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Two separate mine rehabilitation programmes carried out by Australian Consolidated Industries Limited (A.C.I.) in South Australia at Normanville and Port Lawler are discussed. Emphasis is given to the methods used, the results achieved and to possible future improvements.

Jan 1, 1976

By Krzystanek Z, Wasilewski S

The problem of automatic control of a coal mine ventilation network is discussed. It is found that the structure of the control sys-tem should have two levels, i.e. local regulation of ventilation para-meters (air flows) in faces to eliminate the effect of quick disturba-noes, and supervisory control of the whole ventilation process by pe-riodical modifications to the working characteristics of the main fans. Practical and theoretical problems connected with implementation of the system in Polish mining are listed and discussed. To solve these prob-lems a series of experiments with air flow control in three different coal faces were carried-out with the aim of checking the measuring and control equipment in a real mine conditions as well as investigatingthe gasodynamics of the ventilation process. The results of the experi-ments are analysdd, and used to verify the mathematical model of the gasodynamics of a longwall face.

Jan 1, 1985

Some important mineral fields are referred to in discussing the formation of placer deposits in Australia. Testing methods include boring hand, with percussion rigs; with auger and pit digging drills; and l by vibro drilling. Sampling errors are minimized by the use of correct techniques and equipment for boring, sampling, and sample dressing, A hypothetical set of data is used to demonstrate the final process of evaluation, and some relevant taxation provisions are discussed.

Jan 1, 1964

By Browner R, Kyle J

The adsorption of gold cyanide by the weak base ion exchange resins, PAZ-4¦ and Duolite A-7C, the neutral polymeric adsorbent, Amberlite XAD7¦, and the strong base resins, PAZ-8~a and IRA-400 have been studied in both low and high salinity waters, and their performance compared with activated carbon. A systematic study has also been made of the effect of different ions (Na+, Cat+, Mgt+, Cl', SO4) ) on the gold adsorption capacity and kinetics of these resins. The results indicate that, contrary to popular belief, the ion exchange resin, can perform effectively in highly saline environments. The performance of the neutral polymeric adsorbent im- proves with increasing salinity but cannot match the performance of the ion-exchange resins.

Jan 1, 1991

By Parker RJ, Swindells CF

The authors have used the geotechnical study for design of the South Wall of Mt. Newman Mining's Mt. Whaleback Mine to illustrate how geotechnical studies can be economically justified. This is achieved by relating the savings resulting from increased ore recovery and prevention of failure to the cost of the study. An outline of the geotechnical study is provided in the paper, including a brief description of the innovative methods used to investigate geological structure of the mine and descriptions of the methods of slope reinforcement adopted.

Jan 1, 1986

Geostatistical conditional simulation is a method to assess variability and risk in mineral deposits and the tool has wide potential applications in the iron ore industry. Correct reproduction of multivariate relationships is important in iron ore simulation, especially between Fe and impurities such as Al2O3, SiO2 and P. The turning bands simulation method, using a full model of coregionalisation for multiple attributes, is the main multivariate conditional simulation algorithm used in the Western Australian iron ore industry. This paper discusses the results of a more recent approach using minimum/maximum autocorrelation factors (MAF) to transform and decorrelate the multivariate data prior to independent sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS). MAF-SGS results are compared to those of the turning bands approach in the Yandicoogina channel iron ore deposit (CID), and both methods performed well in simulating Fe, SiO2, Al2O3 and P distributions. Extensive checking of simulations showed that both approaches could reproduce multivariate statistics and spatial continuity of the original conditioning data. Both approaches reproduced the histograms and variography of input sample composites. While the MAF-SGS approach requires additional transformations when compared with the single normal scores transformation required for the turning bands method, MAF requires only that the direct semivariograms be modelled. In contrast, using turning bands with multiple attributes requires modelling a full linear model of coregionalisation, which can be difficult to model because of the need to ensure the model is positive semi-definite. Turning bands may be preferred if there are a modest number of correlated variables allowing construction of a linear model of coregionalisation that adequately models the multivariate behaviour. MAF-SGS is preferable for larger numbers of correlated variables. Both MAF-SGS and turning bands methods performed well in conditional simulation of correlated variables at Yandicoogina.

Jan 1, 2007

Tokyo Metropolitan Government designs the stormwater storage plans in underground, as a measure of flood control in completed urban district and improvement of combined sewarage system. This time, introducing those plans, we report about IKEJIRI and SIN-KOMAZAWA STORAGE TRUNK LINEs design and construction. They are located in Meguro river basin of the Morigasaki drainage area. Both storage trunk lines have capacity to store 15O,000m3 of stormwater. They are in use for countermeasure of flood till Meguro river's strengthening (intensity 50 mm/h) is ended. And after the strengthening, they will be in use for improvement of river water quality, through the storage of combined sewage and first runoff, which, otherwise overflows weirs and flows to river in a rainy day. These storage trunk line's full length is about 5700m. Boring diameter 66140 mm (f = 2672m) and 47800 mm (I = 2866m) of these tunnels are constructed by Mechanical Shield tunnelling method. And boring diameter 3600 mm x 4000 mm (R = 180m) is constructed by NATM tunnelling method. We began works in 1983, and have a mind to complete in 1987.

Jan 1, 1987

By Mercer JK

This paper gives a description of the research undertaken by an explosives manufacturer to give better technical advice to the Mineral Industry. Blasting Physics is defined as giving a systematic and coherent account of the initiation and subsequent effects of high explosives upon the surrounding medium. As a result of this work a mathematical model based on the gener- ally accepted mechanism of blasting has been developed. The mechanism and the resulting model are briefly outlined. IFrom'this model the effects of burden, spacing, blasthole diameter, rock and explosive properties upon fragmentation and heave can be calculated. Using these calculations it is then possible to see how variations in frag Imentation and heave can affect the overall production costs of a mine whether it is surface or underground. The overall costs are made up of a number of individual costs - drilling, blasting, loading, hauling and crushing. ach of these operations influences or is influenced by fragmentation and heave s these costs are inter-related, the

Jan 1, 1975

By A Kindred

The Bogong Hydropower Development is a 140 MW high head power project currently under construction in Northern Victoria. The project is the final link in the Kiewa hydroelectricity scheme, which was originally constructed in the 1950s. Due to its location in the Alpine National Park, the waterway for the Bogong project must be located entirely underground. A series of shafts and tunnels is being constructed to transfer the water from the headworks at McKay Creek to the new power station located on the shores of Lake Guy in Bogong village. The difference in elevation between the headworks and the power station is greater than 420 m, which poses particular issues for the design and construction of the waterway. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and construction planning aspects of the tunnelling and shaft excavation and lining works for the waterway. The tunnelling works includes 5.7 km of hard rock tunnel boring machine (TBM) driven tunnel, 1.1 km of drill and blast tunnel and two deep shafts. The tunnels and shafts are lined with a mixture of permanent rock bolts and shotcrete, concrete lining and steel lining. The viability of the Bogong Hydropower Development relies heavily on the ability of the TBM to excavate at high speed through the East Kiewa Grandiorites. Particular attention was given during the construction planning stage to understanding the excavation characteristics of this material, and designing a suitable hard rock TBM that would be capable of meeting the program requirements of the project.

Jan 1, 2008

By Rose CW

Typical rehabilitation programmes for spoil piles and waste dumps in open cut coal mines involve the spreading of topsoil to assist vegetation growth. In the early years of rehabilitation before a protective vegetation cover has been established, this topsoil is susceptible to erosion during rainfall events. Since the long term success of rehabil- itation procedures is sensitive to adequate topsoil maintenance and since, on many mine sites, topsoil is a scarce resource, erosion losses of topsoil (particularly once fert- ilised) can severely restrict rehabilitation Measures.

Jan 1, 1983

On-line radioisotope gauges determine information on the characteristics of ore to enable improved control of processing operations. In the metalliferous mineral industry, in-stream analysis systems based on radioisotope X-ray techniques determine concentrations of valuable minerals at various stages of the concentration process. In the coal industry, on-line gauges determine ash and moisture contents, and the specific energy of coal.In-stream analysis systems developed in Australia are installed in about 30 mineral concentrators. Their use has led to the increased recovery of valuable minerals, and the time taken to recover the cost of installation is usually several months. The savings to Australia resulting from use of these analysis systems is estimated to be more than $A 15 million per year.Australian experience in the training of mineral industry personnel shows that the most effective approach is to combine courses on nuclear techniques and control of processing operations. This is the basis of Australia's contribution to the minerals sub-project of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Industrial Project.

Jan 1, 1985

BHP Minerals Ltd operates an open cut iron ore mining operation on Koolan Island, off the coast north of Derby in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The mine comprises a number of pits, the largest of which is situated adjacent to the coast on the southern side of the island. The lowest bench is currently at RL +2 m, and the mine has planned ultimate depth of RL -82 m. Mining has already extended below the pre-existing water table level, and below mean sea level. In 1984, an extensive program of drilling, geophysics and test pumping was instigated to evaluate the aquifer hydraulic properties and the nature of the groundwater flow regime. With the aid of computer modelling, predictions have been made of the likely dewatering and depressurization requirements, and a conceptual pumping and drainage system has been designed.

Jan 1, 1986

By Yan D. S

The removal of antimony from a refractory gold-bearing stibnite ore by roasting and selective chlorinating roasting was investigated. The influence of roasting temperature, roasting time, roasting atmosphere and type and amount of chlorinating agents on antimony removal were studied. The laboratory studies carried out included roasting tests of 4 g samples in a laboratory rotary kiln, followed by 400 g samples roasted in a fluidised bed. The test results revealed that antimony was efficiently removed by roasting at temperatures over 800¦C in a nitrogen atmosphere. The most efficient volatilisation of antimony was achieved with the addition of ferric chloride at temperatures between 350-600¦C.

Jan 1, 1995

By Mining Geophysics

Modern geostatistics has eliminated much of the guess-work in ore reserve estimation, and can calculate levels of confidence for the reserve estimate. Geological modelling software has brought about a revolution in the communication of complex geo-variables to mining engineers, metallurgists, surveyors and managers. Mine planning and scheduling can now avail itself of a veritable toolbox of enabling technologies.

Jan 1, 1994

By V N. Rudashevsky, N S. Rudashevsky

Characterisation of platinum-group element (PGE) deposits and their process products has many challenges for the process or applied mineralogist. It is now well established that the PGE distribution for such samples is variably divided between submicroscopic concentrations of PGE in sulfides, tellurides and related minerals occurring as discrete platinum-group minerals (PGM), of which there are a large number of species, many with partial replacement between the PGE and between anions. Each PGE deposit type requires a targeted approach but fundamentally, there are two general methodologies in vogue. One way is to make a large number of polished or polished thin sections for detailed scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/optical examination to determine the PGM distribution and their associations and grain sizes. The other is to make concentrates of representative crushed or processed samples, thus having fewer subsamples to examine. Our method of choice is to use hydroseparation (HS) for concentration. HS provides representative concentrates of sizes down to ~10 ¦m, not possible by other techniques. Various microbeam methods have been used for analysis of trace quantities of PGE (EPMA, micro-PIXE, SIMS and LAM-ICPMS). We prefer LAM-ICPMS (laser ablation microprobe û inductively coupled mass spectrometry) because of the relatively large analytical volume sampled, the ability to measure all the PGE, monitor up to 20 elements, together with detection levels in the tens to a few hundreds of ppb. We provide typical results derived in studies of stratiform PGE ores and tailings, and a massive Ni-Cu sulfide ore.

Jan 1, 2008

The blasting process involves a complex interaction of a delayed sequence of moving sources of seismic energy which produce nonlinear behaviour near the blast holes. A deterministic description of this nonlinear behaviour represents a formidable problem. The modelling of blast vibrations remote from the blast source may use some of the primary features of the blast design such as charge type, charge weight and initiation sequence. Such modelling of blast vibrations usually assumes linear behaviour remote from the blast holes. Site specific charge weight scaling laws may be used to predict the blast vibration levels with relatively poor accuracy. An important ingredient which is missing from charge weight scaling laws is the seismic source wavelet emanating from each blast hole. The present paper considers some approaches which may be used to determine a suitable source wavelet. The wavelets are suitable for use in the region where linearity may be assumed. In that region, it is possible to model the attenuation and scattering of the seismic wave as it propagates from the blast source to the measurement location.

Jan 1, 1990

About 20 percent of world gold production has been contributed by gold deposits in Archaean greenstone belts, of which ca 2100 tonnes of gold has been produced from Archaean greenstone belts in Western Australia (Phillips, in press). These deposits are, therefore, important exploration targets and an under-standing of their nature and genesis can help to formulate exploration strategies and delineate potential targets.A literature survey of Archaean granitoid-greenstone terrains indicates that a wide variety of lithologies host gold deposits. The major part of production from the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia, has come from mafic volcanics andintrusives (70% of production),with significant contributions from BIF-hosted ores (15%) and low production from sediments, felsic volcanics, porphyry intrusives and granitoids (Groves et al., in press). Similarly, most

Jan 1, 1984

Diamond drilling is a relatively new commodity in terms of drilling. The first known diamond drilling activities were carried out in the Swiss Alps around 1863 when the Swiss engineer M Leschot designed and made a tube with a diamond set face which was used in probing ahead drilling for the Mont Cenis tunnel (Figure 1). Craelius AB which today is a part of the Atlas Copco Group was formed in 1886. The name Craelius is a family name and the founder of the company was Per Anton Craelius (Figure 2). He went to the United States to study this new technology using diamonds to extract core samples and when he returned to Sweden designed his first diamond drilling machine. It was a man-powered drill needing a crew of six men, two to crank the unit, one to feed, two to power the flush pump and a foreman (Figure 3). As time passed through research and development, the original design was improved and manpower was substituted for steam engines and later combustion engines or electric motors (Figure 4). During the 1930s the drills radically changed designs and took the form of the short stroke drills which to a certain extent are still in use today. The original design of these drills have been refined during the years, hydraulic chucks, gear boxes and other improvements have been added.

Jan 1, 1995

By Mackinnon I. D R, Glikson M

Samples from the Callide Coal Measures, Queensland, Australia, containing the minor maceral, micrinite, have been studied using optical and electron-optical techniques to determine the precise compositional and structural nature of micrinite when in association with vitrinite macerals. Emphasis has been placed on direct spatial correlation of optical and electron-optical data due to the fine grain size (90 per cent of the component) and, as such, should not be considered a maceral.

Jan 1, 1991

This paper forms part of a series of papers relating to the Melbourne Underground Rail Loop and presented to the Fourth Australian Tunnelling Conference in Melbourne, March 1981. The Design of Electrical and Mechanical Services in Museum Station and adjacent Running Tunnels and their relation to Rail.wruy Operation through the Loop are described. The descriptions, while specific to Muscrio Station, are generally representative of those being provided at Parliament and Flagstaff Stations. The Museum Station comprises some 6500 square metres of platform and track area, 5000 square metres of booking hall concourse and entrances and 1200 square metres of offices and plant rooms. The Mechanical and Ilectrical Services for this complex are .imilar in many aspects to those of a large !.gr.hrise city building, but in general the i::;ign is directed more strongly towards :.arety, durability and reliability, and subject to many restraints imposed by L'mitations of space and accessability.

Jan 1, 1981