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By Moskovits E. E

Spodumene was recovered from pegmatite by flotation in laboratory and pilot-plant tests using an anionic collector emulsion. A similar process applied to beryl pegmatite gave encouraging results.INTRODUCTIONOver the past two decades lithium and beryllium have aroused increasing interest in the metallurgical world. Both these light metals have potential uses in nuclear shielding and cooling and in lightweight alloys, and there is a growing demand for lithium chemicals for ceramics, air conditioning and lubricants. The use, technology and history of lithium has been surveyed by Schreck (1961).For many years, the only commercial production of lithium and beryllium was from pegmatite deposits amenable to hand cobbing. The most important minerals of these ores are spodumene and beryl, which are respectively lithium aluminium silicate and beryllium aluminium silicate. Norman and Gieseke (1940) investigated the treatment of lithium ores by froth flotation. The process of flotation of the pegmatite constituents away from the spodumene was applied commercially in 1951, and the operation has been described by Goter, Rainey and Hudspeth (1953). Subsequently, the flotation of the spodumene from the pegmatite was studied by Munson and Clark (1955) and Browning and McVay (1961), and this method has superceded the reverse flotation process commercially. Muskett, Tasker and Hobson (1962), in applying the method of Browning and McVay in pilot-scale tests, reported difficulty because of activation of quartz and felspar by iron salts introduced during milling of the ore.The flotation of beryl, reported by Ashton and Weir...

Jan 1, 1963

By Miezitis Y

A weak airborne radiometric anomaly was examined in the field and the presence of uranium confirmed. Rotary-percussion drilling showed the presence of uranium but a subsequent programme of diamond and rotary percussion drilling indicated that the concentration of uranium was uneconomic. Within the tufts and volcanics of the prospect the uranium existed as uranyl phosphates within the oxidized zone. Geological mapping and the diamond drill core showed that the Stag Creek Volcanics are part of the Lower Proterozoic Masson Formation, probably with member status, rather than the expression of an Archaean basement ridge. This change in the interpretation of the fundamental structure of the Pine Creek Geosyncline has led to a reexamination of the stratigraphy and to suggestions which differ from the current concept.

Jan 1, 1977

By D Craw

The Old Man Range, south of Alexandra, in central Otago consists of a package of highly folded greenschist facies schist of the Wanaka lithologic association. The range is crosscut by several east to ENE-striking high angle gold-bearing quartz veins, (eg Whites Reef and Grays Reef), which were extensively worked in the late 1800s. The range is bounded on its east side by the Old Man Fault, which separates these rocks from generally flat lying and planar Caples Terrane schist. To the west of the Old Man Fault, about halfway up the range, a large subparallel, 100 m wide fault zone strikes NNW and appears to cut off the historic veins. The fault zone consists of highly sheared and folded rocks and numerous high angle cataclasites and centimetre-scale clay gouge zones. Hydrothermal alteration is not apparent and the individual faults and shears are clay altered, possibly due to weathering, without visible quartz veins. Gold, limonite pseudomorphs after pyrite and rutile are concentrated in some of the narrow cataclasites and gouge zones. These mineralised structures are texturally similar to the gold-bearing reefs and may be structurally related. It is postulated that the NNW-striking shear zone and ENE-striking veins may be a conjugate array formed during a period of Cretaceous normal faulting.

Jan 1, 2004

By Wilson O. A

TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Introductiona. Process Changes since 1939.b. Current Practice.2. Ore Characteristicsa. Copper Minerals.b. Gold Occurrence.3. Treatment of High Grade Acid Orea. The Ore Treatment Planti. Coarse Crushing SectionDust Controlii. The Concentrating MillDesliming SectionGranular GrindingGranular FlotationGranular Flotation ReagentsFlotation MachinesSlime FlotationConcentrate CleaningConcentrate Handlingiii. Scavanging No.1. Mill Granular Tailings at No. 2 MillRegrinding UnitScavenger Flotationb. Pyrite Productioni. Pyrite Flotationii. Pumping of Pyriteiii. Storage of Pyriteiv. Pyrite Loading

Jan 1, 1952

By Creelman C. A

The removal of a horizontal piIlar between Nos. 9 and 11 levels (1,116 feet from the collar of main shaft) was successfully carried out by blast hole drilling, and, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this mass blast of 40,000 tons of ore (requiring the use of 7,150 Ibs. of explosive and 5,385 feet of primacord) was the first occasion on which a task of this magnitude has been carried out underground in an Australian mine.Blast hole drilling was introduced by this company approximately fifteen months ago at New Cobar Mine in sub-level stoping.This experimental drilling and blasting gave very valuable information as to the correct technique to be adopted when the final plans were being prepared for the removal of the horizontal pillar at New Occidental Mine.The dimensions of this pillar were approximately 15 feet long, and from 40 to 60 feet wide, and 65 feet in depth.The block of ore extended to 35 feet above the level and 30 feet below, the upper section being partially excavated to form the bell-hole floor and grizzly chambers used for drawing off the broken ore in the shrink stope above the No. 10 level.Description of Ore-bodyThe main ore-body is situated almost vertically in a well-defined shear zone at the junction of sandstone and slate, the sandstone forming the eastern and the slate the western wall.The ore-body consists of highly silicified slate (chert) sparsely impregnated with sulphides, containing a small percentage of copper and bismuth.The total length of the ore-body is approximately 450 feet, with a maximum width of 60 feet in the main section, which is about 200 feet long.This is the section shown in longitudinal and cross-section (Fig. 1).The ore-body is divided by a horse of mullock in the northern end into two legs, the eastern and western, which are approximately 250 feet long and averaging 25 feet in width.This ore-body is strong, hard and abrasive with extremely strong walls, an ideal proposition for open stoping and mass blasting.MiningIn all levels above No. 9 the cut and fill method of ore extraction was adopted. On Nos. 10 and 11 levels the shrinkage method was introduced with economical results, and no difficulty had ever been experienced with shabby or bad walls.Shrink stoping had been carried upwards from No. 11 level to within 10 feet of No. 10 level, when mining hazards developed, and instead of...

Jan 1, 1944

THE following notes were accumulated during the years 1905 to 1911, when the writer was employed at Stannary Hills. The writer's duty took him over the underground workings daily. In odd moments the geology of the surrounding country was worked out. As the time for this purpose was limited, many interesting points had to be left, untouched. The faulting system in the mines was of such a puzzling character that it seemed as if the geology of the surrounding district might throw some light on it. Dr Jack, in 1907, reported on these mines for the shareholders, but came to no definite conclusions. Unfortunately, the writer has not had access to this report for many years. At the time of his visit the larger develbpments in the Ivanhoe and, Kitchenen orebodies (see Fig 1, B2) were only being opened up. Mr. H. Herman mentions Stannary Hills on p 320, Proceedings Aust Inst ME, new series, No 14, and on p 326 expresses the opinion that the pipe or joint-veins (as at Irvine bank and Stannary Hills) were more valuable to follow than lodes in the granite in that district.GEOLOGY OF DISTRICTThe main feature of the area mapped is a band of altered sedimentary rocks which carry no fossils. It is a mile wide, and consists of a hard band of greywackes 200 ·t ·300 yds. wide, flanked on both sides by contorted shales which become more micaceous as the granite-area to the east is approached. The strata have a general strike of N. 30° W., with a steep westerly dip. A large area of acid intrusive rocks occurs to the west of this band. The outstanding feature of the district is a fault which cuts the sedimentary series in two, to the...

Jan 1, 1918

Possibilities and Working of the Specific Agglomeration of Fibrous Materials and Residues Plant based fibrous materials are becoming of increasing interest in a multitude of industrial applications. Main advantages are the specific lower energy demand and virtually closed CO2 cycle, excellent mechanical properties based on low density as well as a high level of recyclables. In contrast, processing and handling of such materials is associated with a number of challenges. These challenges are mainly related to specific morphological characteristics in correlation to fibre length and structure (branching and splices). Specific problems in further processing steps including transport, dosage or storage for natural fibre compounding, result from form-locking bonds leading to burling, clusters or plaits. Technologies of fibre processing are well known, but other than textile based technologies they generally result in intermediate goods which do not allow direct industrial application. The investigation to be presented is based on results of recent research activities and shows two possible technical solutions of innovative fibre agglomeration procedures. These methods allow the conversion of middle to long fibres into a form, which eases further processing and dosage significantly and therefore allows free flowing too. The procedures are based on the working principles of rolling and winding technology. Within the work, both of the patented methods and their respected lab-scaled devices will be described. Further, results will be shown for an up-scaled rolling agglomeration unit applying the developed principle and consisting of multiple process zones. Possible variations of the resulting product characteristics and the impact of different process parameters will be discussed based on the trials with natural fibre (hemp and flax) agglomeration. As a main outcome of the research, product qualities can be supplied according to the requirements of the specific application in correlation to agglomerate strength, porosity or form. In conclusion, recent developments for specific methods of characterization will be depicted.

Sep 13, 2010

Filtration of pulps of varying densities is an essential operation in the hydro-metallurgical production of zinc. The use of filters naturally applies only to the "wet" plants, and in these varying types and sizes are in commission. At Risdon, the Moore suction filter is used for the heavier pulps, except in one instance, where a modification of the Butters-Cassell filter is installed.Filter presses are in general use, and of these, one is a washing unit; the plates, and frames are of cast iron or mild steel, except in one case which is a centre feed press having wooden frames.FILTER DESIGNThe problem of filtration presented itself very early in the history of Risdon and the first developments occurred in what was termed the 250 -lb. plant. Here experiments were made with many types of filters, and as this was the pilot plant on which the design of the 10 ton plant (10 tons of zinc per day) was based, quick decisions were necessary.An Oliver type filter was chosen for the heavier pulp or residue, and a Shriver wooden frame filter press for the lighter pulps.To this day, but with a number of variations, filter presses continue to function unopposed in their particular field; however, the Oliver filter was soon superseded because it was found impossible to wash the filter cake efficiently without repulping; consequently its use was abandoned and the Moore filter adopted.Both- these filters have been modified and developed in many ways to meet the requirements of a zinc plant, but they retain their original basic features.

Jan 1, 1949

By Gaulton R

The Commission maintains a data base first computerised in 1957 and containing information from over 18 000 boreholes located mainly in the Latrobe Valley area. Some of the borehole derived information dates from the turn of the century, although most of it has been collected as a result of Commission investigations conducted over the past 40 years. The Resource Data Base contains not only information gained directly from the drilling itself but includes the results of chemical and physical testing on many hundreds of thousands of samples retrieved from boreholes. Replacement value of the Resource Data Base has been estimated to be around $200 million, and it's integrity and accessibility is clearly of paramount importance, not only to existing mining and power generating functions but to the future evaluation and use of the vast brown coal Resource.

Jan 1, 1992

By S Chew, A Bennett, N Di Giorgio, B Osborne

After relining one of two blast furnaces and enlarging its sinter plant in 2009, BlueScope radically restructured its Port Kembla steelworks operation in 2011, shutting a blast furnace and halving its total production. This drastic move in response to unprecedented raw material prices relative to achievable steel prices was like that of many integrated steelmakers worldwide facing similar challenges. The 2011 restructure also saw major changes in the amount and type of iron ores and ferrous burdens purchased, and a fundamental reappraising of ‘value’ in iron ores. This paper outlines the changes to raw materials purchases from 2011 to 2017, how BlueScope has responded to the changes in pricing and raw materials quality, the effect on the sintering and blast furnace processes at Port Kembla resulting from higher gangue content, some of the broad technical and economic challenges faced by steelmakers confronted with lower quality iron ores and how BlueScope is meeting those challenges.CITATION:Di Giorgio, N, Bennett, A, Osborne, B and Chew, S, 2017. Recent Port Kembla experience with iron ore use – sintering and blast furnace, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2017, pp 25–30 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 24, 2017

Gas well tests were performed on 17 wells in the Roma area. The procedure used in the test programme incorporates an initial isochronal test followed by what is described as the "two flow drawdown" technique. The second flow of the two flow drawdown test was conducted for sufficient time to allow transient investigation of the surrounding reservoir. This combination of tests allows the evaluation of stabilized production capacity in addition to the determination ,of several important reservoir characteristics.It also provides a qualitative indication of reserves, by reflecting the presence or absence of reservoir boundaries within the drainage area affected during the test.

Jan 1, 1968

In the early stages of opening up a mine, when there is some uncertainty as to its future career, necessitating caution in laying out works of a permanent character, the want is often felt of an assay furnace, easily built and easy of transportation, should the" mine " prove to be " no mine." Again, cases occur in which parties buy the right to treat comparatively small heaps of tailings, and then shift their plant to other localities. Under these circumstances it is necessary to restrict the plant to the barest necessaries, to suit, so to speak, the nomadic character of the work.An assay furnace that is really portable, easily transported, erected, taken down, of little weight, always ready for action on short notice, is indeed in these cases a desideratum which has long been wished for. The gasoline furnaces introduced intothe Australian market some time since practically fulfil these conditions; but they have the fatal drawback of being dependent on a constant supply of the liquid fuel, gasoline, which is seldom, if ever, obtainable locally in' any wayback mining township...

Jan 1, 1904

A subsurface study of the Maria Lode and associated hydrothermal alteration of andesites within the Karangahake epithermal gold-silver deposit defined the local evolutionary sequence in the once active geothermal system.   Some implications for mining of epithermal deposits arise as a result.

Jan 1, 1984

The Illawarra District, from 50 to 100 miles south of Sydney, is one of the State's important coalfields. It extends from Clifton on the north, to the Shoalhaven river on the south, and from the coast westward beyond the coastal scarp.For descriptive purposes, this area falls naturally into two zones:(a) the coastal belt backed-by the eastern edge of the plateau;(b) the plateau, westerly from the coastal scarp.(a) The Coastal Belt.A triangular shaped area extending from Clifton to the Shoalhaven river, composed for the most part of soft coal measures strata of Permian age, which, on weathering, undermines the massive overlying Mesozoic sandstones and causes the gradual recession of thecliffs.South of Wollongong, upper marine sediments and contemporaneous igneous rocks make their appearance beneath the coal measure beds and occupy the greater portion of the coastal belt.(b) Plateau Area.Extending westerly from the coastal escarpment is a plateau known as the Robertson Tableland, composed of Triassic sandstone and shales dipping gently in a northerly direction, and capped in places by Wianamatta. shales and r.rertiary basalts. This tableland is approximately 2400 feet above sea level in the vicinity of Robertson, and gradually falls to about 750 feet at Waterfall.The plateau area for the most part is highly dissected, rough, steep gorges alternate with sharp ridges.A large part of the northern watershed of the Robertson tableland is a reserve for Sydney water supply, and large dams have been constructed at Cataract, Avon, Burke, and Cordeaux.

Jan 1, 1938

Gold in the stibnite veins of Costerfield, Victoria, was described in 1922 1, prior to any mineragraphic examination, as (a) free yellow gold (b) free rusty gold and (c) combined gold. The free yellow gold occurs in quartz and will amalgamate with mercury. The free gold of dull, rusty or copper-red colour occurs in massive stibnite and has been stated to resist amalgamation with mercury. The dull colour is only skin deep and the colour is bright when the rusty gold is scratched. The appearance of the rusty gold is spongy or cellular and it generally occurs near small cavities in the stibnite. The suggestion that the cellular character indicated the removal of a certain amount of stibnite leaving a residue of se.condary gold cannot be sustained.It now appears probable that the rusty gold is formed by the primary dissociation of a gold antimonide and is distinct in origin from the normal yellow gold which is deposited with quartz or stibnite from auriferous mineral solutions.The combined gold referred to in the earlier paper was the gold contained in the stibnite as revealed by assay. Such gold was at first thought to be either dissolved in the stibnite or else present as free interstitial particles too minute for observation in transmitted light in thin sections.Subsequent examination of numerous polished,surfaces disclosed the small particles of gold occurring in the grain boundaries in aggregates of fine grained stibnite 2. The assumption that all the gold in the stibnite, as revealed by assay, occurred in this way is now known to be incorrect, because limited amounts of a gold antimonide have been found in the veins.

Jan 1, 1952

By Madgwick J. C

Leaching column techniques and microbiological methods have been described in detail in Madgwick and Ralph (1980) and Madgwick, Ralph and Sadler (1981).Sixty-nine kilograms of copper porphyry ore (0.4 per cent Cu, 2.7 per cent Fe) (particle size 2.4-11.2 mm; 60 The effect of sodium chloride (O.6M) irrigation on bacterial leaching of Bougainville copper porphyry ore was studied.Viability of suspended Thiobacillus ferrooxidants was reduced to less than 10 cells/ml in NaCI (O.6M) compared with 10' eells/ml in dilute II,SO, (0.01 M, pll 2). Salt irrigation had no significant effect on heterotrophic and sulphur oxidizing bacteria. Increascd short term recovery of copper (145 g/tonne/ 15 days) was followed by a marked decrease in tenors to less than 20 mg/litre/day compared with an acid leach, steady release, of 110 mg/litre/day. Resumption of acid leaching restored average solution copper to 46 mg/litre/day and the viability of suspended T Ierrooxidates to 10 cells/ml.Quantitative removal of sodium ehloride from ore particles was difficult and t races of NaCI remained for more than 200 days.

Jan 1, 1982

Apparently there is little inclination on the part of mining engineers to supplant the transmission of power by compressed air with it's formidable rival, electrical transmission. No doubt there are many advantages to be claimed for compressed air that render it parculiary well suited for the conditions which characterise underground work.

Jan 1, 1902

By Hargraves A. J

The paper outlines events at the Collinsville State Coal Mine, Queensland, leading to the practice of full face multiple shotfiring in bord and pillar development places. The 1954 disaster is referred to, and factors involved in simultaneous shotfiring in coal are discussed. Promising preliminary multiple shotfiring tests at the Colliery are described, as well as the resulting routine measures adopted, and the changes involved. The subsequent inducing of two outbursts under safe conditions by remote multiple shotfiring is given as justification for the changes made.INTRODUCTIONFollowing a disastrous instantaneous outburst (1.0.) of coal and gas at the Collinsville State Coal Mine in 1954, the necessity for inducer shotfiring for the control of possible further outbursts was established. However this mine, immediately classified as gassy after the 1954 outburst, is subject to the general restrictions pertaining to gassy mines which at present preclude the use of inducer shotfiring due particularly to the non-existence of a permitted exploder for more than six shots, and further, because permitted multipleexploders are not designed for remote firing through long lengths of cable. This situation was met by arresting or reducing progress in the production places, thereby reducing the danger of outbursts while means were being considered to achieve overall maximum safety.In August 1957 two full faces were successfully blasted in experimental simultaneous rounds. In June 1958 four full faces were blasted, and in October 1958 full face grunching without prior cutting, Le. inducer shotfiring, was introduced in No. 1 Tunnel as a production feature. In March 1960 it...

Jan 1, 1960

A study of the accessory opaque iron-titanium oxide minerals of the Oiles Complex, central Australia, was an Important complement to an investigation of the magnetic properties of the Complex. These minerals constitute no more than 10 per cent of the rocks sampled, and generally less than 1 per cent of the ultramafic rocks ("magnetite" concentrations were not sampled for magnetic investigation).Titanomagnetite is the main opaque mineral present, although ilmenite exsolution has been widely developed. High-temperature oxidation of these produced mainly titanohematite, pseudobrookite and rutile. Both exsolution and high-temperature oxidation developed along specific crystallographic directions (along {111}), and in Irregular patches. Low-temperature oxidation is generally not well-developed, indicating the small degree of weathering in the rocks sampled.Although the Oiles Complex is layered, no apparent overall preferred orientation of the iron-titanium oxide minerals was observed, other than crystallographically controlled alignment of very fine grains within pyroxene crystals. Other textural features of the opaque oxides are restricted to symplectic intergrowths mainly with the ferromagnesian silicates.

Jan 1, 1971

By Bohrn W, Milionis K, Tessmer G, Reidetschlager J

The share of electric arc furnace based steel production is increasing - New technologies for the production of virgin raw materials for EAF production are under development and on the market - VAI has a strong position in the field of scrap substitution technologies with their COREX«-, COREX«-DR and FINMET«-technology. In late-1998 the steel plant SALDANHA was started up successfully. This integrated compact mill is using the COREX«-technology as hot metal and a combined DR-plant as DRI production unit. Also in 1999 the BHB FINMET« plant Port Headland went on Stream.

Jan 1, 1999