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Studies of the minor element content of sphalerite and pyrite have generally been concerned with individual deposits or localised groups of deposits. However, a small number of more regional investigations have been reported (e.g. Davidson, 1962; Groves and Loftus-Hills, 1968; Loftus-Hills and Solomon, 1967; Price, 1972; Bralia et al., 1979) which have used the minor element abundances to evaluate the petrogenesis and geological affinities of diverse ore types and to fingerprint metallogenic provinces (e.g. Ivanov, 1964). While generally held to be valid, some doubts have nevertheless been cast on the reliability of minor element abundances in petrogenetic deliberations (e.g. Mercer, This paper reports on the distribution of he. Cpl and Mn in sphalerite, and Co, Ni and Mn in pyrite, from sulphide mineral occurrences within the "eugeosynclinal" prism comprising the New England Region of north-eastern New South Wales and south- eastern Queensland (Fig. 1). The occurrences examined are representative of two well-defined styles of mineralisation (Stanton et al., 1974) within which clear patterns of ore-rock distribution give rise to specific metal associations (Herbert. 1977).

Jan 1, 1987

Epicentres of recent shallow earthquakes in the region (3-12¦S, 126-150`E) were plotted to identify the various plate boundaries in the region, in particular the southernmost one marking the northern edge of the Australian plate. New and published fault plane solutions were examined to determine the style of faulting and state of stress along the Australian plate boundary. From east to west the boundary is first a subduction zone along the Solomon Islands, then a spreading centre across the Solomon Sea, a zone of compression and left lateral strike slip along the Papua Peninsula, almost pure thrusting across the centre of New Guinea and lastly left lateral strike silo through Irian Taya to the outer Banda Arc. The principal stress is very consistent, trending NW to NNW in a near horizontal plane, from the triple junction of the Pacific, Solomon Sea and Australian plates in the east to the Banda Sea in the west. Only along southern Solomon Sea plate margin which is a divergent boundary, is the stress different in type and direction.

Jan 1, 1987

The New Zealand Mines Rescue Brigade was established as a result of the Dobson mine disaster on 3rd December 1926, when 9 men lost their lives. Prior to this, there had been four major disasters in New Zealand coalmines, with a total of 145 fatalities. Only large-scale events such as explosions or major fires were considered reportable. Until and including the Dobson disaster, no mine emergency response facilities or organisation was in place.   Unfortunately, over the next five decades the establishment of a Mines Rescue Service did not mean that disasters involving multiple fatalities ceased. The coal mining industry continued to suffer the consequences of poor mining practice, inadequate or inappropriate monitoring and management, and sometimes complete disregard for the regulatory requirements current at the time.   The role of Mines Rescue has been defined in statute, and regulated by Coal Mines (Mine Management and Safety) Regulations. Currently, the statutory obligations have been under the Mines Rescue Trust Act 1992.   The Mines Rescue Brigade historically, has primarily been a reactive service, with stations and facilities established to train brigadesmen in emergency response procedures, specifically to mobilise in the event of a call-out at any one of the many coalmines operating within each stationÆs area of jurisdiction.   Over the last ten years, this role has changed. The service has adopted a proactive approach to emergency response, and has established a close liaison with all mining and tunnelling operations throughout industry, both underground and surface. The objectives have become emergency prevention focussed, and the service has incorporated a range of theoretical and practical training, simulated exercises, more sophisticated equipment and techniques, and a desire to ensure that emergency response capabilities are not needed, whilst maintaining the traditional and statutory obligation to respond if they are needed.

Jan 1, 2004

New South Wales mining legislation reinforces a systematic approach to safety management. It is now a requirement of all mines in the coal, metalliferous and quarrying sectors in NSW to prepare a Mine Safety Management Plan. The paper briefly outlines work currently being undertaken by the Safety Operations Branch of the NSW Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). The DMR is working proactively with NSW mines in the preparation and implementation of effective Mine Safety Management Plans. There is a growing realisation that a systematic approach to safety management, underpinned by the process of hazard identification, has real potential to improve safety in the workplace. The paper briefly describes the framework used in a current æmines education programÆ and its æduty of careÆ foundation. Particular attention is paid to the role of mining operators in the implementation of Mine Safety Management Plans and their expected behaviour in demonstrating compliance. One challenge is convincing some mining operators that they must adopt new ways of working. Safety Operations officers are often reminded of the need to translate Mine Safety Management Plans into practical safety systems during audits and inspections of mines and through investigations into accidents and incidents. To have a real effect on the mineÆs safety performance, using these systems must be a normal way of going about a dayÆs work for all persons who work at the mine: not a safety manual collecting dust on the mine managerÆs bookshelf. Mine Safety Management Plans are important to mining operators. Not only will positive involvement in the development and use of safety systems ensure they meet their obligations under mining legislation, but it will also help prevent themselves or their workmates being injured or killed.

Jan 1, 2002

The paper describes the preparation of new rail guides, removing existing rails, and replacing with new rails in a vertical winding shaft.INTRODUCTIONThe general practice in coal winding shafts is the use of two cages, with one or more decks in which men and materials are raised or lowered. Winding speeds vary according to depth, the type of winding gear, and whether winding is done in downcast or upcast shafts. Each cage occupies a position between the centre and side of the shaft, with a clearance depending on the type of guides used. The function of the guides is to keep the cage in position throughout the entire depth of the shaft. There are three types of guides, two of which are in general use.1. Selected wood of about 6 in. square section, fixed to the side of buntons.2. Solid strand steel made up similarly to that of an ordinary wire rope, suspended from the head frame with weights attached to the lower end.3. Standard T-rail sections fixed to end or side buntons. Of the three types, 2 and 3 are in general use. The type used in the particular case, the subject of this paper, is T-rails of the standard section used in railway work.GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SHAFTDetails of the shaft are as follow: Diameter of shaft: 22 ft. inside lining.Depth of shaft: 900 ft., including sump.Concrete lined throughout.VENTILATIONThe ventilation shaft is used for the upcast, through which all vitiated air passes to the main ventilation fan. Quantity of air passing up the shaft is 400,000 cu. ft. per minute. The air is highly saturated during the summer weather and slightly less...

Jan 1, 1947

Since I first enrolled to study Mining Engineering, the idea of working with big machinery and explosives has always appealed to me. After a few courses at uni, combined with vacation work and a number of presentations at the New LeadersÆ Conferences I had attended, I began to realise that the explosives side seemed to have more appeal than the others. As I look back on the past two and a half years that I have spent with Orica Australia Pty Ltd as part of their graduate program, I would have never imagined the dynamics of explosives in mining. This I put down to the ever changing and rapid development in technology converting blasting techniques into a defined predictable science. The opportunities I have been given have delivered all the appeals from when I first started my study. As a result of my entry into a profession that uses explosives to deliver broken rock in a range of mining and construction projects, through the use of advanced blasting technology and products, my experiences have been wide and varied. These experiences have included the use of OricaÆs i-konÖ detonator technology and blast design software to allow for blasting operations to occur in a range of environmentally sensitive quarrying and construction projects throughout New Zealand, to the implementation of various Orica blast based services aimed at improving dragline dig performance and reducing coal loss thus improve overall mine sustainability in the coal mines of Central Queensland, to the advanced utilisation of Orica explosive products and technology in a number of the worlds largest copper mines in Chile. I have witnessed first hand the blasting technology available within Orica Mining Services to both deliver fundamental changes in mining results and in turn kick off my career with a bang.

Jan 1, 2009

Papua New Guinea has a long history of mining, with gold being produced from deposits on islands in the south east of the country over a hundred years ago. Before the Second World War, the mining and dredging of gold made the Wau-Bulolo area a

Jan 1, 1994

By E Baafi, G Brassington

Coal mining operations can impact on various types of surface infrastructure or natural features, including cliff-lines, steep slopes and natural watercourses. Longwall mining leads to a subsidence depression due to the changing geometry of the mined out area. The current regulatory process for managing subsidence in New South Wales (NSW) involves the preparation of a Subsidence Management Plan (SMP). This paper demonstrates the use of a Weights of Evidence (WofE) technique applied within a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) environment to predict potential areas for rockfalls along cliff-lines in the NSW Southern Coalfield. The WofE is a ædata-drivenÆ method that can be used to predict subsidence impacts prior to mining. The WofE method was applied to ten known rockfalls along the Cataract River to evaluate the reduced impact of not mining within 50 m of cliff-lines along the Nepean River. There is significant reduction of probabilities of rockfall occurrence when mining is avoided within 50 m of cliffs.

Jan 1, 2006

By S J. Schafrik, M Long

There are several factors that are increasing the need for new graduates to be ready to design and manage more autonomous operations at mines. Autonomous controls and systems range from the start-up, control, and shutdown of processing plants to the autonomous operation of vehicles. These operations require the workers, engineers, and management to have additional skills for programming, debugging, tasking, and maintaining the equipment. The future survivability of many mining operations will be influenced by a company’s willingness and ability to understand, accept, and utilise this technology for safe and productive operations. This is an educational opportunity and challenge that needs to be addressed throughout the student’s experience, from first year to graduate level. This paper discusses the lessons learned from a decade of multidepartment effort at all student levels and many courses that are able to incorporate data science, controls, and autonomous design into the already topic-rich national curriculum. This approach also exposes other engineering disciplines to the mining industry which is a valuable recruiting tool for talent outside of the mining engineering departments.

Sep 1, 2024

By M Pizey, P Lindsay

Coal mining has been occurring on the Stockton Plateau for over 100 years. As a result of both natural conditions and mining activities, surface water on the plateau is known to have low pH and elevated metals concentrations, a condition known as acid rock drainage (ARD). Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd (SENZ), as owners of the current mining operations at Stockton desire to understand the nature and causes of ARD at Stockton to determine whether commercially viable options can be developed to improve the water quality to levels acceptable to the local community and regulators. A series of integrated water quality investigations have been performed towards developing a characterisation of the water quality on the Stockton Plateau and receiving waters. The investigations performed include: design and implementation of a water quality monitoring program to collect a satisfactory base of water quality data from which to develop an understanding of the water quality and its variability, and to collect data regarding the range of flow rates that occur in the principal streams; development of a hydrological model for the Plateau with the ability to predict flow rates at key locations on the plateau and on the Ngakawau River; field investigations of the bio-diversity of the plateau and surrounding areas, to develop a snapshot of the health of aquatic communities and whether streams draining mine workings are æadversely impactedÆ; eco-toxicology; waste dump seepage water quality monitoring at selected basal springs, drilling, investigations and permeability and geochemical testing; data processing of a range of historical data and the newly acquired data for the development of empirical relationships that describe the water chemistry system and its relationship in turn to flow rates in the streams; simulation of the long term water quality record for the measured parameters (pH, acidity and metals concentrations), based on the hydrological model and the empirical relationships developed from the new database; and preliminary development and examination of mitigation options for the ARD issues at the mine. The study has progressed towards design of pilot studies of options for mitigation of the generation of the ARD as well as treatment of the discharges. It is the integrated approach adopted by SENZ from an early time in the investigations, that has enabled fast-tracking of the pilot engineering trials. This paper presents the results of the field investigations and eco-toxicology studies and demonstrates the value of predictive modelling of water quality in the study area, even at a very early stage in the remedial engineering design process.

Jan 1, 2003

Conceptually coal reserve assessment is simple but in practice it presents many problems. These arise from the origin and geological history of coal seams and from the diverse nature of the coal itself. The suitability of a coal for a particular use depends upon its type and so sheer quantity of reserves does not guarantee the adequacy of coal reserves for all requirements. Codes have been formulated to counteract the effects of subjectivity in reserve assessment. The code for calculating and reporting coal reserves published by the Standing Committee on Coalfield Geology of New South Wales has wide acceptance but the Committee itself recognises that it has shortcomings. Currently the Committee is engaged on the commendable but difficult endeavour of formulating a code that will meet the needs of scientific rigour and professional and commercial ethics and that will allow the specification of an assessment method without constraining it. It is generally agreed in the coal industry that the assessment of coal reserves can not conveniently be incorporated into codes formulated for other resources.

Jan 1, 1979

The products required by customers today have become far more complex and consequently more demanding to handle. And thereÆs the dilemma. Nowadays, people tend to stick to a trade for just a few years instead of for a lifetime, and this means that the customerÆs employees cannot be expected to get more than general knowledge of how to handle modern mining and construction equipment. To meet this challenge, major steps are being taken by suppliers to make their æmusclesÆ more user-friendly. Also the supplier is assuming a larger share of responsibility for the product including operators training, supply maintenance services and, in many cases, performance guarantees. In other words, the supplier is today supplying a function or an activity rather than just muscles. Some of the new generation drill rigs have been on the market for a few years and reliable experience has been collected and is addressed in this paper. Some of the information is well supported by figures while others are just statements from users of the rigs.

Jan 1, 2005

The Hall-Heroult process is likely to be the dominant method of aluminium production for the remainder of the century. The characteristics of the operation of a modern smelter are described and attention drawn to their disabilities which are due chiefly to the small production capacity of individual cells.The principal components of the Hall-Heroult cell- the electrolyte, the anode and the cathodes are discussed in order to identify the problems of scale-up. The factors influencing current efficiency and energy consumption are analysed and lead to the conclusion that the greatest potential for energy saving lies in reducing the anode to cathode distance (ACD).The most promising direction for major change is in the application of a new titanium diboride-carbon composite for coating of the surface of the cathode carbon. It improves the wetting of the carbon by aluminium and should permit the use of sloping cathodes and anodes. The deep metal pad would thereby be eliminated and, in the absence of magnetic perturbations, the ACD could be substantially decreased.

Jan 1, 1987

By Hall S, Upton D

WMC Resources Ltd nickel operations have expanded significantly over the last three years. Production capacity has increased at mine/concentrate, smelting and refinery processes to such an extent that WMC now ranks within the top three or four producers of nickel metal in all forms. The stainless steel industry remains the dominant user of nickel. WMC's forecast is for stainless steel production to grow at 2.8 per cent per annum off of the 1995 peak, with much slower growth in the short-term as the stainless steel inventory overhang unwinds, followed by a return to higher trend growth rates. WMC's forecast for the long-term growth in demand for primary nickel is three per cent per annum off the 1995 peak; again, slower growth in the short-term before a return to higher long-term trend rates. This projection is towards the optimistic end of the range of industry experts. It equates to a requirement for new primary nickel of 25 000 to 30 000 tonnes of annual capacity each year.

Jan 1, 1996

The key issue which determines the use of imaging for explosives and mining research is the question - `What information will I gain by using imaging technology?' This paper will address that question from the point of view of a researcher and cameraman working in industrial imaging and photography. The paper will establish a common set of reference standards for high speed imaging and photography which researchers can apply when deciding which type of imaging technology is appropriate. It will present an overview of current image analysis technologies and practices in use across a range of appropriate scientific fields and draw lines of commonality of approach between these fields and the field of explosives and mining analysis and research. Further to this, the paper will examine the different technologies from an image quality reference point, ease of operation, cost, and reliability parameters. Finally this paper will present an argument for the hybridisation of established and new technologies which could provide a more beneficial approach to the use of imaging as a tool of research and analysis in the explosives and mining industries. This will include a novel approach to high speed filming and analysis in the field which should deliver high quality images in a time frame which is more appropriate to urgent action and solutions.

Jan 1, 1995

With the next mining boom looming, the industry will once again struggle to meet skills needed as the current generation boomers are set to retire. In order to meet these needs it is going to need to focus on what underutilised human resources - in particular women - want!   Women comprise around 14 per cent of the mining workforce, compared with a 45 per cent participation rate in the work force overall. Within the industry, women still make up only one per cent of trades people, eight per cent of operators/production employees, 12 per cent of engineers and 11 per cent of executive management.   It may be worth pointing out that mining has an age profile skewed towards the older end of the spectrum. When it comes to employee retention, what women want may be a good starting point to examine, more broadly, what all employees might want (but are too afraid to ask!).   Women in mining want the following: To be scrutinised for their work and performance, not their personal lives, appearance or relationships. True pay equity. This is addressed at lower levels between companies but at professional levels the salary differentials begin to appear and little is done to identify why this continues to be the case. Recognition and acceptance that women can have different work-styles, and that diversity of work-styles is an asset to be nurtured not a threat to be neutralised! Recognition that a more diverse workforce demographic that better reflects society at large will assist the company in its dealings with many diverse stakeholders from society at large. For employers to recognise that a career break to accommodate caring responsibilities does not mean that an employee's commitment to progressing their career is any less than that of someone who has not taken a career break. Similarly, for employers to recognise that working part-time for to accommodate caring responsibilities does not mean that an employee's commitment to progressing their career is any less than someone who works a more traditional roster. Access to affordable and quality child care compatible with mining rosters in mining towns. Zero tolerance for bullying and harassment, and workplace cultures that promote respect and safety. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY no paper was prepared for this presentation.

Jun 1, 2010

The approvals process for a major cut-back is not a simple exercise when a mine is located alongside the community. Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) has been through an extensive process of government, JV owner and community consultation to ensure that necessary permitting processes and detailed studies have been completed to allow this six year extension to the open pit mine life to be achieved. With the Kalgoorlie Boulder community being on the doorstep of the mine, it is critical to ensure that the operation runs smoothly and complies to the license conditions to achieve the full value of the Golden Pike cut-back, and leave behind a sustainable legacy for the local community. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY no paper was prepared for this presentation.

Jun 1, 2010

By P Stoker

The need for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) in the sampling and assaying of minerals is fundamental to the reliability and confidence of a mineral resource estimate, reserve estimate and possibly profitability of a mine. In spite of this, QA/QC practices in the mining industry are commonly applied poorly, or misunderstood. As New Leaders, we should aim to correct the poor practices and become fully informed on appropriate procedures. This paper uses worked examples that show the usefulness and importance of best practice QA/QC procedures. Fundamentals of reviewing the performance of the laboratory by examining the results of client inserted standard reference material (standards), blank material and duplicate samples are discussed. To do this, three examples from Australian data sets have been used. For each example, simple and efficient plotting techniques are suggested with subsequent evaluations of each plot. The first case study compares the results of internal standards from a laboratory with blind standards (where the expected value is unknown to the laboratory) submitted by the client. It was demonstrated over time that the laboratory was unintentionally analysing the internal standards in a different manner to the remainder of the sample batch. In this example, not understanding the cause of a high negative laboratory bias could have led to poor understanding of the depositÆs grade and in the extreme a proposed mining operation may have reached operational stage with a subeconomic grade. The second case study discusses the quality of blank material submitted by a mining operation to monitor cross-contamination within the laboratory. The blank material contained background levels of the element under investigation. This created uncertainty in the assay results, which could have led to the need for additional assays and drilling programs. Finally, the third case study demonstrates the use of the relative paired differences (RPD) technique to cross-validate the results from duplicates and repeat analyses from two laboratories. The three examples given show either laboratory or operational error. If left undetected, each example could have had serious implications for the mineral resource estimate and ultimately, the mining operation. These examples are not isolated occurrences; poor QA/QC practices are an industry wide problem exacerbated by rapid staff turnover and increased contractor positions on-site. New Leaders must be equipped with a thorough grounding in QA/QC best practices to improve its application and confidence in the results of sample analysis.

Jan 1, 2009

By P R. Botha

Mining has played a significant role in human development and without the mining sector, society would not enjoy a large number of the benefits that it does today. However, mining has also carried with it some important lessons, which remain the source of ongoing learning. One of these lessons is the poor closure or abandonment of mines, worldwide. This has in many cases resulted in large tracts of unproductive land, representing a source of environmental pollution and a safety hazard to the community. Frequently associated with this is a legacy of mining communities having fallen into economic and social decline, beyond mine closure.Due to this legacy, governments, society and the mining sector pay far greater attention to mine closure planning today, than was done in the past. Typically closure planning has focused on the engineering aspects of a mine, namely decommissioning of the workings and plant; dismantling of unusable infrastructure; and rehabilitation of disturbed land. These are important aspects of closure but a more holistic, long-term approach is required which encompasses environmental and social aspects and aims to leave a positive legacy behind.In planning for a mine closure scenario with a lasting positive legacy, it is critical that the broader receiving environments (social, economic, physical and biological) within which a mine is located, define and drive the closure plan and the mine planning as a whole. This ensures that the broader environment influences mine closure, as opposed to looking at how a closed mine will impact on the environment. The ultimate aim is to first understand the broader environment and then to fit the closure of a mine into it. The earlier this approach is followed in the life of a mine, the greater the operational time frame available, and hence a better chance is presented for planning and managing a mine towards the desired, tested and agreed post closure scenario. Within this broad context, there is tremendous scope to achieve successful mine closure. However, it is critical to note that mine closure is not the sole responsibility of the mining companies, and neither is it possible for said mining companies to achieve mining closure alone. This concerted effort requires a multi-stakeholder approach in which partnerships are created and risks, responsibilities and opportunities are shared and managed. To achieve sustainable closure, a multi-stakeholder approach based on an initial forward-looking closure vision is required. This approach provides an early basis for consideration of alternative land uses and economic options from which specific actions to achieve the preferred option can be defined. The Anglo American plc Mine Closure Toolbox has been formulated and developed around this concept. The Toolbox aims to expand mine closure planning - from financial provisioning for rehabilitation and physical closure, to planning for sustainability beyond mine closure and leaving behind a positive legacy.This paper focuses on the business case for mine closure planning and provides an overview of the Anglo American plc (AAplc) Mine Closure Toolbox.CITATION:Botha, P R, 2012. The business case for mine closure planning and an overview of Anglo AmericanÆs mine closure toolbox approach, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012 , pp 7-10 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 10, 2012

By K D. Tuckwell

The Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan, has nominated ‘maximising our advantages’ from ‘Mining Boom Mark II’ as the focus of the 2011/2012 Australian Budget. Australia therefore requires a bolder and better integrated economic reform agenda if it is to convert current strong demand for mineral commodities into lasting prosperity that benefits all Australians. Lasting prosperity, well past 2012, will only be achieved if Australia can effectively reverse a decade-long deterioration in the minerals industry productivity performance due largely to capacity constraints that inhibit growth. This requires improving the efficiency of energy networks, transport infrastructure, water markets, health and education services, access to skilled people and by streamlining costly, inefficient project approvals’ processes. The common thread that holds this economic fabric together is the importance of having the right people using the most appropriate technology within the correct policy framework.In December 2010, employment in the minerals sector stood at 187 200; 21 per cent higher than one year earlier, 15 per cent higher than the industry employment peak prior to the global financial crisis in 2008 and 14 per cent greater than anticipated by industry modelling published in 2008. Managers and professionals make up approximately 15 per cent of the total workforce, yet minerals-related higher education programs (mining engineering, metallurgy and geoscience) continue to be chronically underfunded, requiring direct industry subsidies of more than $25 M over the last decade. Also, the publicly-funded Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector continues to fail the industry in the delivery of quality training programs. Importantly, the industry is a key driver of economic activity in regional and remote Australia and is the largest source of private sector employment for Indigenous Australians who comprise up to a quarter of employees in certain locations.This presentation looks at what our industry and country need to achieve to ensure we have the right people for the challenges ahead. **This is an abstract only. No paper was provided for this abstract.**

Nov 22, 2011