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Western Mining Corporation (W.M.C.) operates a nickel refinery at Kwinana, 30 km south of Perth. The refinery commenced pro- duction in May 1970, with a rated capacity of 15 000 tpa of nickel metal. A hydrometallurgical route was chosen as the most expedient way to produce nickel metal at a time when world demand for nickel was outstripping the supply. Later events dictated that an increase in production from the refinery be achieved. To this end, matte produced from Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter, which was commissioned in 1972, was used in varying proportions as a complement to the concentrate initially utilised as input to the refinery. The effect of matte addition was to increase the capacity to 30 000 tonnes of nickel per annum. This was accompanied by other benefits which were 1. reduction in energy consumption per unit of nickel produced, 2. improved metal extraction, 3. improved precious metal recovery, 4. reduced production of ammonium sulphate by-product. Refinery operating results for the years 1970 to 1983 show how matte feed has improved refinery performance in these areas.

Jan 1, 1984

By Lacy JC

Human habitation of the Pacific Rim began when mankind began migrations out of its place of origin in the Rift Valley of Central Africa c. 4million years ago. This migration was erratic and largely controlled by advances and retreat of the various Ice Ages which, while limiting advances in areas of intense cold, at the same time aided migration thro-ugh the creation of land bridges as ocean levels declined during periods of glacial advance (Fig.l).Mankind began its trek to the Pacific from Africa across India then north into southern China and south into Indonesia (Fig.2). In part, these migrations stimulated early technological develop-ments to fulfill needs and adapt to environmental conditions; thus, these nomads developed stone and bone tools, animal skin clothing and the use of caves and other simple shelters. The earliest evid-ence of mankind's use of fire can be found at Zhou-koudaian near Beijing, c.400,000 BP.From China, the completion of the Pacific Rim's population can be attributed to the last Ice Age that dropped the ocean level by more than 300 feet and created land bridges about 40,000 BP allowing migration across the Bering Strait into Alaska and to Australia from Indonesia. The American migration reached Mexico about 30,000 BP, and by 6000 BP the occupancy of the Pacific Rim was complete when the first human settlers reached the southern tip of Chile.

Jan 1, 1990

Myuna Colliery long term ventilation requirements were included as part of the overall planning of colliery construction and underground development. Ventilation, during the simultaneous sinking of two drifts and the downcast shaft, was accomplished by established methods of ducted exhaust and blower fans. Drivages for the 3 seam interconnections of shaft and drifts were ventilated by extension and duplication of the exhaust systems. Ventilation, for the below seam extension of the belt drift, construction of between seam and below seam bins, and the completion of a circular between seam drift, required a step by step changeover to a temporary main ventilation exhaust fan mounted adjacent to the top of the completed downcast shaft. The second, permanent upcast, shaft was commenced and colliery production started one seam at a time, using the transport drift, while the underground bins, belt and between seam drifts were completed. The uocast shaft was completed and a connection made in the upper seam, completing all contract mining and allowing the main fan to be erected. The permenent twin centrifugal fan system was installed, commissioned and test run to

Jan 1, 1983

Jan 1, 2004

The exploration and mining risks are investigated and compared to the risks of smelting, secondary processing and other normal industrial activities. This study concentrates on the risk before, or at the investment decision. Internal and external risks are distinguished. Internal risks are the risks inherent in every engineering design and common to all projects. The main external risks are the financial risk, changes in prices, location problems and geological factors. Financial risks concern every capital-intensive and export-oriented project and cannot be considered as typical mining risks. Changes in prices, i.e. the market risk, concern every industry using raw materials, but the market risk is especially accentuated in the mining industry. Problems of location and infrastructure are normally more significant in mining than in other projects, and geological risks are unique to mining. All these risks associated with mining projects combine to form a risk at least twice as high as that for other normal industrial activities. Within the range of profitability of mines, which on average is the same as in the manufacturing industry, only a few highly profitable mines exist. These few mines are the sole reward for the high risks taken.

Jan 1, 1986

By Rajan S, Mainwaring P, Gould WD, Beaulne M

Polished discs of a complex sulphide ore were leached with three lixiviants; a mixed culture of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans, Thiobacillus ferrooxidanalone, and ferric sulphate. At either one or two week intervals the discs were examined by scanning electron microscopy, and the amount of soluble metals released from the discs were determined. The mixed culture solubilized more Cu, Zn and Pb than did either ferric sulphate or T. ferrooxidans alone. However, no differ-ences were observed between the three treat-ments by scanning electron microscopy during the first 44 weeks. The minerals were attacked in the following order: pyrrhotite, cubanite, sphalerite, pyrite and chalcopyrite.

Jan 1, 1990

By Sims D. A

This paper primarily describes the application of geology to the different mining methods employed in a large underground mine. The steeply dipping stratiform Silver/Lead/Zinc mineralisation at Mount Isa include up to 28 mineable orebodies. The orebodiea are mined by cut and fill, sublevel benching and sublevel open stoping; the method chosen depending mainly on orebody geomechanics.The sources and methods of data collection, and the interpretation process undertaken, are described. The paper emphasises the different geological input required, by each individual mining method, to provide the necessary production and strata control. This input contributes significantly to the success and efficiency of the operations.

Jan 1, 1990

By Gardner H. J, Wadsley m. W

Bauxite from the Weipa and Andoom (North Queensland) deposits was treated to provide a low-iron raw material for high- alumina refractories or aluminium chloride manufacture. The operation involved passing crushed, calcined bauxite continuously through a single laboratory shaft furnace. Consecutive sulfidation and chlorination of the iron minerals within the furnace resulted in a beneficiate containing less than 2% (wt.) Fe203 and by-product ferric chloride con- taining only traces of aluminium.

Jan 1, 1979

By M Grossi, G Baiden

This paper describes a new mine backfill method based on a newly invented binder with several years of test results from laboratory and onsite applications. The new binder has several advantages over traditional Portland and slag cement binders. One tonne of the new binder can replace two to three tonne of Portland cement when used to consolidate backfill and can result in the same compressive strength within seven days. When comparing backfill slurries of the same pulp density, the new binder attains more volume of in-place backfill mass than Portland cement because of the high crystallisation of water, resulting in tightly filled stopes. The crystallisation of the water provides for less or no dewatering in the backfill stope and easier transportation of the backfill slurry. Pastefill performance can be achieved by using pulp densities typical of a hydraulic backfill and the new binder, all the while transporting with the same ease of hydraulic fill.

Jan 1, 1998

By De Cuyper J

Laboratory testwork has been performed on ancient residues from the cyanidation of a previously roasted gold-containing pyrite and arsenopyrite ore. By grinding to 95 per cent minus 60 microns, and after a strong aeration conditioning of the pulp, a gold recovery of approximately 67 per cent was obtained by cyanidation. This recovery was brought up to 80 per cent by leaching with thiourea, after a preleaching step with sulphuric acid under severe conditions of acidity and temperature. To avoid excessive capital costs bound to such processes, it was decided to investigate the possibility of applying flotation after grinding at a size similar or finer than the one used for the leaching tests. The method turned out to give interesting results because of the natural flotability observed at pH values lower than two for particles rich in gold present in the residue. After two cleaning steps, a final concentrate, representing around one weight per cent of the feed, was obtained with an approximate gold content of 350 g/t, representing a batch recovery of gold of about 50 per cent. Apart from sulphuric acid, whose addition was very high (flotation slurries at 25 g/l H2SO4), other reagents were not found necessary. Additional flotation tests were carried out to examine whether the recycling of the cleaner tails was justified but the gain observed appeared insufficient.

Jan 1, 1993

In 1976, The Zinc Corporation Limited Broken Hill set up a plant to re-process a hill of tailing (Mt. Keast) from the original treatment operations. With the likely disappearance of this source of feed in 1985, an investigation was initiated to determine what other feed sources might be available. This involved searching through old records and photographs as well as a subsequent drilling campaign. The paper briefly covers the history of treatment operations and describes, as a result of the information obtained, the likely future sources of feed.

Jan 1, 1983

By Wilson O. A, White R. W G

The Mount Morgan mine occupies a unique place in the mining history of Australia and although not as glamorous during the second phase of its existence, it made a significant contribution to the technical and financial history of the nation throughout its life. The stories of the intrigue surrounding its discovery and early operation, the enormous return received by its original investors in its first five years as a public company, its influence on the local, national and international scene to its final closure have been documented in many publications, the most recent and authoritative being by John Kerr (1982). Institute publications as far back as 1911 have documented details of the mining, metallurgical and engineering practices of the two companies which worked the 100 or so acres which were alleged to be `the richest single gold mine in the world'. Within the Institute records appear the names of Presidents, Institute Medal recipients and others connected with Mount Morgan who have played an important part in the Institute history.

Jan 1, 1993

The Hishikari gold deposit, discovered by the Metal Mining Agency of Japan, has become a giant class epithermal gold deposit with the highest grade of gold yet recorded in the world through detailed exploration and development by the Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. The exploration strategy involved a regional approach combining geological and gravity surveys over a 900 km2 area which had historically produced over 120 t of gold. These surveys were carried out to grasp the common geologic features of epithermal gold deposits in the survey area. A genetic model for epithermal gold deposits in the area under regional survey was also considered based on detailed research of the Kushikino epithermal gold deposit which was in operation at that time. This model was applied to the targeted areas, and important relationships between mineralization, host lithology, intensive propylitic alteration and gravity highs became apparent. The Hishikari block was selected in this way and bonanza gold was discovered during drilling. Since the development of the Hishikari mine, information useful for further exploration for the same type of deposit has been accumulated.

Jan 1, 1995

By A D. Paktunc

The surface reactivity of underwater deposited, high-sulfide copper mine tailings was evaluated under fresh and saline water cover conditions by measuring the surface and pore water quality as a function of time. The experiments were conducted in aquarium type lysimeters having a shallow, well-aerated water cover up to approximately 0.25 m over the tailings. Natural lake water was used for the fresh water cover and seawater for the saline water cover scenarios. The tailings showed significant surface reactivity and oxidation under both fresh and saline water cover conditions. The surface water quickly became moderately to highly acidic, and surface oxidation of the tailings resulted in increased dissolution and release of sulfates, iron (total), calcium, magnesium, aluminium, manganese, copper, nickel, zinc, lead, cobalt and silicon to the water covers. A moderate to slightly increased loss of total sulfides, including pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite, occurred in the tailings surface layer to a very shallow depth. In comparison to the fresh water cover, the complete acidification of the saline water cover was delayed by approximately 30 - 40 days because of its additional available alkalinity. Whereas the rate of surface water acidification and release of aluminium and silicon were moderately reduced under saline water cover conditions in comparison to those for the fresh water cover, the release of calcium, magnesium, iron (total), copper, nickel, lead, zinc, sodium and potassium were enhanced. The mass transfer fluxes for dissolved copper, nickel lead, zinc and iron (total) from the tailings substrate to the surface water cover following surface water acidification were higher by 50 per cent or more in the saline water cover than those in the fresh water cover. This release was also reflected in moderate loss of pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite in the very shallow upper surface layer of the tailings at the tailings-water interface, although the loss of pyrite in the surface layer was less pronounced. In both cases, the dissolution of aluminosilicate minerals moderated, to a certain extent, pH and acidity in the water cover.

Jan 1, 2003

The origins of instrument application in the Mineral Industry are discussed. Development of measurement techniques pertinent to the industry is described as is the early application of mini-computers. The current application of microprocessor based equipment and the benefits obtained from this range of equipment are discussed. A speculative opinion as to what future instrument development may offer the industry is outlined.

Jan 1, 1985

By Matsumura T, Takematsu T

The Brown Coal Liquefaction Process (BCL Process) has been developed by Nippon Brown Coal Liquefaction Co., Ltd. (NBCL), and a 50-ton-per -day Pilot Plant has been partially completed and put into operation by Brown Coal Liquefac- tion (Victoria) Pty., Ltd. (BCLV) at Morwell, Victoria, Australia. This Project has been sponsored by New Energy Development Organization (NEDO), an or- ganization associated with MITI, and has been promoted as a National Project with funding by the Japanese government. This project has also been conducted as a cooperative technology de- velopment project between the Japanese and Aus -tralian governments since 1980 and has been supported by the Victorian state government and

Jan 1, 1987

Refractory gold concentrates and their roasted products have been examined by mineralogical and chemical methods, and the distribution of gold in the tailings after leaching has been Investigated.

Jan 1, 1989

By Bowling K. McG, Hamilton J. D G

The influence of three important para- meters which affect the induration of iron-ore pellets, viz temperature, time, and lime content, have been assessed in terms of internal pellet structure and commonly-used pellet quality criteria. The pellets studied were produced from a typical hematite ore from the Pilbara area of Western Australia, using a 25 cm dia. pot-grate test rig. Isothermal laboratory induration tests were conducted in accordance with a statistically-planned programme. The internal structures were studied by optical microscopic examination of polished sections of the test pellets. The effects of SFCA (silico- ferrite of calcium and aluminium) and slag formation, matrix consolidation and grain modi- fications were studied, and have been related to pellet properties and to the time/temperature histories produced by the firing conditions chosen. The implications of the data for commercial pellet plant operations are discussed.

Jan 1, 1974

This problem is seen as being central to a number of peripheral problems. Of these, the following are considered to be of major importance: 1. Reserves. Changes in Quality. Depths at which they occur. The effects of catchment and water storage areas. The effects of urban development. 2. Environment and the compat- ibility of mining and preparation of coal. 3. Transportation of Coal. J. tabour.

Jan 1, 1976

During 1995 a catastrophic accident took place at the No 2 Vaal Reefs shaft in South Africa, when a locomotive fell onto a cage, causing the death of 104 people. The subsequent Commission of Enquiry found that the safety detaching hook had opened when hit by parts of the falling locomotive, detaching the cage from the rope and allowing the cage to drop 400 m down the shaft. It was believed that had the hook not detached, the rope would have been sufficiently elastic not to have failed, implying that many fatalities may have been avoided. In addition, the risk of accidental opening of hooks due to impact with smaller falling objects in shafts became a concern. This paper deals with a comprehensive statistical investigation that was performed to quantify this risk, establish acceptable levels of such risks and to derive criteria for the resistance of detachment hooks against accidental opening caused by impacts. The investigation involved a survey, dynamic finite element analyses and Monte Carlo simulations.

Jan 1, 2005