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By D Chalmers

After the sustained use of the GAG (Górniczy Agregat Gaśniczy) engine at a Queensland coalmine, it has raised questions as to its effectiveness as a remote firefighting tool. All firefighting apparatus have advantages and limitations, however the deployment of any apparatus must be based on its likelihood to succeed and effectively extinguish the fire or bring it under control. A recent study conducted for ACARP by researchers at UNSW has highlighted that there is more to be learned about the GAG. As coalmines are mining at greater depths and fan pressures are much greater than they were when the GAG was introduced, deploying the GAG may be a total waste ofresources and may place operators at greater risk. When the GAG unit is positioned on the surface of the mine, the pressure it generates has to overcome buoyancy of the exhaust gases and the frictional resistance of the borehole and part of the mine circuit. Buoyancy in deeper holes can lead to the GAG pressure relief system opening, venting out the products to the atmosphere without delivering any product to the mine workings. Additionally, frictional resistance is a function of distance. Deeper holes will have a greater frictional resistance than shallow holes. Delivering sufficient products from the unit will be limited by the available pressure that has to overcome the buoyancy, and increased mine resistance thatconsumes any residual pressure. By documenting the limitations of this unit it will enable better decisions to combat a fire or spontaneous combustion event.

Oct 12, 2022

By S Jeon, K Aikawa, M Ito, A Kusano, I Park, N Hiroyoshi

In mineral processing of complex sulfide ores containing copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), flotation has been commonly used. Typical Pb mineral in the ores is galena (PbS), while some types of the ores contain anglesite (PbSO4). This article reviews our recent studies on the effects of coexisting PbSO4 on the flotation of complex sulfide ores, and a method to suppress the floatability of sphalerite (ZnS) in the presence of PbSO4 was proposed. Comparison of flotation experiments for different types of model samples showed that PbSO4 makes the separation of Zn from Cu difficult; that is, for the model sample containing PbS without PbSO4, Zn could be separated from Cu, while when the model sample containing PbSO4, Zn was recovered together with Cu as froth. Solution analysis and thermodynamic calculation suggested that Pb2+ was released from PbSO4 and reacted with ZnS to form PbS, acting as an adsorption site for the flotation collector, xanthate. This would be the main reason for high floatability of ZnS in the presence of PbSO4. As a method to suppress ZnS floatability for the ores containing PbSO4, a pre-treatment of the ores to remove PbSO4 prior to flotation was proposed. The results of model experiments using mixture of ZnS and PbSO4 showed that ~97 per cent of PbSO4 was dissolved within 30 minutes of pretreatment using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as extractant, and thus ZnS floatability was markedly suppressed. Moreover, Pb2+ extracted from PbSO4 during the pre-treatment could be recovered as zero-valent Pb by the cementation using zero-valent Fe as a reductant. The details of ZnS flotation in the presence of PbSO4 and the effects of the pre-treatment are discussed based on the results of surface analysis like XPS.

Aug 24, 2022

An Integrated Geology-Mine-Plant and Eco-Efficiency Simulator for Anglo Platinum's Evaluation and Operational Improvement Initiatives

Sep 13, 2010

By S Worden, A Lee Zhi Yi, E Sellers, G Corder, A Littleboy

The global shift towards decarbonisation is driving competition for the extraction of critical minerals such as nickel, lithium, and copper. To meet this demand, new mines are being developed while mines approaching closure are being reimagined as sites of potential resources. This reimagining challenges how mine closure is being conceptualised. In the conventional case, when a mine reaches the end of its economic life, it is closed or put into care and maintenance until it transitions to the next land use, such as agriculture, native ecosystem corridors, solar farms or integrated eco – precincts (Murphy et al, 2019; Holcombe, 2020) (the authors acknowledge that unplanned mine closures have left a devastating legacy of contamination, safety and cultural heritage impacts). Extracting minerals from closed or closing mines will extend mine life and, therefore, delay relinquishment and transition. In this context, innovative technologies are needed to make mining economically viable. In the first year of her doctoral research on improving stakeholder engagement in mine transitions, Lee Zhi Yi has coined the term ‘mine life extension technologies’ (MLETs) to describe a class of technological solutions that optimise extraction of resources after a mine reaches the end of its economic life. Examples of MLETs include agromining (van der Ent et al, 2015), in situ recovery (Robinson and Kuhar, 2018), and reprocessing or reuse of tailings (Gou, Zhou and Then, 2019). MLET extraction offers several benefits compared with conventional mining processes, such as waste remediation, value recovery of minerals, a smaller footprint and less environmental impacts (Sellers, Picorelli and Salmi, 2022). What requires further investigation is the consequences of MLET implementation to host communities or community perspectives towards the proposed technology and subsequent delays in transition.

Aug 2, 2023

By K Ehrig, V Liebezeit, Y Li, B Pewkliang, M Smith, E Macmillan

Pre-concentration of low grade ores via the rejection of low/no value materials based on fragment size is the subject of many published papers and studies over the past decade. However, the possibility of upgrading should not limited to low grade ores given the high cost of capital, energy, water, reagents, and ultimately tailings storage across the mining industry. Mining and processing facilities at Olympic Dam consist of an: 1) underground mine where ore is extracted via sublevel open stoping and 2) integrated processing plant located on the surface which produces Cu-cathode, Au-Ag bullion and uranium oxide concentrate. Blasted ore is trucked/trained to underground crushers which produce an ore feed with a product size P80 = -145 mm. Crushed ore is then hoisted to the surface and delivered to the ROM pads via an overland conveyor. The typical copper grade of mill feed is approximately 2 wt%. A rapid assessment of the potential to upgrade Olympic Dam mill feed prior to the ROM pads via rejection of low value materials based on fragment size was completed using existing data. Three separate datasets were utilised to assess the deportment of Cu, U, Au across size ranges of 200 mm down to sub-8 m. Cumulative grade vs cumulative mass distribution graphs for each element were produced. This data clearly demonstrates that Cu, U, Au grades remain constant down to ~212 m, which happens to be the liberation size of the sulfides. Hence, no potential to upgrade the ore stream via rejection of +200 mm - to ~212 m sized materials prior to milling. Mineralisation within the Olympic Dam Fe-oxide Cu-U-Au-Ag deposit (IOCG) occurs as disseminated sulfide grains within granite- to hematite-rich breccias. The typical sulfide grain size is sub-200 m that supports the outcomes of the grade deportment by fragment size study.

Nov 10, 2020

By S Whitton, W Wimmler, L Wimmler

“Given the increasing scrutiny of the mining industry and its relatively poor record with regards to mine tailings management, increased requirements to minimise water usage (often accompanied by very high costs of water) and the need to demonstrate achievable long-term closure strategies, it is likely that the option of a filtered tailings system will need to be considered in many operations in future.” (Australian Centre for Geomechanics, 2018). Given such a statement as a conference introduction, it is only appropriate that a range of potential technologies are investigated and compared, to create awareness for even underrated but appropriate technologies. The advantages and disadvantages of all technologies need to be considered and analysed. Suppliers are swift to promote their technologies advantages; however aspects of sustainability are not always fully understood. Perhaps a combination of two filtration technologies is appropriate. This paper delves into the technical details, good or bad, of four mechanical dewatering technologies in tailings dewatering and provides insight on an undervalued and, in the author’s opinion, young technology – the screw press.

Jul 1, 2021

By V S. Mutton, M J. Shearer

"The current economic challenges faced by the mining industry led to a review of options for reducing the cost of ventilation control devices (VCDs). The VCDs at the Mount Isa Mines site operated by Glencore in Queensland typically experienced significant damage on the operating levels and required expensive replacements. Ventilation controls can become damaged by the effects of stope firings. This paper discusses the nature of blast wave effects, giving consideration to distance from the firing and changes in mine geometry. The time taken to adjust the airflow on the operating levels with the current VCDs resulted in the loss of productivity opportunities. The mine site engaged an equipment supplier to collaborate on the development of a high-strength regulator to control the required airflows within its underground workings.The strengthened regulator proved to be cost-effective and provided additional benefits, including ease of use, simplicity of installation and speed of change in the control of available ventilating airflow. An added advantage of the re-engineered regulator compared to contemporary VCDs is its flexibility, which includes the ability to easily move mobile equipment into different ventilation districts where required without the need to remove the VCD from its location. This paper describes both the innovation and environmental sustainability approaches followed when developing the new regulator for its implementation at the site.CITATION:Shearer, M J and Mutton, V S, 2015. Advanced ventilation control – an analysis of innovation and environmental sustainability, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference, pp 55–62 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 31, 2015

By A Murphy

Mining plants and infrastructure, and the decisions made by their designers, can have large impacts on their environmental and social context, commonly referred to as the site or plant footprint. They can also be the source of constructive contributions to sustainable development when designers are enabled via the information, systems and tools to incorporate sustainability in engineering processes. A facility’s footprint and the project’s contribution to sustainability – economic, environmental and social aspects – are now key considerations in regulatory approval processes and are the fundamental drivers of support, or opposition, from the project’s stakeholders.Historically, plant and infrastructure designers have not been well integrated with the environmental and social professionals who are engaged to pursue regulatory approvals. Despite this, many objectives central to technical and process engineering have in fact contributed positively to a facility’s footprint and indeed its contribution to sustainable development. Examples of these objectives include increasing process and energy efficiency, and minimising the quantities of waste requiring disposal. With the framework of sustainability, mining plant and infrastructure designers are indeed at the forefront of incorporating sustainability into resource industry projects and are central to the process of obtaining regulatory approvals and ongoing stakeholder support. The process of incorporation starts with a shared understanding of sustainability and sustainable development, and continues with project processes that facilitate information and knowledge exchange throughout the project life cycle.CITATION:Murphy, A, 2014. Incorporating sustainability into mining plant and infrastructure design, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 637–646 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014

By D Liu, M Edraki, L Berry

The presence of clay minerals slows down the settling rate and mitigates compact consolidation efficiency in tailings dewatering. The increasing use of saline water in many plants, affects the dewatering performance and presents the mining industry with new concerns. Efficient tailings dewatering is a great challenge due to the complexity character of tailings, especially clay mineralogy, clay content, and water chemistry. In this study, existing studies of the effect of different affecting parameters, such as pH, ionic strength and polymer flocculants, on clay aggregation behaviours are reviewed. The settling behaviours of three types of commonly observed clay minerals in tailings, kaolinite, bentonite, and illite, are also investigated in saline water with different water salinity as a case study. The settling rates of clay minerals are found to be affected by water salinity, clay type, clay content and polymer dosage levels. High salinity water hinders the settling of kaolinite but assists the settling of bentonite and illite through formation of different aggregation structures.The current work has indicated that strategies to promote more rapid dewatering could include adjusting flocculant type or level, water salinity and salt balance, and tailings solid content levels. Implementing dewatering strategies may require a more detailed knowledge of the effect of surface chemistry on the nature and strength of the clay inter-particle forces. This study discusses the research gaps on how to better manage clay-rich tailings in saline water and identifies new research directions. The development of a water management model, supported through in-line monitoring data to predict and manipulate of the surface chemistry of the clay component of the tailings could be a new direction to manage the issues associated with clay minerals in the process of dewatering and tailings management. Mine planning (water use requirements, operating costs) could benefit from more detailed studies on dewatering of clay-rich tailings in saline water. CITATION:Liu, D, Edraki, M and Berry, L, 2018. Improving the dewatering efficiency of clay-rich tailings in saline water, in Proceedings Mine Waste and Tailings Stewardship Conference 2018, pp 476–484 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 23, 2018

By B M. H Sharp, R P. Hide, S P. Devine

Uncertainty and debate currently pervade the mining industry in New Zealand. The operational uncertainties, whether external (eg gold prices, the exchange rate), or internal (eg coal expansion difficulties), are large. In addition, many wider factors which influence mining are in a state of flux. State Coal Mines, the operating branch of the Mines Division of the Ministry of Energy I may be made a state corporation, with the remaining Mines Division functions being revamped. The agencies administering environmental legislation are to be restructured. Mining legislation amendments have been proposed and then dropped, and the area is now to be reviewed (The Press, 31 July 1985). Some mining licences have been withdrawn, and become the subject of heated debate in the community (The Press, 19 July 1985, and subsequent letters to the editor).

Jan 1, 1985

By M Aros, L Reilly

Iron ore is normally sold in bulk at certain specifications. These include iron grade and specific contaminant grades, typically silica, alumina, phosphorous and sulfur. These target grades are normally agreed between the mining company (producer) and the steelmaking company (customer).This study presents an alternative to traditional cut-off grade calculation, using linear programming that maximises the total ore inventories within a predefined mining envelope while meeting the specified targets. Providing a feasible mining sequence that maintains the target grade is not covered in this study.The method was applied to Fortescue’s operations. The complexity arising from differing ore quality within each mining horizon, variable yields and upgrades and the need to control iron and contaminant grades provided a good opportunity to test an alternative method of ore selection. The new method significantly reduced the time spent in cut-off selection and sensitivity analysis, and provided an optimised solution.CITATION:Aros, M and Reilly, L, 2014. Ore selection optimisation for an iron ore deposit using linear programming, in Proceedings Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning Symposium 2014, pp 345–350 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 24, 2014

By D R. Andrew, K T. Morrison, J F. Tiedgen

Waste blasting in iron ore operations can pose a number of technical challenges, including blasting through variable geology and blasting soft ground in wet conditions. Blast patterns are designed to be loaded with a specific range of explosives with unique characteristics and properties. Each explosive product will produce an optimal blast outcome for a given set of blast parameters and ground conditions. Sites characterised by softer rock typically require low-density, low-energy explosives. Historically, these products have contained a high ratio of porous ammonium nitrate prill and are only suitable for dry blastholes. When blastholes within a pattern are found to be unsuitable for such explosives due to wet, damp or muddy blasthole conditions, a new product is selected. While it is easy to switch products to match blasthole conditions, the different properties of the new non-ideal product can impact blast performance and increase loading times and costs.Flexigel™ is a solids-sensitised emulsion blend suitable for loading at variable densities and energies in dry, damp, muddy or wet blastholes. It is a universal product that can be loaded to match ground and blasthole conditions or complement other explosive products.At Fortescue Metals Group’s Cloudbreak site, Flexigel™ was trialled through a series of matched pair blasts in order to optimise blast outcomes in conditions that were non-ideal for existing explosive products and to reduce the overall cost of drill and blast operations. Flexigel™ yielded improved instantaneous dig rates and improved loading efficiency when compared to a traditional emulsion blend. The results also indicated that variable-density and variable-energy products afford greater flexibility for optimising blast outcomes across all ground and blasthole conditions trialled.Trials of Flexigel™ at Cloudbreak have shown that a variable-density solution is available for conditions where traditional explosive products are non-ideal. As such, Flexigel™ is able to fill a major void at any operation where the desired low-density, low-energy explosive product must be substituted for a more expensive traditional emulsion blend or heavy ammonium nitrate/fuel oil.CITATION:Andrew, D R, Morrison, K T and Tiedgen, J F, 2015. Flexigel™ – a variable-density solution, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 413–418 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By C De-Vitry

In skewed distributions seen in many geochemical data sets, samples at the extreme ends of the distribution are often termed ‘outliers’. Samples considered as outliers can often make exploratory data analysis and resource estimation more difficult and less reliable. Such outlier samples may be legitimate because they are part of a natural high- or low-grade tail in the distribution. How these samples are identified and dealt with in resource estimation can often be a material issue for the Competent Person, particularly under the latest edition of the JORC Code (JORC, 2012). This paper discusses the identification and characterisation of outliers and high- and low-grade tails and proposes methods to deal with them in estimation.For dealing with outliers and high-grade tails ,very simple approaches, such as top-cutting through to more advanced geostatistical approaches, are discussed. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach are also outlined. Some examples of how the underlying geological understanding of a deposit influences the view of outliers and low-/high-grade tails is provided. The importance of documenting, communicating and challenging a given geological model is also discussed. Finally, some ideas for dealing with the uncertainty created by outliers are outlined.CITATION:De-Vitry, C, 2014. Identifying and dealing with outliers in resource estimation, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 159–168 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 18, 2014

By M P. Sandy, J B. Albrecht

"Narrow vein mining can be loosely defined as mining operations involving orebodies with a true thickness of less than 4 m. Some authors have limited the term to steeper-dipping orebodies where the ore will rill under gravity. However, ænarrow veinÆ can also legitimately refer to some of the flatter orebodies, such as many of the platinum, chrome and gold deposits of Southern Africa, and several in Australasia including Bullen (at Norseman), Sunrise Dam, Telfer (Patterson, 1993) and the famous æflatmakesÆ at the Emperor Gold Mine in Fiji (Gordon and Harmse, 1993). Where the orebody dip is less than about 40¦ additional effort is usually required to remove the broken ore, including the use of scrapers, hydraulic monitors or remote-operated excavators (Tombs, Buckingham and Hancock, 2008).Working in such narrow orebodies presents particular operational and geomechanics challenges. A range of mining methods have been developed or adapted to exploit narrow orebodies including:cut-and-fill,narrow vein bench or longhole stoping,Alimak stoping,shrinkage stoping, and methods for shallow dipping orebodies (including Airleg and mechanised methods).The paper discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of each method with a focus on geotechnical aspects including mining sequence options, stress management, ground support requirements, dilution and recovery.CITATION:Sandy, M P and Albrecht, J B, 2012. An overview of geotechnical issues in narrow vein mining, in Proceedings Narrow Vein Mining 2012 , pp 185-194 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 26, 2012

By J Webster-Brown

The Tui Mine is an abandoned Pb-Zn mine giving rise to water quality problems in the Te Aroha region of Coromandel, New Zealand. When sampled in September 2002, for example, both the Tui and Tunakohoia Streams draining the mine site exceeded ANZECC (2000) water quality guidelines for aquatic life protection (Cu, Cd and Zn) and recreational quality (Cd). Based on trace metal mass flux (kg/yr) from parts of the mine site, the principal pathways by which Cu, Zn and Cd contamination reach these streams have been identified as:the tailings dam leachate,the diverted stream water from above the dam,the drainage from Adit 5 (which accounts for 95 % of Zn and Cd contamination in Tunakohoia Stream), andto a lesser extent, run-off from waste rock piles below Adit 4 level. Of the various remediation options, which have been proposed for the site, the following are identified as providing the best protection for the Tui and Tunakohoia streams:stabilising the tailings dam embankment and capping the embankment and tailings,constructing and/or cleaning out engineered diversion drains around the perimeter of the tailings dam to divert surface water away from the tailings dam, andinstalling bulkheads within Adit 5. A formal postal survey of the people of Te Aroha (66 respondents from 230 surveys) indicated that their priority was that the site be made safe for the public to visit, and used for recreation. As soil samples in potential recreational areas of the mine site, significantly exceeded guideline values for Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and As, soil removal or capping clearly also needs to be part of a remediation plan. Development of the site as a historical/ecotourism area was viewed favourably, as this may encourage more visitors to the Te Aroha area as well as educate local residents.

Jan 1, 2003

Concentrations of bright green material in the "Golden Mile" of Kalgoorlie, which carry particularly high gold values, are known locally as "green leader".This assemblage consists largely of quartz, sericitic muscovite, carbonates, and pyrite. Some of the sericitic muscovite contains vanadium, giving the rock its green colour. Vanadium oxides, including nolanite, are also present. Tellurides identified in this study are calaverite, altaite, petzite, melonite, and coloradoite. Native gold was found in most of the samples; some of the gold, at least, has been formed from the decomposition of gold tellurides.It is suggested that mineralizing solutions carrying gold and tellurium leached vanadium from the host rocks and subsequently deposited gold tellurides and vanadium-bearing minerals in the "green leader".

Jan 1, 1977

By Glasson K. R

The history of Ore Reserve classification and reporting in Australia is largely a history of the Australian mining industry itself. In the late 1800s, when the industry was dominated by small scale, high grade underground mines, Reserves (if estimated) were based on hand sampling and geological inference, and reporting of Reserves was either non-existent or of extremely variable quality. By the mid-20th century, the industry was dominated by large underground base metal and gold mines. Reserve estimation was coming under the control of skilled geologists and mining engineers, however Reserve classification and reporting standards continued to vary in type and quality from mine to mine. Today, large scale, low grade mining operations predominate, and Reserve estimates are generally based on extensive drilling results processed (with geological control) by computer. Through the efforts of a Joint Committee established by The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Australian Mining Industry Council, Reserve and Resource classification and public reporting has been standardised and controlled by adoption of the ""Australasian Code for the Reporting of Identified Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves"" released in 1989. The Code, which will continue to be modified and improved by the Joint Committee, has also been used as a basis for guides to reporting in other countries, and there is now some hope that this difficult and vexing topic may finally become subject to international standards and controls.

Jan 1, 1992

The Beverley uranium mine û now in production in the remote north of South Australia at1000 tonnes per annum û was established to meet a projected, but little-recognised shortfallin primary supply of uranium for the nuclear industry in the early part of the 21 st century. Inthe context of AustraliaÆs lack of bi-partisan support for uranium mining and the nuclearindustry, a four to five year window of opportunity existed from 1996 to establish the mine.During this period, Beverley achieved a number of firsts including: the first ISL mine inAustralia; the largest ISL mine in the world and the first to produce more than 500 tonnes ofuranium in its first year; the first to be established under a new Native Title regime in SouthAustralia; and the first to be established under a revised South Australian Mining Act.Beverley was brought into production against the background of: hostile opposition fromanti-nuclear activists; a suspicious and at-times hostile media; a regulatory and politicalcommunity that was unfamiliar with ISL mining; commercially unsophisticated Aboriginalgroups; an inexperienced engineering industry; and the vagaries of development in a remote,semi-arid location with neither population nor infrastructure. The lessons that can be learnedfrom Beverley showed that û like much in life û flexibility and timing are crucial.

Jan 1, 2002

By A H. Gray

Gekko Systems Pty Ltd engaged in the test work, design, manufacturing and commissioning of the pre-concentration plant at Silver Standard Resources Inc’s Pirquitas mine in the north western Jujuy province of Argentina. Testing of the ore at coarse feeds of between 2 and 12mm returned probable recoveries of up to a total of 95% silver into 50% of the mass fed to the InLine Pressure Jigs (IPJ’s). The plant has been designed and built based on the test results to include a preparation screen to bypass the fines that are naturally higher in grade and repulping of the coarse which is then pumped to three parallel trains of 2-stage IPJ roughing-scavenging. The target 50% yield to concentrate passes over a dewatering screen and the solids are returned back to the mill feed conveyor. The IPJ tails are transferred to a dewatering screen and solid rejects are stockpiled off the end of a transfer conveyor. All dewatered underflow products are processed via hydrocyclones to recover dirty water for use back into the IPJ circuit and return entrained fines to the fines bypass line.With the sulphide orebody being processed, the results from operations to date have shown that plant performance is matching the original laboratory sulphide ore testwork data. The objective of the pre-concentration step is to both reject gangue and achieve grades between 300-400g/t Ag to the float circuit as flotation recoveries are maximised within this range. The plant currently achieves overall upgrades of approximately 150% of feed grade with the IPJ only circuit producing an average 180% increase from calculated feed grade.

Aug 8, 2011

By P Allen, E Gleeson, D Boakye, R Chesher, S Konopa

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Not only do epithermal gold deposits provide many challenges in estimating mineral resources, the complexities of these deposits also provide technical challenges in assessing appropriate mining and processing strategies, as well as social and environmental planning and management. The characteristics of epithermal gold deposits include being highly variable with respect to geometry and gold grade distribution, the presence of other economic contributors, mineralogy, texture, rock strength, weathering and alteration overprint. These characteristics influence the economic value of mining projects in an interlinked manner. Consequently, successful exploitation of epithermal deposits requires a holistic approach, coupled with the effective integration of geological data to meet all aspects of mine development decision-making. This paper presents examples of the key technical challenges encountered in estimating and mining epithermal deposits. It also highlights why these issues need to be addressed from the viewpoint of geology, sampling, resource estimation, mine planning, mineral processing and social and environmental planning for the true value of the mining project to be realised.CITATION:Konopa, S, Chesher, R, Gleeson, E, Allen, P and Boakye, D, 2015. Challenges in maximising the value from epithermal gold deposits, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 127–132 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015