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The Macquarie Dictionary defines `information' as: knowledge communicated or received concerning some fact or circumstance; (in communicating theory): a quantitative measure of the contents of a message. For mining companies investing in data capture and information processing technology for operations management is a key issue. Beyond producing performance related information that employees can relate to it is being able to deliver that information into the workplace when it is required, to the employees that can utilise it. To be effective the data needs to be received and understood as `information'. The technology is now available and proven to enable `information' to be delivered into the mining workplace adding value to the activities performed by mine employees. The application of computers and information technology in the mining industry has typically been limited to the resource definition and planning stages, accounting and administration and the process plants that treat the ores and minerals. The mining extraction processes that consume expenditure and determine output in a mining operation occur in an environment dominated by unpredictable events and variable conditions. The mining operation has long been regarded as an inexact science conducted in unpredictable circumstances with many independent variables affecting the output and resultant cost of production. Financial accountants keep track of expenditure and management accountants analyse the cost of production usually on a weekly or monthly basis but all this effort can't affect the outcome, that was determined by the real time events and variations of circumstances over a week ago. Such reporting and analysis can result in conclusions being drawn about what improvements can be made and how you might do better next time, but generally the data is not detailed enough, is inaccurate or misrepresents the real issues. The capital investment required for any mining operation is substantial and comparable to other industries such as manufacturing. The performance and utilisation of manufacturing plants is usually closely monitored down to the lowest level of detail. Many modern plants are controlled and optimised using programmable intelligent devices and monitors display real time performance to the operators and prompt them to make informed decisions to maximise production and minimise wastage. Technology suitable for the mining industry is now widely available and has proven to be a reliable and powerful tool for the optimisation of mining operations. This paper focuses on the latest information technology developed by Modular Mining Systems that has been implemented in mining operations worldwide. The benefits reported by the mining companies utilising real time information technology over the past 15 years have generally related to optimisation of truck fleet allocation and material blending. Some mining operations have reported improvements in equipment utilisation of greater than 20 per cent. With the development of real time graphical display screens in the operators cabins the benefits of information delivery can be harnessed to make employees more effective in the workplace.

Jan 1, 1995

By P Aguilera, C Guerrero, M Tucker

With the advent of Electronic Detonator Systems in the global mining industry, as well as the development of high precision pyrotechnic delays, the measurement and analysis of delay performance (usually measured in terms of dispersion about a batch mean û precision, and the deviation of that mean from the nominal detonation time û accuracy), has become an important issue. Through the non-conventional use of existing Velocity of Detonation (VoD) measurement technology, it has been shown to be feasible to measure the precision and accuracy of delay detonator series connected in the same manner as a typical open pit bench hook up. This paper describes the work undertaken to compare and contrast performance results obtained using a range of instrumentation including High Speed Video (HSV) filming, digital counter timing using a Hewlett Packard Universal Counter and a digital VoD measurement device. The results obtained demonstrated the practical feasibility of using the latter technology in order to obtain relatively large amounts of data in a time-efficient manner, with a precision of better than 0.5 microseconds, if required. The results also confirmed the close statistical agreement obtained between the three forms of performance measurement, therefore permitting the substitution of the VoD measurement technique for the more capital cost intensive HSV technique and the slow, sample-by-sample HP Universal Counter method. This paper describes the methodology applied and the results obtained.

Jan 1, 2004

By Caithness SJ, Heape JMT

Following the discovery by CRA of gold at Mt Kare, and the subsequent 1988-90 gold rush, mechanised mining of the alluvial resource is now being carried by a company jointly owned by CRA (51%) and landowners of the area (49%). Mining is currently being carried out using small gravity processing plants fed by hydraulic excavators. Use of hydraulic mining techniques will be limited to over- coming difficulties related to the high clay content of the material and the soft nature of the bedrock. Current resource estimates suggest that the alluvials will have a mining life of three to four years. During this time, exploration of the hydrothermal gold mineralisation at Mt Kare will be carried out by a wholly-owned company of CRA. It is hoped that this will lead to establishment of an economic primary gold resource.

Jan 1, 1991

By A Paz, H Lehto, M +stholm, I Roitto

Nowadays, the demand for a finer grind in minerals processing has set new challenges within the industry, particularly for grinding technology. Apart from a finer grind, energy efficiency is also a key driver in optimising comminution technology.Stirred milling technology, already proven in many other industries, delivers a modern, sophisticated, flexible and energy efficient grinding solution for fine and ultra fine grinding in minerals processing. Fine grinding technology is utilised particularly in concentrate regrinding to complete the liberation of valuable minerals after the first stage of concentration. Maintaining the correct particle and particle size distribution of the regrind product is crucial for downstream process performance. Stirred milling technology offers the unique possibility for online control and optimisation of the regrind product particle size. This paper describes the basis of this online control possibility and discusses the implementation of stirred milling technology in minerals processing, particularly in regrinding applications. The paper will also outline management and control of fluctuations in feed rate tonnages as well as particle size fluctuations in concentrate regrinding.CITATION:Roitto, I, Lehto, H, Paz, A and +stholm, M, 2013. Stirred milling technology - A new concept in fine grinding, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013 , pp 190-201 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 15, 2013

As this is the first occasion I have had, and probably will be the only opportunity I shall have, of addressing such a large gathering of members and of student members of the Institute, I desire to- express my very deep appreciation of the honour 'you have paid me in electing me to the office of President for the current year. I realise also that such selection is a tribute to the Company which controls operations here, the centre selected for the annual meeting, but nevertheless there is afforded to the recipient a great deal of pride and of pleasure to hold the highest office in what is, in my opinion, undoubtedly the most important engineering society in Australasia.The past year has witnessed an unprecedented and unparalleled event in the history of the British Empire, and I think that we must all feel a wonderful sense of proud patriotism; the whole world was forced to admire the public calm and the dignity which accompanied the change in our Sovereign Ruler, and great tribute is due to the statesmanship of the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin. At this time, we should, I think, place on record our prayer, in common with all his people, that His Majesty, King George the Sixth, may enjoy a long and prosperous reign.The meeting at Port Pirie recalls one who did so much for the advancement of mining and metallurgy, especially in Australia. I refer to the late Mr. Delprat, who, as General Manager of The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, had under his control for many years the smeltery in this centre. As you are aware, he had been elected an honorary member of this Institute, as well as of our sister Institutes in England and in America...

Jan 1, 1937

The Golden Cross project was a joint venture between Coeur NZ Ltd (80 per cent) and Viking Mining Company (20 per cent). The site is located in the Waitekauri Valley, 8 km north-west of Waihi, on the Coromandel Peninsula, in the North Island. The mine-site is situated close to the Coromandel Range Divide between the headwaters of the Waitekauri River and the Martoto Stream. The site has a history of Gold Mining dating back to 1892. The more recent mine comprised an open pit and underground gold and silver operation from December 1991 to April 1998, MacGillivray, Maton and Goldstone (2000).Doug Hood Ltd commenced the first of three contracts on site in September 1997 and was responsible for completing the final stages of open pit mining, landslide remedial works mine closure and rehabilitation works. The Mill Closure and Rehabilitation and Drainage Works contract, for which this submission relates, commenced in September 1999 and was officially completed by Doug Hood Ltd. on the 26 May 2001.This paper endeavours to highlight the project objectives and backgrounds them against the difficulties experienced with respect to the site-specific conditions, the design complexities and risks associated with the contract, from a contractorÆs perspective.

Jan 1, 2002

By Merritt RR

The equilibrium phase relations in the Fe- Mn-Ti-0-S system were established at 1380 and 1485 K. The elemental distributions between the equilibrium phases were obtained by chemical- ly analysing selected samples from the phase study. The results are considered in relation to the coal reduction process for upgrading ilmenite. The beneficial effect of adding sulfur to a kiln that uses a manganese-rich feed is ex- plained by the formation of a metal-sulfide solid-solution phase that removes part of the manganese from the oxide system. The optimum conditions for operating the reduction kiln are determined, and the practical need to operate the kiln at other than optimum conditions is explained. It is shown how the experimental data can be used to predict the best compromise conditions for reduction and the resultant purity of the product.

Jan 1, 1980

By G Brooks

The control of phosphorus in steelmaking is one of the famous challenges of pyrometallurgy. It is well established that highly basic slags, the presence of FeO in the slag and lower temperatures (less than 1650°C) are favourable for phosphorous removal. The thermodynamics of this reaction have been extensively studied under laboratory conditions and the general trends confirmed through industrial trials. However, in general, phosphorus slag/metal distributions measured in industry are far from equilibrium and quite specific to the oxygen steelmaking technology being used. This variability was quantified by Urban, Weinberg and Cappel (2015), who found that the phosphorus partition ratio measured in plants varied with blowing practice, stirring intensity and even converter life. Some recent kinetic studies by Gu, Dogan and Coley (2017) have shown how the kinetics of these reactions vary with FeO content and dissolved sulfur at the droplet scale. A global kinetic model by Rout et al (2018) provides meaningful predictions of where dephosphorisation occurs in an industrial basic oxygen furnace (BOF) and some recent heat transfer modelling by Madhavan et al (2021, 2022) implies that temperature difference between droplets and slag has a role to play in explaining why equilibrium is not achieved. This paper will review the current state of knowledge and provide suggestions on predicting phosphorous removal for industrial operations and how greater removal could be achieved.

Jun 19, 2024

By W P. Player

The legislative operating environment, or the mineral regime, that a country has to offer is one of the key determinants that a company wanting to invest in an area takes into account in formulating its investment decision.   The New Zealand Government recognises this and the importance of getting the regime right in order to provide for continuing investment in mineral exploration and mining in New Zealand . In recent years, the Government has given considerable attention to developing legislation which provides for investment to take place; for those making the investments to have a stable, fair and open investment environment with government intervention only when considered absolutely necessary because other approaches are not working; and for the people of New Zealand to know that investment must meet acceptable health and safety standards and have acceptable impact on the environment. Also of key importance is having a clearly defined mining regime which includes rules on how to obtain a permit and rules in respect of ongoing permit compliance, rights to develop a mineral resource and permit conditions (in particular, the royalty regime). In New Zealand , these matters will all be addressed in what are referred to as 'minerals programmes'.   The Crown Minerals Act 1991, which is the legislation governing the allocation and management of permits for Crown owned minerals, requires that the Minister of Energy prepare minerals programmes. Minerals programmes establish the policies, procedures and provisions that the Minister shall follow in exercising his or her functions and powers under the Crown Minerals Act. Minerals programmes set out the principal reasons for and against adopting these policies, procedures and provisions and also restrictions on prospecting, exploration and mining for Crown owned minerals. Essentially minerals programmes define the mining regime for the minerals to which they apply, other than the taxation regime, environmental and health, safety provisions, land access matters and general matters concerning the investment climate.

Jan 1, 1995

Current NSW Government policy requires searching for more than just minerals during an exploration program - add endangered fauna and archaeological relics for a start.

Jan 1, 1995

Theories of ore genesis. have both practical and philosophical application-practical in that they influence our search for new ore bodies; philosophical in that they provide a test for our theories of petrogenesis-and our ingenuity.For example, the theory of granitization requires an explanation of ore genesis compatible with the general concepts of granitization.Our understanding of some processes of ore formation, such as supergene enrichment, or the formation of residual lateritic iron ores, is so complete as to permit of nq controversy.For other ores, like the oolitic iron ores of England and France, and elsewhere, or the segregations of chromite or ilmenite in basic igneous rocks, the broad principles are generally agreed on; dispute is limited to details of process.But for a wide range of ore deposits there is no such agreement. Completely incompatible hypotheses are advanced to explain' identical facts, and we have difficulty in finding new facts or criteria that will distinguish unambiguously between them.In thinking about such ores, a co:n;venient starting point is provided by Schneiderhohn's (1953) fourfold division of ore deposits:1. The secondary hydrothermal ore deposits occurring in Mesozoic-Neozoic cover strata of Europe.2. The "regenerated" younger ore deposits in Alpine type mountain chains.3. Post-Cambrian primary hydrothermal ore deposits.4. Ore deposits of the PreCambrian shields.To these we may add a fifth group:5. Stratigraphically controlled sulphide deposits.

Jan 1, 1956

By M A. Tuck

Air blasts or wind blasts as they are termed in underground coal mining, occur in a number of types of underground mining where a void develops and the overlying or adjacent rock fails rapidly to allow the development of a high pressure air pulse. The effects of air blast vary widely from very low consequence to high consequence events causing multiple fatalities as occurred at North Parkes mine. The aim of this paper is to examine the phenomena of air blasts and the underlying parameters which determine the severity of the air blast event. A basic model under development is then detailed. The aim of the model is to determine the magnitude of the pressure pulse(s) developed during an air blast event. This, combined with a transient ventilation network analysis model will enable the airflows and associated pressure drops to be determined and allow the pressure pulse around the mine to be evaluated. The overall aim is to allow mining engineers and mine ventilation engineers to undertake a risk assessment of air blasts at individual mine sites, allowing working parameters to be changed to eliminate or reduce air blasts, or engineering controls to be developed to reduce the effects of air blasts.CITATION:Tuck, M A, 2013. Determining the pressure pulse for an air blast, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference , pp 103-106 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 1, 2013

Most coal mines in Chongqing Area are highly gassy mines and liable to outburst of coal cnd methane. In order to harness mine environment and raise the Prodction capacity, methane predrainage is generally taken as a main preventive measure against outburst by all mines. In the recent ten years, the drainage volume per year has increased from 38.25 million m3 to mote than 100 million m3 with a volume over 12 m3 per tome of coal. In some mines, the draining rate is approaching to 50 percent, the rate in mining districts is up to 60 to 70 percent. The predrainage volume accounts for one fourth of total drainage volume. All these have effectively prevented the occurrence of coal and methane outbursts.This is the current situation of methane predrainage in coal mines in Chongqing area, the methods of predrainage to prevent outbursts and related parametres comprise:1. methods, technologies, supervision and effect of predrainage in different geological and mining conditions,2. the change of methane parametres pre-and post-drainage and the analysis of the effect of methane predrainage to prevent outbursts, and3. ways to improve the effect of methane predrainage.Thus the safety, reliability and production of Changqing Coal Mines will be enhanced.

Jan 1, 1991

By Baxter J. L

Post-tertiary training programmes have been designed and produced for geologists at different levels of understanding and expertise in the relationship between gold mineralization and shear zones. A workshop format was used as it allowed both clients and facilitators to participate in the learning process. Evaluation by facilitators and participants refined the workshop programme as an effective skills oriented learning process. The general observation is that post-tertiary training in small, interactive, practical, learning oriented groups is far better than lecture oriented short courses for developing skills based learning. The evaluation indicates that the process in post-tertiary training must include aspects which are both useful and used.

Jan 1, 1989

By Yates C, Gillie E. W, Finucane K. J

During the year 1940 a complete investigation was made of the whole of the stoping operations throughout the Great Boulder Mine and, as a result, it was decided to convert some of the existing shrinkage stopes into cut-and-fill stopes, and also to mine many of the more recently developed ore blocks by the latter method. The necessity for filling was due primarily to the structure of the ore blocks, the character of the walls and possible excessive dilution, but was influenced also by the grade of the ore-block and by the fact that cleaner mining can be carried out by cut-and-fill stoping.The comparatively few cut-and-fill stopes in operation prior to 1940 had been filled mainly with waste rock from development work, but as the amount of this material available, or likely to become available, would have been wholly inadequate for future operations, it was proposed to construct a system of passes to supply filling material from the surface.Owing to the distribution of the stopes, no central pass or system of passes could be devised which would service all the stopes satisfactorily.However, work was commenced on two passes, one designed to service the cut-and-fill stopes in the Eastern Section of the mine, and another to service those in the Western Section. It was realised that these passes could serve only a small proportion of the total number of Stopes (Figs. 1 and 2). During the progress of this work experiments were undertaken to test the possibility of using filtered tailings underground as an adjunct to the above scheme, but for various reasons these were only partially completed.Early in 1942 it was suggested by the Mill Superintendent that an attempt be made to fill with wet classified flotation tailings as practised at Mt. Lyell in Tasmania and at the Triton Mine at Reedy, West Australia. For the purpose of testing this, an experimental stope was prepared on the 309-ft. level, "X" Lode. This was 100 feet long and averaged 4 feet in width. Water-tight rearings were built at each end of the stope and waste rock fill was spread to a height of 6 to 8 feet above the timber. Used filter cloths were laid on top of the fill and brought a few feet, up the walls of the stope. A two-inch victaulic drainage line was then placed in position, the end passing through a hole in one of the bearings and thence to a sump. In the central portion of the stope two vertical pipes were brought up from this line. These were bored with one-inch holes staggered on opposite sides of the pipe, the vertical interval between each hole being one inch. The holes were then stopped with...

Jan 1, 1945

By OÆGrady P

Finite element analysis is becoming a routine component of design of longwall extractions, now superseding more traditional somewhat intuitive approaches. Finite element modelling is relatively inexpensive and provides an adequate degree of similitude to give satisfactory analysis. The physical modelling of two decades ago is now largely replaced by numerical methods of which finite element is the best known. Important data for finite element work are physical properties, including creep aspects, introducing the non-linearity of stress response.Various computer packages are available and some were used to model two specific UK examples, using both linear and non-linear approaches. It appears that non-linear approaches will yield most benefit. The use of materially non-linear analysis is merited by the greater similitude it provides between model output and real mine situations.

Jan 1, 1991

By M Griffiths

This paper outlines an approach to high solids slurry pipeline design with data generated from a closed pipe-loop test system. The pressure and flow rate data generated is used to develop a pseudo-shear diagram for the purposes of system design. Following this approach enables the design of a full pipe flow system maximising system life and reliability. The alternative free fall system is explained and the disadvantages highlighted.Environmental and social considerations are discussed; mainly water and land use, and how designing for high solids slurry pipeline systems can be used improve these aspects of a mining project.Also discussed is how the use of high solids slurry pipeline systems can help to mitigate the risk associated with surface tailings storage facility failure, with the Bulyanhulu project used as a positive example.

Aug 8, 2011

By I T. Cameron

The commercial production of copper metal involves a sequence of purification stages. One step of this process eliminates bulk quantities of iron and sulphur from matte Cu2S(FeS to produce blister containing 95.5 per cent copper. This task is traditionally performed in the Pierce-Smith converter, a cylindrical vessel in widespread use throughout the copper industry. Typically, multiple Pierce-Smith converters are arranged along an aisle, simplifying material transfer from vessel to vessel. Materials are moved through the aisle in pots and boats, using overhead cranes. In terms of the overall process, the converter aisle represents a critical processing unitùit contributes significantly to the value added nature of the metal. The aisle is subject to significant process disturbances. Thus, improvements in the operationÆs modes and conditions have a direct impact on process profitability. As with any commercial operation, improvements are always sought to increase process performance. The general approach involves process modelling, followed by an application of control and optimisation theory to this model. The results of such a study are then applied to the real process, leading to improved performance.

Jan 1, 1998

By N Coplin

Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) project C25073 was proposed by industry stakeholders seeking a potential solution that improves underground air quality and reduces operational costs associated with technology used to control diesel particulate emissions in the underground coal mining environment.The need to protect workers from diesel particulate matter (DPM) has lead the underground coal mining industry to install disposable filter systems on their vehicles. While the disposable filters are efficient at removing significant amounts of DPM, the following major issues have arisen:- high cost of operations; disposable filters cost $A250–300 each and need to be changed at least once per shift resulting in an estimated cost of up to $A164 M/a, in filters alone, to the NSW underground coal mining industry- improper installation, damaged seals and lack of installing a new filter when the old filter is removed; workers are still being exposed to excessive amounts of DPM.The ACARP project successfully demonstrated significant DPM emissions reduction comparable to the incumbent disposable technology on a proof-of-concept wall-flow diesel particulate filter (DPF) system, as well as satisfactory system robustness when assessed using an industry representative test cycle representing operations of a load haul dump (LHD) vehicle typical of that used by the Australian underground coal industry. It was noted in testing that the technology increased modal NO2 formation, but was compliant over typical operational duty cycles.One of the key benefits with the use of a wall-flow DPF system is its tamper-proof design, mitigating the risk of operating unfiltered diesel plant in poorly ventilated areas. Elimination of the need for continual replacement of disposable filters provides significant operational savings estimated to be up to 80 per cent of the incumbent technology.In addition to the above, the project also delivered a number of significant contributions to the knowledgebase of the Australian and international coal industry with regard to the characterisation of operations and control of emissions.CITATION:Coplin, N, 2017. Wall-flow type diesel particulate filter system to replace existing wet element filter systems used in typical LHDs in underground coal operations, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 119–128 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

By G Baird, M Seto

A low-cost methodology that allows the determination of in situ stresses using oriented core specimens has been investigated. The technique can be used to determine the stresses during the early stages of a project, even in undeveloped areas of a mine. The research aim was to compare the experimental results estimated by the Acoustic Emission and Deformation Rate Analysis methods with those estimated by conventional Hollow Inclusion cell measurements. The studies have been focused on full stress tensor determination from a single oriented rock core. In all cases the rock core specimens recollected the in situ stresses reasonably well compared with the standard overcoring method.

Jan 1, 2000