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By Johnson M. W

Factual data about the sedimentation in the Newcastle Coal. Measures are presented. Data concerning the total coal measure sequence (isopachs, sand /shale ratio and total coal thickness variation), data about three coal seams (Borehole, Dudley and Victoria Tunnel) and data about interseam con- glomerate units are discussed. From this data conclusions are drawn about the coal measure environment. The western edge of the coal basin, the Lochinvar Dome, although a high feature was apparently stable during coal measure time. Despite its height it apparently supplied little sediment to the basin. The northern and north-eastern edge, which was unstable, suppl- ied most of the coarse detritus including the conglomerates to the basin. The conglomerates show patterns of fluvial origin but after a period of "normal" variations in pattern they become restricted to two parallel zones evidently tectonically controlled. Deposition of conglomerates is episodic and separated by periods of coal formation when deformation was apparently slight. Formation of each of the three seams considered followed a rather similar pattern - each shows development of thick coal around the basin edge and poor thin coal in the "axial" region of the present synclinal structure. Evidence of in-situ formation of some areas of the seams is discussed and periodic deformation of the basin during coal measure time is postulated.

Jan 1, 1969

Cable bolts are being used more extensively by the mining industry for many different rock reinforcement applications. The configuration of these bolts has evolved over the last 20 years to meet the immediate needs of industry at the particular time. Most improvements to date have focussed on increasing the mechanical performance with little attention given to issues such as ease of handling, matching response to that of the rock mass or corrosion protection. Ultrastrand has been designed and being developed with this broad perspective in mind so that it will satisfy the ground reinforcement needs of today's and tomorrow's mining industry.Laboratory tests on Ultrastrand prototypes have confirmed that mechanical performance is superior or equivalent to Standard and Birdcage Strand respectively. Preliminary discussions have been held with an installation equipment manufacturer with a view to conducting a trial at a mine site by early-1992.

Jan 1, 1992

By T Smith, J Hatley

With the increased focus on the need for more uranium mines, this paper presents the design process currently underway for the development of the Millennium deposit in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. This deposit, located 630 - 750 m below surface, will be accessed by two shafts and will be mined by blasthole stoping methods at less than 500 t/d. Mining grade will approximate two per cent U3O8 and mine life is expected to be six to seven years. The project is a joint venture between Cameco, AREVA and JCU. This paper discusses in detail methods used to predict worker radiation exposures, the methods used to monitor the work environment and procedures unique to the uranium industry necessary to minimise worker radiation exposures.

Jan 1, 2008

Mount Isa Mines Ltd. annually extracts 5.6 million tonnes of copper ore from the 1100 Orebody. All production is by longhole open stoping, with an increasing emphasis on pillar recovery. Drilling and blasting prac- tices have been modified to allow more efficient pillar extraction, with the evolution of a "core and shell" approach. Blast design occurs at the stope design stage, while individual blast preparation is based on detailed ring plans. A programme of blasting research involving surface and under- ground vibration monitoring and fragmentation assessment has been car- ried out in conjunction with production personnel. Drilling and blasting practice in the orebody must continue to evolve with continued research, to suit changing conditions and take advantage of new technology.

Jan 1, 1988

By A L. Stewart, M Baatar

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.The Middle Palaeozoic Gurvansaikhan Belt (Southern Mongolia) of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt is one of Central Asia’s most significant emerging porphyry copper provinces. The belt has become the focus of extensive exploration for porphyry copper-gold deposits over the last decade following the discovery of the giant Oyu Tolgoi porphyry copper-gold deposit. The Gurvansaikhan Belt is known to host porphyry deposits of Late Devonian (~370 Ma) and Early Carboniferous (~320 Ma) age. The characteristics of Early Carboniferous porphyry systems are poorly known compared to their older counterparts, despite their probable abundance and potential economic significance. Exploration within the Kharmagtai porphyry breccia complex has identified multiple cogenetic gold-copper-porphyry centres and late-stage mineralised magmatic-hydrothermal tourmaline breccias emplacement within a composite high-K calc-alkaline quartz monzodiorite intrusive complex. Early porphyry alteration and mineralisation at Kharmagtai are zoned around vertically attenuated early- and inter-mineral quartz monzodiorite dykes and stocks and comprises a complex sequence of calc-potassic, potassic and propylitic assemblages. Hematite dusting is a common alteration product that gives intrusions and the host rocks a distinctive pink-orange colour. Several of the systems have bornite-rich cores, where mineralisation is characterised by high gold grades (0.7 to >5 g/t Au) that zone outward to chalcopyrite-rich and then outer pyritic halos. Early stockwork mineralisation is overprinted by magmatic-hydrothermal tourmaline breccias. High-grade magmatic-hydrothermal tourmaline breccias form part of a major copper-gold mineralised breccia system with significant exploration potential. The Early Carboniferous porphyry copper-gold systems of the Gurvansaikhan Belt represent a substantial exploration challenge in an area of increasing exploration maturity. This paper summarises the characteristics of the Kharmagtai porphyry system that have helped to define the Early Carboniferous porphyry province of the Gurvansaikhan Belt and discusses implications for future exploration.CITATION:Stewart, A L and Baatar, M, 2015. The Kharmagtai porphyry breccia complex – characteristics of early Carboniferous porphyry mineralisation in the Gurvansaikhan Belt, Southern Mongolia, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 383–388 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

The Application of Roasting Pretreatment for Antimonial Refractory Gold and Silver Ores

Sep 13, 2010

By R Thompson, J Miedecke, D Handel, E Tomicek, D Tulloch

"The Mine Haul Road Optimisation Alliance (HROA) is a unique Australian industry–academia collaboration that has been developed to support mine haul road operators. The alliance integrates industry, end-user service providers and academic research expertise in mine haul road design, construction and operation to identify, quantify, implement and monitor the various equipment, materials and road management strategies and solutions required to drive haulage productivity improvements.Initially, a broad overview of the university–industry collaborative landscape is presented, following which the current situation in the Australian mining sector is reviewed both nationally, and on a country-wide basis internationally. This insight places into context the opportunity that strategic collaborations present, to drive productivity and efficiency in mining, while also delivering innovative technology solutions.Following an overview of the HROA collaborative structure, aims and objectives, it is shown how academia and industry collaborations can deliver a more robust and needs-driven solution to mine haul road design, performance and management, especially where integrated solutions are needed. Critically in this approach, implementation and monitoring data provided by industry and service providers alike form the foundation on which to develop research knowledge and innovation that is more responsive to the end-user requirements, typically represented by ‘early goals’ and practical, implementable solutions.The paper concludes with examples of how the alliance collaborations work in practice to deliver focused mine haul road research outcomes, together with the mechanisms used to ensure industry needs are met through end-user driven research solutions for enhanced operational performance.Citation:Handel, D, Miedecke, J, Thompson, R, Tomicek, E and Tulloch, D, 2016. Driving Haulage Productivity Improvements through Industry–Academia Collaboration, in Proceedings Ninth AusIMM Open Pit Operators' Conference 2016, pp 243–252 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Nov 15, 2016

The Yilgarn Block of Western Australia presents (figure 1) a number of problems for conventional diamond exploration based on heavy indicator mineral sampling. These problems are due to the geology and unique geomorphological development of the Yilgarn Block.Essentially the Yilgarn Block is a pene- plain developed on a craton composed of Archaean intrusive granitoid rocks with meta- morphosed greenstone; which, apart from regional uplift, has not been tectonically disturbed since planation by glaciation in the Permian. Therefore since the early Plesozoic the Yilgarn Block has been subjected to terres- trial weathering conditions. Bettany et al., (1984) identify two phases of particular importance in the development of the present landforms: 1. Periods of lateritization during the Tertiary which result in the ~lassi~al laterite profile (figure 2). Duricrust indurated : Fe and Al oxides Mottled zone : Clay and Fe oxides Saprolite or pallid zone : leached clay grading into fresh rock. 2. Subsequent periods of aridity and semi- aridity during which laterite development was truncated and reworking of laterite Occurred.

Jan 1, 1988

By Pooley F. D

The coal measures of the South Wales coalfield contain at least 50 horizons at which coal seams are known, to occur. More than 300 samples of coal were collected from these coal measures and this paper outlines thefindings of an investigation of the pattern and distribution of 12 trace elements in South Wales coals. A comparison of trace element contents of the South Wales coals is made with trace element values found elsewhereand an attempt was made to establish the organic affinity of the elements in different seams and in the coalfield 'as a whole. An important function of such an analysis is to determine the order of abundance of trace elements and this was performed for individual seams and for the whole coalfield.The interrelationship of certain elements in some seams is also examined with a view to understanding the effectiveness of such an approach to seam correlation.Ranges of values are quoted together with the mean values of the various elements. Variations of elemental values within a seam section and over the coalfield as a whole are discussed.

Jan 1, 1977

The Hartley layered mafic igneous complex within the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe contains economically-recoverable quantities of platinum group metals and gold, nickel, copper and cobalt. The recoverable metals are concentrated in a thin gently-dipping stratigraphic unit - the Main Sulphide Zone. The Hartley Platinum mine, jointly owned by BHP and Delta Gold NL, is scheduled to come on stream at the end of 1996 at an initial mining rate of 2.16 million tonnes per annum and will produce approximately 150 000 oz of platinum and 3300 tonnes per annum of nickel, as well as saleable amounts of palladium (110 000 oz), rhodium (11 500 oz) and copper (2232 tonnes).

Jan 1, 1996

The rnunber of Cenozoic volcanoes which has already been found in China surpasses 600. An ancient Chinese tourist, Xu Xiake (1587-1641 in the Ming Dynasty), mentioned in his travel notes the volcanoes and hot 'springs in Tengchong, a country of the Yunnan Province, 400 years ago. In 1927, the geologist, Yun Zhanli, expounded generally on the recent volcano distribution in China. In the '70's, China not only accomplished aerial photography and produced topographic and geological naps covering the whole country, but also obtained a new understanding of the geographic distribution and process of development of the Cenozoic volcanoes through Landsat imagery; interpretation and ground verification, together with C14 isotope dating and analysis of volcanic rocks.

Jan 1, 1987

The appearance of the Cornish miner in South Australia was, in the simplest terms, the result of resource development economics. In Cornwall in the middle of the 19th century tin and copper mining was declining, while in the new colony of South Australia copper mining was booming. Experienced hard rock miners in Cornwall there- fore escaped unemployment at home by accepting an assisted passage to South Australia. There, in a colony where they were needed, they made their skills available and received good wages. There are many testimonies which support this simple thesis. Take for example the following extracts from contemporary newspapers in Corn- wall: Persons of small capital will find this an excellent opportunity for emigrating to the young and thriving colony ... The miner will find a rich and unbroken field for his operations. The Colony abounds with minerals... (West Briton, 19 July 1844) Miners make a great deal of money here (South Australia). All of them earn ú2 to ú3 per week and in many cases when they have a portion of the mine on tribute one person has cleared ú100 in a couple of months or so. (Cornwall Royal Gazette, 21 July 1848)

Jan 1, 1987

The paper contains the publication of timber shapes recovered from the Burra Mines during open cut operations in the 1970s. The timber was in the process of being disposed of for fire wood. All timber shapes still in existence in September 1990 were drawn.The collection revealed a number of different types of caps and legs. There were also end plates and wall plates from what appeared to be a hanging sets of shaft timber.

Jan 1, 1993

The optimisation of capital in the total planning context has broadly two components: ò maximising the efficient utilisation of capital against competing capital demands; and ò maximising the efficiency with which the industry's capital requirements are sourced. This paper focuses on the latter of these two concepts, as I wish to highlight that within the coal industry the inefficient sourcing of capital has resulted in the inefficient utilisation of capital. In discussing the optimisation of capital within the coal industry I would like to outline three fundamental issues which currently impact the industry and its application of capital: Initially, from the perspective of an independent investor, the perceived risk associated with investing in a volatile industry cycle has not permitted appropriate funding structures to be created thus leading to an inefficient utilisation of capital. Secondly, investors seeking out a windfall gain have established a practice of trading in the assets rather than encouraging recapitalisation. And lastly the mismatch of supply and demand leading to the establishment of new projects which include a percentage of offshore investment has fostered an environment of lower returns and subsequently a dilution of capital.

Jan 1, 1991

In epithennal deposits changes in the character of mineralization in depth and time are conspicuous and abrupt at the interface between supergene and hypogene zones. As the reaction zone migrates downward as a consequence of surface erosion, previously deposited minerals are placed in unstable chemical enviromments and dissolved. This reaction takes place at the base of the epithermal precious metal zone. Examples at Cerro de Pasco, and Casapalca, Peru; Carlin, Nevada; and porphyry copper-gold deposits are cited.

Jan 1, 1991

I have been asked to speak today on the topic of Project Finance in the Mining Industry. Through this presentation, I hope to give you a broad outline of the concept of project finance. The first half of the presentation covers the principles involved in project finance and the second half moves to aspects more specific to the mining industry. I have worked for 3 years at Rothschild Australia. Rothschild provide finance for projects in the mining industry, world wide. We finance both large and small projects, with facilities varying from $2m to $100m.

Jan 1, 1990

I must tell you at the outset that I come to this conference deeply disturbed at the `role of Government in international dealings in mineral and energy resources'. I am disturbed by the confusion that now passes for policy. I am disturbed by the short- range view of critical problems taken by a majority of Governments. I am equally disturbed by the even shorter range of view taken by a growing army of industries. Many of them clamour for Governments to solve their problems in a specific way, with little regard for any other sector but their own-and with even less regard for the fact that every time a Government takes over some of their responsibilities they surrender some of their freedom. I would not say that longer range views don't exist. But I would say that they don't prevail at the present time. Instead, we are seeing the con- stant development of many policies for individual problems which don't tackle the fundamental causes. We must get back to basics without delay.

Jan 1, 1978

I will confine my remarks to normal computers that people interact with, rather than built-in processors which exist in every watch and washing machine these days. I will also confine myself to computing in the technical side of mining. Bu

Jan 1, 1998

Hydrogen and carbon monoxide reduction data were obtained on pelletized materials of the type currently being prepared commercially in Australia.Pellets, approximately 1 cm diameter, made from Deepdale, Iron Prince, and Mt. Newman iron ore were reduced by hydrogen over the temperature range 500°-900°C and the reduced pellets were examined by thermogravimetric, microscopic, electron probe, and x-ray techniques. After an initial time delay it was found that up to 95 per cent reduction the data could be described by a porous model where gaseous diffusion through the solid is rate controlling. Independent measurements of effective diffusivity supported the values obtained from the reduction data. Above 95 per cent reduction the rate decreased markedly due to the formation of retained wustite or fayalite.Comparison with reduction by carbon monoxide over the temperature range 750°-900°C showed that the rate of reduction was approximately five times slower than for reduction by hydrogen.The rate of reduction was found to be a function of the initial properties of the pellets which may account for the widely conflicting results that have been obtained with previous investigations on porous pellets.

Jan 1, 1971

The paper looks at those factors which led the Latrobe Valley Community Forum to .focus on shortcomings of the consultative process. that existed around the 1980 period, and the limitations on the ability of the community of the Latrobe Valley to have input to the factors affecting their quality of life. Through a review of the Yallourn East Field Extension project it seeks to demonstrate the changes that have occurred and some of the shortcomings still existant in the consultation process.

Jan 1, 1992