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BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, or BMA, is AustraliaÆs largest coal miner and exporter, and is currently responsible for around a quarter of AustraliaÆs total annual coal exports. BMA and its predecessors have been part of the Queensland mining scene for around 40 years, developing world-class mines, a port, overseas markets, and an international reputation for quality and reliability. From its production base in QueenslandÆs Bowen Basin, BMA produces a broad suite of coals which are supplied to 73 customers in 24 countries. BMA was formed in June 2001 as a partnership between BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd, under which the two companies share equal ownership and management of eight Central Queensland coal mines û Goonyella Riverside, Broadmeadow, Peak Downs, Saraji, Norwich Park, Gregory, Crinum and Blackwater û and the Hay Point coal export terminal near Mackay. This case study focuses on Peak Downs Mine, which was the second largest open cut mining operation to be developed in the northern Bowen Basin for the original CQCA Joint Venture. The first coal was mined in April 1972 and today, Peak Downs has a production capacity of over nine million tonnes of coking coal per annum. The mine is located 30 km south of Moranbah and 195 km south west of the Hay Point port facilities. Coal is mined by open cut mining methods using six draglines and two truck/shovel stripping fleets for overburden removal. Coal seams are mined using excavators and front-end loaders and 210 tonne capacity coal haulers.

Jan 1, 2007

By S. Espley, T. Nyabeze, D. Beneteau

"Many mentorship programs are available to Canadian mining industry employees. Some are company-led initiatives, whereas others are provided through educational institutions or nonprofit organizations. In 2016, a national survey was launched to gain insight into perceptions of what mentorship is, learn about available programs, and collate experiences with formal and informal mentorship opportunities. This paper outlines survey findings and delivers recommendations to industry for consideration in employee mentorship programs. In addition, mining industry leaders share their mentor/mentee perspectives. The intent of this paper is to bring awareness of best practices that can help employees grow and develop in their profession.RÉSUMÉ Les employés de l’industrie minière canadienne ont accès à de nombreux programmes d’encadrement. Certains sont des initiatives menées par les sociétés, d’autres sont proposées par le biais d’établissements d’enseignement ou d’organismes à but non lucratif. En 2016, une enquête à l’échelle nationale a été lancée en vue d’obtenir des informations quant à la perception de ce qu’est réellement l’encadrement, de découvrir les programmes proposés et de comparer les expériences aux possibilités d’encadrement, officielles ou non. Cet article présente les résultats de cette enquête et fournit des recommandations à l’intention de l’industrie afin qu’elle les prenne en compte dans ses programmes d’encadrement des employés. En outre, des chefs de file de l’industrie minière partagent leurs points de vue conseillers/protégés. L’intention de cet article est de sensibiliser les employés aux meilleures pratiques, ce qui les aidera à évoluer et à se développer dans leur profession. INTRODUCTIONThis paper about mentorship in the mining industry is based on voluntary responses to a cold survey, written and circulated by the authors. In 2016, a link to an online mentorship survey was circulated to males and females in the mining industry with the belief that mentorship programs should be available to everyone. The link was delivered via the authors’ personal networks in mining, the CIM Reporter, Women in Mining (WIM) email blasts, LinkedIn, and Facebook. This paper summarizes the answers to the survey questions. The paper is a follow up to one by the same authors (Nyabeze, Espley, & Beneteau, 2010), which was written to gain insight into why women join and stay in the mining industry, and to learn why the overall representation of women is low."

Jan 1, 2018

By Jeanie Wills, Theresa Nyabeze, Samantha Espley, Donna Beneteau

This presentation reports survey findings that aim to modernize the definition and understanding of the term 'mining.' The survey, conducted via LinkedIn in Winter 2024, garnered responses from a diverse group of individuals, including current or former employees of mining or exploration companies, mining consulting firms, service providers, supplier firms, as well as students and retirees with industry experience. The data, ethically approved by the University of Saskatchewan, offers valuable insights into satisfaction levels within the mining sector and suggests an expansion of the identifying characteristics of definitions of mining. This marks the third CIM gaining insights paper by Beneteau, Espley, and Nyabeze, following previous works on 'Career Satisfaction for Women in Mining' (2010) and 'Mentorship Initiatives in the Canadian Mining Industry' (2018*)."

Oct 1, 2024

By T. Nyabeze

This paper presents the experiences and views of women involved in the mining industry as determined from a questionnaire that was circulated across the Canadian mining industry. Globally, there have been significant studies done to understand the historic and global variety of women?s participation in this industry1. The reason for focusing on women?s experiences here in Canada is because women?s percentage representation at 14.4% in the mineral industry workforce falls below the overall labour force average of 47.4%2. Notably, a recent article in the Globe and Mail newspaper points out that adequate representation of women in leading of organizations is more of a matter of competitiveness and innovation rather than purely a ?women?s issue?3. This paper will provide some insight into the reasons why women join and stay in the mining industry and shed some light into the reasons for the overall low representation in this sector. The authors believe, as stated in a study from the London Business School, that a gender-balanced workforce is one way of providing the best results in areas that drive innovation4. Women represent a key stakeholder group that can help enhance the mining industry?s sustainability through innovation. The women who responded to the questionnaire represent many different areas within the mining industry, including a broad range of roles in industry, government, academia and in the supplies and services sector. The paper is intended to raise awareness about issues that women encounter that contribute or detract from career satisfaction in the mining industry. The survey provides an overall understanding of why women pursue or work in mining, and why women either remain or choose to leave it. The advantages and disadvantages experienced by women are highlighted, along with a summary of the possible initiatives that could be undertaken by employers as opportunities to improve the attraction of the mining industry for career minded women. As well, the survey provides a summary of the top ten features that are already in place at various organizations and community groups that have been identified as key for supporting and encouraging women to join and remain in the industry. Not surprisingly, the survey identifies that one of the key ingredients for retention of women in mining is the provision of mentors and sponsors. Another key aspect for retention is the provision of progressive employment policies that address the need for a degree of flexibility in work hours and a culture of balance between work and personal life demands. The survey and results are portrayed only from a female perspective since it is largely women?s perceptions that will inevitably be transmitted to others who plan on entering the field.

Oct 1, 2010

By Dougla McDonald, Richard Poulin

"Most mine managers in Canada today will agree that one of the keys to mining efficiency and productivity is their human resources. A5 a result, many mines develop some sort of incentive designed to tap their employees' capabilities to the fullest extent. Historically, the most common plans used have been ""piece-rate"" plans, where individual or small groups of miners are paid a financial bonus based on some measure of their productivity. Recently, however, incentive plans that take a more team-based approach have been developed in some Canadian mines. One such plan will be defined in this paper, and its popularity in the industry today discussed.Gainsharing PlansThere are two primary components to a gainsharing plan. The first is a cash incentive, which is paid to all employees and based on factors that are highly correlated with employee productivity, and key to the profitability of the mine. For example, the typical gainsharing cash incentive is based on the cost/unit of metal produced. Management (in consultation with employees in some cases) will establish the budgeted cost per tonne, and any savings in this amount is shared between the company and the employees. The second is a management philosophy and associated communication network, which is designed to foster an environment that encourages information exchanges, communication, participation, and trust between employees and management. The typical gainsharing communication network consists of two tiers of committees. The first, operational committees, include all employees working in the same department or departments which frequently interact. The employees meet monthly with management personnel to discuss problems encountered and brainstorm for solutions. In most cases, these committees will nominate a person in the group to structure the meeting to maximize its efficiency. The second, the screening committee, is a single group consisting of representatives from the various operational groups, whose primary job is to ensure that the plan is effective, and the objectives and results generated by the plan remain consistent with the mine objectives. In short, gainsharing plans tell employees that their bonus depends upon performance and then gives them the opportunity and incentive to affect that performance. The opportunity is provided by a communication network and positive management practices, and the incentive comes in the form of ""intrinsic"" rewards of participation and the ""extrinsic"" rewards of the bonus payments. Figure I will clarify the relationship between the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards."

Jan 1, 1995

By W. L. Zeigler

THE Galena mill of the Callahan Zinc-Lead Co. is of 150 tons daily [ ] capacity and is situated at Lake Gulch, 2 miles west of Wallace, Idaho. (Fig. 1. It was constructed during the summer of 1926, work having been started late in June and the plant placed in operation Oct. 15, following.

Jan 1, 1928

By W. L. Zeigler

The mill is a departure from gravity concentration and has gained a reputation for the low initial cost of erection, extreme simplicity and the low cost of milling on the refractory character of the ore which is treated. The structure is of heavy timbers with board walls and corrugated roofing. The floors are concrete and the general layout is of the ground floor only. All the machines are driven by individual motors and the transmission usually found in such a plant is entirely absent. (Fig. 2.) ORE The ore from the Galena mine is sheared Wallace quartzite replaced with quartz, siderite, pyrite, sphalerite, gray copper (tetrahedrite) and very fine-grained argentiferous galena. Much of the silver is undoubtedly associated with the gray copper, the amount, however, apparently varies with different localities in the vein. An average assay of the ore is 6.0 per cent. lead, 1.3 per cent. zinc, 0.3 per cent. copper, 17.5 per cent. iron and 4.5 oz. silver. The concentrates produced are of an average 53 per cent. lead, 40 oz. silver, 8 per cent. zinc and 11 per cent. iron, while the tailings are 0.5 per cent. lead, 0.4 oz. silver. With the present market for zinc no attempt is made to produce a zinc concentrate.

Jan 1, 1927

By Johnson N. W

After an unsuccessful transfer from the laboratory to the pilot plant of galena flotation technology which used sodium metabisulphite and ethyl xanthate, laboratory flotation tests were conducted to identify any unusual variables which had a deleterious effect on the position of the lead rougher grade recovery curve for Hilton and Mount Isa silver-lead-zinc ores. Two variables (pulp temperature and contact time for ethyl xanthate and sodium metabisulphite) had important deleterious effects.The findings allowed a successful transfer of the laboratory process to a pilot plant scale process. The effect of temperature was important because the higher temperature (40°C) in the pilot plant pulp increased significantly the rate of reaction between ethyl xanthate and sodium metabisulphite. In the laboratory process at 20 to 25°C, the reaction rate was lower and did not interfere significantly with the process. The contact time for the two reagents was also important in the pilot plant scale process because of the higher reaction rate at 40°C.To employ ethyl xanthate in the pilot plant process, special precautions were required. Further, a collector (Aerofloat 241) from the dithiophosphate family was used successfully in the pilot plant process.

Jan 1, 1988

By S. Norman Kesten

The Galena mine is located astride the Polaris fault in the Coeur d'Alene district of northern Idaho. The surface installations are about a mile up Lake Gulch, the mouth of which is about 2.4 km (1 112 miles) west of the old town of Wallace. The mine had its beginnings when the first claims were located in the early boom days of the district in the 1880s and when the first underground ore bodies were opened up in 1917. During the ensuing 14 years, ore was mined from which were recovered 5.4 Mkg (12 million lb) of lead and almost 14.2 Mg (112 million oz) of silver. Workings consisted principally of a vertical shaft from surface to the 800 level and an offset underground shaft to the 1600 level, together with extensive lateral openings. High-grade silver-copper ore was discovered near the Silver Standard fault in the Sunshine mine, a few miles to the west, on the 1700 level in 1930. By 1937, the Sunshine and adjacent mines were producing silver-copper ore on a regular basis. In 1943 additional ore of a similar type was found along the Chester fault, to the east of the principal Sunshine workings. The interest of American Smelting and Refining Co. (renamed ASARCO in 1975) was aroused and the company's geologists determined that the Galena mine, idle since 1931, provided a geological environment in which similar ore might be found. After negotiations were initiated with the owners of the property, Callahan Zinc-Lead Co., the property in question was deeded to Callahan's wholly owned subsidiary, Vulcan Silver-Lead.

Jan 1, 1990

By J. W. Breen

ASARCO Incorporated has upgraded or is in the process of upgrading the Galena mine electrical, pumping, refrigeration, compressed air, ventilation, hoisting and rockburst monitoring systems to allow continued mining and development work on the 1 589-m (5,200-ft.) level and to provide services for projected deeper mining and development. Additionally, a separate lead-silver milling circuit has been added to the silver-copper mill to process lead-silver ore reserves. This paper describes completed and planned improvements made to date on these systems.

Jan 1, 1991

By E. J. Haug, K. L. Clifford, K. L. Purdy

St. Joe Minerals Corp.'s Southeast Missouri Mining and Milling Division produces lead, zinc and copper sulfide concentrates at three of its operations. The Viburnum and Fletcher mills have been described in previous papers. The new Bushy Creek mill, dedicated in May of 1973, is an updated version of the Fletcher mill incorporating 8.5 m3 (300 cu ft) lead and zinc

Jan 2, 1979

By E. J. Haug, K. L. Clifford, K. L. Purdy

St. Joe’s Minerals Corp.’s Southeast Missouri Mining and Milling Division produces lead, zinc and copper sulfide concentrates at three of its operations. The Viburnum and Fletcher mills have been described in previous papers. The new Bushy Creek mill, dedicated in May of 1973, is an updated version of the Fletcher mill incorporating 8.5m3 (300 cu ft) lead and zinc

Jan 1, 1980

By John L. Hostetler

GALFAN, the Zn-5% Al-mischmetal hot-dip galvanizing alloy is coated onto steel sheet, wire, and tube using high-speed continuous galvanizing lines. Factors critical to producing high quality GALFAN are reviewed, The relationship between minimum mischmetal content in the GALFAN alloy and furnace dewpoint will be described. The relationship between peak annealing temperature and furnace dewpoint will also be shown. Typical suategies for operating multi-purpose hot-dip galvanizing lines including GALFAN will be described. A recent development has allowed preparation of steel smp for GALFAN coating using aqueous fluxes rather than high temperature annealing. This allows production of GALFAN-coated smp without over-ageing of the steel, and allows high steel strengths and hardnesses to be obtained. The principles of this process will be described.

Jan 1, 1992

By Richard F. Lynch, Frank E. Goodwin

"The development of Galfan, a new generation 95% zinc-5% aluminum-mischmetal alloy coating for steel, offers opportunities for greater fabrication flexibility and upgraded corrosion performance in automotive applications. The formability of Galfan is equivalent to that of electrogalvanized steel, based on laboratory tests and automotive component fabrication. Corrosion resistance of Galfan exceeds that of hot dip and electrogalvanized, including performance in automotive industry tests. Automotive production applications for deep drawn and stamped components in France and Germany are based on the ability to meet dual performance requirements for upgraded formability and corrosion resistance. The first U.S. Galfan application was on 1985 model Ford cars and light trucks for transmission oil cooler lines which has now expanded into a number of power steering tubing uses. IntroductionContinuing requirements for improved vehicle performance coupled with the ever present need for reduced cost have spawned the development of a number of new coated steel products. Among this new generation of coated steels is Gaifan™, a 95070 zinc-Solo aluminum-mischmetal hot dip alloy coating. Galfan exhibits particular promise for automotive use based on broad fabrication advantages and upgraded product performance(I ),The unique characteristic of Galfan is the key combination of greatly improved formability with much longer corrosion life. Galfan provides significantly better formability than any other hot dip coating. Testing shows that formability is limited primarily by the steel substrate to which the Galfan coating is applied. Galfan exhibits excellent resistance to flaking and microcracking during commercial forming operations. The result is the elimination of unnoticed damage to the coating which would show up later as premature rusting on the finished product."

Jan 1, 1987

Gallery Stoping, an old but little used stoping method, has been reintroduced to workings at the Paringa South Shaft.Orebodies which are amenable to such a method are being mined in this manner with considerable advantages and savings.The advantages of gallery stoping as used at Paringa, compared with traditional mining methods are:1. constant cash flow2. low set up cost and initial stope development3. nearly 1005 recovery 4. no access problems 5. quicker tonnagesAs compared with highly mechanized mining methods, it has been found to be slower but requires less development, gives improved grade control, has less impact on the surrounding rock and fragmentation is much better, reducing secondary blasting costs.This paper examines the mining method and illustrates the advantages of gallery stoping at Paringa.

Jan 1, 1985

By Mario Aiezza

This paper outlines the results of a relationship developed during the design and construction of the foundations for the Gallery Towers project in Melbourne. Both the builder and the piling contractor were determined to arrive at a satisfactory foundation solution to the problems encountered at the site. The scope of piling work was to provide load-bearing piles under the building columns, some of which were located within a retention system that also required a piling solution. Geological conditions were variable and challenging. The site area was small and located adjacent to the National Arts Centre in the developed Southbank area, a high density office area. This presented logistical problems in limiting construction traffic on site and also demanding minimal noise and vibration emanating from piling activities. The piling contractor, Vibro-Pile, and the builder, Walter Construction Group, faced the challenges presented with a refreshing cooperative attitude that was beneficial to both companies. Commercial issues rising from design and construction problems were first put apart in order to allow the respective technical department of each company to work with minimum constraints to achieve the most cost effective solution. In the process usual adversarial attitudes resulting in loss of time and money was avoided. A number of issues were addressed successfully at minimum cost and time during this contract. Despite the difficulties encountered, the job was completed on time and with negligible claims for extras, resulting in the development of a strong mutual respect between both companies.

Jan 1, 2002

By J. C. Judd

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines investigated solvent extraction methods for recovering gallium from filtrates produced from sulfuric acid leaching of hydrometallurgical zinc residues. These filtrates typically had pH values of 0 to 0.5, too high an acid content for effective gallium recovery by traditional extractants. Of the nine extractants studied in batch tests, 0.3M octyl phenyl acid phosphate (OPAP) in a kerosene diluent was the most effective extractant for gallium recovery, extracting up to 99.9 pct of the gallium. This high extraction was possible when the iron in solution was maintained in the reduced ferrous state. Batch tests also showed that a 1.5M-H2SO4 strip liquor recovered 98 pct of the gallium from the loaded OPAP. A continuous solvent extraction system was designed and operated based on McCabe-Thiele analyses of equilibrium loading and stripping isotherms. When 12 L of leach filtrate containing 0.32 giL Ga and 20 giL Fe were pumped through the system in 32 hr, results showed that 95 pct of the gallium was extracted in four stages at an A:O ratio of 1:1. Stripping the loaded solvent with a 1.5M-H2S04 liquor recovered 94 pct of the gallium in four stages at an A:O ratio of 1:4. A two-stage, 50-pct-phosphoric acid strip successfully removed ferric iron from the OPAP, allowing high gallium extractions to be maintained.

Jan 1, 1990

By R. P. Aldis

A wide range of mineral-derived products are required by the electronics industry for it to function. In one form or another, almost all the known elements have been experimented with and tested for various electrical applications. The two major areas for which minerals are used in electronics are as conductors and semiconductors. Conductors provide the means to transport and distribute electricity, while the main application of semiconductors has been to manipulate electricity. Silicon is the most widely recognized semiconductor material, but gallium, indium, and germanium are rated as the most important metals to the semiconductor industry for future and near future technologies.

Jan 1, 1991

By P. Mikhailik

Recently, characterized by fast development high- and nano-technology, demand for rare and trace metals has increased. One of such metals is gallium. Gallium compounds, mainly GaAs, are used in medicine, to manufacture optoelectronic devices, microwave techniques, devices of solar power and infrared optics, etc. The basic gallium industrial deposits are known only on land. There are bauxites (50 ppm), nepheline rocks and ores (36-38 ppm, minerals concentrators are nepheline and sodalite), Zn-Pb-Cu ores (5000-12000 ppm, minerals concentrators are gallite, germanite, sphalerite, bornite), sulphide-polymetallic and Pb-Zn ores (10-32 ppm, minerals concentrators sphalerite, chalcopyrite) (Vershkovskya et al., 1998). High concentration of gallium are observed in hydrothermal massive sulphides of a Mid-Okinawa Trough (The South Chinese Sea) and Sujo seamount (The Philippine Sea) (Noguchi et al., 2007). As it is known, deep-sea massive sulphides and associated Fe-Mn crusts are products of hydrothermal fluid discharge. High-temperature massive sulphides precipitation are the first, and low-temperature Fe-Mn crusts deposition is the last process of hydrothermal mineralization (Cronan, 1982). Hydrogenic crusts and nodules of the World ocean are characterized by low concentration of Ga, close to clarke (19 ppm) (Kobaltbogatye.., 2002). Hydrogenic crusts from the Sea of Okhotsk are exception, because Ga concentrations are exceeded clarke in 3,5 times (Mikhailik, et al., 2009). Complex studying of Fe-Mn crusts from deep-sea basins volcanic seamounts of the Sea of Japan has shown their hydrothermal-sedimentary genesis (Mikhailik, 2009). High gallium concentration (up to 850 ppm) was established in these crusts by ICP-MS (Agilent 7500C). Microprobe research (JXA-8100) of samples Fe-Mn crusts has not revealed the gallium minerals concentrators. It suggests that, gallium in Fe-Mn crusts of the Sea of Japan is sorb substance.

Jan 1, 2010

By P. Mikhailik

Recently, characterized by fast development high- and nano-technology, demand for rare and trace metals has increased. One of such metals is gallium. Gallium compounds, mainly GaAs, are used in medicine, to manufacture optoelectronic devices, microwave techniques, devices of solar power and infrared optics, etc. The basic gallium industrial deposits are known only on land. There are bauxites (50 ppm), nepheline rocks and ores (36-38 ppm, minerals concentrators are nepheline and sodalite), Zn-Pb-Cu ores (5000-12000 ppm, minerals concentrators are gallite, germanite, sphalerite, bornite), sulphide-polymetallic and Pb-Zn ores (10-32 ppm, minerals concentrators sphalerite, chalcopyrite) (Vershkovskya et al., 1998). High concentration of gallium are observed in hydrothermal massive sulphides of a Mid-Okinawa Trough (The South Chinese Sea) and Sujo seamount (The Philippine Sea) (Noguchi et al., 2007). As it is known, deep-sea massive sulphides and associated Fe-Mn crusts are products of hydrothermal fluid discharge. High-temperature massive sulphides precipitation are the first, and low-temperature Fe-Mn crusts deposition is the last process of hydrothermal mineralization (Cronan, 1982). Hydrogenic crusts and nodules of the World ocean are characterized by low concentration of Ga, close to clarke (19 ppm) (Kobaltbogatye.., 2002). Hydrogenic crusts from the Sea of Okhotsk are exception, because Ga concentrations are exceeded clarke in 3,5 times (Mikhailik, et al., 2009). Complex studying of Fe-Mn crusts from deep-sea basins volcanic seamounts of the Sea of Japan has shown their hydrothermal-sedimentary genesis (Mikhailik, 2009). High gallium concentration (up to 850 ppm) was established in these crusts by ICP-MS (Agilent 7500C). Microprobe research (JXA-8100) of samples Fe-Mn crusts has not revealed the gallium minerals concentrators. It suggests that, gallium in Fe-Mn crusts of the Sea of Japan is sorb substance.

Jan 1, 2010