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By Lindner E, Bosio M

South Australian coals are all low in rank and generally poor in quality, with difficult combustion characteristics. This circumstance makes the selection of a fuel source for future power generation difficult, requiring careful study and detailed analysis of the various alternatives. Combustion characteristics can have a significant effect on plant design and costs, and need early attention in any exploration and evaluation programme. The physical location of the deposits, often remote from established infrastructure and centres of population, is also a major factor in the ultimate cost of power at the poirl use.

Jan 1, 1977

By Conley R, Payne I

The Vickery Coal Mine commenced open cut mining operations in May 1991. All overburden and interburden is drilled and blasted for excavation by dragline or hydraulic excavator. The mode of operation adopted from the feasibility studies requires that throw blasting of the overburden be used to assist dragline productivity.This paper reviews the development of the drilling and blasting practices with particular emphasis on the throw blasting of the overburden and optimisation of costs. This review includes analysis of the pre-production drilling and blasting feasibility studies by comparison with actual results.

Jan 1, 1992

The paper briefly discusses the benefits to proponents of a formal environmental assessment process. It is argued that any process should be fair, cost effective and efficient, involve all affected parties, and should identify important issues at an early stage. The paper outlines the procedure used in Victoria, and the ways in which it attempts to address the above criteria.In conclusion the paper discusses progress towards a national approach to Environmental Impact Assessment. This is currently being pursued by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council.

Jan 1, 1992

In recent years rehabilitation of mine sites has become a principal focus of mining legislation in Victoria. In previous eras, managed rehabilitation commenced, if at all, towards the end of mining operations. Planning for rehabilitation works now commences before an exploration licence is granted.The paper gives a brief overview of the requirements for rehabilitation under the Mineral Resources Development Act 1990, Extractive Industries Act 1966, and related environmental planning legislation including rehabilitation bonds and enforcement provisions.A brief review of the current taxation provisions is also included.

Jan 1, 1992

By M Heidari, M Ataei

Today, the selection of a mining method is a multi-criteria decisionmaking process, with many factors in this process connected to each other. These trends do not have a high degree of confidence. In this study the analytical hierarchy process was used to select the suitable mining method for anomaly No 3 of Gol-Gohar iron mine of Iran. The results of this study show that gathering all existing information from the exploration stages and using AHP technique, the open pit mining method is the mining method for this anomaly.

Jan 1, 2003

By Miskelly N

Construction of the Ranger uranium project located 230 kiss east of Darwin in the Northern Territory commenced in January 1979. Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) was incorporated in February 1980 to acquire all the rights in the project. The total cost to ERA of these rights was $407 million, made up of $125 million in cash to the Federal Govern- ment and the issue of 125 million $1.00 shares at par, plus a payment of $16 million in cash to each of Peko-Wallsend Ltd (Peko) and EZ Industries Ltd (EZ).

Jan 1, 1983

Mining in the twenty-first century brings with it a new range of challenges, some unfamiliar to our industry. Skilled staff recruitment and retention is a significant issue. Equipment supply lead times are changing the risk profile under which we operate. And the new landscape of this century demands accountability at all levels while also requiring that we deliver more to our shareholders and our host communities. This paper draws on experiences in Waihi, addresses some of the challenges facing the modern mining industry and suggests some modest mitigation strategies.

Jan 1, 2007

During a mineral exploration programme in an environmentally sensitive area near Mount Painter in South Australia, a helicopter was used to position, construct and service drilling rigs in order to avoid the need to create new access tracks. The drilling programme was designed to optimise the advantages of natural landforms in order to minimise the environmental impact of site construction and drilling activities. This minimisation of land disturbance reduced the required amount of rehabilitation measures to the extent where all impacts of the helicopter-supported programme had disappeared within twelve months of completion of work.

Jan 1, 1995

By Jr

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the requirements of a full due diligence study for a coal property acquisition in both text and table format. From the initial scoping of the assignment, the paper discusses in depth from reserve base validity and mineability; historic performance; plant and equipment; future mine plans; infrastructure; capital spending and operating costs; labour and management; future risk assessment and environmental liabilities; marketing; valuation and finally acquisition synergies. All are important areas to ensure the viability of the acquisition and to identify and minimise the project risks.

Jan 1, 2003

At the Nikkel og Olivin nickel mine near Narvik, Norway, Outokumpu has been the operator since 1993. The mine was opened in 1989 and in 1992 Outokumpu commenced operations to secure concentrate deliveries to Harjavalta's nickel smelter in Finland. Annual production is about 740 000 tonnes of nickel ore grading 0.5 per cent Ni, about 25 000 tonnes of nickel concentrate and about 2800 tonnes of nickel metal. All production comes from underground operations which makes Nikkel og Olivin AS perhaps the lowest grade underground nickel mine in the world today. Production is currently from one of two orebodies, which is known as the Western orebody. The Eastern orebody was worked out by 1995. During Outokumpu's operational period the Western orebody has been delineated and taken to production. The underground exploration and definition drilling involved about 15 000 in of diamond drilling, which was carried out during a nine-month period. Following this a feasibility study was undertaken and production commenced. Improvements were made to the mining methods. Previously the mine utilised open pit equipment underground and this resulted in an enormous amount of additional tunnelling. Grade control and ore delineation were previously based on sparse diamond drilling and all geological information was processed manually. The improvements included the use of underground sludge drilling to increase the amount of geological information, the of a new computer system for grade control and mine planning, new automated underground longhole drilling equipment and the of underground mining equipment which reduced the size of the drives. These changes produced a marked increase in the efficiency of the underground Mine.

Jan 1, 1996

By Weyer J

Many existing computer planning programs for the mining industry focus either on big mining enterprises with a high production rate or on smaller operations for high value minerals. Big mining enterprises, like the hardcoal company `Ruhrkohle AG' in Germany have their own R&D departments which develop powerful computer programs for planning purposes, partly in co-operation with mining universities. However, there is a remarkable number of small- scale mining operations which are either not able to buy expensive hard- and software or don't have the skills for the operation of extensive software programs. Partly there is also a trend in using rule of thumb calculations rather than computer programs which need a lot of - partly unavailable - data. For this reason a computer program was developed which does not need expensive hardware and software and which can help the planning engineer in the selection of a limited number of possibilities. Until this time the planning engineer established two or three different cases and calculated the results with a pocket calculator. This could last some hours or even some days. Now he or she can use the computer program with a normal PC to compare the cases. All activities are menu-driven. The basis for all, calculations are fixed and variable costs as well as average performance for special activities. The paper gives an example for a possible planning situation in fluorspar mining (originally this program was developed for the fluorspar enterprise Lengenfeld in Germany). It shows the initial situation, the main structure of the program, the input logic and the results. Benefits, limits and possible extensions of the program are discussed.

Jan 1, 1995

The reality is that in today's world almost half of nearly six billion people on the planet do not have access to commercial energy and the services it brings. Based on UN projections, in 30 years time there are likely to be nearly three billion more people in the world, over 90 per cent of them in countries which are already economically poor. The World Energy Council (WEC), through its 102 member countries, monitors trends and developments and projects future trends. WEC is a non-governmental international body representing all forms of energy and is committed to the sustainable use of energy for all mankind. This paper is based on WEC studies and papers presented at its many conferences and congresses worldwide. Primary energy demand growth is dominated by the developing countries over the next 30 years. The world energy mix is projected to change very little over the next 30 years. Fossil fuel supplies (ie coal, oil and gas) are likely to decline from 77 per cent to 73 per cent, nuclear energy may grow from five per cent to six per cent and renewable energy sources (eg hydro, solar, geothermal, wind, tidal and biomass) could increase from 18 per cent to 21 per cent. World energy consumption is expected to grow by over 50 per cent over the next 30 years. The paper reviews changes in energy demand in the world, particularly in the Asia/Pacific region. Environmental issues are covered, as are developments such as solar energy from space and the status of renewable energy forms. Agendas for action to achieve change are also reviewed.

Jan 1, 1997

Mining is still a significant economic activity within the Hauraki District. The Martha project is particularly significant. Estimates are that in the order of 850 direct and indirect jobs are derived as a consequence of the Martha project within the Waikato Region. The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) is New Zealand's primary piece of environmental legislation. It sets out to provide the framework for the control of the use, development and protection of almost all physical and natural resources. Minerals are excluded from the sustainability requirements of the legislation but as mining invariably involves the use of land, all the other elements of RMA apply. The Council's role in dealing with mining changed with the introduction of RMA. It became responsible for administration of those matters that fell within the functions set out in section 31 of the RMA in respect to existing authorisations. Mineral development needed to be considered in the development of the District Plan that the Council is required to prepare. Implementation of the Act has been a challenge for not only local government but for many industries and resource users since it came into force in 1991. There have been, and are, differing views on both the way it is administered and its intent. The Hauraki District Council has been at the forefront of some of the challenges that are a consequence of the Act. Its reactions to these challenges have been consistent. It treats mining in the same why it treats any other industry. At times this approach has not been understood and without challenge from sections of the community.

Jan 1, 2000

By M Pizey

After 60 years of operation, coal extraction at Solid Energy New ZealandÆs (SENZ) Strongman Mine, near Rapahoe is scheduled to end in early 2005. Up until 2003 the closure bond for Strongman Mine was only $930, and both SENZ and the West Coast Regional Council (WCRC) agreed that a more realistic level of bonding was required.   A conceptual closure plan has been developed by Golder Associates, and the cost of the work estimated. Closure includes decommissioning of equipment and facilities, rehabilitation and replanting of all disturbed areas and a period of maintenance and monitoring to verify that closure objectives have been met. Significant maintenance allowances are included to cover management of underground fire, subsidence and slope instability. These make up much of the potential ongoing environmental liability at the Strongman. All costs incurred beyond year 1 of closure are discounted to present value. Uncertainty in costs is addressed by Monte Carlo simulation, with an 80 % confidence level adopted.   A bond quantum of $3.0 million has been calculated for the first year of closure at Strongman. A three-year ærollingÆ bond is proposed. Progress will be reviewed annually, with the bond adjusted up or down accordingly. It is then renewed for a further three years. This allows for progressive return of the bond as rehabilitation objectives are met and verified. Similarly, if there are delays in meeting objectives, a proportion of the bond may need to be kept in place for a longer period than assumed. The level of bonding in place for the Strongman operation at any time in the future will therefore reflect the cost to complete the closure work programme.

Jan 1, 2004

By D L. Kennedy

Many aspects of the physical layout of manufacturing plants and storage facilities for explosives are governed by so-called quantity-distances tables. Both the British and the American tables were originally derived from an analysis of the injuries and the building damage documented by an early 20th century compilation of significant accidental explosions. However, progressive changes in explosive process technology and in building techniques have reduced the relevance of much of this historic data set. Extensive scientific research has been conducted over recent decades to characterise the potential injuries and damage from accidental explosions under more modern conditions. This presentation will showcase some of this research.**This is an abstract only. No paper was provided for this abstract**

Nov 8, 2011

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

Jun 1, 2010

All minerals contain radioactive elements, from the uranium ores of the Gabon, which contained sufficient uranium to initiate a natural nuclear reactor, to the very low levels of some recent evaporites. The commonly occurring heavy minerals such as ilmenite, rutile and zircon are no exception to this and contain varying qualities of radionuclides, depending on the source. With recent changes in legislation many natural minerals may become officially classed as radioactive. Such moves can inhibit the sales and exploration of many minerals in the heavy minerals suite. The many negative perceptions associated with the word radioactivity can produce an over cautious reaction from regulators and users. This paper presents a method of managing the radioactivity issues associated with minerals such that the safety aspects of workers and public are not compromised, whilst allowing the commercial use of such minerals to continue in a sensible manner. The paper focuses mainly on the mineral zircon and its uses. However the legislation changes particularly in Europe and the USA have the potential to affect all minerals imported into or produced in those countries. The model developed for addressing the issues of zircon radioactivity may be readily applied to other minerals since legislation governing such matters is not mineral specific. There is a strong need for education of both regulators and users of minerals. Regulators are usually not aware of the specific properties or uses of individual minerals. Similarly mineral users are not aware of the radioactive nature of their materials or how to manage this property. The paper concludes by recommending strong cooperative action by both producers and users of minerals to protect the future of their industry.

Jan 1, 2001

By Kennedy JT

This is a question that will be asked many times and by many individuals during the various evaluation stages of any new project. However, the question itself will often have different connotations to the different groups invariably involved in such an exercise. As examples, consider just three of the several different groups involved in the development of a new mining project - Financiers, Consulting Engineers and the Sponsors of the project (potential borrowers). To the Financiers, a 'bankable project' will be one against which they will be prepared to lend funds (but not necessarily all of the funds requested by the Sponsors). This usually means that in the first instance the technical information presented to the bank has satisfactorily covered all of the requisite areas to the levels of accuracy required. More importantly, the financial evaluation of the projected economic performance of the mine, as a whole, is considered sound and a set of arrangements under which the bank is prepared to advance loan funds have been structured which fully satisfy the bank's credit criteria. To Consulting Engineers preparing a feasibility study (or a part thereof), on behalf of the project Sponsors, the term 'bankable' invariably only refers to the technical completeness and the level of detail contained in the report which they are preparing. Their scope of work will not necessarily have been broad enough to fully satisfy a bank's requirements. It is unusual to see any specific references to overall project viability or profitability in Consulting Engineers' feasibility reports, other than those which are automatically associated with the use of the term 'ore'.

Jan 1, 1990

Designing and constructing OxianaÆs Sepon gold and copper operations in one of the most remote areas in Laos has been a great achievement; one which was recognised by the engineering industryÆs highest accolade û the Australian Engineering Excellence Award in 2005. The developing nation of Laos has no previous mining or heavy industrial experience, but the support of the Lao Government and a remarkable Lao workforce has enabled the project to be developed and operate as well as it would anywhere else in the world.When making a decision to invest offshore, several geophysical and jurisdictional criteria need to be considered. Laos offers unparalleled prospectivity, a central location with growing infrastructure, a ready workforce and a developing but supportive regulatory regime. In addition, the Sepon copper project has exceptional characteristics, including its high grades, location near the surface, leachable qualities, access to hydropower and the ability to produce cathodes on site. These attributes and its location in the centre of a region hungry for resources contributes to the projectÆs excellent economics.

Jan 1, 2006

How do you initiate closure planning for a mine site that is on the doorstep of a major community without generating the extremes of panic or complacency? That is the question that is faced by Australia's largest gold mine, the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) Super Pit in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. KCGM's Community Relations Manager, Danielle van Kampen, will reveal the lengthy closure planning process that is in train to alert yet not alarm the community about the future of the Super Pit and to generate discussion on issues of importance. What will happen to the 'big hole' that generates both mining and tourism dollars for the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder as its anticipated closure date of 2021 comes closer? How do you communicate a constantly evolving closure date? Although the process may generate more questions than answers, the project will be discussed at length and with the added benefit of independent community recent research in the form of the public 2009 Closure Consultation and the KCGM 2010 Social Impact Assessment. This is an ABSTRACT ONLY no paper was prepared for this presentation.

Jun 1, 2010