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By Longworth C. R

Competing requirements for land usage sometimes make the correct all- ocation difficult. The decision can be complicated by many factors such as local resident pressure, previous government decisions, economic pres- sures and the duration or permanency of the competing land usages. This problem often confronts the extractive industries with consequent delays in granting leases and some- times considerable local dissension. A proposal to extend the high grade silica sand quarry of the Wamberal Sand Company Pty. Limited is a microcosm of these competing requirements. The sand quarry is located on the New South Wales central coast. It is an open pit operation on a near beach deposit of silica sand suitable for flint glass manufacture.

Jan 1, 1976

The rocks of the Serranias Chilla massif of Bolivia are a suite of metamorphosed Palaeozoic basalts and associated continental sediments. Whole-rock trace element geochemistry of the basalts suggest a calc-alkaline affinity and indicate that subduction extended as far north as the Bolivian Altiplano during lower Palaeozoic time.

Jan 1, 1990

By L Clarke, R N. Campbell, F Bourke, J Anderson

Lithological units have been classified geotechnically with mechanical tests and discontinuity measurements from the GRD Macraes Limited, Macraes Gold Project and Rotowaro coal mine open pits, New Zealand. Using these measurements slope stability probability classifications (SSPC) have been quantified based on an adaption of Hack's (1998) SSPC system which places less influence on rock quality designation and unconfined compressive strength than previous slope/rock mass rating systems. The Hack weathering susceptibility rating has been modified by using the chemical index of alteration values from XRF major element analysis. Slaking and weathering is an important parameter in slope stability in the Waikato Coal Measures and Otago schist lithologies and hence a non-subjective method of assessing slaking/weathering in relation to the chemical index of alteration has been introduced. Other major components of this adapted SSPC system are the inclusion of rock moisture content and rock strength anisotropy effects on slope stability. This paper explains the systematic approach of using the adapted SSPC system to classify slope stability probability. The main modifications of Hack's SSPC system are the introduction of rock intact strength derived from Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria which has been adapted for varying moisture content, weathering state and confining pressure. It is suggested that the subjectivity in assessing intact rock strength within broad bands in the initial SSPC system is a major weakness of the initial system. Initial comparison of rock mass friction angles, cohesion and strengths derived from the adapted SSPC are compared with results derived from modified Hoek-Brown criteria, MRMR and SMR classification systems. The advantage of the modified SSPC system is that slope stability probability, maximum batter and overall slope height and overall slope angle for open pit walls can be predicted in addition to orientation dependent and orientation independent stability. Examples are provided, using the modified SSPC system to predict initial optimum pit slope designs in proposed greenfield mine sites.

Jan 1, 2000

By Smith F. A, Both R. A

The application of biogeochemical methods in mineral exploration in the semi-arid to and environment of Western Australia was investiga- ted in an area near Norseman. The reliability of these methods was evaluated by comparing trace element characteristics of rock, soil and plants in the vicinity of the Pioneer BB pros- pect. The prospect is located in the south- western part of the Pioneer Dome, where granite gneiss core is surrounded by a 'greenstone' sequence of ultrabasic, basic and sedimentary rocks. Nickel-iron sulphide mineralization occurs discontinuously along one of the basic- ultrabasic contacts. Analyses of unweathered and partly weath- ered rock from diamond drill cores show the ultrabasic rock to be highly variable with re- spect to nickel, copper, cobalt, zinc and manga- nese. Samples of weathered bedrock and over- lying soil were analysed both for total trace element contents and for the trace elements associated with secondary iron and manganese oxides. Approximately 30 per cent of the total nickel content of the weathered basic rock is associated with secondary iron and manganese oxides, compared to approximately 15 per cent in the weathered ultrabasic rock. The soil is partly transported but has a residual component sufficient to provide a reli- able indication of the underlying rock chemistry, although the trace element content of the soil is less variable than that of the rock. Total

Jan 1, 1973

By Nickson NM, Lancucki CJ

X-ray diffraction and differential thermal methodshave been used to determine the mineralogy of some clays used by the heavy clay industry in the Adelaide area. A detailed analysis has been made of the mineralogy and. particle size distribution of eighteen samples from beds' in two pits in~the Recent seaiinents in the Adelaide plains, of six white clays.: developed from the weathering of the Adelaide series of `sediments and, of ,four -Recent alluvial clays from a pit in the Mount Lofty ranges south of Adelaide. Structural clay products 'in the Adelaide area are manufactured from mixtures of these clays:, so the mineralogy and particle size distribution have been determined of eighteen clay mixtures used to make red bricks, cream bricks,. facing bricks, pipes and tiles. Knowledge of this mineralogy is important in understanding the ceramic behaviour of the clays.

Jan 1, 1963

The cost of power is an important matter to mining companies generally and this thought that the members of the Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers, as well as the engineering and mining professions generally would be interested in any proposal for the reduction of that cost-has led to the presentation of this paper.The writer trusts that the description will be found clear and increase the interest in this exceedingly interesting subject. In the working up of the electrical arrangements touched on in this paper, the author has had the able assistance of hisfriend Mr. F. J. Mars, to whom he offers his hearty thanks. The selection of the best class of power plant for a mine is a very difficult and large problem and it is quite out of place to dogmatise that anyone of the many systems that offer isbetter than another, eg that the all electrical is better than the partly direct steam-driven and partly electrical, or that a gas plant is better than a steam plant.Such a selection is one that calls for very careful and close consideration, in each particular case, of a large number of regulating factors before it is possible to arrive at a proper decision.

Jan 1, 1911

By B, T Norgate, S Sanetsis, R Davidson

Global cement production accounts for about five per cent of man-made CO2 emissions (WBCSD, 2002). Such operating practices will increasingly be considered unsustainable, unless significant reductions in environmental impact can be realised by the industry.Slag is a high volume waste product from ironmaking, with about 300 kg of slag being produced per ton of iron. Critically, one ton of slag waste, if used as a replacement feedstock for Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), can prevent around one ton of emitted CO2 since no calcining is required. Slag cement blends can also show superior properties compared to OPC, such as lower heats of hydration and higher late strengths, but more development is needed to overcome their low early strengths. Rapid quenching of molten slag is required to produce æhydraulically-activeÆ binder when reacting with OPC; but water quenching can also require between five to ten tons of water per ton of slag at the plant. æDryÆ granulation (atomisation) is emerging as an alternative technology, the resulting solid product does not require drying, and possibilities exist for recovering heat energy from the hot slag.CSIRO Minerals has well-developed skills and equipment in pilot-scale pyrometallurgical treatment, and granulation of molten slag, including traditional wet, and also dry methods. Techno-economic desktop studies can also be used to help quantify factors such as value-adding of treated waste products, potential reductions in CO2 emissions and carbon credits, reductions in water consumption, and the possible decreased energy costs associated with fine grinding of dry slag granulate.The authors will present preliminary results from slag atomisation/dry granulation testwork (0.5 - 2.5 kg scale) and associated modelling studies, conducted using a æsyntheticÆ and industrial ironmaking slag. Outcomes from a techno-economic study on production of cement utilising wet or dry atomised slag granulate will also be discussed in detail.

Jan 1, 2004

The McArthur lead-zinc-silver deposit is of the stratiform type. It consists essentially of a mineralized bituminous shale sequence that incorporates tuffites, numerous graded beds, and isolated but massive slump breccia horizons.The principal sulphides are' pyrite, sphalerite, and galena. These occur mostly in the shales. The accompanying turbidites contain only minor mineralization.The geochemistry of the deposit has been investigated in relation to the stratigraphic column and mineralogy of the sediments.A sedimentary origin is proposed for the deposit. Volcanism, thermal spring activity, salinity, regional faulting, and climate are examined as possible factors that may have contributed to sulphide formation and which could be used as criteria for mineral exploration.The metallurgy 'of the McArthur deposit is discussed in terms of its geological history.

Jan 1, 1972

In this year marking the centennial of the Geological survey of Western Australia, it is appropriate that we should review the value of the contribution of the Survey, and Australian Geological Surveys in general, to the exploration industry. Most geological surveys in Europe and North America had their origins in the first half of the 19th Century when the burgeoning Industrial Revolution was demanding the identification of new sources of coal and iron ore. Australia, as a young nation, essentially dependent on an agricultural and pastoral industry, and with already discovered vast coal resources in Eastern Australia, had, no great need to explore for new mineral resources. However, with the discovery of gold in 1851, the mineral potential of the country became apparent to the whole world and the first Geological Survey in Australia was set up in 1852 in Victoria under A.R.C. Selwyn. After a number of false starts all Australian States had an established Geological Survey by 1900. It is hard to assess the contemporary value of the early work of the Geological Surveys with respect to exploration, almost all major mineral discoveries were made by prospectors and most mining companies had little time for geologists - although the Chamber of Mines in Western Australia in 1910, did recommend that the Geological survey be granted an additional ten thousand pounds over two years to map all existing goldfields and the country between them, and produce a reconnaissance map of the area east of a line between Wiluna and Edjudina as far as the South Australian border!

Jan 1, 1988

By Leahey T. A

The variability of gold mineralization in the Warrego Gold Pod is described by classical statistical techniques using sample distrib- utions and analysis of variance; and by the use of geostatistical variogram analysis to define the spatial variability and anisotropy of the mineralization. Comparison is made between declared mine production from the Nineteen Stope and a series of ore reserve estimates derived by manual, numerical and disjunctive kriging methods.

Jan 1, 1979

By Scoble M, Peck J

This paper reviews the instrumentation and monitoring of blasthole drills and electric mining shovels at a surface coal mine in western Canada. The drill monitoring component involved the development and implementation of microprocessor-based hardware on Bucyrus-Erie 45R and 60R drills. Over a two year period 3800 metres of blasthole drilling were monitored The drill data was subsequently correlated with core and geophysical logs towards identifying unique and reproducible ranges of performance parameter data for the different rock types penetrated. Using this technique, the geology of the study area benches was characterized in detail. Once these same benches had been blasted, the performance of a P&H 2800XP shovel was monitored as it worked through the blasted ground. In this regard, the influence of different digging conditions on shovel performance were identified in a range of blast and geological environments within the study area. The precise nature of these environments was confirmed by a correlation with the interpreted drill monitored data and muckpile size distributions obtained from a digital photo-analysis study. The excavation of 500 000 bcm of waste was thus monitored and a digging index derived which reflected variations in muckpile diggability. The paper concludes by proposing an integrated monitoring approach which, as a first step, uses interpreted drill data for explosive loading. This capability would permit greater accuracy in explosives loading ie. charge placement within higher strength lithologies, while avoiding weaker units. The performance of an instrumented shovel would then be monitored as it works through the resulting muckpile. Interpretation of the shovel performance data would determine the overall quality of the blast in terms of a digging index (DI), providing an indication of the relative digging effort and the effectiveness of the blast design.

Jan 1, 1990

FOR some years after the erection of the first chlorination plant at Mount Morgan the ore sent to the works for treatment was mined entirely from the oxidized zone; consequently, the bullion recovered at the refinery was of unusual purity, averaging about 972 in fineness, and, as no impurity in any way detrimental to the softness or toughness of the bullion was present, there was no necessity to subject it to any refining process.The charcoal from the filters was calcined to ash in small reverberatory furnaces of the usual type. The ash was mixed with suitable proportions of soda and borax to form a good liquid slag. This' mixture was then charged into salamander cruciblesand run to metal and slag in the ordinary wind furnaces-a slow and tedious proceeding in the Mount Morgan climate. The bullion, cleaned of slag, was re-melted under borax and poured into bars weighing from 350 to 400 oz.; these bars, after being dipped while hot into dilute sulphuric acid, were packed and sent to the mint. Of late years, however, the ore coming from the deeper ground of the oxidized zone became much lower in gold values, and contained variable but increasing quantities of sulphides, sulphates...

Jan 1, 1911

By Tominaga Y

Mine ventilation control is one of the most important techniques to suppress the disastrous region within a limited area, to have enough time of emergencies (ignitions, fires and so on) for underground workers. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the simultaneous controlling of mine ventilation by using, micro computer connected to various kinds of sensors. In this study, basic of mine ventilation and graph theory are used for making computer programs when the characteristic curves of fans and temperature distribution in an underground roadway network are given.

Jan 1, 1981

By Hughes J. C

THE smelting plant consists of five large furnaces operating in the treatment of current flintered material, and one small furnace operating periodically in the treatment of copper dross and antimonial slag produced in the lead-refining process.he following table supplies the leading dimensions and details of the large furnaces:-(a) Crucible - Dimensions 17 ft. 2 in. long x 4 ft. wide x 2 ft. 3 in deep. Capacity - 30 tons lead. Class of lining - firebrick. No. firebricks required - 3000.(b) Crucible Tank - Dimensions 20 ft. 6in. long x 10 it. 6 in. Wide x 4 ft. 3 in. deep. Material - 1/2 in. mild steel.(0) Jackets - Dimensions 6 ft. long x 19 in. wide x 6in. thick. Material - Cast-iron. Average life - 2 years. Number per side - 11, with 13-in. bosh. Number per end - 3, with 9-in. bosh.

Jan 1, 1922

The article, as written, represents a short account of the treatment of the base bullion from the Broken Hill ores, as carried on at Port Pirie, for the recovery of lead, silver, and gold, and for the treatment of by-products. Appended is a short description of the chief facilities of plant which have been adopted to overcome the main difficulties in the refining of lead the Howard press and stirrer. The article is within the limit prescribed by the regulation for the prize offered by the Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers, comprising 30 pages, containing an average of about 200 words per page, exclusive of analyses, photographs, and sketches.The writer desires to thank those to whom he is indebted for their- kindness in affording him every facility possible to obtain the information which he required for the success of such a paper-viz., Messrs. Robertson, Leavens, and Gronow, of the Broken Hill Propritary Co. Limited, at Port Pirie, and Mr. Crowther, of the Adelaide School of Mines, to whom he is indebted for photographs. The difficulty of obtaining fair samples of gold drosses, and the inability to obtain particulars of fuel consumptions, prevents the paper from being as complete as one would wish. The limited length precludes detail, except in more important parts.

Jan 1, 1907

By Beamish B. B

In this study, a systematic examination of the scale and variety of micro-structures in coal using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has been carried out, using coal samples of differing stages of coalification from the Bowen Basin and New Zealand. SEM provides detail of various micro-structural features and shows that a variety of micron-sized fractures and cavities are present in coals. These are differentiated into three pore types: fracture porosity, phyteral porosity and matrix porosity. Fracture porosity is generally associated with bright coals (although it has been shown that micro-fractures are present in maceral fragments from the dull coal layers). Characteristically the macro- and micro- fractures form a continuous structural fabric through the bright coal layers and thus make a significant contribution to overall permeability. The macro- and micro-fractures appear to have been formed during the process of coalification rather than being formed due to shrinkage during methane extraction, as most of them are infilled with secondary minerals. In contrast, phyteral and matrix porosity is associated with the dull coal layers that are composed of plant fragments or a heterogeneous mixture of macerals. Like the macro- and micro-fractures, the continuity of the observed cavities suggest that these too are a significant contribution to overall permeability, and therefore play a major role in the transmissibility of methane at a level between diffusion at the micropore level and laminar flow at the macro-fracture level. Due to different spacing, orientation and persistence of individual fractures and cavities, the rate of methane transmissibility through a coalseam will vary according to coal rank, coal type and the organic precursors from which the coal was derived. This is important as a knowledge of the micro-structure system and its relationship to coal type and coal rank, plays an important consideration in: a) gas drainage modelling, b) enhancing permeability by inducing fractures and c) predicting the occurrence of outbursts.

Jan 1, 1991

By A Golev, G Corder

The concept of the circular economy has been gaining traction both in Europe and China.In Europe the Ellen Macarthur Foundation see their mission as accelerating the transition from a linear take-make-dispose economic model to a circular model that is restorative and regenerative by design, and aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times. The Chinese Circular Economy initiative is effectively a sustainable consumption and production program utilising cleaner production, industrial ecology and life cycle management approaches to meet the national challenges of maintaining rapid economic growth while simultaneously enhancing environmental quality and maintaining social progress. A key characteristic of both of these circular economy initiatives is to design out, reuse or minimise the generation of waste.The mining sector, by definition, is represented by linear rather than circular activities, by supplying resources to society. However, being one of the world’s largest waste generators, the sector can adopt similar logic to that of the circular economy to improve its sustainability performance. Waste is a critical issue along the whole metals value chain, from mining waste to eventual end-of-life products, such as scrap steel from construction and demolition waste or the growing problem of electronic waste.CITATION:Corder, G and Golev, A, 2016. Can mining be part of the circular economy or is it squaring the circle?, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2016 Conference , pp 121–123 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 28, 2016

By M Byrne, P Newman, M Lindqvist

SomincorÆs Neves Corvo Mine, one of the largest copper producers in Europe, is currently constructing a paste backfill plant in order to replace cemented rockfill in its bench and fill stopes and possibly replace hydraulic sandfill in the drift and fill stopes. A 250 m flow loop was constructed at the mine and the flow properties of various paste blends were investigated. Cycloned tailings and total tailings were both pumped successfully as pastes and were also combined with waste rock for additional testing. The pressure losses in 102 mm and 154 mm diameter pipeline were recorded at flowrates up to 60 m3/hr and are presented at slumps from 120 mm to 250 mm. The data showed the sensitivity of paste mixtures to slight changes in consistency, confirming the need for accurate control during paste production and distribution. The flow results clearly showed the different paste behaviour between cycloned and total tailings pastes and the change in properties at low and high slumps. In addition to pressure loss data, strength testing was done on 38 mm and 82 mm diameter samples. Further strength testing is ongoing at the mine using fly ash as a supplement to cement, reducing the overall binder cost. Preliminary engineering for the underground distribution system is briefly discussed, with reference to the siting of the plant. The Neves Corvo Mine is particularly shallow and alternative methods to pumping were sought in order to ensure sufficient hydraulic head for underground distribution. The comparison of options had to take into account the capital and operating costs, the operation of the plant and the impact on the future expansion of paste fill utilisation at Neves Corvo.

Jan 1, 1998

By M Clay, J Dunlop

Thermal and metallurgical coal mining in Queensland has resulted in mines which contain voids due to open cut mining. While there are several proposals for greenfield coalmines or expansions to existing operations, many existing open cut coalmines are reaching maturity and most will leave one or more residual voids in place. The rehabilitation of mine voids is challenging. Water held in voids will evaporate over time leaving solutes to concentrate. This is likely to lead to poor water quality with limited practical use. The most basic practices to rehabilitate voids have historically involved stabilising the high and low walls, bunding to provide flood protection, and preventing public access. Regulatory reforms for mine rehabilitation were introduced in Queensland as part of the Mineral and Energy Resources (Financial Provisioning) Act 2018, and aimed to strengthen progressive rehabilitation planning, limit risks to the environment and improve outcomes for local and regional communities. Under the reforms, the goal for rehabilitation of voids is to achieve a safe, stable, and non-polluting landform, which can sustain a post-mining land use (PMLU). The reforms also introduced a requirement to describe rehabilitation of mined land in Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure (PRC) plans, replacing the description of such plans in Environmental Authorities (EAs). The reforms are not retrospective and recognise historic approvals for voids, meaning established voids will remain in the landscape as non-use management areas (NUMAs). The objectives of this study were to outline historic void rehabilitation planning practices, describe water quality limitations of Queensland mine voids and identify possible opportunities for improved planning

Aug 2, 2023

Industry and Government is littered with computer systems which suffered massive cost overruns in their production and which do not fully meet the expectations and needs of their users. There are many in the computing business who caution that cost overruns of 100% are to be expected and who counsel seriously against accepting an implementation date as being realistic. System development methodologies and "Spectrum" is an example, have been designed to control systems development so the cost and time overruns are prevented. While some success has been claimed, our experience and information from other users indicates that this control is illusory, the first estimates of cost and time are inflated by the control system methodology, and the methodology itself can bury the original system.

Jan 1, 1983