for extending the mine at depth to 3100 m.

Jan 1, 2005

By M I. Pownceby, S Hapugoda, H Han, E Donskoi, L Lu

Iron ore sinter mineralogy and its associated macro-/micro – structure has a strong impact on sinter quality. At a macroscopic scale, sinter ideally consists of a strong, porous matrix which bonds relict ore nuclei together. Microscopically, the sinter matrix (solidified from the melt part of the initial sinter mix) generally consists of complex calcium ferrites known as SFCA, secondary magnetite and hematite grains (precipitated from the primary sinter melt), glass and silicates. Depending on the conditions under which the sinter structure is formed, two major forms of SFCA with different morphologies are generally recognised, ie fine micro-platy SFCA (usually termed SFCA-I) and coarse columnar/prismatic SFCA. Detailed optical microscope observations of several pot grate and compact sinter samples revealed the presence of a variety of fine, coarse and dense forms of both types of SFCA. The controlled cooling tests revealed that cooling rate has an impact on the form and size of SFCA crystals. In this work, EPMA analysis of SFCA compositions from a variety of pot grate and compact sinter samples are presented. Results show that the SFCA types exhibit a broad range of complex compositions within the system Fe2O3/CaO/SiO2/Al2O3/MgO/TiO2/MnO2. Although SFCA-I and SFCA are known to be crystallographically distinct and with different, well-defined ranges in composition, there was considerable overlap in compositions of the experimental sinter samples. The development of SFCA textures depend on several parameters including the local chemistry and conditions including the maximum temperature attained and the cooling rate, within the sinter bed, thereby suggesting that SFCA identification based on morphology alone may be erroneous.

Nov 8, 2021

By E A. G Marques, P M. Dight, T A. V Costa, K Mercer

Brazilian banded iron formation (BIF), known as ‘itabirite’, is the main host rock for iron ore in the Iron Quadrangle mines, Brazil. Their geneses are controversial and it is agreed that diagenetic, metamorphic and tectonic events, as well as weathering processes, were responsible for the iron concentration. In addition, it is understood that weathering processes are mainly responsible for reducing the original high intact rock strength, and for generating deep weathered profiles with low strength rocks commonly observed in Vale’s mines.A considerable amount of work has been done to correlate the macro and micro aspects of the itabirites as physical, chemical and geotechnical characteristics that directly or indirectly affect the intact rock strength; however, it is not yet clearly understood what effects the weathering processes have on the strength reduction of these rocks and its associated impact on pit slope stability. This forms a key focus of the lead author’s current research work.This paper presents a review of the geological, geotechnical and weathering characteristics of the itabirites, and early results for the evaluations of fresh itabirites from the PhD thesis research being undertaken by the authors at the Australian Centre for Geomechanics, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Western Australia, sponsored by Vale SA.The results showed that to evaluate the density and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) correlation, not only the porosity but also the geological features should be considered, as they are responsible for data dispersion; however, the presented data suggested a trend that provides the confidence to develop advanced studies and a data population increment to establish proper correlations to support a reliable UCS method.CITATION:Costa, T A V, Dight, P M, Mercer, K and Marques, E A G, 2015. An overview of the weathering process, preliminary density and unconfined compressive strength correlations for fresh itabirites in vale mines on the western side of the Iron Quadrangle, Brazil, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 241–254 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By Ovchinnikov YN, Novikov VS, Spirin NA, Babushkin NM, Mysik AF, Shcherbatskii VB, Kukarkin AS

Laboratory investigations were carried out to determine the resistance coefficient of the flow through beds irrigated with wetting and non-wetting liquids. A formula was obtained which may be used to evaluate the resistance of the irrigated packing. Quantitative investigations were also carried out on operating furnaces at Magnitogorsk. Continuous measurements of the lower pressure drops were made under different furnace conditions. Pressures were measured in the tuyere space and the bosh region. A significant transient behaviour of the pressure drop was observed in the irrigated zone as a function of the accumulation of the liquid phase in the bosh region as smelting progressed. Additionally, transient processes were also investigated in the upper furnace zones. The basic cause of the transient behaviour was shown to be the irregularity of burden descent caused by the casting cycle. It was shown that the rate of burden descent between consecutive casts reflects fairly accurately the accumulation and drainage of the liquid products as a result of which heat transfer, reduction and aerodynamic processes assume transient character. In practically all cases of casting a decrease in blast pressure and that over the furnace height of 0.2 kg/cm2 was observed. The analyses of radial gas composition at the stock line showed that compositional variations connected with the casting cycle are most pronounced in the central and peripheral regions, whilst in the intermediate regions the conditions are relatively stable. Calculations show that as casting progresses there is a decrease in the gas flow rate at the periphery and an increase in the centre of the furnace. The transient nature of the aerodynamic processes in packings revealed the existence of an appreciable reserve capacity. Elimination of transience was tested on the furnace at Magnitogorsk and improved operating and economical furnace parameters obtained.

Jan 1, 1975

By H Askari-Nasab, E Torkamani, M M. Badiozamani, S P. Upadhyay, M Tabesh

"Decision-making in mining is a challenging task. Optimal decisions regarding shovel and truck allocations, aligned with the optimal short-term production schedules, are crucial in keeping the operations in line with the company’s long-term objectives. In this paper, we present two main modelling components as the means to achieve near-optimal operational plans: a mixed integer linear goal programming model to allocate trucks and shovels to mining faces over a shift-by-shift basis so that operating costs are minimised and resource utilisations are maximised through the planning horizon a discrete-event simulation model to investigate the behaviour of a truck-and-shovel haulage system in the presence of uncertainty within mining operations. The goals integrated into the mathematical model are to: maximise production minimise deviations from the target head grade minimise deviations in tonnage feed to the processing plants from the desired feed minimise operating cost.The mathematical model provides shovel assignments and the target productions as an input to the discrete event simulation model while meeting the desired goals and constraints of the mining operation. We illustrate the applications of the discrete event simulation model by presenting a large-scale oil sands case study. The main contribution of this work thus far is the development, implementation and verification of a simulation model with a link to optimal short-term mine schedule and extraction sequence of mining faces, which assists in achieving a high level of mine plan compliance across short-term planning and operational planning time horizons.CITATION:Askari-Nasab, H, Upadhyay, S P, Torkamani, E, Tabesh, M and Badiozamani, M M, 2014. Simulation optimisation of mine operational plans, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014, pp 299–312 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Nov 24, 2014

For effective backfilling, a system with the 13 features covered under the section: effective backfill systems, is required. Effective backfilling cannot be done with systems that are badly designed, outdated or overextended. But in cases where the requirements for effective backfilling are overlooked, the shortcomings of such systems may wrongly come to be regarded as limitations to the capabilities of backfilling per se. Mining is currently done to depths of 3500 m, and is to go deeper since the gold-bearing reef extends down to 4000 m and 5000 m below surface. Effective backfilling systems will be required at such depths, and with suitable design this can be achieved. Mining the narrow tabular orebody of a typical South African gold mine is described at the start of this paper, then cycloned backfilling is discussed in general, and its effectiveness (most of the fill placed in South Africa is cycloned backfill or ædeslimed tailingsÆ).

Jan 1, 1998

By G Love, S Maher

In Victoria’s onshore Gippsland Basin, geology is driving brown coal developments, and geologists are key decision-makers. Prompted by volatile energy prices and the likelihood of a carbon constrained future, significant work has been carried out on the next generation of technologies to be applied to this giant resource. These include new-generation gasification technologies, coal conversion processes yielding products as diverse as diesel and fertiliser, drying technologies producing thermal and metallurgical coals and in situ conversion processes. However, coals aren’t coals, and brown coal available for new projects will have different quality parameters and mining economics from that currently mined.New projects are likely to be developed on coals with moisture contents averaging 60 per cent and corresponding low energy values. Whilst ash values will be low, averaging just 5 per cent (dry basis), this will at times approach 10 per cent, which is a level that would challenge the installed-generation technologies. Sulfur values will average 0.4 per cent (dry basis), but at times exceed 0.6 per cent, requiring technologies that address the potential for sulfur dioxide emissions. Whilst localised high levels of the fluxes iron (>1 per cent dry basis) and sodium (>0.3 per cent dry basis) would increase fouling of installed technologies, they may be suitable for selected next-generation technologies.Project viability for this next generation of technologies will be strongly influenced by mining cost, and geologists are playing a role in identifying higher-value coal. At its simplest, this is being achieved for open cut mines through regional, vertical strip ratio assessments, which are considered a first-order proxy for mining cost. Follow up assessments are incorporating mining and processing cost, coal quality penalties and product revenues. At a regional scale, it is informing the likely location and relative timing of future mine developments, as well as thinking around rehabilitation strategies, infrastructure and land-use planning.For deeper coal, factors like macro permeability, the ability to isolate seams from aquifers, groundwater chemistry, pressure temperature conditions, connection with groundwater recharge and in situ biota are being used as vectors to in situ coal conversion opportunities.Matching coal to the next generation of technologies has benefited from regional-scale geological studies of coal quality and mining economics, and has benefited from early engagement between geologists, technology developers and project proponents.CITATION:Maher, S and Love, G, 2014. Matching brown coal to the next generation of Latrobe Valley projects, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 77–84 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 18, 2014

By Barro L

Very large reserves of gas are contained in coal. Because of the low permeability of the coal gas flow rates are very low. Fracturing of the coal can be achieved by use of the nitrogen - foam frac techniques described but the flow rates after fracturing are not sufficient to support economic development. Fracturing of the seams in the Bowen Basin was as predicted but in the Sydney Basin no trace of the fracture could be found when development proceeded past the fractured well. Testing of coal samples has provided some insight into parameters affecting desorption Rates.

Jan 1, 1982

The transgressive sedimentary sequence of the Notnnea Basin contains rhyolitic lavas and less voluminous mafic and intermediate volcanims of shoshonitic affinities which erupted simultaneously during the late Cretaceous. The shoshonitic volcanism shows a trend from early inafic to younger evolved intermediate lithologies. The rhyolites are consistently calc- alkaline. There is no evidence of 'mixing, of, the two magma types. The shoshonitic volcanism is the result of a short-lived subduction event related to sprcadime in the New Caledonia Basin and involved reactivation of an earlier Mesozoic subduction zone.

Jan 1, 1995

By V S. Vutukuri, K Shariar

This paper present a modification of selected strength criteria for coal and rocks containing weakness planes. The three strength criteria, namely, Murrell (1965), Bieniawski (1974a, 1983) and Hoek and Brown (1980) have been assessed for coal (containing weakness planes) by using triaxial strength tests. Triaxial test results indicated that the strength of coal specimens depends on the weakness plane inclination with respect to the principal stress direction. However it is shown that with increasing confining pressure, the effect of weakness planes inclination on the strength of coal specimens is reduced. The constant parameters in the three failure criteria for coal are determined for each weakness plane inclination by using the Datafit computer program (nonlinear regression analysis) and the results are compared with other rock types.

Jan 1, 1999

By J W. Lee, E Baafi, N Aziz

Ground subsidence due to mining is a common dilemma confronting the underground coal mining industry. The effects of underground longwall mining on river valleys have come under scrutiny, especially when mining is located underneath catchment areas. As public awareness of mining impacts on the environment increases, there is the need to develop damage mitigation strategies. Results of numerical modelling show that river valley response to underground longwall mining can be simulated and evaluated.

Jan 1, 2005

By P Moser, P Schimek, F Ouchterlony

This paper summarises the findings of 27 model-scale bench blasts in magnetic mortar, which were conducted from 2011 to 2014 at the blasting site of the Montanuniversitaet Leoben.The aim of the study was the investigation of the influence of blasthole delay times in small-scale bench blasts on the face characteristics and cracking damage created in the surrounding rock, which affects the fragmentation in subsequent rows.The test specimens or blocks, which were produced out of magnetite concrete, were roughly 1:100 in scale to normal bench blasts. The confinement of the testing blocks at the sides and back ensured the similarity to normal bench blasts with regard to the wave transmission into the surrounding rock. The specimen contained three or four rows with five blastholes each and were shot row by row, with virgin (undamaged) material in row 1 and increasingly damaged or preconditioned material in the following rows.The tested delay times varied between 0, 28, 73 and 140 µs, which corresponds to 0, 0.4, 1.0 and 2.0 ms/m of burden.The evaluation of the material properties showed that the use of magnetite concrete eliminated the inhomogeneous behaviour of rock, but some unexpected differences of the individual production cycles were still detected.The characteristics of the bench after each blast was evaluated along three horizontal lines out of a 3D model of the bench face. The tested delay time sequences of the virgin (first row) and single preconditioned blasts (second row) produced more overbreak for longer delays, while the third-row shots resulted in a smoothened surface independent of the chosen delay.The introduced damage after every blast was evaluated by an observation of irregularities on the newly blasted bench face. The visible cracks at the top of the testing blocks were documented and divided into several crack families according to their angle, length and origin. The remaining block was broken out of the blasting site after blasting, cut into several horizontal and vertical slices and dye penetrant spray was used to visualise the cracks created. Some of the detected crack families showed an influence of the delay time. The calculated mean crack density and mean crack intersection density showed that longer delays resulted in a higher degree of damage.The fragmentation results were well reproduced by the basic three-parameter Swebrec function. The observed improvement of fragmentation in the second- and third-row blasts was linked to the preconditioning of the burden for the following row while blasting the actual row. With the exception of the simultaneously initiated blastholes, the blasts showed coarser fragmentation for the shortest delays, while the longest delays generated the finest fragmentation.CITATION:Schimek, P, Ouchterlony, F and Moser, P, 2015. Influence of blasthole delay times on fragmentation as well as characteristics of and blast damage behind a remaining bench face through model-scale blasting, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 257–266 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By Lorenzen L, Van Der P F

It is the aim of this paper to review recent research in understanding the role of cyanide in the elution of gold. Under conditions of severe pre-treatment (high temperatures and levels of cyanide), the dynamics of elution are determined mainly by the adsorption equilibrium and the flow conditions in the column. When conditions are less favourable for desorption, transport phenomena are rate controlling. The most important sub-processes of elution are the changes in cyanide, potassium and gold concentrations, as well as the change in passivation of the carbon surface. Mathematical models to simulate the various sub-processes are described briefly.The presence of an irreversibly adsorbed species such as AuCN on the carbon is determined mainly by the pH, temperature and the type of carbon. Cyanide in the pre-treatment step will convert the AuCN to reversibly adsorbed Au(CN)2. Competition between cyanide and Au(CN)z for adsorption sites will enhance the elution of gold, but plays a minor role at elevated temperatures. The most important effect of cyanide is its reaction with the functional groups on the carbon to passivate the surface for the adsorption of anionic metal cyanides and thereby promote the elution of gold. This passivation, caused by the degradation of cyanide, is strongly temperature dependent. Free cyanide in the elution step of an AARL elution is of lesser importance than the cyanide in the pre-treatment step. Elution without cyanide is possible only after cold acid washing, and has been proven on plant scale.

Jan 1, 1992

By A Hall, D Kratochvil, P Littlejohn

Economic recovery of gold from complex gold ores, including poly-metallic deposits, is impacted by the presence of cyanide-soluble base metals. These base metals can create both a metallurgical challenge plus waste handling and disposal challenges. Base metals such as Cu and Zn compete for the cyanide reagent and often increase the total cyanide consumption to the point of making precious metals recovery uneconomic. In addition, the accumulation of base metals in cyanide solutions represent a challenge for cyanide detoxification and waste water treatment as these metals report to waste sludge. Such sludge requires safe handling and disposal, with possible long-term liabilities.Base metal interference can be removed with sulfidisation-acidification-recycling-thickening (SART) process technology. SART liberates the base metal from the cyanide complex and precipitates the metal as an insoluble sulfide product that can be recovered as a commercial grade concentrate. With the base metal precipitated, the cyanide can be regenerated as free cyanide and recycled to the gold extraction circuit.BioteQ completed laboratory testing for two projects, one employing cyanide leaching of copper-gold sulfide flotation concentrate and one employing a Merrill Crowe process, to determine the effectiveness of SART to remove and recover Cu and Zn in high-grade sulfide concentrates and to reduce the impact of cyanide-soluble metals on gold recovery and cyanide consumption. This paper will provide an overview of the testing methodology and results along with a review of the potential for SART to be applied to complex gold ores with poly-metallic deposits to improve project economics, operability and waste management.CITATION:Littlejohn, P, Kratochvil, D and Hall, A, 2013. Sulfidisation-acidification-recycling-thickening (SART) for complex gold ores, in Proceedings World Gold 2013 , pp 149-156 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 26, 2013

By A C. Edwards

The Mesozoides of North-Eastern Asia represent a collage of exotic terranes which were accreted to the margins of the Siberian continent. In the Late Precambrian and Phanerozoic, the passive margin of the Siberian continent (the current north-east) broke up into a number of discrete fragments as a result of rifting events in the Riphean, Early and Middle Paleozoic. Rift related mineralisation includes stratiform and stratabound copper and base metal mineralisation in the structures of the Omulevka, Okhotsk and Prikolyma basement terranes, as well as along the edge of the Siberian continent in the Paleozoic sediments of the Verkhoyansk passive margin. During the Late Mesozoic the terranes were reassembled in a series of accretionary events. At the end of the Jurassic, the velocity of the Kula plate increased, and the opening of the Canadian Basin in the Arctic commenced, changing the vectors along which the Siberian and North American plates moved. Island arcs terranes were pushed back onto the Omolon super-terrane which was in turn pushed onto the Siberian Craton in a series of massive collisional events that resulted in the restructuring of the whole region. Numerous granitoids characterised by collisional and island arc chemistries with Au and accompanying Sn, and W mineralisation were emplaced. Mesothermal gold-quartz mineralisation was emplaced in a series of narrow belts that adjoin major crustal sutures and that spatially overlap belts of granitoids and zones of subgreenschist metamorphism. Each of these gold-quartz vein belts corresponds with a specific collisional phase. In the middle Cretaceous, the Okhotsk-Chukotka volcanic belt developed along the paleo-Pacific margin of the Siberian continent. Epithermal Au-Ag developed in the volcanics and shallow mesothermal Au-Ag-quartz and Au-Sb mineralisation developed in the Mesozoides. Porphyry and skarn style mineralisation developed in both the island arcs and in the continental Okhotsk-Chukotka Volcanic Belt.

Jan 1, 1999

By P Hatherly, H Gurgenci

With the depletion of the mineral reserves that can be mined by surface mining, demand for highly productive and safe underground mines will increase. Underground drill and blast techniques continue to be refined but true æmass productionÆ is difficult to achieve. As is evidenced by the longwall mining of coal, alternative mining methods based on mechanised mining can meet the expectations but the issues of how to effectively cut strong rocks, how to define the orebody and how the mechanised miners can be automated and maintained all need to be addressed. CMTE is working in all of these areas. We believe that the oscillating disc cutter may provide the long sought-after breakthrough in mechanised rock cutting. Disc cutters are one of the most robust designs of cutting tool and the cutters attack the rock in a manner which effects direct tensile breakage. The internal cutter drive and the inertial damping mean that the already low cutter forces are not all transmitted back to the machine, making it possible to design lightweight, flexible mining systems. For orebody delineation drill monitoring, drillhole logging and geophysical imaging are key procedures being developed at CMTE. To automate mining machines, work is progressing well in the development of systems for autonomous vehicle navigation and mining robotics. A strategic contribution to maintenance issues is being made through the development of procedures for automatic analysis of used oils, monitoring the strength of mechanical structures, and operating point optimisation.

Jan 1, 1998