Search Documents

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

The centrifugal elevator invented and patented by the writer is designed for the purpose of conveying the tailings of a gold dredge to such a distance that it shall not impede the dredging opperations. Formerly this was usually accomplished by means of a belt of buckets travelling round a ladder set at an angle of about 30 degrees to the horizontal, but this meant heavy wear and tear on the travelling buckets and the tumblers actuating them. The centrifugal elevator throws the tailings through the air to the required height and distance and it is manifest that during their flight from the elevator to the heap there is absolutely no wear and tear, only the attraction of gravity and the resistance of the air has to be overcome. All then there is left to he considered is how to throw the stuff with the minimun of prower and wear on the elevator.The elevator consists of a cam-shaped steel casting with a disc of mild steel plate on either side: These side plates project a few inches beyond the tips of the beaters, in order to prevent odd stones from straying in an undesired direction; they serve also to prevent extra large stones from reaching the beaters, for they slide off the rims into the water.

Jan 1, 1904

Factors of importance in the ntilization of coal fines are mentioned, and the results of flotation tests on coal fines from three important coal seams in New South Wales are presented.INTRODUCTIONEconomic utilization of fine coal is an important problem in the Australian coal industry, particularly as the proportion of fines mined is increasing with progressive mechanization.While the use of uncleaned coal fines may be economic, it may be preferable to beneficiate them, but the most economic process must be selected.For beneficiating coal finer than about 28 mesh, froth flotation can be applied, but mining engineers should avoid practices that may be detrimental to flotation. Such practices include the indiscriminate use of water, particularly that containing a wetting' agent, for dust suppression. In addition, clay stemming in wet conditions may produce slimes which could adsorb on coal surfaces, while the use of oils and greases as well as the application of stone dust and chlorides in roadway consolidation may influence adversely fine coal beneficiation.This paper deals with the application of flotation to samples of fine coal from the Bulli, Greta, and Victoria Tunnel seams. In addition a discussion is given of the mineralogical constitution, size analysis, and degree of liberation of ash constituents of the various samples.COAL SAMPLESRepresentative samples of coal from the Bulli, Greta, and Victoria Tunnel seams were obtained for testing.

Jan 1, 1961

DESCRIPTION OF OREThe ore consists, in general, of a very finely grained mixture of sphalerite, galena, and pyrite, with a gangue of quartz and schistose material, and contains about one ounce of silver to the unit of lead.Minor minerals are chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, and ruby silver. The amount of gangue within the ore-bodies themselves is usually less than 20% of the weight of the whole. The ore is banded in a way that corresponds to the structure of the original schists, and is by no means uniform in composition-at one point, for example, blende may predominate, and a few feet farther on the body may become highly pyritic.Owing to the intimate association of the mineral constituents of the ore, it is very difficult to separate them from one another.Although this remark applies to ore from all parts of the field, the difficulty is particularly noticeable with Rosebery ore, the minerals of which are more intimately mixed, and are of smaller grain size than are the minerals of the Hercules ore.To effect a reasonably clean separation, it is necessary to grind the ore so that 90% passes a 200-mesh I.M.M. screen. Microscopic examination of the crushed product shows that 85% of the minus 200-mesh material is less than 30 microns in diameter, or, in terms of screen sizing, is minus 400 mesh. Particles under 30 microns are found to consist, of one mineral only, but in particles over this size separation has not always been effected. For instance, it is known that part of the galena and of the pyrite in the zinc concentrate is associated with sphalerite, and that part of the galena in the mill residue is associated with pyrite. There is only slight association between the minerals in the lead concentrate.

Jan 1, 1927

THOUGH the literature on the chamber process is considerable, it mostly refers to European conditions. Owing to the demand for acid for flotation and leaching at the mine, it may be necessary to work the process under other conditions. Consequently, some results obtained during the chlorination days at Mount Morgan, within the Tropic of Capricorn, may be useful for reference when working in a similar climate. Though the chambers must be protected against tropical storms, thorough ventilation should be provided, with plenty of space between the chambers, which are almost invariably crowded together. Not only does the space assist in the cooling of the chambers, but it is very desirable during repairs, when lead andtimber have to be hoisted up. The connecting flues between the chambers, which are fairly efficient mixers and condensers, should be round, supported from above, and with the least possible timber about them. Their position and arrangement deserve careful attention. Lattice work will be sufficient protection for the sides of the chambers, and the roof should be high and well ventilated. The Mount Morgan plant, crowded and not well situated, consisted of seven chambers (four over 50 ft. in length), one Glover tower 7 ft. 2 in sq. x 20 ft. high, one Gay Lussac 9 ft. sq. x 30 ft. higb, also one 5 ft. diam. x 25 ft. high. There was one pipe column 4: ft. sq. x 14 ft. 6 in. high. The chambers were run as one unit, and were much lower than those usually constructed in Europe-less than 15 ft. high. Provided that suitable timber can be obtained, 20 ft. is quite low enough. It should be quite satisfactory to use round poles for the studs, and so admit more air space between studs andlead.

Jan 1, 1920

The mineralisation consists principally of layered pyrite, phalerite and galena, situated conformably within a sequence of tuffaceous, bituminous shales and dolomitic sediments that include slump breccias. The sediments show little evidence of post sedimentary reconstitution. A volcanic-exhalative-sedimentary origin is postulated for the mineralisation. Attention is drawn to the similarity between the McArthur deposit and the lead-zinc-silver orebodies at Mount Isa. The primitive nature of the sulphides is reflected by their adverse metallurgical behaviour, and it seems that the best prospect for milling and flotation benefication may lie in the production of separate zinc and bulk concentrates

Jan 1, 1968

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

THE Taranaki oil-field is situated on the western side of the North Island of New Zealand, at about its widest part, and may be said to be the most compact and fertile part of the Dominion, for, with the exception of the upper half of Mount Egmont and of the ranges adjoining, which absorb 36,000 acres, the whole of the area, minus what is taken up by the rivers and streams is suitable for settlement, and certainly two-thirds is good land. The gross area of the district is 2,417,299 acres. The principle rivers are the Wanganui, Mokau, Waitara, Patea and Waiwakaiho. Mount Egmont, which is 8260 ft. high, used to be called Taranaki, and from it the district takes its name (the Maori meaning of which is "sloping peak ").THE OIL-FIELDThe discription of an oil-field now-a-days usually resolves itself into a mass of figures and statistics, of great interest and value to the engineer and commercial man, but practically indigestible to the general public. It is the realm of the financierand the captain of industry.

Jan 1, 1912

Thallous chloride and cadmium metal were recovered from a thallium-cadmium concentrate by a method suited to the treatment of small batches. Differences in oxide solubility and control of pH were employed to separate the thallium and cadmium. The cadmium metal produced by zinc reduction analysed better than 99.95 per cent Cd and thallous chloride of high purity was precipitated from solution.

Jan 1, 1969

Determination of Flotation Kinetics of Coal Grain Types in a Pilot Scale Jameson Cell using Coal Grain Analysis Method

Sep 13, 2010

The Wongawilli system of mining has been in use for over 30 years and has enabled high production rates and acceptable extraction ratios to be achieved in seams less than 4 m in thickness. A modification of the Wongawilli system has been developed to permit the use of a continuous miner and mobile equipment to extract a coal seam 6 m thick. Following physical and mathematical model studies the new mining method is now undergoing field trials at Collinsville, Queensland. Progress of the field trials to date has achieved 99 per cent extraction of the upper slice by remote control operation of the continuous miner and established the feasibility of installing resin grouted wooden dowels in the coal floor to reinforce the coal septum. The method is explained in the text. Monitoring of the goaf gases as an early indication of spontaneous combustion has been incorporated in the mining cycle by placement of tubes in the goaf as the face retreats and continuous analysis of the goaf gases made at the surface by the National Coal Board tube bundle monitoring system.

Jan 1, 1980

Ilmenite production in Western Australia commenced in 1956. There are now five producers, all in the Bunbury-Capel district, and current total production capacity is about 450,000 t.p.a.The deposits occur near the surface and average between 10 and 50 per cent heavy mineral. About 70-85 per cent of the heavy mineral is ilmenite. Other heavy minerals present include leucoxene, zircon, rutile, monazite, and garnet. The ilmenite contains 52-60 per cent Ti02. and is very low in chromium (0·03-0·04 per cent CrS03)Mining is done by sluicing, drag line excavation, or dredging. Primary concentration of the heavy minerals is achieved by spirals, revolving cones, or Reichert cones. After drying and screening, ilmenite is separated from the heavy mineral concentrate by various types of magnetic separator.Separate leucoxene, zircon, rutile, and monazite concentrates are also produced. Each plant uses a different technique and the processes used include chemical attritioning, screen plate electrostatic separation, high tension rolls, air tables, and dry launders.INTRODUCTIONThe treatment of beach sands in the Bunbury/Capel area for the extraction of ilmenite is a very recent development in the mining industry in Western Australia. Nevertheless, since the commencement of production in 1956, ilmenite has become the sixth most important mineral produced (Table 1).The increasing world recognition of Western Australia as a major producer of ilmenite (Table 2) is due primarily to the low chromic bxide content of the mineral (0' 03-0' 04 per cent Cr203), combined with a medium to high titanium dioxide content (54-60 per cent Ti02), supported by large reserves, a stable government, and close access to good shipping facilities. Ilmenite is. produced from these deposits at low cost which enables the industry to compete on world markets despite high rates for sea freights because of the distance from major markets.

Jan 1, 1965

Perhaps one of the most important conferences or symposia which our Institute has conducted, was the joint Aus. LM.M./AJ.M.E. meeting held in Canberra in May 1978, with the theme International Resource Management (Woodcock, 1978).We were privileged to witness active participation in the meeting by outstanding personalities from the mining and metallurgical industries of Australia and New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom and to hear addresses on subjects of international significance to the mining and metallurgical industries.Our Institute is one concerned with professionalism.The principal objects of The Institute as described by our founders include, "promoting the arts and sciences connected with the economical production of the useful minerals and metals, and the welfare of those in the industries, by meetings for social intercourse, and the reading and discussion of professional papers, and to circulate by means of publications amongst its members and associates, the information thus obtained".Sir Maurice Mawby (1968) said in his Presidential Address to the Institite, "the most important aspect of these objects was the promotion of the arts and sciences of the mining industry".Why is it then, that a large proportion of the papers given at the meeting in Canberra dealt with world wide social aspects of the mining and metallurgical industries, rather than the technology, the arts and sciences of mining and metallurgy as principal factors in international resource management?The answer is quite simple of course, and that is that the social and political factors are the principal factors which create the demand for basic raw materials and in the long term determine the costs and prices of the commodities which our professional abilities are drawn upon to produce.

Jan 1, 1979

Fire suppression systems are now recognised by both NFPA 502 and PIARC as legitimate tools for both life protection and asset protection. The effectiveness of these tools for life protection demands extremely rapid and accurate incident detection coupled with rapid response. This rapid response must be integrated with other emergency systems such as emergency ventilation. The March 2007 fatal Burnley Tunnel incident in Australia graphically illustrates the potential of effectively integrated fixed suppression systems to protect people from harm and save infrastructure from damage. Despite the raft of technology available in that instance to the operator it was the human operatorÆs ability to effectively control the emergency equipment and not the equipment itself which so positively influenced the threat to life and property.

Jan 1, 2008

The relationship between the maceral composition of coal and the strength of the coke produced from that coal has received a great deal of attention in recent years.Studies using two Bulli Seam coals, and blends of Bulli and Wongawilli Seam coals, from the IIIawarra Measures of the Southern Coalfield of New South Wales were carried out.The optimum range of vitrinite was found to lie between 45 per cent and 60 per cent (mineral matter free).Above and below this vitrinite range coke strength deteriorated. Coke strength indices increased with rank, and the optimum vitrinite content increased with an increase in rank. These changes require confirmation as trends by testing a third level of rank. It was noted that vitrinite content decreased with an increase in the specific gravity of separation of the coal.Use of petrographic analyses will increase confidence in choosing coals for coking, provided the coals are well known. Such analyses offer the possibility of greater flexibility in coal purchases and the possibility of producing a marketable blend from coals, which have limited market potential. Critical base coals for blends can be conserved.Significantly more work is required before coal reserves can be utilized to optimum advantage. This work would require extension of the studies discussed in this paper and, in particular, the testing of a wider range of rank.

Jan 1, 1971

A review is presented of developments in mill liners to improve performance in terms of wear, impact, as well as mill grind and throughput. These developments are in response to the growth in size of SAG mills and the use of larger ball loadings and ball sizes in modern SAG milling practice. Shell liner developments include specific mechanical design features such as special bolting, directed metal flow to prolong liner life and a focus on the process aspects of the mills to provide more effective grinding motion with reduced wasteful ball-on-liner impacts. Grate design developments aim to provide high throughput of material, especially in the larger size fractions, while providing good impact and wear life. Curved pulp lifters are designed to ensure, at high mill speeds, complete discharge of coarse solids from the mill.

Jan 1, 1999

Nickel-bearing ores in North-east Dundas have been described by A. McIntosh Reid1 as occurring at the margins of narrow dykes of gabbro, norite, peridodite and pyroxenite, which are intrusive into the Dundas series of slates, quartzites and breccias. They occur chiefly in the neighbourhood of the Five Mile, near Zeehan, as small, narrow ore-bodies which are mostly less than 100 ft. in length.The ores are massive sulphides containing pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and the nickel sulphide, pentlabdite.A less common nickel-bearing mineral, gersdorffite, has been recently found in an adit, which is marked on Reid's geological plan of Dundas as the Hecla mine, 30 chains south of the crossing of the North-east Dundas tramway, over the Great Northern Creek, and at an, elevation of about 350 ft. above the tramway. The occurrence is in a lode traversing the Dundas slates and quartzites, and is situated, according to Reid's plan, about 20 chains beyond the northern extremity of a narrow basic dyke which is continuous for a distance of two miles in a south-westerly direction.The mine eonsists of a prospecting adit following the course of a lode for about 275 ft. in a direction a little west of south. The low values of the lode are indicated by a bulk sample from a shallow winze about 100 ft. from the entrance which is reported by Reid to contain:

Jan 1, 1935

The Martha deposit is an economic giant epithermal gold deposit, with mined and unmined resources of more than 218 000 kg (7 Moz) Au. The Au-Ag, base metal sulphide-bearing quartz lodes in the Martha deposit form an extensive braided pattern within hydrothermally altered andesite wall rock. There are five main quartz lodes: 1.      Martha, 2.      Welcome, 3.      Edward, 4.      Empire, and 5.      Royal.   Information from historic mine plans and reports has been used to determine the depth distribution of economic ore within the Martha deposit. Economic ore (average of 10 g/t Au) in the Martha underground mine was at a maximum width and strike length between a vertical depth of 160 and 350 m. Below this depth the quartz-sulphide lodes continue, but the grade declined to sub-economic grades (< 4g/t Au) at about 575 m depth and economic ore shoots were localised, mainly on the hangingwall side of the lodes. Samples from exploration drill holes indicate that this decrease is associated with a depth zonation from electrum-bearing Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag sulphide ore (average 10 g/t Au) to sub-economic (< 2 g/t Au) electrum-poor Zn-Pb sulphide mineralisation.

Jan 1, 2006

The richer, shallower sapphire deposits of the New England region of New South Wales which have been traditionally mined by the small miner are almost worked out. Larger mining and exploration companies are replacing the small miner and exploring for the primary source of sapphire or lower grade alluvial deposits.   Although in recent years considerable exploration effort has been directed at locating the primary source, commercial exploitation of sapphire is still restricted to the working of alluvial deposits.   If the Australian industry is to compete against Asian and African producers it must use cost effective exploration, mining) processing and marketing methods.

Jan 1, 1990

When Haematite Explorations Pty. Ltd. began prospecting for petroleum in 1960, there was only ill-defined geological evidence on the land bordering Bass Strait to support the belief that petroleum lay trapped in sedimentary formations beneath its shallow waters.A reconnaissance of the area, made in 1961 by the airborne magnetometer method, covered the waters and islands of the Strait and overlapped the Victorian and Tasmanian coasts. The survey indicated the presence of the Bass Basin (which is completely water-covered), assisted in outlining the Otway and Gippsland Basins, and showed that each basin contains sedimentary rocks over 10,000 ft thick. Information on the regional geology and minor volcanic activity was also obtained.Marine seismic surveys carried out from 1962 to 1965 defined these basins more accurately and showed the nature and structure of the thick sedimentary sections.Correlation of the seismic data with onshore wells identified the sediments as Tertiary and Mesozoic. Subdivisions of the former in all basins and the latter in the Otway Basin were made. These Tertiary and Mesozoic rocks are not seriously deformed and they have good prospects of containing petroleum.Possible structural and stratigraphic traps, recognized from the seismic record sections by petroleum geologists, are being tested by offshore drilling which began in 1964.

Jan 1, 1966