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By M Nagarajan

Orica Mining Services (Orica) in partnership with Coal and Allied’s Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) has developed a risk management process to maximise mining efficiency whilst controlling vibration and maintaining critical electricity continuity to New South Wales (NSW) electricity grid in the Riverview Pit. The issue is a high tension tower which supplies electricity located within 40 m of mining and blasting activities. The process involved developing an understanding of the relationship between vibration, explosives, geology and the location of the blasting in the geological horizon. From this an optimum methodology for blasting in each region was developed.

Nov 8, 2011

By S Talu, E Savage, P Sturm, A van As

It is estimated that substandard ground support installations and elements cost the Rio Tinto Copper Group millions of dollars between 2000 and 2014. These issues have also created significant safety and financial risks in Rio Tinto mines. As a result, Rio Tinto Copper has developed CaveCAD, an integrated system to collect, store and analyse all ground support-related data. The CaveCAD system stores geotechnical data and has the ability to automatically import data, collect data through tablet applications, report processed/analysed data and present this data through 3D visualisation software.The CaveCAD Ground Support module closes the design–implementation–verification loop by providing a method of verifying the compliance of all installed ground support, recording manufacturer specifications, recording quality control test compliance and rectifying any non-conformant areas. The module uses innovative technology to create value through cost saving, safety improvements and data collection efficiency. Cost savings will be achieved by a decreased need for excavation rehabilitation, less ‘waste’ due to faulty installation and quality assurance checks reducing the likelihood of substandard support units being used. Data collection will be improved through the use of a mobile tablet application that can be used underground in ‘off-line’ environments.CITATION:Savage, E, Talu, S, Sturm, P and Van As, A, 2016. Development and implementation of the CaveCAD ground support module for cost and safety improvements in block cave mines, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 769–772 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

By G D. Matthews, M E. Haylett, S Khosrowshahi, A Weeks

Effective domaining is fundamental to geostatistical modelling for grade control. Through analysis of lithological, structural and alteration logging data, effective groupings (domains) can be identified and employed for estimation or simulation purposes.The poor definition of domains can adversely affect the grade control model resulting in a misinterpretation of the optimal ore-waste boundary and ultimately reduces the quality of recovered ore. The implementation of an appropriate domaining strategy is therefore expected to improve recovery and reconciliation.A thorough understanding of the geology of the deposit and adequate sample data is required for selecting domains. For new deposits, a resource drill database and resource model may be the only information available. Where extension to a previous operation is taking place, historic grade control, mapping and exposed geology may be used to improve domain selection. Preconceptions about domains, should they exist, need to be re-evaluated and tested to ensure they are fit for the purposes of grade control.While mining progresses, the domain model is re-evaluated to ensure that the previous interpretation is still suitable for the present configuration and geology. The grade control process, being iterative, lends itself to regular review and continuous improvement as further data is collected during the grade control cycle. Regular updates to the geology model, mapping, geostatistical data analysis and review of variography will provide indications of a changing domaining environment.Narrow vein gold deposits, which may have several factors influencing mineralisation, present considerable domaining challenges. By scrutinising the data, sample populations can be grouped into domains, which not only improve ore recovery, but help assist in the development of a mine geology model.CITATION:Matthews, G D, Haylett, M E, Weeks, A and Khosrowshahi, S, 2014. Effective domain selection for grade control in narrow vein gold deposits, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 191–196 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 18, 2014

By J Lyons, S Baker, D MacHunter, D Pepper

Mineral processing plants require a storage buffer to bridge differences in production rates between mining and processing. Where coarse ores are processed, such as coal or hard rock, this buffer may be an ore stockpile or silo. For wet-mining processes, eg dredging or hydraulic mining, or where fine ores are slurried close to the mining face, a surge-bin is used to contain the plant feed and smooth out the variations in mining rates. These bins have gradually evolved from simple storage vessels to units that are now frequently part of the mineral separation process itself, such as providing a desliming function to remove deleterious ultrafine gangue. This feed conditioning is often essential to achieve the levels of plant performance required in times of declining ore grades and or where inherent ore characteristics make separations harder to achieve. To achieve these dual roles requires careful consideration of bin design factors such as geometry and lining selection and increased use of instrumentation and advanced, or remotely supervised, control systems. All this ensures they provide capacity to smooth out variations in mining rates and guarantees that when conditioning ores or adjusting slurry densities ahead of the plant it is achieved without loss of valuable minerals. This paper examines the evolution of the modern surge-bin from a simple, so called, constant density tank with its inherent mass-flow compromises, limited feed preparation and beneficiation abilities, and footprint penalty, to a current state-of-the-art surge-bin, the LFCU, with a control system which provides demonstrable steady outputs, while conditioning and in some cases beneficiating the ROM material and all from a highly compact unit. It further discusses their use in other applications around the world, for example providing the necessary security for long distant high-density pumping systems; constant high density, low water usage, tailings disposal pipelines and high capacity ultrafine iron ore beneficiation.

Aug 24, 2022

By A P. Wilkinson

This paper reports on the implementation of the critical control concept to manage material risks in the mining and metals industries. The critical control management (CCM) approach assumes it is better to identify weaknesses in risk controls before an incident happens as opposed to discovering weaknesses from an investigation after an incident occurs. The first is sometimes referred to as active monitoring and the second as reactive monitoring (Health and Safety Executive and Chemical Industries Association, 2006). Both are needed. However, whilst methods for both active and reactive monitoring of risk controls are well established in many high hazard industries, such as oil and gas, petroleum and chemical industries, until the publication in 2015 of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) guides, (Good Practice Guide and the subsequent Implementation Guide) (ICMM, 2015), there was no specific mining and metals industry guidance on critical control management. This paper reports on progress in implementing the ICMM guidance drawing on two main sources. First, a benchmarking survey of a representative sample of coal and metalliferous mines, both underground and open cut/pit), sponsored jointly by the Queensland Resources Council and the Queensland Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health in the context of a recommendation that the Queensland mining industry adopts high reliability organisation (HRO) principals (Queensland Resources Council and Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health, 2022). Second, it draws on Noetic’s experience of implementing critical control management in mining and other high hazard industries in Australia, Africa, China and North America (Wilkinson, 2018). The paper describes good practices found and where significant improvements can be made, providing specific and actionable examples of both. From this it also identifies how future guidance on this topic could be improved.

Apr 16, 2024

By F Musa

One of the main energy efficiency opportunities identified from the majority of mine site energy audits is to optimize the comminution circuit to reduce energy consumption through improved throughput and product size distribution. Typical analysis reviews comminution process efficiency/inefficiency i.e. utilization of grinding mills, process bottlenecks and product vs. target size, to identify instances of overgrinding or undergrinding. From this, it is possible to establish the potential improvement that could be gained through formal plant optimization and what the optimization program would entail. It can also sometimes reveal immediate opportunities for process improvement. This paper presents steps that can be taken to optimize the efficiency of comminution circuits.

Aug 8, 2011

By R Ahola, M D. Henschel, M A. McParland

With the introduction in recent years of third-generation interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) techniques, monitoring of mine slopes, benches and surrounding areas has benefitted from increased accuracy and coverage. Fundamental research into point and distributed scattering techniques has pushed the use of InSAR to provide higher spatial and height resolution. In this paper we discuss the operationalisation of third-generation InSAR techniques and show its application to active mining operations.This paper will discuss the use of multiple independent measurements of ground movement obtained from operationally-derived InSAR products over a wide variety of deformation areas within an active open pit mining operation (ie pit slopes, dewatering depressions, tailings containment and waste dumps). A technique that shortens the time between observations (increased observation frequency) and provides ongoing estimates of measurement accuracy will be described. The methodology exploits available satellite data by using multiple satellites and multiple beams. The paper will also examine factors in the design of a mine survey with third-generation InSAR and illustrate some of the necessary engineering trade-offs to efficiently monitor a mine from space.Overall, this paper aims to demonstrate the capabilities and advantages of operational third-generation InSAR techniques for ground movement monitoring of mining operations and provide a framework for proper design of a mine InSAR survey.CITATION:Henschel, M D, Sato, S, Ahola, R and McParland, M A, 2014. Designing interferometric synthetic aperture radar surveys for mine monitoring with accuracy assessment, in Proceedings AusRock 2014: Third Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference , pp 233–238 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 5, 2014

By P Brown, M Nagarajan, A Green, P Dare-Bryan

Coal loss is an important issue at many coalmines, with losses of five per cent being common. The type of loss varies from mine to mine but is dependent on mine strata, the drilling and blasting processes applied and the mining method used. Typical coal loss mechanisms from the drill and blast process are coal roof damage and edge loss. Usually a reduction in coal loss is in direct competition with the need to provide material that is well-fragmented and a muck pile that has the required cast percentage. These competing issues were addressed over a two-year period at a mine in the New South Wales Coalfields by implementing a five-step approach. This was centred around building an understanding of the coal loss mechanisms utilising proprietary heave- modelling software, measuring coal losses by comparing survey to drill and/or gamma logs and implementing appropriate coal loss reduction processes. The end result exceeded expectations with a 95 per cent reduction in coal loss. Mine excavation productivity was maintained and coal loss minimised to less than one per cent of the in situ coal block.CITATION:Nagarajan, M, Green, A, Brown, P and Dare-Bryan, P, 2015. Managing coal loss using blast models and field measurement, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 429–436 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By J Jeffery, P G. Knott, F Velge, C Evans

A trigger action response plan (TARP) provides a structured response to escalating levels of risk. In mining, TARPs are typically applied to primary hazards such as inrush, strata failure or heating. Necessary for the creation and deployment of a TARP is a monitoring system capable of detecting deviations from normal conditions. The advent of real-time instruments capable of measuring diesel particulate matter now permit decision-making within shifts to address possible overexposure. Deploying a TARP for diesel exhaust emissions can lower the probability of a person’s average exposure (over a full shift) exceeding the exposure standard by detecting deviations of diesel particulate concentrations from normal conditions. This enables pre-emptive action to mitigate or protect. Another goal is to drive ambient air concentrations lower through the application of corrective actions as a result of instances where concentrations exceed ‘normal’.CITATION:Knott, P G, Evans, C, Velge, F and Jeffery, J, 2015. Trigger action response plans for diesel exhaust exposures, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference, pp 129–132 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 31, 2015

By F Flitti, M Haest, O Dominguez, D Mittrup, G Hird

The automated geology interpretation (AGI) tool has been developed in BHP Billiton to automate stratigraphy logging of drill holes, using any available quantitative data sets. At present, AGI is set-up to utilise geochemistry and mineralogy from infrared spectroscopic data to predict stratigraphy. Once the AGI tool is calibrated, results show that the tool is capable of automatically defining stratigraphy across all of the deposit types, encountered by BHP Billiton Iron Ore in the north-west of Western Australia. Accuracy of AGI at predicting stratigraphy is on average better than 75 per cent, with average accuracies exceeding 85 per cent for some deposit types. The AGI tool can deliver fast, accurate, consistent and objective geological interpretations.AGI is currently being implemented in BHP Billiton Iron Ore Exploration to streamline the drill hole logging process and allow geologists to spend less time defining stratigraphy at the drill hole level and more time investigating stratigraphy in 3D. This will deliver improved geology models, with significant downstream benefits in terms of better resource models, more accurate mine plans, higher plant efficiencies and more consistent ore products, driving productivity in BHP Billiton Iron Ore over the next decade.CITATION:Mittrup, D, Flitti, F, Hird, G, Haest, M and Dominguez, O, 2015. Semi-automated geological interpretation using assay and infrared spectroscopic sensing parameters towards improvements in geological modelling, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 313–318 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By R Godard, J Gantumur, F Prince, C Pascoe

Resolution Copper Mining LLC (RCML) is one of the largest undeveloped high-grade porphyry copper-molybdenum deposits in the world, with an orebody at depths of approximately 2000 m beneath post-mineralisation cover. With a vision to develop a large-scale, low-cost operating mine, the project is designed as a micropanel cave with an advanced undercut.In September 2014, RCML began a study focusing on identifying and selecting the best production cases to eventually reach full production (120 kt/d). To achieve this, a methodology was developed that allows the fast evaluation of a large number of production schedules.Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA was commissioned to enhance the Footprint Finder program for batch scheduling panel cave production. The tonnage and grade schedules produced by Footprint Finder were compared to schedules developed using personal computing block caving (PCBC™). The inputs to Footprint Finder were then adjusted to achieve a reasonable correlation with the PCBC™ schedules.The enhanced Footprint Finder program was used to batch-process nearly 54 000 schedules using 20 elevations, 17 shutoff grades, four heights of draw, two different copper grades (modelled and upside), two layout refinements within the existing footprint and a variety of production ramp-up rates to 120 kt/d. The study team developed processes to analyse large amounts of data, to assist in selecting a matrix of the best schedules for detailed assessment using PCBC™. Three hundred PCBC™ schedules were developed.The detailed trade-offs between the scenarios is currently underway with promising results. This paper outlines the methodology used in evaluating the numerous alternatives.CITATION:Gantumur, J, Godard, R, Prince, F and Pascoe, C, 2016. Development and evaluation processes of cave production schedules for the Resolution copper project, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 59–64 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

By R Stefansen, T Wisdom, A Nicholson, K Rahal

The challenges of increasingly scarce water resources and the risk of dam failures has seen the mining industry turn to sustainable tailings management solutions such as dewatering and dry stacking. Filtering tailings has been seen in the past as a cost-prohibitive process for larger throughput mines. However, as larger pressure filters are developed, the economic case for filtered tailings has gained traction.Focus has largely been placed on the correct design and operation of the filters. It is critical, however, that the material handling portion of the disposal system is also properly designed and operated. Thorough testing at laboratory and pilot scale to determine the conveying properties of the filtered material needs to be conducted. This testing will insure the material handling system meets the important availability needs of the mine even during periods of variability in the upstream processes and mine plan.The control system must also be robust and flexible in design to compensate for this upstream process variability. The control system needs to allow for different flowsheets including straight filtered tails as well as EcoTails™, a low-energy solution for co-mingling waste rock and filter cake.This paper will present case studies of different material handling solutions, the testing required for them and the lessons learned from each.CITATION:Rahal, K, Nicholson, A, Stefansen, R and Wisdom, T, 2018. Material handling testing and control system requirements for dry stack tailings, in Proceedings Mine Waste and Tailings Stewardship Conference 2018, pp 361–368 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 23, 2018

By Z Gao, D Liao, W Sun, S G. Pooley, J Wang, Z Shi, G Jing, S Ren, Q Chen

Yuanjing processing plant is a scheelite and wolframite plant in southern China. Water shortages and recent environmental regulations mean that the plant must reuse the wastewater that comes from the mining operation. This paper describes the efforts to reuse the mining and ore washing wastewater (MOW) in the processing plant. Initial attempts to reuse the MOW in the strong magnetic separation were unsuccessful because the magnetic media pack was seriously fouled by the micro-fine precipitate generated. The focus changed to reuse the MOW in the scheelite flotation circuit, which includes one roughing, one cleaning and three scavenging steps. Laboratory batch tests showed this would likely be successful because using MOW reliably improved the flotation performance in the laboratory tests. Then a 20 day industrial trial was run in the plant. The trial was very successful with the enrichment ratio of WO3 increasing from 17.4 to 23.6, while the recovery remained around 79.2 per cent. The industrial trial was so successful the company immediately adopted the new scheme, which has remained in use ever since. This technical solution not only alleviated serious water shortages, and satisfied environmental regulations but also improved the plant performance.

Aug 24, 2022

By T Wang, D Wang

Photogrammetry-based techniques supported by traditional mapping tools are more frequently used for open pit geotechnical mapping. It fundamentally involves the collection of geological, structural and rock mass data from pit batters when safe to do so. These are essential components for refining and implementing continuous improvements to geotechnical models. The geotechnical model is used to review bench performance, optimise geotechnical design parameters, interpretation and analysis of pit slope stability. This paper is a case study of implementing different pit mapping methods at Mount Carlton gold mine, North Queensland. It critically reviews the tools required, including the Brunton compass, mobile application Clino, geotechnical data mapping software CloudCompare (2015) and Sirovision software. The review compares the image precision, structural measurements and data analysis. The review also underlines mine site management philosophy for safe geotechnical data collection to identify in-pit geotechnical hazards and the mitigation of potential slope instability. Sirovision is a remote sensing system for site geology mapping and interpreting geotechnical characteristics of exposed mining faces. The system utilises off-the-shelf digital SLR cameras to capture stereo photographs of the rock face and uses the latest image processing technology to generate accurate 3D models. These 3D models are digitally analysed using computational geometry to extract unbiased and accurate geological and geotechnical data. CloudCompare processes high accuracy 3D dense cloud rock surfaces reconstructed with photogrammetry software to extract the geological planes using the FACET or Compass plugins. The major discontinuity sets can be observed and the orientation (dip/dip direction) obtained from the algorithm is accurate and reliable for geotechnical assessment, including kinematic and rock slope stability analysis.

Nov 29, 2022

By C McHugh, F Oppolzer, B Rogers, A Stokes

Rio Tinto has embarked on a journey to use automation to improve the performance of its surface mines. The driver for automation has more to do with improving the accuracy and consistency of mining processes and less to do with cost savings through labour reduction.A key task in most surface mines is blasthole drilling. The degree to how well this is done cascades through the downstream mining process. It impacts scheduling, excavation, slope stability, material handling, beneficiation, ore loss and final product blending. Improved blasthole drilling was identified as an objective that has a significant business case in most of Rio TintoÆs surface mines.This paper describes Rio TintoÆs multi-drill automation project, which has developed a robust system for automating most of the functions on several Caterpillar SKSS16 drill rigs. Automated drilling is currently being trialled in production at the West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. A description of the essential elements of the automated multi-drill system is given together with an overview of how automated drilling is performed remotely from the operating bench.A review of the performance and benefits of the automated multi-drill system is given together with future plans to extend the functionality of automated drills.CITATION:McHugh, C, Stokes, A, Oppolzer, F and Rogers, B, 2012. Automated multi-drills in Rio Tinto, in Proceedings Eighth Open Pit OperatorsÆ Conference , pp 83-88 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 18, 2012

By D J. Hill

"Mining companies routinely invest in improvements to their processing operations, but often these enhancements do not work to full effect.Improvements can be ineffectual because underlying process problems are not identified or prioritised for correction or repair.This is frequently because ‘black box’ solutions deployed to implement process control improvements typically rely on instrumentation to provide data for algorithms to work effectively, and these solutions are often ineffective or disabled at mineral processing sites.There are three key reasons they can fail to deliver: vital instrumentation is not calibrated or functioning as required basic process control and loop tuning was not implemented correctly or is in need of tuning there is an inability to support the ‘black box’ solutions on-site.Many of these problems can be overcome by implementing operational analytics that identify where problems are occurring and prioritise where improvements need to be made.Incorporating operational analytics into process improvement is not a new methodology. It is more a back-to-basics approach to make more efficient use of capital and systems already deployed.Data collection systems, such as the OSIsoft PI System, provide real-time and historical process information for process control experts to analyse and identify areas for improvement. However, most systems are not used effectively. With some simple enabling, data collection systems can provide evidence for prioritising investments in improvements and determining an investment’s effectiveness.MIPAC advocates that the initial step, with analytical evidence, is that clients review the control strategies and implement small influential instrument repairs/calibrations and operator training. This can significantly boost process productivity without the need to spend large sums of money on new capital or employing expensive, difficult to maintain ‘black box’ solutions.A simple Stage-Gate®-style approach ensures that small investments in evidence-based process improvements deliver significant benefits to mining operations.CITATION:Hill, D J, 2014. How to prioritise process improvements, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2014, pp 307–314 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Sep 1, 2014

By J Fewings, T McCredden, S Seet, C Fitzmaurice

"Flotation of nickel sulfide ores are generally constrained by nickel grade and impurity concentrations (notably magnesium and arsenic) in the product delivered to smelters. Being a physical separation process, flotation recoveries and grades are limited by the grade recovery curve of a particular operation, where increasing product grades are invariably associated with lower recoveries. Impurities put further pressure on this relationship, as removal of impurities from the final concentrate is almost always associated with nickel losses.Western Areas Ltd are developing a proposed expansion to its Cosmic Boy concentrator to treat an impurity stream, that is high in nickel and would otherwise report to tails. Through the use of BioHeap® technology Western Areas aims to recover the nickel and discard the arsenic to tailings. This expansion will consist of a biohydrometallurgical plant that leaches the nickel arsenic minerals, removing the arsenic as a stable iron/arsenic hydroxide, while recovering the nickel as a high-grade nickel sulfide product (at approximately 50 per cent nickel). This can then be blended with final concentrate to improve nickel grades and recoveries, while simultaneously reducing impurity levels or used to produce high value products like nickel sulfate.The introduction of a small microbial leach plant may be beneficial to base metal concentrators constrained by impurities or grade.Citation:Fewings, J, Seet, S, McCredden, T and Fitzmaurice, C, 2016. BioHeap® - Breaking the Grade/Recovery Curve for Nickel Concentrators, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2016, pp 361–368 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Oct 10, 2016

By G Chitombo, A Perryman, A D. Campbell, J White, B Hollis

This paper describes the development and implementation of an optimisation tool developed as part of the Mass Mining Technology (MMT) Project. The tool, known as the SLC Schedule Optimiser, is capable of optimising the schedule of development and production activity for a sublevel cave, given a fixed draw strategy, for the life of the mine.This paper starts by describing the development and production scheduling problem for a sublevel cave, the geotechnical constraint that a schedule of activities must adhere to, and outlines the pre-existing manual planning procedures used to produce schedules.Following this, the paper then outlines the optimisation tool developed, describes the changes to the planning process it has enabled and finally quantifies the improvement to operations this tool has brought using Glencore’s Ernest Henry Mining Operations as a case study.CITATION:White, J, Perryman, A, Campbell, A D, Hollis, B and Chitombo, G, 2016. Life-of-mine development and production scheduling optimisation for sublevel cave operations, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 133–138 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

By M Berry

Many mining companies routinely use benchmarking to review their operational activities and associated costs. The aim is to measure operational performance against industry norms, and identify areas where a company is performing better or worse than industry best practice. The goal is continuous improvement.In general, mine technical services, including mining geology activities, are not routinely benchmarked. There are exceptions, such as the cost of drilling per metre and the average discovery cost per unit of metal, but generally mining geology activities are only included indirectly in mining benchmarking studies.Aspects of benchmarking can play a critical role in assisting mining geologists to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the services they provide. Industry norms for many generic mining geology functions have not been developed and measured, and therefore it is impossible to use external benchmarking to assess performance against other mines. But when used in parallel with quantifying the value of mining geology functions and establishing strategic goals for the team, key components of benchmarking methodology can provide essential feedback on how a team is performing against these strategic goals.CITATION:Berry, M, 2014. Benchmarking – does it have a role in improving the performance of mining geology?, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 361–366 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 18, 2014

By D Jeffery, R Whittering, G Lane

Most aspects of process design are best addressed via bench scale or pilot plant scale test work. However, as experience is gained, fundamental or indicative data can provide more than adequate information to manage the risk associated with some process aspects of concentrator design.Historical precedence exists where minimal design test work has resulted in successful projects. On many occasions benchmarking, sometimes supported by fundamental data such as mineralogy, has been used to successfully develop effective process plant outcomes. Of course, this style of approach is most common with æfast trackÆ projects and often comes with the usual surprises that result from inadequate geometallurgy to define the project cash flow.This paper explores the risks and opportunities associated with the various facets of process development and design for a base metals concentrator. The paper is intended to provide guidance to project managers rather than address the technical aspects of process engineering.CITATION:Lane, G, Whittering, R and Jeffery, D, 2012. Benchmarking versus test work - How should you manage process risk?, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2012 , pp 49-52 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 24, 2012