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The most appropriate technology needs to be applied to premining geological investigations to achieve reliable data for predictions of geological conditions ahead of mining. The paper describes the application of various investigatory techniques in BHP's Illawarra Collieries which are used to provide reliable assessments of structure, the nature of the coal and surrounding strata,, and the fluids contained in the strata. The techniques used include surface seismic, in-seam seismic, borehole drilling, electromagnetic and aeromagnetic surveys, hydrogeological investigations and in-mine mapping. The results of various case studies are presented as examples of the application of techniques.

Jan 1, 1988

By Takeuchi T, Matsugaki K

We have developed a new shotcreting which is suitable for the primary support of TBM tun- nelling in soft rock. This spraying compound is made from cement, a special accelerating agent and glass fiber. It can be sprayed on to a rock surface using a specially designed gun similar to paint-spraying equipment. Some of the characteristics of this method are as follows: 1) If spraying is done keeping the distance between the gun and the rock surface be- tween 0.2 and 3.0 m, the rebound losses are small and there is little dust. 2) This method can be used on excavated rock surfaces under inflowing water conditions of up to 10 i/m2òmin. 3) After 1 day the compressive strengthes of the sprayed material is greater than 250 kgf/cm2.

Jan 1, 1987

During the past 18 months a rock mechanics project has been in operation at Renison Limited. The project was established to identify and investigate key problem areas that would affect future production at the Renison mine. An in-house approach was adopted, using shall compact equignent, to investigate ground behaviour. Information on the rock stress field was considered to be particularly important for an understanding of ground behaviour. A high horizontal stress component exists, which enables large flat dipping spans of hanging wall to be opened up, with support being provided by post pillars. The amount of support provided by these post pillars has been found to be low.

Jan 1, 1982

Land is of extreme importance to citizens of Papua New Guinea and is fundamental to most of their customs and values. Because of this, matters to do with land cannot easily be separated from other matters to do with the community. Good relation-ships with landowners and the community surrounding a development are, indispensable ingredients that -must flavour and colour the entire ;operati on .

Jan 1, 1994

The paper describes the geology, structure, stress, gas and strata geomechanical properties for Leichhardt Colliery and their reactions to mining.

Jan 1, 1986

By Martin C. H, Met B

INDEX OF CONTENTS:1. Introduction, Explanatory; and Reasons for Coal Cleaning.2. Principles on which Coal Cleaning is based.3. Location of Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. Plant.4. Description of Processes Selected Barvoys Bath Process; Barvoys Medium Preparation and Treatment; Static Dry Cleaning Plant.5. Detailed Description of Plant.6. Typical Results of Cleaning Operations.INTRODUCTION, EXPLANATORY, AND REASONS FOR COALCLEANING:The Institute proceedings have not previously published any matter on coal cleaning and the reasons thereof; in consequence it has been deemed advisable to allot a part of this paper to explanatory matter, prior to entering into a detailed explanation and description of the Newcastle plant.At the outset it would be as well to consider briefly the kinds of materials from which coal has originated. All coals represent some stage in the decomposition and transformation of vegetable matter laid down in prehistoric times, the vegetable matter undergoing numerous geological changes, such as submergence, overlaying by sediment, with subsequent pressure and re-elevation; these processes may...

Jan 1, 1946

By J McNee

Pike River Coal Limited (PRCL) is developing the Pike River Coal Mine in the Paparoa Ranges of New ZealandÆs South Island. The mine is being developed to extract a coking coal deposit of the Brunner Seam, some 46 km northeast of Greymouth, using a combination of continuous miners, road-headers and hydraulic extraction.   The mining area is located within Department of Conservation (DOC) land and is adjacent to the escarpment of the Paparoa Range and the Paparoa National Park. The mine will use its elevation advantage to hydraulically flume coal from the working faces to the pit bottom area where it will be slurried to approximately 35 per cent density of solids and pumped down a slurry line to the coal prep plant some 10.5 km down the Pike River Valley. The coal will be sold on the export market as a high quality coking coal for international steel making.   PRCL faces significant challenges to achieving the goal of cost effective production. The remoteness, high rainfall (greater then 6 metres per year on average), temperature variation and restrictions on access to this subalpine environment have driven the project to develop some distinctive solutions. These include the establishment of survey control in such a difficult environment with vertical and sub-vertical rock faces, significant vegetation and steep slopes by using helicopter survey, aerial photography and LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) aerial survey. PRCL has also commenced designing the placement of the main ventilation fans in an underground chamber in the stone drive.

Jan 1, 2007

Mining software systems have provided a basis for integration of resource, survey, and design functions. They can similarly provide a basis for incorporating ground conditions into the process.Exploration and mine geologists have a prime role to play in this process, extending their responsibilities further across the geological spectrum, into exploration of ground conditions, analyses of results, and assessments of their implications for mining. Ground conditions are as much a part of the geology of a prospect or mine as its mineralisation, and can have critical imnlicationa for mining.

Jan 1, 1993

The application of methods using large diameter down holes has become an important facet in both the development and stoping operations of mines within the Aberfoyle group. Holes of up to 98 metres (vertical) and 78 metres (inclined) have been successfully used in stoping operations. A number of rises have been developed to meet ventilation, servicing and escape-way requirements. The most ambitious rise to date has been a..vertical 93 metre long by 4.50 metre square ventilation rise. Although some early problems were experienced, the ultimate successful completion of this rise has enabled the technique to be incorporated with confidence in future mining plans. This paper summarises experience in long hole rising techniques, their evolution from the original cratering concepts, and the approach to further development of these techniques.

Jan 1, 1982

By Hoberg H, Schneider FU

Flotation tests were conducted with galena, quartz and with synthetic mixtures of the two, in different ranges of grain size, and with different process parameter variants. Physico-chemical analyses were also carried out on surface energy and on xanthate adsorption on galena with different grain sizes. Reference will also be made to hydrodynamics, interfacial chemistry and the influence exerted by grain size in flotation.

Jan 1, 1993

By A Jurg, F Leclercq

The total drill and blast concept is widely known in the mining industry. On the contrary, the quarry industry rarely adopts such working methods. Based on the experience of the CBS quarry in the North of France, this paper shows how up-to-date blasting technology and simple control methods can significantly improve the overall Mine to Mill efficiency of a quarry. The CBS quarry, in partnership with the EPC group and Nitro- Bickford Company, adopted a new working process three years ago aimed at increasing blast performance and related productivity of the downstream process (loading, hauling and crushing). The pattern geometry of each blast is controlled and explosive charging is carried out following the æconstant specific energyÆ CSE concept. This method provides a homogeneous fragmentation distribution and reduces vibration peak-particle-velocities. The impact on downstream productivity is controlled by means of a simple information management system, which collects and measures key parameters of the production process such as; hauling cycles, crusher throughput, secondary breaking and vibration peak particle velocity. This information system has clearly proved over time that consistent blast quality could be achieved, leading to a 30 per cent improvement in quarry productivity. Improved energy control of blasting through optimisation with electronic detonators, allowed a significant reduction in vibration impact on the environment. Improvement in blasting security, reduction in the environmental impact and productivity enhancement are major benefits that quarries can obtain from these CSE optimisation blasting methods.

Jan 1, 2007

By McDougall I, Claoue-Long J

A combination of high precision 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb dating has been used to determine the age of hydrothermal minerals and host rocks in a number of Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB) gold deposits in New South Wales, Au4 ralii In particular, this investigation demonstrates that the UAr/ Ar technique of K-Ar dating can be used to determine the timing of mineralization in Palaeozoic systems.A close temporal link between mineralization and Late Ordovician to Early Silurian magmatism is indicated by the dating work. Hydrothermal sericite from the Goonumbla p8rph gy Cu deposit and Glendale Au prospect yieldsAt/ Ar step heating ages between 437.9 ¦ 1.1 and 441.2 ¦ 1.1 Ma (16), and4 minjrnum age of about 425 Ma has been obtained by Ar/ Ar dating of hydrothermal amphibole from the Browns Creek Au-Cu skarn deposit. Hydrothermal aluniI8 frog the Gidginbung epithermal Au deposit yields reset 44 Ar/ Ar ages of 401.0 ¦ 1.3 to 417.3 ¦ 1.3 Ma (16). U-Pb dating by ion microprobe on magmatic zircons from the vicinity of the Goonumbla and Gidginbung deposits gives ages of 438 ¦ 3.5 Ma (2 6), and 435 ¦ 2.5 Ma (2 (7) respectimly, W a minimum age of 435 Ma has been obtained by Ar/ Ar dating of magmatic phases from volcanic rocks adjacent to the Browns Creek skarn deposit. Magmatic episodes near the Sheahan-Grants gold skarnpost give ages of 479.2 ¦ 1.1 and 467.9 ¦ 4o1 by 'Ar/ 9Ar dating of magmatic amphibole. Most Ar/3yAr age spectra show the effects of partial Ar loss at between 360-420 Ma, probably due to heating caused by granitoid emplacement.The radiometric dating work in this paper suggests a restricted metallogenic epoch in the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian LFB, NSW, of similar duration to that found in the Andean margin and the western Pacific island arcs around the Pacific Rini.

Jan 1, 1990

By Chugh Y. P

A generalized void diffusion model for subsidence prediction has been developed based on theoretical concepts and physical principles. The general form of the model is a three-dimensional differential equation. With a few assumptions on the characteristics of overburden strata overlying typical room-and-pillar mining or longwall mining systems, specific solutions for the differential equation were obtained. A brief description of these solutions and their applications in the United States and China are presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 1992

The continued exploration of the major brown coal deposits of the Latrobe Valley has resulted not only in the discovery of huge additional reserves, but also in new concepts of the stratigraphy and structure of the coal seams in that area. The author sets out his interpretation of the new information which has become available over the last six years.A section of the paper is devoted to the quality of the coal. As the chemical composition of these brown coals has been discussed in some detail by previous authors, only the major constituents and the heat value of the coal are dealt with in this paper. Some of the variations in quality are related to the geological structure.The occurrence of underground water and its relation to open cuts is dealt with briefly.INTRODUCTIONThe Latrobe Valley Tertiary Basin is almost entirely covered by a layer of Post Tertiary sediments which mask the underlying rocks and their structures. As a result, the geological understanding of this area has had to await the comprehensive drilling campaign in search of brown coal, initiated by the Victorian Mines Department in 1917, and subsequently carried on by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. The first detailed geology was published by Herman (1922), and this was followed some 25 years later by papers by Edwards, and later Thomas and Baragwanath, to which reference will be made later in this paper. Herman included a section on the geology of the Latrobe Valley in his book Brown Coal, which was published in 1952.Since that time a considerable amount of new information has become available from the continued drilling carried out by the Commission. In addition, geophysical work carried out by the Commonwealth Bureau of Mineral Resources has assisted in the defining of geological structures in the area.

Jan 1, 1960

By Murakami T, Tamiya M, Mizokawa T, Matsumoto T

In the expansion program of the iron ore pelletizing plant at Kakogawa Works of Kobe Steel Ltd., an automatic computer control of products fineness on grinding department is practised. The main problem of the process control of a grinding system is scattering of measured fineness values of products. The scattering comes from the inherent nature of grinding systems, sampled powders and measuring systems. A method is developed to presume the exact status of the plant from scattering products (fineness values and to achieve a stable con trollability of the plant by utilizing the computer. An on-line fineness analyzer, an automatic sampling device and vari-speed air separators are also developed to compose the automatic grinding plant. This report introduces the fundamental epts and results of the automatic fineness rol system of the grinding plant.

Jan 1, 1977

By Wightman D, Hoyle M. W H, Peters W. S

The Radio Hill nickel-copper deposit is located 30 km south of Karratha. It is a new discovery in an area where similar mineralization had been previously discovered at Mt. Scholl and Ruth Well. Radio Hill is the first massive Ni-Cu sulphide deposit of economic significance to have been located in the Western Pilbara.Preliminary studies indicate that the sulphide mineralization occurs within gabbros, pyroxenites and peridotites of a basic igneous cumulate layered sequence. Primary sulphides have been subsequently remobilized and concentrated as stringer and massive mineralization. This is tentatively attributed to the intrusion of a further gabbroic body.The deposit appears to be of the gabbroic association type with a Ni:Cu ratio varying from 1:4 in the outer parts of the mineralized envelope to 1:0.9 towards the central zones. In drill core observations, chalcopyrite surrounding pyrrhotite was noted in many instances. Drilling has so far delineated a body developed over a strike length of 600 m and a horizontal width of up to 25 m. The mineralization plunges 20° to the southwest with a southerly dip varying from 75° in the west to about 20° - 30° in the east.The deposit is a leaf-shaped ore zone, plunging southwest from a vertical depth of 17 m in the north to 300 m in the south. The massive sulphides occur as lensoid masses within this zone. A geological resource of up to 2.5 million tonnes at 1.5 per cent Ni and l.4 per cent Cu is indicated.The predominant sulphides are pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pentlandite, with significant cobalt, platinum group metals and gold. Tellurides of Pd, Bi and Pb were detected by scanning electron microprobe within the pyrrhotite and other trace metals include Zn and native tin. Massive magnetite is sometimes associated with the massive pyrrhotite intersections.A test on one composite massive sulphide sample showed that pyrrhotite is present mainly as the non-magnetic hexagonal variety and only 10 per cent is present as magnetic monoclinic pyrrhotite.The deposit has no surface expression and its identification was based mainly Oil drilling targets generated by geophysical methods. No secondary minerals have been observed in association with the primary sulphides, even though the deposit is only 17 m below surface in the northern part.

Jan 1, 1987

By Wright R, Stock E. C

The Windarra nickel deposits known to date comprise two sulphide orebodies located at Mount Windarra and South Windarra. These orebodies, which are 15 km apart, lie within an ultramafic complex at or near its footwall contact with a banded iron formation. The Windarra deposits are 270 km north-northeast of Kalgoorlie in West- ern Australia which was the centre of a major nickel exploration programme fol- lowing the discovery of nickel deposits at Kambalda in 1966. Surface indications of the Mount Windarra orebody were discovered in 1969 by Mr. Ken Shirley while prospect- ing the Laverton area for Poseidon Ltd. (then NL). The mineralisation was loc- ated by systematic prospecting for goss- anous material associated with aero-mag- netic anomalies and ultramafic rocks. The South Windarra deposit was dis- covered in 1971 by the Union-Hanna- Homestake Joint Venture, by exploring along the strike extension of the mount Windarra ultramafic-banded iron format- ion contact. A detailed ground magnet 1. Acting Operations Superintendent, Windarra Nickel Project, Windarra, W.A. 2. Senior Geologist, Windarra Nickel Project, Windarra, W.A. 3. Mine Geologist, Windarra Nickel Project, Windarra, W.A.

Jan 1, 1973

The program, WASTRT 70, was set up specifically to handle the design of tunnel liners and underground structures where inter- action between rock and structure significantly affects the design. It may however be used for any mass/R.C. structure capable of being simulated by straight line elements between modes and with loading restricted to nodes. The analysis system adopts typical elastic/stiffness matrix methods. Two main mass/R.C. design segments are utilized (1) Design of section depth based on maximum required stresses and optimum steel/concrete ratios. (2) Design of reinforcement for a given section depth with concrete stresses given for mass and water code structures. Each design segment covers shear, minimum principal stress on ~ , heavy compression as per code (columns), heavy compression one-face steel (tunnel liners), tension and water code requirements for all moment/thrust/section depth ratios on rectangular sections.

Jan 1, 1976

By Gillies A. D S, Just G. D

Coal washability data can be used for assessing coal quality. However, the techniques of using these data to solve quality problems differ from one mine to another and certain problems may never really be investigated due to limitations of the available techniques. One promising way to overcome these limitations is by correct application of geostatistics.A geostatistical study on coal washability data was undertaken based on a data set of closely spaced in-pit bore cores. These bore cores were analysed consistently over a relatively simple geological area. The average distance between the drill holes was about lOOm. There were 78 drill holes available for the area after deleting the erroneous bore cores. During the study, nine extra closely spaced drill holes were drilled within a single mining block.A procedure to construct two coal quality models, a kriging or cokriging model and a simulation model, was proposed. The modelling results for the data above are discussed and results of a mine scheduling exercise based on the models developed are included.

Jan 1, 1992

By Thornton D, Esterle J, La Rosa D

Control of blast fragmentation has a significant impact on coal mine profitability. Two approaches for the characterisation of coal blastability, particularly in terms of fines, are presented. Both approaches were implemented for the predictio

Jan 1, 1998