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By Bebb G

This paper describes the use of SURPAC, a survey/mine planning software package as used at Central Norseman Gold. It details the basic operating principles of the package, the applications in which it is employed, and its time and cost benefits and efficiencies as they apply to the above operations, both surface and underground.

Jan 1, 1985

The Mineral Resources Act 1989-90 came into force on 1 Septem- ber 1990 and the Second Schedule of this Act set out the Savings, Transitional and Validation Clauses to this legislation. The Second Schedule gave rise to a number of interesting situa- tions however due to the fact that the time set aside to attend to these matters (the prescribed period) has now expired, with the exception of the points raised below, most of these situations are now history and are of no relevance. The Transitional provisions of the Second Schedule provided for a three month "prescribed period" in which certain actions were required to be undertaken to ensure tenements granted or applied for under the repealed legislation transitioned into the framework provided by the Mineral Resources Act. This Second Schedule of the Mineral Resources Act highlighted a number of anomalies which are still worthy of mention and are listed below.

Jan 1, 1991

By Gente P, Eissen JP, Lafoy Y, Charlou JL

The North Fiji Basin (NFB) is delineated by the Vitiaz trench to the North (paleo sub duction zone, Brocher, 1985), the Vanuatu is- land arc (called before New Hebrides arc) to the West and South, the Hunter Fiacture Zone to the South-East and the Fiji islands to the East (Brocher, 1985 ; Larue et al., 1982 ; Carney and MacFarlane, 1982 ; Falvey, 1978). The NFB is characterized by shallow water depths (about 3 km) (Chase et al., 1982 ; Scla- ter et al., 1972 ; Karig, 1971), high heat flow (average of 2.29 HFC) (MacDonald et al., 1973 ; Halunen, 1979), strong positive free air anoma- lies (Worzel, 1965 ; Kogan, 1976 ; Luyendick et al., 1974 ; Solomon and Biehler, 1969) and a geoid anomaly (Malahoff and Larue, 1979) inter- preted as a geoid swelling. Few refraction data reveal a relatively thin crust and sediment co- ver, and the existence of low speeds in the up- per mantle beneath the NFB (between 7,1 and 7,7 km/s) (Larue et al., 1982 ; Raitt, 1956), which could indicate the existence of active spreading zone(s) in this area (Barazangi et al., 1974). Global seismicity of the SW Pacific clearly de- fines the.limits of the NFB, as well as the Lau basin (Sykes et al., 1969). But one can note the low level of shallow seismicity of the NFB (Ham- burger and Isacks, in press) which concentrates in three distinct trends :

Jan 1, 1987

The locality from where these specimens come is distant about 12 miles due south from the township of Bingara New South Wales, and is known locally as Carney's Reef, Barrack's Creek, Top Bingara. The formation traverses the western side of a serpentine spur from the main range, which runs through the country from the other side of Tamworth to Inverell, in the New England District. It has a due north and south trend, with an easterly underlay slightly out of the vertical. The formation has been opened up at different points for a distance of over two miles, and each place showing gold in the stone, and no place more than three to four chlins apart, the whole distance along the line of Reef being leased. The formation varies in thickness, the smallest being about 1 foot and the widest about 10 feet. The following is a list of properties, and description of work done on them at present. First south, and about one and a half miles from Hanion Brothers' old BalIarat claim due north, Court and patty hold a tenacre lease. The formation outcrops near the south boundary, and gold is obtainable in the stone. In the centre of the lease a costeen pit has cut the capping, which shows gold, and about two chains from the north boundary another one cuts the capping, also showing gold. The reef averages, where exposed on this property, 3 feet wide.

By G K. Robinson

The existence of bias in samples taken by cross-stream sample cutters has been investigated using three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) modelling. Detailed quantitative information on overall extraction ratios, size specific extraction ratios, missed and extra sample components can be made by comparing a reference sample to the actual sample. A key advantage of using this modelling approach over physical experimentation is that the reference sample can be measured on precisely the same portion of the stream of material as the actual sample, thereby allowing the elimination of a significant fraction of the variability and allowing statistically significant results to be obtained using many fewer replicates. Quantitative analysis of results broadly supports the commonly-used rule that the cutter aperture should be at least three times the nominal top-size of the material being sampled, but does not support the commonly-used rule requiring increase in cutter aperture if the cutter speed exceeds 0.6 m/s. Sampler performance can be understood in terms of the balance of forces in the congested region of material formed by the slowing of the particle stream due to collisional interactions around the mouth of the cutter.

Jan 1, 2008

By Jones BH

Discovery of the Vera-Nancy deposit in late-1995 followed 12 years of active exploration in and around the Pajingo Epithermal System, an andesite hosted veinfield covering an area of 150 square kilometres at the northern end of the Devono-Carboniferous Drummond Basin in North Queensland. Early exploration targeted open-pittable resources in the numerous auriferous veins and it was not until 1994 that exploration focus shifted to drilling to depths below about 100 metres from surface, which resulted in the Vera-Nancy discovery. That deeper drilling process is still at a very early stage of coverage of the epithermal system as a whole and substantial potential exists for additional discoveries.Drill-out of Vera-Nancy has to-date established a gold resource in excess of 1.4 million ounces. Mine development is proceeding via a twin decline system with first stoped production scheduled for August 1997.

Jan 1, 1997

By L Crew, S Jackson

A trial of an Adept Online Ore Sizer (OOS) was undertaken at the WMC Leinster Nickel Operation (LNO) in the first half of 2000. During this time the On Line Ore Sizer has been shown to be a robust and accurate instrument for measuring mill feed ore size. Data collected during the trial indicates significant variation in the F80 of the SAG mill feed. The effects of feed size on milling parameters such as mill weight, mill power draw and mill efficiency appears to be dependent on the ore blend treated. With some ore blends a weak positive correlation was found between ore size and mill weight and milling efficiency but with others no correlation is evident. It is believed that the OOS will become a vital piece of equipment in the future as LNO continues to optimises its milling circuit.

Jan 1, 2000

Tumbling mills have been used in the minerals indusu) for occr WO years, with the design changing little, but the size of the individual pieces of equipment increasing significantly with the lowering of head grades, and the push for greater

Jan 1, 1997

By D Giurco

This paper presents the results from research undertaken in the CSIRO-funded Mineral Futures Collaboration Cluster on developing a future vision for the mining and minerals industry – Vision 2040 – in which the industry proactively contributes to long-term benefit for communities and the nation. Our research finds that Australia is currently experiencing mining-led prosperity due to high commodity prices, yet underlying this are challenges for maintaining market share due to lower productivity from extracting lower grade, more remote and complex ores. Whilst much focus has been on developing new technologies for finding and processing such ores, this paper assesses these activities, together with policy and market innovations in the context of needing to strengthen social, environmental and financial capital for long-term benefit. Vision 2010 sees mining activities linked to systems that are net providers of clean water, energy and ecosystem services, rather than minimising negative impacts alone; sovereign wealth funds are used to harness current prosperity for future innovation. Using a case study in lithium and comparisons to iron/steel, coal and copper – we illustrate the opportunities for new technology, policy and market innovations to link the mining and minerals sector in Australia to more sustainable patterns of production, consumption and prosperity.

Nov 22, 2011

Consideration was given to the.applicab on of a solvent extraction circuit to be'included in the process'for the-recovery of a high grade product from.:-the Rum Jungle Creek.South uranium ore body.The economics of two alternative processes, firstly the Eluex process which uses an ion exchange process followed by solvent extraction.-of a.high grade sulphuric acid eluate, and secondly a process using direct solvent' extractioh of pregnant leach liquor, were studied. There was a small cost advantage favouring the Eluex process but when other factors were considered, the installation of a direct solvent extraction process appeared the better long term investment. A solvent extraction plant was installed at Rum Jungle in 1962.

Jan 1, 1963

By Emerson D. W

The search for economic mineral deposits is becoming more difficult as exploration goes deeper in the established mining camps and spread out to the surrounding covered areas, which may have an `overburden' some hundreds of metres thick. Geophysics is finding an ever increasing role in such exploration. When the target is zinc, the task often becomes even more difficult since sphalerite, the most commonly mined mineral, is non-magnetic, resistive, and relatively light compared to other sulphides. Fortunately, sphalerite commonly occurs in association with other sulphides, which are magnetic and/or conductive and/or heavy, thus most zinc-rich orebodies have at least one contrasting physical property to aid exploration. This paper presents the physical properties of sphalerite and other potentially important zinc minerals. Results of petrophysical measurements of samples from various zinc-rich ores are presented together with examples of geophysical surveys over a number of zinc deposits. The results show that the physical properties are not merely dependent upon the properties of the orebodies' constituent minerals. For example, the small (0.4 Mt) and low-grade (five per cent Zn + three per cent Pb + two per cent other sulphides) Flying Doctor deposit at Broken Hill, New South Wales (NSW) is much more conductive than the large (3+ Mt) and high grade (14 per cent Zn + five per cent Pb) Cadjebut deposit in Western Australia (WA). In the former case, tectonic stresses have

Jan 1, 1993

By Fejes A. J

The U.S. Bureau of Mines installed surface and subsurface instruments at a mine site in Colorado to monitor and characterize the overburden response to longwall mining. Instrumentation included a time-domain reflectometry (TDR) cable, a multiple-point borehole extensometer (MPBX), vertical- deformation surface monuments, and in-mine pressure cells for monitoring abutment, pillar, and gob loads with respect to the longwall face position. The purpose of the study was to collect data that could be analyzed to correlate the design of the mine layout to the resulting overburden failure response. Determining the extent of caving and fracturing is important in the and and semiarid Western United States because of the possible consequences to the fragile underground hydrologic systems upon which the land owners and users depend. This study is unique from past investigations because the overburden contains massive sandstone members that impose special conditions on the caving process and pressure redistribution above the longwall panels. This paper presents the results of this correlation study.

Jan 1, 1992

By A Cornelius, P Connor, S Fraser

Iron ore mining is a major source of export income for Australia. However with the decreasing reserves of high-grade, low-phosphorus hematite ore, there is mounting pressure to provide consistent mineralogical ore grade. Enhanced 3D characterisation and modelling are crucial to respond to these exigent requirements. To tackle this problem a revolutionary mine-based, imaging system (based on Visible Near Infrared û Short Wave Infrared reflectance spectroscopy û VNIR-SWIR) has been developed. This innovative, CSIRO-built prototype produces mineralogical maps that will have a major impact on ore grade characterisation. Australian iron ore companies will benefit immensely by pioneering this emerging and unique mining technology. The significance of VNIR-SWIR reflectance spectroscopy is well demonstrated with field portable spectrometers and airborne hyperspectral systems. At the mine-scale level, this newly developed imaging system will allow accurate and objective mineralogical mapping of mine faces and benches with very closely spaced sampling. These spectral mineral maps will improve deposit delineation and bring accurate and objective ore grade characterisation that will minimise drilling and enhance ore recovery. This will in turn lead to cost saving and better long-term block model planning. This system will also improve safety for mine geologists in providing mineralogical information at a distance, avoiding the need for any close contact with the mine face. The mine imaging concept is a logical response to the industry need for automatic and objective tools for sustainable and future mining practices.

Jan 1, 2002

By Muller M, Ashley PM

Massive sulphide ZnPbCuAg deposits in the Halls Peak district of northeastern NSW are of the submarine volcanogenic type. They occur as a number of small lenses enclosed in shale and epiclastic rocks, in association with felsic volcanics of early Permian age. The deposits crop out in steep terrain near the eastern edge of the New England plateau. Local relief of 700 m and slopes up to 50¦, coupled with an average annual rainfall of about 1000 mm has led to local severe landsliding in previously mined areas. Mining from the 1890's to the 1960's has also resulted in unconstrained drainage of heavy metal-bearing acid waters and physical dispersion of finer grained metalliferous sediments into the Chandler River. Waters emanating from the main landslide area, from underground workings and draining scattered unconfined stockpiles of massive sulphide ore have pH values of 3 to 4 and contain elevated contents of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Fe. Chemical mobility of heavy metals into streams occurs under low pH conditions with Zn exhibiting the greatest dispersion. Increasing pH conditions downstream cause precipitation of Fe phases and coprecipitation of heavy metals. Physical dispersion of secondary metal-bearing minerals into the surrounding creeks results in wt% levels of Cu, Pb and Zn in the stream sediments thereby exceeding the regional background values by one to three orders of magnitude. Areas disturbed by mining are characterised by lack of vegetation, biomagnification of heavy metals into algae and lower plants, and partial recolonisation by metal-tolerant grass species (Snow Grass, Poa sieberana; Blady Grass, Lomandra longifolia). Rehabilitation measures will have to include landslide stabilisation, impervious sealing or removal of sulphidic materials, import of topsoil and revegetation by metal-tolerant, slow-growing native grass and shrub species.

Jan 1, 1995

By Stevens LG, Mok JK

With the long lead time requirement for engineering and construction of mineral pro- cessing facilities and the costly financing arrangements necessary, effective project management is essential to the successful and timely start up of these major production units. An added complexity is the frequently remote location of such projects and the demands this imposes on efficient project staffing, scheduling, logistics and cost control. Parsons recent experience with major projects such as Greenvale in Queensland and La Caridad in the desert of Northern Mexico and at remote locations like Sar Cheshmeh in Iran are described. The applications being developed for improving project controls through the use of computer techniques such as MSCS-COPES, and readily accessible and versatile transportation means are reviewed.

Jan 1, 1981

By K Osman, P Bennett

The mining of an underground orebody requires development both in waste and ore before stoping commences. Regardless of what metal is being extracted, the waste development is minimised to reduce the cost per unit of metal mined. At the Western Metals Zinc Kapok mine site, reducing the cost per tonne of lead and zinc mined is paramount. Decline waste development costs can be minimised by methods such as increased gradient or reduced drive size. Ore development will also involve some mining of waste. The degree to which waste mining can be minimised will depend on the thickness and dip of the orebody. The drive geometry will also determine the percentage of waste within the face. It is by mining methods such as resue mining that selective mining may be used to maximise the amount of metal mined and reduce waste dilution. Resue mining can be used around a set of selection criteria established by the mine site. These selection criteria will determine how resue mining can be applied to the mine site. Selection criteria include firing times, number of headings available, acceptance criteria for percentage lost metal, dilution and most importantly operator acceptance. The single pass or two pass resue mining method should be chosen depending on the site acceptance criteria and selection criteria. The Western Metals Zinc Kapok mine site has established a set of parameters which accept the two pass resue mining method for the mining of the ore drives. The blasting results from a single pass resue method were reviewed during more recent trials in a single heading. Through a comparison of results, the parameters allowed the decision to determine the applicability of resue mining and its current form to Kapok. This paper outlines the parameters set by the Kapok mine site, reviews these in relation to the two forms of resue mining and examines the criteria which make this mining method applicable for Western Metals Zinc.

Jan 1, 2002

The Department of Resource Industries regulates and oversees safety and environmental standards for the mining and related industries in Queensland, and provides scientific support through its effort in the geosciences.The geoscientific data base accumulated over more than 120 years is very large. Therefore, accessibility to and utilisation of the data base in the most effective manner is an issue to be addressed in terms of modern information technology. The Department has developed a strategy whose implementation is progressing rapidly.

Jan 1, 1990

The author describes 1. The classification and characteristics of various thick seam mining techniques in various Japanese coal mines. 2. Practices of thick seam mining methods experienced in Taiheiyo Coal Mine. Currently, thick single lift, simultaneous multi lift and non simul- taneous multi lift mining methods are adopted as underground flat thick seam excavations in Japan. These are now reliable and effective in increasing the extraction ratio. At Kushiro Colliery of Taiheiyo Coal Mining Co., these three thick seam mining methods have been used. According to the results, if solidification of the top lift goaf is essential, the non simul- taneous multi lift mining method is the most effective in increasing the extraction ratio without minimising productivity of each lift and it points out that further development of this method is necessary.

Jan 1, 1976

By Jiang G

The Chinese Central Government attaches great importance to the development of its coal industry. Besides carrying out the policy of simultaneous development of large, medium and small coalmines,the main strategy is to gradually modernize coal mining areas and coalmines and to increase the output from individual coalfaces. There are particular implications, processes and main experiences of coalmine modernisation in China.Ensuring a coal output of over one M tonne/yr from one coalface is a very complicated system-engineering project which deals with a wide range of problems. The most important measure used for achieving an output of over one M tonne/yr from a single coalface is the analysis of affecting factors on coalface production by means of the theory c reliability. Thus, as far as possible , the production stoppages caused by mechanical equipment failures and other factors are avoided, the equipment recovery rate is increased and the working hours of shearers are extended so as to ensure a high output and high efficiency.

Jan 1, 1991

By T Ross, S Cameron

The requirement to use explosives in ground temperatures exceeding 50¦C is becoming more common as mines work to maximise the recovery of their resources. Orica Explosives was requested to assist in the development and implementation of æhot blastingÆ safe working procedures at Liddell Coal Open Cut in the Hunter Valley. The mine operator, Hunter Valley Earthmoving (HVE), had to contend not only with elevated temperatures in their overburden resulting from burning coal beneath, but also old underground workings which tended to exacerbate the problem. The paper discusses the following issues:the consultative process that was used to develop the procedures employed to ensure the process could be carried out safely; the technical issues surrounding blasting in hot ground, including temperature monitoring, product selection, application and design to ensure safety and performance were maintained; the need for confidence and trust in the team that was working together in a potentially hazardous environment, the emotive issues that were encountered and how they were addressed; the value of a regular review process combined with open and honest communication to ensure the procedures represented best practice and that all stakeholders understood the process; and the value delivered to Liddell Coal when sterilised areas of coal became accessible with little disruption to the mining process. The paper also discusses the challenges that were encountered in the Reservoir Block where proximity to major power lines and rail infrastructure meant that hot blasting procedures had to also consider vibration limits and the need for Energy Australia to disconnect the power.

Jan 1, 2001