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By S Jephcott

The McArthur lead-zinc-silver deposit is of the stratiform type. It consists of a mineralised bituminous shale sequence containing some tuffites, numerous graded beds and isolated slump breccia horizons. The principal sulfides; pyrite, sphalerite and galena, are essentially restricted to the shales and the genetically unrelated turbidites contain only minor mineralisation. The geochemistry of the deposit has been investigated with respect to the stratigraphic column and mineralogy of the sediments. A sedimentary origin is advocated for the deposit. Volcanism, thermal spring activity and high salinities, perhaps related to the Emu Fault, are considered as contributing factors to ore genesis. The metallurgy of this deposit is discussed in relation to its geologic history.

Jan 1, 1971

The 8 ft by 91/2 ft drive which joined No. 7 Shaft with Browne Shaft on the 1,480 ft level was extended from both ends and met at a point approximately 12,000 ft from No. 7 (2,000 ft from Browne).The surveying required for this 2 1/2 mile haulage drive called for greater accuracy than was obtainable from South Mine standard methods. Procedures and devices from published information were tried and modified as required to suit local conditions. Several new methods were applied and improved as the drive advanced. The control of angular, linear and level measurements was perhaps considerably in excess of the requirements, but this was offset by abnormally large discrepancies resulting from shaft plumbing. The accuracy of the final breakthrough, although not to the standard desired, was sufficient to complete the connection without inconvenience and added cost.INTRODUCTIONThe acquisition of the Browne Shaft leases in January 1962 presented the management of Broken Hill South Limited with the problem of transporting ore from these leases to its mill. It was eventually decided that diesel locomotivehaulage through a 2t mile drive on the 1,480 ft level between the two mines was the best solution. The drive was advanced from both ends after Browne Shaft was deepened by 80 ft to reach the 1,480 ft level horizon. Each end advancedabout 15 ft/day with the miners working three 7 hr shifts. Blasting was restricted to the end of the shift.The survey work involved five shaft plumbings and 78 theodolite stations in a traverse, underground and surface,of more than 5 miles. Because of the exceptional length of the drive, an unusually high degree of reliability was required.The aim was for a maximum error at breakthrough of 1 ft 1 in 30,000, and to secure this, precise methods of linear measurement were necessary. Shaft plumbing in particular posed special difficulties.

Jan 1, 1965

The corrosion of aluminosilicate refractories by soda from three different sources has been studied by microscopic methods. Sodium sulphate from oil ash, sodium chloride used in glazing structural clay products, and sodium borate from borax-impregnated wood ash have fundamentally the same effect on the refractories. The soda is the chief medium of reaction and fluxing, the sulphur, chlorine, and boron being volatized as sulphuric, hydrochloric, and boric acids.INTRODUCTIONBecause of their strong fluxing action, alkalis are one of the main causes of corrosion and slagging of refractories.The action of potash and soda on refractories follows somewhat similar lines, although it is common for one alkali to be greatly in excess of the other. The course of the reaction in a number of cases of alkali attack has been studied by microscopic and chemical methods. For example, the action of potash on blast furnace refractories was studied by Kraner (1942) and Rigby and Richardson (1947), who described the occurrence of various potassium aluminium silicates. Its action on cement kiln refractories was described by Brisbane, Segnit, and Weymouth (1957). The action of soda on glass tank refractories has been studied by many people, for example Bisby (1956) and Resch (1954). Clews, Hugill, and Green (1940) made a microscopic examination of the attack by soda on silica bricks from a gas retort.Some recent cases of corrosion of aluminosilicate refractories which were brought to the attention of the Division of Building Research, C.S.I.R.O., illustrate phenomena which occur under conditions different from those...

Jan 1, 1964

Up to the end of World War n, flat-back cut and fill stoping with or without square sets was the universal method of ore extraction. Rapid changes in practice occurred during the post-war years; first, ore extraction was fully mechanized; secondly, the stope design for new levels, notably No. 17 Level Zinc Corporation Ltd. and No. 19 Level New Broken Hill Consolidated Ltd., was modified to suit this mechanization; and thirdly, sub-level and shrinkage stopes were developed in orebodies where cut and fill methods would be uneconomical. The following is a brief survey of the changes that have occurred-most of which were inaugurated during the last five years.ROCK DRILLINGDuring 1951 open stoping was investigated in detail. In order to reduce steel handling problems, forged steel onepass detachable bits were introduced, but were soon superseded by the "Swedish method". Investigation showed that when using a bar and arm mounted 3-in. drifter the overall drilling time was approximately 6 min. per ft. compared with 4 min. per ft. using the light jackhammer-airleg combination with 1-in. hex. by 4-in. collared shank tungsten carbide-tipped steel.Although competitive with tipped steels on a cost per foot drilled basis (excluding miner's time), detachable steel bits proved most unsatisfactory for hard drilling conditions.Rapid blunting necessitated frequent bit changes and thus caused lost drilling time. This, together with rapid gauge...

Jan 1, 1957

Six years ago it was my responsibility to give the presidential address, and now that privilege has come my way again. On that occasion we were gathered atWhyalla and I took the opportunity of putting before members some observations on the problems we then faced in Australia, and some gains we had been able to chalk up during those early postwar years. You may recall that we were then just beginning to emerge from the difficulties of postwar reconstructions - of fuel and power shortages, and a grossly inadequate manpower for the tasks facing us. The expansion of manufacturing industry in Australia greatly stimulated by wartime activities, and by the postwar developments of many institutions - ran ahead of the supporting services and of the supply of labour to do thejobs. For many industries this unfortunate state of affairs had meant operating at rates well below their installed capacities and therefore levels of output insufficient for Australia's rapidly growing needs. When I last spoke to you these problems were still with us, though their intensity was beginning to lessen as a result of vigorous efforts by industry and governments to reduce them. But I must confess that my thoughts on that occasion were full of those problems and of the effect they were having on the iron and steel industry of this country-of the coal shortage, the labour shortage, and the many other difficulties we were then faced with - and all at a time when the stepping up of our postwar expansion programme was of vital concern to all of us.What a different picture it is six years later! How greatly has the scene changed for the better. In 1951 Australia's postwar immigration programme was only in...

Jan 1, 1957

By Beevers J

The Ok Tedi Project is now a high production open-pit porphyry copper mine located in the Star Mountains of Papua New Guinea (PNG). At present, total daily production is 190 000t of ore and waste. Large scale drilling and blasting has only been in operation since 1988, prior to which all material was removed by ripping and dozing. This paper reviews the steps taken over the last 12 months in establishing a more efficient drilling and blasting operation and highlights the significant reduction in powder factor. These improvements have been achieved largely through the introduction of air-bags, controlled pattern expansion and an overall focusing on the operation by involving consultants, ICI's technical service and internal departments.

Jan 1, 1991

This paper describes the new legislative regime that will apply to the regulation of the minerals industry in New Zealand. The reform of New ZealandÆs minerals legislation was initiated in January 1988 when the Minister for the Environment, Rt Hon Geoffrey Palmer, announced the Governments intention to review all the major laws governing New ZealandÆs resources. The Resource Management Bill is scheduled for introduction to the House in December 1989 and its date of enactment is scheduled for June 1990. With some matters still to be determined (at the time of writing), this paper cannot be a definitive review and description of the new legislation, it is instead an attempt to outline the major features of the Bill, to date, that are seen as important to the mining industry.

Jan 1, 1990

By P L. McCarthy

To design and operate a successful mine the technical specialists must agree on what is ore, what is not ore, and how quickly the orebody is to be mined and processed. These seemingly simple questions defy easy analysis and can push mining engineers, geologists, metallurgists and others to the limit of their capabilities. The questions are rarely addressed adequately in feasibility studies or in operational planning. To optimise the mine and processing plant requires proper determination of cut-off grades or values, prediction of feed variability on an hourly, daily or longer basis, right-sizing the mining rate for optimum product quality, understanding the cost of capital and the expectations of investors, and many other considerations that involve geology, geotechnical engineering, mining, metallurgy, environmental effects and economics. This paper addresses the key matters that should be considered as inputs to the practical issues of metallurgical plant design and operation.CITATION:McCarthy, P L, 2015. Integrated mining and metallurgical planning and operation, in Proceedings MetPlant 2015, pp 35–45 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 7, 2015

By Ray H. S, Galgali R. K

It is well accepted that the blast furnace will continue as the main route for iron-making for many more years. However, its limitations have motivated researchers to look for alternative routes, particularly, those where non-coking coal is used for liquid iron production. Smelting reduction (SR), where coal and oxygen are used to produce liquid iron and power is now receiving serious attention. Several smelting reduction reactors are now operating in pilot plant scale and one or two have reached commercial status.

Jan 1, 1999

Typically, large volumes of data are collected during geotechnical investigations for mining projects but rarely is this done in a comprehensive manner that enables all aspects of the geotechnical environment to be evaluated. A geotechnical core logging process has been developed to record mechanical and structural properties of the rock mass. The method enables data for a wide range of rock properties and geotechnically significant major structures to be collected including rock strength, joint surface condition, fracture frequency and fracture orientation. The logging method is unique in that sufficient data is collected to enable the independent determination of all the major rock mass classification systems including rock mass rating (RMR), (Bieniawski 1976, 1989; Laubscher, 1990) Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) tunnelling quality index (Q) (Barton, Lien and Lunde, 1974) and geological strength index (GSI) (Hoek, Kaiser and Bawden, 1995). The logging system has been specifically developed to allow better and more precise appreciation of rock mass and structural conditions across the project area thereby optimising the use and application of the available geotechnical data and improving confidence in the outcomes of geotechnical investigations. This paper describes the core logging process with case examples showing how the logged data can be used for underground and open pit mine design.

Nov 25, 2010

This study explores two evolving 3D surveying technologies, photogrammetry and laser scanning, and applies them to deformation monitoring of rock faces and mine highwalls. A quantitative analysis focused on 3D coordinate determination is performed. Furthermore, a qualitative assessment directed at the practicality and viability of each system operating near a rock face or in a mining operation is undertaken to reveal one systemÆs deficiencies over the other. Two photogrammetric and four laser scanning surveys aimed at optimising accuracy and precision within a short period of data acquisition are conducted on the rock face at Organ Pipes National Park, Keilor, Victoria. The accuracy and repeatability of each survey is determined using a combination of iWitness photogrammetric, and Cyclone laser scanning software. The 3D coordinates of targets placed on the rock face are determined by triangulation and resection principles within a bundle adjustment. The coordinates determined by each system are then compared in a 3D transformation. Controlled deformation conditions are established to determine the precision to which each system can detect movement in the rock face. An object of known dimensions is placed on the rock face to simulate deformation. The relative orientation of images taken for the pre- and post-deformation photogrammetric surveys provide an overall 3D point accuracy of 1.255 mm and 1.804 mm respectively. A 3D transformation shows discrepancies of less than ¦22 mm (RMS) between the geometry of the photogrammetric and laser scanning models. Both systems are able to detect the simulated deformation to a precision of 50 mm. This work also identifies how to obtain millimetre accuracy for 3D coordinate determination of rock faces, thereby providing a quality data set for surveyors, geotechnical engineers and mine geologists. Photogrammetry is shown to be a mobile, time and cost-effective technique that is more amenable to mining operations than terrestrial laser scanning. However, both systems demonstrate that they are capable of detecting movements that may lead to failures in the rock face, and possibly endangering human life. The implications are significant for surveyors, geotechnical engineers and mine geologists working in mining operations where enhanced safety conditions, increased productivity and lower operational costs are important considerations.

Jan 1, 2009

The timber township of Powelltown, Victoria lies N.E. of Yarra Junction, 60 miles east of Melbourne and in the site of the mill of the Victorian Hardwood Company Proprietary Ltd.A lift gauge railway owned by the company connects Yarra Junction on the Warburton line, with the township through two or three smaller mill centres on the way.The company has been operating for some 12 years. In the divide, about four miles from Powelltown, between the Little Yarra and Latrobe rivers, cutting was continued with material being handled by winch and double incline haulage over the divide. A small bush locomotive dealt with the traffic between the divide and the cutting site.In order to reduce costs, which were heavy at the haulage, the company decided to make a continuous railway from Powelltown to the bush by means of a tunnel through the divide.Hand bore holes were put down on the proposed line of tunnel and showed that the divide at this point consisted of decomposed depth of about 100 ft. towards the eastern or Latrobe side - and that the undecomposed granite summit lay to the west of the surface summit.The bores also served to locate the underground water line, this was afterwards found to rise and fall with wet and weather.To avoid tunnelling in hard and heavy water, the grading of the was laid out with the summit of the hard granite the point in the line.

Jan 1, 1925

Exerting the Advantages of National Key Discipline, Outstanding the Training of Engineering Capability, Cultivating Talent to be with Innovation Ability

Sep 13, 2010

By M Pepper, C R. Roche, G M. Mudd

"The Australian mining industries approach to life-of-mine planning has improved considerably in recent decades. It now needs to be matched by, and embedded in, mining governance systems that utilise a comprehensive whole-of-mine-life approach within a jurisdictional, industry and regional regime rather than just focusing on specific impacts in isolation. The need for a more comprehensive approach is supported by the many mining legacies, from historic, recent and some operating mine sites around Australia. There are sites that are leaving enduring environmental, community and public health impacts that are yet to be accurately assessed. While a number of these sites in Australia are estimated to be more than 50 000, this is probably an underestimation, with a lack of data and different state-based approaches complicating attempts to quantify mining legacies as a national issue. Qualitative assessments about the extent and nature of mining legacy impacts on nature and communities across Australia are also required if we are to understand and avoid ongoing and future mining legacies.This paper commences with an exploration of mining legacies as an umbrella term for previously mined, abandoned, orphan, derelict or neglected sites. This is followed by a discussion of the current status of mining legacies as an Australia-wide issue, contrasting the Australian response with overseas examples. Common themes from past workshops are explored recognising that mining legacies are a growing public policy issue and identifying key ingredients for a successful response. Supporting this, and based on national data which re-enforces the need for action, is the changing scale and intensity of mining in Australia that, while lowering costs for mine operators, increases the liability that may eventually fall to the state if mine sites are not rehabilitated effectively. Though a national issue, mining is a state and territory responsibility, so the current approach to mining legacies is then examined state-by-state. Given the widespread application and recent changes to bonds and levies in Western Australia (WA) and the Northern Territory (NT) the merits of both are examined with reference to specific case studies. Despite the current division of responsibility and diversity of approaches, however, mining legacies remain a significant and growing problem with a recognised need and repeated call for cooperation and coordination at a national and international level. Future action is addressed in the final section with reference to liability, responsibility, industry reputation, regulation and leadership.CITATION:Pepper, M, Roche, C R and Mudd, G M, 2014. Mining legacies – understanding life-of-mine across time and space, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 449–466 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 16, 2014

A numerical method for discriminating between replacement and sedimentary processes is applied to a folded stratiform sulphide occurrence. It is shown that numerical treatment of chemical analyses from a single diamond drill hole allowed a rapid assignment of the ore to the syngenetic sedimentary class and thereby enabled a revision of the evaluation program concerned with consequent reduction in costs.

Jan 1, 1973

Local conditions at Hatches Creek are described, together with the mineralogy, mining and treatment of tungsten ores, with particular reference to procedures adopted by Pimer Mines, N.L.The Hatches Creek tungsten field covers an area of about 20 square miles in: Central Australia; 285 miles' N.E. of Alice Springs. Access is by rail to Alice Springs, then by 200 miles of bitumen highway to Barlo Creek and 8,5, miles of bush track to the field. Passengers can also reach the mines by... A semi-desert climate prevails Rain; generally in the form of thunderstorms falls in the summer months: December to March. Average annual rainfall is approximately 15 inches but there is great variation from year to year, occasional droughts being followed by torrential downpours. Vegetation is sparse except in the wide creek beds. Surface water occurs in rock holes some of which, spaced miles apart, carry permanent water...

Jan 1, 1955

By Delahant A. B, Dworski M

From the Saranac Laboratory for the Study of Tuberculosis of the Edward L., Trudeau Foundation, Saranac Lake, New York:We are assembled to honor the memory of our friend and colleague, Donald Cummings, one of the founders and a past president of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. I deem it an Unusual privilege to have been asked to give this first memorial lecture and hope that what shall have to say may be worthy of the occasion. It is fitting that we should discuss here the subject of Silicosis to which he devoted such a large part of his life and it is doubly fitting, I think, that I should report to you an extended series of investigations carried on by his associates at the Saranac Laboratory.The subject of silicosis may seem hackneyed to this audience which is so familiar with the tried and accepted methods of prevention and control.But in spite of our efforts, the condition is still with us and unfortunately is still being produced in many places. In industries that now maintain good control of dust, fresh cases are appearing on annual re-examination, whose major exposure date back to the days before the hazard was recognized.A few new employees, with apparently ineffective upper respiratory protection against inhaled dust, develop silicosis precociously in environments that are comparatively harmless to their fellows. In plants that have relaxed their vigilance under the urgency of war production schedules, conditions again prevail that will produce, disease in the future.Silicosis acquired new interest with the announcement by Denny, Robson and Irwin(1) in 1937 that it could be prevented by the inhalation of powdered metallic aluminium. It so happened that without knowledge of their work, we at the Saranac Laboratory had for some months been conducting similar experiments with one of the hydroxides of aluminium.Quite independently we discovered that hydrated alumina would also protect animals against quartz. Our approach to the problem had been empirical; we were trying to neutralize quartz particles by coating their surfaces with an insoluble material following the lead of Kettle who in 1932 had shown that this could be accomplished with iron. He neglected to describe his method and the chemist who prepared his coated...

Jan 1, 1945

In referring to two subjects of interest to the Members of this Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers, I would at the outset desire to express our gratification that to-day we are able to welcome as now united with ourselves, those members who until recently constituted the New Zealand Institute. It is hoped that the amalgamation so amicably arranged may be productive of the best results to all concerned, incorporated as this combination has been at the moment of the fulfilment of that greater political union, the Australian Commonwealth.Since last Annual Meeting held in Brisbane, we have come under the same roof as the Chamber of Mines of Victoria, and we entertain the hope that as that Chamber and this Institute possess so many interests in common in the encouragement and advancement of mining and metallurgical progress in these colonies, that much mutual benefit will ensue. There are many directions in which each body can assist the other, and I trust that a friendly co-operation will be maintained.It is gratifying to feel that in all the colonies a distinct movement is being made to increase the facilities for education in Mining and Metallurgy but if I may refer to our colony of Victoria in particular, we have to express the profound regret that in the means of education in the higher branches, we occupy an inferior position, and it is quite certain that we will continue to do so unless the Government is prepared to subordinate provincial considerations to the weightier.

Jan 1, 1901

Esso-BHP have installed a production supervisory control system that is presently controlling the offshore oil and gas facilities on the Barracouta and Marlin platforms from an onshore master station. This control is achieved with a computerized master station onshore which uses a UHF radio system for telemetry and control.The system is designed to control, monitor, and gather data from a large number of oil and gas production platforms and has flexibility to handle future variations in operating conditions.The system will be extended to the Halibut platform late in 1970 and to the Kirlgfish platforms during 1971.

Jan 1, 1971

By Met B. E

The increasing pace of modern mining makes constantly greater demands upon the several contributing departments of rock breaking and transport, and rock-drilling, as the spearhead of attack, has received a great deal of attention with respect to both machines and steels. By a series of mechanical improvements, combined with the application of selected heat-treated alloy steels, the rock-drill has now been developed into a machine capable of rapid drilling and long service under severe working conditions. As a factoryproduct made under strict metallurgical control it is as foolproof as, say, the modern automobile, and, like its prototype, it can be kept in efficient operation by a minor amount of attention during use and by periodical adjustments and replacements.The same cannot be said, unfortunately, of the drills with which the machine is supplied; in conventional mine-shop practice these are made of the best tool steel shaped and heat-treated under the poorest of metallurgical conditions.The crudities of steel-shop practice have, in fact, always prevented the full exploitation of the steels available at any time, and even at the present day the general standard of treatment offers a contrast with the quality of the steels which moves the metallurgist to amusement, despondency or outrage, according to his temperament. Nevertheless, the tendency persists to meet the increasing demands of the rock-drill primarily by the use of still better steels, and secondarily by improvement, of the steel-shop practice. Athird type of development is the introduction of factorymade tools in the form of detachable bits and rods. It is proposed in this paper to deal with these three aspects of the recent developments in rock-drilling.*Re-written from a lecturette given during the First Ordinary Meeting, 1936.

Jan 1, 1936