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By B Klein

This paper stems from research and development in sensor and sorting technologies towards future sustainable mining undertaken by the UBC Mine-Mill Integration group in collaboration with MineSense Ltd. Sensors and sensor-based technologies such as ore telemetry and sorting are envisioned to be a significant component in achieving such ‘invisible’ future sustainable mining. Such technologies offer high flexibility and power in use: delivering valuable information from the very preliminary stages of mining exploration through to final upgrading of the ore preceding the fine comminution stages. This paper reviews sensors and sorting as enabling technologies towards a future smart mining operation and introduces a model in which sensor-based exploration (down-the-hole sensing), ore exploitation (smart-shovels), transportation (smart-conveyors) and preconcentration (sensor-based sorters) are effectively integrated to increase the present value of operations. It is anticipated on the basis of several case studies that an effective use of sensor technologies through tomorrow’s ‘smart mine model’ should lead to several positive impacts ranging from increased mining production, to reductions in transport costs, overall energy use and waste generation. In this way sensors can be used to maximise the profitability and present value of the mining operation from the exploration stage through to mine closure.

Nov 22, 2011

Following a decline in direct and indirect employment in the minerals industry between 2000 and 2003, the situation reversed in 2004 and employment rose by 12 per cent. Furthermore, there are forecasts of continuing employment growth in the minerals industry in the immediate future. For those of us charged with promoting the virtues of a career in the minerals industry this is encouraging news, as it provides us with the evidence to promote the increasing employment opportunities of a healthy and vibrant industry. However, for many others û particularly the employers in this industry û the news is not so rosy. The jobs are there, and in increasing numbers, but the workers arenÆt! Employers right across the industry are finding it increasingly difficult to fill vacancies with suitably qualified and skilled employees and the competition is becoming fiercer. In the minerals and energy sector, questions are being asked and solutions sought on the industryÆs ability to attract and retain a skilled workforce. From many quarters û industry, government and the education sector, calls for urgent action are becoming louder. The reasons for this are well known û the nature of the work, the remote location, perceptions of the industry, an aging workforce, the gender imbalance, the shrinking demographic of school leavers. It is the latter I wish to focus on û the Generation Y demographic û those who have recently left school, those who are in higher education or have recently entered the workforce, or those who are still at secondary school. These young people are the next cohort of potential employees for the industry. But our need for them appears to be greater that their perceived need for us! How do we engage them so they are informed about the industry? How do we inform and advise them so they are prepared to consider further education and training in disciplines and skill areas relating to our industry? How do we guide and motivate them to give it their best shot and work in it û at least for part of their working life? These are fundamental questions that many within the industry have been grappling with for quite some time. Let me share with you some of the strategies that the Minerals Council is implementing to address this issue.

Jan 1, 2005

As the title indicates the central themes discussed in this contribution are sustainable development, information systems, and extractive industry. More specifically, the objective is to present a prototype for the systematic generation of extractive industry (henceforth: EI) û specific sustainability information. The paper begins with the authorÆs viewpoints on the core notions of sustainability, and development, as well as their relationship to information. These set the stage for the introduction of the information system (IS), as well as the follow-up sustainability information system (SIS) extractive industry sustainability information system (EISIS) concepts and related discussions. The paper continues with a second part, in which, efforts to research and develop an EISIS prototype are described. First, the team is presented. Second, the systemÆs aim and target groups are briefly discussed. After, an articulated overarching EISIS conceptual model emphasising capital accumulation, and service flow concepts û is presented. This is followed by a detailed description of the assembled prototype with a focus on data and information generation. The formulation of data generation, storage and transmission processes, as well as its use in sustainability interpretation rules and their embedment in the conceptual model is made with respect to monetised stock and flow parameters, measured in the appropriate dimensions. In the third part, the author presents and discusses the results of a first round of prototype experimental development in three major EI firms. First, the system observation, and data analysis protocols are described. Second, a review of protocol implementation, and respective results, is made. Finally, the overall performance of the proposed prototype, and development process issues are discussed, before suggesting areas for improvement and future research. The paper ends with a conclusion in which the author provides a retrospective balance of the æknowledge creation projectÆ, as well as a prospective outlook for research in this field; before acknowledgements are made and references provided.

Jan 1, 2009

By J Rose, D O’Toole, D Grant

Orepasses are a critical element in the transport of ore from the stope drawpoint to the surface ore stockpile, making them an integral part of an underground mine’s ore-handling system. Well-designed and operated orepasses improve productivity and lower operating costs over a long period of time.The Olympic Dam mine, as part of a 6 Mt/a expansion project in 1997, constructed a large network of orepasses feeding a rail haulage system to facilitate the movement of approximately 8 Mt/a to the Clark crusher and hoisting shaft. The orepass network comprises 14 orepasses and currently includes 59 individual tip points. The orepass network has been in operation for over 15 years and in excess of 110 Mt of ore has been moved through the system.Olympic Dam’s management of mine infrastructure includes a program of assessing the condition of the Clark system orepasses. A comprehensive program was initiated in 2011 and consisted of systemically performing volumetric surveys to determine the integrity of the various sections of the orepasses. The current geometrical state of the orepasses provides essential information for comparison of geotechnical and operational parameters and a baseline for understanding the key causes of orepass deterioration to assist in the planning of both usage and potential replacement options.The collection of geotechnical and operating data allowed the review of the current condition, potential longevity and associated risks with the various orepass sections. Initial studies have also reviewed options for rehabilitation and/or replacement.CITATION:Rose, J, Grant, D and O’Toole, D, 2016. Orepass monitoring and management at Olympic Dam Mine, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 609–616 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

By Lynch K. S, Street R. P

Hamersley Iron's pellet plant at Dampier involves ore drying, dry grind- ing in ball mills, disc balling and, indurating by use of the straight grate system. After five years of operation, the plant's output has been increased from the design capacity level of 2 M.T.P.Y. to 2.5 M.T.P.Y. Steps taken in equipment modifica- tion, improvements in process control, and changes in maintenance procedures are described.

Jan 1, 1973

By T Preston

Solid Energy is the largest coal producing company in New Zealand, employing 500 people and more than 250 mining contract personnel. The coal produced by Solid Energy plays a significant part in the energy mix for New Zealand being supplied to the coal-fired power station at Huntly. It is also supplied to a wide range of industrial users, NZ Steel, and primary processing. It is fair to say however that the positive economic and social benefits of coal have to some extent been overshadowed by the negative environmental consequences of coal mining.   Over the past two years Solid Energy have been actively researching and addressing the impacts that they currently have on the environment and making a significant investment in environmental improvements, rehabilitation projects and environmental research to address historical and ongoing environmental issues. These investments have been driven by the companyÆs commitment to its environmental policy, which states:   æSolid EnergyÆs overall environmental objective is for the cumulative result of all the activities we undertake to have a positive net effect on the New Zealand environmentÆ.   With such significant investment it is essential that the company is able to target expenditure wisely, ie invest where there is greatest environmental gain to be had, and are also able to actively demonstrate to stakeholders the improvements that are achieved. In order to be able to demonstrate the commitment and the steps that the company is making towards this goal a number of systems have been developed. Firstly an environmental management system along the lines of ISO14001 formalising the environmental processes, responsibilities, auditing and management review. Secondly as part of the planning element of the EMS an environmental management matrix, which allows the scoring of sites against environmental management goals, has been developed. Thirdly the monitoring and measuring tools have been upgraded with GIS driven relational databases installed for management of consent related information and monitoring results.   The development of the environmental management matrix has drawn on a number of existing systems such as the Australian Institute of Mining and Minerals Code 2000. In addition to adapting the scoring regimes from these methods the Solid Energy Environmental Matrix has been further developed to ensure that it reflects the actual environmental impacts on site, as well as the management and audit systems that are in place to control them at a strategic level. The development of this matrix has included a number of steps: +        reviewing the information that stakeholders would be interested in, +        reviewing what was already available, +        development of systems to collect data and benchmark the current         operations, and +        setting up support systems to ensure that the correct information would be provided for scoring.

Jan 1, 2004

By S Robinson, R Perkins, D Barrett, D Kepert, C Fowers

The discovery and delineation of significant mineralisation in the Eliwana region continues Fortescue Metals Group’s strong exploration success. In the decade after the first hole was drilled into Christmas Creek in mid-2004 a total of over 11 Bt of hematite-goethite mineralisation have been delineated supporting the raising of $13 B, construction of five mines, 620 km of rail and a five-berth port. As of June 2014, Fortescue was shipping at the rate of 155 Mt/a. The area including the Eliwana and Flying Fish deposits is one of a number of future growth opportunities that Fortescue is currently evaluating.The Eliwana and Flying Fish deposits occur on the south dipping limb of the Brockman Syncline/Jeerinah Anticline. The Eliwana group of deposits are hosted by the Brockman Iron Formation with the Flying Fish/Broadway group hosted by the Marra Mamba Iron Formation.Structurally the area is dominated by moderate southerly dips of the regional dome and keel style folding. The regional limb is locally cross-cut at a small angle by asymmetric north facing Ophthalmian folds trending 110°. These fold sets, in part, preferentially host subsequent supergene mineralisation. Faulting is only locally apparent.Early phases of exploration commenced in 2006, with mapping of Flying Fish and reconnaissance drilling in 2007. However, due to the concurrent discovery (Clarke et al, 2009) and subsequent fast tracked development of Solomon channel iron deposit and Firetail bedded iron deposit (Simpson et al, 2011) priority was placed on developing Solomon due to its relative proximity to existing Fortescue infrastructure. Staged follow-up drilling of both Marra Mamba and Brockman targets at Eliwana was progressively undertaken from 2008 onward.As of 20 May 2014 a total of 1494 reverse circulation (RC) holes for 54 248 m and 13 diamond holes had been completed, resulting in the delineation of a Mineral Resource of 740 Mt. Exploration via mapping, drilling and metallurgical evaluation of adjacent prospects continues with additional resources expected in the future.CITATION:Barrett, D, Perkins, R, Kepert, D, Robinson, S and Fowers, C, 2015. Geological setting of Eliwana and Flying Fish deposits along the north limb of the Brockman Syncline, Hamersley Province, Western Australia, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 219–228 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

Mother Nature controls, technical professionals model and miners decide. Decisions to explore, mine and mill. Mine decisions, mine design, planning and scheduling are subject to the quality of models û geological models, geotechnical models, resource models, density models. The closer these models are to reality, the more accurate the predicted outcome. So why is it we delegate the modelling tasks to the most junior and least experienced people? If we insist on this, we need to support them û to provide them with æexperience acceleratorsÆ. Technical mentoring is the most effective way to provide the right information at the right time. When this information (read skills) is supplied at the right time we can inject experience into the quality of our modelling and into our decision- making processes. The objective of this paper is to share those behaviours and manners that foster relationships and create frameworks for skills and experience transfer. Central to this is an understanding of how adults learn, an understanding of the basic rules of mentoring etiquette, and the three keys to building meaningful mentoring relationships. An understanding of adult learning processes and styles provides a structure within which a mentor can understand the learnerÆs perspective. Understanding the world from the learnerÆs point is critical to selecting the right language to engage, teach and transfer skills. Basic rules of mentoring etiquette like timeliness, respect and trust need to be brought into the consciousness so they can be agreed on and monitored to prevent conflicts in cultural and generational norms between the mentor and the learner.Meaningful relationships hinge on the three behaviours: truly listening, rather than just hearing; understanding the technical issues within the WIIFM (whatÆs in it for me?) question; and facilitative behaviour. Stronger and more meaningful technical mentoring relationships within our industry will bridge the generational gap and ensure we can capture and capitalise on the wealth of grey hair experience and develop an informed group of young decision-makers.

Jan 1, 2006

The profitability of individual ore blocks can be classed as clearly profitable, clearly not profitable, and those in between which are by nature quite sensitive to their major cost and revenue drivers. It is often the case that the most effort goes into the least profitable ore blocks to ensure that these will in fact not generate a loss. In these cases a cut-off grade policy is often not sufficiently live to separate individual sources given the volatility of financial markets and individual circumstances of some sources particularly in remnant operations such as Mount Isa MinesÆ Lead Mine. Standard sensitivity analysis can determine which factors stope profitability is most sensitive to. However, this does not usually indicate the likelihood of any input change, nor the combined effect of multiple inputs changing. The author attempted to modify the Lead Stream financial model that determines cash margin by inserting probability distribution functions and then using Monte Carlo simulations to determine the probability of any particular ore block making a profit. This effectively demonstrates the combined effect of varying a number of inputs simultaneously to provide a probability of making a profit. The limitations of this analysis lie in the accuracy that individual probability distributions can be specified. Attempts to generate valid functions from first principles have proved difficult for a number of reasons and these are discussed along with some practical alternatives.

Jan 1, 2002

Proceeding from statistical data on the development of waste volume, an endeavour was made to characterise waste materials with regard to the applicability of treatments based on mineral processing. Many types of waste are characterised by a high heterogeneity. The separation processes used for processing raw minerals can also be used for separation of various waste mixtures. For some waste mixtures, differences in properties can be utilised for separation which are mostly less distinctive for raw minerals. State-of-the-art technology is illustrated with selected Examples.

Jan 1, 1993

By R Dimitrakopoulos, R Senécal

This paper presents a metaheuristic solution to the optimisation of open pit long-term production scheduling with a stockpile and geological uncertainty. The optimisation formulation is a two-stage stochastic integer programming (SIP) model that determines the optimal mining sequence that maximises the total discounted cash flow, while penalising for high deviations from production targets. A parallel implementation of Tabu Search is proposed to accelerate the solution of the SIP formulation and take full advantage of multicore computer processing. Different variants of the proposed algorithm are applied to a case study to assess the performance of the parallel approach. The proposed algorithm and variants are benchmarked using linear relaxation of the complete problem to determine robustness and provide a better overview of the related performance. The results show a net improvement over the sequential solution, and the new proposal seems to be promising when working with a large-scale data set.CITATION:Senécal, R and Dimitrakopoulos, R, 2014. Parallel implementation of a Tabu search procedure for stochastic mine scheduling, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014 , pp 405–414 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 24, 2014

The considerations which led to the decision to_ install discs at the Dampier Pellet Plant of Hamer ley Iron Pty. Ltd. are described. Initial testwork showed that the ore could be ground dry in open circuit to a Blaine index of 2500 cm2/g and that it pelletized readily. The various design criteria including diameter, slope, speed, motor size, depth of sidewall, feed point and water spray location were then determined. Plant performance after commissioning is described including the various problems encountered and the modifications since carried out to overcome them. The main problem was quickly identified as disc feed rate control. Various bin and bin feeder modifications were tried to overcome the effects of the fluidising characteristics of the dry ground ore. Other factors found to affect disc operation are ore size distribution, additives and operator competence.

Jan 1, 1974

By N Lewis

Recent major urban trunk sewer infrastructure projects in Melbourne have involved construction of nearly 10 km of tunnel boring machine (TBM) driven tunnels in a range of geological conditions varying from soft alluvial soils to hard volcanic rock. To provide both construction and permanent access to the new trunk sewer network, a total of 17 shafts between 5 m and 13 m in diameter, and up to 64 m in depth have been constructed. This paper describes the design and construction of the temporary shaft support systems for the shafts.The range and variability of geological conditions at each shaft site required the adoption of the following shaft support systems across the projects – jet grouting, sheet piles, diaphragm wall, secant pile, contiguous pile, reinforced shotcrete rings and rock bolts.Groundwater control, settlement, TBM launch and reception chambers at the shaft base, chambers and TBM launches at mid-depth of shafts, connection shafts between new and existing sewers and bypass pumping shafts are among the challenges that have been met.This paper reports on the some of the challenges involved and experience gained in developing design and construction solutions for large diameter shafts that are excavated within varying geology in Melbourne over the past three years.

Mar 8, 2011

Can mining promote sustainable development? What is sustainable development? Is sustainable development good for corporate sustainability? Does it work in practice? If so, is it good for business? This paper does not seek to provide definitive answers to these issues. Rather, it is presented in the interests of sharing information and contributing to the pool of collective experience. The discussion will draw on the experience of Placer Dome in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Sustainable development means development that is maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing ecological disturbance. The term æsustainable developmentÆ is often linked to the concept of ecological equilibrium, development that is self-replenishing. While its essential meaning remains the same, in practice, and for todayÆs complex and industrial world, different people will interpret sustainable development in different ways. Given the dynamics of development and the competing social, political and economic interests, sustainable development must be seen from a much broader perspective. This is the point that this paper will attempt to make. Mining, an activity that uses non-renewable resources, can promote sustainable development. The 1987 Brundtland Report (also known as the Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development), defines sustainable development in a broader manner - as development that meets the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Elkington, 1997). This definition calls for inter-generational equity in the development and use of resources by many organisations, including multinational corporations. Corporate sustainability, on the other hand, is about developing strategies that guide a corporation to stay alive and, more importantly, to stay ahead of its competitors. It is basically about survival in a competitive social and commercial environment. In a corporate world, profitability is survival. In this context, corporate profitability, the main ingredient of corporate sustainability, is important for sustainable development. Without profits, corporations will find it difficult to practice sustainable development or indeed any development. Sustainable development can integrate mining activities with the rest of the community, add value and, in the long-term, profits to the bottom-line. Ultimately, sustainability will force corporations to adopt strategies based on a longer time scale to survive. In the mining sector, corporate sustainability depends on a close relationship with all stakeholders, particularly landowners for whom sustainable development is critically important. Increasingly, there is an acceptance of the view that success is not achieved simply through competition in price, cost and technology but, more importantly, through creating social infrastructure which support community ethics, norms and values essential for trust and partnership. Needless to say, mining companies that engage in appropriate community-based development in support of inter-generational justice recognise the true value of sustainability. This is sometimes called the æhuman sustainability approachÆ which underlines the critical significance of trust in relationships with stakeholders and continuous improvement of corporate capabilities directed towards the future (Dunphy and Griffiths, 1998). In the long-term, such development will enhance corporate public image and acceptability. In practice, both concepts can be built on the principles of economic viability, environmental quality and social justice -what, in todayÆs parlance, is increasingly becoming known as the ætriple-bottom-lineÆ approach to business (Elkington, 1997). Underpinning this approach is a process of continuing dialogue and co-operation between governments, non-government organisations (NGOs) and business.

Jan 1, 1999

By K Morrison

Australia’s ageing population means that by 2050 there will be 2.7 people of working age to support each Australian aged 65 years and over compared with five working people per retiree today and compared with 7.5 in 1970 (Swan, 2010). This means that there is going to be a greater demand on social services – for medical and aged care – from a smaller private income base. How will this gap be met? Australia is fortunate in that it has vast resources of mineral wealth; from iron ore, nickel and gas in Western Australia to the giant copper and uranium deposits at Olympic Dam in South Australia.The prospect of a meaningful profit based tax on this vast mineral wealth has been lost through Australian government’s handling of the issue in 2010 and with an industry fiercely opposed to the prospect of a mining tax. Hence, new ways of thinking are required. This paper looks at the issues facing the implementation of a novel scheme whereby Australia leases the mineral resources it extracts and thus derives income over the decades the metals are in-use in pipes, wires and structures with a premium paid for unreturned material or that used in dissipative applications. Applicable minerals could include copper, aluminium, nickel and rare earths. If Australia simply digs up and sells the metals once, the buyer becomes custodian of that resource and they benefit from controlling the future ‘above-ground’ resource stock.A complementary driver for a leasing scheme is the increasing importance of chain-of-custody following initiatives of the Responsible Jewellery Council with gold and diamonds, now with the potential to extend across commodities. The Australian minerals sector could thus position itself as a premium supplier with high social and environmental credentials.Recognising the implementation challenges, this paper includes a review of how such a system could be enforced to ensure that the metal is tracked throughout its life. It concludes with a discussion of the rates and terms should such agreements hold and suggestions for institutional arrangements for enforcing compliance.

Nov 22, 2011

By M R. Stevens, W Mori, G B. Boswell

The Onemana prospect is located on the eastern Coromandel Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand. Systematic exploration involving surface geological mapping, geophysics, rock and soil geochemistry, reverse-circulation and diamond drilling has identified a number of important features of a fossil hydrothermal system at Onemana. This relatively intact gold mineralised system is hosted within a sequence of rhyolitic volcanics and volcaniclastics, overlain by lake sediments, sinters and hydrothermal eruption breccia. The system lies within a graben/half graben bounded by major NE-trending faults which form the approximate boundaries to hydrothermal alteration. Rock and soil geochemistry indicate a broad zone of anomalous gold, silver, arsenic, mercury and antimony. Overlapping elevated rock and soil gold anomalies indicate strongest mineralisation occurs over two zones of hydrothermal brecciation named 'Breccia Knob' and 'Western Ridge'. Geophysical data obtained from Gradient Array Resistivity and Ground Magnetics have been used to produce anomaly maps. The terrain corrected resistivity plot shows a number of well defined linear resistivity anomalies which are believed to represent large silicified and quartz veined bodies at relatively shallow depths. The strongest of these anomalies correspond with 'Breccia Knob' and 'Western Ridge'. Reverse-circulation and diamond drilling targeting these resistivity and geochemical anomalies has confirmed wide intervals of quartz veining, silicification and gold mineralisation. Petrologic data based on drill samples indicates the existence of a laterally extensive gold bearing epithermal system. Hydrothermal alteration is thought to have been caused by strongly convecting, two-phase (boiling), near-neutral chloride fluids which persisted at high temperatures (170 - 220¦C) to the paleosurface. A geological model is postulated of a large, complex, hydrothermal system developed in a shallow lake or marginal lake environment created by rifting and graben development within a recently extinct rhyolitic volcanic centre. Geothermal activity alternated between relatively quiescent periods of unrestricted fluid upflow and sinter development interspersed with violent hydrothermal eruptions caused by near surface silica capping and overpressuring above a major fluid conduit centred under 'Breccia Knob'.  Opportunities for precious metal mineralisation are evident from drilling to date. Upflow of near-neutral chloride fluids to shallow depths favours the presence of strongly mineralised stockworks at relatively shallow depths. Periodic hydrothermal eruptions would have caused fracturing and rapid depressurisation of the hydrothermal system, strongly favouring the precipitation of gold from solution both near surface and within feeder-vein systems at depth.

Jan 1, 1995

By J Seppelt, B Akerstrom, A Rice, J Bubnich, T Waters

The Concentrator 1 plant at Cadia transitioned from Cadia Hill open pit to the Cadia East block cave ore body in 2013. As a result of this change, major plant upgrades were required to achieve the desired throughput while treating more competent ore. The 40-foot (40’) SAG mill now receives a feed of predominantly high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) product with a minor component of secondary crushed ore at a combined F80 of 17 mm. The significant reduction in feed size to the SAG mill has markedly changed the operating characteristics of the mill, which has been extensively studied since commissioning in 1998.This paper examines the operation of the 40’ SAG mill in its new configuration in the Concentrator 1 circuit. Operational stability is highlighted as a significant factor in delivering mill performance, which has been achieved through several key improvement projects utilising a theory of constraints framework. Five years of successful project implementation has progressively lifted the maximum processing rate of Concentrator 1 from the design estimate of 2455 t/h to above 3000 t/h. CITATION:Waters, T, Rice, A, Seppelt, J, Bubnich, J and Akerstrom, B, 2018. The evolution of the Cadia 40-foot SAG mill to treat the Cadia East orebody: a case study of incremental change leading to operational stability, in Proceedings 14th AusIMM Mill Operators' Conference 2018, pp 217–232 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 29, 2018

By E Christodoulou, L Zoumpoulakis

The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of MgCO3 was investigated using isothermal experiments performed in a thermogravimetric analyzer under a nitrogen atmosphere at 380¦, 400¦, 450¦ and 480¦C. The weight loss data as a function of time were modified to give the fraction that reacted (ß) and the rate of reaction (dß/dt) vs. time (t). Kinetic analysis of the experimental results, using three different methods, showed that diffusion predominates the MgCO3 decomposition over the investigated temperature range, with the data being best fitted by JanderÆs equation ([1−(1−ß)1/3]2=kt). The activation energy was estimated by Arrhenius plots using both the initial reaction rates and rate constants from fitting the above equation. The values estimated were 27.1 and 171.4 kJ/mol respectively.

Jan 1, 2001

By J Robinson, D Herbert

Bench stoping operations at the Isa Lead mine have been underway for over 11 years. They were implemented to address safety, productivity and mining cost concerns noted with cut and fill mining operations which were then being used to extract ore from the Racecourse orebodies. This paper describes the main features of benching operations at the Isa Lead mine and identifies the key elements for the success of the method. Four case histories are presented which highlight several of these factors.

Jan 1, 1998

By A Litwinowicz, M Laxman, A Fourie, A L. Li

This paper presents a design approach and analytical methods that were used for assessing the potential of static liquefaction and developing the mitigation measures for a tailings dams. The rigour of the design and analysis approach represented leading practise in the industry to address static liquefaction, which contributed to a robust design with high confidence and certainty. The salient features of our approach to static liquefaction included geotechnical investigation and tailings characterisation, static liquefaction screening assessment, static liquefaction triggering analysis, limit equilibrium analyses and numerical modelling of static liquefaction using the NorSand model, which was amongst the first tailings dam projects involving numerical modelling of static liquefaction using these methods.

Jul 1, 2021