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The scale and seriousness of AustraliaÆs social and environmental problems are no longer in doubt. We are consuming the opportunities of future Australian generations by our lifestyle choices. And at the global level, human activities are altering the very systems on which our species depends. Doing nothing about such problems as climate change is not an option. It is possible to move to a sustainable future but it will require fundamental changes to our values and national social institutions. We must recognise that we share a common future with the entire human family and the other species with which we share the planet. It is not just our humanitarian duty to improve the lot of the poorest people of the world. It is also enlightened self-interest because a world of increasing inequality will be a world of increasingly destructive tension.

Jan 1, 2004

The Matakan Unit of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea is a highly fossiliferous lagoonal deposit containing numerous coal pods and lenses. The unit is strati graphically part of the massive reefal Lelet Limestone of Miocence age. These organic-rich sediments have a high hydrocarbon potential as evident from microscopical observations as well as Rock- Eval pyrolysis data. The coal is varied in regard to dominant macerals, vitrinite being predominant in some parts and pollen and spores present in sufficient proportions to constitute a cannel coal elsewhere. The highly fossiliferous carbo as Rock-Eval pyrolysis data. The coal is varied in regard to dominant macerals, vitrinite being predominant in some parts and pollen and spores present in sufficient proportions to constitute a cannel coal elsewhere. The highly fossiliferous carbonaceous sedimentary rocks associated with the coal are rich in pyrite expressed in the sulphur content (19.7 - 22.8%). A high primary productivity and anoxic sediment pore waters or just above sediment - water interface have given rise to sufficient organic matter accumulations to yield a potential hydrocarbon source rock. Atomic H/C ratios of the coals are between kerogen type III and type II mainly, expressing the mixed nature of the coal and that of the associated sediments is type II. Early generated hydrocarbons (exsudatinite) have formed from pollen exines filling the pollen cavities and in places filling micro- fissures in the surrounding vitrinite.

Jan 1, 1987

By Kametani H

Since pyrite is a semiconductor, the relationship between the leaching rate and the semiconducting properties is of interest. In order to investigate this relationship, a pyrite concentrate (95% FeS2) was oxidized at 90¦C (363 K) in an acid solution containing 100 g/dm3 H2SO4 and 1.0 to 25.1 g/dm3 total Fe. The suspension potential (Pt vs. SCE) was maintained at the desired values, within the range 0.40 to 0.70 V, by controlled additions of a KMn04 solution during leaching. The results were analyzed using a simplified kinetic expression. The rate constant was independent of the Fe concentration, while it increased with suspension potential. Partly oxidized samples were then prepared at varying fractions of reaction. After removing the elemental sulphur formed, they underwent thermoelectric power measurements using a packed bed lying in a temperature gradient. The value of thermo- electric power increased from about 0 to 30 pV/K in the early stages of oxidation. The results obtained are compared with those for chalco- pyrite reported in a previous paper.

Jan 1, 1987

By Skaviniak M

Some better perspectives applying to the exploitation and dressing of polymetallic ores in the Banskfa. gtiavnica-Hod- rusea Ore District are supposed to be achieved after a suc- cessful investigation and proving there the existence of deep-seated mineralization as well as due to increasing de- mand for non-ferrous metals and consequently to higher mar- ket prices of those recently noticed. With respect to the present situation in mining and to the further technical development as well, a several times higher exploitation may be in this region expected, especially in the deeper .eated parts of the deposit. When solving the tasks of a complex economic exploitation over the whole region, consi- derable attention is paid to regional relations and impact studies (due to expected exploitation and ore dressing but also to very difficult problems of dewatering (drainage pro- blems-). It will be first of all necessary to find there an equilibrium between the consequences resulting from the re- naissance of mining industry and environmental requests un- dispensable for the city of Banska 9tiavnica and the other neighbouring towns in the vicinity of mining plants.

Jan 1, 1988

Gold mineralisation at the Enterprise Mine, 230 km south of Darwin, occurs within folded and metamorphosed sediments of the Lower Proterozoic Burrell Creek Formation adjacent to the Cullen Granite. The mineralised zone, which occupies an area of approximately 800 m x 300 m is local- ised by a moderately tight, upright symmetrical anticline which plunges shallowly southwards. The anticline has been disrupted by numerous faults on which the maximum movement is 40 m. Gold is associated with quartz and sul- phide veins which are present as saddle reefs, inter-reef veins and fault controlled reefs. it occurs within the veins or their alteration haloes, either as free gold (2 - 50 per cent of total gold content) or intimately associated with sulphides, principally arsenopyrite and Pyrrhotite.

Jan 1, 1984

By P J. Scales, D Boger

Technological advancements in mineral processing have increased the feasibility of refining low-grade ores. Because of this progression and continual depletion of high-grade ore deposits, much larger volumes of waste material are produced. At the same time, increasing environmental legislation and cost competitiveness dictate that these wastes be disposed of in a manner that is both environmentally acceptable and economically viable. To achieve these criteria, many mineral processing industries are dewatering waste streams in order to reduce the volume of tailings and increase water and reagent recovery. The subsequent dry disposal of these highly concentrated mineral tailings requires a thorough understanding of the effects of dewatering on the flow characteristics. Dry disposal represents a paradigm shift in engineering. The tailings are engineered to suit the disposal requirements, as opposed to engineering a facility to accommodate the tailings. It is therefore important to understand how the material properties and operational parameters can be modified to produce the desired tailings flow and deposition characteristics. As concentrated suspensions usually exhibit non-Newtonian behaviour, determination of the disposal plant operating conditions requires a thorough understanding of the rheological characteristics of the material. The implementation and optimisation of dry disposal methods involves three concurrent and interdependent rheological studies to determine:the concentration required to achieve the optimum spreading and drying characteristics of the tailings once deposited; the optimum conditions for pipeline transport; and the feasibility of dewatering the slurry to the required concentration. The paper presents an overview of the issues pertinent to management of the flow properties and processing of dewatered waste streams.

Jan 1, 2002

The brown coal resources of the Latrobe Valley, which include over thirty thousand million tons of coal suitable for open cutting, provide the main source of fuel for the power generation for the State of Victoria. They also provide the basis for the development of a supply of cheap hard fuel for industrial and domestic use, and for the development of the Lurgi process for manufacture of town gas for most of the State. The production of hard char for metallurgical processes and liquid hydro carbons will each, no doubt, play its part in the industrial growth that will be based on these resources.The State Electricity Commission of Victoria, which has been allocated the task of developing these deposits since the early 1920's, is faced with problems of economic selection of deposits for development, and excavation and transport of huge tonnages of coal and overburden-in this year, 19'59, about 12,000',000 tons of brown coal will be won, and over 7,000,000' cu. yd. of overburden will be removed in the four open cuts operated by the Commission; by 1967, eight years from now, the demand will have doubled.This paper deals with the nature and importance of various factors effecting the planning of the development of these resources. It is in essence an introduction to the papers by C. S. Gloe, H. C. G. Rodgers and J. M. Alexander, also being -presented at the Institute conference in Victoria in August, 1959.INTRODUCTIONIt is the intention in this paper to define the factors that come under consideration in the planning and development of the brown coal fields in the Latrobe Valley, whose exploitation by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria was initiated almost 40 years ago. It is proposed to enumerate, and in sorile cases evaluate, the physical and economic criteria that play their part in determining planning for the future.

Jan 1, 1960

Kumba Iron OreÆs Sishen Mine is one of the worldÆs largest iron ore mining operations situated in the Northern Cape, South Africa. It produces 29 million tonnes of iron ore products per annum using a dense medium separation (DMS) beneficiation process. Kumba is currently commissioning the Sishen Expansion Project (SEP) which will produce a further 13 Mtpa product through a jigging beneficiation process. The products from the Sishen Mine are highly sought after and consumed by domestic and various European and Asian customers. During beneficiation iron ore slimes are generated and discarded as waste material to the slimes dams. A study was initiated in 2005 to investigate processes to beneficiate these slimes to saleable products û prompted by the current high demand for iron ore products and the high grade in the Sishen slimes thickener underflow of approximately 54 per cent Fe. Initial laboratory scale test work indicated that a 66.5 per cent Fe iron ore concentrate could be produced from the Sishen slimes thickener underflow through a process of classification, two stage wet high intensity magnetic separation (WHIMS) and five stage flotation. This process, however, did not produce the desired results during pilot plant testing and numerous alternative process routes were investigated. The process that did achieve the desired product grade of 66.5 per cent Fe at economically feasible product yields consisted of two stage WHIMS using SLON magnetic separators. Results achieved indicate that the thickener underflow slimes can be upgraded from 54 per cent Fe to 66.5 per cent Fe at a product yield of ca. 40 per cent. Product yield could be increased through the further beneficiation of the SLON tails. The Sishen slimes thickener underflow production rate is ca. 3 Mtpa û resulting in a potential concentrate production of ca. 1.2 Mtpa. The slimes concentrate will be fed to a pelletising plant that will produce 66 per cent Fe pellets destined for domestic and or export markets.

Jan 1, 2008

An integrated approach to risk management to complement insurance is the sustainable way forward for the modem organisation. For risk management to work, its various aspects need to operate interactively, not in isolation from insurance. This is the approach recommended in this paper. The risk management process is a strategic method for reducing an organisation's total cost of risk. Well established and basic risk management techniques will help identify and achieve risk management Objectives.

Jan 1, 1994

By Tapp B. A

The minerals industry in Australia is currently regarded as the country's economic saviour; the bastion of economic security. As Fitzgerald (1974) stated, 'Australia's natural endowments in minerals are the envy of most countries of the world'. As a result the proposed new mineral developments are on a scale that hitherto in the sixties would have been completely unenvisaged. It is reported that Australia is poised on the verge'of a sixteen billion dollar mining-based investment boom: a boom that will see Australia dominate the energy export field, the mineral processing field, and create the 'coal dollar'. This growth scenario has many inherent dangers, and it is the authors' contention that these should be carefully considered before further development proceeds. Two of the major problems related to the mineral industry growth scenario are the predictability of the future metal market, and the energy cost of mining. The latter problem is the one discussed here. The mining-mineral processing industries in Australia currently use about 36% of Australia's primary energy

Jan 1, 1980

By T P. Hynes

Submarine tailings disposal is conceptually an attractive option for managing reactive mine wastes in coastal regions by virtue of reduced sulfide oxidation under a water cover and no infrastructure to maintain after mine closure. However, the lack of detailed knowledge of metal leaching, dispersal of fine tailings and biological impacts in the marine environment has led to no operating permits currently in effect in Canada. Detailed chemical and ecotoxicological assessments at two historic copper mine sites (Little Bay and Tilt Cove) in the north coast of Newfoundland with tailings disposed in an estuarine to shallow (=100 m) marine environment have demonstrated reduced reactivity of sulfidic tailings when submerged under water. Only non-acute toxicity is detected in biota inhabiting the immediate vicinity (A review of another historic shallow marine tailings operation in the southern tip of Vancouver Island (Jordon River) with a high-energy setting also reveals problems with unconfined tailings dispersal and temporal biological impacts. Documented studies at two deeper (140 - 360 m) marine tailings disposal operations at the northern tip of Vancouver Island (Island Copper) and northwestern coast of British Columbia (Kitsault) again illustrate imperfect predictions of tailings re-suspension and dispersal. At these sites, bioaccumulation of tailings-derived metals appears to be minimal. There is evidence of rapid re-colonisation of the tailings surface by benthos but of different species than the original population. Integrating these observations with reported metal fluxes and biological diversity associated with submarine hydrothermal vents, the risks and benefits of deep-sea (>1 km) tailings disposal are discussed. To determine if submarine tailings disposal in deep, confined basins on the seafloor is environmentally friendly, detailed multi-disciplinary research incorporating physical, chemical, biological and toxicological components will be indispensable.

Jan 1, 2003

Weinberg, born and educated in Germany, worked in'the American West for 10 years as a mining engineer and metallurgist. He was the first head of the Queensland Smelting Co. and from 1889 through 1915 was a prominent mining figure in Queensland. He was a competent manager at Aldershot, Dapto, and Chillagoe, but always lacked huge ore deposits for his smelters.

Jan 1, 1985

By Collins DN, Hollick CT

Conventional processing of heavy mineral deposits containing radioactive rare earth minerals such as monazite and xenotime may cause industrial hygiene problems through atmospheric dust and contamination of product concentrates. An alternative procedure has been developed in which such minerals are removed from bulk heavy mineral concentrates by flotation with little loss of other economic minerals. With fine ores, recoveries of over 95% have been achieved and with coarse ores over 80%,in both cases at high grade. Several flotation regimes have proven effective. The potential for generation of radioactive dust or product contamination is subsequent processing -is correspondingly reduced.

Jan 1, 1990

By Townsend IJ

The Upper Triassic Leigh Creek Coal Measures which include a number of seams of sub-bituminous black coal are preserved in four small intramontane basins. The largest is Telford Basin, 1,000 m in thickness. The coals, of variable thickness and quality, are mined by open cast mining methods and utilised for generation of electricity at Port Augusta. The combined proven and indicated reserves are about 100 million tonnes.

Jan 1, 1975

Geostatistical conditional simulation is a method to assess variability and risk in mineral deposits and the tool has wide potential applications in the iron ore industry. Correct reproduction of multivariate relationships is important in iron ore simulation, especially between Fe and impurities such as Al2O3, SiO2 and P. The turning bands simulation method, using a full model of coregionalisation for multiple attributes, is the main multivariate conditional simulation algorithm used in the Western Australian iron ore industry. This paper discusses the results of a more recent approach using minimum/maximum autocorrelation factors (MAF) to transform and decorrelate the multivariate data prior to independent sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS). MAF-SGS results are compared to those of the turning bands approach in the Yandicoogina channel iron ore deposit (CID), and both methods performed well in simulating Fe, SiO2, Al2O3 and P distributions. Extensive checking of simulations showed that both approaches could reproduce multivariate statistics and spatial continuity of the original conditioning data. Both approaches reproduced the histograms and variography of input sample composites. While the MAF-SGS approach requires additional transformations when compared with the single normal scores transformation required for the turning bands method, MAF requires only that the direct semivariograms be modelled. In contrast, using turning bands with multiple attributes requires modelling a full linear model of coregionalisation, which can be difficult to model because of the need to ensure the model is positive semi-definite. Turning bands may be preferred if there are a modest number of correlated variables allowing construction of a linear model of coregionalisation that adequately models the multivariate behaviour. MAF-SGS is preferable for larger numbers of correlated variables. Both MAF-SGS and turning bands methods performed well in conditional simulation of correlated variables at Yandicoogina.

Jan 1, 2007

By F J. Rios

In the eastern high-strain domain of the Quadrilßtero Ferrffero, Brazil, hard and soft high-grade hematite ore may occur as schistose bodies in shear zones mainly related to the Cambotas-Fundpo thrust system. These orebodies are almost entirely constituted of oriented specularite platelets that develop both as a product of crystal-plastic deformation of hematite and solution-precipitation processes. Both mechanisms interact in the partitioning of the strain, while solution-precipitation is responsible for the precipitation of hematite and localised leaching of silica resulting in the formation of syntectonic ores. The analyses of fluid inclusions from specularite crystals of the Conceitpo and Timbopeba deposits, located in the northern and southernmost areas of the eastern high-strain domain of the Quadrilßtero Ferrffero, were studied using infrared microthermometry and Synchrotron x-ray fluorescence. The results indicate the participation of highly saline aqueous H2O-NaCl fluids containing other additional cations (Ca, Fe, K and probably Ti) in solution and homogenisation Temperature (Th) averaging between 130¦ - 190¦C. However, the partial fusion of metastable saturation phases indicates crystallisation temperatures of approximately 400¦C. The mineralisation process produces high-grade orebodies as well as Fe-rich specularitic itabirites that are explored in that area. The shear zones are related to thrust faults mapped and interpreted as related to the PanAfrican/Brasiliano Orogeny that affected the Quadrilßtero Ferrffero, thrusting the Paleoproterozoic platform sequence of the Minas Supergroup over Mesoproterozoic quartzites of the Espinhato Supergroup. They intersect and even overprint an early metamorphic and tectonic fabric of Paleoproterozoic age (Transamazonian Orogeny). The geological and fabric relationships lead to the conclusion that the fluids involved in the mineralisation were most probably of external origin, of still unknown source (possibly igneous), during the closure of the Spo Francisco Craton.

Jan 1, 2005

By Elliot B. J

Cobalt is principally produced by hydrometallurgical means from the copper-cobalt ores of Zambia and Zaire. In addition cobalt is commonly found in minor quantities in association with nickel and copper-nickel orebodies. Generally the level of cobalt common to these latter orebodies does not warrant separate processing unless the metal price reaches levels last achieved in 1979 and 1980. For pyrometallurgical processing the distribution of cobalt and the factors which affect the distribution of cobalt between matte and slag are not well understood. A limited amount of fundamental research has been completed on cobalt distribution both for simple oxide and matte systems. The paper briefly reviews the relevant literature on theoretical aspects of cobalt distribution between metal and slag and the deportment of cobalt in sulphide smelting circuits. The deportment of cobalt in the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter circuit is critically analysed and areas where recovery improvements may be achieved are highlighted.

Jan 1, 1989

Oxy-ACETYLENE system of welding and cutting is at present practised in two forms, which may be described as the high and lowpressure systems. In the high-pressure system the two gases, oxygen and acetylene, are delivered. to the blow-pipe under pressure from properly constructed trade cylinders. Oxygen cylinders are in two sizes, each containing 100 and 200 cub. ft. of gas respectively. These cylinders are charged to a pressure of 120 atmospheres, or 1800 lb. per sq. in. approximately. The acetylene cylinders are made in one size as far as the writer knows, and contain 200 cub. ft. of acetylene gas at a pressure of 10 atmospheres. Each cylinder is provided with a valve and connection for attaching a regulator to "break down" the high pressure in the cylinders to the necessary low working pressure of the blow-pipes, and to deliver the two gases at a constant pressure irrespective of the variable pressures in the cylinders. These regulators can be adjusted down to as low as 1 lb. and are provided with two pressure gaugesone reading the contents of the cylinder in atmospheres, and the other the working pressure in lb. per sq. in. The high-pressure, or "two cylinder" system is compact and can readily be transported from place to place in the works. For this purpose the two cylinders are mounted on an easy-running 4-wheeled truck, which the operator and assistant find no difficulty in manipulating. In the low-pressure system the two gases are delivered to the blow-pipe, one from the oxygen cylinder and the other from the acetylene gas generating plant, which consists of the following:Generating cylinder, half filled with water, into which the cathoide is plunged. The generated gas is passed through a filter to the gasometer, then through a water washer on to the hydraullic seal...

Jan 1, 1922

It is a pleasure for me to be able to address you today. My Chairman, Sir Eric Neal will not be able to be here until later in the morning and he has asked me to deliver this speech on his behalf.

Jan 1, 1990

The P49 Shaft, Hilton Mine, was sunk and equipped for Mount Ise Mines Limited by con- tractors Cementation - Thiess Joint Venture. The leached siltstones to a depth of 150m were known to contain large volumes of water. These siltstones were cored and tested in the laboratory. Field results confirmed that cement grouting was relatively ineffective but that chemical grouting was effective. The Sm diameter shaft was sunk to a depth of 1040m. Weak strata to the full depth re- quired continuous temporary support by rock bolts and mesh before the concrete lining was poured, and made sinking conditions difficult. After completion of the shaft sinking the headframe was redesigned and modified to allow shaft equipping as a combined service and hoisting shaft with seven compartments. The shaft steelwork was designed and fab- ricated for service with high speed conveyances operating under corrosive conditions. The steelwork, weighing approximately 1500 tonnes, was installed to a high degree of accuracy which required guides not to depart from true verticality by more than 2mm over any 5m, or 15mm over the full shaft depth.

Jan 1, 1976