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Papers and Contributions Since the Institute's inception, it had been our practice until some years ago to meet regularly for discussion of new developments, using as a basis a paper read by one of the members. Usually, the Journal issue containing the paper would have been circulated well before the meeting, giving members plenty of time to absorb it and perhaps to prepare contributions. Discussion was generally lively, often controversial. The author always had an opportunity to reply.

Jan 1, 1991

The addition of binder to full plant tailings significantly affects the rheology of a backfill mixture and, consequently, the pressure gradients in the pipeline. The binder increases the yield stress and apparent viscosity of the mixture, and the transition velocity between the laminar and turbulent flow regimes. In a test conducted at a slurry relative density of 1,72 with binder addition, the mixture also exhibited time-dependent behaviour owing to the hydration of the binder.

Jan 1, 1993

The 91st Annual General Meeting of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy was held at Kelvin House, Johannesburg, on 17th August, 1988. Mr B.c. Alberts (President) was in the Chair, and declared the meeting open at 16hOO. Obituaries The President announced the deaths of the following members of the Institute:

Jan 1, 1988

By D. T. Walton

In a former Spotlight articlet, Dr P. J. D. Lloyd focused attention on the shortage of locally trained mining and metallurgical graduates, and indicated that the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) has been exerting pressure to boost the intake of undergraduates in mineral disciplines. This article reviews the recruiting activities of the South African minerals industry over the past decade, and discusses some of the programmes that are in operation at the moment, particularly those aimed at potential graduates.

Jan 1, 1980

By D. L. Morrison

The School on the Accounting for Gold, which was organized under the auspices of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy by Dr Hugh E. Bartlet, Consulting Metallurgist of Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company Limited, was held at the South African Nature Conservation Centre at Delta Park, Johannesburg, on 15th to 17th May, 1989. It was attended by 178 delegates, including 2 from the OK and 4 from Zimbabwe. A total of 19 papers were presented covering the components of gold-accounting procedure, sampling techniques, and new sampling technology.

Jan 1, 1989

By D. I. Hoyer, M. F. Dawson

The results obtained from the operation of a batch centrifugal ball mill are reported, together with the development of a model for the behaviour of a particle in free flight within the mill, and the introduction of a cumulative breakage rate function. Schumann and Rosin-Rammler plots show the change in particle-size distribution with time at various configurations of the mill. Graphs showing the rate of production of fines and the rate of breakage of coarse particles are included.

Jan 1, 1982

By D. G. Hulbert, D. Tudors, M. L. Coetzee, I. K. Craig

The paper describes how a multivariable control scheme was developed and implemented for the run-of-mine milling circuit at a gold mine belonging to Vaal Reefs Exploration & Mining Company Limited. The key variables that are controlled are slurry level in the sump, mass of material in the mil, and product size. The control scheme has resulted in reliable control of the dynamics of the plant, and has provided a good basis for the optimization of plant operation by the selection of suitable set Points.

Jan 1, 1990

By H. E. James

GOLD 100, the most comprehensive international conference on gold ever held anywhere in the world, took place in Johannesburg from 14th to 18th September, 1986. The Conference was followed by a series of one day visits and an extended technical tour. The Conference was organized jointly by the Council for Mineral Technology (Mintek), the Chamber of Mines of South Africa, the School of Business Leadership of the University of South Africa, and The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Jan 1, 1986

By C. A. Cousins

Platinoids in the Witwatersrand system C. A. Cousins. (visitor) Study of the composition, nature and mode of occurrence of platinoid minerals in the conglomerates of the Witwatersrand System leads to some interesting conclusions. Genetic evidence strongly favours a placer origin, while comparison with modern alluvial platinoids supports this view but also indicates that they are very mature alluvials. The compositional patterns and distribution of the platinoids in the Witwatersrand basin suggest the water was saline. Study of the mineralogy was greatly facilitated by the electron-probe.

By R. J. E. Stewart

Another very successful evening meeting was organized by the Johannesburg Branch of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy on 20th November, 1990, when Mr R.D. MacPherson, General Manager of Richards Bay Minerals, gave a presentation on the Richards Bay operations. The function was held in the Ballroom of the Johannesburg Country Club, and the very high attendance (some 250 people) was indeed a reflection of the high profile of the subject mater. It was also a fitting reward for the efforts of Mr MacPherson and his team, who spent a considerable amount of time and effort traveling the country to present 'the other side of the story'.

Jan 1, 1991

ORANGE FREE STATE BRANCH MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE WELKOM CLUB ON WEDNESDAY, 8th NOVEMBER, 1972 Present: C. J. Isaac (in the Chair), E. T. Wilson, J. M. Meyer, C. Mostert, P. L. Nathan, D. A. Smith, R. Sutherland. Apologies: G. Young. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MEETING The minutes of the Committee Meeting held on the 19th January, 1972 were taken as read and thei r adoption was proposed by Mr J. M. Meyer and seconded by Mr E. T. Wilson. There were no matters arising from these minutes.

Council for 1998/99 President R.P. Mohring President Elect J.R. Dixon Vice Presidents Senior M.H. Rogers Junior Dr L.A. Cramer Immediate Past President Dr N.A. Barcza Honorary Treasure J.A. Cruise Members of Council J.P.W. Bennie E.G. de Villiers A.A.B. Douglas F.M.G. Egerton R. Graham Dr R.G. Gürtunca Dr R.V.R. Handfield-Jones P.J. Knottenbelt R.G.B. Pickering* P.S. Piper Prof. R.F. Sandenbergh Dr T.R. Stacey D.J. van Niekerk P.J. Venter J.C. Viljoen

Jan 1, 1998

FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VACUUM METALLURGY This Conference will take place in Tokyo from June 4th-8th 1973. The language used will be English. Inquiries should be addressed to: Mr S. Tabata, Conference Secretariat, The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan, (Nippon Tekko Kyokai), Keidanren Kaikan (3rd Floor), 9-4, Otemachi 1 - Chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN. SYMPOSIUM ON BLAST FURNACE (A.I.M.M.) February 15-17, 1972 Circulars setting out the programme for the symposium, and registration forms, may be obtained from the Secretary of the S.A.I.M.M.

This paper describes the operating practice and design features of an intensive-cyanidation plant at the East Gold Plant of Vaal Reefs Exploration and Mining Company Limited (V.R.E.M.). After the development oh cyanidation route for the treatment of gold-plant gravity concentrates by the Anglo American Research laboratories (A.A.R.L.), a full scale plant was commissioned at Western Holdings (Welkom Division) Gold Mine in March 1977, and the V.R.E.M. plant was commissioned in August 1981. Although the gravity-concentration route does not now enjoy the prominence of former times, in an existing conventional plant the intensive-cyanidation route can successfully replace mercury amalgamation.

Jan 1, 1984

By F. W. Petersen

For the past thirteen years, the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch have hosted an annual symposium to discuss topics relevant to mineral processing. Since 1987, this Symposium has been held under the auspices of the Western Cape Branch of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and has become one of the main events on the national conference calendar. In 1989 and 1993, the symposia took the shape of international conferences. This year the 13th Annual Mineral Processing Symposium was organized by the two universities, the Cape Technikon, and the local branch of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and was held at the Van Riebeeck Hotel in Gordon's Bay.

Jan 1, 1994

The increasing transportation of solids by pipeline, in South Africa and internationally, replacing the conventional transportation methods of rail, road, and conveyors, has resulted in much research into this area of solids transportation. Pipeline wear continues to be an area of specific concern, since it constitutes a major cost during the life of a pipeline installation. Wear data from an accelerated wear test and actual pipeline tests are presented. Trends in the performance of the pipeline materials tested are discussed, and possible solutions to the problem of pipeline wear are presented.

Jan 1, 1992

OFS Branch Minutes of the General Meeting Held at the President Steyn G.M. Ltd Canteen on Wednesday, 13th November, 1974, at 3.55 p.m. Mr D. A. Smith (Chairman of the O.F.S. Branch) was in the Chair. There were also present: Nim reports Report no. 1696 The preparation and certification of a reference sample of a preciousmetalore. Report no. 1705 The effects of various matrix elements on the efficiency of the fire-assay procedure using nickel sulphide as the collector. Report no. 1720 The initial development of processes for the direct leaching of iron-nickelcopper mattes containing platinumgroup metals, and for the production of ferronickel.

Jan 5, 1975

By G. H. Grange

The control of dust from mine dumps by G. H. GRANGE Pr. Eng., B.Sc. (Min. Eng.) (Rand) (Fellow) This paper gives a resume of the early attempts to control dust from mine dumps, leading up to the research project undertaken by the Chamber of Mines ResearchLaboratories to explore the possibilities of establishing vegetation on dump surfaces. The ultimate success of this work and details of the principles involved are outlined. Also given are a brief history of the event that culminated in the introduction of the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act in 1965, details of the control of dust in terms of this Act, and a short summary of the dust-control work.

Jan 3, 1973

By A. W. S. Schumann

SYNOPSIS The most economic exploitation of South African coal resources requires sustained study of the balance between known resources and the predicted rate of consumption, against the background of the development of other sources of energy in South Africa and relevant developments elsewhere in the world. A number of the major issues which would arise in such a study are discussed, including the need for a standardized South African definition for coal resources, the merits of sectoral forecasts of consumption compared with global forecasts, the encouragement of a higher recovery from reserves, and the development of an export market for South African coal.

By R Kersten

The note describes an exercise on the simulation of the frequency and size of seismic events on the basis of the frequency distribution of the events and their inter-arrival times (Le. the frequency distribution of the time elapsed between events). From the suite of available results, those of one simulation for a period of three months are included. The tentative conclusions drawn from the exercise indicate that the overall seismic activity in an area can be predicted for a time period, that structurally complex areas will have a higher incidence of seismic events than other areas, and that the position and time of an event cannot be predicted by the use of a wide-spread system such as that used at present.

Jan 1, 1985