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THE flotation plant at Mount Lyell was erected, primarily, for the treatment of ore from the Lyell Comstock mine. These workings are situated over a mile in a direct line north of the North Mount Lyell mine, and are connected with the Reduction Work at Queenstown by a 2-ft. gauge steel tramway via the Queen River valley a distance of 7 miles. The property was purchased from the Mount Lyell Comstock Copper Co. After the disastrous fire in the North Mount Lyell mine in October, 1912, steps were immediately taken to make Lyell Comstock ore available for treatment, in order to relieve distress caused by any prolonged stoppage of work, and subsequently 13,032 tons of ore, averaging 3.38 %copper, 0.28 oz. silver, and 0.034 oz. gold; were smelted. When operations were resumed at the North Mount Lyell mine, it was evident that there was no economic advantage in smelting Lyell Comstock ore as compared with the higher value North Mount Lyell ore, which was also a better flux for the Mount Lyell pyrites, and that the future of the Lyell Comstock ore depended upon cheap mining and successful concentration of the ore. Therefore, extensive trenching and diamond-drilling was carried out, and a sufficiently large quantity of ore proved available for cheap extraction by open-cut methods. At the same time bulk tests by flotation were carried out at the Minerals Separation testing plant in Melbourne on different classes of ore from the Mount Lyell Comstock mine proper, followed by laboratory tests at Queenstown on all classes of ore available. All these tests demonstrated that the ore was amenable to the process, provided that it was ground finely enough. Plant erection was delayed by the general dislocation of business at the outbreak of war, but finally it became...

Jan 1, 1920

A detailed study of the capital investment and production cost for copper electrowinning plants shows that significant savings in both can be achieved by increasing the current density. From the economic analysis it is determined that the optimum current density which will result in lowest capital investment and lowest operating cost is between 60 A/sq. ft. and 70 A/sq. ft., or at least three times as high as the Conventionally employed current density. The specific investment, expressed as $/ton-year, is found to be a function of both the current density and plant capacity and has a minimum value at the optimum current density. Empirical equations are developed for the purpose of estimating the capital investment and operating cost for plants of any production capacity operating at any current density.

Jan 1, 1972

The Mount Lyell Mining Field is Australia's chief productive source of copper. It is situated near Queenstown, on the western flanks of the West Coast Ranges, about 20 miles from the west coast of Tasmania (Fig. 1).The following observations on the mineral composition of the copper ores of the Mount Lyell Field are based on a...

Jan 1, 1939

Size Separation Pretreatment and Alumina Recovery from Bayer Red Mud

Sep 13, 2010

The Beginnings of Mineral Processing Research in Canada - A Short Account

Sep 13, 2010

By Zajber A, Kulchen R, Letzel D, Weyer A, Schwellenbach J

The search for modem casting plant concepts today focuses more and more on the harmonisation and optimisation of overall concept lines to obtain a continuous quality control and reduce the cost of production (Figure 1). Fin I As far as continuous casting plant concepts are concerned, this specifically requires an optimal adaptation and flexible operation when converting liquid steel into a directly processable product without any in-between treatment. Continuous casters need to fully satisfy the requirements of both the upstream steelmaking facilities as well as the downstream rolling facilities.

Jan 1, 1999

By Hennessy F. L

IntroductionEvolution of the Present SmelterRoastingFiringHearth SlopeDust HandlingFurnace DetailsSmeltingFurnaceFeed DeliveryPulverised Coal FiringWaste Heat BoilersDust HandlingAir PreheaterReverberatory Slag DisposalConvertingVesselsAir SupplyMatte TappingConverter Slag HandlingPurchased Ore PlantINTRODUCTIONSmelting in blast furnaces commenced at Mount Morgan in 1906, when copper, which interfered with gold recovery by chlorination, became an asset. After various changes in blast furnace practice, reverberatory smelting com...

Jan 1, 1952

By Rayner B

Five wells have been drilled in the Basker/Manta Block of VIC/P19, Gippsland Basin, resulting in sub-economic Intra-Latrobe Group oil and gas discoveries at Basker-1 and Manta-1. A total of 21 individual hydrocarbon bearing sandstones were intersected by the two wells. These reservoir sand bodies were deposited by fluvial processes in a lower coastal plain environment. The modelling of sand body orientation and geometry is a critical component in the evaluation of the two accumulations. Seismic resolution of the thin (average 2 m to 5 m) sand bodies is inadequate for mapping their orientation and distribution. Dipmeter data has been successfully applied to the problem of orienting the sand bodies using FMS images acquired during the drilling of Gummy-1 and reprocessed HDT data from Basker-1 and Manta-1. Prediction of lateral extensiveness (geometry) of individual sand bodies has also been attempted. Interpreted palaeocurrent direction from all three wells is dominantly from the NW to the SE. Reservoirs in the Manta-1/Gummy-1 area are interpreted to be predominantly channel sands, deposited by relatively low sinuosity streams. As such they would tend to have a laterally extensive, elongate geometry. Sand bodies deposited in the Basker-1 area show a predominance of laterally accreted cycles deposited by meandering streams. Channel geometry may then be limited in the downstream/upstream direction by internal permeability barriers such as clay plugs.

Jan 1, 1992

By S C. Dominy

This contribution examines the effect of feedstock sampling before the sorting stage of polyethylene terephtalate (PET) bottle recycling. Batches of waste PET bottles may contain non-PET bottles which need to be removed by sorting. Any residual presence of PVC is detrimental for the quality of products manufactured from recycled PET. The maximum tolerated concentration of PVC in cleaned PET is extremely low, which places high demands on the recovery of PVC achieved by sorting. To be confident of attaining the desired PET quality after sorting, acceptance sampling of truckloads of PET bottles may take place prior to sorting. It is shown that accounting for sampling uncertainty requires that the sorting process achieves a consistently high recovery of PVC bottles.CITATION:Glass, H J and Dominy, S C, 2017. Plastics recycling and sampling, in Proceedings Eighth World Conference on Sampling and Blending , pp 129–134 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2017

By D Craw, D Falconer

The Morning Star mine is one of numerous historically mined gold-quartz lodes in the Preservation Inlet goldfield of southwest Fiordland. The mine is hosted in Early Ordovician metasedimentary rocks that are composed predominantly of psammitic and pelitic lithologies. These rocks still contain their primary depositional features and are characterised by upper greenschist facies metamorphic grade.   The Morning Star mine lies on the eastern limb of a gently south plunging anticline. A bedding parallel fault-vein and an associated network of minor quartz veins hosts mineralisation. The main fault-vein structure strikes N-NW, dips steeply (~60¦) W, has a strike length of ~350 m, a vertical extent of ~170 m and is up to 2 m in thickness. The internal structure of the fault-vein consists of laminated quartz, massive and fibrous quartz, and silicified breccias/cataclasites. Gold is typically coarse grained (~1 - 2 mm) and associated with pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite and galena. The geometry of the Morning Star mine is similar in form to that of a saddle reef. Gold-quartz lodes in the Preservation Inlet goldfield are comparable in geometry and host rock to their offset equivalents in the Golden Blocks field of NW Nelson.

Jan 1, 2005

THE Broken Hill mining field, approximately 31 miles in length, is at present being exploited by seven companies, viz. : North Broken Hill Limited, Junction North Broken Hill No Liability, Broken Hill Proprietary Block 14 Company, Broken Hill ProprietaryCompany Limited, Sulphide Corporation Limited, Broken Hill South Limited, and Zinc Corporation Limited.The variation in size and shape of the ore-bodies in the mines of these companies, together with the many alterations in pitch and dip, necessitates differences in methods of mining, each company working out its problem in its own particular way.In the matter of chute construction for the handling of the ore broken in the stopes, each mine belonging to the above companies has adopted a style particularly its own, though it may be said that one or two of the types approximate very closely to each other, slight minor differences only being noticed in the design. It is the purpose of this paper to give a brief description of the principal types of chutes now in use in th,e various mines on the field, and in doing so they may roughly be classified into three groups, viz:1. Bulk Chutes, 2. Circular Chutes, 3. Square-set Chutes.The Bulk type of chute is used in the North and British mines of the North Broken Hill Limited, the Central and Junction mines of the Sulphide Corporation, the South Blocks mine of the Zinc Corporation, and the Block 14 mine.The Circular type of chute is used by the Broken Hill South mine and the South Blocks mine.The Square-set chute is used in the Proprietary mine, the Junction North mine, and occasionally in other mines where the square set method of mining is a necessity, and more particularly as mullock passes.

Jan 1, 1925

In gold ores, the range of value disclosed by ordinary mine sampling is very wide, and the number of 'samples required for a reliable average is correspondingly great. Even where a large number of samples is available the weighted mean value of the samplesalmost invariably exceeds the true gold content. In operating mines this disparity is overcome by arbitrary reduction of high assays until reconciliation is achieved, but it is frequently necessary, especIallyin exploration, to base an estimate or to reach a decision on a relatively small number of samples from underground openings or even on a few drill hole intersections. In these circumstances, a decisive influence may be exercised by the weight allowed to high assays and to low grade intersections, both of which events are, of course, dependent on the metal distribution in the ore. Where sufficient data are available, statistical analysis will measure the risk involved, but as this information is seldom to be had, the final choice becomes largely a matter of personal judgment.With this problem in mind, a study was made some years ago of the distribution of values in four Western Australian gold ores, with the primary purpose of learning from actual ore-bodies of differing types, something of the metal distribution in the smallquantities of ore involved in individual routine mine samples, and of the importance in each case of high assays. Adequate and suitable data were available in .four cases, in three of which high assays were of frequent occurrence due to the presence of free gold. The results give concrete expression to well known differences of metal distribution, and it is proposed, firstly to record the observed distribution; secondly to examine some of the consequences of the differences in the distributions limd thirdly, to comment, in the light of this data, on the vexed question of the treatment of high assays. Standard statistical procedure was employed in the compilation of the data. The assays were classified by value into groups, each group covering a range of value of 1 dwt. per ton. Assays of less than 1.0 dwt. per ton form the first group; assays equal to or greater than 1.0 dwt. and less than 2.0 dwt. comprise the second group; those equal to or greater than 2.0 dwt. and less than 3.0 dwt. appear in the third group; and so on. Where the number of samples is large, it can be assumed that the mid-value of the group is the mean value of all the samples in the group, thus the mean values of the first three groups are 0.5 dwt., 1.5 dwt. and 2.5 dwt. respectively.The number of samples in the group is the frequency of the group, but for convenience of plotting this frequency is converted into percentage of all the samples in the series. Plotting percentage frequency as ordinate against dwt./ton as abscissa results in a frequency curve-a curve showing the frequency...

Jan 1, 1950

Devitrification of a glassy volcanic ash equivalent to an alkaline trachyte in composition has resulted in the formation of an interstratified illite-montmorillonite with an 1:1\1 content of 1:4 as the principal clay mineral.A high concentration of potassium ions and a deficiency of magnesium ions favoured the formation of the potassium-bentonite.A poorly ordered mica mineral, equivalent to illite, was produced by weathering of potassic feldspar. Subsequent degradation of the illite through the loss of potassium was responsible for the formation of several interstratified minerals with very approximate 1:1\1 contents of 4: I as minor components.Other authigenic minerals present in small amounts were u-cristobalite, sepiolite, and the zeolite clinopitolite.The non-swelling character of the potassium-bentonite makes it economically unattractive...

Jan 1, 1967

IT has often been stated in the past that the materials known as inert fillers were merely adulterants nsed in the manufacture of paint, and that their purpose was to cheapen paints made from more expensive pigments, such as zinc oxide or white lead. In recent years, however, practical tests in various parts of the world have proved that many of the inert fillers, when used with wisdom, possess very definite and advantageous properties.Another oft-repeated statement which had a far-reaching effect in the past, and which is not without influence to-day, is that the very best paint must always be made from a pure pigment, without admixture with either a fellow pigment or an inert filler. Both or either of these statements may be true in a few isolated instances, but for the vast majority of ordinary painting conditions there is an abundance of experimental evidence to prove that neither is true.With the desire to further investigate these points and po 'determine the best combination of pigments and fillers for use as an outside white paint on plant buildings, a number of panels were prepared in the laboratory of this company.

Jan 1, 1924

By M Korte, J McMaster, C Brent

The Barrick Osborne concentrator has gone through a number of upgrades since commissioning and has increased production from the original 119 t/h design capacity to a milling throughput of 265 t/h in 2008. This was achieved incrementally over several years, by maximising operating efficiencies, in order to minimise capital expenditure, and take advantages of economies of scale; but more importantly it was reached with no measurable loss of recovery. Osborne currently processes a blend of underground and open pit material from the nearby Trekelano deposit. Following primary/secondary crushing, the material is processed through a rod/ball mill grinding circuit ahead of rougher/scavenger flotation that produces a copper concentrate. Osborne was seeking a further increase in plant throughput of the order of 15 per cent, but at more sustainable levels of secondary crusher plant utilisation. In early 2008, Osborne contracted Metso Process Technology and Innovation (PTI) to review the entire process from run-of-mine feed to final copper concentrate. This review would be done concurrently with surveys of both the crushing/grinding and flotation circuits being performed at the same time. The outcome would be a steady-state model of the complete flow sheet allowing the crushing/grinding model to interact with the flotation circuit model, such that overall process optimisation was possible. This was to apply both by exploring the operating limits of the currently installed plant, as well as looking at the logical next stage of capital plant expansions. Surveys of the crushing and grinding circuits were conducted at the Osborne concentrator in May 2008. The main objective of the surveys was to review the potential of increasing grinding throughput whilst maintaining the flotation feed 80 per cent passing size. This would also require improving the efficiency of the crushing circuit which was already operating in excess of 80 per cent of the time. Steady-state simulations were performed using the developed circuit models to identify opportunities to increase throughput and alleviate high circulating loads in both the secondary crushing and grinding circuits. Due to operational changes, the recommendations resulting from this project were considered by Osborne but have as yet only been partially implemented.  This paper covers part A or the crushing and grinding component of the project. A separate paper discussing part B or flotation is also being presented at this conference. The results of interactive simulations between the flotation and grinding circuit models are included in part B of this paper.

Jan 1, 2009

By R L. Chaney, M Mahoney

Mine and ore beneficiation wastes and smelter contaminated soils often cause phytotoxicity and threaten adverse environmental effects if not remediated. Science has clarified both the risks from soil metals and methods to alleviate those risks that can be applied at low cost. Phytoremediation is a family of plant and agronomy based technologies to deal with environmental aspects of sites requiring remediation. If valid risk assessment indicates that metals comprise risk, phytostabilisation may be used to alleviate that risk for most contaminated sites. In particular, Zn-Pb, Cu and Ni mine and smelter sites are readily remediated by making the soil calcareous and fertile, with added organic and metal sorbent amendments that include soil microbes to ‘revitalise’ the soil. In each case, the soil fertility and causes of phytotoxicity should be clarified by agricultural soil extractions, and the combination of amendments required to improve fertility and reverse phytotoxicity identified and found locally. In contrast with phytostabilisation, phytoextraction/phytomining uses rare metal hyperaccumulator plants and agronomic management to maximise annual phytoextraction of soil elements into plant shoots for harvest, ashing and use as a metal ore. Plants that accumulate more than two per cent Ni in shoots, and yield 10–20 t ha-1 dry biomass yield 200–400 kg Ni ha-1, which has value greater than all common agricultural crops. Considering the value of elements, existence of hyperaccumulator plants and demonstrated agronomic management for Ni phytomining, it is clear that mine sites and Ni mineralised subore-grade serpentine soils can be phytomined economically as an agricultural mining technology. A team developed agronomic methods and improved cultivars of Alyssum, which can be profitably grown on temperate zone Ni mineralised or contaminated soils. Plant species for tropical ultramafic soil materials have been identified. Phytoextraction is also strongly needed to remove Cd from rice soils to prevent human disease from soil Cd.CITATION:Chaney, R?L?and?Mahoney, M, 2014. Phytostabilisation and phytomining – principles and successes, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 3–16 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014

By E J. Hofmann, J E. Hofmann, A J. Hofmann-Fritz

"With its Head Quarters in Perth, global heavy engineering company Hofmann Engineering is one of the largest family owned engineering companies in Australia. The company has pioneered a number of new manufacturing processes and design improvements for components of large comminution equipment.Some of these innovations are: Innovative design improvements of high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) forged steel tyres. Hofmann Engineering has developed unique patented tungsten carbide stud and edge protection designs which improve wear life and introduce quick and cost effective replacement options to further extend the life of the tyre. Development of forged fabricated mill heads using rolled and welded high tensile steel plate as an alternative to cast conical mill heads. Establishment of Australian capability to manufacture and export up to 42 ft. (12.8 m) diameter SAG mill shells. Techniques for fast track, product improved replacements of cracked or damaged mill gears, including in situ profile & wear measurements of girth gears using portable coordinate measuring machine (CMM) technology, forged rim steel and induction hardening technology. Gear and pinion mechanical drive designs to 24 MW or higher for SAG mills of 38 ft. to 42 ft. (11.6 m - 12.8 m) diameter as reliable alternatives to gearless drives.The paper presents case studies from the Australian heavy manufacturing facilities of Hofmann Engineering on large, high powered equipment for both the domestic and export markets.CITATION:Hofmann, E J, Hofmann, J E and Hofmann-Fritz, A J, 2013. Australian innovations in high pressure grinding rolls and large grinding mill manufacture, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013, pp 141-151 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 15, 2013

By Finlayson EJ

New detailed mapping, micropalaeont- ology and isotopic dating have been successful in revising the stratigraphy of Woodlark Island. All Middle to Late Miocene intrusives and volcanic rocks have been assigned to the Okiduse Volcanics. In addition, the results demonstrate that the Tabukui beds and Wonai Hill beds (N9, late Early Miocene to earliest Middle Miocene) are a single unit. Similarly, the Nasai and Suloga Limestones are confirmed as a single stratigraphic unit as they yield similar foraminiferal ages (upper Te, Early Miocene), and both occur in the same stratigraphic position unconformably overlying basement Loluai Volcanics. Radiocarbon dating suggests a latest Pleistocene age for the upper Kiriwina Formation. Extensive Quaternary cover and low relief prevents detailed structural airphoto interpretation. In general, the structure is simple with all units on Woodlark dipping to the northwest a_4 exhibiting prominent local block faulting.

Jan 1, 1991

By T P. Fischer, S N. Williams, N C. Sturchio

Chemical and isotopic analyses of fumarole gases from Galeras Volcano, Colombia provide significant insights into the origin of volatile components in the magma. Water comprises a mixture of magmatic (rock-equilibrated at high temperature) and meteoric, with the relative proportions varying through time. Carbon isotopes are most consistent with a mantle source, although other contributions to the system cannot be ruled out. Nitrogen most likely originated from organic matter in subducted oceanic sediments. All of these 'primary' components have been modified somewhat by interaction or exchange with other reservoirs during ascent to the surface. In addition to information on the origin of the gases, these data show significant temporal variations precursory to eruptive events. Chemical ratios change and water becomes more meteoric in character prior to eruptions.

Jan 1, 1995

By S M Richardson, A W McNeill, J B. Gemmell

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The Hellyer, Fossey, Que River and Mount Charter volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits occur within the Que-Hellyer volcanics of the Mount Read volcanics, Tasmania. These deposits occur along a 6 km strike length and are hosted by the same stratigraphic unit. We use a combination of whole-rock geochemistry, short wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectrometry, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses and compiled historic whole-rock geochemical data to develop district-scale vectors towards VHMS mineralisation.Strongly sericite and K-feldspar altered rocks concentrate along a linear trend from Hellyer, through Que River, to Mount Charter. Ishikawa alteration index values and whole-rock major and trace element concentrations provide exploration vectors towards mineralisation on a regional scale as significant enrichment and depletion trends. On a deposit scale, composition variations in white mica (sericite alteration), chlorite and K-feldspar are observed and reflected in whole-rock geochemical variations. Regional SWIR data from drill core support the prevalence of phengitic mica and high-Mg chlorite within footwall alteration halos and highlight the main upflow zones of hydrothermal fluids in the VHMS district. The combined use of regional whole-rock geochemistry, SWIR and mineral chemistry is an effective way to highlight prospective areas for VHMS mineralisation in a mature exploration province.CITATION:Wu, S, Gemmell, J B, McNeill, A W and Richardson, S M, 2015. Exploration implications from variations in whole-rock and mineral chemistry around the volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits of the Que-Hellyer volcanics, Tasmania, Australia , in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 85–90 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015