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By B K. Da, S A. Balaji, G P. Roy, T K. Dutta

The raw material handling complex at the Durgapur steel plant provides iron ore, crushed coke and flux to two sinter plants. Either some facilities were not envisaged or not properly designed before the project stage which caused problems during operation of the plant. The absence of an in situ roll turning facility, used to increase maintenance activities for disassembly, transportation of rolls to central machine shop and assembly of rolls, led to decreased crusher availability and increased activities for the maintenance crew. The provision of a smaller vibro feeder/screen in place of a suitable sized screen caused jamming of the screen deck, adversely affecting screening efficiency and the crushing index of crushed coke. Some design modifications and developmental work was undertaken, such as the development and installation of an in situ roll turning facility in the existing limited space, achieving low feed (0.1 - 0.2 mm/rev), lower cutting speed of 30 - 40 m/minute for 350 BHN hard roll, which was also a difficult engineering challenge to bring within the tolerable limit of vibration. This was successfully achieved. Modifications to the screen deck, introduction of differential speed crushing and modification to the vibro screen and vibro feeder for uniform distribution of feed have been incorporated. These innovative design modifications to the in situ roll turning have led to a drastic decrease in maintenance activities and an improvement in the crushing index. Modifications to the screen have resulted in the elimination of jamming and improved screening. Modifications to the vibro screen before the primary crushers and to the vibro feeder before the secondary crushers have prevented excessive wear in the central portion of rolls, ultimately leading to increased roll life. Incorporation of differential speed crushing has resulted in an increased crushing index and decreased generation of micro fines. All the above modifications have led to distinct improvements in equipment availability, increased roll life and a decrease in maintenance activities and improvement in crushed coke granulametry, ultimately resulting in improved productivity and quality of iron ore agglomeration at the sinter plant. The innovative design modifications mentioned above are discussed in detail in this paper.

Jan 1, 2005

By Bawden WF, Paynter JT

This investigation involves laboratory testing and stability analysis of paste fill at the Golden Giant Mine. Site-cast samples are tested in unconfined, confined, and consolidated-undrained triaxial compression. Pore pressures during shear and consolidation characteristics are measured to determine both drained and undrained shear strength parameters and assess the potential for undrained loading. Liquefaction potential is also considered. A limit equilibrium solution is used to obtain factors of safety against failure of the fill during mining of adjacent stopcs

Jan 1, 1998

By S Dunbar, S Harrison, J Cilliers

‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’George Santayana (16 December 1863 in Madrid, Spain to 26 September 1952 in Rome, Italy). Philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist.The minerals industry requires specific technical expertise in mining and mineral process engineering, geoscience, environmental science and social sciences to maintain and operate its current business and to develop future projects. A steady supply of new graduates is essential to replace not only retirees, but also those who left the industry during the recent downturn. The supply of trained graduates is however not instantaneous, and there is a four-year lag from entry into university to graduation. It is essential that this lag in human resource supply and a likely shortage of knowledgeable, qualified talent is taken into account when considering risks to the business of mining. The shortage of skilled professionals has in the past resulted in unsustainable salary expectations and is likely to pose financial and execution risk to new projects. This paper will review some recent statistics of students in training from around the world and explore what action is required to not only sustain the training courses that provide future ready talent to the mining industry, but also ensure that graduates from these courses are equipped to create change and be leaders in the industry. The future prosperity of the industry is dependent on delivering sustainable stakeholder returns through the cycle. This will be achieved by developing capable individuals that can respond to the complex, adaptive challenges facing the industry.*This is an abstract only. No full paper was prepared for this abstract.*CITATION:Plint, N, Cilliers, J, Dunbar, S and Harrison, S, 2018. Back to basics: resourcing the mining industry, in Proceedings 14th AusIMM Mill Operators' Conference 2018, pp 33–34 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 29, 2018

By A Parbhakar-Fox, S C. Dominy

The prediction of acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) from mine waste materials is critically important during all stages of the mine value chain. However, to determine such geoenvironmental characteristics static and kinetic testing of individual waste units must be performed on representative samples. The importance of sample selection cannot be underestimated; it is the single most critical aspect of any geoenvironmental investigation. Poor sampling techniques and inadequate sample selection will contribute to excessive variance, difficulties in interpretation and incorrect assessment. By undertaking mesotextural characterisation based on hyperspectral mineralogical data (with sulfur assay data if available), opportunities to improve sampling strategies are presented. Such data will inform the selection of samples for low-cost total sulfur, paste pH and geoenvironmental logging, which collectively will allow for accurate AMD forecasting and improved sampling practices to be achieved. Once sampled, robust quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols must be developed where the use of international certified reference standards become obligatory. This is currently not practised, resulting in inter-laboratory discrepancies when undertaking waste classification. Further improvements in geoenvironmental characterisation testing lies in the adoption of blended static testing protocols, whereby blends of waste materials can be efficiently tested so as to give an early forecast as to whether they will produce acidic or metal-laden drainage. Such information is integral in developing a waste schedule that will allow for a non-acid forming waste landform to be constructed right from the start of the operational phase. Ultimately, improvements in this discipline lie in technological innovations with regards to mineralogical characterisation, and by offering geoscience and minerals engineering students a competent education in the discipline. Collectively, this will empower a step-change in AMD prediction and waste handling, and will make the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals a reality, rather than a dream.CITATION:Parbhakar-Fox, A and Dominy, S C, 2017. Sampling and blending in geoenvironmental campaigns – current practice and future opportunities, in Proceedings Eighth World Conference on Sampling and Blending , pp 45–54 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2017

By A Cheatle

GoldcorpÆs Musselwhite mine in north-western Ontario, Canada has in recent years become a world-class deposit. Initially discovered in the early 1960s by Alan and Harold Musselwhite, the then marginal mine eventually started production in 1997 and has to date produced 2.6 Moz of gold. Two million ounces of gold are currently classified as Mineral Reserve and a further 1.2 Moz of gold are classified in the Mineral Resource category for a total gold inventory approaching 6 Moz. Growth of the mineral inventory has been achieved through the successful implementation of strategic planning that sought to extend the mine life through discovery of additional economic zones and increased mined tonnages. Accelerated exploration activity commenced in 2001, at a time when gold price was at its lowest in decades. Focus was placed on building, developing and retaining a highly skilled geological team, maintaining purpose, conducting external reviews and developing a new geological model through research partnerships. Ongoing collaborative research between Lakehead University and Musselwhite mine has seen the development of new structural and geological models through post-graduate and academic studies. Research has included lithogeochemical, stable isotope and structural and metamorphic studies and has led to the evolution of a new mineralisation model (for the mine) and the recognition of brittle and ductile deformation regimes within the mineralised horizons. Exploration drilling continues to provide support for the new geologic model. Gold discoveries have extended known mineralisation 2.3 km along strike from mineral reserves and laterally into parallel zones. The exploration potential to further increase production rates, Mineral Reserves and Resources remains very positive and increases in overall gold inventory are likely. Musselwhite mine has significantly exceeded initial projections for a ten year life-of-mine and a marginal existence.

Jan 1, 2009

The Dizon open pit mine of Benguet Corporation in western Central Luzon, Philippines has yielded some 182 000 t copper, and about 26 000 kg gold and 48 000 kg silver as by products since it started operation in November 1979. The 140 million tonne orebody is associated with a small quartz diorite porphyry stock emplaced in volcanic rocks on the basal slope of a stratovolcano complex as stockworks, fracture fillings and disseminated sulphide mineralization averaging 0.43% Cu, 0.93 g/t Au and 2.5 g/t Ag. Intense hydrothermal alteration accompanied the mineralization that developed fairly distinct mineral assemblages within and around the intrusive. Post-ore volcanic activity later gave birth to an upward-flaring diatreme which broke out south of and adjacent to the orebody and partially destroying it. Subsequent volcanic activity buried the mineralized area along with the rest of the stratovolcano's surrounding slopes under a thick deposit of pyroclastic and laharic debris. Erosion eventually removed the volcanic cappings over Dizon and also exposed the quartz diorite porphyry stock which might have resulted in the truncation of a sizeable section of the Dizon deposit. The chain of stratovolcanoes that comprise southeastern Zambales range hugging the southeastern edge of the Zambales ophiolite is part of a west-facing volcanic arc that extends for some 300 km along the western margin of central and southern Luzon whose development has been correlated to the subduction in the Manila Trench located off the west coast of Luzon. Prominent WNW-trending lineaments that cut across the ophiolite appear to be splays of the Philippine Fault whose intersection with the Mt. Pinatubo stratovolcano complex might have localized the emplacement of a number of intermediate stocks along with the gold-rich porphyry copper mineralizations associated with some of them.

Jan 1, 1987

The segment of the Upper Cenozoic volcanic chain (CVZ) located on the western border of South America (16-28¦S lat.) is constituted by an association of strato- volcanoes and ignimbrite sheets, with high K calco-alkaline affinities. Strata-bound volcanoes, mainly of andesitic and dacitic composition, present along the whole chain, and various hydrothermal alteration zones, on the slopes and in the cores of eroded volcanic structures. Some of these altera- tion zones bear epithermal precious metal ores and sulphur deposits, which at present are being exploited. The studied Salar de Gorbea area, located in the Andes of northern Chile (25-26¦S lat.) contains a numer- ous group of Miocene to Quaternary stratovolcanoes, with advanced argillic and extreme silicification hydrothermal alteration in their cores and on their slopes, favoring the formation of great volumes of alunite within altered zones and sulphur deposits in the higher parts of the volcanic edifices. Simultaneously, siliceous hydrothermal breccia of the phreato-magmatic type, with evidences of hydromag- matic explosions are recognizable, allowing, in some cases, the ascent towards the surface of rock fragments belonging to the Paleozoic pre volcanic basement. Radiometric ages obtained in some of the hydro- thermal alteration zones (K-Ar in alunite) are slighty young- er than the unaltered rocks which constitute the strato- volcano. Trace element (Hg, As, Sb, S, Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, Mo) patterns in orientative rock samplings show that the studied alterations zones correspond to high sectors of the cpithermal system, without evidences of metallic minerali- zation on surface. The weak erosive action due to the ex- tremely and climatic conditions in this segment of the Andes, has not allowed the cropping out of deeper areas of the hydrothermal alteration zones, in contrast to other Miocene more eroded volcanic edifices and Miocene vol- canic terranes of the Andean Range.

Jan 1, 1987

By B Rohrlach, J Gonzalez, A Buenavista

Located on the island of Mindanao in the Southern Philippines, the Tampakan copper-gold deposit represents a major high-sulfidation epithermal deposit superimposed on an underlying porphyry copper system. With a recent JORC compliant indicated and inferred resource estimate of 1104 million tonnes at 0.65 per cent copper and 0.26 g/t gold at a 0.3 per cent copper cut-off grade, Tampakan represents the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposit in Southeast Asia. Since its acquisition by Indophil ResourcesÆ affiliate Sagittarius Mines Inc in August 2002, the deposit is the subject of an ongoing preliminary feasibility study into project viability that is initially focused on a higher-grade copper zone in the north-central part of the deposit. The deposit is hosted by a sequence of subaerial andesitic flows (Tampakan Andesite Sequence) related to a highly eroded andesitic stratavolcanic complex of Pliocene age. Detailed mapping and geochronological dating has identified four volcanic cycles or centres that have been sequentially developed and eroded. This stratovolcanic complex is interpreted to lie on the northern extension of the Sangihe volcanic arc that extends from Northern Sulawesi in Indonesia. The Tampakan district is located within a complex tectonic setting dominated by WNW trending wrench faults that form part of the trans-Mindanao Cotabato Fault Zone. The Tampakan deposit is located near the intersection of one of several WNW trending splay structures with a prominent NNE trending dilational structure, one of many that transect the host volcanic complex. High-sulfidation style copper-gold mineralisation at Tampakan is broadly associated with and central to a flat-lying tabular body of pervasive silica and silica-clay alteration developed within a district- scale lithocap of advanced-argillic and argillic hydrothermal alteration that extends over an area of 90 km2 within the volcanic complex.

Jan 1, 2004

By B Howard, M Jones, D Pershke

"Current closure objectives and criteria are often difficult to achieve and are not delivering value for money outcomes at closure. Current mine closure processes tend to focus on rehabilitation and revegetation of landform structures to as close to premining condition as possible, rather than focusing on the functions of those structures and values they provided. Because mining has highly disturbed the environment, premining conditions and vegetation are often not achievable and objectives and criteria aimed at achieving close to these conditions have been shown to be very costly.The authors have developed a broader approach to developing mine closure plans that is based on environmental risk and gaining post-closure social, environmental and economic value. We think the focus should shift from trying to return the original landscape to returning functions and values provided on- and off-site. If it is not possible to return values on-site in a cost-effective manner, investment should be provided to deliver equivalent values elsewhere.This process can provide better stakeholder acceptance, deliver better environmental outcomes on the tenement and within the catchment and significantly reduce costs, whist fulfilling closure obligations.This framework should enable closure teams to: focus on the functions and services that are important to achieve as outcomes post-closure, rather than a focus on revegetation and replacing the premining biophysical structure engage meaningfully with stakeholders regarding closure outcomes and link outcomes to stakeholder values conduct transparent option evaluations that enable stakeholders to clearly understand the costs and benefits associated with each option and to participate in dialogue on option selection.We present examples of how the framework could be applied to identify alternate closure options that achieve equivalent value outcomes while reducing the costs of closing the mines.CITATION:Howard, B, Pershke, D and Jones, M, 2014. Achieving better mine closure outcomes for less money, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014, pp 615–620 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 16, 2014

By A Baker

Hail Creek Mine is an open cut coal operation owned by Rio Tinto. It is located 120 km south west of Mackay in the Bowen Basin region of central Queensland. Opened in late 2003, the mine produces two high quality coking coal products that are used in the production of steel in various overseas markets. Hail Creek is a dragline and truck/shovel operation with a capacity to mine eight million tonnes per annum. In 2010, the production was more than seven million tonnes.Traditionally, coal seam edge loss had been minimised on site by the practice of coal edge buffering. Importing buffer material can be quite expensive as it requires a large involvement from the truck and shovel or dozer fleet. In order to minimise this expense, a program of front splitting was introduced on site. Front splitting however involves an additional blast interaction which places added pressure on mining schedules. Both these methods of coal protection demonstrated a significant benefit with coal loss being reduced by approximately seven per cent (absolute) compared to traditional cast blasting.With the application of electronic detonators at Hail Creek the new blasting practice of dynamic buffering is able to be performed on site. Dynamic buffering refers to a blasting practice where two or three separate blasts are initiated during the same blasting event (front-split, cast and at times presplit). The process involves firing a front-split and allowing it to have time to settle and buffer the coal edge prior to the cast blast initiating. This practice is only made possible with the use of electronic detonators and the effective absence of a surface burning front. Current practice at site involves the front-split being fired (occasionally at the same time as the presplit) and the main cast blast being initiated several seconds later. Dynamic buffering is now used for all cast blasts to coal at Hail Creek. Electronic detonators have allowed Hail Creek to achieve reduced coal losses by buffering the coal edge without compromising the mining schedule.

Nov 8, 2011

By X Zhang, B McFadzean, C T. O’Connor, S Pikinini

The Platreef in South Africa contains one of the world’s largest reserves of platinum group elements. One of the major platinum group minerals (PGM) components in this ore is sperrylite (PtAs₂), which has been found to be slow floating compared to the other PGMs. In a study aimed at determining the reasons for the poor floatability of sperrylite and to improve its recovery, tests were carried out to determine the interactions of the mineral with a range of standard and novel collectors. Microflotation tests were carried out to determine the hydrophobicity of the minerals before and after adsorption of collectors. In addition, experiments were carried out to determine the enthalpy and extent of collector adsorption on the minerals and to investigate electrochemical interactions between sperrylite and selected standard collectors. The results indicated that poor collector adsorption was the major cause for the poor floatability of sperrylite. Sperrylite had both poor natural (14.5 per cent) floatability and collector-induced flotation recoveries, the highest recovery of 26 per cent being observed using PNBX collector at pH 9. Moreover, the rest potential tests showed that the interaction of sperrylite with standard collectors such as xanthates was poor. The decrease in potential after the addition of the standard collectors ranged from 7.9 mV to 24.9 mV under alkaline conditions. Furthermore, sperrylite rest potentials remained unchanged with a change in pH from basic to acidic, indicating its resistance to surface alteration. Surface alteration of the minerals is key for the chemisorption of collectors to take place on the mineral surface. This was further emphasised by flotation recoveries at low pH, where only certain collectors responded positively to a decrease in pH and these were shown to have undergone a structural change. This work has highlighted the difficulties associated with sperrylite flotation and provides some direction for future research.

Aug 24, 2022

By M Kent, D Elder, J Woodward, R Edwards, B Catto

At Tropicana gold mine (TGM), mine planning is completed from ‘one source of truth’ known as the Integrated Planning Model (IPM). The IPM is a block model which forms a core component of the TGM Mine Planning System – used for short, medium and long-term mine planning cycles, and for Mine to Mill reconciliation.The IPM was developed from a desire to consolidate long-term information contained in mineral resource and ore reserve models, with short-term information from the grade control processes, including grade control models and ore polygons.The IPM is informed initially by resource models, upon which the longer term budget and schedules are based. The IPM is routinely updated with grade control models and ore design information, providing increased confidence for short to medium term mine planning. In this format, the IPM also provides a framework for reconciliation of resource performance with grade control, mining actuals and mining schedules, and ultimately milling. As well as a means for analysing past performance through reconciliation, it has proven its worth as a predictor of variation and an input to successful schedule sequencing and change management. The IPM is a critical component of the TGM Mine Planning System, providing a centralised framework for short interval mill feed prediction through to life-of-mine (LOM) planning.Current development of the IPM is working towards incorporating Mine to Mill optimisation and real-time material tracking projects at TGM. If successful, the model will provide a truly powerful mine planning data source. Current development outlines a mechanism for tracking material from Mine to Mill, and for transferring mill performance data back to the IPM. Increasingly advanced material classification and mine planning, incorporating the multiple geometallurgical variables, will enable the mine to provide consistent mill feed products and result in a steady state and optimised mill.This paper outlines the vision, creation and benefits of the IPM at TGM. It also introduces the ongoing developments to ensure the IPM becomes only more relevant to successful and integrated mine planning as TGM matures from the new kid on the block to the old hand in the neighbourhood.CITATION:Catto, B, Elder, D, Edwards, R, Kent, M and Woodward, J, 2017. An integrated approach to mine planning – building the integrated planning model at Tropicana gold mine, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 305–314 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 20, 2017

By A Coelho, D Bruce, H Grosser, C Parken, M Xia

Carrapateena is a new underground sublevel cave mine and was officially opened in 2020. It has a mine life of 20 years. Development began in 2016, and with the rare opportunity to start a with a blank canvas and having a long mine life, an effort was made to explore how to incorporate innovative and leading-edge technologies. The Ventilation on Demand (VoD) system was designed with the objective to optimise power consumption and ventilation delivery through the primary and secondary ventilation systems. Primary fans controlled by Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) and dualwinding secondary fans with multiple setpoints control the delivery of overall quantity. Automated butterfly dampeners control the regulation of air to individual production crosscuts, and automated louvres control the exhaust quantities from the mining levels. Ultra-sonic flow sensors are installed to measure air quantity and environmental stations are installed to measure air quality. Both are designed to play a key role in control and calibration of the system. It was quickly identified that no one vendor could provide a holistic solution to meet the design requirements. A strategy was derived to use multiple vendors, harnessing the specific strengths of each. A control system has been developed to allow the Site Operations Control Centre (SOCC) to oversee and control real-time delivery of ventilation as required by operations. The first full level installation of the VoD system was completed in September 2020.

Mar 15, 2021

By B Dodd

This paper details how the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), as a disclosure and conduct regulator, approaches regulation of continuous disclosure, capital raising and control transactions in the mining and resources sector, and the reasons for the approach. In examining this topic the paper considers the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code (JORC, 2004), the VALMIN Code (VALMIN Committee, 2005), the relevant ASX Listing Rules and the relevant provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act). This paper discusses ASICÆs approach to expert reports and disclosure with reference to Regulatory Guides 111 Content of expert reports and 170 Prospective financial information.CITATION:Dodd, B, 2012. Issues in capital raisings and disclosure, in Proceedings International Mine Management 2012, pp 3-14 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 20, 2012

By P Stoker

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Mining and exploration properties have a unique set of technical risks. Privately-owned companies considering investing in the resources sector can optimise their investment decisions by adopting a systematic technical assessment of acquisition assets, similar to the approach commonly adopted by public financial institutions and publicly-listed companies.Technical due diligence provides a process to identify key geological, mining, geotechnical, metallurgical, environmental and social risks and opportunities and determine the most likely business case and valuation of assets. Technical due diligence is commonly carried out in parallel with legal, commercial and financial due diligence, often involving the acquirer, to maximise the understanding of the investment.There are significant advantages in investors conducting a comprehensive technical due diligence, which typically involves site visits and project assessment to international standards by an independent, multidisciplinary team of experts. The outcomes provide the opportunity for the investor to make early, informed decisions and to understand and manage risks.Technical due diligence may be carried out at several stages: when considering and weighing up a number of investment options, prior to and during a transaction or immediately post-transaction. In the first stage, the outcomes will inform the choice of investment and, more particularly, whether there are any fundamental flaws in the projects being considered. In the second stage, due diligence outcomes can inform the level of investment and approach to risk management and planning. In the third stage, risks and opportunities can be investigated in more detail, allowing the investor to consider the best options to reduce risk and maximise the benefit of the investment.This paper presents a summary of the technical due diligence assessment process, its benefits to investors, common risks in mining and exploration projects known to cause mining asset write-downs and principal technical due diligence approaches.CITATION:Keogh, A, Stoker, P and Thomas, M, 2015. Benefits of due diligence in private equity mining investments – maximising value and unearthing common risks , in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 115–126 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By R Symes

The Fosterville Goldmine in Victoria Australia employs the BIOX« Process to liberate gold from its sulfidic flotation concentrate through bacterial oxidation. Gold occurrence is primarily as submicron particles in pyrite and arsenopyrite and has been described as being in æsolid solutionÆ and therefore not amenable to direct cyanidation. Once liberated by the oxidation process, the gold is then available for cyanide leaching. During the oxidation process it has been found that a portion of the liberated gold becomes suspended in the liquid phase in what appears to be a colloidal state. This liquid becomes a waste stream during washing of the oxidised solids and the suspended gold is therefore lost. A method was previously developed using an addition of quebracho tannin to significantly reduce this loss by formation of an iron-tannin precipitate which captures the gold which then reports to the cyanide leach circuit with the oxidised concentrate solids onto which it is adsorbed.This paper discusses the development and plant trial of a second processing step to further enhance gold recovery by use of flotation tailings essentially as a source of extra surface area to capture residual tannin-iron precipitate and its associated gold not recovered in the first step.CITATION:Symes, R, 2012. Recovery of colloidal gold from oxidised concentrate wash liquor - Further improvement, in Proceedings 11th AusIMM Mill OperatorsÆ Conference, pp 383-388 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 29, 2012

By L Muñoz, L Steffen, W Vilas Boas, G Gontijo, R Macedo, C Braga, d D Machado, G Stevenson

Mines operating close to communities face growing challenges, especially with their drilling and blasting activities. Proper management of environmental and community impacts is critical to provide sustainability to the mining business in the long-term, by enabling the licensee to operate. This paper will present new technology solutions to minimise the impacts to communities and the environment from blasting operations. A case study of the wireless initiation projects conducted at Kinross Morro do Ouro Mine (located in Paracatu, Minas Gerais – Brazil), will be presented. Focused on overcoming the complex challenges in the mine, Orica and Kinross searched for initiatives to optimise the drilling and blasting operations. The team evaluated the WebGen™ wireless initiation system for controlling environmental impacts as well as operational flexibility and productivity. Since January 2023, three planned wireless blasts to demonstrate the technology and applications were executed. In the tests, the vibration level was able to be maintained lower than the limit of 3.0 mm/s while dust and flyrock impacts were well controlled. The main benefits of using this technology for the Morro do Ouro Mine are: reducing the number of blasts while increasing the blasted mass per month; control of projection of fragments using additional cover; dust control by watering the bench easily; lightning initiation risk reduction due to the absence of wires or tubes on the surface; flexibility in changing the blast day to better control the noise and dust; flexibility in mine planning mining (potential application in the future). The use of the WebGen™ wireless initiation system, enables improved productivity while enhancing safety and reducing impacts to communities. Implementation of this technology has enabled Kinross Morro do Ouro Mine to build trust with its neighbours, maintain the license to operate, and helping to mobilise resources in a sustainable way. This has allowed Kinross to position Morro do Ouro Mine as a world reference operation, especially in relation to innovation, safety, and social responsibility.

Sep 1, 2024

The Devonian Mount Morgan gold-copper deposit was situated on the western margin of the Calliope Volcanic Are assemblage, in the northern New England Orogen. Recorded production from commencement of mining in 1882 to mine closure in 1989 stand

Jan 1, 1994

By M Astorga, J Jackson, J Gaunt

The Ban Houayxai mine (BHX) is a relatively low-grade, low-cost, open pit gold-silver deposit in Laos operated by Phu Bia Mining, a subsidiary of PanAust. The ore production rate at BHX is 4.5 Mt/a, with direct tipping to a semi-autogenous grinding/ball mill circuit with a carbon-in-leach process plant. Approximately 100 000 oz of gold is produced per annum.The operation is located in mountainous terrain with minimal run-of-mine stockpiling. This results in limited capacity for blending from stockpile, with the mill instead reliant upon direct feed ex-pit. Since commissioning in 2012, the plant has seen significant variation in milling rates due to variability in the feed properties of the oxide, transition and primary ores. As part of an ongoing continuous improvement program, an integrated approach was initiated, focusing on maintaining and enhancing production in the future as the proportion of harder primary ore increases. This will specifically focus on direct blending from the loading face using the ore properties and blast fragmentation to maintain mill throughput.This approach was based on the concept of physical assets management, commencing with improving information and knowledge of the condition of the orebody through modelling the characteristics, variability and performance of the feed for processes relevant to throughput. These models are used to support both mine and process plant production planning.The key ore feed characteristics and parameters modelled for the life-of-mine are blastability index, powder factor, crushability or impact resistance and grindability. These predictive spatial models were based on the data from diamond drill holes used in resource definition and geotechnical drilling programs by integrating geotechnical, geological, geochemical and metallurgical data.At the early stages of implementation, the models are being utilised for ore blending decisions to provide guidance and support for budgeting, long-term mine planning, blast design for mill feed and providing the mill with an expectation of performance.CITATION:Jackson, J, Gaunt, J and Astorga, M, 2014. Predicting mill ore feed variability using integrated geotechnical/geometallurgical models, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014, pp 165–176 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 24, 2014

By G Hancock, A Kemp, I Taylor

The mine site is situated south east of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. A detailed engineering design was undertaken for six irregularly shaped waste rock dumps at the site. The design was undertaken to ensure long-term stability of the dumps and optimise material movements for closure construction. The Watershed Erosion Prediction Program (WEPP) and SIBERIA landscape evolution modelling was undertaken for the landforms using regional and site-specific material characteristics to provide an indication of the maximum allowable slopes and corresponding slope lengths for long-term stability.The majority of the waste materials present in the waste rock dumps are considered likely to be subgrade banded iron formation (BIF) and chert, which is generally competent material. The presence of a large number of dolerite dyke swarms indicates appreciable volumes of dolerite were produced as waste from the pits. Geological records also indicate that the dolerite is logged as being heavily kaolinised in the geological logging, hence kaolinite is very likely to be present within the waste dumps on-site. This material has an elevated risk of being highly erodible/dispersive. Clays and shales are also likely to be present in the dumps and are considered to be less competent material (relative to the BIF/chert).The final design configuration of the largest existing ‘unplanned’ waste rock stockpile is compared to a hypothetical continuous ten degree outer embankment alternative. This paper will present a brief description of the alternatives for closure of three waste dumps in close proximity to each other and how the detailed design based on site-specific materials and conditions compare to an alternative approach blankly assuming that most materials will be erosionally stable at less than ten degrees.CITATION:Kemp, A, Taylor, I?and Hancock,?G,?2014. Landform design for Pilbara mine site – why plan and design waste rock dumps for closure based on site-specific conditions?, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 47–54 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014