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By Johnston RF

The motivation for, the structure of, and the overall features of a block release Graduate Diploma program designed for practising minerals engineers are outlined. It is demonstrated that because of the very specific subjects taught, the course has the potential to effect significant improvements in operating plant performance. Through lifting the skill level of the participants and therefore advancing their career prospects, the course can raise staff morale and improve plant performance and productivity in their work place.

Jan 1, 1993

By D A. Aitzhanova, E Zh Omirzakova

The Republic of Kazakhstan has well developed mining and metallurgical complex. In modern conditions, when deposits of useful minerals are running thin, it is very important to find additional sources for obtaining necessary products. As our investigations showed different kinds of waste may be used for producing of different kinds of products, which are successfully applied in different branches of KazakhstanÆs economy. Analysis of ways for increasing of complex use of mineral raw materials of different deposits, widening raw mineral materials base and decreasing negative effects on the environment, are presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 2003

This paper will provide an overview of the coal mining industry operating in the Wollongong area, covering: the history and heritage of mining in the Illawarra region;unique features affecting mining in the region û opportunities and threats;current mining operations in the area;challenges facing coal mining in the region, including managing environmental impacts and seeking community support for mining approvals; andthe future for coal mining in the region. The paper aims to showcase the size and history of the coal mining industry around Wollongong and to emphasise the specific benefits and challenges that are faced by companies operating coal mines in such close proximity to urban and environmentally sensitive areas.

Jan 1, 2008

Australians have always been great travellers but, traditionally Australian companies have been very conservative in contrast to more daring individual Australians. During the 1960s, '1970s and 1980s, the Australian companies spent much of their time exploring in Australia. It was only some of the major companies like CRA and BHP that had explored in places like Bougainville and Chile. However, during the mid-1980s some of the smaller companies started looking beyond their shore towards other opportunities in other countries. Why did they do this? Were they pushed or did they jump? And where did they go?

Jan 1, 1996

Two recently published studies have considered whether and how robots, which have been designed for manufacturing applications, could find use in mining. The conclusions of both studies, if not identical, are compatible. Automation of mining activities will continue. Robots, at least in the short term, will have little application in mining. However, robotic concepts, both hardware and software, are of considerable relevance to mining automation, and can be anticipated to diffuse gradually into mine environments. The present paper is intended to convey the current state of thought on this subject to IFAC Symposium participants who may be unfamiliar with the referenced studies, and is not intended to report previously unpublished research.

Jan 1, 1985

When preparing an appraisal, valuation or feasibility study for a new mining project it is difficult to imagine the technical, economic, social and environmental context that the project will occupy in ten or 15 years time. This paper is about our ability to foresee the future, the choices available now in matching the project to that future context, and about the flexibility that exists in adapting the project to a changing environment. The author draws upon his experience of project reviews, valuations and feasibility studies in the mid to late 1980s in Australia and New Zealand to explore how the project context has changed since key decisions were made and what this tells us about decisions made today for future projects.

Jan 1, 2004

By Ritchie AS

The principles of chromatographic and electrophoretic separations are described in simple non-mathematical language. Brief details of the analytical procedures and of equipment are given. Partial analyses of rare earth elements in monazites from four localit- ies in New South Wales are compared with analyses from other localities. The presence of uranium in two of the monazites is recorded. The occurrence of rare earths in nature is outlined and its geological significance is indicated, A low capital cost method of analysis of rare earths in monazites is Introduced.

Jan 1, 1972

By C Glassock, P Bodon, M Elias

Computer simulation is a well-accepted tool for modelling the behaviour of large or complex operating systems. Less common is the use of simulation as a design aid, but FluorÆs simulation group regularly applies discrete and continuous simulation models to assist with optimisation and risk management in a wide variety of mining, mineral processing and logistics applications. To demonstrate the wide applicability of simulation modelling as a design aid, this paper describes three case examples from FluorÆs recent work that cover both discrete and continuous operations.

Jan 1, 2003

By Goode A, Belby P, Wardell-Johnson M

Within a short time frame of just over two years Wirralie Gold Mine has been developed from a virgin geological discovery to an operating gold mine with a mine life of six years and a production rate of 50,000 oz per annum. Construction work on the 600,000 tpa single stage crushing, two stage milling CIP plant commenced in November 1987 and was completed some seven months later at an overall cost of $A25 million. Since commissioning in May 1988 the treatment plant has exceeded design tonnage, availability and recovery. A second expansion programme in January 1989 will increase plant capacity to one million tonnes per annum with associated bullion production of 80,000 ozs per annum.

Jan 1, 1989

Interest in mining narrow, vein-type ones has increased world-wide during the last few years despite the fact that prices of metals have not risen in proportion as production costs of mining, such as labour and energy.In many mines, where narrow ones are mined, the mining technique and equipment used have been poorly mechanized. The mining methods have been cut-and-fill or shrinkage stoping. Pneumatic jack-legs have been used for drilling and slushers have been used for loading.The methods that have been used can be called the "first-generation" methods.Work has been very hard for miners. It has been dangerous and exhausting.Production volumes of mines, and a s a result of that, also profits have been low.

Jan 1, 1990

The application of cheap robust microprocessor based units to achieve monitoring and control in an underground mining environment is described. The functional layout of the programmable controller and the methods of multiplexing and processing information from local and remote sources are examined as are features for refrigeration plant control.High noise immunity communication to a remote micro computer uses existing telephone lines and enables display and print of essential data. The development of this system then leads to applications in monitoring compressed air, ore transport and underground fires.In conclusion, the problems of data presentation to different levels of management and the future philosophy of a central multi-reporting system are discussed.

Jan 1, 1985

The Court rejected the suggestion that CRAE had actively misled DMR concerning the worth of its tenements. The Court agreed that CRAE remained silent about certain significant information concerning CRAE's own tenement area. It was a significant question as to what duties CRAE'was under, given that it was in joint venture with DMR in respect of one of the tenement areas. Did that joint venture create an obligation on CRAE to disclose everything it knew? The Court said no. The Court said that the fiduciary duties were defined by the terms of the farm-in agreement between DMR and CRAE. When the Court examined the disclosure obligations within the confines of the contract, it held that CRAE had not breached those terms.

Jan 1, 1990

Many aspects of best practice resource evaluation do not create value, but poor practice can certainly destroy value. Generally companies prefer to present how their good practice adds value and for this reason few publications exist on examples of how poor practice can destroy value. However in big and small companies there are many previous and current examples of poor practice destroying value. The incremental expenditure required to move from poor practice towards best practice can be looked upon as insurance against destroying shareholder value. Examples of how poor practice in geology has destroyed value are presented as well as the improvement model used by BHP Billiton to add value and insure against destroying value.

Jan 1, 2002

By D Cioclea, I Toth

Coal mining can lead to the occurrence of spontaneous combustion events. If these events are not prevented they can give rise to fires that have major adverse effects on the mine plan. After studying the chemical structure of coal, the theories of self-ignition and of the oxidation reaction of the organic compounds, two new technologies have been developed for fire prevention based on the inhibition of coal oxidation. The first technology consists of spraying water drops mixed with inhibiting substances into goaves. The second consists of the infusion of a mixture made of several chemical compounds. Tests performed in situ showed the new inhibition technologies to be highly effective even for longwalls mining coal with a high reactivity from the point of view of self-ignition.

Jan 1, 2005

Green policies have gained momentum since the 1972 Stockholm Environment Conference. The environmental movement has influenced political initiatives both in New Zealand and abroad. Governments and international institutions have addressed local, regional and global environmental issues with varying degrees of success. New Zealand so far has not supported the United Nations' call for sustainable development in a,consistent manner.New institutions and new rules for resource management mean there are opportunities to look after the land in different and more ecologically sensitive ways than has happened in the past.The increasing influence of regional councils in resource management planning will have important implications for mining and mineral exploration. These trends are discussed and possible future events outlined.

Jan 1, 1990

By C Rees, M Predebon, J Denney

It has been said on many occasions that æthe future of the mining industry of Australia, and indeed the world, lies in the hands of the studentsÆ. As a student, this can be a daunting, yet very exciting, statement. If nothing else, it is a direct challenge to the student body of the mining industry to take responsibility for its direction æafter 2000Æ. However, for the students to embrace this challenge, some responsibility must be borne by the universities and the industry itself to provide some direction and encouragement. Perhaps, therefore, the real challenge is to find the right balance between students, industry and education to best prepare the students for a career in the mining industry. The future industry will demand students who are capable and willing to adapt to change and technology and able to exert the vision and leadership required to ensure the mining industry continues to thrive well into the next century.

Jan 1, 2000

Drainage aids are designed to assist in filter cake dewatering by reduction of surface tension. By the early 1980's severalspecialist chemical manufacturers had developed drainage aids specific to the alumina industry. Thus, after some initial laboratory work, drainage aid addition to the product hydrate filter cake was first tried at Gove in early 1981. Encouraging results led to further plant trials and a laboratory trial comparing eight different products. Fromthis last trial a product was chosen and a plant trial run in March 1982. The results achieved encouraged a further plant trial to be run during April and May, 1982 and a decision was then made to adopt the full-time use of drainage aid on the plant.Optimisation work with the drum filters and drainage aid continued until late 1983. This work not only led to optimisation of dose rates, concentrations etc., but also to significant improvements in the mode of operation of the product filtration area.

Jan 1, 1985

The exploration methods used by the British Coal Corporation in 1990 improve the geological reliability of underground coal production. Although some of the techniques in common use have been proved to be effective, their limitations are recognised and concentration has been on the increasing integration of direct and remote sensing techniques. Attention is focussed onto first seam workings in sections of at least 2 metres in the depth range of 400-1200 metres and covers both surface and underground exploration. The case studies of exploration techniques and their effect on mine design at several existing collieries are representative of a wide range of geological environments within the more productive British coalfields. Notwithstanding such improvements in exploration and geological reliability, further new exploration technology is currently being investigated or trialled by British Coal.

Jan 1, 1991

Mining companies in Australia have grown in size and complexity over the past 20 years. The same period has seen exten- sive changes in the operating environment, with greater competition and intensified in- dustrial and social pressures placing new demands 'on mining activity. The new condi- tions require a management approach that emphasises strategic planning rather than operational efficiency. Strategic management evolves through four distinct phases, namely, financial planning, forecast-based planning, externally oriented planning and 'true' stra- tegic management. The most difficult transi- tion to make is from Phase 2 (forecast-based planning) to Phase 3 (externally oriented plan- ning) since management is often too involved in operations to find time to develop and main- tain a strategic orientation towards the mar- ket and competitors. Reorganisation of re- sponsibility for operations and improved op- erational processes enable management to concentrate on external opportunities.

Jan 1, 1980

By K Inoue

The pressure oxidation of molybdenite concentrates in acidic and alkaline media has been studied. The conditions of the selective oxidation of copper and iron sulphide minerals with a quantitative copper leaching by ferrous-ferric-sulphate solution have been found and explained from the point of view of electrochemical kinetics. The partly oxidised residue consisting of molybdenite and (hydro-) oxide of iron (III) was then decomposed by oxygen in alkaline media. Effects of the main parameters, such us oxygen pressure, leaching temperature, solid-liquid phase ratio, autoclave stirring speed as well as lixiviants nature on the molybdenite oxidation rate have been established.

Jan 1, 2000