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By W G. Rowley

The Fortescue Metals Group story began in 2003 with a vision to establish an infrastructure project that would connect the stranded iron ore deposits of the Pilbara region of Western Australia with the steel mills of Asia. Following exploration successes in the Chichester Ranges using their new exploration model, Fortescue established significant iron ore resources at Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek during 2004 and 2005. By May 2006 the definitive feasibility study for mine, rail and port was completed, many of the key government approvals had been obtained, product development and market acceptance were complete and 1.07 Bt of total proved plus probable iron ore reserves were defined to support a 20 year mine life from the Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek deposits. Project construction commenced in September 2006 following a successful $3.2 billion capital raising. By April 2008, the mine and processing plant at Cloudbreak were completed along with the Herb Elliott port facility at Port Hedland and 256 km of heavy haul railroad linking the mine with the port. Mining of overburden commenced at Cloudbreak in late 2007 and by 15 May 2008 the first shipment of iron ore had departed for China. In the first 12 months of operation total shipments amounted to 24.6 M wet metric tonnes with weighted mean composition of 58.9 per cent Fe (64.4 per cent Fe calcined), 4.3 per cent SiO2, 2.0 per cent Al2O3 and 0.047 per cent P. Exactly 3.5 years between the Cloudbreak discovery hole and commercial production. The project success depended on many technical breakthroughs including a new exploration model, application of the surface miner as the main mining production unit, design of a new marketable fines product called æRocket FinesÆ, a highly efficient ædesandÆ flow sheet for upgrading of 2.4 per cent alumina run-of-mine to 1.9 per cent alumina Rocket Fines, 40 t axle loads for the heavy haul railway and a high capacity-highly automated port facility.

Jan 1, 2009

Estimation of the semi-variogram is basic to the geostatistical processing of data. The most widely used arithmetic average estimator is here employed with various sampling patterns to calculate experimental semi-variograms in a deposit which is simulated to have a defined semi-variogram. Percentage differences between theoretical and experimental semi-variograms are reported.

Jan 1, 1984

By Bailey S, Avraamides J, Jayasekera S

The anodic dissolution of iron from three different Western Australian reduced ilmenites was investigated using the carbon paste electrode technique. A characteristic current-potential diagram, called a cyclic voltammogram (CV), was obtained for each of the reduced ilmenites. The shape of the CV measured for all three reduced ilmenites was strongly time dependent. The effect of electrolyte composition and temperature on the CV of one reduced ilmenite was also investigated. The results suggest that the initial surface of iron in reduced ilmenite is slow to dissolve and that chloride ions and higher temperatures accelerate the dissolution of this initial surface layer. However, after removal of this layer, the dissolution rate was essentially independent of the electrolyte composition and the temperature.

Jan 1, 1996

By Schommarz KH, Dunne RC, Goodall CM

Column cells are widely used today for the recovery of base metals by flotation. Their use for the flotation of iron sulphides has not been as rapid. Australia has pioneered the use of large rougher flotation columns. During the last six years, seven rougher columns have been installed on gold mines treating iron sulphides and the technical viability of this technology has been demonstrated. Laboratory column testwork on a gold bearing iron sulphide ore demonstrated the effects of both physical and chemical parameters. In general the large commercial columns operate over a broad range of conditions depending on the downstream treatment of the flotation concentrate. The addition of wash water to commercial columns is not universally applied and there appears to be a need for a better wash water System.

Jan 1, 1993

The Curragh coal mining operation was designed and constructed to produce two coals initially at a rate of 4.3Mtpa. These are a high thermal energy steam coal primarily for domestic electricity generation and a low ash high quality coking product for the export market. Treatment of coals from four seams to achieve this requires a large and complex preparation plant and blending facilities incorporating state of the art technology. This facility was constructed during 1982/83. It has been designed for expansion to 6.8Mtpa capacity. The preparation and handling facilities were built at a cost of approximately A$80 million. Equipment includes 500 plus electric drives with a total capacity of 20 000kw. Commissioning was carried out in three phases : Staging - of the control system Coal Handling Facilities - conveyors, stackers and reclaimers for raw and product coals The Coal Preparation Plant - heavy media cyclones and froth flotation. A period of three months was devoted to the commissioning of the plant before requiring product coal to contract specification. This paper will describe the planning, implementation and results achieved.

Jan 1, 1986

By Quemard D, Troncoso J

The Gordonstone Project with a capital cost in excess of $500 million will become the largest underground coal mine in Australia. The project development decision was taken on 31 July, 1990 and at 31 May, 1991 construction was approximately 35 per cent complete. The first train of processed product coal will be railed to Gladstone during December 1992. The general theme of this paper therefore will address the planning and development processes at Gordonstone particularly the interrelatedness of technical, production, construction and environmental disciplines to ensure success during operations.

Jan 1, 1991

The Western New South Wales Electric Power Proprietary Limited is the central generating authority for distribution of power to the majority of the Broken Hill mining companies and the Broken Hill Water Board. This station supplies the whole of the power to North Broken Hill Ltd and Broken Hill South Ltd. It also supplies, power to the Southern Power Corporation for distribution to the Zinc Corporation Ltd. The Southern Power Corporation has a generating station which is tied in with the central generating authority.

Jan 1, 1957

The preconcentration of uranium ore by radiometric ore sorting at Mary Kathleen Uranium Ltd. is described. The operation of the ore sorting machines is discussed in detail and performance results obtained with the existing system are presented.

Jan 1, 1978

Twelve years ago, Jeffrey Mining Machinery Division of Dresser Industries Inc. developed the 120H HELIMINER. This machine was the world's first fixed-drum continuous miner and soon became the standard among manufacturers of continuous miners throughout the mining machinery industry. This paper will first outline a brief history of continuous miner development, then discuss significant parameters which are essential to a successful continuous miner design, and finally describe a number of specific applications of Jeffrey continuous miners in a variety of materials, such as coal, potash, iron ore, and trona, around the world.

Jan 1, 1978

By Mckenzie CK, Scott A

The injection of coal as an auxiliary fuel in ironmaking blast furnaces has been introduced on many furnaces worldwide. This paper examines the present practice of coal injection and discusses future directions for the technology. This has been undertaken through the use of a heat and mass balance model which predicts the replacement rates of coke by coal and the effect of coal injection on blast furnace productivity. The results indicate that future pulverised coal injection could replace substantial quantities of metallurgical coke, but that the energy balance economics of individual steel plants will have a dominating influence on the future of the technology.

Jan 1, 1987

In 1874 a stockman, JE Wright of Foxlow Station, recognised copper mineralisation when he was about 12 kilometres south of the station. The find was on the banks of the Molonglo River. Several small mines were soon operating along the ridge above the river, and the village of Captain's Flat was established.One mining company established in the 1880s was Lake George Mines. It's name was to remain synonomous with the name of the town until mining and treatment ceased on 11 March 1962.

Jan 1, 1993

By Hematian J

A high horizontal stress field has significant effect on the stability of underground roadways and influences the design of a support system in this environment. The high horizontal stresses at E1lalong Colliery, NSW, Australia provided the environment for this study. Samples of coal measures 'rock were collected and tested to determine their mechanical properties. The lithology, stress state, geometry and conditions prevailing in particular areas of the mine were obtained from geotechnical reports available at the mine and by field observation. The results of a series of finite element models constructed and tested under various conditions provided a basis for comparison with field observations. Analysis of the results indicated sufficient correspondence to provide a basis for the proposed design of an optimum support system. It is not suggested that finite analysis provides 'exact answers', but it does show the relative importance and interaction of various parameters.

Jan 1, 1995

By Kobayashi M

Particulate chalcopyrite samples (78 ~ 98 mole per cent chalcopyrite, screen size fraction from 710 to 250 µm) were prepared by crushing and sieving lump ore samples from 12 locations in the Mt Isa Mine. Measurements of thennoelectric power (which does not involve the passage of a current) were made using a packed bed that was compressed by loading with a weight and placed in a temperature gradienL Details of the apparatus are described.The effect of particle size was investigated by preparing 12 fractions, with mean particle sizes ranging from 605 to 2.2 µm, from one of the ore samples. Values of thennoelectric power decreased with both increasing particle size and loading pressure; however it remained fairly constant for particle sizes above 80 µm, when loading pressure exceeded 3.3 MPa.Measurements of the chalcopyrite samples gave an average value of -260 JlV/K (-248 ~ -268 µV/K) for nine samples and about -290 µV/K for three samples, showing that these samples were all n-type semi-eonductors.

Jan 1, 1990

One of the most difficult places to ventil ate in any mine is the working face area of an advancing mine heading. With an ever changing configuration, continual modification and extension to the ventilation system is necess- ary to maintain an adequate supply of fresh air and to control mixing and recirculation. Methane emissions and high dust levels as coal is broken and removed from the face area can produce unhealthy and dangerous conditions if ventilat- ion is not adequately monitored. An understanding of the air flow patterns which develop through use of different face ven- tilation systems can be reached by undertaking underground measurements or through observations using physical models. Tests undertaken by the author to determine the adequacy of different system-configurations are discussed together with approaches adopted by others working in the United States. Various new methods have been proposed for improving face ventilation beyond that sustained using conventional brattice curtain or tubing systems. The adequacy of some advances adopted by mining companies to improve ventilation while maintaining output efficiency is discussed.

Jan 1, 1983

Although a formal EES was not prepared for the WIM project due it winding down, CRA Ltd has been through the EES and planning scheme amendment process for its demonstration plant. Community consultation was involved with all aspects of this process. The paper outlines the WIM EES consultation program and provides lessons for future community consultation for major projects in regional locations with significant potential to alter the environment.

Jan 1, 1992

One of primary causes of poor blast performance is the improper relief of explosive energy. Under or over-confined blasts modify the explosiveÆs path of least resistance, which changes where and when the explosive energy is applied resulting in less than optimum blast performance. During the research for this paper the overbreak characteristics of five full-scale blasts were quantified using high speed cinematography and borehole cameras. The effectiveness of various overbreak control methods was also evaluated to guide design refinement. The results of this research along with general recommendations for reducing excessive damage are included with this paper.

Jan 1, 1999

By Ito H, Noguchi F, Ueda Y

DTA curves of synthesis lead sulfide and commercial. lead concentrates during oxidation were measured to clarify the mechanism of ox- idation of lead sulfide. The oxidation reac tions could be divided to elementary reactions with production of basic lead sulfates such as 2PbO PbSO4. An existance of iron sulfide played an important role of the oxidation of lead concentrates. The oxidation rates of lead sulfide were measured in the wide range of oxygen potenti- als using IR type SO2 gas-meter. The oxidation rates under low Po 2 which corresponds to the direct oxidation smelting were much lower than those obtained under high Pot. The combustion temperatures of lead sulfide were also measured by hot thermocouple method. Those values were extremly low compar- ing the oxidation temperatures obtained by DTA.

Jan 1, 1987

The Mineragraphic Section of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has had occasion from time to time to examine rocks, ores and concentrates from the Yatukoula goldfield, Fiji. The results of the examinations have been supplied as Mineragraphic Reports and have been supplementary to various investigations carried out by the mining companies on ore treatment, or by visiting geologists on the nature of the rocks and lodes. The presence of tellurides was determined in 1935, though incorrectly as nagyagite. The general absence of lead, except in traces, was soon afterwards discovered, and it came to be recognised as the mines were opened up that the chief telluride minerals on the field were sylvanite and native tellurium. Specimens of the tellurides have been provided from time to time by E. G. Theodore, Managing Director of the Emperor Mines Ltd., and of the Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines N.L., and further material was recently obtained, as the result of a visit to the field at the invitation of Mr. Theodore.The aim of this paper is to describe the occurrence of the tellurides in these specimens. The work has been carried out as part of the programme of research of the Mineragraphic Section.THE VATUKOULA GOLDFIELDThe Emperor, Loloma and Dolphin mines are situated at Vatukoula, six miles, south of Tavua, on the north coast...

Jan 1, 1949

By Balint F

The Izok massive sulphide deposits are located in the Northwest Territories of the remote western Canadian Arctic. Together they represent one of the highest grade undeveloped zinc-copper resources in North America. Metall Mining Corporation is presently engaged in a feasibility study on developing the Izok property as well as actively exploring for additional reserves. The Izok deposits are Archean-aged, volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) bodies hosted within and near the top of a thick sequence of predominantly felsic pyroclastic rocks. The hangingwall package includes additional felsic volcanoclastics, dacitic and basaltic flows, thin sulphide-rich iron formations, and turbiditic sediments. The felsic volcanics are intruded by syn- to late-hydrothermal dacitic dykes and sills and post-hydrothermal gabbroic dykes and sills. Both intrusives are interpreted to be volcanic feeders to overlying flows. All lithologies are cut by much later irregular granitic pegmatite dykes and regionally metamorphosed to pyroxene homfels grade. The deposits occur within a large kilometre-scale soda-depleted alteration zone. The immediate footwall and hangingwall rocks to the deposits are characterised by zones of muscovite-biotite (with or without sillimanite), lesser chlorite-biotite-cordierite (with or without anthophyllite), and locally intense silicificified and albitised zones. All lithologies have been affected by a later calcic metasomatic alteration. As currently defined, the Izok Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag deposits comprise a cluster of four complexly-zoned composite lenses: the Northwest, North, Central, and newly discovered Inukshuk deposits. The first three deposits are amenable to open pit mining while development of the Inukshuk deposit will require underground methods. The combined mineral inventory of the Northwest, North, Central and Inukshuk deposits at present totals 15.6 million tonnes with a grade of 2.4 per cent Cu, 13.8 per cent Zn, 1.4 per cent Pb, and 74.6 g/t Ag.

Jan 1, 1993

Low-grade, porphyry copper type mineralization at the Moonmera prospect is related to the intrusion of a granodiorite porphyry mass into the Upper Permian "Gracemere granodiorite". Significant copper mineraliza- tion appears to be associated with the alteration assemblage quartz-sericite- kaolinite. The ore shell is surrounded by a zone where montmorillonite and kaolinite are in greater abundance and this assemblage is over- lapped, mainly at depth, by potassium feldspar alteration. Secondary biotite is abundant throughout the mineralized zone. Preliminary sulphur isotope results on the sulphide mineralization are compatible with a magmatic origin for the sulphur.

Jan 1, 1974