Search Documents

By T Soares, P Esteves, C Senna, V Souto, E Dias

Steinert provides a wide portfolio of Sensor Based Sorting (SBS) technologies, including the possibility to combine different sensor data in the development of the separation applications. This multi sensor approach provides a larger applicability and extensive flexibility for the technology. This effect is emphasized for mining applications, once every ore body presents its own features that can also comprise a large material variability. In this sense, every sorting application is customized and comprises a personalized solution. This means each project development includes a test work stage that approaches from the project discussion, test definition, up to test outcomes and processing development. In relation to very complex and large projects, a sorting pilot scale plant has become a crescent tendency. By having a pilot plant stage can represent a chance to test larger amounts of material from different mining areas, different mining projects, such as to consider different processing targets and application approaches. Based on that, a better understanding about the technology application can guide a more assertive development of large and complex ore sorting projects. The aim of this paper is to provide information about the applicability of the Steinert multi sensor technology at different pilot plants in South America. It consists in a compilation of laboratory test results, plant design and operational results. For that, a chromite, an IOCG deposit and a sulphide gold ore projects are presented. Additionally, the paper discusses the application of different sensor technologies combinations such as various processing targets, thus providing a wider understanding about sorting applications and flexibility.

Nov 10, 2020

By C Moorhead, J Jones

A common problem in the mining industry is that company geologists can operate in relative isolation to the rest of the company (Jones and Moorhead, 2011). This may result in poor knowledge transfer and often priority conflicts with geology, operations and project departments. This problem is amplified by the acquisition of mineralogy capabilities and other metallurgical (met) test work undertaken by many companies in order to solve for complex orebody problems. Met data is often not located and viewed in 3D space so that geologists and engineers can create and work with geometallurgical (geomet) models (Bye, 2006). Visualisation of data in an interactive graphical 3D model provides a bridge enabling met professionals to collaborate with engineers and geologists to provide a common understanding of the relevance of geomet data.In recognition of this problem, Newcrest has undertaken an effective collaboration strategy to improve internal and external engagement through the use of large visualisation displays (Jones, 2009). The displays are underpinned by IT systems and information management practices that recognise the needs of underlying disciplines. Today it is generally understood within Newcrest that this is required to improve decision-making, deliver faster cycle times and improve governance.Collaboration in companies has been generally associated with the introduction of new IT functions (IBM, 2008). However, the science and engineering process that are used to structure modern IT-based collaboration systems and practices are now known to be simplistic compared to the long-standing practices associated with collaboration and knowledge management in disciplines such as geology and mining.CITATION:Jones, J and Moorhead, C, 2013. Geometallurgical communication as a distributed information system, in Proceedings The Second AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2013 , pp 133-138 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 29, 2013

By S Rogers, D Stead, E Eberhardt

The last decade has seen a major increase in use of the discrete fracture network (DFN) approach applied to cave mining problems, often integrated within more complex geomechanical simulations. Because the value of the DFN model directly depends on the quality and quantity of available field data, there is the need to apply dedicated mapping procedures to collect sufficient structural data at the required engineering scale. This paper attempts to address several key questions about DFN modelling; for example: are current methods for fracture mapping suitable for DFN modelling? What are the critical parameters that we need to measure and what do we need to change in the current practice? Particularly at the earlier stages of a cave project, engineers may have to account for the lack of appropriate data, which manifests itself in the form of increased uncertainty and the difficulty to characterise variability in an objective manner using a limited set of data. DFN models could in principle be generated using limited data by assuming statistical distributions for the sampled parameters; however, engineers would need to be aware of the implications that such limited knowledge (and increased uncertainty) would have on stability analysis, fragmentation analysis and mine design. When used correctly, a DFN approach offers practitioners the opportunity to:maximise the use of fracture data collected from mapping of rock exposuresgenerate more realistic synthetic rock mass modelsprovide estimates of natural fragmentation that also account for rock mass variability.CITATION:Elmo, D, Eberhardt, E, Stead, D and Rogers, S, 2016. Discrete fracture network modelling – importance of accounting for data uncertainty and variability, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 845–852 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

This report will differ slightly from the traditional scientific and technical discussions given at this type of conference. It will focus on the personal experiences and choices that I undertook when deciding on my graduate position and location after completing university studies. Throughout the duration of my course I had experience in both fly-in, fly-out operations in the Pilbara and residential operations in the West Australian Goldfields. These experiences, though limited, allowed me to explore the two different methods and their pros and cons, and consequently to make my choice for graduate employment. Throughout the duration of my degree I believed it was important to gain a basic understanding of the two methods, focusing on lifestyle and personal interactions. The decision that a residential site suited my personality and lifestyle then allowed me to refine my job applications to a more specific list of mine sites and companies, resulting in a residential position with BHP Billiton at their Iron Ore operations in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Jan 1, 2005

By D Finn, D Kentwell

Experience has shown that the E-Type multiple indicator kriging (MIK) estimation technique often works well for resource estimation in stockwork mineralisation that contains a mixture of high and low-grade mineralisation types that are difficult or impossible to separate spatially. E-Type MIK, like ordinary kriging (OK) is a smoothing estimator and where data is sparse can result in estimates of grade tonnage curves that do not reflect the true block variability at selective mining unit (SMU) scale. The rank and replace (RR) estimation methodology is designed to reproduce both local block accuracy and true block variability at SMU scale and has shown good results when used with highly skewed unimodal diffusive style mineralisation. This paper examines the use of RR with mosaic style mineralisation typically found in stockworks via a case study using real data from Newcrest’s Telfer West Dome deposit. Resource level estimation results for ordinary kriging (OK), E-Type MIK and RR are compared to close spaced grade control models as the reference reality.Results show that stationarity requirements and declustering can severely impact on the usefulness of the rank and replace technique and that it should only be used where trends are not too strong and data are relatively uniformly spaced. This does not rule out its application to stockwork or mosaic style deposits. However, in this case, the presence of trends and different data densities requires the non-stationary domain to be further broken down into sub domains for the RR technique to be effective.CITATION:Kentwell, D and Finn, D, 2017. Testing new estimation techniques – rank and replace: a stockwork case study, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 365–374 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 20, 2017

By M G. Wansbone, R Bhargava

The inferred ground conditions for the proposed mined cross passages at the northern end of the Waterview Connection tunnels consist of an overburden of alluvial and residual soils, with mixed face geology of highly weathered to unweathered extremely weak rock. This paper describes three-dimensional (3D) finite difference analyses undertaken to evaluate the stability of the cross passage headings and to validate the proposed sequence of excavation. The analyses undertaken incorporated the influence of the construction of the mainline tunnels and the breakout opening in the segmental lining for construction of cross passages.The stability analyses were carried out using FLAC3D™, version 4.0 (by Itasca Consulting Group) by progressive reduction of shear strength parameters to obtain a failure condition and estimate a factor of safety. For each step of strength reduction, corresponding increments of displacements of several points on heading faces were monitored. The stability obtained from numerical analyses was compared with analytical solutions. Interpretation of results of drained analyses indicated instability of the upper 2 m of heading face within the highly weathered rock mass. Additional analyses were undertaken by including grouted fibreglass dowels to reinforce the heading face. The results of the additional analyses showed significant reduction in displacements and yielding of ground around the face. The proposed temporary support comprised face reinforcement using grouted fibreglass dowels in conjunction with canopy tubes and perimeter support of steel fibre reinforced shotcrete. The stability of the construction sequence, which was related to the specific requirement of the proposed excavation equipment, was validated.CITATION:Wansbone, M G and Bhargava, R, 2014. Analysis of stability and design of face support for cross passages – Waterview Connection tunnels, Auckland, New?Zealand, in Proceedings 15th Australasian Tunnelling Conference 2014, pp 339–344 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 17, 2014

By P Marianelli, J Theiler, B Beamish, A Spillman

The presence of reactive pyrite in waste rock contributes to the hazard of spontaneous combustion in emplacement facilities as it acts as an initiator of self-heating at low ambient temperatures. Organic carbon also present in the waste rocks acts as a fuel at elevated temperatures above 120°C and can lead to thermal runaway resulting in eventual ignition. A new laboratory test method (adiabatic incubation testing) is now available that can identify the presence of reactive pyrite and quantify the self-heating behaviour of the waste rock. McArthur River Mine has a waste rock profile that contains pyritic shale units, which have created spontaneous combustion events in the past. A systematic sampling and testing program is underway to characterise the spontaneous combustion hazard likelihood of the McArthur River Mine waste rocks to provide a sound database for future mine planning of the waste removal and emplacement. This paper presents some initial outcomes of this program and shows the leading practice in spontaneous combustion hazard assessment and management that has been adopted at McArthur River.CITATION:Beamish, B, Marianelli, P, Theiler, J and Spillman, A, 2018. Spontaneous combustion hazard assessment of McArthur River Mine waste rock, in Proceedings Mine Waste and Tailings Stewardship Conference 2018, pp 422–426 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 23, 2018

By S Doyle

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The Macraes gold mine in Otago, New Zealand, is developed along the central portion of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone (HMSZ), which dips gently to the NE, and is traceable over 30 km of strike, before disappearing under tertiary cover. Mineralisation is most intensely developed along the hanging wall shear, which defines the upper limit of the shear zone, although significant packages of quartz vein arrays and mineralised shears occur sporadically beneath the hanging wall shear.The Macraes gold mine is now in its 25th year of operation, well beyond the projected mine life at the time of commissioning in 1990, and currently contains over triple the measured and indicated resource inventory that was defined at start up. The extended mine life and resource growth has been driven by exploration and resource development success, efficient low-cost mining and processing, improving gold price, as well as an ethos of continuous improvement.The emphasis of Oceanagold’s exploration and resource development has shifted over time; from hanging-wall-focused mapping, soil sampling and step-out drilling, through exploitation of previously drilled stockwork mineralisation, to the pursuit of blind, higher-grade underground targets.Mineralisation within the HMSZ remains open at depth, and the regional potential has not been fully tested. Given the relatively low-grade of gold mineralisation at Macraes, the consideration of tungsten as a supplementary co-product provides an exciting opportunity.CITATION:Moore, J and Doyle, S, 2015. Resource definition in the world-class Macraes gold mine, New Zealand, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 557–564 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By S Davidge, J Pile, R Schumann, E Kepe, W Stewart, M Ridd, B Rathi

Geographical constraints, including steep terrain and high rainfall, at the Ok Tedi copper-gold mine in PNG’s Western Province present Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) with significant challenges in mine waste management. Waste management includes discharge of tailings into the local river system and storage of waste rock from the mine pit in waste rock dumps which erode into the river system. Copper bearing skarn mineralisation is associated with a massive sulfide (mainly pyrite) deposit. Consequently, waste rock and tailings can contain significant amounts of pyrite. Without appropriate management, these waste streams represent a risk of producing acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) when discharged to the river system. Throughout the life of the project, OTML have developed evolving strategies to manage mine wastes and mitigate AMD.

Aug 2, 2023

By Carlini G, Ibba R

The KSS Lead Plant (Kivcet - SNAMPROGETTI - SAMIM) of Por tovesme, owned by Nuova Samim (the sector-head Company for non ferrous metals and derivatives owned by ENI), has been operating since february 1987. This plant is based on the Soviet Kivcet licence and testwork carried out on the pilot plant of VNIITSVETMET in Ust Kameno gorsk fed by the Nuova Samim's concentrates. The plant is com pletely automatized using the most advanced technologies and it is operated by nineteen people on shift work, including all ancillary units and lead decopperizing-casting. The expected performance of the plant has been confirmed and improves day by day in relation of the operating experience, thanks to the new conceptual design of the furnace. Due to the remarkable flexi bility of the process, the integration of the lead plant with the other plants of the metallurgical complex of Portovesme rro-#4 (Electrolytic Zinc Plant, Sulphuric Acid Plant, Imperial Smel ting) has shown all the economic advantages. The lead content in the ambient air, detected by the monitors, either in the working area and on the ground outside the complex, is widely Pb W" below the stricter new limits recommanded by the E.E.C. (Economic European Community) rules and by the Italian law. The whole process is carried out in equipment completely closed and under suction and it does not require manual operations with exposure to the lead. The production cost is much lower than that performed by the traditional technology. This advantage permits wide margin to consider investment to replace the traditional technology.

Jan 1, 1989

By PáDeáBosscher, A Bruwier, M Weidenbach, C Philippe, T Ly, A Van Den Bosch

In the mining business the cost of grinding media represents up to 40 per cent of the total milling cost and therefore grinding media optimisation has a direct impact on the concentratorsÆ bottom line. In the process of optimising grinding media alloys, Magotteaux developed its own methodology which consists of a series of analyses, tests, calculations and evaluations and assist the concentrator in optimising their processes.This paper presents the Prominent Hill case study where this methodology has been applied on both the secondary ball mill and regrind IsaMill«.The analysis of the wear conditions in the secondary ball mill allows Magotteaux to select a series of grinding media alloys to be tested to reduce grinding media consumption. By marking these different grinding media types with a unique drilling pattern, one can quantify the relative wear performance and cost effectiveness of each grinding media type within the same milling environment. After selecting the most economical grinding media composition a full scale industrial trial, involving topping up the selected grinding media is carried out and the media wear performance closely monitored and analysed.For stirred grinding mills, suppliers propose different grinding media, mainly ceramic beads, with specific properties and cost. Therefore the concentratorsÆ choice is a compromise between grinding efficiency, wear resistance and cost. The selection of the correct grinding media for stirred milling and the assessment procedure will be presented in this paper. The test results of the new stirred grinding media type in the regrind IsaMill« at Prominent Hill are presented and analysed.CITATION:Weidenbach, M, Van Den Bosch, A, Bruwier, A, Ly, T, De Bosscher, P and Philippe, C, 2012. Forging ahead - A collaboration between the OZ Minerals Prominent Hill Concentrator and Magotteaux to improve plant performance, in Proceedings 11th AusIMM Mill OperatorsÆ Conference, pp 105-110 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 29, 2012

By A G. L Pratt, J R. Grant

Mining companies face the ongoing challenge of sustaining and growing production. This paper outlines business investment concepts to grow reliable returns on investment from a portfolio of choices by:improved visualisation, diagnosis and tune up of the investment pipeline (pipeline management); good corporate decision making (governance) to select the right project mix, risks and sequence; and delivery strategies to enhance and reliably execute projects.

Jan 1, 2006

By D A. Kepert, D Clark

During early 2004, Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) began an aggressive exploration and drilling program in the Chichester Range, targeting iron enrichment developed in the Nammuldi Member at the base of the Marra Mamba Iron Formation. The timely recognition by FMG of distinct zones of (hypogene) microplaty hematite (mplH) enrichment overprinted by extensive supergene mineralisation led to an early reappraisal of the geological history of the area and characterisation of the possible structural and stratigraphic controls on mineralisation. Regionally, the Chichester Range dips gently at less than 5¦ to the south, however, detailed mapping shows that this regional limb is overprinted by low amplitude, long wavelength, north/south to northeast/southwest trending folds. The locations of major structures in the Marra Mamba Iron Formation, combined with spectral analysis of known mineralisation, allowed extrapolation and prioritisation of exploration target areas. The delineation under cover and understanding of these structures was enhanced by detailed airborne magnetic data. Recognition that supergene mineralisation was associated with a palaeotopography that continued significantly under cover to the south under sediments of the Fortescue River valley led to the discovery of extensive supergene mineralisation together with additional mplH mineralisation. A model for the landscape evolution and preservation of enriched Nammuldi Member was generated in order to help communicate both the complexities involved with targeting drill holes beneath cover and the potential limits to the lateral extents of mineralisation.

Jan 1, 2005

By H Allday

The mining industry’s attention has shifted over the last decade with the recovery from the downturn resulting in greater development of innovation and new work methods in a bid to remain competitive and deliver higher productivity. The emphasis on cost reduction to improve profit margins has primarily been the focus of the “work smarter” campaigns embraced within the industry. But is this strategy holistically the best-for-business, or does it place a ceiling on revenue opportunities and inhibit mining companies from truly maximising value? Businesses need to maintain a balance between active cost management and revenue generation often resulting in cost reduction strategies at site level. These strategies have merit, assessing areas of cost wastage across operations and creating space for opportunity. However, this potentially can create distractions from the goal of enabling growth and lead to the sacrifice of quality and delivery. Focusing too heavily on cost reductions without addressing revenue generation is an unprofitable lens to look through, and the relationships between cost, revenue, quality and profit margin can often be overlooked resulting in missed opportunity to maximise value. How these relationships are effectively employed by mining companies to reap the rewards from an overarching corporate perspective down to site level remains a fluid concept depending on the nature, operating market and strategy of the business. A common directive from businesses to their operations is to strive for greater profitability and productivity. The quantification of these requirements, and the nature of the cascading message delivered, impacts the methods employed by the operational team to meet the expectations of the business. Cascaded strategies, if not delivered with appropriate participation and buy-in can often be perceived to be knee-jerk and create frustration for operations who are squeezed to deliver on expectations by slashing site costs. This squeezing is not only felt by the mining operation but at the individual level and can result in increased team stresses. In some cases, this may also steer behaviours towards activities that result in corner cutting and an elevation of operational risk, potentially increasing associated incidents and injury. Driving down costs by any means can create an unhealthy tunnel vision where value is no-longer assessed for best-forbusiness results. By flipping the viewpoint to a value-based approach revenue opportunity may be realised and potentially exceeded, however this opportunity may be missed if value is over shadowed by a cost heavy focus. By analysing a selection of real operational cases (ranging from mining contractors through to in-house mining giants), it becomes apparent that practical revenue maximisation strategies are not only key to an increase in value and cash flow but to a stronger understanding of business drivers for sites and operators alike. In the cases evaluated additional revenue opportunities are foregone in favour of cost reduction strategies resulting in negative impacts on the associated operations and wider businesses. Alignment towards value generation is king. If strategies are not implemented focusing towards value and revenue maximisation, the opportunity loss experienced by mining operations could continue be great and the question should be posed; when the next up-turn hits will operations be ready to reap the rewards or still have a glass ceiling above their heads?

Mar 15, 2021

By J Gotte, C Morley, J Froud

Newcrest Mining LimitedÆs Telfer Mine is a world-class gold and copper producer, situated in the Great Sandy Desert, in the north west of Western Australia. The mine has a number of distinctive characteristics such as being one of AustraliaÆs most remote mine sites, being within 270 km of the hottest town in the southern hemisphere (Marble Bar) and having been shut down and reopened after a two-year feasibility study. The construction of a new plant and reopening of the mine gave Newcrest the opportunity to review their mining practices and systems including the opportunity to incorporate reconciliation as a core process. Telfer is now well on the way to being one of the largest gold and copper concentrate producers in Australia. When the mine reopened in June 2003, Telfer implemented SnowdenÆs Reconcilor software system to facilitate reconciliation of geological models, production data and plant measurements. The system was implemented on site in June 2004, as a web-based information management system, integrating other existing mining and plant software packages. It continues to provide an auditable process and consistency of data, providing ease of analysis with standard and customised reporting. This paper provides a case study of the reconciliation system implementation at Telfer. It outlines the consolidation of a number of management systems into one centralised system that can be used to compare and reconcile the tonnes and grades from the mine through to the mill. The authors outline the key estimates and measures that are used for reconciliation at Telfer, detailing the characteristics of the system used to capture the information and the benefits that have been gained through the use of a rigorous reconciliation process on a complex orebody.

Jan 1, 2007

By G P. W Suyantara, Y Tanaka, T Hirajima, Y Aoki, K Sasaki, H Miki

The effect of sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) on the flotation behaviour of bornite and tennantite is reported in this work. Flotation tests were performed using pure minerals of bornite and tennantite under various concentrations of sodium sulfite at pH 9. The flotation results indicated that sodium sulfite exhibited a depressing effect on the floatability of bornite in the presence of 0.1 mM PAX. However, tennantite remained floatable after the addition of sodium sulfite in the presence of 0.1 mM PAX. The flotation tests using mixed bornite and tennantite confirmed the flotation results of single minerals. Surface characterisation using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was performed to explain the flotation results. A mechanism is proposed based on the XPS analysis results.

Aug 24, 2022

Presidential Address Today I want to couple that prediction with a discussion on competitiveness and changing employment roles in our industry. A crude analysis of the intensity of use of metals in developed and undeveloped nations was undertaken by dividing the weight of copper, zinc, lead and aluminium used in countries by the population. In the developed countries which were basically the Western European States, USA, Canada, Australia and Japan, approximately 38 kilograms are used per annum. In the developing countries which were basically the South-East Asian country Korea, India, Pakistan and Taiwan, the usage is 5.3 kilograms. Thus, if the developing world is to catch up with the developed world, the intensity of use of metals will have to increase seven times. The usage of metals in the developed world is increasing at the rate of 1.5 per cent per annum while the rate of increase in the developing world is about 5.8 per cent. In this analysis, the population of the developed world was 850 million and the developing world 1.5 billion. Note that this analysis did not include Russia, China and most of the countries of South America and South Africa. I am sure that with time, these undeveloped countries will move into the developing category. In the long-term there is obviously great opportunity for us both in the primary and secondary processing required to meet world demand. Turning now to competitiveness and changing employment roles. I am sure that everyone here present is aware of the urgent need for Australia to improve its competitiveness. I want to try and relate unionism and industrial relations, management and tertiary education to our competitiveness. I wish to talk on these items as I see them in the past, the present and the future. So firstly unionism and industrial relations. It has been unfortunate for Australia that unionism was based on the United Kingdom craft system. It is not surprising that it was because UK has been the basis for almost ' all of our institutions and that has generally been of very great value to us. The craft system in our trade unions has lead to the demarcation problems of which we have all been well aware. This has been extremely limiting to the individual; it has limited his or her ability to broaden their scope of knowledge and far worse it has limited their ability to maximise their satisfaction at work as they have only been able to undertake part of a job, rather than being able to undertake a role in totality.

Jan 1, 1992

By R Wynn, T J. Akroyd, C Costa

In an environment of lower zinc prices, falling revenues and reducing zinc feed grades, Century mine implemented a fast-tracked capital upgrade program in less than 15 months. The program was designed to increase ore milling throughput capacity by 20 per cent and optimise the capacity of the flotation plant to increase zinc recovery by approximately 2.5 per cent whilst maintaining final zinc concentrate grade.A key aspect of this program was minimising capital expenditure by better utilising existing capacity and only adding capacity where absolutely required to address critical processing bottlenecks. By gaining an understanding of plant process bottlenecks and future ore blends, and by carefully selecting appropriate technologies for particular specific flotation applications, maximum return on minimal capital investment was achieved.The close collaborative work achieved between the metallurgy processing department and other operational departments on-site was also critical to the success of this project. This work increased the mining and processing capacity of the mine and port site respectively, such that the full value of the process plant modification could be achieved.Capital payback on this investment was achieved in approximately three and a half months.This case study demonstrates the extra value to a mining business that can be achieved through fully understanding the mining/processing value chain and by careful targeted action to address critical bottlenecks in the processing chain from the mine through to the port site.CITATION:Akroyd, T J, Wynn, R and Costa, C, 2014. MMG Century Mine, a case study – maximising project net present value through targeted capital expenditure and process optimisation against a backdrop of falling metal prices and feed grades, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 417–426 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 1, 2014

By J Loeb, R Ramanathan, H Ingham, P Cameron

Most mining operations, including iron ore, maintain a focus on continuous improvement and asset optimisation in their operations. As all the unit operations in the Mine-to-Mill value chain are interdependent, available technologies that address efficiencies across the value chain are once again in the spotlight as companies are driven to improve productivity and maximise mine site profits to increase return on capital invested. Core to continuous improvement is the need to understand the baseline and impact of changes to the process. In this paper, we discuss some of the critical attributes in the Mine-to-Mill process, including their influence on productivity and cost, the need for direct measurement and areas where they should be applied. Many initiatives can be considered to improve Mine-to-Mill processes. Mining operations are planned and executed based on designs and models to achieve the operation's objectives. However, there are many variables in the different parts of the value chain, such as blasting, material handling, crushing and screening. Therefore, measurement of the key attributes establishes the baseline for Mine-to-Mill (or Pit to Plant) performance, which is necessary to understand the impact of any proposed improvements to the process design and execution and monitor the outcomes on an ongoing basis sustain the improvements that have been implemented. This paper focuses on two types of measurement – blast movement and particle size of materials through the Mine-to-Mill process. Several innovative technologies and control loops are readily available to measure these attributes and assist operations to improve productivity and mine site profits. The size of the tangible benefits, which can flow from measuring and optimising fragmentation and blast movement, provide a remarkable return on the investment. Realising these benefits needs a focus outside conventional operation silos as a successful Mine-to-Mill project requires a multidiscipline approach across all the silos in the value chain. Required technologies are available; adding the necessary ingredients of communication and co-operation by all concerned across the silos will ensure the benefits are realised.

Nov 8, 2021

By J Heyes, R Getty, M Sanapala

Closure is an inevitable part of the life cycle of every mine. Successful closure outcomes critically depend upon early and ongoing integration of closure planning and mine planning. Early and holistic integration minimises residual risk and maximises opportunity to leave a cost-effective, positive legacy for the company, investors and future land users. Both disciplines are inherently interconnected and aim to maximise ‘value’ via trade-offs. Historically, integration of closure into mine plans has been poorly implemented across the industry. There is still a perception that closure planning only starts as the end of a mine life approaches. This inevitably leads to tension when making business decisions, with progressive closure often being deferred due to short-term drivers and incentives. To create a positive legacy after production has ceased, this tension can be managed by transparently and fully informing business decision-makers, such that the impacts of short-term decisions on long-term closure objectives are understood. BHP recently updated a business-wide standard ‘Our Requirements for Closure and Legacy Management’ designed to strengthen collaboration, education and integration of closure across the entire life cycle of the asset. Concurrently, the ‘Life of Asset’ definition was refined to include the postproduction phase, until closure objectives have been met. This paper discusses the criticality of mine planning integration with closure and how updates to Our Requirements sharpen the focus from transactional to transformational planning. These concepts are applicable to any mining operation aiming to achieve successful closure across the full asset life cycle, from exploration to post-production.

Sep 18, 2023