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By K Steamy, D Lesmana, K Yulia

Effective selective mining relies heavily on high quality geological data and assay data. Such assay data is dependent on effective sampling protocols, sample preparation techniques, assaying practices and well founded quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. This paper describes recent developments in grade control sampling at PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals high-grade Kencana gold mine at Gosowong Indonesia and presents a case study in identifying, minimising and monitoring random and systematic sampling error including the use of duplicate sampling and the Thompson Howarth technique for quantifying random sampling error.

Jan 1, 2009

Grade control is a real challenge, and better sampling and modelling practices are among the tools that have proven efficient in improving it. Although based on rather trivial examples, this paper addresses the following important issues: How much of a challenge is it? How and to which degree can it be improved? And what kind of economic benefits should be expected in return for the corresponding efforts?

Jan 1, 1999

By N Clarke, J Hunt, A Barros, L Keeney

The Gramalote orebody is a large low-grade gold deposit situated in the San Roque municipality, 124 km north-east of Medellin in Antioquia, Colombia. It is jointly owned by AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) and B2Gold and is currently in Feasibility Study phase. In 2013 AGA requested CRCORE to undertake a preliminary study of the potential application at Gramalote of pre-concentration by screening, part of the Grade Engineering suite. 160 samples of coarse assay rejects (-3 mm) were tested and showed one of the strongest responses seen worldwide to that time, suggesting that about 70% of the gold could be recovered into 40% of the mass. This was seen as potentially markedly improving the Gramalote economics. A large-scale testing program was implemented on site to follow up these results. A total of 18 samples of 17 t each were mined along a pre-existing exploration adit. A complex test flowsheet allowed size fractions to be generated from the as-received material as well as after crushing to 53, 23 and 3 mm, all from the same head sample. The procedures were designed after carrying out a heterogeneity study to measure sampling errors. The coarser size fractions were designed to study the effect of crushing on upgrade response and predict the response on open-pit run-of-mine ore. The finer size fractions were designed to investigate means of predicting the upgrade response across the orebody. The large-scale testing closely confirmed the average upgrade response as predicted from drill core assay rejects but found that only the -53 mm crushed material accurately predicted the upgrade response of individual samples. Ore geochemistry was able to usefully distinguish samples with good and poor response. A small study on drill core suggested that, for Gramalote, fine crushed material distinguishes vein associated and disseminated values but not other factors that control actual outcomes.

Nov 10, 2020

By N Clarke, J Hunt, A Barros, N Guerrero, L Keeney

Grade Engineering® (GE) involves a range of integrated technologies and operating protocols for improving effective feed grade through early rejection of low value material prior to costly processing activities and has the potential to transform the economics of large, low grade, mining operations. Extensive GE test work by AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) and the Cooperative Resource Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction (CRCORE) determined that the Gramalote gold deposit in Colombia is highly amenable to implementation of grade-by-size screening to upgrade the ore at a production scale. To understand the relationships between geology and the upgrade response drill core and bulk samples were analysed at the Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences (CODES) as part of a larger CRCORE project to understand geological controls on grade-by-size deportment, i.e., the tendency for specific mineral phases to preferentially fractionate during breakage into different size fractions. This work is focussed on understanding the role of mineralogy and texture in influencing rock breakage and natural fractionation at a range of scales. Detailed logging of Gramalote drill core and mineralogical analyses including hyperspectral logging, portable and bench-scale X-ray fluorescence (XRF), plus low resolution Laser Ablation of intact drill core pieces, combined with data from site (drill logs, geochemistry, petrophysics) were used to evaluate the ore and alteration mineralogy, vein paragenesis and textural variability. This provided information on gold deportment and allowed the identification of favourable host veins. Bulk sample material from different ore grade zones was also analysed. A comparison with the results of GE testing shows that positive upgrade results are produced by rocks with abundant veins, particularly those associated with potassic and/or white mica alteration. This work indicates upgrade response can be predicted from drill core using data collected by a combination of automated systems including hyperspectral data, XRF, and detailed drill core logging.

Nov 10, 2020

By G. S. Adisoma

To address the problem of grade estimation in a general three-dimensional shape and the uncertainty associated with the estimate, the technique of jackknifing/block kriging short-cut is proposed. A new estimator called jackknife kriging is introduced first. Through the jackknife variance, a confidence limit for the reserve grade estimate can be calculated. Unlike the kriging variance, which is more a measure of data configuration and is independent of data values, the jackknife variance reflects the true variability of the data. This approach provides a simple way to set a confidence level for global estimation of resources.

Jan 1, 1995

By M Scoble, W S. Dunbar

This paper reviews methods for grade estimation in short-term mine planning for block caving. Two particular tools are used: Ordinary Kriging and Simple Kriging with moving averages. It is also considered the influence of draw characteristics on the grade estimation process. Reference is made to mine case study data and analysis. These demonstrate that operational grade estimation is not a trivial process. It must take into consideration: the grade variability (in terms of ore and dilution), sampling interval, geological and geotechnical characteristics, geometrical layout and draw characteristics. Significant improvements appear possible in short-term planning if variogram analysis, as well as kriging methodologies, are introduced into the operational grade estimation process.

Jan 1, 2000

By P F. Hodkiewicz, J de Lacey, M Stewart, R Lane

"Implicit modelling is an approach to spatial modelling in which the distribution of a target variable is described by a unique mathematical function that is derived directly from the underlying data and high-level parametric controls specified by the user. This modelling approach may be applied to discrete variables such as lithology (after converting the discrete codes to numeric values) or to continuous variables such as geochemical grades. This paper discusses the estimation of continuous (grade) variables using implicit modelling.One of the underlying engines of implicit modelling for producing this mathematical function description is the radial basis function (RBF). In essence, the RBF is a weighted sum of functions positioned on each data point. A system of linear equations is solved to derive weights and the coefficients of any underlying drift model coefficients. Once derived, the RBF may be solved for any unsampled point or averaged over any volume to provide an estimate of grade. It is possible, for example, to query the RBF on a regular grid to derive an estimate of block grades. Given the ease of creation of an RBF, and its ability to predict grade, the question arises as to how the grades derived from the solution of an RBF compare with grade estimates derived from conventional geostatistical interpolation methods (eg ordinary kriging (OK)).The purpose of this paper is to describe in lay terms: the basic structure of an RBF the role of parametric choice in the solution of RBFs and how this influences the character of the solution the fundamental similarities and differences between RBFs and conventional geostatistical estimators.Using a high-resolution conditional simulation, we show that in many situations RBF and OK estimates are very similar.CITATION:Stewart, M, de Lacey, J, Hodkiewicz, P F and Lane, R, 2014. Grade estimation from radial basis functions – how does it compare with conventional geostatistical estimation?, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 129–140 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 18, 2014

By R Linares

The efficient operation of any modern metallurgical facility depends on the accurate measurement and estimation of flow rates, inventories, and composition of their intermediate and final products. All of this information is subject to both statistical errors and gross errors, which can lead to poor estimation of efficiency, yields and specific energy consumption. The detection and the elimination of these errors require not only plant data, but also product transactions and the operational events. Once the gross errors have been eliminated, it is possible to estimate validated performance indicators, such as grade recovery or yields. This paper describes the methodology to implement a unification and gross error detection system using the available infrastructure of both information and data reconciliation system. It covers the different infrastructure layers, from the data collection layer to the data validation and reconciliation layer. In addition, the impact of these methodologies on the decision-making process is presented.

Jan 1, 2005

Bauxite Resources Limited is grade drilling in its Western Australian Darling Range tenements to firm up resource definition and to develop mine plans. The Darling Range bauxite is generally in shallow deposits with minimum overburden. In the northern tenements, the ore is characterised by a higher silica layer which may extend from 0.5 to 1.5 m below, which high grade bauxite is found to a depth of four to 7 m. When grade drilling samples are taken, every 0.5 m and the recovered sample is weighed, logged and bagged. To eliminate splitting errors, the whole sample over the short interval is pulverised. Twinning holes variations are observed when using various drill rigs. Diamond core has been shown to give close to 100 per cent recovery and grades have been verified by digging bulk samples. As such, diamond core is used as the reference. It is intended to include sonic drilling as an alternative to diamond cores. This presentation details and attempts to explain the reasons for the observed variations in the various drilling methods used by Bauxite Resources Limited. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY no paper was prepared for this presentation.

Mar 1, 2010

Over the past few years, the School of Mines of Paris has carried out a program of research* on the grade-tonnage relationships in the border zones of porphyry copper deposits. The initial problem was quite difficult : how does the grade vary at the border of the known orebodies? Does it decrease regularly, or do some thresholds exist, where the grade diminishes abruptly? The answer to these questions have important repercussions on the prediction of the future reserves in the fringe of the orebodies. If the grade decreases regularly, very important reserves could exist; if not, there would be strong limitations to the possible recoverable reserves. The first step of our study was a critical study of previous work done on the subject. It appeared that, following Lasky's pioneering paper (Lasky, 1950), most of the authors used what we can call an historical approach to the problem. In this, the grade-tonnage relationships are calculated from the available figures for production and reserves and the results are then extrapolated to the future. The strong limitation of this model are brought out in this article.

Jan 1, 1982

Since its beginning, with the works of D. Krige and later, G. Matheron, geostatistics has been analyzing in detail the essential factors at play in ore reserves estimation problems, with the ever-present aim of an optimal use of the available information. Not only do the reserves depend on the geological in situ resources, they also require a correct appraisal of many technical and economical parameters. The objective of the present paper is to show how the method of technical parameterization of reserves, which is at the heart of the geostatistical approach, provides an extremely powerful and versatile tool for characterizing a mining project. After a review of the main properties of the technique, its use in the economic optimization of a project will be examined. Two examples from copper and gold deposits will be given.

Jan 1, 1987

By A. W. Jolliffe

DESPITE the widespread occurrence of scheelite in Canada, domestic production of this strategic mineral is still quite insufficient to meet wartime needs. Two difficulties have invariably arisen in prospecting for or developing scheelite deposits: scheelite is a difficult mineral to identify, and secondly, its distribution is commonly so erratic that the value of a deposit cannot be determined without arduous and expensive methods of sampling and wet assay. Scheelite's property of fluorescing under certain ultra-violet lamps overcomes the first difficulty and is the basis for a quantitative method developed to overcome the second. It is found that, by use of an ultra-violet lamp, the value of many scheelite deposits may be accurately and speedily determined. The method requires neither elaborate apparatus nor exceptional skill on the part of the operator, and is most applicable to those deposits where the bulk of the scheelite occurs in fairly pure aggregates that are at least one-tenth of an inch across. It has been used in grading some two hundred scheelite-bearing veins in the Yellow-knife-Beaulieu region, Northwest Territories, and various occurrences in the Porcupine district, Ontario. The method requires the measurement of the total area of scheelite exposed in any reasonably large measured cross-section of a deposit. From the areal percent of scheelite so obtained, the tungstic oxide (WO,) content of that part of the deposit may be calculated by means of equations of simple derivation.

Jan 1, 1942

By J. D. Forrester

Many have been prone to credit the decline of professional interest in some branches of mineral industry education to the industrialists and other agencies who use our graduates. We hear the cry that industrial salaries are too low, opportunities for advancement do not exist, and the mineral industry specifically and generally is not interested in the engineer's efforts. Perhaps the time now has come when we should "dress-ranks," examine our practices, and publicize and encourage advanced technical training instead of laying all our troubles elsewhere. There can be no doubt but that industry is interested and stands ready and willing to co-operate. This is demonstrated by the numerous grants-in-aid and co-operative industrial projects which have been made available to those relatively few schools which have been encouraging graduate study and research. There is no dearth of research problems in any of the mineral industry fields and the sooner we realize the great opportunities for constructive, technical research in all areas of our profession the sooner we will reap the benefits of our engineering enterprises by closer liaison and broader understanding with industry. An analysis is offered here of the status of graduate work and research in various phases of mineral industry education in the United States. It is

Jan 1, 1949

Jan 1, 2004

Jan 1, 2004

By Russell B. Cornell, William B. Plank

AT the close of the academic year 1940-'41 the largest number of students ever recorded received their first or bachelor degree in the mineral technology schools of the United States. The total of men thus prepared to enter their professional careers in the mineral industries was 1601, a number nearly 12 per cent larger than two years ago and nearly 75 per cent larger than four years ago. Notwithstanding this increase in the number of graduates and as had been predicted in the preliminary report in February, there was a slight decrease in the total student population of the schools in both the United States and Canada. During the college year 1940-'41, 9133 students were enrolled in the 54 schools of the United States and 764 in six of the seven schools of Canada.

Jan 1, 1941

By K. Horikawa, S. Kitahata, H. Kobayashi

"It has been clarified that the Al-5%Mg alloys containing 200 mass ppm of sodium showed grain boundary (GB) fracture, even when tested at room temperature, as well as at high temperatures (~500°C). SEM/EDX study revealed that the GB fracture was associated with the segregation of sodium on grain boundaries of the Al-Mg base alloys. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the GB fracture at room temperature of Al-Mg alloys was caused by sodium segregation in the solid state. It was also shown that the tendency of the GB fracture strongly depended on the heat treatment; the alloys after the solution heat treatment showed severe GB fracture compared with the alloys after the homogenizing treatment. Moreover, it was shown that the GB fracture at room temperature by sodium segregation was suppressed by the addition of bismuth or indium. The suppression of the GB fracture by the additional elements was believed to be the scavenging effects by forming the sodium bearing compounds in grains.INTRODUCTIONIt is widely known that Al-Mg base alloys containing high amount of magnesium(~5 mass%)show better workability at room temperature, while that the alloys show grain boundary (GB) embrittlement at higher temperatures ranging from 200 to 500°C, depending on grain size(Otsuka, 1984), sodium impurity level(Ransley, 1959, Okada, 1997, Horikawa, 2001)and testing strain rate(Yamada, 2012). In the case of coarse-grained Al-5%Mg alloys (~300 ?m), 2 mass ppm of sodium causes severe GB fracture around 300°C, however, the Al-5%Mg-2ppm alloy does not show GB fracture at room temperature. It has also been shown that the GB embrittlement caused by 2ppm of sodium was suppressed by the additional elements, such as bismuth (Talbot, 1995), antimony (Ueda, 1997) and indium (Horikawa, 2012). Basedon these facts, we have concluded that the GB embrittlement at higher temperatures of Al-Mg alloys is attributed to the synergy effects of GB segregation of atomic sodium and GB sliding. For the GB embrittlement mechanism of Al-Mg alloys, involvement of low melting point metallic phases has been pointed out (Lynch, 2002),since the GB embrittlement appeared only at high temperatures. Up to date, the effects of high amount of sodium addition more than 2 ppm on GB fracture were not fully investigated in Al-Mg alloys. In the present study, the effect of 100 ppm ordered sodium impurity on GB fracture of Al-5%Mg alloys was examined, together with the effect of another additional elements."

Jan 1, 2017

By T. Xin

A vertical grain boundary intercepting a horizontal free surface forms a groove to reduce the combined surface energy of the system. We study grooving by surface diffusion with anisotropic surface energy. A recently developed delta-function model of facets is used to describe the surface energy with three or four fold symmetry. It is found that the groove grows following a similarity law. The self-similar groove profile is solved numerically by a shooting method. Even with strong anisotropy, the groove profile can be smooth if the exposed surface orientations do not include a facet orientation. The smooth self-similar groove shape is the same as an isotropic groove, but the size is reduced by a factor that depends on the degree of anisotropy. This induces a large error on the value of surface diffusivity if the isotropic model is used for an anisotropic system. In this talk. we will describe how to correct for this error.1 I Xin, T. and H. Wong, "Grain-Boundary Grooving by Surface Diffusion with Strong Surface Energy Anisotropy," Acta Materialia 51, 2305-2317 (2003). Keynotes: Grain growth, Surface Diffusion, Surface energy, Anisotropy

Jan 1, 2003

By Davenport, Edmund S.

THE specific aim of this work has been to study certain forms of internal deterioration which occur in tungsten filaments when subjected to high temperatures under various conditions, and to determine the cause of such deterioration. This would naturally lead to a consideration of methods of control or means of prevention of the phenomena. The deterioration was first noticed as a peculiar condition in the grain boundaries of certain tungsten filaments which had been burned t for long periods in lamps. In these cases it was noted that the grain bound aries contained a number of minute black dots which were at first thought to be non-metallic inclusions. It was demonstrated later that these dots or pits, as they were designated, could be readily produced by burning filaments in an atmosphere of flowing hydrogen. This method was convenient and adequate for the purpose, and was adopted for most of the work discussed in this paper. The evidence accumulated to date indicates that these pits arc actually small voids between the grains. The purpose of this paper is to, present the information on this interesting subject gathered during a period of about 3 years. As applied to tungsten, the subject appears to be of considerable importance, experience having shown that this pitting is frequently associated with poor performance of filaments in lamps.

Jan 1, 1927

By R. S. French

THE purpose of this paper is to present data that have been obtained during the past two years concerning the effects of prior cold-work and temperature and time of anneal upon the recrystallization and grain growth of 70-30 cartridge brass. It was desirable to study certain of these phases so that an accurate picture of the principles of the subject could be shown. The work is not intended to provide explicit annealing data, but to provide material examples that may help to clarify analogous problems concerning this alloy. Specifications often set limitations upon the grain size of annealed materials because of the importance of grain size upon subsequent manufacturing operations. It was, therefore, worth while to study the variables that affect the recrystallized grain size of this material. C. H. Mathewson and A. Phillips,1 W. R. Webster,2 and others have presented annealing characteristic curves of this alloy. A recent typical curve presented by R. S. Pratt3 is shown in Fig. I. The tensile properties and grain sizes are shown as functions of the annealing temperature. Such curves serve as a useful guide in determining the physical properties of annealed material, but as they are made generally under carefully controlled laboratory conditions they do not indicate the performance of metal annealed in a mill muffle, where conditions are different and the amounts of metal require necessarily longer heating times and temperatures. Study of the effect of time and temperature upon grain growth and subsequent recrystallization was made with a coil of metal having the following analysis: 70.04 per cent copper; 0.007 lead; 0.007 iron; 0.00 tin; 0.00 silicon; 0.001 nickel; 0.000 phosphorus; balance zinc. The sample coil was obtained from metal that had been rerolled from hot-rolled mill stock, and was received at 0.228-in. gauge, soft, with a grain size of 0.125 mm. This material was then rolled 43.5 per cent to 0.125-in. gauge and annealed to a 0.053-mm. grain size. In this condition, samples were cut and used in all of the experimental work reported in this paper. TIME The first study was of crystal growth at a constant temperature over a moderate length of time. Material was cut from the stock coil at 0.129-in. size and rolled 75 per cent hard to 0.032-in. gauge. From this piece small samples were cut ½ by 2 in., suitable for grain-size determinations. Twelve samples were placed in an electric furnace uniformly across the width, approximately an inch from the floor, A thermocouple was wired to the center sample, so that the approximate metal temperature could be followed. At various

Jan 1, 1944