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The history of civilisation continues to register a steady tide towards the urban life as the basis of its social organisation. The manifestation of this movement is a continuous growth and increasing density of population in our towns and cities, as the favourite space for the development of humanity. Naturally, this trend raises a certain number of problems which grow proportionally with the size of the city. The use of the underground space has an important role to play in solving such urban problems. But various issues must be taken into account when developing urban underground space.

Jan 1, 1999

Total quality control in tandem with Japanese style management largely accounts for the high product quality and international competitiveness of growing manufactured exports from Japan. Japanese management is often identified with life-time employment, promotion by seniority, company-based unionism, the process of obtaining the sanction of executives to a plan by circulating the draft prepared by a person in charge of a particular matter, internal consultation, consen- sus-based decision-making, etc., all of which are just formal manifestat- ions of the underlying current of the spirit of cooperation that translates itself into "management through labor- management cooperation".

Jan 1, 1982

By Stockton N. D

Gravity concentration of gold is an important facet of gold processing technology in Western Australia. While great interest has been directed at gold leaching technology and considerable developments achieved, gravity concentration has received much less attention and this paper provides an update on the current practice and developments that have been achieved in recent years.A survey of 72 gold processing plants in Western Australia was conducted in 1991 and some 31 questionnaires were returned for analysis. Of these, 19 plants were using gravity concentration and this paper highlights some of the features of these operations.

Jan 1, 1992

The mining industry in common with the rest of Australian industry is in the critical situation of facing a rapidly diminishing insurance market. Huge industrial complexes and massive mining risks with limits of liability of millions upon millions of dollars are becoming increasingly difficult to insure. Insurance underwriters are still reeling from the financial shocks of cyclones, floods and fires in Australia over the past couple of years. Risk Management which calls for manage- ment involvement in the control of losses offers a serious challenge to miners, industrialists and insurance underwriters alike. Without it the insurance market could disappear altogether.

Jan 1, 1975

Surface geological observations are predominantly two-dimensional but can be expanded into three dimensions using geophysical techniques. These techniques have proved succ- essful in the past and will be utilised more frequently in future mineral exploration. Geophysical training establishments must recog- nize future requirements and teach geophysics as part of a broad earth science course as well as a specialised geophysical course. Central- isation of teaching skills, the use of high- technology in the classroom, and greater interaction between academic and industry staff are recommended as a means of ensuring a vibrant geophysical training base in Australia, for the geophysicist of the future.

Jan 1, 1986

By Collins L

The commercial success of a mining project can be strongly influenced by the business activity which takes place away from the mine site. The project revenue is determined by marketing success which results from persistent research and full realisation of suitable products and by-products and appropriate upgrading achieved in conjunction with proper material security and insurance. Significant costs of transport can be optimised, protection of the environment carefully managed and skilled employees acquired as a valuable asset. Working capital requirements are often substantial and should be carefully established and financed, possibly by special contractual arrangements for product sales.

Jan 1, 1997

This presentation opens with a definition of technology and how it is implemented. The expenditure and progress on R&D in the mining industry is then investigated and found to be difficult to quantify. The needs and interests of that industry including contribution to this Congress are examined and it is concluded that short-term rather than long-term goals seem to be prevalent. The presentation concludes with the opinion that the answer to the question in the title is both affirmative and negative but overall there is a need for the mining industry to become more innovative.

Jan 1, 1990

The detailed engineering of a coal preparation plant is important from the point of view of optimum constructibility, operational security, ease of maintenance, operating costs, meeting environmental goals, safety, plant housekeeping and reduced corrosion and erosion. This paper reviews the several large coking coal preparation plants engineered by Fluor Australia in the past 10 years, and changes and trends apparent for detailed engineering of future plants. Areas of engineering to be covered are coal feed preparation, conveyor design, plant layout, electrics and instrumentation, noise attenuation, erosion and corrosion protection, magnetite handling, rejects and tailings disposal and coal stockpiling and blending.

Jan 1, 1982

In planning its production and investment activities the mining industry has generally paid too little attention to perceptive analysis of its market environment. The nature of world economic difficulties over the past decade is not a mystery. Essent- ially prolonged affluence has engendered a false sense of security and fostered entrenched vest- ed interests hostile to economic change. The overall outlook remains poor. For mining projects mineral demand affects both product prices and the availability of specific sales outlets. Long-term projection of demand is complex and a key to success is concentrating on analysis of fundamental deter- minants and avoiding mindless extrapolation.

Jan 1, 1983

By Welch B. J

Results obtained from linear sweep voltammetry at a graphite anode in cryolite-alumina melts are presented, together with those obtained from a chronopotentiometric investigation of the influence of dissolved metal. The results, consistent with both production information and other fundamental studies, showed that the following two reactions occur at the anode.Equation 1Al (dissolved) ? Al3+ + 3eThe latter accounted for some of the loss in currentefficiency.The rate of the former reaction is limited by the slow desorption of the CO from the electrode surface. Mass transfer conditions, and hence cell design, influence the importance of the second reaction.

Jan 1, 1976

This paper suggests the models for determination the optimum life of machines on the basis of sum and difference of investment and maintenance costs. The economic-mathematical models are based on complex percentage method taking into account the time factor of referring cost. The following strategies of maintenance policy have been considered in machines repair: a strategy without investment, a strategy with continuous investment and a strategy with step-like investment. The effect of value of investment in repairing and time interval of investment on optimum machine exploitation life has also been considered. An illustrative example is presented.

Jan 1, 2003

By Aziz NI, Beafi EY

In designing for a highly productive new mine during the present declining coal market, a very detailed ò planning is necessary. Attitudes of both management and coal operators may have to be changed, with more initial participation by the unions, governmental agencies, and the coal owners. A considerable number of Australian mines are remote from labour source and this trend is likely to increase particularly in the state of Queensland. Consequently such 'mines must be developed on the basis of the future technological and social changes in order to minimise both the capital and operating costs.

Jan 1, 1988

By Adamiak Z. P

A study has been made of the influence of bentonite type on the wet strengths, dry strengths and drying rates of pressed iron ore pellets. Measurements of the influence of bentonite on the kinetics of growth of pellets are also reported. The results show that bentonite decreases the rate of growth of pellets and the drying rates of pellets while increases are observed in both wet and dry strengths. The results have been interpreted in terms of the physical and chemical charact- istics of the bentonite and the suitability of a given bentonite for particular pelletising operations has been discussed.

Jan 1, 1973

By J S. Simmons, J G. Skousen

This project evaluated the performance of nine passive treatment methods by studying 137 treatment units in eight eastern states. Performance was normalised according to construction cost, projected service life and kilograms of acid load treated. Results were dimensioned as $/kg of acid load treated/year. These costs were then compared to those of chemical treatment. Sites that achieved acid load reductions at costs below those of chemical treatment were considered successful. In addition to evaluating the performance of the treatment methods, this paper describes the various passive treatment systems, their applications and performance data for individual treatment units.

Jan 1, 2003

Although most N.S.W. coal mines contain large amounts of combustible materials such as coal and timber, the introduction of mechanisation has extended the range of combustible materials now found underground. The role of combustible material in a fire is not clearly understood and as a result the assessment of these materials for flammability by small and large scale tests is doubtful. Extensive research has been carried out on the toxic and irritating gases evolved during the combustion of plastics. However, most autopsies report death due to carbon monoxide inhalation because the combined toxicity of smoke and fire gases is unknown.

Jan 1, 1981

By Windsor C

A review of the current pit design procedures and their performance has been undertaken recently by Mining Research Associates (MRA) and the CSIRO Division of Geomechanics. Visits were made to mines covering a wide range of operations. A questionnaire was completed by each mine in order to collate the relevant information. Interviews were also made with representatives of the Mines Departments to ascertain their role in regulating mine designs. Design expectations were compared with field performance, and reasons for variations noted. Problems associated with designs were identified and suggested methods of alleviating the problems have been made.

Jan 1, 1986

The Income Tax Assessment Act ["the Act"] levies tax on a taxpayer's taxable income. At a time when commerce and life were more simple, the calculation of taxable income had some connection with logic and a taxpayer's capacity to pay. However, as a result of successive governments' different views of equity, their perception of avoidance, their needs for revenue and their changing views on capacity to pay, the rules determining the calculation of taxable income have continually changed to the point that logic is no longer relevant. Taxable income now is simply the product of the application of a complex set of rules.

Jan 1, 1990

By Hryniewicz M

The paper presents a sound critical estimate of mathematical models presently used for the process of compaction of fine-grained materials. It shows the mathematical model of compaction developed by the authors, which was used to formulate the program of computer simulation of the process. The examples of computer simulation experiments of compaction of selected fine-grained materials regard the results of the experiments made by the authors on variability of external friction occuring in this process. Simulation examination presented in the paper crucially contributed towards the original method of selection of rational compaction technologies of fine-grained materials developed by the authors.

Jan 1, 1993

By Canterford JH, Ritcey GM

With the development of new technology and materials of construction, chloride-based hydrometallurgical routes have gained accept- ance as a viable alternative to sulphate-based routes. A number of commercial and pilot plants built and operated over the last decade have provided invaluable experience and con- fidence in their use. Chloride hydrometal- lurgy, with or without pyrometallurgical pre- treatment, is particularly attractive for pro- cessing complex Cu/Pb/Zn/Ag concentrates, nickel mattes and chalcopyrite concentrates. This review outlines recent developments, dis- cusses advantages, as well as indicating some of the problems still to be solved.

Jan 1, 1984

Within the Ross River Basin, the following types of water were collected and analysed; 19 streams, 24 wells and bores together with 19 samples from the Ross River Dam. The waters were found to contain up to 269 ppm of silica and, although they meet the requirements for industry in all other respects, this extremely high figure means that two basic guidelines should be followed. All steam generation units, except those less than 150 psi should employ hot lime zeolite softening, demineralization or evaporation to remove silica. Cooling systems should only operate on a once through basis.

Jan 1, 1978