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Rio Tinto has embarked on a journey to use automation to improve the performance of its surface mines. The driver for automation is to improve the accuracy and consistency of mining processes and less to do with cost savings through labour reduction. A key task in most surface mines is blasthole drilling. The degree to how well this is done cascades through the downstream mining process. It impacts scheduling, excavation, slope stability, material handling, beneficiation and final product blending. Improved blasthole drilling was identified as an objective that has a significant business case in most of Rio Tinto's surface mines. This paper describes Rio Tinto's drill enhancement project that has developed a robust system for automating most of the functions on a Terex SKSS16 drill rig. Automated drilling is currently being used in production at the West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. A description of the essential elements of the drill automation system is given together with an overview of how automated drilling is performed remotely from the mine office. A review of some of the benefits of the enhanced drill system is given together with the future plans to extend the functionality of the automated drill and the expected benefits.

May 1, 2010

A subsurface study of the Maria Lode and associated hydrothermal alteration of andesites within the Karangahake epithermal gold-silver deposit defined the local evolutionary sequence in the once active geothermal system.   Some implications for mining of epithermal deposits arise as a result.

Jan 1, 1984

By G Varley

This paper describes the mining methods and strategy used to extract the 5 Orebody crown pillar at the Isa Lead Mine over the past five years. The bulk of the crown pillar was extracted by the use of sublevel open stope method. An uphole bench stope was mined to scavenge the remaining ore. Geomechanical issues associated with the crown pillar extraction are described. Stope sizes were gradually increased on a stope by stope basis. This has allowed the maximising of ore recovery while relevant risks were managed. The principles in designing ore rib pillars against various types of fill materials are also described.

Jan 1, 2002

By A D. Wulfse, C M. D Barton

Underground fractured aquifers in the Ernest Henry deposit are to a large extent controlled by deposit scale brittle structures. The underground mine has been subdivided into nine water zones based on hydrogeological characteristics, including conductivity and connectivity, within the mining areas bound by these structures. The nine water zones and the hydrological characteristics of the associated structures are utilised for risk assessing mine development and for targeting diamond drilling dewatering activities. Wireline and conventional underground diamond drilling techniques have been used throughout the network of underground aquifers with the aim of dewatering areas within the mining footprint. These dewatering drilling campaigns have historically been highly successful at lowering aquifer water levels throughout the underground workings. As part of recent mine expansion activities, diamond drilling has intersected high pressure (>507 psi), high temperature (>50°C) and high flow water (>3 L/sec) in as yet unconstrained underground aquifers. Groundwater is typically conducted through rubble and clay rich faults, further hampering progression of drilling. Drilling through fractured aquifers at depth presents both mine planning as well as safety challenges. Recent drill holes have been delayed or abandoned when aquifers hosting this high pressure, high flow water have been intersected, risking mine planning deadlines. Recent technological innovation developed to control groundwater outflows from the diamond drill hole whilst drilling has been trialled at the Ernest Henry Mine. This case study focuses on the utilisation of alternative drill methodologies to allow the current drilling campaign to continue without delay, whilst also improving safety conditions encountered on the drill site.

Mar 22, 2022

By R K. Dayal

Many transport tunnels show distress after few decades of construction. Owing to exorbitant cost of replacement, rehabilitation of tunnels has become inevitable and rapidly gaining attention/significance worldwide. This paper discusses the detailed planning and design of remedial measures for repairs and rehabilitation of the twin tube highway tunnel in India, at an elevation of 2200 m constructed approximately 38 years ago. The tunnel length is 2547 m having 30 m2 cross-sectional area of each tube. The tunnel is lined in stretches, totalling 60 per cent lined and the remaining portions are unlined. The tunnel has developed acute problems of rock falls, water leakage, distressed pavement and icicle formation resulting in slow movement of vehicular traffic which has also increased. Suffocation inside the tunnel caused deaths due to inadequate natural ventilation, hence artificial ventilation was deemed necessary and was provided in the restricted 28.5 m2 cross-sectional area of tunnel. The paper would be useful for planners, designers and construction engineers for setting future trends.

Jan 1, 1999

By Litvinenko V. I

Being a source of structural materials for many centuries, the modern image of the ferrous metallurgy is burdened with obsolete technologies with disregard towards new environmental protection requirements. The production cycle of metallurgical products have two clear-cut stages: I . production of liquid metal and casting into steel billets; and 2. processing of steel billets in solid state under high temperature to produce various shapes and profiles of metal products. Plastic deformation of metal at the second stage is least associated with environmental pollution and is presently being provided with more and more advanced equipment.

Jan 1, 1999

By R L. Brathwaite

As part of an investigation of the deep structure of the Waihi Basin, an extensive set of resistivity measurements was recently collected by DSIR Geology & Geophysics. The objective of this work is to map deep resistivity changes throughout the Waihi area in order to contribute to a better understanding of the regional geophysical structure. This research is also aimed at improving techniques for locating 'deposits of epithermal mineral resources, and helping to establish their origin and genetic relationship to fossil geothermal systems.   The results indicate that the basin south of Waihi is underlain by an extensive layer of low resistivity, modelled as a 5ohm-m layer several hundred metres thick. Lake sediments (mudstones), as exposed in the south western part of the basin, near Waitawheta, are the most likely source of this low resistivity layer, although hydrothermally altered clays and/or elevated temperatures are other possible causes. Strong northeast trending anisotropy is also observed, implying structural links from Waitawheta through to Golden Valley. The observed resistivity pattern is consistent with a æburied calderaÆ or æfaulted depressionÆ structural model for the basin, as inferred from gravity and magnetic data.

Jan 1, 1991

By Matters, R T, Coldham, Slee, J C, R J, Wallman

The Committee desires to thank the managers of the various mines along the line of lode for their hearty co-operation in its labours. It would also extend thanks to Messrs J C Moulden, Howchin, Twelvetrees, and the West Australian Geological Surveyfor various information; to Messrs J G Dreyer, S Pope, T Read, P Moncrieff, R Williams, and W J Rose for analyses; and to a number of local gentlemen for advice and help. Professor Skeats, of Melbourne University, gave much valued assistance in petrology, and Mr Herbert Lavers kindly undertook the study of the garnets.INTRODUCTIONThe famous Broken Hill lode is situated in a low range of hills, the Barrier Ranges, near the western border of New South Wales. It has been worked since 1884-fust for silver, then for silver and lead, and at present for lead, silver, and zinc...

Jan 1, 1910

Over the past 15 years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques have shown promise of providing the ability to capture `human intelligence' into a computer program. The sub-fields of Expert Systems and Artificial Neural Networks are finding increased use in industry to perform tasks previously considered the domain of human thinking. But, are these methods just a new type of software much like that of the past or is real magic hidden within the lines of code? Will this field continue to enjoy high growth rates and if so, what developments will we see in the near future? Which algorithms and methodologies will continue to grow? This paper discusses a number of paradigms which can be used to create successful applications. There are certain barriers; some psychological - some linked with knowledge acquisition, that must be overcome or avoided to ensure system performance. Development time also requires careful consideration before embarking on an Al project. The paper focusses on constructing goal-driven systems that transfer high-technology solutions from the research laboratory to the plant floor. Respect for system users is of paramount importance - whether their involvement is to access contained information or to participate in program maintenance as new knowledge becomes available. Examples of successful and unsuccessful AI implementation in Canadian industry and academia provide evidence of the importance of this issue. The paper also examines some current constraints on applying AI in the real-world. Among these problems are automated knowledge acquisition, methods to acquire data during run-time, real-time systems (hardware versus software), explanation and justification features and adaptive/leaning systems.

Jan 1, 1995

By X-F Zhao, J-W Li, L-P Zeng

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The formation of Kiruna-type deposits has been ascribed to either immiscible iron phosphate melt separated from silicic magma or precipitation from magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. The early Cretaceous Ningwu volcanic basin in Eastern China contains tens of Kiruna-type iron deposits. The orebodies are mainly hosted within the top zones of subvolcanic dioritic intrusions and along the contacts between these intrusions and adjacent volcanic rocks/strata.The orebodies are commonly associated with widespread brecciation and wall rock replacement. Magnetite formation was closely associated with extensive hydrothermal alteration that may extend kilometres, with both vertical and horizontal zonation. Field and textural data indicate that magnetite formed slightly later than albitisation but coeval with apatite and actinolite. Elemental analysis of magnetite and apatite from ores shows distinct features to those as igneous accessary minerals in the host dioritic intrusions, suggesting a genetic relationship to magmatic-hydrothermal processes. Magnetites have elevated TiO2 (up to 5 wt per cent) and V2O3 (up to 0.7 wt per cent), which implies that they are derived from incipient high-temperature magmatic fluids. It is concluded that the Kiruna-type deposits in the Ningwu basin most likely formed from high-temperature magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. The emplacement of dioritic intrusions into a subvolcanic setting likely plays a critical role in the development of Kiruna-type deposits.CITATION:Zhao, X-F, Zeng, L-P and Li, J-W, 2015. Kiruna-type iron deposits in the Mesozoic Ningwu volcanic basin, Eastern China – origin and relationship to subvolcanic dioritic intrusions, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 657–662 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By J Law, S Jahanshahi, R Holmes

Iron ore is AustraliaÆs largest commodity export and is vitally important to AustraliaÆs current and future prosperity. However, while major expansions are currently in progress to satisfy demand, the industry is also undergoing major transformations. Reserves of traditional high-grade Brockman ores that have underpinned the Australian iron ore industry since its inception are slowly being depleted and alternative ore types such as Marra Mamba bedded iron deposits, Yandi and Pannawonica channel iron deposits and magnetite deposits are now being developed. However, the impurity levels in some of these alternative ores are higher and they require blending and/or upgrading as well as an advanced knowledge of their downstream processing characteristics to facilitate cost-effective utilisation by overseas customers. The research challenge is to use advanced techniques for mineral exploration, ore characterisation, mineral beneficiation, agglomeration and sustainable processing to identify and develop innovative and breakthrough options for locating, unlocking and enhancing the value of AustraliaÆs iron ore resources. Furthermore, to sustain the steel industry and hence secure the demand for iron ore, there is a growing need to enhance the environmental and business performance of the industry through reductions in wastes and emissions. Therefore, cost-effective breakthrough and enabling technologies that massively cut waste generation, CO2 emissions and water consumption are also being developed. These include the use of renewable fuels and reductants, waste heat recovery and conversion of by-product slag into a saleable substitute for Portland cement. A number of examples of recent developments in the above areas are provided in this paper.CITATION:Holmes, R, Jahanshahi, S and Law, J, 2013. Research and innovation for the iron ore to carbon steel value chain, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013 , pp 3-6 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 12, 2013

By J Tsiklieris, O Turner

Suppliers of products and services have a pivotal role in sustainable development in the mining and minerals industry. Reputable suppliers know their products and services, and the industry, and have unique knowledge of these in relation to their customerÆs needs. Petroleum hydrocarbon suppliers, in particular, impact upon a mineÆs sustainability because of the extensive reach of petroleum hydrocarbons into the mining and minerals life-cycle. The petroleum hydrocarbon life-cycle is a useful framework to enable engagement between supplier and customer on the issue of sustainability. The life-cycle starts with supply of fuels, lubricants and services at the mine, through to plant operation and maintenance, transport of mined products, ship loading, and finally through to mineral processing and other downstream value-adding. There are barriers to leveraging supplierÆs capabilities which have to be overcome before the industry will gain the potential benefits from such supplier engagement.

Jan 1, 2004

Experimental Study of Ore Characterisation Methods for AG/SAG Mills Mining companies have long recognised the importance of ore breakage characterisation in design and optimisation of their crushing and grinding circuits. In one of the industry standard methods relevant to AG/SAG milling, ore is characterised using mainly high energy single impact tests. However recent DEM studies have suggested that breakage in AG/SAG mills is mainly due to low energy repetitive (or multiple) collisions rather than single high energy impacts. Hence a study was initiated at the JKMRC to investigate the behaviour of ores under such conditions. Carefully designed experiments have been performed using two laboratory mill sizes (0.6 m and 1.1 m diameter) to mimic the reported low energy repetitive impact breakage under low load conditions. The breakage characterisation parameters derived from standard high energy single impact tests on the same ores was then used to predict the low energy repetitive impact breakage. Significant bias was found in the simulations which clearly warranted further investigation. The extensive experimental program which followed employed three separate methods: the JKRBT (JK Rotary Breakage Tester) for high energy single impact and low energy repetitive impacts, gravity drops for low energy repetitive impacts, and laboratory mills to provide an extended number of low energy repetitive impacts. The breakage energies associated with these experiments were accurately measured with a high speed video camera. Two breakage indices, the degree of breakage (t10) and the breakage probability (S) were used to describe the breakage test results. This paper summarises the major results from this experimental study, which has facilitated the development of a new breakage characterization method relevant to AG/SAG mill modelling.

Sep 13, 2010

By M Sherman

The challenge facing the engineering provider is to calculate throughput rates when faced with disparate specific energies calculated by different testing methodologies. Typically, an ownerÆs team would expect that the throughput calculations be checked using more than one method, therefore it is inevitable that there will be differences, based on which methodology is used. This engineering challenge is exacerbated by the continuing evolution of contemporary circuit configurations such as two stage pebble crushing with or without high pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs) as the second stage, or second stage pebble crusher product reporting to the ball milling circuit, etc.This paper is a companion to the paper first presented at SAG 2011, which showed that the Bond Indices are an excellent tool for estimating the specific energy requirements for semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills in single-stage SAG milling (SSS) circuits, SAG and ball mill circuits (SAB) or SAG and ball mill circuits with pebble crushers (SABC). This paper presents how the Bond Indices have been used to calculate ball mill specific energies, and therefore throughput rates, for SAG mill based circuits. Once the ball milling specific energy is known, tower mill and vertimill energy requirements can also be calculated. It is noteworthy that the method presented in this paper does not require the use of any unpublished correction factors: the proposed method uses the Bond parameters and equations published by Rowland in 1982.CITATION:Sherman, M, 2013. 21st century bond, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013 , pp 309-312 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 12, 2013

The author reviews design evaluation theory and existing optinustion tools and then describes how these have guided recent developments in Whittle Programming's strategic mine design package: Four-X. A new package - Reserve Estimator is also d

Jan 1, 1998

By Bibby P. A, Leupen R. A

A 24,300 tonnes per year state of the art Silicon smelter is being constructed for Barrack Silicon Pty Ltd at Kemerton, 20 kilometres north of the City of Bunbury in Western Australia. The plant is designed for the reduction of high purity quartzite lump to metallic silicon in two 27MVa Demag submerged arc electric furnaces. The primary reductant, a high purity charcoal, will be manufactured at the plant from locally sourced jarrah wood waste (Eucalyptus Marginata). Commercial silicon production is scheduled to commence in October 1989. Keywords: Silicon, Smelter, Quartzite, Furnace, Charcoal, Jarrah, Wood, Eucalyptus Marginata.

Jan 1, 1989

Disasters are often tragic outcomes of high-risk technologies such as mines. In Australia, more mines are being developed every day, and the risk of disasters is ever increasing. No matter how effective our conventional safety devices are, there is a form of accident that is inevitable. These relate to accidents that result from æinteracting failuresÆ in a way that could not be foreseen by the designers. In so-called ætightly coupled production systemsÆ (processes that happen very fast, such as on a high producing mine) the risk is even higher and our risk controls mostly introduce some sort of a technological fix. While we are at the one hand attempting to control the risk, we are also introducing another level of complexity. Are we really controlling the risk? This is one of the fundamental questions that will be addressed in this paper: Do we have the ability within the mining industry and other industries to effectively prevent these catastrophes, or are we, on the contrary, faced with an increasing risk as a result of increasing complexities of our technology, management systems and practices. This paper will contend that perceived improvement in risk control is an illusion of activity, and that the likelihood of mining catastrophes may be exponentially increasing. Although the paper focuses on the mining sector many aspects may be applicable across a range of industries. This paper will further contend that we are applying the right solutions to the wrong problems. Our focus is technological and procedural, while our problem is one of production cultures ripe for error and failure.

Jan 1, 1999

ALTHOUGH great progress has been made in flotation of the Broken Hill silver-lead-zinc ores, no paper dealing with this subject has been presented to the members of the Institute since James Hebbard's valuable contribution in 1913. Almost every discovery or development in the history of flotation has formed the basis 6f a patent, and but few experimentalists have overlooked the fact that their investigations might lead to the establishment of a patentable process. This, together with the aftermath of patent litigation, naturally resulted in secrecy being maintained in matters appertaining to the art, and the industry as a whole has consequently suffered considerably. Much valuable time has been wasted through numbers ofmen repeating work along certain lines, which, unknown to them, had already been thoroughly exhausted by others, whereas a lot of this would have been avoided by a freer interchange of information amongst those directly concerned. Owing to differences in the ore treated and the various applications of flotation concentration in relation to gravity methods, the flotation problems of the various mines differ considerably. This, together with the secrecy previously referred to, hasresulted in the development of numerous systems and machines, most of which would appear, to the casual observer, to comprise separate and distinct processes. The author has endeavoured to show how much these processes have in common with one another, and, at the same time, has tried to convey some general ideas on flotation to those members of the Institute who are not directly associated with this branch of concentration.

Jan 1, 1919

By A F. Cropp, D J. Bradshaw, W R. Goodall

Mineralogy and critically the texture of both the ore and gangue phases are of paramount importance in the flotation recovery of copper from porphyry ores. Mineralogy and texture will define the theoretical grade recovery curve for a feed ore. Actual grade-recovery falling below this may be due to texture and gangue influences, whilst desired grade-recovery above this line will not be possible unless the characteristics of the feed are altered.This review discusses examples of porphyry copper deposits where process mineralogy has been used to characterise these textural and gangue influences on recovery by flotation. More specifically, the influence exerted by grain size, liberation, association and elemental distribution is explored. The implications of these on overall plant philosophy and operation are highlighted, along with the subsequent potential impact on recovery.CITATION:Cropp, A F, Goodall, W R and Bradshaw, D J, 2013. The influence of textural variation and gangue mineralogy on recovery of copper by flotation from porphyry ore - a review, in Proceedings The Second AusIMM International Geometallurgy Conference (GeoMet) 2013 , pp 279-292 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 29, 2013

By S McKinley

"The White Mountain sediment-hosted gold deposit is located in north-eastern China. Mineralisation is associated with silica–hematite–altered polymict breccias that occur within dolomite at or near the contact with overlying sandstone. Economic gold grades are controlled by the distribution of the polymict breccias and can transition rapidly to low or zero grade over short distances. This results in sharp and highly irregular ore contacts on whose accuracy proper stope design and ore control is reliant at this blasthole underground mine.Short-term planning and ore control utilise a grade control model created from infill drilling and grade control sampling (ie face and wall sampling). Typically, the grade control model was maintained by time-consuming manual editing of earlier made contacts to incorporate any new data. This approach also was quite error-prone due to: the complexity of the breccia and ore grade contacts irregularly oriented and/or insufficiently dense drill holes inconsistent incorporation of grade control sampling. These errors resulted in unplanned dilution and ore loss due to inaccurate interpretation of the ore contacts.The primary advantage to implicit geological models over conventional, manually-built wireframe models is that they can be updated very quickly and frequently. In a mine setting, the power and efficiency of using an implicit model is greatest where the use of manual inputs or editing can be minimised. Recently a workflow was set-up for the mine geology team to create an implicitly-modelled ore shape for short-term planning needs by using all data, especially all grade control samples. The resultant 3D shapes provided metre-scale accuracy and consistently reconciled complex ore geometries much faster and to a higher degree of quality relative to the wireframe model. The mine stakeholders can now obtain an accurate ore model that will always be in sync with available data.CITATION:McKinley, S, 2017. Application of implicit geological modelling to improve the grade control process at White Mountain gold mine, Jilin Province, China, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 385–392 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Sep 20, 2017