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By S Gossmann, J Barlow, S Denner

"Unconventional gas resources, including coal seam gas (CSG) reservoirs, can be located above and below aquifers that provide groundwater for agricultural, industrial, urban and other uses. Development of these resources may, therefore, lead to potential impacts on groundwater supply.Management of reservoir/aquifer interconnections necessitates a program of focused data acquisition. For example, groundwater transfer from shallow aquifers to underlying CSG reservoirs may occur where CSG-containing units subcrop beneath shallow aquifers, possibly at significant distances from operating wells.Arrow Energy is undertaking studies of connectivity between aquifers including an investigation in collaboration with the Queensland Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment to evaluate connectivity between the Condamine Alluvium (CA) and CSG-containing Walloon Coal Measures (WCM).The Condamine Valley hosts highly productive agricultural land with groundwater resources heavily utilised for irrigation. Water demand outstrips available supply and groundwater has been subject to restrictions on further development since the early 1970s. Developments that could have an additional impact on groundwater resources in the CA are of major concern to local landholders. This paper describes: planned field investigations at two sites: 1. Stratheden, where pumping from the WCM will be undertaken 2. Daleglade, where pumping from the CA will occur how the data to be collected from field investigations will be used to refine predictions of flux between the CA and the WCM.CITATION:Denner, S, Gossmann, S and Barlow, J, 2013. Planned field investigation of connectivity between the Condamine Alluvium and Walloon Coal Measures, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013, pp 91-98 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Nov 26, 2013

The dielectric properties of practically all oxide and sulphide ore minerals are such that they heat rapidly when irradiated with microwaves particularly at the standard frequency of 2450 MHz. The presence of carbon or low rank coal mixed with the minerals still further enhances the heating rate. Amongst the patented technologies being investigated are: (i) the direct reduction of oxides with or without carbon included in the pellets or briquettes; (ii) microwave precursor heating of composites ahead of smelt reduction; (iii) microwave smelting of ore or concentrate mixtures with carbon, sometimes assisted with oxygen. Microwaves appear to stimulate endothermic reduction reactions as readily as they do exothermic oxidation reactions. Being a method of achieving "bulk" heating, composites or columns of ore-char blends rapidly heat throughout rather than from the outside inwards as in conventional heating. The microwaves of themselves do not generate any gas - the only gases to be cleaned are the products of reaction in the composites or blends, plus the products of oxygen smelting. In the case of sulphide composites, depending on the quantity and type of low rank coal or char present, sulphur may be eliminated, and collected, in the elemental form. Furthermore, reactions seem to take place at lower temperatures than in conventional smelting but no doubt at the "points" where actual reactions are taking place the atomic or molecular vibrations are such as to satisfy the laws of thermodynamics. Examples are given of the production of unusual products of smelting sulphide concentrates and also the alloys produced from refractory minerals such as chromite and ilmenite. The techniques have been used to produce products with as wide a range of melting points as relatively pure tin and tungsten-molybdenum alloys. Special equipment is being designed and evaluated for these new fields of pyrometallurgy.

Jan 1, 1989

The metals titanium and zirconium and their alloys occupy individually unique positions in the catalogue of metallic materials available for engineering applications. Because of the uniqueness of their usage in the aerospace industry, in the case of titanium, and in the nuclear industry, in the case of zirconium, the except- ional resistance of both the metals to the majority of corrosive media is often overlooked. The cost factor in the application of these more exotic metals has, in the past, been a major considerat- ion in the rejection of titanium and zirconium as constructional materials in areas of usage where their superior corrosion resistance strongly favoured them over more conventional metals and alloys. The cost differential, vis-a-vis austenitic stainless steels, for example, is not a trifling matter, being of the order of 6 : 1, when compared on a weight basis. However, if one considers the cost, for, say, sheet product on an area basis, the ratio is redgced to approximately 3.4:1. If one also takes into account the enhanced performance of the more expensive material and the sub- sequent increase in service life and decrease in plant down-time, the economics of the usage of materials such as titanium becomes much more attractive and, indeed, highly competitive,

Jan 1, 1969

By Jones M

The concept of precise, accurate timing with Electronic Delay Detonators (EDDs) was first seriously addressed in the mid-1980s and much was made of the cheapness and profusion of digital watches in terms of the likelihood of EDDs also being cheap and easy to produce. Ten years later, with every major explosives company and many electronics groups having instituted projects to capitalise on the promise of these devices, production devices are still to come into general use. In South Africa, Expert Explosives units have been used in most applications during proving trials and more recently for production blasting in underground ring stoping and open cast coal. The outcome has been valuable learning both as to the benefits and technical requirements for electronic delay blasting, and especially, safety aspects. Examples are shown of production blasts which utilised the power of EDDs. It is evident that it is not delay accuracy alone which determines the value of these systems, but the whole robustness, flexibility and ease of delay allocation when harnessing blast engineering knowledge. Muckpile movement and shape, fragmentation and vibration frequencies have shown to be greatly influenced by designs which can be implemented no other way. The flexibility of a system and the power of the software controlling it are crucial in capitalising on blasting potential, which lies in integrating control of blast timing with other developing electronic Technologies.

Jan 1, 1995

By E Corpuz, J Weissman, S Winter, R Evans

The surface-to-inseam (SIS) directional drilling technique has been utilised at Oaky Creek Coal for more than a decade to predrain both the Oaky No 1 and Oaky North mining areas. The cumulative drilling program constitutes a total of 140 lateral and 200 vertical holes, and 405 km of lateral drilling.The use of SIS gas drainage has been successful with the following site-specific benefits being recognised:ability to drain German Creek seam gas contents to residual gas levels of new mining areas within an 18-month period from commencement of well productionstructural geological verification of the mine design well in advance of development mining occurring in an areaability to conduct successful predrainage of the overlying Aquila seam to reduce subsequent goaf emissions.Appropriate and up-to-date geological knowledge during the design and drilling process is a significant influence to achieving success. Vertical production wells need to be located in a position that is most effective to remove water from hole. The lateral hole should not include intersections with significant geological structure.SIS drilling provides continuous seam roof/floor data to help define seam geometry and locate geological hazards with high accuracy. In faulted ground and with variable seam gradients, SIS data can resolve geological ambiguities from seismic sections and enhance seam correlation that would otherwise be available only from discrete and closely-spaced infill vertical exploration drilling.Here, we review some examples of SIS configurations and practice to highlight key learnings in drilling long inseam holes (up to 1900 m per arm) ahead of development and mining. Aspects on prerequisites, evolution of network design, tolerances and drainage outcomes in a variety of geological situations are discussed as technical basis towards a viable and effective SIS drilling program.CITATION:Corpuz, E, Evans, R, Weissman, J and Winter, S, 2015. Surface-to-inseam (SIS) drilling at Oaky Creek coal mine – SIS design aspects and drilling environment, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference, pp 93–104 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 31, 2015

By K Ionkov

The oolitic iron ore reserves in Lisakovsky, North Kazakhstan represent quite a challenging deposit both from a technological and from a resource point of view. The difficulties in processing such types of ore are connected with the extremely fine dissemination of phosphorus and gangue minerals inside the oolitic formations. The goethite crystals are cemented in their structure by aluminosilicates with quartz and other gangue minerals and dissemination is so fine that they are not separable by physical methods. The laboratory tests performed for dephosphorisation show that the combination of alkaline roasting followed by low intensity magnetic separation and acid leaching enables the obtaining of high grade iron concentrate. The magnetic separation performed ahead of leaching is effi cient as a means of buffering the high pH by washing out the soluble salts and the excess of base and after leaching facilitates the removal of secondary liberated gangue minerals in the non-magnetic fraction. As a consequence, phosphorous content is dropped to a more acceptable level for the ferrous metallurgy and iron grade and recovery reach 61.6 and 80.8 per cent respectively.

Jul 11, 2011

By S Wilkinson, S Black, L van den Berg

"The mine ventilation system plays an important role in mitigating human exposure to diesel particulate emissions (DPM), exhaust gases and heat in underground mines. The mine’s secondary ventilation systems are critical for diluting contaminants when working at the face of a heading. To improve these systems it is important to understand and visualise the localised air flow profiles. We have considered an approach that includes both tracer gas measurement–modelling to analyse this complex flow behaviour in a heading. The use of tracer gas enables reliable measurements of flow behaviour and differentiation between the contributions of various contaminant sources including DPM. A pilot study was conducted to demonstrate how tracer gas can be used to directly measure the effectiveness of ventilation dilution in a heading during shotcrete activity. This activity is considered to be one of the more challenging areas for diesel exhaust exposure management. Exposure sources include the diesel engine of the spraying equipment (Spraymech) and concrete agitator truck (Agi) that supplies the shotcrete. During operation both the Spraymech and Agi operators are located outside the equipment’s air-conditioned cabins and both are exposed to diesel exhaust. In the pilot study tracer gas was injected directly into the Spraymech exhaust stream. This allowed thorough mixing, ensuring the tracer gas was able to track exhaust gases and particulates released to the heading. The release was repeated at three different headings with varying degrees of secondary ventilation controls. The study showed that small changes to the secondary ventilation system can significantly impact the contaminant concentration. It also demonstrated that tracer gas can be used to isolate different contaminant sources. The intent is to use this technique in a more comprehensive study to develop best practice guidelines for secondary ventilation installations. This paper presents the technique used and the preliminary results from the pilot study. CITATION: Wilkinson, S, van den Berg, L and Black, S, 2015. Application of tracer gas flow profiling to improve secondary ventilation practice – a pilot study, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference, pp 345–352 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 31, 2015

By J Rowland

"This paper was primarily put together in order to demonstrate what are believed to be acceptablestandards, in relation to ventilation surveys and the subsequent model assembly process. Thiswas brought about by the fact that in many parts of the world it is regarded as acceptable to carryout ventilation surveys and then build and supply the client with a æstick fi gureÆ type ventilationmodel. Such stick models have arguably litt le use and a very short life span in the real world and isalmost impossible for site staff to maintain. Thankfully most underground coal mines in Australia strive to maintain a true replica model of their ventilation circuits and to keep them in a relatively good state. Given that these mines own and maintain the models, it is often seen as necessary to update or rebuild them. The level of survey detail required to do so is totally dependent on the end use of the data and the criticality of the accuracy of the data set, to the ongoing safety and viability of the business. Mine technical personnel should think clearly about the use and importance of the ventilation survey and subsequent report outputs required that will help them bett er understand their mines and bett er prepare them to manage their ventilation circuits, on an ongoing basis. This paper provides some guidance for Australian ventilation engineers so they may plan and execute this work æin houseÆ, should they rightly choose to do so. To this end, methods of data collection and circuit analysis required for surveys of a high order of accuracy are detailed. Also, some of the issues which are important when formulating a strategy to carry out the appropriate ventilation survey for the required purpose are summarised. As well, the major details that should be furnished within any survey and some survey/report outputs and/or omissions, which are clearly not acceptable, are highlighted."

Jun 1, 2012

By Schon RW, Stephens CJ

The Whitsunday Volcanics occupy most of the offshore islands from the Whitsunday Group, southeastwards through the Cumberland and Northumberland Groups, possibly extending to the mainland adjacent to Shoalwater Bay, a distance of 370 km. Some of the islands of this group are granitic, but preliminary Rb-Sr data indicate these to represent Permo-Triassic basement. Cretaceous volcanism is interpreted to have occurred during initial rifting prior to the continental breakup of northeastern Australia and subsequent development of the Tasman Basin.The volcanics comprise mainly lithic ignimbrites, with local development of inter-bedded surge and bedded tuff, accretionary lapilli tuffs, lithic concentration zones, and lag deposits. Isolated fluidual rhyolite and dacite domes occur. The deposits are considered subaerially emplaced. A Rb-Sr isochron age for volcanism of 110 Ma is determined from new data. The total thickness of the volcanics is unknown, but a minimum thickness of 4-5 km on Whitsunday Is. is suggested. Eruptive centres are inferred to be distributed throughout the volcanic zone. The volcanics are cut by numerous, dominantly near N-S, dykes ranging from dolerite through to rhyolite in composition.Chemically, the volcanics and dykes exhibit a continuous range of compositions from basaltic andesite, through andesite, dacite, to rhyolite, with minor more alkalic compositions. Phenocryst mineralogy in the silicic rocks is mainly plagioclase, augite, and Fe-Ti oxides, with less frequent quartz and hornblende occurrence. Sr and Nd isoptic compositions for volcanics and dykes are close to mantle values. These data are tentatively interpreted in terms of a lower crustal magma arc source separated from the mantle only a geologically short time prior to Cretaceous magmatism.

Jan 1, 1990

By A Garvie, D Kentwell, J Chapman

"Most new mining projects require an initial assessment of the locations and volumes of potential acid forming (PAF) waste that is likely to be moved and dumped in surface waste stockpiles. This requires sampling of the waste rock zones and submitting the samples for a series of tests. Key to the outcome of the waste characterisation process is obtaining sufficient samples that are representative of the various rock types both in number and spatial distribution.Various regulatory bodies throughout Australia and the rest of the world are currently struggling with how to define minimum amounts of sampling to achieve realistic estimates without imposing excessive costs and time constraints on a project.This paper addresses two aspects of the process: what constitutes a æsufficientÆ number of samples how to use those samples in determining volumes of likely PAF material.Geostatistical methods of characterising orebodies with large numbers of samples are routinely used in the mining industry by geologists and geostatisticians to estimate and classify Mineral Resources. In theory exactly the same methods can be used to estimate PAF waste locations and volumes.In practice the number and spatial distribution of dedicated PAF waste samples at feasibility stage is typically so small that it is almost impossible to estimate the spatial distribution of PAF material with any degree of confidence at all. Consequently, the common approach is to characterise a few samples from a lithological unit and then assume that they represent the unit as a whole. This approach, however, can be fraught with risk.This paper describes some of the findings of SRKÆs evaluation of several coal projects with respect to PAF waste evaluation and highlights some common misconceptions held by people working in this area that do not have a knowledge of statistics or geostatistics.CITATION:Kentwell, D, Garvie, A and Chapman, J, 2012. Adequacy of sampling and volume estimation for premining potential acid forming waste evaluation using statistical and geostatistical methods, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012, pp 79-88 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 10, 2012

The exposed high face of Kerr's Quarry has dominated the township of Ferntree Gully for half a century. The near perpendicular face of bare dacite rock is a crumbling scar in an area of significant natural beauty. Apart from being unsightly, the face is a hazard for any person who approaches too close to its base or to the top edge. The height and the precipitous nature of this man made wall of rock is hazardous indeed. (fig. 1) The rock face is on the municipal boundary between the Shire of Sherbrooke and the City of Knox. This boundary was drawn when partition of the Shire of Ferntree Gully took place. There are many advantages in benching back the wall of the quarry but to do so the operation, located in Knox would need to extend into Sherbrooke. There are planning difficulties involved in such a manoeuvre, but during 1972, at a meeting of Cabinet Ministers, it was agreed that the matter be resolved.

Jan 1, 1976

Zinc alloy castings continue to account for a very large, world-wide end-use market for zinc. However, an ever expanding multitude of other materials and processes are increasingly providing viable, cost-effective alternatives to designers, many of whom have no particular allegiance to any one industry. In order to meet this challenge, innovation of and for the zinc hot chamber pressure die casting process, in concert with sustained and inventive market development, is clearly required. While 'Quality' is now the watchword, and the goal of zero defects is being rigorously pursued, other important goals which must be addressed include net shape casting, enhanced productivity and increased energy efficiency. The paper gives an overview of several practical, process-orientated, projects designed to help achieve these goals. For example, a project designed to understand and precisely measure dimensional changes of castings with time has provided some of the critical information needed for net shape casting. A second study is looking anew at surface quality in relation to process conditions as an important step toward the goals of zero scrap rate and increased productivity. Developing the correct die casting machine parameters for achieving optimal quality and properties of zinc (ZA) die castings is a further example of research designed to benefit both the die caster and his customer, chiefly the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). A project on die soldering or galvanising in response to varying process parameters is similarly being considered in order to foster increased understanding and avoidance of problems, with a special interest in the use of special coatings. The maintenance or expansion of the future market for zinc die casting alloys also depends on design for functional applications, as an adjunct to their traditional decorative use. The role that alloys with enhanced properties can play, such as ZATEC, a new high creep resistant alloy developed specifically for elevated stress/elevated temperature applications, will be briefly discussed.

Jan 1, 1993

By Griffiths L, Marshall P

fhis paper describes investigations into drainage of gas from the solid to control outbursts. Initial studies conducted on drainage of shear zones showed that, given enough time, these can be successfully drained. Once drained, they can be intersected and driven through without any activity of outbursts. The results of programme of investigations to determine parameters for drainage from the solid show that gas flow rates from the Bulli Seam on the average are about 2 litres/min/metre length of borehole. But when shear zones are intersected, the flow rates could be as high as 8 litres/min/ metre length of hole. Shear zones can be picked up from pressure measurements 50 - 60 m away and this could give sufficient time to drill through these zones and drain them in advance. Systematic drainage of Bulli Seam at West Cliff Colliery could eliminate or reduce frequency of outbursts considerably. At present drainage holes are being drilled systematically in the seam, with drainage installations on the surface. Gas purity of 80% methane is being delivered at the surface plant.

Jan 1, 1980

There is little doubt that the vision (Spectre) of Voisey's Bay has completely spooked the Northern Hemisphere view on nickel to the exclusion of considering any other future nickel project. Voisey's Bay orebody is of world-class and will influence world nickel and cobalt supply for a very long time - but - has the world yet started to consider the enormous cost of acquisition and development of this find or the nickel price it will need to attract to cover these costs and its operating costs and keep its bankers and shareholders happy. That price will be the critical factor in determining Voisey's effect on world nickel and will be critical in ranking other new projects aimed at making up the nickel short fall created by the on-going demand for austenitic stainless steel. In my view, there is little doubt that some if not most of these `other' new projects will be developed in the South West Pacific from lateritic Resources.

Jan 1, 1996

I am honoured, deeply honoured, that so distinguished a group has assembled to acknowledge the signifi- cance of the work of my Melbourne flotation research laboratory, to review progress since Principles of Flotation (Wark, 1938) was published, to highlight the present state of knowledge, and to point the way for future research. The flotation research which began in 1929 was sponsored by a group of mining companies2 at the instigation of Harry Hey of the Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia Limited. There were never more than three of us work- ing in rather cramped conditions in a laboratory made available by the Department of Chemistry at the Uni- versity of Melbourne, but what we lacked in space was more than offset by a freedom unparalleled in indus- trial research in Australia at that time. I pay special tribute to my first colleague, Alwyn Cox; to my wife who worked with us for several years; and to Keith Sutherland who followed Cox in 1936. They were my sole colleagues up to 1938 when Principles of Flo- tation (Wark, 1938) was published.

Jan 1, 1984

By Savage E. N

Two genetic types of base metal deposits occur in the Wainivesi area of central eastern Viti Levu. The Wainivesi deposit is now considered to be a stratiform volcanogenic type, and the Wailotu and Wainiviti deposits are described as contact metasomatic with some hydrothermal manifestations. The Wainivesi mineralization is correlated with the Tertiary "e" stage, i.e. uppermost Oligocene-Iowermost Miocene. Tertiary "e" stage rocks in Fiji are therefore potential ore producers of stratiform volcanogenic type. On the basis of plate tectonics with Fiji part of the New Hebrides Arc prior to rifting apart in the late Miocene, stratiform volcanogenic deposits of the Wainivesi type may also occur in rocks of comparable type and age in the New Hebrides.

Jan 1, 1976

By Erickson M. E, Smith C. K, Carswell J. T

Thirteen holes totalling 3200m were surveyed using a downhole time domain Geonics EM37 system at the 830 metre level within the CSA Mine, Cobar, New South Wales, in order to search for blind, electrically conductive sulphides at some distance from exploration drillholes. A significant off-hole conductor was detected in only one drillhole.Geophysical modelling and interpretation of the survey results indicated that this off-hole conductor was caused by a sulphide lens 30 metres from the drillhole at a hole depth of 220 metres.

Jan 1, 1990

With the sinking of the new No. 3 Shaft and the increasing depth and northward movement of the mining operations, improved ventilation of the mine workings became necessary and it was decided to sink a new upcast ventilation shaft midway between No. 2 Shaft and No. 3 Shaft.The shaft is finished to 16 ft. internal diameter and connects with the mine workings at the 2,600-ft. level. It is lined with unreinforced Concrete approximately 12 in. thick. The shaft sinking routine was drilling, blasting and mucking by hand using a 27-cub. ft. capacity bucket. The concrete lining was poured in conjunction with the sinking and was normally finished within 30 to 50 ft. of the shaft bottom.

Jan 1, 1957

By S Bluhm, LádeáOliveira, R Funnell

Taquari Vasouras potash mine (Vale Fertilizantes) has many interesting features including virgin rock temperatures of 50¦C at depths of 700 m. The mine has a relatively small shaft system with limited ventilation carrying capacity, which was not adequate to exploit the full extent of the deposit. This limitation was overcome by installing two large-scale recirculation systems with underground reconditioning centres. This paper describes this unique mine ventilation and cooling system and some of its history over the past two decades. The two controlled recirculation systems have been operating safely for some ten years and the use of large-scale recirculation has been a fundamental component in the increase of production and extending the mining further-and-further from the shaft centre. The recirculation systems have played a huge role in the mine profitability and comprehensively extending the mine life. The paper also discusses a number of novel design and operating features such as reverse running pumps for energy recovery. The underground chilled water system design required a number of special safety features in order to minimise the risk of water leakage since this could be catastrophic in a potash mine. This paper describes a good example of a mine in which the final ventilation and cooling system design ends up very different to what was envisaged at the greenfields stage.CITATION:Bluhm, S, Funnell, R and de Oliveira, L, 2013. Controlled recirculation and refrigeration at ValeÆs Taquari Potash Mine, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference , pp 237-248 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 1, 2013

Accurate geometric models of orebodies establish the framework for reliable mineral resource estimates that provide a basis for further exploration and mine planning, as well as for financial models that ultimately determine the economic viability of a deposit. Traditional, explicit geometric modelling techniques that are utilised for resource modelling by the general mining software packages, such as MineSight«, involve manually digitising interpreted ore outlines that must be carefully linked to create valid geometric solid models. An alternative, implicit modelling method, employed by LeapfrogTM software relies on a fast method of global interpolation, which offers several advantages over traditional modelling techniques. Although previous case studies have documented the relative efficiencies of the two approaches, the accuracy of the two methods has not been previously quantified and compared. This study quantifies the accuracy of solid models created using explicit and implicit methods, and compares the differences between the models. Solid models of the Doris Hinge vein gold deposit (located in the Hope Bay district, Nunavut, Canada) are constructed from preliminary and follow-up drilling data using both modelling techniques. The accuracies of the solid models generated using preliminary drilling data are determined by measuring the 3D distance between the surface of the models and the actual contact location defined by the follow-up drilling data. Additional comparisons based on volume, cross-sectional area and surface differences were made between both phase 1 solid models and solid models constructed from phase 2 drilling information. The overall results of this study find that the MineSight« and LeapfrogTM solid model accuracies are virtually the same, and that their volume, cross-sectional area, and surface differences are comparable. This study concludes that the implicit modelling technique generates accurate solid models that can be used in place of explicit models as ore shells for resource estimation in certain circumstances.

Jan 1, 2006