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By C Catania

Mining companies and operations across the globe typically target best practice financial management, along with a focus on economically driven mine plans. Not only is this inherent in running a successful mining business, but also critical in addressing investor scrutiny. The standards for social and environmental practices is less consistent than this, with most companies adopting standards that are driven through legislative and compliance requirements of the nations in which they operate. Although there is still room for improvement, Australian is a country that stands at the forefront of social and environmental legislation, driving more sustainable planning practices for mining operations, with an ever-increasing focus on mine closure considerations. Of the many nations yet to reach such a legislative position, Kazakhstan is a place where some companies are driving towards world class standards beyond what is government mandated. CITATION:Catania, C, 2018. World-class mine planning for a sustainable future in Kazakhstan Mining, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 6–7 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

By E Jak, M Shevchenko, D Shishin

One of the key aspects to develop sustainable metallurgical production is to ensure that the predictive power of thermodynamic tools is brought up to a new level of accuracy and reliability. Exploring new polymetallic processes, integrating primary and recycled materials, means utilising the uncharted areas within the Cu-Pb-Zn-Fe-Ca-Al-Mg-Si-O (major) – Cr-Na (slagging) – As-Sn-Sb- Bi-Ag-Au-Ni-Co (minor) slag-solids-metal-matte-speiss-sulfate system. This requires extensive integrated experimental and thermodynamic modelling study, which is underway at PyroSearch at the University of Queensland (UQ).

Aug 21, 2024

The Central West of New South Wales is emerging as a significant metallogenic province. The development of Northparkes Mines (North Limited) and the Cadia Hill deposit (Newcrest) are establishing NSW as a highly prospective porphyry copper-gold province. Exploration in the area has been further buoyed by the Ridgeway discovery by Newcrest near Cadia. The fact that the Ridgeway prospect was discovered 300 m below surface under Tertiary basalt cover indicates that surface prospecting can no longer be considered alone as an adequate method to find significant new deposits.

Jan 1, 1997

By Monette J. C, Nulty J. H

High temperatures and pressures are required to obtain acceptable stripping rates. Higher chemically induced stripping rates could reduce the need for higher temperatures which lead to cyanide losses. The higher rates could lead to lower carbon inventories and higher gold production. This paper reports laboratory and continuous test unit data which strongly suggest that the preceding can be achieved. New stripping agents demonstrate efficient stripping under conditions of cyanide depletion such as after carbon acid washing. Stripping times for gold and silver can be reduced by at least half compared to caustic cyanide through the use of these novel substances.

Jan 1, 1991

By E Yll÷, O HyvSrinen

Outokumpu has developed a new chloride leach process, called HydroCopper«, to treat copper concentrates. Chalcopyrite is quite refractory in leaching and in sulfate milieu an autoclave of high temperature and pressure is required. However, in the HydroCopper«-process copper sulfides can effectively be leached in atmospheric pressure using strong, aggressive chloride solution and copper (II) ions as oxidant. Copper is precipitated from the purified pregnant leach solution as copper (I) oxide, which is filtered and reduced by hydrogen gas to metallic copper powder, which is melted and cast into copper product. Sodium chloride formed in precipitation is decomposed in a chlor-alkali electrolyser, the products of which are circulated back to the process: sodium hydroxide to copper (I) oxide precipitation, chlorine gas to leaching and hydrogen gas to the reduction of copper (I) oxide. During 2003 - 2004 the performance of the HydroCopper«-process was confirmed in a demonstration plant processing one tonne of copper per day. It has been found to be applicable for different kinds of concentrates and can also tolerate a wide range of impurities. A significant advantage of the process is that gold can be leached as a chloro-complex and recovered with active carbon. HydroCopper« can economically recover copper from concentrates and process to a cast copper product. The best utilisation of the process is in most cases achieved when the plant is situated at the mine site. Higher recoveries are attained by the optimisation of the whole operation chain from the mine and the concentrator to the HydroCopper« plant.

Jan 1, 2005

Whilst employed by Dyno Nobel as the Technical Services Engineer û Brisbane, I was asked, as part of a contractual agreement, to look at optimising PioneerÆs blasting process to provide the most effective rock to the new crushing and screening plant. This paper details the preliminary blast designs and practices that have been in use at the quarry and the initial changes made to these designs, and the effect they have had on the excavation and crusher performance.

Jan 1, 1999

By A M. Ebbels

"Underground mine scheduling decision-making has been based on production requirements, equipment productivities and the mine planner’s instincts on the best scheduling strategy for the mine to optimise the net present value (NPV) of a project.In the last few years, innovative software has been developed to optimise underground schedules based on NPV. The schedule optimisation tool (SOT) allows the user to set up scenarios based on grade, metal content, capital and operating costs.This paper discusses the results of two case studies undertaken using the SOT software to optimise the NPV of the projects.In each case study, the SOT software has been applied in two ways:using the original mine planner’s scenario and determining whether the NPV could be improved by changing resource capacitieschanging the scheduling goals to determine whether a different mining strategy would have a better NPV outcome.The outcomes of the case studies demonstrate that the mine layout and design were contributing factors to the overall improvement of the NPV and that SOT has a more noticeable impact on the NPV of projects where less sequence constraints are required, such as geotechnical sequencing and access development.CITATION:Ebbels, A M, 2016. Optimising underground mining strategies, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2016, pp 60–65 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 8, 2016

By L Whitbourn, K Yang, P C, E Ramanaidou

The potential of hyperspectral mineral mapping within a mine environment is demonstrated. Central to this capability has been the development of portable or vehicle-mounted, hyperspectral mine face-mapping systems. Data from these systems were used to detect subtle mineralogical variations and map their distribution across rock faces in a fashion that previously was not possible. In one study, the data usability was enhanced by ædrapingÆ the mineralogical determinations over a three-dimensional æmodelÆ of the rock-face. The eventual melding of the spectral mine face-mapping and three-dimensional spatial technologies will result in a new generation of mineralogical and structural information becoming available to mine geologists, engineers and metallurgists. Specific uses for spectrally-derived, mineral mapping data sets could include:ore grade mapping systems based on either direct detection of ore minerals themselves (eg iron and nickel oxides), or mineralogies that may be used as surrogates for ore-grade information (via various alteration minerals) after a suitable orientation survey; detecting mineralogies that have a deleterious effect on milling, metallurgical processing or have occupational health implications (talc, swelling clays, carbonates, asbestos, etc); selective mining and blending by collecting, processing and displaying such mineralogical images in near real-time to monitor ore grade and quality, and allow the separation of ore from waste during loading operations at the mine face; a mineral detection and mapping capability to assist in structural and geotechnical mine planning applications; and an enhanced geological detection and mapping capability for ore mineral species or alteration mineralogies that may be used to vector further mineralisation, update the existing mine ore model, or provide input to assist in the control of autonomous mining equipment. Within the Woodlawn open pit, Fe- and Mg-chlorites and phengitic- micas associated with sulfide mineralisation were detected and mapped. Subsequent studies using a second generation face-mapping system demonstrated the direct detection of ore-grade materials for iron-ore and nickel laterite mining activities. Satisfactory and meaningful results were extracted from data that were collected under a variety of challenging conditions. However, these non-ideal climatic and operational conditions would be expected under most operational situations in a mine environment. Development of a system using artificial illumination, permitting night-time (and eventually underground) operation and elimination of atmospheric absorption effects is underway.

Jan 1, 2006

The Key Centre for Mines consists of the School of Mines of the University of New South Wales and the Departments of Geology and Civil and Mining Engineering of Wollongong University. The Key Centre for Mines/International promotes, markets and develops overseas activities in applied geology, mining engineering, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy specifically in response to the perceived needs in the region for mineral resource and other related earth-science based development. the Key Centre for Mines/International will be involved in the overseas marketing of formal courses; special training activities such as short courses and in-house programs; technical and educational consultancy; research and development projects, and in the establishment of regional links through twinning, exchange and various network arrangements with other organisations in the region. Activities which are now being developed include a training program for Korean mining engineers and geologists, teaching and curriculum development in the Mineral Resources Engineering Faculty of the University Sains Malaysia and a staff development proposal for the Department of Geotechnology of Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Jan 1, 1990

One major aim of the operation of Aberfoyle's matte fuming pilot plant was to assess refractories performance in the process working vessel, a SIROSMELT furnace. High wear rates were expected and whether these could be tolerated was an important question. During operations a range of refractory types was evaluated in both insulated and water cooled furnace designs. Furnace operations enabled lining wear measurements to be made. Results confirm that existing technology can solve any expected refractory problems. Design aspects that should be included in commercial furnaces are shown.

Jan 1, 1984

By H J. J Boshoff, A J. Karrasch

Mine planners frequently face the challenge of mitigating the impact of climatic events on mining operations, such as floods and droughts. Specific water management infrastructure can be implemented to meet operational requirements in response to these events. However, the effect of flood protection, for instance, may reduce the resilience of the site to drought. The probability and duration of unfavourable climate sequences significantly influences the net present value (NPV) of implementing specific water management infrastructure.Good life-of-mine planning will consider the incremental development of the project, and provide staged development plans. Water management infrastructure and the timing of implementation are facets of this process.CITATION:Boshoff, H J J and Karrasch, A J, 2016. A decision-making framework for water supply and flood protection options in net present value terms, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2016 Conference , pp 196–199 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 28, 2016

By T R. Anderson, A R. Butler

Haymont (2012) notes that in parts of Australia significant areas of mining disturbance cannot be relinquished. In Queensland it has been estimated that by 2010, just 0.3 per cent 507 ha of mining disturbance had been rehabilitated to the regulator’s satisfaction (Short, 2015).One reason for this poor record is the presence of inappropriate, unachievable or unmeasurable rehabilitation targets (Glenn et al, 2014; Butler, Anderson and Sexton, 2015). In the authors’ experience in Queensland many mature operations have licence conditions that hinder the achievement of sustainable outcomes or prevent successful validation of rehabilitation success. This creates a lack of certainty for industry and a lack of confidence in the community that the sector can deliver good rehabilitation outcomes (Short, 2015).This extended abstract presents a framework approach that has been applied at two contrasting operations. Without the changes presented, the goal of progressive rehabilitation certification, reduction in financial assurance (FA) and a path to surrender at these sites would have been impossible. The framework can be adapted for use across different bioregions and commodities.CITATION:Butler, A R and Anderson, T R, 2016. Reassessing rehabilitation objectives and targets for mature mining operations in Queensland, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2016 Conference, pp 139–141 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 28, 2016

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 P Murthy, Z Guan, P Townson

In this paper, we introduce a methodology to optimise mining equipment operation in terms of the conflicting concerns of productivity and availability. We also introduce the concept of damage points and equipment dutymeters. These provide the mine management with tools to monitor the success of such optimisation. Since we have quoted the results of an on-going Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) project, the apparent focus of this article is on draglines. However, the concept is equally applicable to other equipment. Mining is the type of business that requires a large investment in capital infrastructure and equipment to produce a product that is sold at a relatively low unit cost. In such a business, the key to competitiveness lies in achieving the full realisation of capital investment ie sustained production at high levels. Some of the concepts outlined in this paper are essential components of this picture.

Jan 1, 2000

Mining in the twenty-first century brings with it a new range of challenges, some unfamiliar to our industry. Skilled staff recruitment and retention is a significant issue. Equipment supply lead times are changing the risk profile under which we operate. And the new landscape of this century demands accountability at all levels while also requiring that we deliver more to our shareholders and our host communities. This paper draws on experiences in Waihi, addresses some of the challenges facing the modern mining industry and suggests some modest mitigation strategies.

Jan 1, 2007

By H W. Scriba

The development and improvement of computer-based process simulation packages over the past 20 years has provided process engineers with a powerful tool to use in the design of complex metallurgical plants. The use of such modelling tools has enabled the design of process plants that minimise operating and capital costs whilst optimising plant efficiency and recovery. Almost every new project developed in the current market is underpinned by a simulation of the process. In line with engineering best practice this simulation should be based on laboratory/pilot plant test work results and sound assumptions. Any errors that are not identified in the development of the process simulation may have significant effects on the final design and operation of the processing plant. Developing a simulation of the process in a comprehensive, logical and auditable manner is thus essential in ensuring the simulation accurately represents the expected process plant behaviour. A methodology that ensures these requirements are met has been developed by SNC-Lavalin Australia and is described in this paper. The methodology includes the major review stages of data collection, model planning, model building and optimisation, model review, scenario testing and options development, and model reporting. All of these stages should incorporate comprehensive client interaction and review by a suitably qualified representative. In applying these methodologies SNC-Lavalin Australia ensures that the process simulation model developed can be confidently utilised in the design of the process plant, and in the estimation of operating and capital costs, whilst ensuring that engineering best practices are met.

Jan 1, 2008

By K Buda, W Staunton, M Hill, V Tjandrawan

One of the challenges facing the gold industry in the 21st century is the continuing need to identify new reserves of economically treatable ores. Discoveries of large, metallurgically simple orebodies are becoming increasingly rarer, forcing companies to investigate options for the processing of ores which may present recovery, economic and/or environmental issues, requiring innovative approaches to their treatment. Ores which contain naturally occurring carbonaceous material (æpreg-robbing oresÆ) are an example of one such ore type. NewmontÆs Jundee operation contains zones of carbonaceous ore within the oxidised orebody. A program consisting of detailed laboratory work and extensive plant trials has been undertaken to assess the options of the processing of this material. Laboratory tests demonstrated the advantage of carbon-in-leach (CIL) over direct cyanide leaching and carbon-in-pulp (CIP) for treatment of these ores. The laboratory program identified several factors which would enhance overall gold recoveries where preg-robbing ore was being processed, including: keeping preg-robbing ore separate from non-graphitic ore; maximising gravity recovery; and ensuring the plant operates in æpureÆ CIL mode, ie no leaching prior to first adsorption tank. Several plant trials were undertaken to assess the economic sustainability of treating moderate preg-robbing ores through a modified gravity/leach/adsorption circuit. Results indicated that where good operational control of the circuit was maintained to ensure high gravity recovery, minimal leaching prior to carbon contact, and maintenance of good, active carbon inventory, then acceptable and sustainable overall gold recoveries could be obtained. Using these relatively simple plant modifications potentially allows a plant to treat ores with preg-robbing index (PRI) values up to one. When PRI values rise to 1.3 - 1.6, leach recoveries can drop from >85 per cent to

Jan 1, 2007

Australian coal mines have spent considerable capital on dragline improvements over the last two years. This has included ~$30 M on UDD conversions, >$20 M on new buckets, boom upgrades, electrical upgrades, etc. This is a natural part of the response of mining companies to technology and replacement programs. Capital expenditure is a normal part of the ongoing success of most companies. There is however, a tendency for some people to rely on the capital alone to provide the ongoing improvements in equipment productivity. Implementing new technology through capital expenditure is only part of the equation in continuous improvement. For 80 - 90 per cent of the year, the operator controls the productivity achieved by the dragline. Variation between operators is huge. The average standard deviation in productivity is 12 per cent and maintenance impact is over 40 per cent. Robbins 2003, states: Contrary to what we were taught in grade school, we werenÆt all created equal. Most of us are to the left of the median on some normally distributed ability curve. Further, he states: The issue is knowing how people differ in abilities and using that knowledge to increase the likelihood that an employee will perform his or her job well. There are two options for reducing variability between operators; improving operator ability and getting the machine to take over what the operator is doing (automation). Dragline automation will be discussed, however, this paper will focus more on the æhuman factorÆ and how to establish a dragline with minimum variability between operators.

Jan 1, 2005

By Koppe JC, Strieder AJ

The Rivera Crystalline Island (RCI) is an erosional window of the intracontinental Parana Basin that outcrops in the Rivera Department, north of Uruguay. RCI is made up mainly by Precambrian granites, metasediments and granite-gneisses. This island is crosscut by a dextral transcurrent shear zone system, the Rivera Shear System (RSS). The bulk strain ellipsoid was defined by previous work and has allowed the evaluation of shear dynamics. The geometry of the shear system is made up of two shear directions: E-W (P-shear), which turn right to NW-SE direction (R-shear), leading to the development of extensional bends. The shear zone system was developed in brittle-ductile to brittle regimes, under temperature conditions compatible with greenschist facies metamorphism. The shear zones are marked by an intensive fracture cleavage development. Mylonites develop only in narrow, discontinuous higher strain zones. Internally, the shear zones are dominated by intrusive rocks, mainly granites, dacites and diorites. Hydrothermal alteration has been developed in several areas.The economic significance of RCI is given by several small gold deposits, which have been exploited since 1869. One major new gold mine is under development, the San Gregorio Gold Mine. This gold deposit is locally controlled by a dilatant site where R-shear turns right to P-shear. Mine lithologies were deeply altered by hydrothermal fluids in the dilatant structure. This work presents the lineament-structural analysis carried out to identify similar structural patterns in all RCI sites favourable to host other gold deposits. The exploration program also considered remote sensing, geology, geophysical and geochemical survey.

Jan 1, 1997

A philosophy is presented that new graduates in mining and metallurgy should be equipped to use computers during their under- graduate courses, should be aware of the capabilities and costs of a wide range of computing equipment, and should receive sufficient stimulus to become involved in applying computers for the benefit of the mineral industry. A program is presented in which computer applications and "hands on" involvement with computers are integrated into the progressive stages of the undergraduate courses in Mining and Metallurgy. In this respect, the role of the computer is to assist the student by performing time consuming tasks, to demonstrate the industrial applications of computing, to extend the scope and complexity of the tutorial, assignment and project work which can be undertaken by the student, and to provide the essential first stepping stones toward continued useful involvement with computers during the graduate's working life.

Jan 1, 1977