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The carbon-in-pulp (CIP) process is now well established in the South African gold industry, with a total of over I million metric tons of material being treated each month in six large plants. This tonnage is derived from ground ore, from filtered pulp, from calcine, and from reclaimed sand-tailings dumps. With this new process and the new large plants, those concerned with CIP are experiencing a learning process, since each new plant presents a different set of problems to be overcome. The knowledge and experience gained from these plants is being shared, and will be of benefit in the design and operation of new plants. The CIP process can be subdivided into the following unit operations: prescreening at a fine size, adsorption, acid-washing and elution, reactivation, and electrowinning. Results concerning each of these unit operations, which were obtained from pilot plants and from large-scale CIP plants in South Africa, are presented. The latest developments in each of these areas is summarized. Tables that are included as an appendix contain some information concerning the equipment in these new CIP plants plus operating results from some plants.

Jan 1, 1982

By J Harmse

This paper deals with the modernisation of the brakes on an electrically coupled Blair multi-rope hoist and covers the removal of the old calliper brakes and hydraulic control system, and its replacement with brake discs, disc braking units and hydraulic control systems. The paper covers the braking requirements of the hoist, which is made up of two electrically coupled single-drum hoists, together with the theory behind the choice of brakes and control systems supplied. The paper also covers the project logistics that were required in order to install and commission the new brakes and control systems with the minimum disruption to production on the only rock hoist on a major production shaft. Items covered include the modifications to civil works, pre-installation of bearing lubrication systems, brake discs and hydraulics and the interfacing of the new hydraulic control system to the existing electric control system. It had to be designed to be compatible to a new electric drive and control system due for installation at the end of 2005.

Jan 1, 2005

A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the three types of sample grinders routinely used in the mining industry for the sample preparation of gold ores with particular emphasis placed on testing their capacity to produce a representative assay sample of coarse gold ores. The grinders used in this study are the Labtechnics LM5, the Mixermill 4010 ringmill and the Keegor vertical spindle pulveriser, commonly called a Keegormill. The study was based on the preparation of samples from two sources of known coarse gold ore, the Union Reefs Gold Mine and the Brocks Creek Gold Mine in the Pine Creek region of the Northern Territory of Australia, and a fine gold ore which was from the Macraes Gold Mine in New Zealand. The Union Reefs Mine contains visible coarse gold with 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the gold in the plus 75 μm fraction of milled ore. Discreet particles up to 5 mm have been recorded, Hellsten (1994). Union Reefs Gold Mine recovers 40 per cent of its bullion production through a gravity circuit, Riches (1997). Brocks Creek ore contains visible coarse gold with gravity bullion production fluctuating between 50 per cent and 65 per cent, depending on the mill feed. Average gravity bullion production from the Brocks Creek Mine is 55 per cent, Wilke (1997). The average gold grain size of Macraes Mine ore is 20 μm with 40 per cent of the gold in sub 10 μm particles. No gravity bullion is produced from the Macraes Mine, O'Keefe (1997). The testwork demonstrated conclusively that it is possible to prepare a representative sample for assay, of a coarse gold ore, when a Keegormill is used to pulverise the sample to a nominal 100 μm particle size (90 per cent passing a 100 μm screen by wet sieving). Both the Mixermill and the Labtechnics LM5 failed to prepare a representative sample, even when ground to a nominal 75 μm particle size.

Jan 1, 1998

By N Weerasekara, M Bird, M Yahyaei, M M. Hilden, M S. Powell, J Franke, P Toor

The combination of new tools with a more rigorous approach to understanding the interaction of mill liners with overall mill performance and economics, forms the basis of an integrated approach to liner management. Based on accurate liner wear measurements, some (limited) physical mill inspections and surveys, accurate calibration of the mill load and analysis of process data, a whole new approach to liner selection, relining intervals and mill control is proposed. Collection and analysis of this information in operating mills illustrates the mill performance improvement which can be attained through this careful measurement and modelling approach.A more holistic approach to liner management is proposed, including a broadening of the current work to cover the potential benefits of improved relining technologies and predictive liner wear modelling. CITATION:Powell, M S, Hilden, M M, Weerasekara, N, Yahyaei, M, Toor, P, Franke, J and Bird, M, 2012. A more holistic view of mill liner management, in Proceedings 11th AusIMM Mill OperatorsÆ Conference, pp 95-104 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 29, 2012

By Y Xu, T Rowles, B Dareeju, A Dissanayake

Recent updates on tailings dam design guidelines require analysis of undrained (short-term) stability with the application of the SHANSEP model. The SHANSEP model, which was originally developed for alluvial soils, predicates that the Undrained Shear Strength (Su) increases with increasing effective stress. Residual soils by their nature do not necessarily follow this relationship. This paper examines an alternate method to define Su over a range of effective stress conditions for residual soils. Residual soils, formed by weathering of their parent rocks, are generally micro-structured in nature. The microstructural features, such as interparticle bonding, play a fundamental role in stress-strain behaviour of the residual soils. As interparticle bonding is independent of effective stress and void ratio, the undrained shear strength of residual soils is expected to be less dependent on effective stress than alluvial soils, especially at low stress levels. A series of triaxial tests conducted on residual soils, however, indicated that the undrained shear strength and the undrained shear strength ratio (Su/σv’) are to a degree dependant on effective stress. It was found that the undrained shear strength ratio is significantly higher under low stress levels and progressively reduces with increasing effective stress. Based on the laboratory testing data, a strength function with varying undrained shear strength ratios can be developed for the residual soils under the stress range anticipated for a design of a tailings dam. This includes capping the input undrained strength at lower effective stresses based on the drained (effective) and minimum undrained strength. The Factor of Safety (FOS) calculated for the embankment utilising the traditional limit equilibrium (LE) method indicated the application of undrained strength function for the residual soils can provide a significant optimisation for the embankment design compared to adopting a constant undrained shear strength ratio or constant undrained shear strength in the design.

Jul 1, 2021

By L Clarke, R N. Campbell, F Bourke, J Anderson

Lithological units have been classified geotechnically with mechanical tests and discontinuity measurements from the GRD Macraes Limited, Macraes Gold Project and Rotowaro coal mine open pits, New Zealand. Using these measurements slope stability probability classifications (SSPC) have been quantified based on an adaption of Hack's (1998) SSPC system which places less influence on rock quality designation and unconfined compressive strength than previous slope/rock mass rating systems. The Hack weathering susceptibility rating has been modified by using the chemical index of alteration values from XRF major element analysis. Slaking and weathering is an important parameter in slope stability in the Waikato Coal Measures and Otago schist lithologies and hence a non-subjective method of assessing slaking/weathering in relation to the chemical index of alteration has been introduced. Other major components of this adapted SSPC system are the inclusion of rock moisture content and rock strength anisotropy effects on slope stability. This paper explains the systematic approach of using the adapted SSPC system to classify slope stability probability. The main modifications of Hack's SSPC system are the introduction of rock intact strength derived from Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria which has been adapted for varying moisture content, weathering state and confining pressure. It is suggested that the subjectivity in assessing intact rock strength within broad bands in the initial SSPC system is a major weakness of the initial system. Initial comparison of rock mass friction angles, cohesion and strengths derived from the adapted SSPC are compared with results derived from modified Hoek-Brown criteria, MRMR and SMR classification systems. The advantage of the modified SSPC system is that slope stability probability, maximum batter and overall slope height and overall slope angle for open pit walls can be predicted in addition to orientation dependent and orientation independent stability. Examples are provided, using the modified SSPC system to predict initial optimum pit slope designs in proposed greenfield mine sites.

Jan 1, 2000

By L N. Loganathan

Risk exposure in tunnel projects is extremely high due to various factors such as variability of subsurface conditions, selection of inappropriate design and tunnelling methods, improper risk assessment on adjacent surface and subsurface structures and utilities, and inadequate contractual practices. The risks in tunnelling must be borne by the contractor, designer and the owner of a tunnelling project. There have been a number of improvements in the last ten to 15 years in the manner in which tunnel projects are developed and implemented in terms of their design, construction, financing and operations. One significant improvement has been the manner in which underground conditions and their risks are being managed. Owners are less willing to transfer the full responsibility to the contractor for managing the underground conditions, although this is a familiar manner in which underground major urban projects have been previously contracted and managed. The owners of tunnel projects in Singapore have advanced the risk management process for their projects through geotechnical interpretative baseline reports (GIBRs), geotechnical data reports (GDRs) and project specifications (PSs). This paper discusses industry practice and its development as well as the application during the preparation and use in Singapore on the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) and the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) project in Singapore. The DTSS trunk sewer is 48 km and ranges from 3.3 m to 6 m finished diameter up to 50 m below the ground. The underground conditions ranged from Old Alluvium, strengths of about 1 MPa to competent Bukit Tima granite, with strengths of over 230 MPa. The total route length of the MCE is about 5 km. About 3.6 km will be constructed underground, consisting of dual five-lane carriageways. The underground construction will be cut-and-cover, and 2.6 km will be constructed about 13 m underground, and 1 km of tunnel will range from 13 m to 24 m as the tunnel passes under a 420 m wide reach of Marina Bay, whose crossing will be constructed as a two-phase cofferdam.

Jan 1, 2008

It is hypothesised that increasing the number of loading passes will produce a reduced range of truck payload outcomes compared with four-pass loading. The paper provides analysis to support this hypothesis. It is shown that, hypothetically, loading trucks with five or more passes will result in reduced tendency for overloading and reduced confidence interval for truck payloads that increase the confidence level of containing high end payloads within safe and commercially acceptable limits. Furthermore, increased number of passes provides for more precise bucket load spotting and so improves distribution of payloads within truck bodies. Truck-loading issues examined by the paper include: Improvement in life of driveline components and tyres. Generally tyre costs are relatively moderate; but tyres tend to become an increasingly sensitive performance/cost component as truck scale increases; Reduction of site severity fects flowing on to suspensions, truck frames and structural components generally with potential for reduced long-term repair costs; Less physical body damage due to smaller load increments; Reduced risk of non-compliance with payload limitations for safe braking standards; Increase in loading cycle times tend to increase with scale of loading machinery within the limits of a specific type of equipment (ie rope shovels or hydraulic shovels). Production increase with increased bucket capacity is, to a degree, offset by slower loading cycle times. This is particularly pronounced with front-end loaders but tends to be less noticeable with hydraulic excavators/shovels and electric rope shovels. Decrease in loading time, as a proportion of total truck-cycle time as open pits deepen and dump reaches increase. The production and cost benefits of four-pass loading tend to diminish as truck cycle times increase. The paper also discusses the implications for loading-equipment philosophy to satisfy the future needs of the industry. Cost benefits from upscaling tend to diminish as truck scale increases, so increasing management diligence and close monitoring are required to ensure that expected outcomes are realised. These truck-loading issues have been researched to assess the benefits positive or negative) of four-pass loading in practical scenarios. An attempt is made to determine whether four-pass loading is a æmust-haveÆ or merely a æmythÆ.

Jan 1, 2003

By D Kavanagh, C Michaud

"A continuous improvement initiative was identified at Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mine’s (KCGM) Fimiston open pit with the goal of reducing bench turnover time and increasing shovel digability by improving fragmentation around previously mined-out stopes. In the past, a higher number of blasts than normal would be required to get through a single excavation area where stopes were present. This is due to the limited reach capability of the drilling fleet from safe ground into restricted areas requiring the drilling of the shot to be done in a staged manner. In addition, the holes that were able to be drilled in the area did not remain open long enough to be loaded with explosives as a result of the poor ground conditions surrounding the stopes.Over the last 18 months, KCGM has trialled drill additives to improve blasthole stability, as well as introducing a remote drill rig allowing holes to be drilled in areas previously inaccessible by manned drill rigs. This has resulted in improved penetration rates in bad ground conditions, improved drill hole stability, better shovel digability, and an overall reduction in bench turnover of at least ten days on the benchmarked 126 days average per bench. KCGM is now in the final stages of the improvement project with the installation of a drill monitoring system on the fleet to allow live data transfer back to the office for analysis, as well as providing improved accuracy on drill holes in restricted areas.Citation:Michaud, C and Kavanagh, D, 2016. Reducing Bench Turnover Time and Improving Shovel Digability, in Proceedings Ninth AusIMM Open Pit Operators' Conference 2016, pp 19–27 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Nov 15, 2016

By G Capes, L Morizzi, N Mitkas, E Jones, D Grant

This paper describes the mining setting for the sub-level open stoping (SLOS) mining method used at Olympic Dam (OD), and investigates the range of stope performance conditions encountered over 30 years of production, using a qualitative description of the factors influencing performance. Utilising a continuous improvement tool, the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) process, and a forward-looking rock mechanics program, the intent is to identify the key factors driving productivity and performance to create a stable and achievable long term mine plan.

Mar 15, 2021

By M Hourn, G Anderson, V Lawson, P Voigt, D Mallah

As mine head grades decline and orebodies become more complex, traditional mineral processing techniques and flow sheets to achieve saleable concentrate become more difficult to design and construct. Mines with lower quality concentrates or concentrates with penalty elements are particularly under threat. The economics of such operations are far more susceptible to metal price fluctuations, concentrate treatment terms and the availability of other, cleaner concentrates. Additional value may be realised for these orebodies through improved recovery by producing a low grade middling concentrate for further processing, in conjunction with a saleable concentrate.The most economic effective way to reduce impurity levels is to do so as early as possible in the mining value chain. Technologies such as fine grinding and fine particle flotation are well established as effective methods for impurity rejection in mineral processing. What is often overlooked is how a hydrometallurgical process could also be integrated in the overall flow sheet to achieve higher overall recovery at the mill. In the base metals environment, this is probably because hydrometallurgical processes are associated with production of metal, or require the use of expensive and toxic precipitating agents once the minerals of interest are in solution. These processes can be very expensive, particularly with rising power costs and poor economies of scale in capital costs associated with low production rates from middling streams. Glencore Technology (GT) has recent experience in the treatment of middling and low grade concentrate streams and also tailings streams to complement a concentrator flow sheet in a refractory gold and base metals setting. The value proposition is the isolation of a low grade middling concentrate from the primary circuit or the tailings stream for upgrading to an intermediate product with an equal or higher grade than the primary concentrate to allow blending for sale. This allows the plant to operate on a more favourable part of the grade-recovery curve while avoiding the expense of metal production. For existing operations this is particularly attractive since it can be added to the flow sheet with no process interruptions. Two case studies are examined showing flow sheets and costings to arrive at the value proposition of the GT low grade treatment flow sheet.CITATION:Voigt, P, Hourn, M, Lawson, V, Anderson, G and Mallah, D, 2017. Economic recovery and upgrade of metals from middling and tailing streams, in Proceedings MetPlant 2017, pp 289–297 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 11, 2017

By P B. Hills

A simple algebraic method of aligning large scale underground excavations such as a crusher station or workshop or indeed any large cavern or mine layout to the optimal stress condition is outlined. The method uses the stress transformation law to determine how the component stresses vary as the stress tensor is rotated around its axis. The aim is to define the orientations at which the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses occur such that the excavation can be aligned with its long axis paralleling the trend of the maximum horizontal stress leading to the minimum potential for overstressing of the side walls. The physical environment in which the stress field is acting is unchanged. At the design location, the trend and plunge of the major principal stress is unchanged. However, the coordinate system by which the location of the stress field is described is arbitrary and the stress transformation law allows that coordinate system to be rotated to a more convenient orientation and for the component stresses to be calculated within the alterative coordinate system. The stress field is typically described in terms of normal and shear stresses aligned to a north–south, east–west, vertical, coordinate system. In this scenario, there are two orientations in the 360° horizontal plane defined by the coordinate system where the horizontal normal stresses are equal, and at 45° to those orientations, two orientations where they diverge to the maximum extent. Those orientations of maximum divergence correspond to the trend of the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses, usually designated σH and σh, and that is what the algebraic manipulation seeks to determine. This technique is a first pass assessment which relies on a knowledge of the full stress tensor. It is not a replacement for numerical modelling or detailed design, but a tool to guide planning.

Nov 29, 2022

By Giles D, Wegmann D

The Mt Todd Gold Project is located 42 km northwest of the township of Katherine within the Northern Territory of Australia. It is situated in the southeastern portion of the Pine Creek Geosyncline. The Batman gold deposit, the largest of several deposits at Mt Todd, hosts an identified mineral resource of 92.9 million tonnes (Mt) grading 1.4 grams/tonne (g/t) as at 31 December 1993. Host rocks at Batman are assigned to the Early Proterozoic Burrell Creek Formation, comprising greywacke and siltstone interbedded with shale. Gold mineralisation is associated with a very broad zone of sheeted and stockwork quartz-sulphide veins that occupy a corridor of intense brittle fracture and faulting. A conceptual model of formation involves the dilation of joints and micro-faults within overlying sediments during sinistral movement along a basement shear zone. Synchronous granite intrusion generated convective circulation of crustal fluids through the sedimentary pile resulting in the formation of auriferous quartz veins within favourable structures. The Batman zone of mineralisation is not directly related to fold structures which typify several other major gold deposits within the Pine Creek Geosyncline.

Jan 1, 1994

By N Winkelmann

Underground coal heating is a significant hazard in some coal mines. The broad principles of how underground coal heatings occur is reasonably known, however the technique for locating the heatings in often inaccessible goaf has been proved to be difficult. Since 2002, CSIRO, with the support of the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) has been undertaking investigations to apply and develop innovative surface-based radon technique for locating the underground heatings in Australia. This paper presents the progress of the investigation.

Jan 1, 2005

By D R. Seaman, B Adamson, F Burns, B A. Seaman, P Manton

The Telfer concentrator, located in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia, consists of a dual train gold/copper operation processing ore from one underground and, currently, two open pit mines with differing mineralogy. The flotation circuit of each train was designed to operate in several modes depending on the feed mineralogy. The majority of ore mined at Telfer is processed in a sequential mode where copper minerals are first floated into a saleable copper concentrate followed by the flotation of an auriferous pyrite concentrate which is treated in an on-site hydrometallurgical plant (carbon-in-leach (CIL)). Gold is recovered as a gravity product within the primary grinding circuit, to the copper concentrate, and to a lesser extent, the CIL circuit.Since Telfer was re-opened, with a new concentrator, in 2004, the processing plant has struggled with poor copper concentrate grades, partially due to the excessive entrainment of non-sulfide gangue minerals in the copper flotation circuit and, more recently, due to composite copper particles produced when processing ore from a supplementary satellite pit that has not previously been processed through the new Telfer concentrator. Gold recoveries in the CIL circuit have also been below industry standard. This paper presents the implementation of recent changes made to the circuit to address these performance issues. The reconfiguration of the circuit has involved the installation of the following major equipment items: two ISAMillsÖ in ultra-fine grinding applications (one in the copper circuit and one in the pyrite circuit), two Jameson Cells to improve fine gangue rejection and a bank of 5 + Outotec TC30s to recovery copper and gold from the reground pyrite stream. The equipment was purchased direct from vendors and an engineering firm contracted to design and install the multi-vendor reconfiguration upgrade.CITATION:Seaman, D R, Burns, F, Adamson, B, Seaman, B A and Manton, P, 2012. Telfer processing plant upgrade - The implementation of additional cleaning capacity and the regrinding of copper and pyrite concentrates, in Proceedings 11th AusIMM Mill OperatorsÆ Conference, pp 373-382 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 29, 2012

Supergene nickel sulphide ore mined currently by Agnew Mining Company is at times partially oxidised to sulphate. The resulting soluble nickel, and calcium and magnesium in mill water, are shown to act as depressants in flotation. The depressant effect is favourably selective in that violarite, the main nickel mineral, is less affected than pyrrhotite. Nickel recovery, however, is adversely affected, probably through reduced flotation of complex sulphides. Soda ash consumption is increased markedly by the presence of the cations as shown by operating data and pulp titration tests. A significant increase in concentrate grade, from 9% to 14% Ni, was achieved late in 1981. One of the changes in plant practice which contributed to this improvement was the addition of soda ash to mill feed rather than to flotation feed as before. It is shown by laboratory tests that this reduced the depressant effects of the cations, thereby improving recovery at the expense of rougher selectivity, or equivalently, increasing concentrate grade at constant recovery. The selective depressant effect cannot be exploited until scavenger recovery is improved and a scavenger concentrate regrind-retreat äcircuit is implemented. Development is

Jan 1, 1978

By O Arafat, R E. McIvor, K M. Bartholomew

It is well known in the industry that good classification system performance is vital to efficient ball mill circuit performance. But what is meant by good classification system performance, and how is it achieved? Unfortunately, the perceived complexity of classification systems, and the day-to-day time demands placed on the practicing metallurgist, all too often put the low-hanging fruit of classification system optimisation in the ‘I’ll do it later’ basket. Additionally, lingering confusion about basics such as the relationship between circulating load ratio and ball mill circuit performance makes the optimisation objective seem nebulous to both plant metallurgist and designer.Some of this confusion can be eliminated by taking a step back from the overwhelming detail of sharpness of separation curves, circulating load ratios, cyclone feed pressures, vortex and apex sizes etc, and focusing on the purpose or function of the classification system – to apply mill power to particles that need further size reduction! The classification system efficiency (CSE) metric captures how well the classification system is performing its function with two quick and easy size distribution analyses.Once CSE is understood and implemented as the optimisation criteria, well-tested methods for improving CSE can be implemented and quickly measured at plant scale to give confidence that the right change was made.This paper will describe CSE and how it is measured in practice. Next, a guide for improving CSE through manipulation of design and operating variables in the classification system will be provided. Examples and case studies will illustrate the gains in ball mill circuit efficiency that can be achieved by maximising CSE.CITATION:Bartholomew, K M, McIvor, R E and Arafat, O, 2018. A guide to maximising ball mill circuit classification system efficiency (CSE), for operators and equipment designers, in Proceedings 14th AusIMM Mill Operators' Conference 2018, pp 553–558 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 29, 2018

No paper available.

Jan 1, 1996

By P Hodkiewicz

Recent structural interpretations based on historic stope shapes were used to develop a rapid and innovative method to domain and simulate structurally complex, high-grade gold veins at depth in the Edna May deposit. This involved ‘implicit’ modelling of drill hole data using Leapfrog software, which allows complex wireframe domains to be built and updated rapidly, compared to ‘explicit’ manual wireframing methods that are too subjective and time consuming. Conditional simulation was used for resource estimation, in order to simulate the highly variable gold grades associated with the veins. Similar modelling methods could be used to determine the mining potential of other historic gold deposits that are receiving renewed interest because of the high gold price.Gold at Edna May is hosted in the Edna May Gneiss, which is a WNW-striking tonalitic intrusion along a shear zone that dips approximately 45° towards the NNE. Gold occurs in multiple 0.5 - 5 m thick arcuate quartz veins that plunge steeply towards the west. Two phases of historic underground mining at Edna May (1911 to 1922 and 1935 to 1947) produced 360 000 ounces of gold at an average grade 19.5 g/t from seven ‘reefs’ to a depth of 240 m. This established Edna May as one of the highest grade gold mines in Western Australia at the time.Recent drilling by Catalpa Resources confirmed the potential for down-plunge continuity of high-grade veins. New structural interpretations, based on historic level maps and wireframe re-constructions of the arcuate stope shapes, were used as ‘structural trends’ in Leapfrog to model the mineralisation. The resulting wireframes capture the complex distribution of gold in the deposit and were used as domains for resource estimation.Conditional simulation using the Turning Bands method was used to simulate the expected variability of gold grades associated with this mineralisation style and the median of the 100 realisations was used to report an inferred resource. Results of this modelling method are being used to target vein extensions at depth, to consider different underground mining scenarios, and to assess the risks associated with developing and mining this high-grade and high-nugget gold deposit.

Aug 22, 2011

By P W. Wypych, D Curry, A P. Grima

The market has become highly competitive for engineering and equipment vendors, who are challenged to reduce costs while improving efficiency and productivity of mine operations through plant improvements and expansions. Although conveyor transfer systems account for a small percentage of the infrastructure cost of a mine, they form an integral part of the process supply chain. Malfunctions or suboptimal performance can result in substantial financial cost from delayed start-up, unscheduled downtime, reduced throughput and increased maintenance costs.Discrete element modelling (DEM) is a powerful simulation method used to virtually prototype and test the performance of transfer equipment throughout a design cycle. When developed and applied correctly, DEM can provide insight into performance that exceeds the traditional analytical methods, especially when dealing with complex ore properties, behaviour and/or situations.Using case studies sourced from the authors’ recent research and industrial project work, this paper will address the industry goal to increase efficiency and productivity as well as the methods available to the engineers responsible for delivering designs that meet the aims of this strategic approach.The main focus of the paper will be the new calibration technology, which has been developed by the authors to generate DEM material models that are linked to real-world properties and flow behaviours via unique dynamic testing and innovative parameter calibration methods. These calibrated DEM material models can be deployed by engineers into their existing workflows, whether it be for feasibility studies, concept or final design, plant troubleshooting or optimisation.This new technology allows engineers to gain greater insight than that provided by traditional approaches to the design of transfer chutes and other process equipment and also allows informed design decisions to be made that meet industry efficiency and productivity requirements.CITATION:Grima, A P, Curry, D and Wypych, P W, 2015. New discrete element modelling calibration technology to facilitate the increased efficiency of ore handling and processing operations, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 449–464 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015