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By M I. Pownceby, S Bhargava, F Charalambous, S McMaster, R Ram, J Tardio

"A key component of any geometallurgical investigation involves being able to predict element or mineral recoveries from simplified input data such as bulk chemistry and/or mineralogy. This relies on the metallurgist having access to accurate information regarding the chemistry of the ore and gangue minerals as well as the likely impact on processing/extraction caused by the impurities (present either as gangue or as substitutional impurities). In this study the chemical properties of two commercially important uranium minerals, brannerite (U4+Ti2O6), and uraninite (U4+O2), were characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Significant levels of impurities were present in both samples with the uranium minerals deviating significantly from their ideal chemical formulae. Differences in chemistry were due to: cationic substitution decay of the uranium isotopes into radiogenic lead and other daughter products mixed uranium oxidation states post-depositional alteration.As well, the brannerite sample showed evidence of significant radiation-induced metamictisation. Leach tests to measure the ease of extraction of uranium from both samples were conducted over a wide range of conditions (temperature, acid concentration and oxidant concentration). For uraninite, the lower U dissolution rates observed in the natural sample compared to a synthetic UO2 sample were directly attributed to the presence of impurities. For brannerite, significant metamictisation of the natural sample led to enhanced U extraction rates compared to a heat treated fully crystalline sample. This study highlights the importance of detailed mineralogical characterisation studies in any uranium process mineralogy investigation as the compositional, textural and microstructural aspects of the main uranium phases present will likely play an important role in any process to extract uranium.CITATION:Ram, R, Charalambous, F, McMaster, S, Pownceby, M I, Tardio, J and Bhargava, S, 2013. Chemical and microstructural characterisation studies on naturally occurring uranium minerals - implications for processing, in Proceedings The Second AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2013, pp 325-334 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Sep 29, 2013

By P Hagan, S Campbell

A study was undertaken using various methodologies to determine the optimum loading and hauling configuration for different haul routes at Callide Mine, a coal mine located in central Queensland. The study involved development of an effective flat haul model that was used to estimate production rates in truck and shovel circuits that employ two excavators of differing capacities then Queuing Theory to construct a capacity constraint model for scheduling purposes to assist in truck allocation and finally a cost model to determine the most cost effective fleet configuration.The model was calibrated using haul road design and performance data of trucks and excavators currently in use at the mine. The study examined the effects of cycle time for different truck and excavator fleet configurations on production rate and costs.The study found haulage cost was directly related to cycle time while production rate reduced with cycle time. The study indicates the approach taken in combining a cost model with a capacity constraint model offers a simple and effective method of scheduling an optimum number of trucks in a haulage circuit.CITATION:Campbell, S and Hagan, P, 2012. Selection of an optimum truck and shovel fleet based on effective flat haul and capacity constraint modelling, in Proceedings Eighth Open Pit OperatorsÆ Conference , pp 19-26 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 18, 2012

By C Tapia Cortez, A G. Dempster, R Fradet, S Saydam, T de Roche, R Shishko, J Coulton

Human ventures into space are entering a new phase in which missions formerly driven by government agencies are now being replaced by those led by commercial enterprises – in launch, satellite deployment, resupply of the International Space Station and space tourism. In the not-too-distant future, commercial opportunities will also include the mining of asteroids, comets, the Moon and Mars. This research examines the role of off-Earth mining in a growing space economy. In this investigation, the term ‘mining’ is taken to embrace minerals, ice/water and other in situ resources. As the off-Earth mining initiative could be the engine that drives the space economy, it would be useful to understand what off-Earth mining market conditions and technology requirements are needed for that economy to prosper. These specific elements are studied in the wider context of creating an economy that could ultimately support a sustainable Mars colony. The methodology for developing the model focuses on the extraction of ice from the surface of Mars to produce propellant and water for life support for a possible colony.CITATION:Saydam, S, Shishko, R, Tapia Cortez, C, de Roche, T, Fradet, R, Coulton, J and Dempster, A G, 2015. An integrated economics model for in situ resource utilisation in support of a Mars colony, in Proceedings Third International Future Mining Conference, pp 305–312 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 4, 2015

Cretaceous volcanic activity (Hauterivian Albian) in the Peruvian Andes can be found along the coast of Peru and the western edge of the Andes mountains between 15o30'S and 5o30'S, extending discontinuously in south to Chile and north to Ecuador and Colombia. This volcanic activity formed in three aborted marginal basins; the NNW-trending volcanic Ca±ete and Huarmey, and NNE-trending Lancones basins. These volcanic rocks are predominantly andesitic and basaltic in composition, of calc-alkaline and tholeiite affinity with subordinate dacitic and rhyolitic rocks. One notable feature is the appearance of æocoitasÆ from Ica (14oS) south to Santiago de Chile. These rocks have a calc-alkaline to alkaline affinity. From south to north, the continental crust gradually becomes thinner, allowing mantle material to rise towards the surface. Ophiolitic sequences of this type form a marginal basin in Colombia. Very low-grade regional metamorphism which affects the volcanic rocks also varies gradually from south to north. Between Santiago de Chile and Ica this takes the form of burial metamorphism, with moderate geothermal gradients (20o-30oC/km). Metamorphism in the Huarmey basin is transitional between burial and ocean-floor metamorphism, with very high geothermal gradients (>3000C/km). High geothermal gradients are also apparent in metamorphism of the Lancones basin, though less than the other basins. Ocean-floor metamorphism is present in the ophiolitic sequence in Colombia. Associated mineral deposits in the Huarmey and Lancones basins, and in the north, are of the volcanic massive sulphide-type (VMS). The principal deposits in Peru are Leonila Graciela (20 Mt Zn and Pb) and Tambogrande (40 Mt Cu and Zn). There are also smaller mines and prospects. To the south of Lima, manto-type Cu deposits (CuMT) are found with a mineralogy of chalcopyrites, pyrites, magnetite, actinolite and apatite. The main example is Raul Condestable (10 Mt Cu). Other prospects are present to the south and Chile has some very large mines of this type (El Soldado, Lo Aguirre). The notable differences between the CuMT and the VSM deposits are thought to be the result of the prevailing conditions in the earthÆs crust during the Hauterivian Albian. To the south, calc-alkaline and alkaline volcanic activity in aborted marginal basins, with thicker crust, was thick, produced moderate geothermal gradients associated with burial-type regional metamorphism and deposits of CuMT. In the north aborted marginal basins associated with calc-alkaline to tholeiitic volcanic activity and a gradually thinning crust, produced transitional regional metamorphism between burial-type and ocean-floor type, associated with high to very high geothermal gradients and VMS deposits. In Colombia these conditions led to ophiolite extrusive rocks, ocean-floor metamorphism and also VMS deposits.

Jan 1, 1999

By V Glenn, P McKenna, H Vickers, P Audet, M J. Gillespie, A Gravina, D R. Mulligan

A requisite corollary of mineral sand mining on North Stradbroake Island (Queensland (Qld), Australia) has been the progressive rehabilitation of post-mined lands for the revegetation of native subtropical Eucalypt communities. Since 2005, rigorous environmental monitoring has been undertaken to verify the annual development of post-rehabilitated sites. From these long-term analyses, a chronosequence of land revegetation (ranging from three to 26 years postrehabilitation) was developed to examine the rehabilitation trajectories of various post-mined sites in relation to proximal undisturbed locations. Here, we identified that some sites may be deviating from the intended natural analogues as evidenced by the opportunistic colonisationand otherwise æinvasiveÆ behaviour of a regionally native species (Black Sheoak - Allocasuarina littoralis), which appear to be displacing the intended Eucalypt varieties. Although it is recognised that the broader data trends correspond to distinct periods of adaptive modifications to the implementation of rehabilitation (ie pre- and post-1995), this analysis focuses on further identifying potential above- and belowground feedback mechanisms underlying these divergent ecological outcomes.CITATION:Audet, P, Gravina, A, Glenn, V, McKenna, P, Vickers, H, Gillespie, M J and Mulligan, D R, 2012. Above/belowground feedback may facilitate and sustain mono-dominance on rehabilitated North Stradbroke Island, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2012 , pp 15-24 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 10, 2012

By H S. Mitri, A Sainoki

Destress blasting techniques have been widely employed in underground mines for the purpose of preconditioning highly stressed rock mass. Appropriate applications of the technique successfully contribute to increasing mine safety (eg mitigating the risks for rock bursts). This paper presents a simulation technique to estimate the extent of damage zones induced by destress blasting. A 3D numerical model with a single blasthole is constructed with FLAC3D code, whereby static analysis is carried out in which horizontal and vertical stresses are applied to the model in order to simulate stress conditions in a deep underground mine. Afterwards, dynamic analysis is performed whilst applying time-varying blast pressure along the blasthole. The blast pressure profile takes into consideration an instantaneous increase and gradual decrease in blast pressure as well as the propagation of detonation along the blasthole. In this paper, constitutive models allowing for shear and tensile strengths of rock mass that are dependent upon strain rate are newly implemented into FLAC3D code with C++ programming language, whereby blast-induced damage is assessed by the extent of tensile and shear failure zones. The results obtained from the dynamic analysis show significant decrease in the extent of yielding zones induced by destress blasting with increasing the magnitude of in situ stress. They indicate that considering in situ stress state is indispensable in order to propose proper blast design for each level in underground mines. Based on these results, the relationship between the extent of the damage zone and depth at which destress blasting is performed is established. Furthermore, stress dissipation induced by destress blasting is examined with static analyses, in which the modulus of elasticity is decreased according to a rock fragmentation factor, a, only for the area where tensile and shear failures takes place during the dynamic analyses. A model parametrical study with respect to a is undertaken. The relationship between the rock fragmentation factor and the stress dissipation in the yielding zones is developed from the parametrical study. The developed relationship can be useful when destress blasting is designed for massive rock masses.CITATION:Sainoki, A and Mitri, H S, 2015. Simulation of damage zones induced by destress blasting, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 245–256 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

By J Johansson, B Johansson

The mining industry needs to attract and recruit young talented people. An important task is, therefore, to create an attractive mining workplace that engages with, and motivates youngsters who are not particularly interested in working in the industry. This paper aims to illustrate a way forward for the mining industry to form healthy and safe workplaces honouring key components such as knowledge, skill, co-operation, continual development and acceptance of diversity. This is a way to create a vision of healthy and safe mining work. The mining industry must work towards zero vision; a future without accidents and hazardous environments. In this paper the authors discuss different aspects of an ‘attractive workplace’ and summarises lessons learnt in 26 statements dealing with safety, both physical and social work environments, and social responsibility. The authors hope these recommendations will provide some guidance for how attractive workplaces should be designed for future deep mining.The paper is based on lessons from two large European projects, a Swedish-Polish project: The Smart Mine of the Future; and a European Union project: Sustainable Intelligent Mining Systems (SIMS). One of the authors was the WP leader of health and safety in both projects.CITATION:Johansson, J and Johansson, B, 2017. Attractive workplaces in future underground mining, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 99–102 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 16, 2017

By S M. Stewart

Building and Maintaining Community Relationships   In mining terms, the town of Waihi is distinctive with the Martha mine situated right in the heart of the town. MarthaÆs central location and other mining activity nearby means there is an increased community focus on the happenings at the mine and the effects and impacts of mining. While WaihiÆs proximity to the mine is unique, all mines have a community context that they operate within.   Issues of proximity simply heighten awareness and emphasise the need for building and maintaining good community relationships. In the three years we have been working alongside the Waihi community, we have worked together with concerned and supportive residents, representatives of Newmont Waihi Gold and representatives of Hauraki District Council, to develop a collaborative framework for addressing the economic, social, environmental, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of the people of Waihi. This could not have occurred without the genuine commitment of all participants.   This collaborative focus has resulted in some tangible progress in Waihi which, in part, stems from people taking an interest in the town because the town is taking an interest in itself. As we have worked and learned within the process of building and maintaining a collaborative and sustainable community environment, we have tried to adhere to a philosophy and a set of basic principles. We believe that this approach, combined with a teachable skill set, helped to create the opportunity to develop a truly collaborative community environment which continues to grow. Our paper will describe this philosophy, these principles and the skill set that we have applied.   The application of the process in Waihi has resulted in a series of outcomes unique to Waihi. These outcomes include formation of the Waihi Community Vision committee, the Vision Waihi Trust and the subgroups set up to further the interests of particular groups, for the collective benefit of all the community.   Based on our experience of other situations, and on the way the Waihi process has developed, we believe that the identified principles and skills can be transported and used in other cultures and contexts. While the resultant outcomes may differ, the underlying principles will still apply. Progress will come from creating a sustainable environment within which the community (including residents, industry and regulatory authority) can determine its own internal relationships and the vibrant growing sense it has of itself.

Jan 1, 2006

By S Hapugoda, H Han, L Lu

Charcoal produced from Syzygium Zeylanicum trees was widely used in ancient Sri Lankan iron smelting practices. Charcoal made from Syzygium Zeylanicum tree trunks, branches and leaves were analysed by optical mineralogy and SEM and found to contain unusually high concentrations of calcium oxalate (CaC2O4.H2O – CaOx) crystals in plant cells. Partial and full reduction tests of a high-P Brockman ore were conducted at several temperatures with coke and coke doped with CaOx and CaCO3. It was observed that CaOx promoted reduction and generated comparatively more metallic iron in reduced samples. Furthermore, CaOx encouraged phosphorous partition into slag phases than into the metallic iron, suggesting CaOx can a potential alternative fluxing material to calcium carbonate for treating high-P iron ores in ironmaking processes.

Sep 18, 2023

Extraction and Characterisation of Extracellular Polymeric Substances from the Mineral Surface During Bioleaching of Chalcopyrite Concentrate A mixed culture of moderately thermophilic microorganisms was used to bioleach chalcopyrite concentrate in a stirred tank reactor. The results show that up to 84.7 per cent of copper extraction could be achieved in 24 days at a pulp density of 6 per cent. The leaching rate of chalcopyrite concentrate tended to increase with an increase of dissolved total iron concentration. Furthermore, the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) on the surface of the chalcopyrite concentrate was extracted and analysed. EPS was extracted at the first, third, eighth, 16th and 24th day during bioleaching, which mainly consisted of proteins, lipids, sugars and ferric irons. After the eighth day the total amount of EPS remained relatively constant. However, the amount of ferric iron in the EPS decreased in a large scale. The ore residue analysis indicates that the decrease of ferric iron was mainly due to the formation of jarosite on the mineral surface.

Sep 13, 2010

By K Rozlapa, P Waters, H Middlemis

A major challenge for closure planning at mining operations below the water table is evaporation from final void pit lakes and concentration of salts, which can impact on downstream groundwater (and surface water) flows and quality. Where such impacts are deemed unacceptable, the closure approach that is often adopted is to infill the final voids with waste rock to above the pre-mining water table to prevent the development of a pit lake and subsequent evaporative losses. BHP Billiton Iron OreÆs Marillana Creek (Yandi) mining operations face these issues. The orebody is a channel iron deposit that forms the major aquifer in the region, which will be completely mined as a series of elongated open pits over tens of kilometres. The major constraint on mine closure planning was the stripping ratio of less than one, which means that there is insufficient waste rock to infill all areas to the pre-mining water table. Hydrogeological investigations and groundwater modelling indicated that standard mine closure approaches would result in pit void lakes becoming saline sinks unless the residual void geometry was optimised to minimise evaporation and maximise throughflow. The solution developed is a cost-effective long-term mine plan that meets all mine closure objectives, and involved:the selective infilling of all pits, largely using run-of-mine waste dumping with limited re-handling; the diversion of the major part of up-catchment creek flows around the mining operations to allow mining of the resource under Marillana Creek crossings, which in turn restricted overall aquifer recharge and reduced the elevation of the long-term water table; the diversion of some minor creek tributary flows into specific locations within the mine path to induce hydraulic gradients to maintain groundwater throughflow and water quality; and close integration of mine plan optimisation (mining and waste dumping schedules) with groundwater modelling scenarios to achieve acceptable environmental outcomes. This approach is designed to result in no reduction in downstream surface water flows or quality, maintenance of adequate downstream groundwater throughflow to support groundwater dependent ecosystems, and no reduction in the beneficial use status of the downstream groundwater resource.

Jan 1, 2006

By P A. Jenkins, I W. O Jones

WMC has mined the Perseverance disseminated orebody exclusively by SLC (sublevel cave) methods. Deteriorating ground conditions in the vicinity of an orebody inflection forced a re-evaluation of future mining at Perseverance and a strategy to drop down below the inflection zone and recommence the cave was implemented. This strategy has led to increased production at higher grades, resulting in lower costs and better mill recoveries. This paper describes the evolution of mine planning, development, support and production strategies through the successful process of implementing the ædrop-downÆ and re-establishing the SLC.

Jan 1, 2000

By C McGuire, W Harris, S Arsenault, D Witow, B Rogers

Mining deep orebodies is increasingly becoming the norm as the ‘easy’ orebodies are depleted. Deep ore mining requires significant ventilation and cooling infrastructure to not only meet regulatory requirements for air quality but also to achieve acceptable workplace temperatures with the higher strata rock temperatures and increased auto-compression. At the same time, advances in battery equipment technology are turning the possibility of a battery powered fleet into reality. The switch from a diesel fleet to a battery powered fleet offers several positive opportunities for the design and operation of a deep mine.The potential to reduce ventilation and cooling requirements due to battery powered equipment results in significant cost savings for mine development and infrastructure. Battery powered fleets are not subject to the same dilution requirements associated with diesel fleets thus allowing lower ventilation rates. At the low ventilation volumes possible with a battery powered fleet, surface refrigeration plants are limited with respect to the amount of cooling that can be delivered to the workface. Considerations for calculating the optimum air flow and cooling requirements are presented. Considerations for locating the refrigeration plant are also discussed. This paper presents these opportunities and considerations; including a case study comparing the ventilation and cooling system design with a diesel fleet versus battery fleet for a planned mine in Northern Ontario, Canada.CITATION:Harris, W, Arsenault, S, McGuire, C, Rogers, B and Witow, D, 2017. Diesel to electric – creating a positive paradigm in underground ventilation and cooling, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 169–174 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

By E S. Weiss, S P. Harteis

The Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted full-scale explosion experiments, to evaluate the strength characteristics of various seal designs, used for safely isolating worked-out areas in underground coal mines. Large-scale explosion tests conducted within the multiple entry section of PRLÆs Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM) is currently the only accepted test method used by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), for deeming a seal design suitable for use in American mines. These explosion tests are labour intensive, expensive to conduct, and can interfere with other critical underground safety and health research programs conducted by NIOSH. The PRL has developed an alternative seal evaluation method, based on a hydrostatic pressure loading concept, that can facilitate the in situ testing of seals in an operating mine. Two chambers within LLEM and one within PRLÆs Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM) were used for hydrostatic pressure loading various seal designs. The results from these chamber tests compare favourably with those from the large-scale explosion tests in the multiple entries. In addition to testing seal designs at the required 20 psi static pressure level, the chamber test approach also allows for the determination of the sealÆs ultimate design strength. Size-scaling relationships for predicting the strength of seal designs as a function of entry size are also presented.

Jan 1, 2005

By K Shannon, A Shaw

The Hilton and George Fisher deposits occur 22 and 24 km north of Mount Isa, NW Qld, Australia respectively. Both deposits occur as deformed Proterozoic, sediment hosted, stratiform orebodies hosting Pb-Zn-Ag (Hilton) and Zn-Pb-Ag (George Fisher) mineralisation. The two deposits are separated by approximately 2 km of strongly faulted barren shales, mudstones and siltstones along strike. Despite this, correlations between the Hilton and George Fisher deposits have previously been assumed on the basis of textural, lithological and geochemical similarities, but previously lacked specific details to prove exact stratigraphic matches.Feasibility drilling allowed broad correlations based on the position of siltstone pillars separating individual orebodies. However the position of continuous potassium-rich, siliceous and cross-fractured tuffaceous marker beds (TMBs) often used as stratigraphic markers within the Hilton Mine were initially unrecognised within the George Fisher stratigraphy where they are erratically silicified and often not cross-fractured resulting in correlations being difficult to prove. As a more detailed knowledge of TMB locations at George Fisher was gained it was possible to look for corresponding TMBs within the Hilton orebodies. Recent underground stope definition drilling at the two locations enabled specific TMBs, stratigraphic units and even individual sedimentary beds to be matched between the two locations, despite the large separation between mines.The correlation between the two deposits has implications for future exploration drilling north of George Fisher. If a specific stratigraphic horizon can be determined within one hole, positioning of further drillholes can be more accurately planned. The significance of having stratigraphic matches between Hilton and George Fisher also has implications for correlations with other Isa Valley deposits. Convincing preliminary TM and stratigraphic correlations have already been made between George Fisher and the Isa Lead Mine 24 km to the south.

Jan 1, 2002

By B R. Castley

Consumable materials used in mines are often transported to the working areas down shallow angle decline shafts, typically at anywhere between 10¦ and 30¦ to the horizontal. The winding equipment is usually a relatively small single-drum winder and the material is transported in one or more cars, running on rails in the decline. The winding rope is attached directly to the cars, which are mechanically coupled together. For small rock hoisting declines, the cars are replaced with hoppers or skips. The winder is normally of basic design, fitted with only the minimum required safety devices and very elementary brake control. Since these winders are not ælicensedÆ and are usually located in remote areas, the standard of maintenance on the installations is often poor, leading to frequent accidents, resulting in runaways, derailments and broken ropes. These problems can be overcome easily with the application of the rope haulage principle. When large volumes of ore have to be transported to surface, belt conveyors are used on shallow angle inclines, or high-capacity friction winders are used in vertical shafts. Conveyors are limited to inclines no steeper than 14¦ and vertical shafts with large friction or drum type winders are extremely capital-intensive. Rope haulage systems can be used on decline shafts where the inclination is too steep for belt conveyors and too shallow for conventional drum winders. Rope haulage systems also offer a variety of safety, technical and cost advantages over other winding and transport systems. This paper describes the adaptation of the rope haulage principle to modern requirements and, combined with 21st century electronic technology, explains how the principle can be used as an efficient, safe and practical solution to some problems associated with the transport of materials, personnel and ore in mines. The authors describe the designs, methods of operation, safety aspects, automated control, loading and unloading facilities of modern rope haulage systems used for transporting personnel, material and ore. This paper considers a variety of systems already designed for different applications, from small material-only installations to multi-purpose and large rock-hoisting systems with payloads as much as 180 t. It also describes in more detail, a material transporting system recently commissioned in South Africa.

Jan 1, 2005

By N Clarke, R Dineen, W Jones

The Mt Lyell copper mine in western Tasmania has discharged acid drainage (AD) into the Queen and King Rivers and Macquarie Harbour for over a century. Presently, dissolved copper loads of about 1000 tonnes per annum and dissolved aluminium loads of >2000 tonnes per annum are contained in the AD, which is derived from underground workings (~60 per cent) and historic waste rock dumps (~40 per cent). Flows vary from about 100 L/s during dry periods, to >400 L/s during the wet winter. The site is presently operated by Copper Mines of Tasmania (CMT) who are not responsible for the acid drainage generated from the mine site. Although western Tasmania is famous for its mining history, tourism and aquaculture have emerged as the new industries on the West Coast, with a major tourism railway (the Abt) recently opened along the banks of the Queen and King Rivers. The emergence of these industries in a æclean greenÆ Tasmania has resulted in a strong community and government push to remediate the acid drainage. Remediation investigations and efforts at Mt Lyell were initiated by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE), previously known as DELM, in 1995, and have included the quantification of environmental impacts arising from the AD, and the investigation and costing of potential remediation options. A primary focus of the work has been to identify cost-neutral options which recover metals from the AD in a saleable form to help defray on going treatment costs. This paper summarises these activities in generally a chronological order, highlighting findings of the program that are potentially applicable to other acid drainage sites.

Jan 1, 2003

For years traditional optical microscopic techniques have been used successfully to carry out mineralogical studies on processing products. Essential information could be obtained by supplementing microscopic data with X-ray powder diffraction data, chemical analyses, etc. However, most of the time the mineralogists working on plant related issues, would supply qualitative information to the metallurgists, due to quantification not being possible in the available time. Since the late-80s, the use of semi-automated to automated techniques for mineral quantification has impacted positively on the use of mineralogy for optimising processing plants. Rustenburg Platinum Mines (now Anglo Platinum) were the first mining company to purchase a Qem*Sem in 1987. With the success achieved in quantifying the minerals in the concentrator streams of the Rustenburg Platinum operations, a second instrument was purchased soon after. These instruments have proven invaluable tools in understanding the flotation behaviour of the sulfide and gangue minerals in the various reefs of the Bushveld. Restrictions in the resolution of these earlier instruments, as well as the time involved in searching for and correctly identifying the fine-grained platinum-group minerals (PGM), meant that these investigations focused on the deportment of the more abundant base metal sulfides, rather than on the actual PGM. The Mineral Liberation Analyser (MLA), which became available in the late 1990s, was well suited to detect and analyse minerals occurring in trace amounts such as the PGM. Anglo Platinum was the first mining company to purchase such an instrument and now has fourteen systems operating at the AR Crown Mines site. One of the applications of these systems involves the study of feeds, concentrates and tailings from the various concentrators on a monthly basis. These routine investigations provide information on a variety of mineralogical parameters, including liberation, association, and grain size. Results are used to emphasise areas for improvement, and specifically underline those areas where improvements will have the most impact on recovery. After new or different technologies have been implemented, mineralogical characterisation of the different process streams is an essential component in the assessment of the impact of these changes on flotation performance. In addition, the knowledge is databased for future reference to draw trends across the various concentrators around the Bushveld complex, and is also used for comparative studies when plants experience high losses to tailings. Due to the success of these investigations the question was posed whether it was possible to obtain data on a daily basis, as compositing samples could hide the impact of daily events. Although the instruments currently used are suitable for a research environment, these are not ideal for mine-site implementation. For that reason Anglo Platinum, together with FEI embarked on a development program to develop a system that can be implemented on-site to measure the important mineralogical characteristics on a daily basis. Important requirements for such a system include time-to-data, ease of use and regular quality control. Highlighting some results from concentrator studies, the presentation will review the progress on the development of automated mineralogical techniques for fast, automated mineral measurements. This is an abstract only. No full paper was prepared for this abstract.

Sep 13, 2010

It is well documented that drill and blast outcomes affect the downstream mining processes of loading, hauling, crushing and grinding but it can also significantly impact on mine profitability via dilution, recovery percentage, lump generation (iron ore), fines generation (coal, iron ore), coal loss and final wall stability. Drill and blast must therefore be optimised to improve the overall profitability via positively impacting on productivity and saleable product generation. It is however, difficult to achieve this because of the complexity of the number of parameters that must be integrated and managed across the entire mine value chain, ie the concept of æMine to MillÆ. This paper highlights, via a simple case study, the need to have a mineÆs drill and blast system both in control (so that it is predictable to a high degree) and with minimal variability (so the design actually makes it into the field). This type of management control is essential prior to optimisation work being undertaken. The æTeam ApproachÆ is discussed to illustrate the methodology of achieving drill and blast optimisation. A case study is presented to illustrate the potential benefits of this approach which in this mine represented a 27 per cent reduction in powder factor with the downstream functions achieving higher productivity with the same or reduced maintenance costs. It is essential for Australian mineÆs to implement the appropriate management strategies and experienced personnel placement to ensure that their mineÆs drill and blast system is correctly managed to facilitate the optimisation of profit. Without this, the Australian mining sector will become increasingly uncompetitive.

Jan 1, 1999

New Developments in Spirals and Spiral Plant Operations Records indicate that spiral separators have been utilised in mineral separation for over 100 years. The Spiral's predecessor, the sluice, has been in use for centuries in different forms and a spiral can be thought of as a sluice wound around a column. The spiral separator is distinguished from the straight sluice, and other flowing film separators, in uniquely introducing centrifugal motion. The elegance of the spiral concept was embraced due to significantly improved separation efficiencies, ease of operation and tolerance of variation in feed conditions. Advances in spiral technology have improved the metallurgical performance, modernised the materials of construction, increased unit capacities and simplified operation. These advances have ensured that spirals continue to play a major industry role amidst other advancing and competing technologies. Recent developments in spiral and spiral plant technology include: the launch of the VHG spiral model, specifically aimed at feeds with very high levels of high-density mineral particles; the introduction of a high capacity wash water spiral model; and innovations in feed stabilisation and control. Details of these developments are presented together with the resultant operational benefits including feed stabilisation, product control and improved metallurgical performances.

Sep 13, 2010