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By Thatcher R

In areas where land suitable for development is a scarce resource, an upgraded post-mining land use can result in economic benefits to both the mining company and to the community.A study undertaken at Aberdare Colliery near Ipswich during 198611987 assessed the costs and benefits of developing the site following mining for grazing, forestry and residential uses. The proposed fmal land use plan comprised a combination of these uses that can be upgraded to higher valued uses once subsidence monitoring of backfilled open-cut areas and dumps indicates that total settlement has reached acceptable levels for development to proceed.The study involved the documentation of existing site environmental parameters and the delineation of site opportunities and constraints. The unpredictable nature of settlement over backfilled open-cuts and overburden dumps represents the major constraint to urban development on mined areas.

Jan 1, 1990

By Johnson CR, Wilkie G

The aim of the study was to use quantitative mineralogical measurements to predict the processing characteristics of an ore. Samples were taken from a wide range of concentrators processing ores of lead, zinc, copper and nickel. QEM'SEM was used to measure the characteristics of the ore feeding the plant. Concentrate product samples, together with plant operating data were used to give concentrate grade, recovery and grind size information. It was found that the mineralogical measurements correlated well with the metallurgical parameters indicating that these techniques will be very useful for making predictions in feasibility studies and simple plant optimization.

Jan 1, 1989

By Thatcher R

In areas where undeveloped land represents a scarce resource, an upgraded post mining land use can result in economic benefits to both the mining company and to the community. A study undertaken at Allied Queensland Coalfields Ltd's Aberdare Colliery located between Brisbane and Ipswich during 1986/1987, assessed the costs and benefits of developing the site following mining for grazing, forestry and residential uses. The proposed final land use plan comprised a combination of these uses which can be upgraded to higher valued uses once subsidence monitoring of backfilled opencut areas and dumps indicates that total settlement has reached acceptable levels. The study involved the documentation of existing site environmental parameters and the delineation of site opportunities and constraints. The unpredictable nature of settlement over backfilled opencuts and overburden dumps represents the major constraint to urban development on mined areas.

Jan 1, 1987

As Pliny commented two millennia ago, The only certainty is that nothing is certain. Despite the many breakthroughs, advances and promises, the way we each live and work remains awash with technological, economic and political uncertainty. The resources sector is no exception in this regard. Mining itself is much more than a complicated process or recipe; it is a complex adaptive system. The way we adopt and adapt new technologies, the way we evolve data into corporate wisdom, the way we make decisions and even the way we view our concept of rationality should each be the subject of intense review. Translating these sentiments into sustainable company growth is indeed the challenge. This is unlikely to be achieved within convention, but through innovation. The game is changing!

May 1, 2010

The Olympic Dam copper-uranium-gold-silver deposit, located 520 km NNW of Adelaide, S.A. was discovered by Western Mining Corporation Ltd in 1975, and is now being developed as a joint venture between WMC (5107o) and the BP Group (4907o). The discovery of this deposit resulted from the application of a conceptual model for the formation of sediment-hosted copper deposits. This model postulated that the oxidation of basaltic rocks could release significant amounts of copper into solution and that, under favourable conditions, these solutions might pass upwards along faults, and the copper be precipitated in reduced- facies sediments higher in the sequence. The Stuart Shelf province was chosen for exploration because geological interpretation suggested the presence of suitable basal- tic source rocks at depth, and favourable host sedimentary rocks in the overlying sequence. The Olympic Dam site was selected for drill-testing because of the presence of coincident gravity and aeromagnetic anomalies suggesting the presence of basalts and/or mineralisation at depth. This site also had a favourable tectonic signature, indicating the presence of deep crustal structures which might have allowed fluid migration.

Jan 1, 1988

By Lloyd C. J

The uranium markets are at present well covered by available producers. However the predicted increase in demand, recently reinforc- ed by the Arab oil crisis, will by, the early 1980s'outdistance supply. Current trends are towards light water reactors with-fast breeder reactors not expected to make any significant impact to the mid 1980s. The proposed lifting of the US embargo on the use of foreign uranium in US reactors will expand the market available to non US producers. A balancing in supply and demand worldwide will probably occur in the early 1980s. Australia's potential producers at present hold about 20 percent of the worlds U308 resources. Three companies, have contracts to supply nearly 10 900 tonnes of U308 between now and 1986 which represents about 1 percent of the predicted demand to 1986. Australian producers need to establish themselves more firmly in the market place in order that other countries will not replace us. Contracts can be written now which will allow for world market prices to be paid in the future, thus protecting the Australian producer.

Jan 1, 1974

This paper summarises the results of a study carried out for the Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, aimed at identifying the major water-related issues facing the minerals industry internationally and the research required to support the development of practicable solutions. An overview is given of the sources and uses of the worldÆs water resources and of the regional and global sustainability of water supply and management. Agriculture is the worldÆs major user of water; it wastes more water than the minerals industry uses. Water reform and its potential impact on the minerals industry are discussed with particular reference to Australia and South Africa. The sources, uses and management of water on mine and processing sites are outlined. Particular attention is paid to the importance of groundwater as a source of often saline water that can be used in mineral processing and for other purposes. Aquifer storage and recovery has the potential to help conserve water resources. Generally, the major uses of water on mining and processing sites are for mineral processing and refining and for the associated tailings disposal. Water consumption for these purposes may be reduced by recycling process water, using saline water, paying close attention to water management, thickening tailings and using techniques such as dry stacking and paste. A change in the minerals processing paradigm in respect of water use could come through research into new, improved and less costly dry processing techniques. The treatment of mine and processing water will be required increasingly before water is reused, stored, discharged or sold, and before sites are decommissioned. Research and development are required to reduce costs and develop new treatment methods. Mine closure and decommissioning raise a number of long-term water issues requiring continuing generic and site-specific research and development.

Jan 1, 2003

No paper available.

Jan 1, 1996

By A Whaanga, A Doecke

The internal stratigraphy of the Marillana Creek palaeochannel Tertiary channel iron deposits (CID) in the Hamersley Province of Western Australia was initially defined in the 1980s and redefined as the Marillana Formation in the early 2000s. Recent drilling, open pit mining and field observations in the Western deposits at BHP Billiton Iron OreÆs Marillana Creek tenements have revealed some additional details on the extent and detail of some units of the Marillana Formation stratigraphy in this area. The drill hole data at Western 1 South has identified a number of features either not previously documented in this area or whose significance has not been adequately recognised, including a denatured zone at the base of the Upper CID of the Barimunya Member, and variations in the lithology within the Munjina Member at the base of the channel. Additionally, the Western 4 pit walls show evidence of a significant near-surface clay horizon and overlying CID, which are suggested to be the equivalent of the Iowa Eastern Member in the Eastern deposits. The deposition of this unit was most likely driven by a regional climatic disruption rather than a change in sediment source area alone. The nature of the Weeli Wolli Formation-derived goethitic peloids in the Western deposits may explain the more extensive denaturing in the Western Lower CID of the Barimunya Member. In contrast, the more robust nature of the haematitic-cored pelletoids in the Central and Eastern deposits has resulted in a less denatured Lower CID in these areas. Such work reveals the value of and need for geologistsÆ ongoing face mapping observations and detailed drill hole logging, and cautions against not querying previously accepted interpretations.

Jan 1, 2007

By R Bresca, A McCallum, J Scealy

The Endeavor Mine, located to the north of Cobar, New South Wales, was purchased by CBH Resources Pty Ltd in September 2003. The operation has been producing lead and zinc concentrate continuously for over twenty-three years. In 2004, a water management program was instigated to improve the raw water use efficiency of the mining operation. The water management program involved the establishment of a Water Management Committee, a review and quantification of water use across the site, investigation and implementation of efficient water use practices, and workforce awareness training. The program has seen the amount of water used per tonne of ore milled reduced from an average of 1.08 kL/t in the March 2004 quarter, to 0.68 kL/t in the March 2005 quarter. This paper outlines the Endeavor Mine water management program and may serve as a model for other operations that are planning to improve their water use efficiency.

Jan 1, 2006

By K Akiro

Volcanogenic massive basemetal sulphide and gold mineralisation of predominantly low sulphidation style has been located within Lower Tertiary basaltic and felsic volcanic and sedimentary sequences at Ufuo, in the Left April River area, northwest Papua New Guinea. The four discrete massive sulphide bodies, which have been so far identified, occur within a 3 +5 km area situated within a north west trending structural corridor. The sulphide bodies are all localised on the margins of the corridor where the bounding major through going faults are transected by regional faults. Mineralisation is characterised by massive pyrite-bornite-sphalerite-barite-quartz-anhydrite deposition with later galena-tennantite-chalcopyrite. Minor phases include enargite, goldfieldite and bismuth sulfosalts. Jasperoidal silica lenses and bioturbated sediments are closely associated with the massive sulphides. Basemetal sulphide mineralisation is also closely associated with phyllic-style quartz-sericite- altered host rocks underlying the massive sulphide lenses. This mineralised phyllic alteration is localised to fractures, veins and breccias that cross-cut propylitic style alteration characterised by quartz, epidote, chlorite, adularia and zeolite. The mineralised system possesses several hydrothermal features consistent with a copper-rich submarine exhalative volcanic hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) system, ie discrete massive sulphide bodies with abundant barite, associated jasperoidal silica and bioturbated sediments. However, exploratory drilling of the alteration zone underlying each of the massive sulphide bodies has not identified a well-defined zoned alteration pipe that is characteristic of such systems. The alteration is also similar to that of a porphyry-related low sulphidation system in which phyllic alteration has overprinted a regional propylitic style assemblage. The presence of sporadic enargite (and ?tennantite/tetrahedrite) suggest there were intermittent pulses of acid fluids in the system probably derived from exsolved magmatic SO2 which flowed directly to the surface along reactivated faults. The occurrence of tellurium and bismuth minerals is also consistent with a magmatic contribution to the metalliferous hydrothermal fluids. It is proposed that the VHMS orebodies are the products of submarine exhalative deposition generated by a crystallising magma emplaced within crust of on-going tectonism. Ufuo mineralisation is similar to many VHMS deposits elsewhere in that it is unclear whether the metals are derived from the magma directly, or via seawater leaching of the wallrock. Additional studies such as oxygen isotope analysis may assist in resolving this issue. If the metals are shown to be of direct magmatic origin then there may be good prospects for discovering economic-grade porphyry-related mineralisation at depth below the massive sulphide deposits.

Jan 1, 1999

By S M. C Verryn

The amount of raw material used in the production of cement can be reduced by partially supplementing it by pozzolanic waste material without changing its properties negatively. This paper discusses results of an investigation using slag from the Pt industry, from the production of steel using Midrex processes as well as fly ashes from different coal power plants in South Africa. These are blended in a 20 per cent slag or fly ash to 80 per cent cement ratio. The properties of the mixtures depend on the phase composition, chemistry, grain size and the sources of the materials. The results are promising, but show variable behaviour depending on slag and cement composition. Compressive strength tests as well have heat flow curves showing the hydration behaviour, indicating that 20 per cent addition of slag or fly ash to ordinary Portland cement is viable. There is a large potential to use slag in cement mixtures and this study can be used to develop cements that will positively influence CO2 emissions and help to reduce large slag and fly ash stockpiles.

Jan 1, 2008

By Richardson F. A

Techniques for flotation optimisation were investigated at Cobar [lines Pty:Ltd., in anticipation of the proposed installation of a computer and on-stream analysis. Successful laboratory and pilot plant tests for flotation performance optimisation using the Simplex Evolutionary Operation Technique (Simplex) lead to a full scale plant test using this method. The index developed for" Simplex response evaluation of flotation performance was based on metallurgical and economic criteria. This index was further modified to minimise the effect of head grade fluctuations. The test program was carried out on one of two parallel copper flotation circuits to allow comparison with normal "manual" operating control, and was conducted for thirty eight shifts. Results from the test section operating under Simplex direction were superior to those obtained using normal "manual" operating techniques and demonstrated the use of the Simplex Evolutionary Operation Technique as a method of reducing reagent consumption in flotation but, at the same time, maintaining satisfactory metallurgical performance. Experience in the use of the technique indicated the need for modifications to the rules of Simplex operations. Modifications were proposed, tested and appeared satisfactory.

Jan 1, 1973

By Woodcock JT

Successful chemical control of flotation requires practical solutions to many problems. A brief discussion is first given of those para- meters which can be controlled and those which it would be desirable to control. Suitable analytical methods for application to flowing pulp and to clear solution from pulp are out- lined in relation to on-line and off-line control. Practical problems of deciding where a measurement is to be made or a sample is to be taken and how the sample is to be prepared and presented to the measuring device are then considered. Equipment calibration and maintenance are considered in relation to the above factors.

Jan 1, 1978

By Barnett LJ

The Kellogg slag fuming model is extended to apply to the Port Pirie plant which uses recuperative heating of secondary air. Exten- sive investigations of plant operations pro- vide parameters for use with the model, and verification that the resulting model provides simulation which is very close to actual plant performance. The model is used to_deter- mine optimum slag fuming operating conditions, and the results of several other investigations with the model are briefly described.

Jan 1, 1975

By G K. Searle

In Australia, coal mines have generally not adopted filling to increase mining recovery. The aim of this project, entitled æImproved recovery in highwall mining using backfillÆ, was to examine the feasibility of using fill to improve recovery in highwall mining. Current fill practice was reviewed for metalliferous as well as coal mining, both here in Australia and overseas, for its applicability to highwall mining. Studies were then made at a conceptual level to determine whether fill could be economically used, to determine appropriate sources for fill and to trial key aspects of fill behaviour. A review of filling methods led to conceptual studies being undertaken on seven filling methods and these studies demonstrated that fill could be used to improve recovery. These studies were then further refined. Selected filling materials have been reviewed and laboratory tests have been made on these to assess their suitability.

Jan 1, 1998

By Koeng R, Richardson M, Hoare R

A discrete event computer simulation model was developed for two of the stoping methods currently used at the Z.C. Mines Broken Hill oper- ations. The objective in undertaking this project was to provide an effective tool for mine planning and design to allow comparisons of alternative extraction strategies and attempt to optimise the allocation of capital equipment and human resources. The Slam II simulation program was used in conjunction with ,a com- monly used data editor, text editor and graphics package to allow the simulation to be done on a personal computer with minimum training requirements. The computer hardware used was a portable computer cur- rently available using 80386/20MHz electronics. Specific logic techniques were developed to allow the Slam II language to simulate mining opera- tions because it was originally developed for manufacturing and com- mercial simulations. The design of the model was based on observations and a data collec- tion campaign. The model was designed with flexibility which allows simple editing of the input data which includes: - Insitu volumes - Development statistics -Loadout efficiencies -Loader speeds, availabilities and capacities -Chute numbers, volumes, distances and blockage statistics -Trucking statistics -Work schedules -Utility statistics

Jan 1, 1988

As near-surface underground mines progress deeper, the inevitable question is whether to convert from truck haulage to shaft hoisting. The desire to defer capital expenditure frequently delays investigation of the shaft option, or deferral of a decision to start shaft sinking, unless the shaft option is clearly significantly better than trucking. By the time increasing depth makes trucking uneconomic, there may then be insufficient resource remaining to justify a shaft, and the mine must close. However, had the shaft been built earlier, its lower operating costs would have permitted the mine to continue to greater depths. This paper presents a methodology for investigating the shaft versus trucks decision. As well as the typical analysis of which option is preferable at the time the analysis is conducted, the process presented illustrates how the timing of the decision to sink a shaft is critical. The paper shows how to identify the latest date at which the decision to sink a shaft can be made, after which time the shaft option will not be economic. It also illustrates how to assess the resource that may be required to justify the shaft. Considering this in conjunction with the latest decision date, implications for the companyÆs exploration program are discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

By Flann R. C

A small modification to current industrial practice should lead to better nickel powders for use in alloying, electroplating, and powder metallurgy. Nickel powder compacts sold for alloying are not always suitable for electroplating applications, since some presently used commercial powders will expand on sintering. Further, such nickel powders are unsuitable for use in the production of powder metal parts, because of expansion during heating of the near-net-shape preforms. Research in these laboratories has enabled the elimination of expansion, and led to techniques for the production of compacts suitable, in particular, for commercial use in both alloying and electroplating. The techniques include: powder pretreatment, cold pressing and sintering, hot pressing, and hot pressing and sintering. In this way compacts are readily prepared with densities of at least 93 per cent of solid nickel, and these, when used as anodes in Watts general purpose and bright baths, give both cathode current and plating efficiencies of 90-98 per cent.

Jan 1, 1979

Average annual growth in consumption of primary energy in Australia over the past 10 years has been 5·5 per cent compared to a world average of 4·1 per cent.Over the next 10 years growth rate is expected to increase to 6 per cent per annum due largely to the rapid development in the mineral processing industry.By the end of the 19705 natural gas is expected to supply more than 9 per cent of Australia's primary energy market. Coal will supply 40 per cent and petroleum products 47 per cent. Nuclear energy will make its appearance but will make only a small contribution in the period.Australia has adequate reserves of natural gas and coal to supply its needs in the 1970s and beyond. However the newly developed reserves of crude oil, while supplying 60-70 per cent of requirements in the initialyears, will need regular and sizable additions if they are to keep pace with the expanding consumption. For Australia to become self sufficient in the period 1970-1990 it is estimated that new discoveries will need to approximate ten times the volume of recoverable reserves found in Australia to date.

Jan 1, 1971