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By Wilson D, Kirkland J

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) uses low cost off-peak energy to compress air and pump it into pressurised underground storage. Expanding the air through a modified form of gas turbine generates electrical energy when required. While generating power, a CAES station consumes approximately one-third of the gas required for the equivalent installed capacity of a conventional gas turbine. Air can be stored in underground rock caverns, caverns in salt domes, or in aquifers. Existing CAES power stations use caverns mined out of salt domes. Aquifer storage for CAES has been proposed, but not yet implemented. The groundwater in the aquifer would be displaced during air injection and when required the air would be extracted using the natural hydro-static pressure. Victoria has no salt domes, but has aquifers onshore in the Gippsland Basin with geological dome structures of suitable depth, discovery pressure, porosity, permeability and caprock for CAES development. Field tests costing several million dollars would be required to prove the suitability. The most suitable aquifer is near Seaspray, where several dome structures exist. The aquifer, comprising of coarse sands capped by coal and mudstone, is some 600 metres deep with a hydrostatic pressure of 6.3 MPa. Computer simulation of injection and extraction of air from the aquifer under various combinations of horizontal and vertical wells, permeability and tubing head pressures indicated the largest aquifer structure had the capacity to sustain a 300 MW station. A well field comprising of 24 directionally driven wells with a horizontal exposure to the aquifer would achieve the air flow rates required. Using plant similar to that recently installed at McIntosh Alabama USA, would mean high capital costs compared to standard gas turbine plant. However, a review of modem gas turbines indicated that they could be easily and economically adaptated to CAES duty. Adapting a 120 MW gas turbine would give 344 MW output. A separate air compression plant would be used. Economic evaluations indicate that, for gas prices above $1.95 per GJ, a 344 MW CAES plant is more economic for intermediate/reserve load duty than simple cycle gas turbines.

Jan 1, 1992

By Colwell J. B, Constantine A. E

A unique, regional grid of deep (12 - 14 second record length), seismic reflection and refraction data has been recorded by the Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) across the offshore Gippsland Basin and parts of the adjacent Bass Basin, in southeastern Australia. These data have been combined with onshore mapping to produce a new model for the development of the Gippsland and adjacent Bass Strait basins. Overall, the Gippsland Basin contains up to 12 - 14 km of sediment in an ESE-trending depocentre bounded on its north and northwestern margins by a detachment ramp, and on its southern side by a relatively linear, listric fault system. The basin, together with the adjacent Bass and Otway Basins, appears to have formed as part of a linked, largely- strike-slip to 'transtensional' system, which started to extend through Bass Strait, probably during the latest Jurassic. Each of the basins developed by movement on a common detachment or detachment complex, which produced headwall extension at their western ends, in the areas now occupied by the Strzelecki Ranges, Otway Ranges - Torquay Sub-basin, and Robe Trough. Adjustments and reactivation from the mid Cretaceous of several postulated microplates in the region, largely in response to Tasman Basin rifting, gave rise to the wrench-related and compressional structures which form the major petroleum targets in the Gippsland Basin. However, the same process formed largely extensional stuctures in the Bass Basin. Our interpretation of the tectonic history of the Gippsland Basin leads us to the conclusion that there may have been several phases of petroleum generation and migration, and that potential petroleum traps appear to exist in the deeper section, in structures sometimes not reflected at the top or near-top Latrobe Group levels.

Jan 1, 1992

During recent years there has been a marked increase in the use of explosives in Queensland coal mines. Delay detonators have been introduced and their use has extended with the wider application of mechanised methods of mining.The need for careful study of the characteristics of delay detonators is stressed so that the advantages of simultaneous firing, from the points of view of safety and efficiency, may be obtained. With their use new potential hazards are introduced. These hazardsare considered and means whereby the overall safety may be improved are discussed.The increase in the number of misfires since the introduction of delay detonators is shown and the examination of misfired detonators is described. Lessons to be learned! from these misfires are noted and details are given of the essential requirements for safe and efficient blasting using delay detonators.INTRonUCTIONOne of the aims of mechanization in coal mines is to reduce the physical effort applied to the winning of coal. Explosives play an important part in achieving this and, following the introduction of power borers for the drilling of shot-holes in Queensland coal mines, much of the arduous work associated with coal getting has been eased. During recent years there has been a marked increase in the consumption of explosives, as shown in Table 1, and it must be the aim of all to use these explosives safely and efficiently. That there are dangers associated with the use Of explosives cannot be denied. The shotfiring operation is fully covered by legislation and, being under the control of one man, shQuld be capable of being carried out with a high degree of safety. The main source of accident appears to be the failure to take proper cover and this has resulted in...

Jan 1, 1958

This paper discusses the history and development of the system and the benefits that are being gained for Yabulu from Solar Drying. Following the end of mining of the local Greenvale and Brolga nickel deposits, QNI Yabulu Refinery is dependent upon imported ore from over 15 different mines in New Caledonia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Jan 1, 2003

By G R. Mould

The paper presents a general background to the subsidence research program being undertaken by the Department of Mineral Resources and Development in New South Wales. The results of the studies undertaken over the last ten years are summarised. The differences between these results and those obtained by the National Coal Board are discussed. The results of a study carried out on the effect of total extraction beneath a freeway in the southern coalfields are discussed in some detail. The procedures developed for the construction of a 500 mm diameter natural gas pipeline crossing a number of collieries in the northern coalfields are also outlined. The future direction of the Department's subsidence research program is discussed.

Jan 1, 1980

By T Hughes

The Gekko InLine Pressure Jig (IPJ) was unleashed on the World gravity separation market in 1996 and has since sold over 150 units in applications including tin, diamonds, silver, coal, garnet and gold. During the past twelve years the knowledgebase of the best applications and capabilities of the IPJ has greatly increased. Improvements to the original IPJ design have included engineered ceramic ragging in specific gravities from 1.6 to 5.0, full automation and improved designs of feed presentation and tailings and concentrate handling systems. The IPJ has been found to be able to handle a wide feed size range and recover mineral at liberation size without significant addition of water to the mass balance. Test work carried out during full-scale operation of the IPJ has shown the IPJ can recover diamonds down to 0.5 mm, sulfides down to 0.3 mm and gold down to 0.1 mm which greatly expands its application in the mineral processing industry. A significant volume of data now supports the symbiotic benefits of an IPJ and flotation circuit combination to pre-concentrate an ore and minimise downstream processing requirements.

Jan 1, 2008

Some 50 miles of tunnel have been driven in the Snowy Mountains Area since tunnelling commenced in 1951. Hates have improved progressively due to the know-how of American supervision and use of large matched equipment of modern design.The work has been carried out by contractors, working almost exclusively under schedule of rates contracts. The Authority has maintained active research into tunnelling problems, especially that of support, and this has resulted in considerable economies and improved rates of progress. The contractors also have sought economies both by management and equipment techniques. Ammonium nitrate came into favour as an explosive essentially because of its lower cost, and handling techniques have improved progressively. Rock conditions preclude use of the "Mole" type equipment in its present stage of development, but one contractor introduced the "sliding floor" and this could exert a great influence on future tunnelling methods.Examination of tunnels that have been in service for some time confirmed the quality of the work and endorsed the policy of continued research and development.GENEHALThe Snowy Mountains Scheme provides for the diversion of the Snowy and Eucumbene waters through two transmountain tunnels to the western river systems. These diversions, together with additional regulations provided for waters already flowing inland, will provide an average additional discharge of 1,818,000 ac it per year for irrigation.Furthermore, approximately 6,000 million kWh of electrical energy will be generated annually in power stations with a total installed capacity of some 3,000,000 kW (Fig. 1.).INVESTIGATIONThe aim of investigation work is firstly to collect sufficient information to allow the overall scheme to be planned and then to follow up with detailed information on eachproject. The correct balance for all aspects of this work is a matter for keen judgment, as the tunnels must be planned...

Jan 1, 1963

The mineralogy of nickel slags from the flash smelter of Western Mining Corporation Ltd. at Kalgoorlie was studied. Residual magnesium silicates in the sulphide concentrates raise the melting point of the slag and result in the formation of magnesium-rich olivines. Addition of lime lowered the melting point, and, in slowly cooled slags, resulted in the formation of a pyroxene.Magnetite and sulphides were also present in all slags.The converter slags contained an olivine near fayalite in composition, together with wiistite, magnetite, and a little sulphide.Accretions from the hearth of the flash furnace were largely composed of magnetite with subsidiary olivine similar in composition to those of the flash furnace slags.Wall deposits, however, were largely composed of nickel ferrite and nickel-iron olivines.

Jan 1, 1976

In considering the preparation of any paper concerning bearing metals, one feels a certain amount of diffidence in venturing into a field which has been capably explored at great length and in great detail during recent years. Many excellent articles have appeared in technical literature, dealing with the general theory of bearings and of bearing metals, the properties of white metals of the tin-base and lead-base types, and of the recently developed lead-bronzes.The justification for this further excursion into the field lies in the fact that it treats a branch of the bearing metal family which has so far received very little attention, and that of a somewhat sketchy nature, in published papers.The author's object is to give some outline of the history, development, present status and possibilities of the cadmium-base bearing metal alloys, particularly those in which copper is the main alloying element.GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.It is desirable that attention should first of all be given to the general theory, constitution, and necessary attributes of bearing metals, in order that some of the problems met with during the development work may be better appreciated.Despite some evidence to the contrary, it is fairly generally maintained that an alloy for bearing metal use should be of a heterogeneous nature. It should consist of particles of a hard constituent uniformly distributed through a softer matrix.The basic idea is that the hard constituent should actually bear the load and resist wear, while the matrix imparts the necessary ductility and allows the bearing to align itself on the shaft in service.

Jan 1, 1934

By D N. B Skinner, M P. Simpson

At Ohio Creek, 3 km northwest of the Thames bonanza goldfield, porphyry Cu-Au mineralisation is hosted in a dacite porphyry associated with porphyry intrusion breccias and overlying andesites and dacites. The geological setting is a Jurassic greywacke basement overlain by Late Miocene andesite-dacite volcanics which are extensively altered to propylitic and argillic assemblages. Diamond drilling at Ohio Creek in 1978-1981 by Amoco Minerals intersected low grade Cu-Au (0.12-0.20% C~ 0.23-0.4 glt Au) mineralisation An advanced argillic 'alteration cap containing quartz-alunite¦dickite or pyrophyllite-dickite¦diaspore is centred on the adjacent Lookout Rocks and has potential for high sulfidation Au-Cu mineralisation. There is a zonation from potassic K-feldspar-magnetitealteration at depth in the dacite porphyry, through an overlying phyllic quartzsericite- pyrite zone which is overprinted by pyrophyllite in the overlying advanced argillic cap. Early quartz stockwork veinlets associated with the potassic alteration contain fluid inclusions that trapped a highly saline (50-80 wt% NaCI equiv) fluid at high temperatures (450 to >600¦C) indicative of a magmatic fluid. Some chalcopyrite is associated with slightly later quartz-magnetite veinlets, but the bulk of the copper occurs as disseminated chalcopyrite associated with the phyllic alteration. The potassic alteration is surrounded and overprinted by propylitic chlorite¦epidote alteration. Late polymetallic sulfide-quartz-anhydrite veins occur within and around the margins of the porphyry system as in the Kaiser Reef. Fluid inclusions associated with these late veins were formed at temperatures of about 250-320¦C from low salinity (1-3 wfl~ NaCI equiv) fluids. The spatial association between porphyry eu-Au mineralisation, advanced argillic alteration and polymetallic sulfide veins suggests that they are genetically part of the same hydrothennal system. This is consistent with reconnaissanceK-Ar dates of 11.6-10.7 Ma for the intrusive porphyry at Ohio Creek, alunite in the advanced argillic alteration zone at Lookout Rocks and sericite selvedges from the Waiotahi gold-quartz veins at Thames.

Jan 1, 1998

In the past decade several significant intrusion-related gold deposits have been discovered in terranes historically exploited for tin-tungsten mineralization (eg Tintina Gold Province, Yukon and Alaska, Tasman Fold Belt, Australia and the Altaid orogenic collage in central Eurasia). This paper presents new data on the geological and geochemical characteristics of these deposits that links them to magmatic-hydrothermal processes and highlights their implications for exploration. New data from several intrusion-related gold provinces suggest that these deposits are found in areas that contain granodiorite to granite, but with a locally significant mafic component, have Rb/Sr ratios ranging between 0.1 and 1.0, and are moderately reduced (Fe2O3/FeO ~ 0.1 to 0.6) ilmenite series, metaluminous, I-types. The intrusions are distinct from porphyry copper intrusions and tin granites, but are more akin to tungsten granites. Hydrothermal fluid types vary with depth of emplacement in intrusion-related gold deposits and new proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) data from syn-ore fluid inclusions in shallow and deep deposits provide fascinating insight into the variation in metal content between the different settings consistent with observed deposit metal associations. Exploration for intrusion-related gold deposits in tintungsten terranes should focus on regions that contain both mafic and felsic intrusion that are moderately reduced, metaluminous, I-type granites rather than terranes with dominantly highly fractionated, strongly reduced, peraluminous S-types. Intrusion-related gold systems occur in variety of deposit styles (in part controlled by host rock, proximity to granite, and depth of emplacement) and exploration geologists need to be aware of the variety of target types in and around the intrusive environment, and be able to recognise whether they are exploring a shallow or deep intrusion-related gold setting.

Jan 1, 2005

Using Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) to Investigate Industrial Systems

Sep 13, 2010

By T J. Sprott, Associates

A number of people have expressed concern, understandably, that if mining operations take place in the Coromandel, the flows of mineralised ground water which exist will be intercepted. This water in many cases contains toxic metals including mercury, arsenic and lead and it is thought that if this water is allowed to enter streams or the waters of the Hauraki Gulf, it could endanger natural marine life and possibly established fisheries. This paper seeks to explain in simple terms the geology and the process of deposition of the various mineral deposits in the ground, the chemistry of the reactions between these minerals and the rain water falling on the ground, the hydrology and behaviour of this mineralised groundwater as it moves through the ground until it eventually enters the sea.

Jan 1, 1981

Plant-Based Trials of Monitoring of Coal Flotation Systems Using Electrical Impedance Spectrum Technique

Sep 13, 2010

By Wood W, Bell A

Brown coal production in Victoria's Latrobe Valley Region (Figure 1) continues to rise and currently stands at around 50 Mt per annum. With the exception of around 2 Mt used to produce some 700 Kt of brown coal briquettes, this coal is mined by the State Electricity Commission to fuel large thermal power stations with a total installed capacity of just over 5 000 Megawatts. The moisture content of the coal as mined typically exceeds 60 per cent, making Latrobe Valley coal a markedly low rank fuel. The lack of heating value is, however, compensated for through power station design and by the fact that ash yield is very low, usually within the range of one per cent to four per cent on a dry basis. This means that compared with most other coals, the burning of Latrobe Valley brown coal produces relatively small quantities of waste products and discharges a minimal level of pollutants into the atmosphere. Even so, the inherent quality of Latrobe Valley coal does vary significantly from one area to another (Gloe, 1991; Barton et al, 1992) both on a local and a regional scale. Such variations need to be recognised and understood in order to not only realise efficiency gains in existing power stations but to properly assess resource potential for future utilisation and the application of new technologies. The principal aim of this paper is not to describe coal quality variation in detail or to speculate on the nature of and reasons for such variation. Rather, it is to simply underscore that significant differences do occur and that this is clearly a factor which needs to be considered in any evaluation of Latrobe Valley brown coal as a resource for the future.

Jan 1, 1992

The ready solubility of gold in dilute aqueous solutions of the cyanides of the alkalies or alkaline earths provides a convenient method for the separation of the precious metal -from the large surplus of associated materia1. The finely ground ore is pulped with a weak solution of cyanide, agitated to dissolve the gold, filtered and washed. The lowgrade filtrate is then clarified and the gold precipitated by some electronegative agent, the most usual being finely divided zinc or zinc dust. The slight precipitate is collectedon some form of filter coated with a filter aid, the filter cake being then known as "gold slime".A typical analysis of this slime is given in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1956

Failure of rock materials is a process of crack propagation. Crack initiation takes place when the crack tip stress intensity K reaches a critical value called fracture toughness, K1C. The rock fracture toughness is known to be affected by the surrounding environment such as temperature, confining pressure and humidity. In order to examine the effect of humidity, a series of semi-circular bend tests were performed under various water vapour pressures in a rock material that is known to be anisotropic. Water vapour promotes stress corrosion of rock and therefore the fracture toughness was found to have a decreasing trend with increasing water vapour pressure. The rate of decreasing the fracture toughness depends on the microcrack density that promotes the migration of water vapour into the rock. Also in an anisotropic rock, the fracture toughness depends on the direction of crack in relation to the anisotropy of the rock material.

Dec 6, 2010

By J Evans-Wheeler

"The mandate of the 2005 VALMIN Code to provide ‘(all) reliable, thorough, understandable material information required by investors and their advisers when making investment decisions’ requires that due diligence for tenure be full and thorough. Yet a published due diligence would often appear to be simply a list of tenures allegedly held without any commitment as to the standing of the tenure as safe and secure or otherwise.The value of due diligence for tenure, as mandated in the 2012 JORC Code and the 2005 VALMIN Code, must focus on compliance rather than simply on ‘vital statistics’. Enforcement in every jurisdiction in Australia focuses on penalties (some more harsh than others) for non-compliance, which, in turn and most importantly, reflects directly on security of tenure. Some 22 Acts (on average) impinge on security of tenure and fundamentally underpin the security of any mineral asset.This paper will outline regulatory processes to demonstrate how tenure compliance is achieved and argue that the rigorous application of good practices in tenure evaluation will lead to more of this information being made available on a regular basis.The paper will then focus on further practical examples of tenure compliance failures, the application of these to the requirements of the JORC and VALMIN Codes and due diligence that failed to fulfil the mandate. Examples will be given that alerted other professionals using the JORC Code to complex geological and mining situations of which they were unaware in their valuations.Finally, the author will make a personal plea for tenure to be considered at the commencement of any reporting process.CITATION:Evans-Wheeler, J, 2016. The VALMIN code and tenure compliance – not just a list, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2016, pp 112–121 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 8, 2016

By Teale E. O

The purpose of the present communication is to put on record the discovery, in October, 1916, in the Howqua district, of a new locality for the occurrence of phosphatic rocks in Victoria, and to give a preliminary description of its characters and geological occurrence. Owing to the great use of superphosphates for agricultural purposes in recent years in Australia, search has been stimulated for the discovery of local and workable supplies of phosphatic rocks. Phosphorus is an element very widely distributed in igneous rocks, usually in the form of the mineral apatite, and also occurs in sedimentary rocks and in soils as a detrital constituent. Under these conditions of occurrence, however, the amount of P 205 present in a rock or soil seldom approaches, and very rarely exceeds, 1 %. Very occasionally it occurs in such a concentrated form as to constitute workable deposits. In such cases they are usually of organic origin. Sometimes they occur as geologically recent deposits of guano or rock...

Jan 1, 1918

By Holdgate G. R, Thompson B. R, Webster R. L, Bolger P. F

The Gippsland Basin in south-eastern Australia has an area of approximately 46 000 sq km. It is one of the world's major coal and petroleum bearing basins, with most of the former occurring in the smaller one fifth on-shore part. The stratigraphy, structure and economic resources of the Tertiary sedimentary pile is now well known through extensive drilling for coal and petroleum. In contrast, the older Cretaceous sequences through their lesser economic importance are relatively less explored. The sedimentational history of the Gippsland Basin has largely followed along similar lines of development to the many other southern Australian basins since the Cretaceous break-up of Gondwanaland. However, the scale of accumulation of coal and hydrocarbon source rocks is unprecedented and differentiates this basin, for reasons less well understood, from the others. Large scale open cut brown coal mining since the late-1920s has been carried out in the western extremities of the basin, while vigorous extraction of some two thirds of Australian petroleum products taken place in the offshore part. Brown coal seam thicknesses and economically winnable reserves are huge and outrank most other brown coal basins of the world. Development of the resource currently meets the need for electricity generation throughout the State of Victoria, but other future developments such as conversion to oil, being investigated.

Jan 1, 1992