Search Documents

By Sharma T

Laboratory investigations have been carried out on direct leaching of lead-zinc complex sulphide ore and zinc concentrate using ferric chloride. From the investigation it was observed that the use of 0.15 M and 2 M FeC13 gave an optimum dissolution of metal ions from ore and concentrate respectively. The kinetic studies conducted showed that the leaching reaction followed a shrinking core model for galena and sphalerite. The presence of impurities such as pyrite had increased the dissolution rate and reduced the consumption of ferric chloride. Further, the studies were conducted to recover dissolved zinc from the chloride solution by selectively precipitating it as zinc ammonium chloride.

Jan 1, 1992

The application and development of monitoring and control techniques of coal mines in China is mainly described in the paper.The techniques of mine control and monitoring system have been developed as an important means of production dispatch, command and management with ever-increasing coal production and gradual raising of the level of mechanization and centralization of continuous mining. The continuous stage monitoring and control system in China coal mines has been developed from the initial single fixed plant monitoring, and the technique of computers has also been applied in the system for productive and environmental monitoring, featuring a new type of mine control and monitoring equipment of China.

Jan 1, 1985

The development of the SECV brown coal open cut at Loy Yang will require depressurisation of aquifers both within and below the coal seam sequence in order to maintain open cut stability. Prediction of future open cut dewatering requirements at Loy Yang Open Cut and evaluation of the regional consequences of dewatering has required development of a detailed hydrogeological model of the Loy Yang area. The complex stratigraphy of the coal seam and aquifer/aquitard sequences at Loy Yang have been analysed and integrated with the hydrogeological concepts developed from regional groundwater studies to formulate a realistic hydrogeological model as a basis for finite-element flow modelling.

Jan 1, 1988

By Robinson T

The paper describes a spreadsheet system that enables selection of projects and companies that meet the user's corporate exploration and/or acquisition philosophy. A regularly maintained commercially available database has been used as the basis for this system. It provides an easily accessible efficient com- prehensive search method. The technique enables ranking by various criteria, both technical and financial, to provide groups of projects/companies that are of interest. Initially, target size parameters such as reserves, production and mine life are applied together with geological criteria such as age and deposit type; the significance of the targets in the context of the Australian gold industry is addressed.

Jan 1, 1988

By Abrahamsson S, Niklasson B

In a follow-up of 12 production blasts in a quarry at the Mrica project on Java, tightly spaced porous bands were found to govern fragmentation to the extent that the average fragment size k5o was nearly independent of the specific charge within the range 0.30-0.56 kghn3. This fording resulted in a reduction of the running costs for drilling and blasting by 20-40%. Our work has given considerable practical benefits and insights into the blasting process, even if the results were of no direct use to check out fragmentation predictions based on models, which was one of our main Goals.

Jan 1, 1990

By Kavetsky A, Scott A

As well as breaking and moving rock, blast energy sets up a seismic wave in the ground which can cause significant damage to rock structures and buildings and disturbance to human occupants. This seismic ground vibration is potentially most damaging when its dominant frequency coincides with the resonant frequency of a structure, leading to high amplification factors between the input ground vibration and the resulting structural response. This paper outlines methods of identifying the resonant frequency of structures. It also describes a practical numerical method for the modification of blast designs to reduce the ground vibration energy in critical frequency ranges. The method is illustrated with two recent case studies.

Jan 1, 1990

By I Warren, M P. Simpson

Adularia-sericite epithermal ore deposits have well-documented alteration mineral zonation patterns with distinctive geochemical signatures. Proper use of whole-rock geochemistry can provide useful vectors for exploration and can enhance efforts to characterise and quantify the mineralogy and intensity of hydrothermal alteration.   Analyses of Au and Ag provide the most direct vectors to orebodies, and pathfinder elements such as As, Sb, Hg, Zn, Pb and Se are similarly zoned around at least some orebodies. However, the minerals that contain these elements occur almost exclusively in veins, and therefore identifying geochemical vectors related to wallrock alteration that is zoned outward from orebodies is crucial for effective exploration.   Distal alteration zones contain quartz-illite-chlorite-carbonate-pyrite, whereas samples proximal to veins contain quartz-adularia-pyrite, with lesser though variable illite-chlorite-carbonate. Therefore, adularia-sericite epithermal ore deposits show K alteration in their cores. The resulting K-metasomatism can be evaluated in several ways. Areas that have been most intensely altered are commonly characterised by highest K contents, but these results can be complicated by variations in rock type across the prospective area. Potassium mass balance results provide a robust and rigorous assessment of K-metasomatism, however, knowledge about the composition of fresh rocks and correct identification of fresh precursor compositions of altered rocks are required. Three alteration indices provide effective evaluation of K-metasomatism: 1.   the K number, which is the ratio K/(2Ca+K+Na) (molar); 2.   Barrie values [(K2O * 100) / Sr]; and 3.   the Rb/Sr ratio. In most places these provide similar vectors, although K numbers can be complicated by the appearance of hydrothermal calcite and/or albite.   Plots of K/Al vs (2 Ca + K + Na)/Al (molar) allow estimation of the intensity of K-metasomatism and its mineralogical products, thereby complementing traditional XRD and petrographic studies of alteration minerals.

Jan 1, 2005

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

Jan 1, 1982

By Sinha NH

ICI Australia and CSIRO have developed a novel process for extraction of zirconia from zircon sands. The two stage process involves a high temperature step and a wet chemical processing step. A pilot plant has been operating since November 1985 at CSIRO Division of Mineral Chemistry, Port Melbourne and construction of a full scale plant isplanned at Kwinana, WA.The plant has a high degree of flexibility and is capable of producing high purity zirconia up to about 99.99% and withinspecific particle size ranges. The products are being marketed by the joint company, 2-TECH Pty Ltd.

Jan 1, 1986

Some fundamental aspects of recent single-particle fracture studies are reviewed. Findings from this research shed new light on the utilisation of energy during comminution operations and provide useful pointers to new research directions that could lead to significantly better comminution machines. Two methods for quantitatively predicting mineral liberation during comminution are reviewed. These methods have been developed into useful practical procedures, but they are almost unknown in the mineral processing community. Their use should promote the consideration of mineral liberation as an important variable to be considered during the design and operating control of comminution circuits.

Jan 1, 1993

By Cook B, Cunningham J

At Mount Isa Mines, a system has been developed for general monitoring of underground mobile equipment. It can provide unit condition monitoring data such as oil pressures and motor temperatures as well as production type information such as unit location and load. The system does not rely on an expensive data communications infrastructure, using instead inexpensive radio base stations which automatically transfer data from mobile units to a surface database server on the company-wide computer network. This paper includes a general overview of the system and a discussion of the practical benefits it is expected to generate.

Jan 1, 1995

By McNabb K. E

Significant coal reserves in New South Wales lie under areas with steep topography such as valley slopes and cliffs. Subsidence predictions are difficult to make for these locations as existing empirical databases cannot cover all permutations of topography and mining geometry. Two dimensional numerical model alternatives are of limited applicability. Consequently a novel three-dimensional numerical model is developed including the detailed panel layout, realistic rock mass properties including the full stratigraphy, goaf behaviour and actual surface topography. Model results show the same trends as subsidence measurements from Baal Bone Colliery in the Western Coalfield of New South Wales.

Jan 1, 1992

Problems associated with gas management become more significant as exploitation of coal reserves in the Bowen Basin in Australia becomes deeper. At Oaky North mine, relocation of production from one area of the mine to another with a higher gas content required the use of pre-drainage, post drainage and inertisation techniques to enable production activities to continue largely uninterrupted. Innovative surface to inseam drilling techniques were developed for pre-drainage of reserves close to mine workings and have proven to be largely successful. The gas management techniques adopted and specific experience gained are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2005

The Pacific Rim countries of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Fiji, Philippines and Solomon Islands will be reviewed from an equity investors perspective. The following areas will be covered: ò Country risks ò Exploration spending and activity ò Project development ò Taxation ò Relative cost of doing business ò Environmental considerations ò Political/bureaucratic situations ò Capital raising ò Equity markets as a source of funds ò Developing market funds The aim of the paper will be to outline the most attractive areas for investment by equity and private funds plus documenting the changes needed in the less favourable countries if they are to attract investors.

Jan 1, 1995

By Troman L, Groutsch J. V

The Kwinana Nickel Refinery began operations in 1970 processing sulphide concentrates from Kambalda using the Sherritt Gordon pressure leach and hydrogen reduction process to produce nickel metal as powder and briquette. Over the years a number of changes have seen the refinery capacity increased from the original design capacity of 15 000 tpa nickel on an all concentrate feed to its current design capacity of 42 000 tpa nickel on an all matte feed. This paper outlines the changes in plant equipment and process for the most recent refinery expansion from 35 000 tpa to 42 000 tpa which have been implemented since 1992.

Jan 1, 1996

By A E. McElnea, M A. Martens

An 18-month project was undertaken to test the effectiveness of controlled daily tidal exchange augmented with hydrated lime treatment of surface waters as an approach for remediating a severe acid sulfate soil disturbance at East Trinity, Cairns, north Queensland. Actual acid sulfate soils were producing hazardous levels of acid and heavy metal contaminants and degrading approximately 720 of the 940 ha East Trinity property and the adjacent foreshores. A government-led research team established a series of research projects with the aim of characterising the site (soils, water, terrain) and testing the effect of the lime-assisted tidal exchange management strategy on soils, water, sediments and biota.

Jan 1, 2003

Eleven years ago I addressed delegates to the Whyalla Meeting of this Institute on the subjects 'Oil in Australia?' -- a title which was followed by a large question mark.My purpose at that time, which was before Rough Range, was to interest members of this Institute in the possibility of oil in this country because I considered that exploration for mineralwealth was our concern.I doubt if I made much impression.but.I recall that the Chairman at that Meeting, Mr Ian McLennan, asked me pointedly to name the areas I-would select and I nominated the Northwest of Western Australia,'Gippsland and the Roma District

Jan 1, 1962

By Yesil MM, Bozdag T

This paper describes the conver- gence and load measurements carried out in inclined seams at five longwall faces, two of which were supported by hydraulic props and the other three by conventional timber supports in Karadon-Gelik mine. The minimum support capacities determined in this study are compared with the results obtained from two empirical approaches suggested by Wilson (1975) and Jacobi (1981). The characteristics of hydraulic props to be used and support patterns in the longwalls are found, conclu- sions are drawn and suggestions are made. Design nomograms are prepared for field engineers, in order to be able to approach the problem more confidently and realistically.

Jan 1, 1992

Sizing is fundamental technology for each step of ironmaking process. The progress of sizing technology has greatly contributed to the development of ironmaking technology. As the purposes of ironmaking operations diversified particularly since the oil crisis of 1973, the sizing technology made new advance- ment, as represented by pulverization of ser- pentine, dezincification and classification of secondary blast furnace dust, pulverized coal injection, size-segregated sinter charging and a coal preparation control process. These techniques are mostly characterized by the fine grinding of a given type of mineral or coal to heighten the degree of reaction con- trol. This trend is expected to continue Further.

Jan 1, 1984

Strip mining offers the advantages of high productivity from both human and capital resources as well as high rates of production. Experience suggests that it will be advantageous to extend strip mining to the maximum pos- sible depth in order to minimize costs and maximize the recovery of the in situ coal reserves. Highwall and spoilheap stability pose significant problems. Deep working in strip mines is likely to produce a change from methods which are based upon the elevation of material followed by dumping, to methods involving elevation and horizontal transport. There is considerable scope for optimizing the types of machines and minimizing the amount of double handling.

Jan 1, 1975