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By A. Dell’Era, E. Ciro, C. Lupi

The paper explores the recovery of indium via electrowinning from sulfate baths, focusing on the impact of different cathodic supports (AISI 316L and nickel) on process parameters such as electrolyte composition, current density, and temperature. The study compares productivity, morphology, and structure of indium deposits on both cathodes, finding that nickel cathodes generally yield better results.

Nov 1, 2023

By Dion Weatherley, Raúl Castro, RENE GOMEZ, Pablo Cid

The study examines the impact of different drawbell geometries on hang-ups during ore extraction in underground mining. Using the discrete element method, the research compares three drawbell geometries: drawer, circular, and El Teniente. The findings indicate that the El Teniente geometry experienced more hang-up events, while the circular geometry had fewer.

Sep 1, 2023

By Evelyn Yauri

El presente trabajo tiene como finalidad mostrar porque siguen siendo importantes los convenios de estabilidad como mecanismo para atraer inversiones, generar seguridad jurídica en los inversionistas y promover la actividad minera. Así, a través de estos convenios se permite tener un clima de confianza entre el Estado y el inversionista, lo cual promueve e impulsa el desarrollo de proyectos importantes que generan ingresos para las arcas del Estado y trabajo para los peruanos.

Sep 29, 2023

By Fernando Altamirano Escobar

Una emergencia es todo evento que altera las condiciones normales de tranquilidad del hogar o las condiciones operativas del trabajo. Sin embargo, si no se está preparado para afrontarlo, la emergencia se convierte en una crisis o descontrol. Por ello, el presente texto señala los principios básicos para manejar una situación de emergencia y resolverlo con capacidad, rapidez e intelgencia. Así los procesos para la solución de una emergencia son: Definir el problema y establecer prioridades, organizarse ante la emergencia, tomar medidas rápidas sobre todo si hay riesgo de pérdida de vidas humanas, asignar tareas, pero lo más importante saber a qué personas se debe asignar las tareas, mantener a todo el personal motivado y con un enfoque positivo. Aprovechar las habilidades de la gente, manejar las relaciones públicas, conseguir que la prensa se ponga de nuestra parte y cuando todo haya terminado hacer un balance de la emergencia.

Apr 1, 2017

By Maria Solórzano, Karina Ramirez

Este proyecto busca incrementar la fuerza laboral femenina en la unidad minera El Porvenir, para lo que se analizan tanto factores externos como internos. Para el análisis externo se realizó una evaluación en colegios, con el fin de conocer si hay interés en carreras relacionadas al rubro de la minería por parte de las estudiantes de cuarto y quinto de secundaria de los colegios aledaños. Asimismo, se evaluaron institutos y universidades para identificar la cantidad de mujeres que estudian carreras relacionadas con el rubro. En cuanto al análisis interno, se identificó la perspectiva tanto de las colaboradoras propias como de empresas terceras, así como se analizó el grado de aceptación por parte de los líderes y colaboradores.

Sep 20, 2019

By Manuel Viera

Debido a un evento geomecánico que derrumbó una gran columna de roca en el centro del yacimiento San José, 33 mineros quedaron atrapados durante 69 días a 700 m de profundidad. El presente trabajo describe la metodología aplicada para determinar tanto la selección de la tecnología de perforación más idónea para rescatar con vida a los 33 mineros atrapados como aquella utilizada para determinar la probabilidad de encontrarlos con vida.

Sep 20, 2019

By Jorge Meza Viveros

La vertiginosa carrera de las empresas Minero Metalúrgicas por la supremacía en la producción de cobre a nivel mundial, ha llevado a la reflexión de líderes autorizados en el sector para expresarse a favor o en contra de la instalación de nuevas Fundiciones y Refinerías en el Mundo. En este ensayo desglosaremos estas opiniones y razonamientos a nivel mundial de la ventaja o desventaja de vender los concentrados a China o procesarlos en nuevas fundiciones, además daremos nuestra opinión de como Grupo México, (AMC) tiene un valor excepcional en la cadena productiva de sus operaciones minero Metalúrgicas con la instalación de dos nuevas fundiciones en Sonora México y en Ilo Perú.

Sep 1, 2017

By Elmer Ruiz

Frente al actual escenario en Perú, el autor propone trabajar en el diseño de una nueva estrategia, acorde con la realidad de los trabajadores de la minería a pequeña escala, que permita alcanzar una solución viable e integral. Con el fin de dinamizar el proceso de formalización, el autor considera, entre otras, una serie de propuestas que incluyen: censo nacional, sinceramiento de concesiones inactivas, control de la comercialización, así como la promoción, sistematización y fiscalización de la actividad mediante su definitiva reglamentación.

Jul 30, 2020

By Jorge Ganoza

Hay varios ejemplos recientes de proyectos que no han llegado a los niveles de producción o a los resultados del modelo financiero desarrollado durante el estudio de factibilidad. Las personas responsables de decidir la inversión en los proyectos deben poder percibir los problemas potenciales y los grandes riesgos, cuando hay decisiones mal tomadas en el estudio de factibilidad y en la etapa de construcción inicial. Si bien es cierto que no hay diseño de ingeniería perfecto, los problemas pueden evitarse si —tal como propone este artículo— se siguen las etapas de estudio necesarias, desde la toma de muestras hasta la ejecución e interpretación de los resultados de las pruebas metalúrgicas.

Nov 30, 2018

By Venancio Astucuri

"El presente texto describe las cuatro competencias que debe poseer un ingenierio de minas para un desarrollo sostenible de la minería. Dichas competencias se dividen en personales, académicas, profesionales y de ingeniería. Este grupo de competencias pueden ser usados también para un proceso de autoevaluación, donde cada uno pueda medir sus competencias con el fin de determinar brechas y superarlas, de forma que las empresas puedan plantear requisitos mínimos para sus diferentes posiciones laborales y, finalmente, para que en las instituciones educativas, estos puedan diseñar de forma adecuada sus respectivos planes de estudio."

Feb 1, 2017

By Tom Rutkowski

Los excesivos niveles de selenio son capaces de producir trastornos de desarrollo para la vida acuática. Por tanto, es difícil eliminarlo mediante los métodos convencionales de tratamiento físico/químico en los emplazamientos mineros, tales como plantas de tratamiento de precipitación química. En ese sentido, el presente texto señala el tratamiento biológico del selenio como el método adecuado que permite una descarga mínima de selenio total de 4.1 microgramos por litro (µg) en el efluente minero. Así también se describe el programa, presupuesto y costo del proyecto diseño- construcción.

Aug 1, 2015

By Jhonny Torre, Mario Carpio, Elmer Boulangger, Jesús Fuentes

El INGEMMET, a raíz de la importancia del avance energético y de las innovaciones tecnológicas, propone entre los años 2015 a 2017, realizar estudios en ambientes primarios pegmatiticos-intrusivos y metamórficos tanto en las unidades morfoestructurales de la Cordillera Oriental y Cordillera de la Costa, para definir ocurrencias y futuros depósitos que albergan litio en el Perú. Entre los años 2018 a 2019, INGEMMET, por intermedio del programa de Rocas y Minerales Industriales, de la Dirección de Recursos Minerales y Energéticos (DRME), realizó dos proyectos denominados GE34 A-5: “Prospección regional de Litio en el Sur Peruano” y GE34 A-6:“Prospección regional de Litio en el Centro y Norte del Perú”, para determinar ambientes geológicos favorables en relación a valores anómalos de litio en el Perú

Sep 30, 2022

This short paper outlines the authorÆs views regarding the present ability of the resources industry to manage its mining assets. It represents a personal view û but one founded in fact-based observations of mining companies and of the mining industry in general. It contends that whilst a great deal has been learnt about the management of mines over the last 500 years since the seminal work of Agricola, observations suggest that best practice management is the exception rather than the rule across our industry. Although insights regarding the successful management of mines have become apparent, we still witness unnecessary errors in our industry that lead to the loss of shareholdersÆ funds. By highlighting some aspects of current best practice, particularly in the arena of operations improvement, it is hoped that this short paper contributes a small step along the next 500-year-long learning curve. At a time of key skill shortages in our industry as mineral producers attempt to ramp-up production to capture historically high commodity prices, achieving best practice operations management has seldom been more critical.

Jan 1, 2006

By A Hanna

Quarries around Auckland have reached or are reaching the ends of their lives, which raises issues about rehabilitation. Significant volumes of 'cleanfill' are generated by the City, particularly during phases of urban renewal and development. Emplacement of the fill in quarries removes the problem of fill disposal and provides an opportunity for restoration of the quarry site.There is a compatibility between quarrying and cleanfilling because at quarries:Truck routes are already established Neighbours are accustomed to the effects and appropriate buffer distances have been established Bringing fill into a site attracts aggregate sales and is very efficient. Fill originates from construction sites and ad-hoc excavations and therefore it is not surprising that sampling has shown the quality to be variable. Both Winstone and the Auckland Regional Council have surveyed undisturbed soils in the region to attempt to determine natural background levels of common contaminant substances. Comparison of these levels with delivered fill shows that a high proportion of delivered materials can be regarded as mildly contaminated. Therefore the term 'cleanfill' is, in the Auckland region at least, a misnomer and the term 'managed fill' has been adopted.Historically and presently the only control on quality of 'cleanfill' has been some visual inspection. This leaves the fill operator open to potential liability for creating a contaminated site. Implementation of controls at WinstoneÆs operations has progressed slowly, over some ten years. This is mainly due to the perception that mobility of contaminants within and out of the landfill will be very limited because of the near-neutral pH and abundance of clay minerals in the fill. The methods of control and results of environmental risk assessments at WinstoneÆs Puketutu Island Quarry will be briefly described.

Jan 1, 2002

By S M. Stewart

Industry, especially extractive industry, must now give serious attention to the impact its operations have on the natural environment and on the economic, social, and cultural context within which it operates.   While this obligation is statutorily managed, there has been a recent shift towards a culture of self responsibility. Industry is now talking about earning its ôsocial licence to operateö and the importance of maintaining the ôtriple bottom lineö, thus adding environmental and social performance to the usual financial criteria used to measure organisational performance. The social context within which companies operate has also become more sensitive with industry responding to a growing public expectation that it conduct itself in a way that strives for sustainability by operating and developing in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.   There are glowing accounts of industries engaging and collaborating with the communities within which they are based. In amongst these are also some disasters which result from cultural assumptions, industry created dependencies and the failure to attain community buy-in despite significant investment by the industry involved.   There are also remarkable stories of communities, and action groups within communities, being a significant catalyst for positive change of their natural, cultural and social environment. In amongst these stories there are also accounts of long and drawn out battles; adversarial situations where no one wins; a litany of mistrust, tricks and tactics, with the better resourced party ultimately achieving its primary objectives at the cost of the other (and at the cost of any potential fruitful, mutual relationships).   So what makes the difference in achieving the positive rather than negative outcomes? The answer lies in the way the outcomes are achieved. Building relationships based on good communication, respect for divergent views, mutual understanding, and the development of trust and empathy, makes it possible to identify shared goals and objectives that best meet the needs of all parties.   Research indicates the mining industry is making good progress in developing policy and commitment to community development and engagement but that, ætranslating commitments into improved practices at the site level remains one of the industryÆs toughest challengesÆ. (Australian Government - Community Engagement and Development Handbook October 2006 @ page 49.)   This paper considers the merits of a process of community collaboration and what it has to offer in terms of meeting that challenge.

Jan 1, 2007

By B, T Norgate, S Sanetsis, R Davidson

Global cement production accounts for about five per cent of man-made CO2 emissions (WBCSD, 2002). Such operating practices will increasingly be considered unsustainable, unless significant reductions in environmental impact can be realised by the industry.Slag is a high volume waste product from ironmaking, with about 300 kg of slag being produced per ton of iron. Critically, one ton of slag waste, if used as a replacement feedstock for Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), can prevent around one ton of emitted CO2 since no calcining is required. Slag cement blends can also show superior properties compared to OPC, such as lower heats of hydration and higher late strengths, but more development is needed to overcome their low early strengths. Rapid quenching of molten slag is required to produce æhydraulically-activeÆ binder when reacting with OPC; but water quenching can also require between five to ten tons of water per ton of slag at the plant. æDryÆ granulation (atomisation) is emerging as an alternative technology, the resulting solid product does not require drying, and possibilities exist for recovering heat energy from the hot slag.CSIRO Minerals has well-developed skills and equipment in pilot-scale pyrometallurgical treatment, and granulation of molten slag, including traditional wet, and also dry methods. Techno-economic desktop studies can also be used to help quantify factors such as value-adding of treated waste products, potential reductions in CO2 emissions and carbon credits, reductions in water consumption, and the possible decreased energy costs associated with fine grinding of dry slag granulate.The authors will present preliminary results from slag atomisation/dry granulation testwork (0.5 - 2.5 kg scale) and associated modelling studies, conducted using a æsyntheticÆ and industrial ironmaking slag. Outcomes from a techno-economic study on production of cement utilising wet or dry atomised slag granulate will also be discussed in detail.

Jan 1, 2004

By E R. Ramanaidou, C Tessarolo, M Verrall

Garnierite mineralogy in saprolitic ore of the Goro lateritic nickel deposit, New Caledonia , was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron microprobe (EMP) analyses. These conspicuously, green-coloured phases occur either as submillimetre to centimetresized veins or as æbookletsÆ arranged in, macroscopic (subcentimetre sized), accordionlike structures supported in an undifferentiated matrix of mixed ÿ7+ and ÿ10+ phases. Within the veins, nickel for Mg solid solution increased from ten wt per cent NiO at the edge to 34 wt per cent NiO at the core, with vein edges comprising Ni-kerolite with <1.5 Ni per formula unit (pfu) grading to pimelite containing >1.5 Ni pfu at vein cores. The æbookletsÆ comprised nTpouite of formula, (Mg0.67Ni1.59Fe3+0.05)(Si2.17Al0.22)O5(OH)4 and averaged 30 per cent NiO. SEM element mapping highlighted the distribution and mineralogical association of Ni and Mg and emphasised the inverse relationship between Ni and Mg at the macroscopic (thin-section) scale. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By K Baskaran, T McKenzie

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the mining and mineral processing industries and must incorporate the associated waste products. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one such by-product and is one of the most serious environmental problems facing the minerals industry today. The oxidation of sulphidic mine wastes often continues for a substantial period of time after mine closure, resulting in difficult and costly remediation and rehabilitation works. Mining companies are often reluctant to spend increasing amounts of money on waste treatment when the mine life is limited or even finished. Hence a simple, low maintenance and low-cost method of treating AMD is required. Whilst this paper does not address the issue of AMD, it does propose methods for removal of individual species from AMD with potential benefits, including raising AMD pH. A novel concept of using biosolids as a biological adsorbent, or æbiosorbentÆ, of metals from AMD is being investigated at a laboratory/pilot scale level. Biosolids are a by-product resulting from the biological treatment of wastewater, and have been previously shown to adsorb metals from aqueous solutions. This could lead to an environmentally sustainable or ægreenÆ method for treating both AMD discharges and disposing/reusing the biosolids. The result of a laboratory-scale study of the biosorption of Zn(II) is presented in this paper. Physical parameters including reaction kinetics, mixing speed and solution pH were investigated. Solution pH also rose an average of 2 pH units over the 24 hour equilibrium time û a valuable side effect when treating acid mine drainage. The outcome of the study highlights the usefulness of biosolids as a biosorbent for the removal/recovery of metal ions from acid mine drainage. A simple, low-cost treatment technology requiring low maintenance would be beneficial to the mining industry to address some issues relating to AMD and would help integrate environmental and economic considerations into sustainable environmental management.

Jan 1, 2002

By M J. Kelleher

CREAM is an acronym for coal recovery, evaluation, analysis and management and is a business improvement project at BMAÆs Goonyella Riverside mine that is focussed on maximising coal recovered. In August 2003, Goonyella Riverside was set a challenge to quantify coal loss and dilution and their relationship to cost, revenue and ultimately profit. While the mine was confident in its site forecasts of recovery (and loss), it was clear that the traditional measurement and analysis systems were inadequate to firstly, identify key loss areas and mechanisms and secondly, successfully quantify the benefit of various coal recovery initiatives. The path that BMA Goonyella Riverside has travelled to maximise coal recovered can be divided into four key steps: Mapping the process û This step involved the development of a coal flow process map for Goonyella Riverside that stepped through each component of the process from the coal reserve to the customer and identified key measurement points for the purposes of reconciliation. Understanding coal loss and identifying opportunities û This step involved conducting two detailed Reserve to Customer projects at the mine site to track a block of coal from the reserve to the customer and to gain a greater understanding of the relationship of dilution, coal loss mechanisms, revenue and costs associated with recovering additional coal. Coal data systems development û Two important coal data systems have been developed and implemented at Goonyella Riverside in the past twelve months, namely SnowdenÆs Coal Reconcilor and SeamFix. These systems enable coal losses and dilution to be quantified and reconciled back to the initial coal reserve. Implementation of loss reduction initiatives û This step involved the formation of a business improvement project referred to as æCREAMÆ in August 2004, for the purposes of improving pit coal recovery and maximising business value. To date a series of coal recovery trials have been run in a number of pits at Goonyella Riverside that have yielded significant improvements in business value. The key to the success of this project has been the discipline to follow a defined process map, management commitment through resourcing and shared key performance indicators, a successful acceptance strategy resulting in holistic ownership and the implementation of sustainable reconciliation systems. Coal loss and dilution are now quantifiable and their relationship to cost, revenue and ultimately profit is well understood. This paper discusses the process that Goonyella Riverside has adopted to maximise coal recovered.

Jan 1, 2005

By J Battista, J Grace, I Brunton

The need to better understand and develop strategies to improve instantaneous shovel productivity at the Cadia Hill Open Pit Mine (CHM) instigated the development of the æShot to ShovelÆ project. This project has involved the implementation of a drill and blast (D&B) information management system to capture current and future experience. Equally important has been the manual monitoring of shovel productivity and direct use and analysis of high precision GPS and productivity data logged by ModularÆs Dispatch System. The analysis of this type of data was facilitated with the application of GIS based software (ie MapInfo). This has shown to be a powerful medium to display, interpret and assess this type of spatial information on a blast-by-blast basis. Cadia HillÆs well-defined D&B processes supplemented with the application of the above systems are providing a unique capability to assess and better understand the impact of both muckpile conditions and operator proficiency on instantaneous loading productivity. This is facilitating the definition of appropriate optimisation strategies in both drilling and blasting and operator proficiency training. This paper gives a summary of the work conducted in the æShot to ShovelÆ project, describes the engineering tools being implemented and discusses preliminary findings and their practical implications.

Jan 1, 2004