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By Seneviratne SP

The excessive displacement of the seam floor in headings (i.e. roadways) called 'floor-heave' is often experienced in the underground mines of the Southern Coalfield of New South Wales. Apart from interfering with the mining operations, the phenomenon could be detrimental to the stability of the pillars left for support leading to an unpredictable increase in the subsidence of the overlying strata. The latter could pose a serious problem, particularly in the design of partial extraction layouts of mining for areas where subsidence is to be controlled. The susceptibility of the floor of different rock materials and thicknesses in a given `panel and pillar' partial extraction geometry was examined by two- dimensional Finite Element Modelling of the displacements, stresses and failure zones around the excavations. The modelling, assuming elastic behaviour of the materials, indicated that the maximum vertical displacements of the floor increased substantially as the Young's Modulus of the material decreased to less than 7GPa and the thickness of the layer increased. The results also discount the possibility of a properly designed panel and pillar geometry in the Southern Coalfield of New South Wales being unable to adequately control surface subsidence through the pillar, or its core independently of the yielded ribs, penetrating the floor.

Jan 1, 1992

By Matsuhisa Y, Sakurai W, Shimazaki H, Peiming H, Fukahori Y

Oxygen and carbon isotope mapping of hydrothermally altered wall rocks was applied to the blind ore prospecting of skam Pb-Zn deposits in the Kamioka mining district, central Japan, where the wall rocks consist of heterogeneous rock units. The results (8180sMow of -1.1 to +17.3%o and 613CPDB of -5.0 to +4.8%o for limestones, and 8180SMOW of -0.8 to +12.5%c for silicate rocks) show isotope zonations of the wall rocks with depletions in heavy isotopes (180 and 13C) toward the center of mineralization. The isotope zonations likely formed by interaction of migrating thermal waters with the wall rocks during the mineralization. The heavy-isotope depleted zone, which indicates higher temperature or higher water-to- rock ratio of the system, occurs in the footwall of a fault, indicating that the fault played the role of main conduit of the ore-forming fluids. A heavy-isotope depleted zone was also found in an area, where significant mineralization had yet to be identified. Recent drilling in this area has intercepted a zone with a grade of 16.0% Zn, 0.8% Pb, and 35g Ag per metric tonne at a depth of about 360m.

Jan 1, 1995

As this district is so far distant from the other mining centres and its mode of approach so circuitous, I am afraid that many residents of other portions of the Commonwealth never think of paying this" Australia's Silver City" a visit, to learn personally the many and various lessons everywhere available, and to become familiar with the really wonderful and interesting features and deposits (which pature has so lavishly bestowed in the mineralogical world) yet seemed to almost ignore or overlook when disposing of topogr,aphical beauties of landscape and vegetation) unless professional or business duties require their presence here. So it is to those whose life is necessarily spent in other parts of the States where they answer their call of duty, and yet feel an interest, either for business or other reasons, that my paper is specially addressed and prepared, and for that reason I witl endeavour to make my remarks more of an explanatory than a dictatorial nature. I feel sure that there. are many members of our Institute who are much more familiar, and have had many more years' experience in the various methods of timbering, filling, and ore extraction, etc., than myself, but I hope that over I6 years' experience in connection with mines and engineering works, the last six of which have been spent in Broken Hill, where, I have been very closely connected.

Jan 1, 1903

By Yucheng H, Baogui Y, Wenyong L

High-water rapid-solidifying material, called 'high-water material', is a new material developed by the authors over many years. The material can solidify nine times its volume of water into solid. The material is a fine kind of binder with special properties. The solidifying body of high-water material with water has quite a high early strength. The compressive strength of the material within three days can reach the same strength as conventional Portland in 28 days. One ton of the material can replace three tons of conventional Portland cement as binder. Some important achievements have been made in application of high-water material. In metal mines, based on the material, a new full-tailing cemented backfill technology has been developed. The characteristic of the new technology is that high-water material is used as binder and full tailing or alluvial sand is used as backfill aggregate. Because of the application of the new technology, major technical problems in backfill technology such as classifying of tailing, dewatering, transportation of pulp, low strength of hackfill body. environmental contamination and so on, have been solved.

Jan 1, 1998

By H F. Galbiatti, G J. I dos Santos, A de C Zapparoli

The Grao Para and Rio Maria greenstone banded iron formations (BIFs), within the Carajas mineral province, exhibit distinct lithological and petrographic fabrics, together with pronounced differences in their surface expression, real thickness, iron grade and tonnage. These geological differences support a new model for the regional distribution of iron formations in the Carajas Mineral Province.

Jan 1, 2009

By Willis I. L, Stevens B. P J, Stroud W. J

The Early Proterozoic metamorphic rocks of the Broken Hill (BH) Block have been recently subdivided into sixteen formations and four groups (Willis et al., 1983b, Stevens et al., 1983). This stratigraphic subdivision has relied upon recognition of distinctive mapped rock units and "associations" of mapped rock units, which characterize particular lithostratigraphic units. The rock units and rock unit associations define local ordered sequences which can be compared and correlated, thereby establishing the stratigraphic succession. In the Clevedale homestead, Thackaringa, BH City, Bores Mine-Freyers mine, Silver King mine, and Brewery Well areas, coherent stratigraphic successions have been interpreted. These areas illustrate the regional variability of the stratigraphic succession and facies changes within individual stratigraphic units. Stratigraphic type sections are located in the Thackaringa, Bores Mine-Freyers mine, Silver King mine, and Brewery Well areas. The principles of stratigraphic interpretation applied in the BH Block can be used in other areas of Willyama Supergroup outcrop such as the Euriowie, Olary and Mount Painter Blocks. The general technique may also have applicability to other highly deformed and metamorphosed terrains.

Jan 1, 1983

By D Henderson, K Howie

In 2005, Glass Earth Limited (GEL) commissioned two large area detailed airborne geophysical programmes in the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ). In the first survey Bell Geospace Ltd of Scotland conducted an Air-FTG« (airborne Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry) survey covering 2338km2 at 300m line spacing. The second survey by UTS Geophysics, Australia included detailed airborne magnetic, radiometric and digital terrain data capture covering 5341km2 at 150m line spacing.   From the detailed geophysical data collected it is possible to identify major deeply penetrative crustal structures within the TVZ, as well as define subsurface geological features, such as intrusive bodies and alteration zones. These major deep crustal structures are thought to have a controlling influence on the distribution of epithermal gold mineralising systems, and along the corridors defined by these deep crustal zones, the chances of discovery of an economic epithermal gold discovery are greatly increased.   In this paper GEL gives some examples of the application of its integrated data driven approach to exploration in the TVZ at both regional and project scale. The paper focuses on how GEL identifies regional scale highly prospective deep crustal structures. Then, using the Horohoro epithermal gold system as an example, we show how GEL applies innovative geological and geophysical data processing to model and understand detailed subsurface geology, focusing subsequent exploration to ensure the best opportunity for a new economic epithermal gold discovery.

Jan 1, 2007

By Senanayake G

A sample of crude copper powder produced by the CLEAR Process was refined by dissolution and recovery in sulfate media using the Parker Process. The Parker Process offers an alternative method of copper recovery to electrorefining and allows a range of Eh and pH conditions to be used to provide further discrimination of impurities. High purity copper powder was recovered by the Parker Process even in the presence of added impurities when the Eh and pH was maintained near constant throughout the refining step.

Jan 1, 1984

Creating Value and Improving Environmental Performance by the Recovery of Valuable Products from Tailings from the Athabasca Oil Sands in Alberta, Canada

Sep 13, 2010

By L Dawson, S Carr-Cornish, N Boughen, K Moffat, S Masterson

The risk and consequences of community rejection and loss of a social licence to operate is well articulated (Moffat et al 2018), however, the means for systematically managing this risk are less established. At the local scale, a mining operation is said to have a social licence to operate (SLO) when it achieves ongoing acceptance or approval from the local community and other stakeholders who can affect its profitability (Graafland, 2002). Without this social acceptance, it is very difficult for a business to operate effectively or profitably. It is well understood that social (or community) acceptance of a mine and its associated operations is a reflection of the quality of the relationship a company has with their host community (Thomson & Boutilier, 2011; Lacey & Lamont, 2014; Parsons et al., 2014; Moffat et al., 2015). Community relations are an integral part of successful mining operations and where these interactions are effective, they tend to foster mutual understanding, trust and support between a company and the host community (Kemp et al., 2006; Holley & Mitcham, 2016). Research further demonstrates that where such interactions are perceived to be procedurally fair, the increased trust created in these company-community interactions tends to lead to higher levels of acceptance of mining operations (Moffat & Zhang, 2014; Lacey et al., 2017).The challenge, however, is how to listen systematically to communities that mining and associated operations; communities that are often located across vast geographic areas and with diverse demographics. To date, traditional methods deployed to both guide and evaluate community engagement and social investment activities have been challenged to reflect the nature of the phenomenon they seek to observe, the voice of community. For example, detailed baseline surveys of community attitudes every three years by companies, as is the requirement within the policy frameworks of most large miners, provide rich insights but do not reflect the dynamic, temporal nature of the relationships that underpins their SLO. These processes typically are largely opaque to communities and distinct from the company’s engagement activities. The CSIRO Local Voices project was developed with Rio Tinto to go some way towards meeting this challenge of how to listen to the voice of community systematically. CITATION:Moffat, K, Dawson, L, Carr-Cornish, S, Boughen, N and Masterson, S, 2018. Listening to Local Voices – a systematic approach for understanding what a social licence to operate means for Rio Tinto in the Pilbara, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 8–11 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

By Morris B. J

Soil air samples taken from the top one metre of the soil profile, were measured for C02 and 02 using portable field analysers at a number of sites of known sulphide mineralisation in South Australia. Carbon dioxide anomalies were detected over actively oxidising sulphides during autumn and winter following recent rainfall. Anomalies were not detected where no oxidation was occurring, where seasonal conditions had been very dry, or where the sulphur content of the ore was low (

Jan 1, 1993

This paper presents the descriptions of a final year geological engineering project at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology involving the correlation of borehole and mapped ground conditions and their statistical Analysis.

Jan 1, 1994

LANDSAT imagery has renewed interest in linear features first recognised by E. S. Hills in a physiographic model of Australia. Certain of these lineaments are aligned with structures which control mineralisation.Lineament guidelines are potentially useful in many poorlyexposed areas if they can be recognised early enough in exploration and drilling programs leading to mine development.A case history based on the Charters Towers Gold Field indicates that lineament guidelines can be established early enough to guide development ofnew mines. The position of the Charters Towers Lineament was known as early as 1956. Subsequently, more detailed publications identified and classified associated lineaments which provide intersections correlated with gold occurrences. The discovery of a significant orebody at one of the most prominent lineament intersections came in 1975. Mine drilling has confirmed the influence ofintersecting structural trends indicated by lineaments but not by previous regional mapping.Recent gold discoveries south of Charters Towers lie in a grid of prominent lineaments. The development of mines about Charters Towers will provide additional understanding of relationships between centres of mineralisation and lineament intersections. This understanding may in future be sufficient to encourage exploration for a new generation of concealed gold deposits in northeastern Queensland.

Jan 1, 1986

A process was developed to produce electrolytic manganese dioxide, suitable for use in high quality dry cells, from Risdon anode mud. ImpurItIes present In the anode mud were removed prior to the electrolysis which was performed from a manganese sulphate bath using the following conditions.Temp. 95°CH2S04 50-55 g/l.Mn2+ 55-60 g/l.Anode c.d. 10·0 A/sq. ft.Operation under these conditions yielded current efficiency and power consumption figures of 95 per cent and 0·8 kWh/lb respectively. The product conformed to battery manufacturers' specifications as regards physical and chemical properties and performed satisfactorily in a battery testing programme.

Jan 1, 1968

The history of soft and hard rock underground mining is blemished with regional instabilities of mine workings. Whilst the potential consequences of regional instability events are recognised to be high, there is a false perception that the probability of them occurring is very low. In fact, Australia has averaged more than one event per year for the past 20 years. At least five fatalities and over $100 million of losses have been associated with the events. As such, they are a core risk to underground mining and have a significant effect on the quadruple bottom line of business û safety, environment, community acceptance and economics. This paper explores the important roles that risk management has in reducing the probability and consequences of regional instabilities. It concludes that education and continuing professional development are essential elements for effectively managing the risk.

Jan 1, 2003

It's long been suspected that there has been an increase in the incidence of premature failure of rock bolts in underground coal mines over the past ten years. As far back as 2002 a study found a possible contributor to such premature failure in some Australian coal mines might be linked to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) (Crosky et al, 2002). That study suggested the low impact toughness could be a major influence on the susceptibility to SCC of different steel compositions. A subsequent study involving laboratory corrosion tests however failed to confirm any link with metallurgical factors (Villalba and Atrens, 2007), a finding that is at odds with field experience. Some mine sites today are still reporting prematurely failed rock bolts to the rock bolt manufacturers; the failures are being identified at SCC induced. To this end a research project has recently been commissioned at University of New South Wales (UNSW), which aims to identify the environmental factors causing SCC, through field test sites and simulating the conditions within an accelerated corrosion laboratory. This paper outlines the methodology that will be used in this study.

Nov 25, 2010

The Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) has developed an airborne sensor, the SWIR Full Spectrum Imager (SFSI) which detects in the short wave infrared range of the solar spectrum from 1220 to 2420 nm. In June of 1995, a demonstration flight was undertaken in the state of Nevada with the support of the companies listed above. The focus of the flight was to collect image data over well known mineral deposits with the objective of evaluating the applicability of this sensor to alteration mineral mapping. Some of the Nevada sites chosen include Cuprite and Goldfield, volcanic hosted acid sulfate systems; Yerington, a structurally complex porphyry copper deposit; and Virginia City, a quartz-sericite-pyrite vein system with advanced argillic pods. Ground spectral data was collected with the PIMA-II spectrometer. Solar reflectance calibration was done by Desert Research Institute personnel at Virginia City and Cuprite. This paper will discuss the configuration of the sensor and present image and ground data for Goldfield and Virginia City.

Jan 1, 1995

Esso-BHP have installed a production supervisory control system that is presently controlling the offshore oil and gas facilities on the Barracouta and Marlin platforms from an onshore master station. This control is achieved with a computerized master station onshore which uses a UHF radio system for telemetry and control.The system is designed to control, monitor, and gather data from a large number of oil and gas production platforms and has flexibility to handle future variations in operating conditions.The system will be extended to the Halibut platform late in 1970 and to the Kirlgfish platforms during 1971.

Jan 1, 1971

The Greymouth Coal field is situated on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island and has been mined for coal for more than 120 years. The area covered in this paper is within the Rapahoe Sector of this field and contains >200 million tonnes of low ash, low sulphur, bituminous rank coal. Paper No 6, presented to the 19th Annual Conference of the New Zealand Branch of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in Christchurch in August 1985 by R G Bowman, explained 'A Geologist's View' of the 'Economic Potential of the Greymouth Coalfield', and describes previous geological assessments of the Rapahoe Sector.

Jan 1, 1989

The iron ore deposits of the Port Hedland district of North Western Australia are associated with band'ed sedimentary iron formations that form part of the local succession of folded and faulted Archaean volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The iron formations are regarded as the protore beds or sources of the iron which became concentrated by supergene processes to form commercial grade iron ore deposits.Iron oxide deposits occurring in situ within the protore beds are considered to be of residual-replacement origin, due to supergene leaching of gangue minerals and' deposition of secondary iron oxides in their place, Two types of deposit have been recognized. Lode deposits are deep lenses of massive hematite located adjacent to major faults. These deposits are thought to be very old and to have originated by supergene processes during the long period of erosion represented by the major unconformity between the Archaean rocks and the overlying Proterozoic beds. The other type, known as crust ore deposits, are shallow cappings of hematite and goethite on hills formed by the outcrops of steeply dipping protore beds. These deposits could have originated as far back as the early Mesozoic and it is possible that the ore-forming process is continuing at a slow rate at the present day.Deposits formed by erosion and re-deposition of material derived from pre-existing residual-type deposits are known as derived deposits. These include conglomerates and scree accumulations of various types and ages and pisolitic deposits formed by supergene leaching of transported detritus. Derived deposits range in age from early Proterozoic to Recent. The presence of pebble accumulatio,ns of lode-type hematite in the Proterozoic basal conglomerate provides good evidence that lode hematite deposits existed in pre-Proterozoic times.INTRODUCTIONThe existence of iron ore deposits in the Port Hedland district of Western Australia has been known since the beginning of the century, but little attention was paid to them untIl the 1930's, when the Commonwealth Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia carried out investigations of most of the then known mining fields of the Northwest Division. The only iron...

Jan 1, 1964