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Water is important commodity in the mining industry. Water is used in the many stages of mining from the exploration stages and drilling, to mine development and operation and finally throughout mine rehabilitation and post mine activities. With the use of water throughout the life span of a mine, its management is an important component in the operation of any mine. Unfortunately the use of water within the operations can be one of the major sources of pollution generated from a mine. Such contamination can occur via numerous mechanisms including ground water flow, over land flow and accidents. Contamination may occur in any stage of mining operations, for example a leaking or failed tailings dam. With the above in mind, the paper presented will focus upon the use and management of water in the mining industry: ownership rights of water û common law as well as legislative rights; a review and analysis of the existing Queensland legislation and its mechanisms for the protection of water pollution from mining operations; and conclusions drawn from the paper relating to the Queensland legislation.

Jan 1, 2003

By McKee DJ

Many workers have observed an inverse relationship between final concentrate grade and valuable component recovery achieved by a flotation circuit, i.e. an increase in either grade or recovery may only be achieved at the expense of the other. The relationship is termed a "grade-recovery" curve and, in theory, limits the separation obtained by the circuit. However, circuit surveys in a nickel concentrator indicate that the operating "grade-recovery" curve of a circuit is not only determined by the nature of the ore and the circuit operating conditions, but also by the circuit design, particularly in terms of stage capacities. The surveys show that different capacity circuits can produce different operating curves for the same ore, and that capacity reallocation between stages has the potential to improve both grade and recovery. In particular, the relationship between circuit design and operating curve position is shown to be a function of the circulating loads generated by the circuit design, balancing the beneficial effects of recycling material against the proportion of plant capacity consumed by recycling.

Jan 1, 1986

In the Ora Banda area of the Eastern Gold- fields, the ultramafic rocks tend to be more deeply lateritized than most of the surrounding rock types, and lateritic nickel concentrations have been formed. Extensive drilling_has shown that, of the two intermixed suites be- neath the laterite - an extrusive peridotite- pyroxenite suite and an intrusive, highly magnetic dunite - the latter weathers to a more nickel enriched laterite. The top horizon I of the laterite consists of ferricrete. Horizon II consists mainly of bands of secondary silica in a clay matrix, formed in the reworking zone around the water table and stranded as the weathering profile migrated downwards. Horizon III ('ºaprolite") is composed of serpentinite, magnesite, iron oxides and silica, and grades dowil to the fresh bock composed variously of olivine, ser- pentine, talc, amphibole-chlorite and iron oxides. The main locus of nickel deposition is the zone containing the bottom of horizon II and the top of horizon III. The water table is also at this general level. .

Jan 1, 1973

An efficient filtration plant can be designed only from an adequate knowledge of the filtration characteristics of the material to be handled; if these characteristics can be expressed in the form of an equation the work of design is simplified immensely. The literature of the subject contains numerous equations which have been developed by various workers to express their results, usually obtained from a 'Very limited class of material, and from moderately thick pulps. Such expressions have been found quite unsuited for use in the case of thin, very free filtering pulps.In 1926, Underwood put forward an equation having a general for m, and which, he was able to show, provided a satisfactory expression of the data obtained and published by a large number of earlier workers. This equation has been found a very satisfactory and useful tool for the study of a variety of filtration problems. As thel basis of the equation is of assistance to the understanding of subsequent discussion, a brief account of Underwood's derivation is given here.UNDERWOOD's FILTRATION FORMULAEThe following symbols are used:

Jan 1, 1932

By Horowitz F. G, Lamb P

As mining operations become larger and more complex, larger volumes of geological, geophysical, and production data must be manipulated and interpreted on a day-to-day basis. Because of the large volume of data, more sophisticated data storage strategies, interpretation tools, and visualisation tools must be used by exploration and mining operations in order to remain competitive. Critical to better practice is an understanding of the basic syntax and character of geological and mining data, expressed in the form of a data model. In the short-term, a data model can be used to implement or evaluate schemes for data storage or exchange. It can be used to evaluate software. In the longer term, a data model is essential to the design of the next generation of software for 3D geological modelling. In this and the related paper (Lin et al, 1995) the data model in use by CSIRO is presented, together with: 1. examples of the use of data transfer in the linkage of existing mining software; and 2. examples of the use of the data model in software design.

Jan 1, 1995

By Stewart R

Potential acid rock drainage from the destruction of metalliferous sulph-ides is recognised as a critical factor in the design and economics of any mining venture. While this realisation is relatively new, mining companies have embraced the issue with the aim of scientifically quantifying the magnit-ude of the problem, specific to indiv-idual properties.Coinciding with the development of the open pit mine at Porgera, a comprehensive assessment of the potent-ial for the formation of acid rock drainage was initiated in 1991. Detail-ed study of the mineralogical charact-eristics of all rock types, along with extensive test work to determine the maximum potential of rocks to generate and consume acid (known as acid base accounting or ABA), has been conducted. Correlating this with the known and interpreted geology of the open pit has indicated a strong relationship between rock type, sulphur content and the acid base character. This relationship is used daily as a simple, cost effective means for classification and management of the variety of material types produced from the minincx operation.

Jan 1, 1994

By H Thanasekaran, J Kohmuench, B Seaman

To achieve an efficient separation in the flotation process, valuable particles need to be selectively segregated from the gangue while utilising a minimum number of flotation stages. TodayÆs existing flotation technologies are effective for fine particle size classes; however, limitations due to particle buoyancy and bubble-particle detachment restrict the effectiveness of traditional flotation approaches on coarser particles. As a result, flotation circuits are generally configured to process only fine particle size classes in order to maximise recovery in the primary stages. Eriez has invented a novel flotation technology, the HydroFloat, which overcomes these limitations by carrying-out flotation in a dense, fluidised-bed medium allowing for the recovery of coarse particles (>0.250 mm). Over the last 15 years, this technology has been successfully applied to industrial minerals with several full-scale units installed to recover particles up to and exceeding 3 mm diameter in primary flotation circuits. This paper includes discussions on the history of this technology, process theory, existing applications, and a review of recent sulphide-based laboratory test work conducted for Newcrest mining and others. Benefits of this approach, such as improved recovery, low energy consumption and reduced reagent addition will also be reviewed.CITATION:Kohmuench, J, Thanasekaran, H and Seaman, B, 2013. Advances in coarse particle flotation - Copper and gold, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013 , pp 378-386 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 15, 2013

A simple process for making filter aids from coal by controlled carbonization at 800-1200·C is described.Several possible variations in reactor design have been used experimentally, involving fluidized beds of carbon or inert material, reaction of the particles while entrained in air, and a combination of entrainment and fluidization.Product yields depend upon the composition of the parent coal but are always less than the sum of the ash and fixed carbon values determined by the proximate analysis. The product yield also depends on the air-to-coal ratio, which affects the amount of coal substance burned and the temperature attained. Particle residence time and reactor temperature affect the degree of devolatilization of the product and hence its wettability. The filtration behaviour of carbonaceous filter aids is greatly influenced by the size distribution, shape and physical properties of the particles-parameters which are largely determined by fue type and particle sizing of the coal used.Carbonaceous filter aids are distinctly different from other types commonly used and extensive industrial applications are anticipated in a wide range of industries ranging from food to mineral processing.

Jan 1, 1970

By Sharpin P. C

The countercurrent gas-solid heat transfer during the drying of brown coal briquettes in the pilot carbonization plant at Morwell has been analysed and theoretical gas and solid temperature distributions through the drier have been calculated. Although the calculations rest on several simplifying assumptions, the theoretical temperature distributions compare well with those observed in practical operation. Valuable conclusions are reached as to the effects of changes in drier operating conditions on the rate of drying of the briquettes which controls the strength of the char produced. The analysis shows why a limitation was reached in the improvement of char strength in the pilot plant in 1961 due to the performance of the drier and a prediction is made of a way in which the limitation could be overcome.

Jan 1, 1966

By P J. Bangerter, G D. Corder

With the societal desire and drive towards low carbon energy sources, there is a growing awareness of the important role that minerals and metals will play with renewable energy technologies. Copper is an essential metal for technologies that generate energy from renewable sources, in particular for wind and solar photovoltaic energy systems. A recent report (Arrobas et al., 2017) estimated that the median increase in copper demand through to 2050 for wind technologies and for solar photovoltaics would need to be 250% and 300% respectively to meet the goal of a 2°C global temperature increase scenario compared with a 6°C global increase, which is largely an extension of current trends (IEA, 2018). The aim of this extended abstract is to demonstrate with the necessary increase in copper production for renewable energy technologies that sound sustainability performance across the global copper value chain is to the benefit of government, society and industry.CITATION:Corder, G D and Bangerter, P J, 2018. Balancing the benefits and impacts of future copper demand – climate change and arsenic, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 17–19 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

By Y H. Zhu, X X. Tang, Y C. Yin, M L. Xing

Based on the stiffness theory, the stiffness difference and energy supply of surrounding rocks are important inducing factors for strain burst. However, due to the lack of multi-level low stiffness testing machine, there are few experimental studies on rock failure mechanisms under the influence of loading stiffness. This paper introduced a self-developed rock testing system with changeable stiffness. The main testing machine of this system is a combined structure of inner and outer frame. The change in the loading stiffness is achieved by using a stiffness servo control system to control the energy accumulation in the inner frame. The tests of the sandstone specimens under three different loading stiffnesses in the testing system showed that the loading stiffness did not significantly affect either the uniaxial compressive strength or the Young’s modulus of the rock. However, the post-peak stress-strain curve of the rock became smoother and steeper when the loading stiffness was decreased, and the stress drop rate increased. It is shown that the stress drop rate had a power function correlation with the loading stiffness. After the peak load, the inner frame of the testing system rebounded several times at high speeds. The magnitude of the instantaneous rebound speed and the rebound duration increased with the decrease of loading stiffness. Both the mean rebound velocity and the total rebound deformation had power function correlations with the loading stiffness. The loading stiffness has limited effect on the energy storage and energy dissipation characteristics of the specimen, while the released energy of the testing machine increases as the loading stiffness decreases, which is the key factor affecting the failure mode of the specimen. According to the test results, a rock burst mechanical model considering the stiffness is established, and the energy supply mechanism of rock burst is quantitatively explained.

Nov 29, 2022

A hard lump char containing only 4 to 5 per cent ash, 0·25-0·30 per cent sulphur and a trace of phosphorus has been produced from Latrobe Valley brown coal by slow drying and carbonization of ordinary industrial briquettes at temperatures between 7000 C and 14000 C. The briquette char can be made with a variety of reactivities by varying the maximum temperature of carbonization; the higher the temperature, the lower the reactivity. The strength of the fuel compares favourably with metallurgical coke made from black coal, though it may not be quite so resistant to abrasion. Experiments in a small experimental cupola indicate that it will make a satisfactory fuel for use in iron foundries. It may also find extensive application as a smokeless fuel in other branches of industry and in household heating appliances.INTRODUCTIONVictoria, like South Australia and Western Australia, is apparently without 'significant deposits of black coal of coking quality but there are huge reserves of brown coal of high moisture content (60-66 per cent) in the Latrobe Valley (well over 20,000 million tons have been proved) and there are other important deposits in the south central portion of the State (Herman, 1952).For three decades Victorian industries, including a few metallurgical firms, have been using the briquettes made at the Yallourn factory of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (S.E.C.). These briquettes, having a moisture content of about 15 per cent and a calorific value of approximately 9,500 B.T.U. per pound, are satisfactory for certain grate-type furnaces but they are not suitable for use in cupolas of other shaft furnaces because they disintegrate badly on rapid heating.

Jan 1, 1956

Analysis of different environmental scenarios and to represent, spatially, of impacted areas is possible by the use of geoprocessing techniques, specifically Systems of Geographical Information (SIG). Through these systems it is possible to create dynamic mathematical models, constituting of a georeferenced digital database and employing the integrated data originated from several sources. In this context, the general goal of this paper is to apply this tool in an environmental analysis of a specific karstic area impacted by mining activities. In order to preserve a limestone site, internationally recognised by its archaeological features, including caverns, lakes and evidences of prehistoric ages, the Brazilian government has created the Lagoa Santa Environment Protection Area. This place is located in the proximity of the Belo Horizonte international airport. In the past two decades exploitations of dimension stones have increased in this area. These exploitations have been done without a mine plan promoting several environmental impacts. The objective of this paper is to analyse these activities using SIG as a basic tool to locate the main mining related impacts and propose mitigation measures including waste and tailings disposal and reshaping of the landscape and introducing a drainage system for the considered zone.

Dec 6, 2010

Large Off Highway Trucks operated in this country are generally of Diesel Electric Drive, this system tends to employ the familiar Electric Wheel. A number of fleets now employ the Traction Motor System as an alternative. An investigation is made of the operation of two such fleets. A brief description is given defining the components and their basic functions in each system. Available life history is presented and system reliability, maintainability and operator reaction is examined. Trlmnnnr rpm rn~r In the past large Off Highway Trucks operated in this country, that is those greater than say 120 tons, have tended to be driven by a Diesel Electric traction system. Although manufacturers are now offering mechanical or mechanical/hydraulic drives in the larger machines comments will be restricted to examining the Diesel Electric System. Since commencing operations in the mid 1960 period Hamersley Iron has made use of the diesel electric drive system using the familiar Electric Wheel. A departure was made at Tom Price with the purchase of the Wabco 3200 Series Trucks. These 235 ton capacity units employed a dual rear axle system with externally mounted motors. In 1976 a

Jan 1, 1982

Obtaining correct assays for gold determinations relies on the correct methods being chosen and the assayer being made aware of the mineralogy of the sample and its general origin. Usually when a geologist or metallurgist obtains "incorrect" gold assays the problem can be traced to poor communication between the geologist or metallurgist and the assayer.

Jan 1, 1986

By N Boughen, K Moffat, L Brooks, A Zhang

In 2015, Ernst and Young (EY) ranked socio-political license to operate (SPLTO) as the fifth greatest challenge to the mining sector (EY, 2015). The EY report asserts that SPLTO will continue to present a risk to the mining sector in the context of ‘increased activism, digitally connected stakeholders and politicians who need to respond to general consensus’. While there is no consensus on a definition, SPLTO is commonly regarded as the ongoing acceptance or approval of an operation by affected stakeholders (Moffat and Zhang, 2014; Thomson and Joyce, 2008) as well as those stakeholders that can affect the operation (Graafland, 2002). Warhurst (2001) relates the process of stakeholders granting SPLTO to the establishment of meaningful partnerships between operations, communities and government based on a variety of factors that build trust between stakeholders.From these accounts, we can see that understanding stakeholder attitudes about company performance and impacts on stakeholders directly affected by an operation are important in any attempts to measure SPLTO. Understanding the level of acceptance of an operation within these stakeholders provides a good proxy or outcome measure of SPLTO. Moreover, trust seems to be a central variable in the translation of these experiences of an operation into acceptance. What the mine or company does, its behaviour, degrades or builds trust with stakeholders, and this then affects acceptance (Moffat and Zhang, 2014).In addition, a strong emphasis is placed on the nature of the relationship between companies and stakeholders as influenced by inter-group interactions. It is not just what companies do well or poorly with respect to environmental impacts, for example, that will determine trust and acceptance, but how the company relates to its stakeholders at personal and group levels.These relationships between communities of stakeholders and extractive companies are dynamic. Brown and Fraser (2006) recognised the importance of industry being able to respond to the changing nature of societal approval and acceptance, arguing that ‘business must have regard for evolving social attitudes and expectations if it is to maintain its ‘social licence’’.This paper will describe a series of five pilot projects conducted by CSIRO with Anglo American in Australia and South Africa to generate a real-time understanding of SPLTO to guide more reflexive and effective social performance strategies.CITATION:Moffat, K, Boughen, N, Brooks, L and Zhang, A, 2016. Social licence in real-time – using dynamic methods to support a new kind of community relationship, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2016 Conference, pp 191–194 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 28, 2016

By B Tadesse, L G. Dyer, K Ward

The Golden Mile ore deposit in Western Australia is one of the largest gold telluride deposits in the world. Approximately 20 per cent of the contained gold in the deposit is present as gold telluride minerals, the most prevalent being calaverite (AuTe2) and petzite (Ag3AuTe2). Telluride mineralogy in the Golden Mile orebody is fine grained and complex having formed due to hydrothermal deposition in the late paragenetic sequence. Nineteen tellurium bearing minerals have been identified including gold and silver as well as mercury, lead and nickel tellurides (Shackleton, Spry and Bateman, 2003). Extensive work has been completed on the flotation of gold, gold-silver alloys and gold ores however there is a lack of information detailing the difference between flotation of native gold and individual gold minerals (Dunne, 2016). Studies on the flotation behaviour of gold ores have focused primarily on the flotation of free gold and refractory sulfides (Teague, Van Deventer and Swaminathan, 1999).

Aug 24, 2022

The Archaeozoic Willyama Complex at Broken Hill has suffered several periods of deformation and metamorphism. New structural and petrological information together with that available from the literature gives a picture of the metamorphic evolution of the Barrier Ranges. Several epochs of metamorphism are recognized, and potassium-argon dating of minerals has been applied with limited success to the resolution of these epochs.INTRODUCTIONAdvancements in the mineral industry at Broken Hill over the past eighty years have been accompanied by a continual striving towards increased understanding of both the geological history of the Barrier Ranges and the environment of the Broken Hill ore deposits. However, although many detailed studies of selected localities and particular-aspects of Broken Hill geology have been carried out recently, the regional geology of the Barrier Ranges as a whole has received little attention from a petrological viewpoint since the pioneer investigations of Mawson (1912) and Browne (1922). There still remains a great need for regional surveys combining field studies of the habits, structures and outcrop relationships of the various rock types with laboratory investigations of their chemistry, mineralogy and microscopic ,fabrics. Recording observations arising from three brief visits to the Broken Hill area during 1959 and 1963 may stimulate further surveys.During one of these visits, the generosity of the Zinc Corporation Limited in providing field transport and geological guidance enabled the writer to collect material and study field relationships and appearance of the various rock types at numerous localities covering most of the Willyama outcrop. A complete study has not been conducted...

Jan 1, 1963

By D Bradshaw, E Forbes, M Edraki, M Tayebi-Khorami, E Manlapig

There is an increasing trend in the extraction and development of copper resources from complex deposits. These deposits pose mineral processing challenges, as they often contain low grade disseminated copper ore with high levels of impurities particularly arsenic. Although arsenic is a naturally occurring element, the concentrations of arsenic can be magnified by mining and mineral processing activities. Therefore, while arsenic has no significant market value, its presence in the ore deposit will have production, environmental and human health implications. The mining industry’s approach to life-of-mine planning has improved significantly in recent decades and managing arsenic is not an exception.CITATION:Tayebi-Khorami, M, Edraki, M, Manlapig, E, Forbes, E and Bradshaw, D, 2018. Arsenic pathways in copper mining – sustainability issues and potential solutions, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 60–63 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

The kinetic and practical aspects of the extraction of copper from copper-rich solutions by cementation on iron was investigated. Tests were made on the effect of stirring speed, cupric sulphate concentration, acid concentration, temperature, and ferric sulphate concentration on the reaction rate and excess iron consumption.Most kinetic investigations were conducted under a nitrogen atmosphere to prevent any oxidation of the iron or copper metals. The stirring mechanism for all tests incorporated the use of a rotating impeller above a static disc in the solution. The activation energy for cementation on the steel disc at high stirring speed was 8·6 kcal/mole, indicating a predominant chemical control.Increasing the pH first decreased, then above pH 3, increased the reaction rate. Additions of sodium sulphate also significantly increased the reaction rate.The use of high temperature and high pH under an inert atmosphere has been suggested for increasing the reaction rate and producing a high purity sponge copper product.

Jan 1, 1972