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By L O. ÆNeill, J Bebek

When Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) purchased its fleet of 18 CaterpillarÆs dump trucks in 1999, as part of its change to owner operated mining, five CaterpillarÆs Computer Aided Earthmoving Systems (CAES) were also commissioned on Komatsu PC8000 hydraulic shovels and Caterpillar D10R bulldozers. Since then the CAES system has been installed and operational on Komatsu PC3000 hydraulic shovel, CaterpillarÆs D10R dozers and Cat 994 front-end loader while Cat 854 wheel dozer has been fitted with CAESbasic. This investment in advanced machine guidance and control technology has proven very beneficial over the years for the Super Pit with improved safety and increased operating efficiency and productivity. The paper brings into focus how the CAES system adaptation in unique mining conditions assists in production gain, equipment operatorÆs safety, flexibility and independence, personnel removal from hazardous areas, acquisition of operational information and improvements in mine planning and design, benefiting the entire mining operation.

Jan 1, 2003

By Clarke RG

Renison Mine was developed as the first all diesel mine in Australia. The foresight of the early planners in committing the Mine to Decline access has paid dividends in the past two decades with Renison Mine establishing itself as one of the most productive underground mines in the world. The excellent productivity has also resulted from the development of mining equipment technology, both on the part of the equipment suppliers and through the coordination of the Mining, Automotive and Technical Design Sections at Renison Mine. Constant improvements in truck and loader design, the design of specific equipment to carry out specialized tasks such as installation of services, scaling and ground support and the conversion to electrically powered equipment have been ongoing at Renison. Currently, larger scale trucks are being investigated for ore and waste haulage due to increased haulage distances and production requirements. It appears as though an articulated low profile truck of around 50 tonnes capacity may provide the short term solution based on the performance data available.

Jan 1, 1982

Modern plate tectonic reconstruction of Mexico and Central America shows that the southeast-extend ing Precambrian backbone of Mexico, together with the east-flanking accreeted Huastecan (Appalachian-Caledonian) orogenic belt, are geotectonic elements practically absent in Central America, except west-ern and northern Guatemala and Belize, and contrib-uted little to the mineral potential of the entire region.The gradual accretion of the Cordilleran oro-genic belt took place against the western-south-western margin of the Precambrian backbone, and its consolidation required several tectonic events from the medial(?) Paleozoic to the end of the Mesozoic. The striking features of this "long-lived" orogenic belt are the massive sulphide min-eralization in the upper Paleozoic eugeoclinal as-semblage, the widespread gold occurrence in quartz veins in the lower Mesozoic volcanics and related intrusives, the carbonate-hosted silver-bearing lead-zince deposits of the Mississippi Valley-type (or Pine Point-type) around carbonate banks within the Lower Cretaceous back-arc miogeocline, that de-veloped over the Precambrian backbone and deeply-eroded Huastecan orogenic belt, the massive sul-phide (Pb-Zn) deposits in the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sequence, transitional from miogeocline to eugeocline, which carry high grades in silver, and the iron deposits in this transitional facies, which are described in the literature as related to dioritic intrusives of Late Cretaceous age. Central America, south and southeast of the Mota-gua-Polochic fault system, forms part of the in-ternal zones of this orogenic belt.

Jan 1, 1990

Through the stress synthesis of many exanples of macrostructure from eastern to western parts of China, it can be concluded that in Chinese tectonics there are two push- twisting forces, one of which ("Rl", from SE to NW) came from the Pacific Ocean plate thrusting over the Chinese continent plate in the eastern part of China; the other ("R2", from SW to NE) resulted from the thrusting of the India plate. The meeting line could be situated along the belt from 104¦-106¦E longitude in the middle part of China. To the south of Qinling the meeting line was an abyssal and giant fault situated from Longmen to the Er Inland Sea where the Tibet-Gansi fold system was intersqueezed to the Sidluan platform; to the north of Qinling, situated on the Fengxiang subsidence of the Eerduosi basin, the meeting line was located about 105¦E in Mongolia and appeared in the form of an arcuate structure, i.e. the Mongolia arcuate structure, which could extend to Beijiaer Lake towards the north. A new special type of structure named rotation-apart structure occurred from Gansu, Qinghai province to Ningxia, Neimeng autonomous region, in the west of Shandong province and in the western part of Chaidamu Basin.

Jan 1, 1987

By Woodcock J. T, Rummel P. H, Sparrow G. J, MacRae C. M

A rapid automated search method, developed for the location of native gold grains in polished sections with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), has been extended to locate platinum group elements (PGE), in particular platinum and palladium, and their minerals down to 1 ¦m in size. Problems associated with the search for PGE minerals are discussed and examples of PGE minerals located with the facility in drill core sections, crushed ores, and metallurgical test products are given.

Jan 1, 1991

By Munive L

As a result of commissioning No.5 B F, 2670m3 inner volume, in March 1972, the largest B F in Australia; new expertise in maintenance, furnace operating practices and design have been obtained. This experience has also been extended to the other furnaces. A series of operating problems were con- fronted; all parts of the furnace, including the hearth side walls and bottom,were adversely affected. In December 1977, serious hearth wall wear was detected at No.5 B F, and a potential hearth breakout was averted. Hearth wear in No.4 B F was discovered in March 1979, and emer- gency underhearth cooling was installed to reverse an extremely advanced hearth bottom erosion. Hearth behaviour of No.5 B F oampaign 1972-1978 and`No.4 B F campaign commencing 1972, has been studied and discussions on the causes, effects and measures undertaken to protect the hearths are presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 1981

By M Coulthard, J Rivalland, K Dugan

Prior to 2001 Yallourn Mine has pumped approximately 1000 Megalitres of water per annum from aquifers beneath the mine floor in order to control aquifer pressures that were thought to have an influence on mine floor and permanent batter stability. In 2001 one of the deep aquifer pumps was shut down for five months in order to measure the aquifer recoveries. Prior to the shutdown a UDEC model was created in order to predict what level of recovery in the aquifer pressures would be critical to mine stability. The shutdown showed that the aquifer levels recovered and stabilised at levels that did not threaten the stability of the mine. The aquifers recovered to levels below the critical levels identified in the UDEC model.

Jan 1, 2003

By Guo-Zheng J

This paper describes the risk management strategies adopted to control unstable slopes in the east open pit of the Daye iron ore mine. Extensive experience has been developed over the last 35 years in the management of pit wall instability resulting in the successful excavation and reinforcement of pit slopes over 350 m in height.

Jan 1, 1994

Tholeiitic metabasalts comprise at least five geochemically distinct mafic volcanic associations of Late Palaeozoic age within the Gympie Province, southeast Queensland. Geochemical features indicate that parental magmas of the various metavolcanic suites were generated in contrasting tectonic regimes, although each of the suites shows some affinities with eruptives from convergent plate margin settings.Basalts from the Highbury Volcanics of the Gympie Group are island arc tholeiites (IAT) formed during an immature stage of eruptive activity in an intra-oceanic arc. They are unique among the analysed metabasites in possessing high Zr/Nb (Zr/Nb - 30) and very high Ba/Nb, and as well as low Ti/V, Ti/Zr and Ti/Y. These features are explicable solely in terms of contributions from a depleted, convecting upper mantle source, and large ion lithophile element (LILE) enriched fluids ascending from subducted oceanic crust.

Jan 1, 1990

By Askew JE

The large, massive low grade gold orebody at Mount Charlotte has demanded an innovative approach to mining engineering. In the last five years several advances occurred in the areas of rock mechanics, mass blasting, blasthole drilling and truck haulage.Successive crown pillar failures throughout the life of the mine had resulted in a continuous geotechnical program, mostly utilisingconsultants. The culmination of this workwas the development of a successful crown pillar support system. Several stopes have incorporated the technique and the most notable success has been the relatively large F3 crown pillar.In hole hammer drilling was introduced to the mine in 1979, but little work had been done to develop a blasting system to suit the 165mm diameter holes. A non-electric sequential blasting system was adapted for use at themine and up to 600,000 tonnes have been fired successfully in an individual blast. Problems with ground vibration were addressed although this work remains incomplete.

Jan 1, 1984

By Norman TE

The design of composite materials for wear resistant service aims at com- bining two or more materials in such a way as to achieve unique and useful properties not generally available in any single homogeneous material. Properties and applications are presented of what might be described as a new generation of wear resistant materials, namely, metallic and part- metallic composites suitable for use in the high abrasion/moderate impact environment encountered in the crushing and screening of ore. Significant cost performance benefit can result from the use of such materials and several specific case histories are discussed. Some promising new developments, utilis- inn white iron and rubber, as yet in the field testing stage, are reviewed. Further comments are offered foreshadow- ing new composite developments, as yet untried but which appear to h,uve merit.

Jan 1, 1978

The sedimentery basins of this region developed in the collision zone of the Pacific Ocean plate and the continent. Stresses were transmitted thorough wedge-like lithospheric blocks, such as the Okotsk Sea, East Kamchatka, Aleutian and 2 other smaller blocks. Compression and inversion were more active at the boundaries: P ; P3 ; N1 ; and Z N in places. ? K2 P2 P3 N2 Tension, rifting and the increase in the rate of sedimentation were marked in '-2 , P3, Ni - N2, and also N2 - Q in places. Structural plan changes of the sedimentary basins and possible oil, gas and fluid migration occurred more actively 2 3 1 2 at the boundaries: ; P3 . N? , N1 N1 NZ N2 P2 P3 1 N1 'N 2 N3 Ni 1 1

Jan 1, 1995

By Scherbatsky VB, zon BM, Babushkin NM, Kitaev BI, Shabel&apos

The structure and hydrodynamics of the raceway zone of a blast furnace was studied on a cold model representing a sector containing two tuyeres. The model differed from the usual in that it was prov- ided with continuous flow of the coke layer at pre- determined rates, had provision for changing the tuyere parameters (diameter, protrusion, inclinat- ion) and irrigation of the layer with liquid. A combination probe was developed which per- mitted simultaneous measurement of the pressure field both across the area and through the height of the layer as well as determining the topography of the raceway. The velocity fields in the layer were measured with a specially made impulse thermo- anemometer. The determining criteria of the model were taken as the relationships between the energy of the blast and the particles, the dimensions of the raceway and the cross-section of the tuyere. The model established the effects of the tuy- ere structural parameters, blast parameters and amount of liquid products of smelting on the con- figuration of the raceway, the structure of the layer, pressure and velocity fields in the vicinity of the tuyeres and in the vertical direction through the layer. The properties of the raceway formation and the structure of the layer in motion have been clarified.

Jan 1, 1981

LIST OF CONTENTSAbstractIntroductionSelected Sections of the Broken Hill LodeLocality PlansPetrology1. Zinc Corporation Mine: DDH. 5.98, section 30, No. 26 level2. Zinc Corporation Mine: DDH. 838, section 30, No. 13 level3. Broken Hill Sonth Mine: 60 ft. cont01(r above 1170 ft. level4. Broken Hill South Mine : No. 7 shaft section, 1370 ft. levelOrigin of garnet sandstone5. Barrier Central Pty. Ltd.: DDH. tJ.93, Block 136. North Broken Hill Ltd.: Junction mine, DDH. 602, No. 10 level7. North Broken Hill Ltd.: Jnnction mine, DDH. 588, No. 11 level8. North Broken Hill Ltd.: North mine, DDH. through Southern ore body, 3370 ft. level9. North Broken Hill Ltd.: North mine, Northern ore body above 2300 ft. level(a) Southern end, section 27, 77 ft. above rails(b) Northern end, section 30, 6.9 ft. above rails(c) Miscellaneons samples, sections 27 and 28Relative time of ore depositionSericitizntionStructural significance of sericitizationGCLhnite OrthoclaseApatite GarnetManganese SilicatesAlteration of manganese silicatesRelation of zinc and lead to the silicatesZinc in manganese-bearing silicatesLead in potassium and lime silicates and apatite

Jan 1, 1959

By Quemard D, Troncoso J

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

Jan 1, 1991

By Chilman G. F, Lean P. J

The New Broken Hill Oonsolidated LImited (NBHC) concentrator was commissioned in 1952 and underwent a number of expansions over the next 25 years. In 1978, the decision was taken to expand further from 1.20 million tonne/yr to 1.43 million tonne/yr. This increase necessitated a substantial modification to an already over-taxed grinding circuit. The circuit consisted of rod mills, ball mills and rake classifiers. Plant data of grinding mill performance was obtained to develop mathematical models of individual units that could be combined to simulate total circuit performance in a number of configurations. The data provided further illustration of the validity of the perfect mixing model for relatively small increments of ball mill scale-up.

Jan 1, 1983

Coal geology plays an essential role in the investigation of in situ coal seam quality. Coal geology can also play an important part in laboratory studies such as coal washing and coking, and in operating plant problems.

Jan 1, 1976

By Will D. P

A 328 m, 2.4 m diameter raise-bored shaft has been equipped with a modular ladderway system to provide a second means of egress from Aberfoyle's Hellyer Mine in Tasmania. The modular ladderway consists of platforms, ladders and service pipes assembled at the surface and progressively lowered down the shaft. This system provides a rapid, safe and economical non-entry approach to equipping a shaft. The modular construction and single suspension allows for future extension or for reuse in another shaft.

Jan 1, 1988

By McNabb KE, Ward B, Dyer G

Roof conditions at Southern Colliery, the second longwall mine to be established at German Creek, were found to be much stronger and more massive than at the earlier longwall mine on the lease. Investigations were made to ascertain the level of face support required for longwall extraction under the changed geological conditions. Geotechnical information was provided from drillholes and highwall exposures. Downhole geophysical logs, notably the sonic velocity log, were used to obtain a distribution of the major lithological units over the mine area. A representative type section of the strata and geomechanical properties was compiled to form the basis for numerical modelling. Two-dimensional finite element methods were used to predict strata movements and chock loads under cantilevered roof conditions. The model incorporated a 6.3 in thick roof beam either bonded or detached, with either a 2 in or 5 in overhang. The solid rib, immediate roof, chock support and goaf were modelled as distinct parts, in addition a front abutment stress profile, derived from three-dimensional displacement-discontinuity analysis, was superimposed on the model.

Jan 1, 1992

By Robinson B, Ham B

Outbursts have occurred irregularly in the Collinsville Coal field since 1954 when an incident claimed seven lives. Further significant outbursts occurred in 1960, 1961, 1972 and more recently in the No. 2 mine in 1978. From the information collected over 25 years a comprehensive program to minimize the hazard of outbursts has evolved. Further developments of techniques to combat outbursts are being developed.

Jan 1, 1980