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The Key Issues - An Overview Minerals industry needs Mining companies want technologies which are ò cost-effective, ò high likelihood of delivery (ie transfer existing technologies from other industries), ò highly useable, ò an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach, and ò to be developed in partnership with the mine, supply groups and researchers, For example, `soft' systems for information collection to better manage the mining process rather than mechanical systems.

Jan 1, 1997

By H Benzer

Grinding clinker to finished cement consumes more energy than any other comminution process. World production of cement in 2009 was 2840 million tonnes and the energy required for comminution was 40-60 kWh/tonne depending on the clinker characteristics and the fineness of the finished cement. Machines used include single and multi compartment ball mills, HPGRs, vertical roller mills, centrifugal air separators, V separators, screens and crushers. The circuit most commonly used consists of a closed circuit HPGR followed by a single compartment ball mill and an air separator, and in operation the variables are adjusted to obtain maximum throughput with no loss of quality of the separator fines.A common objective in cement plants is to reduce energy consumption without affecting the particle size in the finished cement and simulation is used as one procedure to achieve this. Models are now available for all the machines commonly used in clinker circuits and circuit optimisation studies using simulation have been carried out in many plants leading to decrease in energy consumption per tonne of cement. In this paper the models used will be discussed briefly and several case studies will be reviewed which will highlight the effect of change in ball size in a two compartment mill, the role of the HPGR in an HPGR – ball mill – air separator circuit, and the use of a high intensity vibrating mill for producing finished cement with high additive ratio.

Aug 8, 2011

By S W. Houlding

The Certificate in Mining Studies program at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada is a collaborative initiative between mining schools and industry to provide accessible, cost-effective, accredited continuing education and training, designed to address the future needs of the global mining community. Content is provided by industry specialists and delivered through an integration of online learning, short courses and interactive webcasts. Accreditation is provided by a network of mining schools. In 2011, the program will deliver close to 100 short courses and interactive webcasts and provide 24/7 access to more than 130 online courses in six mining streams, to participants from as far afield as Tanzania, Argentina and Mongolia. The program is proving adaptable to corporate and mine site engineer-in-training and graduate-development programs, as well as providing accessible professional development opportunities for individuals. It also provides opportunities for cross-training from other disciplines and integration with mining school curricula.

Nov 22, 2011

By I Coombes, M Trim, Y Sun, M McRae, A Spiegl, H Lagger, A Amon, P Barraclough, M Villeneuve

The Brisbane Airport Link Project (AirportlinkM7) includes the design and construction of more than 12.5 km of tunnels, with the Kedron interchange including four ramp tunnels that intersect with mainline tunnels and result in caverns with spans of up to 26 m. These caverns are in highly variable ground conditions with less than 35 m of cover underlying residential neighbourhoods and commercial properties. The Kedron caverns were constructed using the sequential excavation method (SEM). Owing to complex geometry and excavation sequence, the caverns were designed based on numerical modelling methods, including both two- and three-dimensional models. These numerical methods were used to develop a suite of support types with excavation sequences for the expected range of ground conditions. A combination of methods that included in-tunnel monitoring (convergence monitoring and extensometers), probe holes, endoscope probes, face mapping and ground settlement measurements were used to verify performance of the tunnel support systems and to select and refine the appropriate support system for each section of the caverns. The construction monitoring data indicated that numerical modelling can provide a good basis for predicting the performance of large-span underground openings in highly variable ground conditions. This paper presents a comparison of the performance of the caverns predicted by state-of-the-art numerical models and the actual measured performance.CITATION:McRae, M, Villeneuve, M, Trim, M, Sun, Y, Barraclough, P, Spiegl, A, Amon, A, Lagger, H and Coombes, I, 2014. Brisbane Airport Link Project – design and construction of the 26 m span Kedron Caverns: comparing monitoring data with the design, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014 , pp 295–306 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By A J. Falconer

Two magnetic parameters are proposed as a basis for the assessment of ironsands beneficiation. The parameters are determined for raw sand prior to dredging and for magnetic separator head feed over a production period of five months. The relationships between these parameters and the performance of the magnetic separators are examined to establish the value of magnetic assessment compared with the traditional soluble iron assay method. The results illustrate that the first parameter, true magnetic fraction (TMF). Has a value superior to that of soluble iron when relating raw sand grade calculated by triangulation to magnet performance. In terms of the relationship between magnet head feed grade and magnet performance, TMF and soluble iron perform equally as assessment parameters. For the ironsands mined during the five month period, the second magnetic assessment parameter, composite fraction (CF), is shown to merely reflect TMF and offers no additional information for assessment. Conclusions are that true magnetic fraction has many advantages over soluble iron in terms of time and cost of determination and that it is a meaningful and reliable parameter upon which to base all calculations relating to the mining and beneficiation of ironsands.

Jan 1, 1980

This paper addresses the unique environ- mental programmes which prevail at Ranger and their importance in the future profitability, of Ranger Uranium Mines Pty Ltd. (RUM) Industrial relations, general safety, and occupational health have long been regarded as part and parcel of the concept to 'manage for profits'. More recently, the need for environmental protection has also become an important management consideration. This is particularly so at the Ranger Uranium Mine where environmental protection is very closely and continuously regulated. Since the commencement of operations at Ranger some three years ago the company has operated within these regulations and demonstrated clearly that yellowcake can be produced efficiently, economically and safely. The company also recognises that in order to ensure continuity of production, it will have to continue to operate within these strictly supervised Regulations.

Jan 1, 1984

By H Park, V Sahajwalla

"Due to the increasing amount of gangues in iron ores, a beneficiation process is required more as a preliminary step for ironmaking process. However, mechanical grinding and washing of iron ore needs tremendous effort that increases operating cost. Therefore, there is a necessity of a novel approach to ironmaking which can tolerate considerable amounts of silica or alumina. In the present study, a high alumina-carbon composite pellet was examined for an ironmaking process. The effect of compositional changes in the CaO-FexOy-Al2O3-SiO2 oxide system on the reduction of carbon composite pellets was investigated in a purpose built thermo-gravimetric analyser (TGA) at 1473K (1200¦C). As a result, alumina increased the reaction rate of carbon composite pellets by increasing surface area, while silica decreased the reaction rate by lowering surface area of samples. Infrared gas analysis assisted with the reaction kinetics of carbon composite pellets through measurement of CO and CO2 in off-gases. This study will assist with establishing the new pelletising method which differs from the conventional fluxed pellets.CITATION:Park, H and Sahajwalla, V, 2013. Effect of CaO-FexOy-Al2O3-SiO2 oxide system on the reduction of carbon composite pellets, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013, pp 467-472 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 12, 2013

By Carter A. J, Miller D. M, Holder N. H M, Van Aswegen P C

The Harbour Lights Mine situated at Leonora in Western Australia, mines a refractory sulphidic gold ore. The main sulphide minerals are pyrite and arsenopyrite. Due to the association of gold with the pyrite and arsenopyrite, gold recovery is not amenable to the normal cyanidation process.A pyrite/arsenopyrite flotation concentrate is produced at Harbour Lights. This concentrate has been stockpiled for the past two years.A bio-oxidation process (BIOX«)* to treat refractory gold flotation concentrates has been developed by GENMIN in South Africa. Harbour Lights acquired the technology from CRL BIOX« Pty Limited in Brisbane, to treat the refractory gold concentrates.

Jan 1, 1992

By J Durbin

To effectively plan for closure, we must have an end-point in mind. To undertake meaningful rehabilitation, a post-mine land use (or uses) must be known. However, it is becoming more apparent that the end-point or “goal-posts” are shifting - and may continue to do so throughout the life of a mine. As well as being safe, stable and not causing environmental harm, post-mine land uses should always be sustainable, achievable within the given land capability, and they should involve stakeholders in their design and development.The majority of mines in Australia, and around the World, were historically expected to return disturbed land to either native ecosystem or agriculture/forestry practices. However, examples of highly successful final land uses suggest that today’s focus on closure includes not only minimising future liability and impact but also – and importantly – a move towards the creation of economic opportunity (Murphy and Heyes, 2016).CITATION:Durbin, J, 2018. Planning for (not so) final land use, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 110–112 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

By P J Savory

Ranger is a uranium mining operation located within one of the most environmentally sensitive regions of Australia. Geology has played an important role in mine planning, operations and rehabilitation since discovery of the deposits 25 years ago. The Ranger orebodies have a reserve total of 166 300 tonnes of U308 including 90 400 tonnes of U308 at North Ranger. At current milling rates these reserves give a mine life greater than 40 years. The uranium is hosted in Lower Proterozoic rocks of the Cahill I ormation and is associated with strong chlorite alteration. In pit grade control involves the use of calibrated probes and a radiometric truck discriminator allowing fast, accurate grade determination of material. Ore is defined at a cut-off grade of 0.2 per cent U308. Mineralised material is defined by the Uranium Mining (Environmental Control) Act 1979 (UMEC Act) at a grade of 0.02 per cent U30s. Natural water levels in the #1 Pit area vary as much as 7.5 metres between wet and dry seasons. Ground water inflow into the pit during the dry season is 600 m3/day. No significant slope failures have occurred in the pit. The environmental impact of mining operations is constantly monitored. Rehabilitation of non-mineralised stockpiles is ongoing. This paper discusses the interaction between geology, hydrogeology, rock mechanics and grade control with the present mining operation.

Jan 1, 1994

By D Brown, K Markovic, Z Tabor

From ancient times to the modern world, the mining industry has played a pivotal role in shaping the society that we live in today. It remains an integral part of everyday life and is a catalyst for both technological and economic growth. With finite resources on Earth, and growing pressures surrounding climate change and the environment, space mining opportunities have become of increasing interest. Recent discoveries have shown celestial bodies including the Moon and surrounding asteroids, contain an abundance of critical minerals, as well as resources necessary to sustain human life. These discoveries coupled with a transition into the digital and autonomous age, offer an innovative solution to solving some of the mining challenges currently being faced on Earth. Similarly, they also offer a pathway to enabling deep space exploration and off Earth exploratory missions. However, like with mining operations on Earth, space remains and immensely challenging and complex operational environment. The inhospitable nature of space poses new challenges, including communication barriers, lunar dust, cosmic radiation, and gravity. The challenges and risks are not just technological, as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors must also be considered to prevent unintended consequences and hazards. Furthermore, future workforce, law, financial, and security systems must evolve to enable space mining to take place. These are all known aspects to begin with, but as the complexity of the space grows it becomes apparent that a holistic approach to assess and manage these factors will be required.

Sep 1, 2024

By S C. Dominy

The grade of ore at Marvel Loch mine is directly related to the presence or absence of shear zones and quartz-sulfide-rich hornblende (¦ diopside) veining within areas of plagioclase alteration. An experienced geologist can identify these features in hand specimen. Practical rules have been developed to assist this visual identification. The structural sites and styles of alteration and veining most conducive to gold mineralisation have also been determined. The work has enabled a better understanding of the geological controls on mineralisation at Marvel Loch, and has clarified geological understanding for optimisation of grade control modeling, ore block mark-ups, and minimisation of ore loss and dilution during excavation. In addition to this, it has enabled a detailed understanding of mine scale structural controls, geometry and relative grade relationships.

Jan 1, 2003

The subject of my paper is one which, I am certain, has exercised the mind of every man on whom depends the safe and economical conduct of mining operations; particularly in this district where the enormous size of the ore body has necessitated the mine workings assuming a scale that was hitherto unknown in the history of Australian mining. I, therefore, approach the subject with the feeling that I am displaying considerable t.emerity, knowing as I do that the subject has engaged the earnest attention and thought of everybody immediately concerned in the extraction of the ore of this district, and particularly of the Broken Hill lode.I think I shall not be contradicted in asserting that a very large proportion of eur accidents are distinctly traiceable to inexperience on the part of the miner, and records at the mines and verdicts of coroners' juries in many instances uphold this assertion by showing that the accident under notice was the direct result of lack of knowledge of the conditions of the work, or, at any rate, of an error of judgment hardly conceivable in the experienced miner. That this assertion is correct may also be proved by visiting any of the mines of the district.To the experienced eye it will be evident at once that a very large number are not in way skilful in the use of their tools and, therefore, lack the experience which of necessity must be coincident with the acquirement of skill. Now in making this' assertion, I do not intend to be too sweeping...

Jan 1, 1903

By V Gumba, S Narendranathan, C Barker, R D. H Thomas, G P. Bungard

This paper presents the positive outcomes on an EPCM project, which was undertaken in a challenging environment, whereby the design team had to generate a design with a number of stringent serviceability criteria, any deviation from which would have had significant implications to the proposed design performance. The success of the design implementation within the tight time frame hinged upon the precise installation by a skilled contractor. The overall objective was achieved as a result of close collaboration between the designer and contractor ensuring all stringent quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) aspects were met and opportunities to optimise design without compromising on performance were identified and implemented, resulting in a cost saving of over A$13 M.CITATION:Narendranathan, S, Thomas, R D H, Bungard, G P, Gumba, V and Barker, C, 2012. The importance of collaboration between designers and contractors in implementing a design in challenging conditions, in Proceedings Eighth Open Pit OperatorsÆ Conference , pp 97-102 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 18, 2012

Safety and health at work is about people. It is about people who plan for work, organise work and perform work. It is about those who come in contact with the workplace and those who are responsible for the workplace. There are wider ranging safety and health obligations that are imposed on the industry stakeholders that span all phases of the production process. In all cases, those responsible for discharging the obligations must ask the questions: Is what we propose safe?, can it be done safer? and are we sure? What we learn from recent legal cases before the courts is that it is essential that all stakeholders work together in a collaborative way when discharging these obligations. Safety and health at work cannot become an issue that is viewed only through the eyes of a single stakeholder group. The reason for this is quite simple. The interrelatedness of the responsibilities that are imposed on each of the stakeholder groups, means that the performance based legislation simply wont work, where an active model of communication and consultation is not in place.

Jan 1, 2005

Study on Treatment of Wastewater Containing Heavy Metal Ions Using Modified Oceanic Cobalt-Rich Crusts

Sep 13, 2010

By C N. Hatton, K Ward

Tailings operations are inherently reactive as operations personnel continuously contend with a concentrator reject feed (tailings) transient in physical and engineering properties, which places a constant constraint on capital and operational spending. It requires a unique skill set to manage the prescribed distribution of tailings under unenviable conditions. Enter the tailings operator, an oftenundervalued commodity and untapped resource that can provide benefits beyond the rigors of dayto- day operational support. Experience consistently demonstrates that skilled and committed operators can serve a vital function in the safe construction of a tailings storage facility. It takes a village to raise a tailings dam. An important part of this process is establishing a culture of operational accountability and ownership. Operator development training is nothing new. However, we find that many of the intrinsic operator skills are left unexploited, and an operator's experiential knowledge base and creativity are commonly overlooked and underutilized. With proper training and guidance, these skills can be harnessed, contributing to safe dam operations. Operator engagement, when properly facilitated, provides tangible benefits ranging from improved tailings engineering properties to reduced closure costs. One important benefit is helping transitioning tailings management from reactive to proactive. There are many processes involved in the reactive to proactive transition process. One element of that process includes engaging operators in the tailings management process and facilitating legacy ownership. The core of operational legacy ownership is measured and described using five-stage operator engagement rubrics. Levels of operator engagement are presented with a description of the incremental benefits of each stage. An important part of legacy engagement is providing the tools to operators necessary for managing the tailings. Therefore, the approach identifies specific methods used by operations personnel to control tailings distribution and in-place properties. The end goal of leveraging operator engagement is to facilitate committed ownership and transition tailings management from an inefficient, reactive process to an improved, cost-effective, proactive practice.

Jul 1, 2021

By L Smith, R Beckie

Controls on environmental loading from acid rock drainage (ARD) are not well understood in waste rock material. In particular, relationships between subsurface flow and the timing, duration, and intensity of leaching of metals and acidity from waste rock dumps remain ill defined. This study investigates field-scale relationships between subsurface flow processes and geochemical processes in unsaturated waste rock. A 12-metre tall, unsaturated waste rock pile, constructed in 1994, was deconstructed and sampled at Key Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, during the summer of 2000. A detailed sampling methodology was developed to characterise physical and chemical properties of waste rock material within the waste rock pile. Physical properties were characterised by measuring soil-water suction, volumetric water content, and grain-size distribution at 60 random locations within the pile and grain-size distribution at 20 grid locations within the pile. Attempts to develop a field-based soil water characteristic curve from physical field-data failed due to spatial variability and hysteresis of waste rock properties. As a result, grain-size distribution was used as a relative measure of subsurface flow. Paste pH, pore-water geochemistry, mineralogy, and water-soluble extraction results were used to characterise geochemical processes and sulfide oxidation at each of the 20 grid locations. Geochemical characterisation results demonstrated the preferential weathering of marcasite relative to pyrite and chalcopyrite. Dolomite was the main buffering carbonate mineral. Gyspum, jarosite and iron oxyhydroxides were the main secondary minerals. Pore-waters contained up to 800, 11.7, and 6 mMolar (78 000, 690, 1400 mg/L, respectively) of sulfate, nickel, and uranium, respectively, suggesting significant weathering has occurred. Measures of weathering indicators show no discernable correlation with grain-size distribution nor do they show any spatial relationship within the sampled grid. Reasons for this may include limited duration of waste rock exposure to weathering and development of fluid flow-paths, and limitations of characterisation methods used. Indeed, six years may not be long enough for weathering patterns to develop due to fluid flow-paths in this unsaturated waste rock pile.

Jan 1, 2003

By J Zhang, L Klemettinen, A Jokilaakso, J Biswas, J Partinen, H O’Brien, A Klemettinen

Waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are important secondary sources of many valuable materials, including Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) defined by the European Union (EU): lithium, cobalt, manganese, and graphite. Additionally, LIBs typically contain nickel and copper, which are classified as Strategic Raw Materials for EU since 2023. In recent years, great effort has been made to develop efficient recycling processes for waste LIBs. Pyrometallurgical processes have been essential in industrial production of metals for many decades. These technologies are relatively mature, with high adaptability for different raw materials. Pyrometallurgical treatment in LIB recycling typically involves the use of smelting processes, in which waste batteries are heated above their melting points and metals are separated through a reduction reaction in the liquid phase. Through this recycling route, cobalt, copper, and nickel can be efficiently recovered in the form of a metal alloy, whereas lithium and manganese are lost in the slag phase. The goal of this work was to increase the recoveries of valuable battery metals through a combination of hydro- and pyrometallurgical unit operations. First, industrial Li-ion battery scrap underwent a selective sulfation roasting stage, where the aim was to transform LiCoO2 and Mn-oxides into Li, Co and Mn sulfates. After roasting, the battery scrap was leached in distilled water with a solid to liquid ratio of 100 g/L at 60°C and recovered 95 per cent of Li, 61 per cent of Mn and 35 per cent of Co. After leaching, the solid leach residue was mixed with industrial Ni-slag and biochar, followed by reduction at 1350°C in argon atmosphere. The high-temperature smelting experiments were conducted as a function of time (5–60 mins) to investigate the reduction behaviour of battery metals. The results show that Co and Ni from the slag and leach residue can be efficiently recovered in the slag cleaning stage.

Jun 19, 2024

By J Robinson, D Herbert

Bench stoping operations at the Isa Lead mine have been underway for over 11 years. They were implemented to address safety, productivity and mining cost concerns noted with cut and fill mining operations which were then being used to extract ore from the Racecourse orebodies. This paper describes the main features of benching operations at the Isa Lead mine and identifies the key elements for the success of the method. Four case histories are presented which highlight several of these factors.

Jan 1, 1998