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By N McKay, J Vann, W Ware, P Hodkiewicz, C Morley

"Geometallurgy is now recognised within the mining industry as an approach that can both maximise value and reduce the risks associated with resource development. The process of spatial ore variability testing for metallurgical response and the use of quick, inexpensive metallurgical proxies has been well developed in the past decade in industry and the literature, and via various collaborative research programs and laboratories. Technology continues to advance with new techniques such as hand-held analytical tools and automated hyperspectral core scanning, allowing for even faster, less expensive in situ geometallurgical testing.In the current mining industry downturn, a critical frontier of geometallurgy is in its application in short-term geological modelling (ore control) and mine planning, and the associated decision-making. This is the end game at which the hard-won knowledge of orebody variability can be exploited to add near-term value. In order for spatial block models to be fit-for-purpose for such tactical uses, they must be populated with key geometallurgical information and then have workflows that use this richer model as a basis of material allocation to destinations so that the true value of the resource is realised.We envision geometallurgy (geomet) programs designed to add and sustain value at two levels:‘Strategic geomet’ has a long-term strategic focus that actively uses all relevant data that helps predict processing performance such as bench-scale metallurgical tests, mineralogy, geochemistry, ore texture etc (‘the geometallurgical database’) to model spatial ore variability and metallurgical response throughout the life-of-mine (LOM). This will enable better resource definition, more optimal mine planning and scheduling, improved process design and sustaining capital strategy over the LOM. The value-realisation is gained by basing all these strategic decisions on spatial models that better reflect the actual value of blocks (or aggregates of blocks) in the model.‘Tactical geomet’ has a short- to medium-term tactical focus that, again, actively uses the geometallurgical database, but also includes new data derived during ore control activities (such as drilling and sampling) to inform allocation-to-destination decisions via the ore control process. This will enable improved efficiency (ie less error) in allocation of mining blocks as direct feed, stockpile or waste. Importantly, this efficiency will be measured in terms of value and not grade, which is an incomplete – and typically biased – proxy for value. The key benefit is that ore control will then be planned and executed on the basis of realised value.We therefore propose a twofold systematic and holistic, value-based geometallurgical process. This process needs to be planned and implemented in an integrated manner, noting that strategic and tactical geometallurgy can be worked on by the same professionals, sharing data, methodologies and potentially models. What differs between the two levels is the required granularity, the business context and (critically) the decision-making time horizons.CITATION:McKay, N, Vann, J, Ware, W, Morley, C, Hodkiewicz, P, 2016. Strategic and Tactical Geometallurgy – a Systematic Process to Add and Sustain Resource Value, in Proceedings The Third AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2016, pp 29–36 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jun 15, 2016

Project-finance risk assessment is mature and approached systematically. Mining industry due diligence remains fragmented with specialists addressing different aspects of the project such as reserves/JORC, environmental impact, commodity market, even financial analysis/ modelling. Each professional has a natural tendency to believe that the risk factors they have examined are the key ones necessary to be reviewed, as if their review will stand in isolation from others in the way a project materialises. By first laying out the project risk categories and risk matrices, this paper examines the due diligence process with a keen eye to the risk assessment and overlap/interaction. Some cross fertilisation of due diligence techniques from other industry sectors is placed into the mining context. Six case studies are then presented with regards to due diligence features in each projectÆs feasibility review or financial information/ offering memorandum. A power case first shows the differences between the due diligence expectations of banks versus bond financings. Then some Australian and Indonesian mining development cases are analysed to see the due diligence learning points. Some of these were project/due diligence failures. The conclusion focuses on the value of a systematic risk assessment for project evaluation, all from the project-finance perspective.

Jan 1, 2007

For too long we, as an industry, have borne the brunt of irrational claims, poor science and even worse, journalism with regards to our affect on the environment. To some of us, the overwhelming media attention on greenhouse warming, the polluting outputs of mineral processing or unthinkable depletion of natural resources has left us embarrassed and more unfortunately has turned bright young people away from a career in the minerals industry.This paper shows the hypocrisy associated with an element of the green movement and dispels some general myths on mining disseminated by radical environmentalists.The fallacy of the greenhouse warming effect will be scrutinised by common sense and the mining industryÆs use of land will be discussed and put in proper perspective.Problems associated with safety and emissions and the means to overcome such are discussed briefly.

Jan 1, 2004

By I Sucholutsky, D M. First, D Mogilny, F Yusufali

Machine learning is creating value in all facets of the mining industry, from exploration to production. The authors provide an accessible, high-level introduction to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL); the latter being widely recognised as one of the most powerful forms of ML. In particular, the authors will introduce deep learning models known as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), how they are applied, and the economic considerations necessary for determining when DL may be the right solution to de-risking complex block modelling problems. The authors present preliminary results from the mineral resource modelling study of the Jundee orogenic gold deposit, Yandal belt/gold province, Western Australia. The primary goal was to identify the direction and location of the narrow gold veins more accurately and demonstrate how non-linearly correlated elements are used as direct inputs to the resource model to assist with the target element’s grade prediction. This demonstrates that: (1) existing techniques for finding correlations between assayed elements do not adequately reflect the complex geology of the asset, (2) nonlinear correlations that are difficult to model as simple mathematical functions are representative of geological patterns in a deposit, and (3) non-linearly correlated assayed data, fed as inputs, increase the performance of the resource model as reconciled through blind tests. To conclude, the authors hypothesise that the patterns represented by the DL block models may be revealing the results of overprinting geological processes that generated mineral deposits. For example, the primary hydrothermal processes that deposited metals created depositional patterns that become particularly complex as a result of being overprinted, in part or in whole, by secondary physicochemical processes. This may explain why non-linear geochemical relationships have the capacity to generate more accurate block models of mineral deposits.

May 24, 2023

By R Bearman

The importance of crushers in the mining industry declined with the introduction and resultant dominance of AG and SAG based circuits, but the recent move to consider more energy efficient circuits has caused the industry to re-consider the role of crushers.Different types of comminution equipment have different efficiency in the way the energy is applied in the size reduction process. Because of the general trend towards more sustainable production processes and emission of carbon dioxide, energy use has become more important. To fully understand how crushers can contribute to optimising the energy application in comminution circuits, detailed models of process performance are required. Such models need to take into account the mechanical design factors and how the crusher performance changes in response to feed conditions, the control strategy utilised and the wear of the crusher liners.It is also critical to analyse the total circuit, not just the individual crushers. To fully understand the performance of the entire circuit, dynamic simulation should be applied. Without the holistic understanding of the total circuit and the incorporation of transient effects, the full circuit performance cannot be adequately determined and the true energy picture will not be quantified.Based on detailed mechanistic modelling of crushers by the authors and the application of dynamic simulation, the opportunities to optimise the use of crushers for energy efficiency are examined.

Aug 8, 2011

By C E. Vidal

Geological exploration and mining development increased their intensity and rate of success during the last five years in Peru. Particularly relevant are the mining projects of Yanacocha and Pierina for epithermal Au and Ag. Also relevant are the new mining operations at Iscaycruz and Uchucchacua for limestone replacement Zn- or Ag-rich base metal skarn deposits. Miocene continental volcanics host the low-grade but near-surface orebodies of the Yanacocha mining district in Cajamarca. Several deposits have been mined since 1994 with open-pit and heap-leach gold production increasing from 300 000 ounces to 1 300 000 ounces in 1998. In a similar geological setting, but with three times the grade of Yanacocha, the Pierina valley-leach operation in Ancash is set to produce 800 000 ounces Au during 1999. At Iscaycruz in Lima, Cretaceous limestones host massive pyrite and sphalerite skarn deposits with 10 to 20 per cent Zn. Mining and milling were started in 1996 with last yearÆs production rising to 180 000 tonnes of Zn concentrates. At Uchucchacua, selective underground mining of fracture-controlled Ag skarns, with 400 to 420 g/t, has been recently increased from 1200 to 2000 tonnes per day to produce 5.5 million ounces Ag during 1998. Advanced exploration projects are located in the framework of nine Phanerozoic metallogenic provinces. Mineral deposits of preferred attention are precious metal disseminations and veins, base metal replacements and skarns, porphyry Cu (Mo-Au), Mississippi-Valley-type Zn and base metal volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. Geological discovery of new orebodies enables a sustainable development of the mining industry in the country.

Jan 1, 1999

By J Joy, A Bye, G V. Kizil

This paper presents an application of the newly developed risk-cost-benefit (RCB) framework to support risk management decisions for the selection of wall monitoring technologies at an open cut mine site. The RCB framework quantitatively assessed the risk of unstable slope-induced wall failure and its impact on both loss of life and coal recovery. The RCB framework was utilised in the selection of an optimum group of risk-controls to effectively manage the risk of wall failure to ensure safety and optimal production occurred. The RCB framework incorporates mathematical modules that integrated RCB calculations and risk-control effectiveness assessments to determine the risk reduction and financial impact of the examined safety initiatives.This paper provides an overview of the five-staged RCB framework, incorporating the RCB decision support tools, RCBGEN (Risk-Cost-Benefit Generator) and RCEMETHOD (Risk-Control Effectiveness Method), and demonstrates its application to slope stability risk management at the case study site. The RCB charts are designed to display a balance between risk, cost and benefit for easy interpretation by decision makers to support the objective selection of an optimum suite of risk-controls. The RCB analysis revealed that a combination of ævisual inspections, automatic extensometers and radarÆ for fast- and slow-wall failures with structure were sufficient to reduce the probability of loss of life (PLoL) to the æModerateÆ zone as defined by the Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS, 2007) for the case study site. The new framework presented in this paper provides a method to effectively determine the suitability of risk-controls and supports industry efforts to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).CITATION:Kizil, G V, Bye, A and Joy, J, 2012. Risk-cost-benefit analysis of early warning technologies impact for wall failure risk management in surface mines, in Proceedings Eighth Open Pit OperatorsÆ Conference , pp 55-64 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 18, 2012

Between 1966 and 1976, Australia moved from being a non-producer to a position of meeting more than ten per cent of world nickel demand. New mine developments beginning the early-1990s have the promise of more than doubling the country's world market share - from around eight per cent to perhaps close to 20 per cent. This new surge in activity - the so-called `second nickel boom' - has led to several developments which seem likely to have similar economic impacts to those of the late- 1960s and early-1970s. There are, however, some notable differences this time around. The impact of long distance commuting over the past 30 years has changed the regional development scenario. The gold industry is much stronger in Australia than it was in the late-1960s and this helps to place the importance of new nickel discoveries in a more realistic perspective. As potential players have jockeyed to complete feasibility studies and move into construction and production phases of new long-life mines, established suppliers clearly seem to be taking actions to discourage the newcomers. In what appears to be a classic oligipolistic market situation, the heightening of perceived entry barriers to the industry appears to be a particularly visible strategy undertaken. In the current scenario as well, greater vertical integration among producers appears a significant influence on market power.

Jan 1, 1996

By Huleatt M, Perkin D, McLeod I, Mock C, Pratt R, Gourlay A, Timoney E, Knight N, Ward J

Generally speaking, Australia's reserves of its more important minerals (in terms of export earnings) are adequate to sustain forecast rates of production to the year 2000. The rate of forecast production increases of these commodities (aluminium - whether as bauxite, alumina or metal, black coal, iron ore and ferro-alloy minerals, base metals, tin, uranium, and mineral sands) reflects a well- ordered and sustained growth phase of Australia's mineral industry.

Jan 1, 1981

By R Redden

"The Didipio Gold-Copper project in the Philippines has been a well-defined reasonably high gold grade porphyry for almost two decades. OceanaGold are now bringing the project into production in late 2012 and have recently reoptimised the project with the goal of combining the inherent high grades with higher through-put than previously proposed that will see strong initial metal production. The project was discovered and well defined by 1995, but has seen some obstacles to development, namely sovereign risk, capital cost and project funding. The project strengths over this time that have kept the flames alive are: strong grades large orebody with low stripping ratios a simple beneficiation process and a clean high-grade concentrate strong support from the Philippines government.The initial study in 1998 used Gold and Copper price assumptions of $325/oz and $0.95 lb respectively. Today reserves are based on $950 and $2.85. So, being a porphyry with a large reducing grade halo, the deposit now lends itself to extraction on a much larger scale than before, without any significant capital expenditure as a larger open pit now dominates the project.Didipio is a game changer for OceanaGold, so it has been important to learn from history and to capitalise on a strong initial metal production profile. The project sits in a reasonably remote mountainous area of Luzon which sees annual typhoons and numerous short duration high intensity rainfall events and two rivers flowing through the project area, so it has not been without some innovative technical solutions.CITATION:Redden, R, 2012. Didipio - Learning the lessons, adapting and getting ready for production, in Proceedings Project Evaluation 2012, pp 67-76 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

May 24, 2012

By A Vigar

Siliceous float sampled in the Wafi River by CRA Exploration in 1977 assayed 22 g/t Au and 89 g/t Ag. Follow up in 1979 led to the discovery of outcropping mineralisation now known as Zone A. Soil sampling in 1980 and 1982 outlined a 350 m by 400 m area of >1 g/t Au at Zone A and smaller areas at Zones B, C and D. Thirty-one diamond holes were drilled between 1983 and 1986. Elders Resources continued evaluation of Zone A under a farming agreement between 1988 and 1990. Mineralised diorite porphyry was discovered in 1990 by drilling conceptual targets 500 m to the NE of Zone A. Evaluation of this copper-gold porphyry became the main focus of exploration for the next five years and a substantial resource was outlined within a single, discrete body. A review of the paths to project development in late-1995 highlighted the need for increased resources via a second mineralised porphyry and/or an additional resource of Zone A size to make the project viable. It was concluded that the greatest immediate potential for increasing the resource inventory was at Zone A itself where the mineralisation was open in all directions. Detailed mapping and drill core logging lead to the geologic and structural models being revised in early-1996. The objectives of the 1996 drill program were to extend the Zone A resource, to test for continuity of mineralisation westwards to Zone B, to better define the controls on gold mineralisation and to delineate high-grade blocks amenable to selective mining by infill drilling and 3D orebody modelling. The last drill hole of 1996 intersected 30 m at 4.6 g/t Au from 273 m in WR147, deep in the western limit of Zone A. This intersection gave impetus to continue drill testing towards Zone B. In April 1997, hole WR154 was drilled 100 m to the west of WR147 and intersected 20 m at 8.5 g/t Au and 70 m at 11.0 g/t Au at similar depths near the diatreme contact. Drill hole WR155 was then drilled 100 m to the west of WR154 and intersected 86m at 5.7 g/t Au and WR159 drilled 100 m to the south of WR154 intersected 36 m at 9.2 and 50 m at 4.4 g/t Au. A significant zone of essentially blind, high-grade gold was discovered beneath the dipping flank of a poorly mineralised diatreme in what became known as the Link Zone. The long history of evaluation has been driven by the conviction of a dedicated team that a mineralised system of the size and complexity of Wafi with strongly anomalous gold in outcrops over the entire Mount Golpu area must contain economic mineralisation hidden within it. The keys which redefined the direction of exploration and lead to the discovery of the blind, high-grade gold Link Zone were, in our view, the critical review of the project status, detailed geological and structural studies to define clear exploration targets and the necessary funding and persistence to carry this through.

Jan 1, 1999

The 1999 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Identified Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the æJORC CodeÆ) became effective in September 1999 and is the latest revision of a Code which was originally issued in 1989, but which has an ancestry dating back to the first JORC report released in 1972. The modifications introduced in 1999, which are briefly discussed in this paper, substantially improved the document, but did not materially alter the fundamentals of the Code, these being the Mineral Resource/Ore Reserve classification framework and terminology, and the requirements and guidelines for public reporting of Resources and Reserves. Codes or guides similar to the JORC Code exist or are under development in other countries, including the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Africa. It is pleasing to note that the 1999 JORC Code has been used as a model by these countries in developing their latest standards, and has been a major influence in the formulating of international reporting standards. The JORC Code is primarily a document covering the reporting of the results of mining companiesÆ activities to the public. However, mining geologists are interested in practical assistance and guidance in carrying out their duties. The JORC Code provides this in four ways. It establishes a framework within which those preparing and publicly reporting Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates must operate, by setting standards for the classification and reporting of Resources and Reserves and for qualifications of Competent Persons. It establishes the division of responsibility between the companyÆs Board of Directors and Competent Persons with respect to the preparation and reporting of Resources and Reserves, and empowers Competent Persons to materially influence how their Resource/Reserve estimates are reported to the public. It provides an extensive, detailed and practical check list of criteria to be taken into account in the preparation of Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates. Finally, it provides a strong measure of due diligence protection in the event of litigation if it is followed with diligence and honesty.

Jan 1, 2000

By J Boshoff

The management and operation of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are often neglected until the process plant has to shut down as a result of this negligence or as a result of a catastrophic failure as was the case during the recent TSF failure in North America.TSFs are often regarded as non-assets and do not receive the attention they deserve in terms of technical expertise and financial provision. A TSF is not a simple structure but a complex and dynamic structure that changes throughout its operational life. The operational life of a TSF is the period in which there is the greatest opportunity for risks to occur. The failure of a TSF is normally not as a result of a single event but as a result of a consequence of events. These events are often not recognised in time due to a number of factors.Process plants and slurry pumping systems are operated at suboptimal conditions in order to maintain throughput. At the same time, the tailings properties are compromised in terms of slurry density and particle size distribution amongst other things. Tailings deposition cycles and drying cycles are not well understood and the tailings management strategy is not well tuned in terms of maximising consolidation and improving in situ densities. Pond control is also neglected. These are aspects that form the keystone to the effective utilisation of available deposition area as well as the frequency and cost of future embankment raises.Apart from operational issues, forward planning in terms of budget requirements, increases in tailings throughput, embankment raises, pipe replacements, etc are normally put on the back burner. Available deposition space at the time seems to render this planning obsolete.The bottom line is that responsible tailings management and proper forward planning can limit liability and reduce the bottom line in terms of cents per ton if correctly implemented by suitably qualified tailings managers and engineers.The aspects that need to be considered as part of responsible tailings management are highlighted in this paper.CITATION:Boshoff, J, 2015. Responsible tailings management, in Proceedings Tailings and Mine Waste Management for the 21st Century , pp 317–322 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 27, 2015

By P Cavieres, R Dunlop, S Gaete

El Teniente Mine started the exploitation of the primary rock in the beginning of the 1980s decade, using caving methods. Since the beginning the mining activities have induced seismicity including some occasional rockbursts. Owing to the relevant damages, the mining operations were stopped in some production sectors. This paper describes the concepts that have been used in order to control the induced seismicity based on the strategies for controlling the rockmass breaking process, which depend on mining parameters. It also presents the main concepts applied in the Teniente Sub6 sector design and the experience collected during its sector exploitation.

Jan 1, 2000

By T Baumgartl, D R. Mulligan, D Doley, A Schneider

In arid and semi-arid areas evapotranspiration (ET) cover systems are often used to mitigate contaminated seepage from hazardous mine waste into the adjacent environment. The theory of ET covers is based on the water balance equation with the aim of minimising seepage. While cover systems are commonly trialled, the influences of variability in climate and cover structure on water balance equation parameters are seldom investigated.Water balance equation parameters and their variability were analysed for two ET cover trials constructed from benign waste rock in semi-arid Australia. Seasonal and inter-annual variations in rainfall critically influence cover performance. For successful cover system operation, the average return periods for higher than average rainfall should be taken into account. In addition, failure of ET covers has a higher probability in areas with marked rainfall seasonality. Water holding capacity and plant available water content are low in covers constructed from waste rock. Changes in water holding capacity due to variation in particle size distribution are likely and critically influence cover performance. The application of topsoil can be beneficial for water ingress control through run-off, but a balance has to be struck between run-off, erosion and plant available water. Changes in vegetation composition only influence evapotranspiration water losses at plant coverage exceeding 50 per cent, which is unrealistic in semi-arid areas. This study showed that the capacity of ET cover systems to hold and dispose of received rainfall is often lower than assumed by industry practitioners. Furthermore, in order to improve reliability of long term cover performance, the variability of rainfall and water holding capacity of the cover has to be included in water balance models.CITATION:Schneider, A, Baumgartl, T, Doley, D and Mulligan, D R, 2012. Variability in parameters of the water balance equation and their influence on evapotranspiration cover performance, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012 , pp 293-300 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 10, 2012

With the progress of modern mining engineering, one of the features of which is the mining from greater depths and the hoisting of greatly increased loads, it becomes a matter of increasing importance that the engineer should be able to determinewith some degree of precision the character of the strains on the hauling rope. But a wire rope is a complex structure; it is made up of spirally-twisted strands, which in turn are composed of spirally-twisted wires, and it is not particularly easy to say exactly what happens when this "doubly-twisted structure is wound round a drum or over a pulley.. The difficulty has been generally evaded in ordinary practice by the simple device of adopting a large factor of safety for the rope-usually from 8 to 10-a factor which experience has shown is sufficiently large to cover the bending strains set "up when the rope is passed over pulleys of the sizes commonly considered appropriate.When, however, we add the stress due to the bending of the rope to the stress produced by" the direct pull, we find that the actual factor of safety is usually more nearly 4 than 10, and frequently the bending stresses in the rope are so large compared with the simple tensile stresses that their neglect may easily lead to disastrous results when dealing with problems a little out of the common run. Common Empirical Rules.-It is always "recognized that the bending of a wire rope round too small a pulley is likely to do the rope serious injury, but as it is desirable in ordinary winding operations to reduce the inertia of the moving parts to a minimum...

Jan 1, 1907

By M W. N Buxton, M T. Bootsma, J Benndorf, C Alford

Research in the field of cut-off grade optimisation has shown a relationship between cut-off grade, project life and net present value (NPV). Lane’s theory demonstrates that cut-off grades can be optimised in order to maximise project profitability. Although the theory forms the basis for many open pit mining projects, application of the theory in underground mining remains limited to-date. The main reason for this is the complex interaction between all processes in underground mine planning, which makes it difficult to apply Lane’s mathematical optimisation approach.Recently a new stope optimiser product was released. The AMS Stope Optimiser automates the design of underground stopes at user-defined cut-off grades and allows for rapid evaluation of mine designs at different cut-off grades. Using this software, an optimisation approach was developed and validated on an underground gold deposit in northern Sweden. Potential project NPV increased by approximately 30 per cent when using this new approach.Spatial grade uncertainty in mineral resources was identified to be a major risk in underground stope design. The optimisation approach was further extended to account for grade risk using estimated and stochastic simulated resource models. The resulting optimisation process accounts for grade risk early in the design process and reduces the risk of a stope not meeting the cut-off grade with subsequent financial loss.CITATION:Bootsma, M T, Alford, C, Benndorf, J and Buxton, M W N, 2014. Cut-off grade-based sublevel stope mine optimisation – introduction and evaluation of an optimisation approach and method for grade risk quantification, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014 , pp 281–290 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 24, 2014

By W R. Adamson

Cerro Vanguardia SA (CVSA), property of AngloGold Ashanti, mines gold and silver from a system of vetiforme orebodies located in the south of the Argentine Patagonia, in the Province of Santa Cruz.Surface mining techniques are applied to develop a series of narrow pits with an average waste to ore ratio of 26:1. This quite unique constraint brings into focus the need to maximise inter-ramp and final wall angles, leading to a strong need to optimise wall control drilling and blasting in order to reduce back-break damage to an absolute minimum.The paper describes a program of applied investigation and design modification implemented during?2008?and?2009 in?two?separate pits of Cerro Vanguardia. Three distinct yet complementary damage mechanisms were identified and observed during the field components of the work; vibration induced strain fracturing, surface cratering around blasthole collars and quasi-static loading and unloading of the surrounding rock mass as a consequence of poorly controlled confinement.With these mechanisms identified, a measurement, modelling and modification campaign was conducted in order to reduce the incidence of each source of damage. Interactive design analysis and modelling, near-field vibration measurement, video capture and the application of electronic initiation technology were supported by seed wave modelling and topographic evaluation of the achieved results.Results point to the usefulness of simulation techniques for determining optimum delay timing to reduce vibration impact, while the visualisation of explosive energy distribution produced by drilling and explosive loading decisions assists in reducing the probability of over-confinement.This paper presents relevant aspects of the two fieldwork campaigns:1) describing the application of the techniques, and2) summarising the results obtained.

Nov 8, 2011

I trust you know now or will know by the time you havecompleted your degree and added a little on-the-job experience,how to make the product from the mine you are working for. Butyou may not know the process to turn it into dollars, which ofcourse will be the life blood of your company. I am not going topromise to turn you into super salesmen, but I hope I can takeyou beyond the level of believing that selling our mineralproducts is as simple as putting in it on to a train, waving itgoodbye and waiting for the cheque to turn up in the mailbox afew weeks later.

Jan 1, 1994

By Walton DR

It is self-evident that the availability of well qualified and experienced people to manage mining operations is vital to the success of an individual mine and to the ability to develop new mines either in Australia or overseas. For larger operations the term "mine manager" is here used to denote a range of positions within an individual company. Thus "mine managers" may be people managing individual mines at one geographic location with overall management provided by other "mine managers" in the roles such as mine super- intendents, production managers, general managers, etc. Smaller operations may have only a single level of management nominated as "mine manager".

Jan 1, 1980