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By C Bonini, A Markham, P Whittle, B Pearson

"Mine-derived sedimentation in rivers can have significant impacts on the processes and features of the receiving environment and impact on communities reliant on this environment. However, identifying and quantifying the contribution of mine-derived sediment to the receiving environment can be complex. This is particularly the case in remote environments and where little/no baseline assessments have been undertaken. One approach that can be used involves sediment fingerprinting, whereby a unique tracer is identified within the mine-derived sediment to discriminate between mine- and non-mine derived sediment sources downstream. The technique typically involves sampling of sediment at upstream, control and impact sites and sites within the mine deposit. Laboratory analyses are run on all the samples to determine whether the chemical signature (eg presence/concentration of specific metals) differs between each group of samples. In complex environments where the mine-derived signature may be difficult to detect from a basic review of the data, or where sampling constraints may limit the number of samples for analyses, statistical methods can be used to help identify sediment groups. This paper provides a mine case study to show how such an assessment can be undertaken despite the logistical challenges faced while working in remote environments.CITATION:Pearson, B, Markham, A, Bonini, C and Whittle, P, 2013. Fingerprinting and signatures - tracing mine impacts in complex aquatic systems, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013, pp 287-292 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Nov 26, 2013

A number of terrane reconstructions conflict with global plate histories or with data from adjacent regional studies. Paleogeographic maps have ignored terranes thus are over-simplified. This paper represents an attempt to "marry" Mesozoic global plate reconstructions and terrane analysis to produce examples of a "third generation" of global plate tectonic maps. The best approach to global terrane analysis involves intercomparison of all regional data and the evolving global model. Data conflicts within and between terranes and regions must be resolved by a system of relative data reliability "weighting." The most reliable and useful data are those which constrain "departure" (rift) and "arrival" (collision) times. Certain ad hoc decisions aid in the analysis (e.g. only one net vector allowed per plate). The maps that follow summarize Early Mesozoic global tectonic history at three critical junctures: 240 MA (Triassic); 180 MA (Jurassic); and 120 MA (Cretaceous). Due to space limitations, maps drawn at 20 m.y. intervals appear elsewhere. A preliminary Middle Triassic reconstruction is presented in Figure 1. Major plates and continental blocks are labeled; smaller blocks are marked with abbreviations. Examination of Figure 1 indicates the necessity of modeling Triassic tectonics with at least 68 blocks. Spalling- off of microcontinental slivers from Gondwanaland is active some 70 m.y. before the actual breakup of the supercontinent. In the SW sector of the Pacific, the Australian margins were embroidered with several terranes (e.g. Sumba) which eventually rifted away and crossed Tethys. The NW sector at this time included 10 microcontinental chips forming a huge archipelago along the Asian margin. All blocks inboard of Indochina collided by latest Triassic. Terranes of the NE sector include several (e.g. Arctic Alaska) along the North American margin, and at least six large blocks (e.g. Stikinia) drifting SE with the Farallon Plate. The SE sector

Jan 1, 1987

By Sharmil Markar M

Ballarat Goldfields Limited is currently re-opening the old workings of the East Ballarat Goldfield which contain an estimated 1800 ML of groundwater. The disposal of this 'minewater' was of concern: the minewater is of moderate salinity; increased salinity levels have interfered with agriculture and water use at a number of locations downstream from Ballarat. Extensive numerical studies indicated that treated minewater could be discharged into the Ballarat Creek system for dilution by sewage effluent and by surface runoff after rainfall events. An automatic real-time salinity management system has been developed to enable the disposal of saline minewater in this fashion. A desk top computer operates the system: discharge and salinity readings are taken automatically each hour and filed away; the maximum allowable rate of discharge of treated minewater is calculated; pumps are switched on and off. The system readily enables daily, weekly and monthly data reports together with floppy disks of 'raw' data to be prepared in formats suitable for direct submission to the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority.

Jan 1, 1990

By Cunningham DA

Plant based on the New Jersey refluxing process has been installed at the Cockle Creek Works of Sulphide Corporation Pty. Limited to refine portion of the zinc output from the Imperial Smelting Furnace. Refining of impure zinc is effected by distillation in two stages in vertical columns compris- ing a series of superimposed silicon carbide trays designed such that ascending zinc vapours and descending liquid metal are in intimate contact. In the first stage the volatile elements (zinc and cadmium) are distilled from impure metal, condensed, and while still molten, fed to the second column in which zinc is boiled under controlled refluxing conditions to remove the cadmium content. The resultant zinc has a purity in excess of 99,995 per cent zinc. The availability of refined zinc has made possible the production of a number of zinc alloys for marketing in addition to the basis grades of zinc.

Jan 1, 1969

By Reichardt Y

Fine feed fractions in the size range from 1 to 40 ¦m of materials with different hardness as limestone and silicon carbide have been stressed in two different devices. A tungsten-carbide-blodc allows a single stressing with a pressure up to 2000 MPa and a 4-piston-block enables a multiple stressing procedure in which the material bed is stressed in alternating directions with a pressure up to 700 MPa. The experiments show energy absorption as the major factor for the interparticle breakage of hard material, like quartz, zircon silicate, silicon carbide and smelted oonindum, pressure, however, does not influence the results within the investigated range from 100 to 700 MPa and even up to 2000 MPa for corundum. But the breakage of the middle-hard limestone depends on the pressure so far as more fineness can be produced if the same energy is introduced at a lower pressure level. The creation of very fine and microfine fragments decreases strongly with increasing hardness of the feed materiaL The energy consumption for producing microfine material with a multiple stressing procedure on a particle bed is much lower than that one of a usual milling process. But this procedure needs a classification with a seperation cut at a couple of microns, which is not easy to accomplish.

Jan 1, 1993

By G J JAMESON

The flotation cell has undergone a number of changes since the process was first introduced in Broken Hill in the early years of this century. The development of the mechanical flotation cell is reviewed, followed by a discussion of more recent developments such as the flotation column, the air-sparged hydrocyclone, the Wemco-Leeds cell, the Bahr and Deister columns and the Jameson cell.

Jan 1, 1992

By Ono K, Oishi T

Electrochemical determination of the oxy- gen partial pressure in the Fe-0-SiO 2 ternary systems saturated with solid silica was done by measuring the activity of oxygen in a silver bath in equilibrium with the molten slags using zirconia solid electrolyte galvanic cells. From the data obtained, the activity ~Faii.st composition relations were calculated

Jan 1, 1980

The Louvicourt Mine is located 600 km north of Montreal in the province of Quebec, Canada. The owners are Aur Resources Inc (30 per cent), mine operator, Novicourt Inc (45 per cent) and Teck Corporation (25 per cent). It is an underground mechanised operation with a total work of 290 employees. Since 1994, the mine production is 11 120 456 tonnes at 3.60 per cent Cu, 1.51 per cent Zn, 26.07 g/mt Ag and 0.96 g/mt Au. At a rate of 4300 tonnes per day 365 days per year. Louvicourt Mine is a copper operation since 80 per cent of our revenue is from copper. The mining method is transverse blasthole stoping, mining primary and secondary stopes. The stope dimension is 15 m wide by 30 m high and 10 m to 80 m long for primary stopes. The secondary stopes are limited at 25 m long. Close to 100 000 metres of production drilling per year is required for 115 mm and 165 mm diameter holes. Backfilling is done with pastefill from the start of the operation in 1994. The binder ratio is 4.5 per cent in primary and two per cent in secondary stopes (80 per cent slag and 20 per cent cement). Development requirement to maintain production was 5000 m from 1996, 1997, 1998, 4200 in year 1999, 3200 m in year 2000 and an average of 2500 m in 2001 and 2002. Typical 6.0 m + 4.3 m, 4.9 m + 4.6 m and 4.5 m + 4.6 m headings. In addition more than 1500 metres of development will be excavated in/under paste backfill before 2004. A total of 60 mobile units are required among which for lateral development (three two boom electric hydraulic jumbos û AC Boomer 322, four electric hydraulic roofbolters û Maclean MEM-928 and AC Boltec PL350 and two anfo loader truck û Dux) and for production (four ITH drills û MTI, one electric hydraulic longhole drill û AC Simba H1357, eight LHD û AC-Wagner ST8-B, 1 LHD ST-1000 and two haulage 30 tons trucks û Dux. The 1 January 2002 reserves are 4.1 M tonnes grading 3.1 per cent Cu and 1.9 per cent Zn at an NSR (Net Smelter Revenue) of $US 53. The operating mining costs were at an average of $US 23 from 1996 to year 2000 and $US 25 in 2001. The operating costs ranged from a low of $US 0.41 per pound of copper in 1999 to a high of $US 0.49 per pound of copper in 1998.

Jan 1, 2002

By Liu Y

Ventilation, air leakage, and various cutting, loading and support movement operations all have a role in dust distribution on longwall faces as shown by the results of a large number of dust measurements on different longwall operations in the Bulli seam on the South Coast. It is concluded that leakage of air on the face has demonstrable mfluence on the exposure of the shearer operator to dust level. It is possible to calculate dust generated by various elements of a rrurung operation on the face from a single point measurement. In the examination of dust deposition from the source of generation as a function of particle size, it is found that respirable dust can remain airborne over long distances without any significant drop in concentration, if unobstructed.

Jan 1, 1995

By Morgan B. D

Since the mid 1950s, limonite deposits of a new type have been found in the northwest of Western Australia. The deposits consist of extensive fossil valley fillings up to several hundred feet in depth, of medium to high grade limonite, frequently containing limonitized fossil wood, and of Mesozoic or Tertiary age. The distribution of the deposits is closely linked with hilly outcrops of Archaean and Proterozoic jaspilite in the headwaters of the old valleys, from which the iron has been derived by leaching, and presumably re-precipitated by a process not unlike that which operates in forming bog iron deposits. Due to the relative resistance of tlie limonite to erosion, the rejuvenation of streams in the area in recent times has left limonitic remnants as mesas up to· several hundred feet above the levels of the present creeks, the courses of which generally are adjacent to or within a few miles of those of the old limonite filled valleys.The Robe River limonite deposits are the largest of this type known and can be traced for approximately 130 miles along the old stream, over 30 sq. miles of limonite remnants remaining at the present time.The present quantity of limonite in this system alone is probably in excess of 5,000,000,000 tons, and the original quantity must have exceeded four times this tonnage when allowance is made for erosion.Some thousands of millions of tons of this material contain in excess of 54 per cent Fe, with approximately 10 per cent combined water. The chief impurities are SiO2 and Al2O3, and minor elements are not present in objectionable amounts. A portion of these deposits was extensively tested by The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (the B.H.P. Co. Ltd.) during 1962-1964. Most of the data presented in this paper are based on the work done on these deposits which are typical of those discussed. The overall problem of the origin of the limonite is discussed. It is apparent that the limonite originates from the jaspilitesof Archaean and Proterozoic age which form the highlands at the upstream ends of the deposits. The iron oxide has been chemically and/or mechanically derived from these jaspilites and deposited by one or more of the following mechanisms.A.-Chemical-sedimentary mainly by biological agenciesB.-Replacement of fluviatile sediments by iron-charged watersC.-Clastic sedimentary processesD.-Lateritization of fluviatile sediments.These various mechanisms are discussed; the authors favour machanismA.Manuscript received' at The Institute, 14th July, 1964.

Jan 1, 1964

Among countries afflicted with insLantaneous outbursts of coal and gas, Australia is noteworthy because of lesser disturbances of the seams and of the occurrence of CO2 in the seam gas from place to place. Research sLarted with the 1954 occurrences at Collinsville and Metropolitan Collieries leading to early publications reviewing the problem, describing occurrences and assessing variations in proneness factors in the two affected coal basins.The basic requirements for proneness include coals of high gas sorptive capacity, high ground stress, use of a mining method which provides higher stress concentrations and limits emission of seam gas, including high rates of advance. With CO2 in the seam gas proneness is greater.The mechanism is complex and not fully understood, but involves the coal, the roof, the floor, the gas, the mine opening, the ventilation, the kind of work and the rate of work. Geological disturbances such as faults and dykes increase proneness and tend to localise occurrences. On-occurrence of outbursts in some mines is difficult to explain.Outbursts are seen as a continuing threat to modem deep Australian mining of high rank coal.The simplest contributory factor to reduce is gassiness - despite the low permeability of outbursting coals - and present practices are showing promise. The greatest challenges for the future are partial degasification to below a known threshold figure and confirmation that this reduction is achieved and identification of anomalous geological structures ahead, the most likely locations for instantaneous outbursts to occur. The advances made to date give promise of a future with reducing experiences of uncontrolled instantaneous outbursts. For the Bulli seam particularly, working to achieve prediction and prevention is most urgent.

Jan 1, 1993

By M Spleit

A long-term production schedule for the LabMag iron ore deposit in northern Quebec, Canada is derived using stochastic integer programming. The optimisation formulation maximises the schedule’s net present value while simultaneously managing the risk of deviations in production tonnages and qualities by considering stochastic simulations of the orebody instead of a single deterministic model. The formulation also smooths and minimises haul truck requirements and ensures that as mining progresses, space is created within the mined out pit for the return of waste material.CITATION:Spleit, M, 2014. Production schedule optimisation – meeting targets by hedging against geological risk while addressing environmental and equipment concerns, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014, pp 397–404 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 24, 2014

By Kasai H, Hibi T, Matsuishi S

Coal oil mixture (COM), a liquid fuel pro- duced by mixing together coal and heavy oil on the 50-50 basis, has been brought to a level of practical use in Japan, being actually employed by a oil fired system at Yokosuka Thermal Power Station of The Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. A COM Production Plant, built in Onahama which is located about 160 miles from Yokosuka, required COM to be transported by sea. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. therefore performed a series of studies to develop a spe- cialized COM carrier, the world's first of its kind. Long lasting high stability is of pri- mary importance to successful use of COM. Much have been done in the way of research on stability of COM in the static storage, and the mechanism of COM static: stability is almost completety known. On the other hand, the knowledge about the COM dynamic stability, such as the stability while being transported aboard the COM carrier at sea, is still limited at the moment. The motion of COM aboard the COM carrier and how COM would settle were studied by tests. A visualization test on the COM behavior under dynamic motion was also performed and the mechanism of COM dynamic stability was analysed. The tests showed that the ship rolling motion had @n effect of promoting the settling of coal content of COM in the cargo hold. And studies were also made to device a method for esti- mating the settling quantity of coal during sea Transportation.

Jan 1, 1987

After a short theoretical comparison of various typical large bell tops with the bell-less top for segregation and other ,ffects on the material flowing through the equipment proper, a comparative analysis between classical and the new burdening in the furnace is given, showing the theoretical effects of distribution and segregation on the horizontal pressure variations, temperature values and gas composition in the stack. Then some typical theoretical charging patterns of the bell-less top for wall and centre temperature adjusting, pressure drop corrections, dissymmetric local action for blow-in and scaffolding are described. Finally the available practical results on furnaces equipped with the bell-less top are compared with the theoretical statements made before and conclusions indicate that the new approach to burdening blast furnaces is a real improvement.

Jan 1, 1975

In the geologically prospective nations which rim the Pacific Ocean, mineral deposits offer great potential to create wealth for social and economic development. The paper first examines the geological and economic attributes of potential mineral wealth based on current outlook assessment of all significant base metal deposits discovered to 1988 in two Pacific Rim nations - Australia and Canada. The variability of mineral wealth among the economic deposits evaluated and the major contribution of the few world-class discoveries to total mineral wealth are highlighted. Then, the essential but too often neglected linkage between the makeup of potential wealth and its actual realization is analyzed. The impact of taxation and the role of exploration are crucial in this regard. Finally, the ingredients of exploration success, prerequisites for realizing the mineral wealth of nations, are examined.

Jan 1, 1995

By Heath E, van Calsteren P, Turner S, McDermott F

U-Th isotope studies of recent volcanic rocks may be used to evaluate the depths and rates of melt generation beneath mid- ocean ridges and ocean islands. Island arc rocks exhibit a similar range in Th isotopes to that seen in both MORB and OIB, but while those with high (230Th/232Th) tend to have excess 238U, many of those with low (230Th/232Th) are in isotope equilibrium. The excess 238U is attributed to the preferential mobilisation of U in hydrous fluids from the subducted slab within the last 100,000 years, whereas the low Th isotope ratios in the higher-K arcs are primarily due to the introduction of subducted sediment. Preliminary results from mineral separates from lavas on Soufriere on the island of St. Vincent indicate that some of the minerals crystallised up to 50,000 years prior to eruption.

Jan 1, 1995

The JORC Code contains a mandatory classification system for Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates for public reporting. The classification is a statement of the Competent PersonÆs confidence in the estimate and an attempt to convey that confidence to the various users of the resource estimate. In general the classification process is either largely subjective, relying on the Competent PersonÆs experience, or relies on statistical measures derived from the estimation process, or is derived from an estimated level of confidence in the outcome. However, the statistical measures may not necessarily relate to the overall confidence in the resource or reserve which must take account of the confidence in the geological inputs to the estimation.In addition to the traditional deterministic interpretation and estimations adopted by geologists, semi-quantitative techniques are now available to improve the estimation of confidence while continuing to involve the Competent PersonÆs experience in the process. Methods for quantifying confidence in mineral resource estimates for advanced projects and operating mines have also been developed.Classification is undertaken primarily as a communication tool between the estimators and the other stakeholders in the process. A brief examination of the stakeholdersÆ requirements is included.

Sep 26, 2011

An account of milling "methods and costs at Mount Isa Mines Limited up to the year 1938 has been published. The present paper outlines the methods since adopted in the milling of lead-zinc ores and presents a description of the equipment now being provided for the milling of copper ore.The programme approved for the mining, milling and smelting of both lead-zinc and copper ores involves the milling 9f 50,000 tons of lead-:-zinc ore and 35,000 tons of copper ore per month.The crushed ores will be delivered to the surface from alternate levels through No. 2 Ore shaft and conveyed to their respective crude ore bins at the crushing plant. The ores will be crushed and milled in separate circuits in common buildings and the tailings will be stored on a common tailings dump. The water services to the two circuits will be separate.LEAD ZINC PLANTCrushing PlantThe crushing plant described in the previous paper was located adjacent to the Urquhart shaft. The crushing plant had grown considerably over the years by the addition of a 4ft. BY-mons shorthead crusher and a set of Traylor 72 in. x 20 in. crushing rolls and, whilst operating satisfactorily, was difficult to maintain and cramped in many places. As a satisfactory layout for the new copper crushing plant could not be made in the vicinity of the, existing plant, it was decided to construct a new plant on the western side of theconcentrator building and provide identical equipment in...

Jan 1, 1953

By Coulter L. J

THE method of stope surveying as practised at the Mount Lyell Company's mines has been evolved out of the exigencies created by special conditions. It presents some novel features, and has proved effective for all requirements. All stope measurement work is brought under one complete system, to which office methods are standardized. Before proceeding to deal with the subject a brief description of the physical characteristics of the ore-bodies of each mine and the method of stoping will serve to show, cause ,for departure from ordinary survey practice.NORTH LYELL MINEThe ore-bodies of this mine occur on or near the conglomerate schist contact, and, being probably the result of replacements of both rocks, they rarely present any definite walls. It is usual for the payable material to merge into the respective countryrocks, and the limit of the occurrence is defined rather by assay value than by any distinct natural boundaries. The general configuration of these ore-bodies, therefore, is highly erratic both in horizontal and vertical section, so that, in order to obtain an accurate record of any occurrence, the measurement of the actual contour at short vertical intervals is essential.Stoping is carried out on a modification of the "rill." system, perhaps more properly described as "arched back" or "dome" stoping. Mullock rises are placed in as convenient positions as the erratic configuration of each ore-body will allow, and aroundthese rises the back is kept well arched, both longitudinally and transversely. The larger stopes are divided into arbitrary sections in which ore-breaking and mullocking are carried out in rotation, so that the whole of the excavation is seldom open for measuring at anyone particular time. Stacking or square-setting on the...

Jan 1, 1915

By T. Baker

The Eloise Cu-Au deposit is 60 km SE of Cloncurry in NW Queensland and has a current indicated reserve of 3.2 Mt @ 5.8 per cent Cu, 1.5gA Au and I9g/t Ag. It is hosted by metasediments and metabasic rocks that underwent amphibolite facies metamorphism at 550-600¦C and less than 3.5 kb. Peak metamorphism coincided with the regional D2 event which produced an S2 foliation with north-south strike and variable sub-vertical to steep east or west dip. The deposit is associated with several major shear zones parallel to the S2 foliation. The lodes form part of a large alteration system that is localised by the retrograde shear zones. Homblende-biotite-quartz with minor sulphides occur early in the alteration paragenesis which is overprinted by chlorite-muscovite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite ¦calcite+¦nagnetite. The later assemblage replaces the earlier Fe-K alteration as well as Fe-rich metamorphic assemblages such as homblende, biotite and staurolite indicating a post peak metamorphism timing for ore formation. Although replacive textures are the most common, the alteration can display open space infill and brecciation as well as durchbewegung and mylonite textures indicating that mineralisation occurred during ongoing ductile deformation. All these features are crosscut by a later brittle phase of calcite-chlorite-quartz¦pyrite alteration.

Jan 1, 1994