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The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program was established and is supported by the Australian Government at a total cost of $140 million per year. Six of these centres have been established to help Australia's mineral industry: three in exploration, one in mining and mineral processing and two in extractive metallurgy. Since the CRC Program has now been in operation for five years, it is a good time to ask whether the minerals industry is being served adequately by these centres. In this paper, the performance of one CRC, namely the A J Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Hydrometallurgy, will be discussed in terms of the objectives of the CRC Program. As will be shown, the Parker Centre has made considerable progress since its establishment in 1992.

Jan 1, 1996

By J-P Franzidis

Hydrodynamic conditions such as gas dispersion, mixing intensity and solids suspension are known to govern the metallurgical performance of the flotation process. Understanding flotation cell hydrodynamics is therefore important for the optimisation of existing cells and for the design of the larger and more efficient cells which are needed to handle the finer, lower grade ores currently being mined. This paper presents the results of numerous studies that have been carried out to characterise the hydrodynamic conditions in a number of different types of flotation machines both in Australia and South Africa. Measurement techniques that have been developed to determine gas dispersion and other hydrodynamic properties in industrial flotation cells are described along with applications for their use. The results show distinct differences between the way flotation cells are operated in the two countries.

Jan 1, 2000

The economic viability of base metal and gold production projects at Chillagoe, North Queensland has been elusive or difficult to achieve. Because of isolation and low grades metallurgical efficiency has always been essential. This paper, concentrates on the Chillagoe Railway and Mines Company's operations from 1898 to 1914 and Elders Resources Limited's current developmental operations at Red Dome. The technological methods of concentrating, smelting and refining the copper, silver, lead and zinc by the Chillagoe Company will be outlined as well as their understanding of the geological aspects of the ore bodies and the stock market speculation. The Chillagoe Company failed in its economic management but developed the region. Elders Resources have successfully redeveloped the region including fostering the tourist potential of the area through their expert financial, engineering and metallurgical strategies within the external economic parameters of the Pacific Region.

Jan 1, 1987

It has long been recognised that applications of the Net Present Value (NPV) investment decision making methodology can have serious deficiencies in situations where investment can be delayed and, once made, various options allow increases or decreases in the level of output. NPV valuation can undervalue the project if it does not incorporate future flexibilities or ""options"". It is important to realise that a proper valuation of a project (ie, valuation of its future cash flows) must incorporate an analysis of optimal future decisions involved in managing the project. Current valuation cannot be divorced from a consideration of future decision making. There is now a considerable amount of literature, mainly academic, identifying and exploring ways of remedying these deficiencies in the application of NPV. While the necessity of period by period analysis is sometimes acknowledged, little if any practical illustrative model building has been published to date, aside from algorithms using continuous time stochastic processes which deny access to the uninitiated.

Jan 1, 1994

The methodology (i.e. procedures) used in testwork for modifying, improving, selecting, designing or developing processes is reviewed and possible improvements described. Minerals and particles could be characterised more comprehensively with modifications of existing procedures. Identification of the dominant phenomenon in a process could help bring the results of laboratory tests closer to plant performance. Improvements in pilot plant testwork could reduce the frequency and magnitude of problems in materials handling and separation in production processes, and increase the quantity and quality of the data obtained from a limited number of tests. Longer-term improvements in methodology depend on some changes in basic research. Information is required about all of the phenomena that occur in a production process rather than sophisticated models of specific phenomena. Theories, correlations and computer simulations could be used more effectively in testwork if they were simple, capable of forecasting the effects of changes and applicable to a number of similar processes.

Jan 1, 1986

Trade unions are people. As organisations they exist to represent the needs and interests of their members; that is the workforce. Thus one of the underlying objectives of the trade union movement has been and will continue to be: achieving from management recog- nition that the labour input to the production process - whether that be in the factory, office or service context - is made up of individual people who can not be treated as just another factor of production. The essential difference between labour input and other factors of production such as capital and raw material is the "humanness" of the individual entities which make up a firm, company or industry's labour supply. Recognition of the "people" input to the production process has essentially two aspects: humanisation of the workplace and the treatment of labour as human beings who have a role to play both within the workplace and within broader society.

Jan 1, 1982

This paper presents a summary of tools and methods used for geotechnical assessments and monitoring systems at block caving mines. A critical review of these tools is given based on the authorÆs experience in block caving operations. The reviewed tools include cavability prediction, fragmentation evaluation, geotechnical monitoring systems, numerical stress analysis and others. Some of these tools have been developed under certain circumstances in particular mines and experience shows that their applications under different geological and mining conditions have often been difficult. Examples from block cave mines are also utilised in this paper to illustrate the importance of the further development of these tools, whilst possible improvements on these tools are also suggested.

Jan 1, 2000

The concentrated efforts now being directed towards the development and application of monitoring and control techniques have now resulted in their widespread use in UK mines together with evidence of benefits resulting from their application. There is little doubt that the longwall method of producing deep mined coal will continue but will be made more reliable and efficient with the aid of control technology. The major fields of research and development work are concerned with planning and design of mines and mining equipment; management and engineering information; and automation of coalface, tunnelling and transport systems. The principal achievements now in widespread use are: the standard computer system MINOS, widely applied to mine transport, coalfaces and mine environment; extensive use of machine condition monitoring leading to condition-based maintenance; underground automation of conveyor systems and guidance systems for ranging drum shearers and boom-type roadheaders are being widely introduced.

Jan 1, 1985

By Scholl EW, Ricken W

The simultaneous presence of fuel, oxygen, and of an ignition source is necessary for an explosion to arise. If one of these conditions is missing an explosion cannot take place. A continuous reduction of oxygen, often applied as a protective measure in surface plants, is not to be considered for underground mining because of possible danger to persons. Therefore, measures for avoiding explosions can only be concerned with lowering methane and coal-dust concentrations to an undangerous level and avoiding ignition sources. As these measures alone are not sufficient, additional ones have to be taken to keep the effect of an explosion as low as possible. Measures for controlling and monitoring methane are essential. Although the formation of dangerous coal dust concentration cannot be avoided it can be reduced. Dust-binding by means of hygroscopic pastes and dusting with limestone dust are effective measures to pre vent explosions.

Jan 1, 1981

In Europe there are many regions, where coal or lignite is mined with surface methods. In most of these regions coal/ lignite is mined below groundwater table and mining opera- tions require pumping big volumes of water. Drawdown of groundwater table has influence on surface water and ground- water on adjacent areas. Mine drainage requires purification and its discharge changes flow in existing streams. Some of mine water is used by mining companies themselves, some is used by other industries, some for communal purposes and some for irrigation. However, majority of mine water is dis- charged to rivers without use. The above issues are discus- sed on the background of general, technical and water charac- teristics of such regions in B European countries. Conclu- sions and prospects for future complete the paper.

Jan 1, 1988

During 1979 the writer had the privilege of interviewing about 50 people with varying degrees of involvement in the industrial arena and all of them in one way and another, had a part to play in the huge and intricate saga of Australian employee relations. They fell into the following' categories Industrial Relations Officers/Managers Academics Politicians Union Officials Representatives of Employer Associations Senior Industrialists Commission Members (State and Federal) Sundry (Journalists, Government Officials). This paper seeks to give an account of their views on various aspects of industrial relations. The interviews conducted were all on a personal and confidential basis so it can be expected that sources will not be identified. Suffice it to say that this account represents, albeit in "potted" form, the opinions of some of the most experienced individuals in the country. It will be seen that in most of the vital areas there is a remarkable lack of consensus. It should be noted that this lack of consensus existed within each of the groups mentioned.

Jan 1, 1980

Geochemical investigations carried out in the Woodcutters area, Rum Jungle district, NT., consisted of a programme of C-horizon soil geochemical sampling followed by rotary-percussion and diamond drilling.Comparison of detailed geochemical sampling with the original broadly-spaced sampling showed that the structures along which the orebodies occur are reflected very closely by the detailed sampling.A series of vertical rotary-percussion drill holes put down adjacent to a gossan revealed a broad layered dispersion of lead and zinc in the deep lateritic weathering profile, while primary dispersion haloes are only very narrow. The layering appears to be related to the weathering profile.

Jan 1, 1978

By E S. Bernard

Steel fibre reinforced shotcrete (SFRS) is increasingly being used as ground support in both civil and mining applications. In recent years, methods of assessing the performance of SFRS have been developed. These include the beam test such as that prescribed by ASTM C-1018 and the panel test prescribed in the EFNARC European Shotcreting Standard. The panel test has gained popularity in recent times due to the two-way action modelled in the test. However, some difficulties have been noticed. Shear failures sometimes occur and there appears to be a rather high degree of variability in the panel test results. A new method of testing panels has been proposed. A circular panel supported on three symmetrically arranged points has been assessed at the University of Western Sydney. This paper describes the new test which may be the basis of a new specification for the testing of toughness of SFRS and summarises research work which has been carried out to-date.

Jan 1, 1999

By Lawrence PR, Hoffman W

The dissolution of gold from various ore-bodies is discussed in terms of extraction rates and reagent consumptions during leaching. Gold dissolves slowly in cyanide but reagent consumptions are usually satisfactory. In almost all cases where excessive cyanide consumptions occur, similar high consumptions result with other lixiviants. Recovery of gold from cyanide solution is well established and comparatively simple technology.Gold dissolution in thiourea is faster than cyanide but significant consumptions of thiourea, due to both adsorption and oxidation, occur. Gold recovery from thiourea solutions is likely to be more difficult than from cyanide.Chlorination of gold is very fast in acidic conditions but excessive consumption of chlorine occurs for ores containing greater than 0.5% S. Reprecipitation of gold and handling of acidic chlorine solutions are both significant problems. The mechanism of gold reduction onto activated carbon creates difficulties in the carbon in pulp process for recovery of gold but means a simplification in the production of bullion from loaded carbon.

Jan 1, 1984

By the 1990's Australia could be the largest coal exporter in the world and one of the few industrialised countries potentially able to supply the shortfall in its domestic oil requirements by utilizing its oil shale and coal resources to manufacture synthetic oil. The major challenge to both industry and government in implementing the new role for Australia will be to ensure that their actions and policies enable the timely mobilization of resources needed to meet the potential demand for energy, both domestic and overseas. Australia's potential for coal production and exports and for the production of oil from shale and coal are discussed and the potential constraints to development Examined.

Jan 1, 1981

By Chisholm J. M

Why go to the CIS? The vast mineral potential of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has long been recognised, but it has taken the lowering of the iron curtain to open up the region to serious mineral development consideration by the Western World. The advent of a free market economy and the emergence of the Independent States with pressing needs for foreign investment has led to a greatly improved investment climate. Coupled with the desire for some of the more entrepreneurial resources companies to head the wave of investment to the region, this sequence of events has promised a great deal, but delivered only modest progress to-date. Potential gold project development has provided the major focus, for three reasons: the region is highly prospective for gold, gold projects tend to have a relatively lower start-up capital cost compared to base metal and fossil fuel projects and finally bullion or refined gold is more readily transportable and easier to sell.

Jan 1, 1996

By M N. Ingham

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry has always been considered to be a comparative method of analysis. Reference materials are required to calibrate the analytical system. This paper describes the use of a set of æsyntheticÆ oxide standards, made from commercially available high purity compounds, to calibrate a spectrometer for 21 major and minor oxides. The spectrometer software uses simple methods of background correction, and a fundamental parameter method of matrix correction. Sample preparation is by fusion in 66 per cent lithium tetraborate, 34 per cent lithium metaborate. The use of synthetic standards, made from traceable compounds, brings XRF significantly closer to being a primary rather than a comparative method. Reference materials were used to validate the method described and examples of accuracy for major constituents are given using ores and other minerals. This method has successfully been used to analyse a wide variety of minerals and ores, as validation data shows. A titanium process example clearly shows the benefits of highest accuracy analysis.

Jan 1, 2008

By Oliveira JF

Thiourea is an alternative reagent for cyanide in gold leaching. The recovery of gold from acidic thiourea solutions by adsorption on activated carbon is based on methods similar to those applied for the extracting of gold from cyanide solutions, but the mechanism involved in the process is not completely understood. In the present work, studies were carried out to evaluate the adsorption of gold onto activated carbon. Experimental data showed good agreement with both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The adsorption of gold from acidic thiourea solutions proved to be an endothermic process, while the adsorption from cyanide is known to be exothermic. The isosteric heat of adsorption of -11.3 kcal/mol in the early stages of the adsorption is an indication of a process involving chemisorption. The effect of temperature was studied between 15¦C and 55¦C. An activation energy of 3.5 kcal/mol was determined by the Arrhenius plot, which indicates that the controlling step in the kinetics of adsorption is the diffusion onto the porous structure of the activated carbon.

Jan 1, 1993

Most Geologists have a well rounded knowledge of the exploration phase and those who have worked as mine geologists have an understanding of the production phase. Few have had exposure to the development and the construction phases. Even fewer have had the experience of closing a mine, disposing of the plant and equipment, carrying out the final cleanup and making the area safe and environmentally acceptable.During the various phases of exploration, the geoscientist gains a wealth of non-geological information which can be of considerable value to engineers and technicians in the feasibili-ty, development, operation phases and finally the closure of a project. Such basic controls as surveys, adopted assay sample lengths and the location of items of infrastructure during exploration, may continue to affect the project through its entire life. Thus the geologist's responsibilities extend well beyond the explo-ration phase of a project.

Jan 1, 1990

Exploration of a coal deposit provides the data on which a range of mine plans can be developed during project feasibility. The stages of exploration use methods and procedures which initially outline the deposit with more detailed data gathering and analysis of the specific site complexities. The in situ coal resource and reserves are calculated. The mine plan is a function of the mining method chosen and can have significant impact on the recoverable reserves. Other factors which can impact on the recovery of the reserves and the ability to maintain planned production levels are those which were either undetected during exploration or were misinterpreted. Exploration programs should be detailed enough to minimise to an acceptable standard the recognised and potential risks. Past programs which explored to achieve a minimum exploration density required to satisfy measured reserve status have generally proven to be inadequate, placing reserves and production at risk.

Jan 1, 1997