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Portman Mining Pty Ltd very successfully operated the Ferro GullyNorth Mine in the Hamersley Province of Western Australia to satisfy a contract for the delivery of six million tonnes of iron ore in less than two years to the Mount Newman Mining Co Pty Ltd. The high-grade ore extracted from Ferro Gully North Mine was unusual in that, not only was it within the Joffre Member of the Brockman Formation, but it was rich in red ochreous hematite and martite and very low in phosphorus.

Jan 1, 2001

By S Leary

Diamond drilling since early 2006 has identified an epithermal gold-silver (Au-Ag) deposit beneath 140 m to >400 m of cover. The Fruta del Norte discovery had an inferred resource estimate of 58.9 Mt grading 7.2 g/t Au in October 2007. The mineralisation is hosted by Mid-Late Jurassic andesite and andesite porphyry in a regional fault zone beneath mainly post-mineral but in part syn-mineral Late Jurassic cover. The intermediate sulfidation-style deposit formed before and in part during deposition of epiclastic cover in the fault related pull apart basin. In addition to its size and obvious economic importance, the widespread occurrences of visible gold and exquisitely preserved epithermal textures will make Fruta del Norte an important learning tool for explorationists seeking epithermal mineralisation in theAndes and elsewhere. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By Burgess J

Present practice of lead-zinc flotation at North Broken Hill Limited is described and factors influencing plant objectives and performance discussed. Mineralogical examination of final flot- ation products showed mineral liberation to be 94T complete and size by size metal recovery tables indicated a need for finer grinding to improve lead and silver recovery, but coarser grinding to improve zinc recovery. A steady grinding circuit, at constant ball mill power and cyclone overflow pulp density, is found desirable for satisfactory flotation circuit operation because instabil- ity in the grinding circuit inevitably leads to flotation instability and as a consequence less than optimal flotation operation. Remov- al of the variable lead flotation middling product from the grinding circuit decreased grinding instability.

Jan 1, 1978

By Kellett KR

Gold Mining at the Lancefield Mine was commenced initially in 1897 and continued intermittently through to 1956 when rising costs and mine cave-in forced closure. The mine was redeveloped in 1981 and a new-oxide treatment plant commissioned, followed by a new refractory treatment plant in late 1982. Both these treatment plants are located within the Windarra Nickel Project plant area.The refractory ore is processed by fluidised bed roasting of flotation concentrates. This is carried out in two series connected reactors to maximise arsenic and sulphur eliminations and to minimise reagent consumption. For gold recovery the zinc precipitation process was initially used, to be later replaced by carbon-in-pulp.

Jan 1, 1984

The energy input requirement to produce the molten slag associated with iron production to the modern Australian blast furnace, is estimated to be 2.OMJ/kg. In converting blast furnace slag to products of higher commercial value, advantage should be taken of this energy content by transporting molten slag from the furnace for beneficiation and processing in the molten state at an "off furnace site". The refined slag melt may then be converted into a variety of products for use in the building and construction industries, e.g. slag cement, slag sand and slag aggregates, insulation wool and various slag ceramic products. Some results of studies into slag melt beneficiation and conversion processes involving both molten and cold granular slag raw material, are presented.

Jan 1, 1979

By P Cheluszka, M Jaszczuk, P Sobota

This paper refers to a new idea of stereometry of cutting drums of longwall shearers designed to get medium and hard to mine coals. A new way to place picks on a drum enables to readjust a number of picks being in contact with the body of coal to shearer haulage speed. Owing to this a remarkable increase in depth of a cut within the low range of haulage speed has been obtained. On comparing operating characteristics a considerable reduction in the specific energy consumption has been shown when using the units machined as per the new idea, in comparison with the units produced in series.

Jan 1, 2003

By George CW

Western Mining Corporation (W.M.C.)operate a 30 000 tpa nickel refinery at Kwinana, W.A. using the Sherritt Gordon Process. Following ammonia/air leaching of sulphideminerals and subsequent copper removal, nickel metal is produced as powder by hydrogen red-uction of the ammonium sulphate-rich solution. Batchwise reduction in pressure autoclaves is preceded by an oxidation/hydrolysis step to ensure nickel powder quality.The reduction process is energy intensive, requiring high temperatures and pressures. Present energy requirement is 24 GJ per tonne of nickel reduced. Of this, 95% represents steam and hydrogen consumption and 5% electric power. The design and operation of the red-uction circuit is reviewed, outlining the main areas of steam and hydrogen usage.

Jan 1, 1985

A Master of Applied Science degree course in Mining Geomechanics commenced in 1983 at The University of New South Wales, taught by extern- al (correspondence) studies. The course is aimed at graduates employed in the mining indust- ry, and especially people involved in geomechan- ics projects on a routine basis in remote locations. This kind of course is unique in Australia and is one of only two correspondence programmes available at this University. The author designed the course and nursed it through the early years, and was Director until 1986. The paper describes the teaching and assess- ment methods and also discusses aspects of admin- istration and coordination of such a course. It is concluded that an important need of the mining industry is being catered for and it appears that similar correspondence course for- mats would also be useful in other areas of the minerals industry.

Jan 1, 1986

In-seam drilling is conducted mainly to drain coal of gas and/or water prior to development or extraction. The requirements of inseam drilling for gas drainage have mainly surpassed the technical limits of rotary drilling and are mainly being addressed by guided down hole motor drilling, albeit at a higher cost. There is an increasing application of in-seam drilling to detect geological structures or other hazards or their absence in advance of mining to reduce the risks of underground mining. Close collaboration between miners, drillers, geologists, researchers and suppliers over the last four years has seen many advances made to improve the accuracy and reliability of inseam drilling. With such developments will come closer control over the ventilation and safety of future mining under deep gassy conditions, but not without costs. The paper summarises the current applications of inseam drilling, recent technological advances and the next generation survey and geophysical sensing tools which are currently being developed

Jan 1, 1998

Wrenching between basement blocks is considered to be the mechanism whereby a well developed set of en echelon folds and an associated fracture system are developed in the Fitzroy Depression, Western Australia. The regular geometry of these structures accords with a right lateral regional coupling between high-standing, basement blocks bounding a trough filled with a thick pile of stratified Phanerozoic sediments. The structures developed during or after the Mesozoic Era, but the couple is inferred to have been applied to blocks outlined by old lineaments, which may reflect strains or ruptures in basement that developed during the Precambrian, and which were regenerated during Palaeozoic and Mesozoic time.

Jan 1, 1967

Over the past 5 years, Bougainville Copper Limited has undertaken a number of major plant expansions to the copper concen- trate production plant at Bougainville in the North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea. These projects have scheduled three additional ball mills, three new banks of Outokumpu flotation cells, four additional tertiary screens, two additional tertiary crushers, and more recently four high capacity 24.5m dia. tailing thickeners. The value of the five separate projects totalled more than A$100 million. A requirement of commissioning and bringing on line of each of these projects has been to minimise both operational losses and copper concentrate production. The commissioning has been successfully implemented by detailed planning of the commissioning work in conjunction with the plant operation. Planning has been detailed for each man involved on an hourly basis, highlighting the work required on each commissioning task that is to be undertaken and the time expected to achieve activity Completion.

Jan 1, 1986

Process control computers are finding ever increasing applications within the chemi-cal and mineral processing industries.To purchase a system which fulfils both the immediate and future needs of operating, technical and management groups, requires an appreciation of the capabilities of the system software and the constraints which apply to user development of application software. Early decisions are then required as to who will develop and maintain the software. Rules and conventions must be determined and adhered to if the end result is to be an orderly, well structured and properly documented system. Software development and maintenance represents a substantial, and often hidden, cost. Getting it right the first time will avoid either a major re-work, or having to live with a system which is extremely diffi-cult (at the worst, impossible) to trouble-shoot or modify.

Jan 1, 1985

By Massy-Greene RB

Limited recourse financing techniques reduce the financial exposure of equity holders to major mining projects by transfering some of the risks to the banks which provide loan funds for project development. This can only be achieved by a clear understanding of the principles involved. Engineering and management decisions on how the resource is to be developed and extracted must be made in the light of lender's requirements. The structure of sales contracts, joint venture agreements and many other documents can be important in limited recourse financing. If projections show that the debt can be repaid from project cash flow, loan agreements and other arrangements can restrict lenders ability to look to the equity holders for repayment of project loans.

Jan 1, 1981

Dragline performance drops considerably when chop-down and double handling of material is needed due to increasing overburden thick- ness or total pit depth. Beyond a certain pit depth the dragline needs support by a pre- stripping system in the upper portion of the overburden. In soft to medium hard ground the bucket wheel excavator can be used for pre- stripping, whereby several methods of material transport are investigated. Conveyor transport around the pit and dumping by stackers is the best solution from the technical point of view. Cross pit transport and dumping by means of a conveying bridge is the method with the lowest costs per volume moved. Cross pit transport by use of a beltwagon with overlong discharge boom is both, poor from the technical point of view and high in overall costs.

Jan 1, 1981

The attachment of a spherical particle to a bubble is theoretically investigated under the condition of a mixed sorption coating of a collector. It is shown that the attachment is determined primarily by the hydrodynamic factor involving the displacement of liquid from the gap between a bubble and a particle. The dependence of the attachment on the state of the surface of particle (sorption coating) is due to a change in the boundary conditions on the interface with water both in the case of surfactant chemical sorption and in that of the physical adsorption of oil. It is demonstrated that at large distances the thinning of a interlayer is facilitated by a physically sorbed collector, while near the bubble this is done by a chemically sorbed one.

Jan 1, 1993

By G Lane, S Morrell

The design of the 12 m diameter SAG mill installed at the Cadia Hill Mine in New South Wales followed after two years of extensive laboratory and pilot plant testwork. The testwork showed the Cadia ores to be hard and competent necessitating the use of both a variable speed SAG mill drive and pebble crushing. The grinding power requirements for the SAG mill was based on engineering in-house grinding software, pilot plant data and simulations using JK SimMet software. Surveys of the SAG mill operation during the first four weeks showed the feed size distribution, transfer size and pebble rate to be lower or less than those for which it was designed. To compensate for the lower pebble rate, the SAG ball load was increased. This resulted in the total comminution circuit power being some 0.5 kWh/t higher than predicted. The JK SimMet SAG model has been modified to take account of these variations.

Jan 1, 2000

Modern, research-based approaches to mineral exploration are essential to the future maintenance of the mineral industry. These need to fully utilise the rapidly expanding growth of understanding of the evolution of the earth's crust, and be properly integrated with advances in understanding of chemical and physical processes involved in ore formation. BMR has a major role to play in supporting the growth and utilisation of this research base, as well as maintaining the national geological and geophysical bases which are essential both to tactical and strategic interests of Australia and of its mineral industry. The objective development of data-process modelling is one target of such strategic research based on a more integrated approach to research by BMR, mineral companies, CSIRO and the universities with emphasis given to promoting positive feedback during research activities. Examples of the success of strategic research in Australia and overseas are noted in the Text.

Jan 1, 1986

As part of the response to the increased demand for products such as iron ore, coal and gold many resource companies have identified the need to develop strategies focused on attracting high demand professionals and retaining current employees in the business. Recent graduates are entering a time where they can expect high starting salaries, attractive benefits and lifestyle options. At the same time high work expectations and large demands on both personal and professional development will also be the norm. Some of the challenges faced may include high demands on performance, working with limited resources, long hours, and tackling unfamiliar areas of work with little guidance. However, managing your career and these challenges effectively can give you valuable experience in a short amount of time. By offering situations from my relatively short, yet active, career in the mining industry during these boom times I will raise some key points on how to best leverage your commodity and make the most of a bullish market.

Jan 1, 2006

By S C. Dominy

The Minerals Education Australia program is offering a tertiary learning environment for the global mining industry. The Minerals Council of Australia has instigated this initiative, which is run by the Minerals Tertiary Education Council. The program is a pioneering partnership between the Australian minerals industry, Australian governments and key Australian universities. It is designed to deliver key undergraduate and postgraduate courses for tomorrowÆs minerals industry professionals in the fields of geoscience, mining and minerals engineering and metallurgy. The flagship course for geoscience professionals is the G3 Masters program. This is a coursework-based degree supported by the Minerals Tertiary Education Council, and a partnership between James Cook University, the University of Tasmania and the University of Western Australia. These partners represent the leading-edge providers of minerals geoscience education and R&D in Australia. The G3 program provides the full spectrum of post-graduate training skills in exploration, mining and economic geology topics.

Jan 1, 2003

By N Bennett

This paper examines the practical and economic benefits of using bulk emulsion explosives in underground development mining; compared to ANFO, ANFO derivatives and packaged explosives. The key economic benefit of bulk emulsion is the replacement of relatively high cost packaged explosives with a bulk product. Key practical benefits include water resistance, improved coupling of explosive, reduced toxic gas production, increased shock energy and improved manual handling through the use of bulk products. Each of the benefits is proven using a variety of measurements and field results in order to quantify them. Where possible, dollar values are determined so that the benefits can be shown to translate into savings for the mine operator. The results show that, despite the difference in price between ANFO and bulk emulsions, bulk emulsions are most capable of delivering the lowest total cost of blasting. The savings potential of the introduction of bulk emulsion systems can result in an improvement in drill and blast costs for a mine operator, or a significant increase in profit margin for a contract mining company.

Jan 1, 2007