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New ZealandÆs share of global greenhouse gas emissions, at about one fifth of one per cent, is very small. But the profile of those emissions is unique among OECD countries; more than half come from methane and nitrous oxide associated with livestock agriculture. Consequently, fulfilling its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol is potentially quite onerous for New Zealand.In this paper we use a single region, static general equilibrium model to assess the implications for New Zealand of various climate change policy options. The energy and agriculture sectors are modeled in a detailed manner to enable realistic simulations to be carried out.Choosing an optimal set of policies is made more difficult by the fact that New Zealand relies heavily on emission intensive sectors for much of its export earnings. For example, one emission intensive sector alone, dairy, accounts for over 20 per cent of all merchandise exports. Avoiding carbon leakage is therefore an important consideration in selecting appropriate greenhouse policies.Our analysis shows the degree of sectoral adjustment required is substantial. In addition, the total costs depend on the uncertain level of variables such as the global carbon price and the level of afforestation activities in New Zealand, ie the rate of new forest planting.

Jan 1, 2002

Mine planning includes equipment selection as a subprocess because aging equipment must be replaced to maintain or improve productivity levels. The criteria used for decision-making in mine planning and equipment selection are often inextricably linked and inherently contradictory. For example, financial wisdom demands that development, which is an expense and locks up capital, be deferred as far into the future as possible yet on the contrary technical knowledge suggests that developing well ahead of stoping is practically desirable because it generates additional geological information required to improve planning of the unmined portion of the orebody and create better operating flexibility. Consequently, mine planning professionals have to delicately balance all decision criteria when executing mine planning in order to achieve optimal mineral extraction or when selecting equipment, so that capital is optimally deployed. These two processes can therefore be characterised as belonging to the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) type of problems. MCDA problems are alternatively referred to as multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) problems and belong to a broader group of problems called multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). There is now a gradual recognition and application of MCDA techniques in the minerals industry. This paper explores the theory, current and potential application of these techniques in decision-making in the minerals industry.

Dec 6, 2010

By M Malec, J Szczerbinski

Hazards in underground mines are concomitant with the mining of mineral deposits and have their source in a minerÆs work environment. The authors of the paper have undertaken a trial classification of these hazards into three groups, depending on the sphere of their occurrence:lithosphere, ie rock mass, atmosphere, ie air in mine workings, and technosphere, ie machines, equipment and facilities in mine workings. The lithosphere creates such hazards as bumps, rock outbursts, the atmosphere is a factor causing fires, methane explosions and climatic hazards, whereas accidents concomitant with an operation of machines and equipment occur in the technosphere. Assuming that the number of accidents in the mining industry, concomitant with hazards, reflects the degree of safety, it has been shown, that in Poland they are under control to a large extent.

Jan 1, 1999

Change is inevitable but learning from change is an option. Willingness to learn is one of the first lessons that a leader must learn. Get comfortable and get left behind. I propose to outline the main social changes which are taking place and their impact on the Minerals Industry. Also the changing way we do business and what are the skills needed to manage that change and diversity. How are Associations and Institutes responding to this ever changing environment? More specifically, what is my Vision for the Institute to assist professionals to achieve greater and continuing professional excellence in their chosen professions?

Jan 1, 2000

By Qixiang Y

The strength of coal mass saturated with gas is an essential parameter in studying the mechanism of gas and coal outburst,and its prediction method. Up to now, there has not been a method for determining the strength of coal mass saturated with gas.This paper describes a new method whereby the strength of in-situ coal mass can be determined and stored continuously and automatically. The simulation results obtained in the laboratory indicate that the new method allows a fast, reliable, inexpensive and convenient determination of the strength of coal mass.

Jan 1, 1992

Fine Coal Evaluation by Gravity Methods

Sep 13, 2010

The Ngakuru zeolites are located about 20 km south of Rotorua and comprise a number of deposits dispersed along several fault lines. Relatively recent volcanic activity (250,000 years ago) resulted in ash depositions that vary in depth and mineralogy. Subsequent variable thermal alteration intensities generated predominantly clinoptilolite and mordenite zeolites with a range of physical characteristics. Typically the zeolites have low density (650 kg/m3), have high liquid (60% of dry weight) and odour absorption characteristics, and a high affinity for soluble cations (CEC =: 100 meq/100 g). Traditional kitty litter and oil absorbency markets are being expanded. New opportunities in waste and potable water treatment, organic and synthetic slow release fertilisers, use as a light weight aggregate for speciality concretes, and pozzalome activity are currently being researched.

Jan 1, 2000

Many mining companies aim to integrate sustainability principles into their new projects. There is an intention for improvement, but frequently this results in little more than 'business as usual' projects that retrospectively categorise controls for environmental and social risks as sustainability initiatives as part of a public relations exercise. The successful implementation of sustainability requires a change of mind-set and behaviours at an organisational and personal level. In addition, sustainability incorporates a very wide range of interests and technical disciplines. One of the key challenges is in understanding how and when to pull these diverse threads together within a project or organisational process. This paper will explore a number of themes: What does it mean to implement a project in accordance with sustainability principles? How far beyond 'business as usual' is it reasonable to go, and what is the business case for this? Why do the intentions for sustainability sometimes fail and how can we prevent this happening in future? People are instrumental in delivering sustainability; how do we embed sustainability thinking into their behaviours and decision-making? The approaches that have been taken to integrating sustainability in design; what has and has not worked and some of the barriers to integrating sustainability into design? The authors will discuss these themes drawing on case studies from URS' experience in integrating sustainability into large projects. The authors will discuss the need for: a strategic approach which provides a simple framework for tactical decision-making and the consequences of taking tactical decisions in the absence of this framework, alignment of the project team and promotion of a culture of innovation, a shift from a risk/compliance mentality to an opportunity identification mindset, and a systematic approach to integrating sustainability into project design processes.

Jun 1, 2010

It has been thought in the past that New Zealand had ample coal reserves, able to provide fossil fuel supplies well into the future. Such is not the case and every effort must be made to achieve the highest possible extraction rate in all new coal mining ventures. While the relative cost and availability of completion or fuels has been largely responsible for the slow growth of coal production in the past, a world shortage of fuels has given coal a new importance and required better utilisation of coal reserves. New mining ventures in thick-seam coal deposits cannot be planned and designed without geotechnical investigations designed to provide information required by the mining engineer and analyst. Finite element analysis of mine workings may provide essential information on the optimisation of mining techniques and the design of underground support and roadway shapes.

Jan 1, 1976

On the first of October 1991 two significant pieces of legislation came into force. Both of these are relevant to the allocation and use of minerals in New Zealand . They are the Crown Minerals Act 1991 and the Resource Management Act 1991.   The full legal implications of these is not fully known because the Planning Tribunal and the superior courts have not as yet had to deal with them in any detail. However, the thrust of the legislation is clear and it is appropriate to give an overview of how the statutes will operate in tandem if you are seeking to pursue or oppose any prospect, exploration or mining of Crown Minerals in New Zealand.

Jan 1, 1992

Iron Concentrate Synthesised from Waste Ferrous Sulfate Produced in Titanium White Preparation

Sep 13, 2010

There is no good news! The market environment for raising capital for resource projects is getting tougher. The regulatory and accounting environment is fast becoming more difficult and the hurdles to successfully raising debt, lease, equity or hybrid finance are now considerably higher. As ever, well structured companies and capital issues can and will survive, if not thrive. An outline of the market and regulatory environment for successful issues is set out below, followed by some comparison of stockmarket values of resource assets compared to more technical appraisals.

Jan 1, 1990

The mining industry continues to faces significant challenges due to increasing resource constraints (quality of ore bodies, water, energy, human resources) and increasing license to operate requirements (safety, health, environment, location) from society, employees and shareholders. Technology advancements and hence research are necessary to ensure that the industry remains viable in this changing environment. Collaborative research is an important part of a company's research portfolio and offers the opportunity for the industry to work on generic issues that it is facing. Obvious benefits include the reduced cost to individual companies by sharing the costs, the opportunity to leverage government funding and the opportunity to conduct longer term projects resulting in skills development (PhD and MSc). Limitations of collaborative research include the reduced focus on company specific issues and the loss of competitive advantage from owning the outcomes of the research. The challenge for researchers and research managers is for them to demonstrate the value derived from longer term, pre-competitive collaborative research. The competitive advantage is not necessarily derived only from the outcomes of the research but rather from the company's ability to direct the research, translate the generic research outcomes to address company specific issues and to implement improvements at its operations. Implementation remains the greatest challenge. In this paper, case studies of selected collaborative research projects are presented to demonstrate key success factors required for implementation of research outcomes. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Sep 13, 2010

Over a century ago the first ship designed solely for carrying a bulk cargo was launched. This vessel, the "John Bowes", with a deadweight of 660 tonnes was a single decked ship with machinery and accommodation aft. As such she was undoubtedly the fore- runner of the bulk carrier of today only some two hundred and fifty times smaller. Whilst the "John Bowes" pioneered the present accepted mode of transporting the bulk com- modities of the world, it is unlikely that her cargo was either loaded or discharged as quickly as that of a 150, 000 tonner of today. Two decades ago the bulk carrier was beginning to feature in the bulk handling ports of the world. Cargoes of iron ore previously carried in the 'tween deck vessels of the Empire type and Second World War Liberty ships began to be poured into the unrestricted open holds of bulk or ore carriers. The size of vessels catering for this relatively new innovation has rapidly grown to pass the 150, 000 deadweight tonne mark, but only in the last few years. The growth from now into the future is not simply one of ship size evolution. Neither is it a function of the depth of water available at ports. It is in fact a function of a number of features such as ports, loading and unloading facilities, ship trading characteristics, length of voyage and total economies of the transport task from supplier to destination.

Jan 1, 1973

Management of Mining Wastes in European Union and Developments in Turkey

Sep 13, 2010

Spectroelectrochemical Investigation of Hydroxamate Reagents on Copper Oxide Minerals

Sep 13, 2010

By G S. Beros, K M. Edwards

Over the past 20 years drum scrubbers have become a widely adopted technology within iron ore beneficiation plants. Generally, the drum scrubbers in use are considered high-capacity machines capable of accepting larger-sized feed material. Together with a water addition to a desired pulp density and a mild energy input, these large rotating machines effect an attritioning action that removes water soluble clays and other deleterious materials. Within the Western Australian iron ore industry, drum scrubbers have been successfully applied to Channel Iron, Marra Mamba, Bedded and Detrital orebodies. The introduction of drum scrubbers has enabled Western Australian producers to satisfy the substantial increase in demand for iron ore from Chinese steelmakers by making the lower-grade sections of the above orebodies economic. However, despite being a relatively simple unit process, the requirements for successful design and operation of these machines are not fully understood. This paper draws on the collective experience of both authors to provide some points to consider for incorporating drum scrubbers into iron ore beneficiation plant flow sheets.

Sep 18, 2023

By R Sridhar, M Fe, W G. Bacon

The problems of magnetite build-up have plagued the non-ferrous pyrometallurgical industry for many years. To better understand these problems, a study was undertaken to determine the thermodynamic variables that affect the behaviour of magnetite under different smelting conditions. Equilibration studies were performed in the nickel smelting systems of matte-gas and matte-slag(silica saturation)-gas. The relationship of thermodynamic variables such as temperature, sulphur and oxygen partial pressure and matte grade on iron and magnetite activities were calculated and the significance on smelting parameters such as metal losses and partition coefficients were defined. The experimental data from this study were employed to develop practical methods which could be used to control the build up of magnetite, as well as to obtain additional metallurgical benefits. In general, a lower sulphur partial pressure and higher temperature operation was shown to enhance the metallurgical benefits of nickel smelting by decreasing the magnetite activity. Operating in this manner can also have added benefits such as higher metal recoveries, more efficient vessel utilisation and efficiency and lower smelter emissions at equivalent or higher primary furnace matte grades.

Jan 1, 2000

The Louvicourt Mine is located 600 km north of Montreal in the province of Quebec, Canada. The owners are Aur Resources Inc (30 per cent), mine operator, Novicourt Inc (45 per cent) and Teck Corporation (25 per cent). It is an underground mechanised operation with a total work of 290 employees. Since 1994, the mine production is 11 120 456 tonnes at 3.60 per cent Cu, 1.51 per cent Zn, 26.07 g/mt Ag and 0.96 g/mt Au. At a rate of 4300 tonnes per day 365 days per year. Louvicourt Mine is a copper operation since 80 per cent of our revenue is from copper. The mining method is transverse blasthole stoping, mining primary and secondary stopes. The stope dimension is 15 m wide by 30 m high and 10 m to 80 m long for primary stopes. The secondary stopes are limited at 25 m long. Close to 100 000 metres of production drilling per year is required for 115 mm and 165 mm diameter holes. Backfilling is done with pastefill from the start of the operation in 1994. The binder ratio is 4.5 per cent in primary and two per cent in secondary stopes (80 per cent slag and 20 per cent cement). Development requirement to maintain production was 5000 m from 1996, 1997, 1998, 4200 in year 1999, 3200 m in year 2000 and an average of 2500 m in 2001 and 2002. Typical 6.0 m + 4.3 m, 4.9 m + 4.6 m and 4.5 m + 4.6 m headings. In addition more than 1500 metres of development will be excavated in/under paste backfill before 2004. A total of 60 mobile units are required among which for lateral development (three two boom electric hydraulic jumbos û AC Boomer 322, four electric hydraulic roofbolters û Maclean MEM-928 and AC Boltec PL350 and two anfo loader truck û Dux) and for production (four ITH drills û MTI, one electric hydraulic longhole drill û AC Simba H1357, eight LHD û AC-Wagner ST8-B, 1 LHD ST-1000 and two haulage 30 tons trucks û Dux. The 1 January 2002 reserves are 4.1 M tonnes grading 3.1 per cent Cu and 1.9 per cent Zn at an NSR (Net Smelter Revenue) of $US 53. The operating mining costs were at an average of $US 23 from 1996 to year 2000 and $US 25 in 2001. The operating costs ranged from a low of $US 0.41 per pound of copper in 1999 to a high of $US 0.49 per pound of copper in 1998.

Jan 1, 2002

Cretaceous to Cenozoic sedimentary basins in Western Southland include a wide range of non-marine and marine sediments, in a structurally complex setting dominated by major fault systems. A reassessment of their mineral potential confirms large quantities of nonmetallic minerals (limestone, aggregate, marl), and smaller reserves of bituminous coal, lignite, clays, and oil shale. Hydrocarbon potential is largely untested. Metallic minerals are present in trace amounts, apart from platinum group minerals and some detrital gold. In the offshore area, seismic data suggest the hydrocarbon potential is significant. The Orepuki area has the most interest onshore.

Jan 1, 1992