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By J Herrmann, J Richards, B Hutchison

An extensive trial of laser-based survey and monitoring systems at Hillgrove Resources Kanmantoo Copper Mine in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, has proved the capabilities of the system in monitoring rock movements on open pit walls. Initially, the trial involved deploying a Maptek I-Site 8820 laser scanner and the proof-of-concept Maptek Sentry software in the Nugent Pit to monitor ductile rock movements located up to 260 m away. The system was proven to be capable of monitoring various rock movements from 1.5 tonne rockfalls up to a 40 m high toppling wall failure. Data collected from smaller rockfalls was used to help build a database for Hillgrove’s rockfall management program. As part of the trial, the laser scanner was deployed to monitor a ramp movement event, as well as the toppling failure, adjacent to an IBIS slope stability radar. Both devices monitored the slump and the slowly developing toppling movements, with similar results. Although the radar was used as the successful ‘critical alarm’ device for the toppling failure, post-failure analysis showed the laser-based system to be capable of performing a similar role in the ductile rock regime; albeit over much shorter distances than the radar capability. A second laser scanner was deployed to monitor Kanmantoo’s Emily Pit in early December 2014, where it successfully provided critical alarm warnings for a block topple event. Sentry software, which takes advantage of Maptek I-Site 3D spatial imaging technology, was first released in November 2014 to meet industry demand for a cost effective, flexible system to detect movement. Sentry has now been re-launched as a fully transportable monitoring system. Deployed in a custom trailer, the system offers a power and communications module, cellular and Wi-Fi networking and a stable bollard for the I-Site laser scanner and Sentry software. This paper will present rock wall movement data from the Sentry trial and a subsequent two years of monitoring of the open pit walls at the Kanmantoo Copper Mine, at distances out to 750m. In addition, examples of remote geological mapping and small rockfall detection, using the laser scans, will be described. The Sentry system has proven to be beneficial for the continual improvement of slope monitoring and risk management at hard rock mines. CITATION:Hutchison, B, Richards, J, Richards, J and Herrmann, J, 2018. Mine rockfall and rock wall failures – proven digital laser-based approach for monitoring slopes at the Kanmantoo Copper Mine, in Proceedings The Fourth Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference (AusRock), pp 463–472 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 30, 2018

The BHP Billiton Cannington Mine uses paste as the principal method of backfill. The paste consists of mine tailings and cement. The pastefill process at Cannington includes a surface plant where the thickened total tailings stream is filtered using two vacuum disc filters operating in parallel. The filter cake is mixed with Portland cement in a spiral mixer to produce a paste at a specified yield stress and cement content. The initial system design only required paste to be delivered under gravity. In July 2001, Cannington Mine expanded to 1.8 million tonnes per annum. In order to achieve this, production commenced on five new levels underground, 350 metres horizontally from the paste plant. Due to the high viscosity of paste, this distance was too far to transport by gravity. Traditionally, paste has been transported only short distances (50 m) using positive displacement pumps, with very limited success. At Cannington, a conveyor was installed which was designed to achieve zero spillage into the environment. This paper discusses the innovative design strategies used to attain zero harm on the environment whilst conveying a material, which is difficult to transport.

Jan 1, 2002

The C.S.A. copper-lead-zinc mine, located 7 miles north of Cobar in central-western New South Wales, is the largest known mineral ocurrence in the Cobar mining field. The generally discordant orebodies occur within a strike width of 600 ft and an overall strike length of 1200 ft. They are enclosed by the steeply westdipping, west-facing sediments of the Cobar Group, and comprise lenticular steeply north-pitching and eastdipping zones of sulphide mineralization which range in composition from massive pyrite-sphalerite-pyrrhotitegalena to less massive pyrite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite varieties.The thinly bedded siltstones, shales, and greywackes enclosing the mineralization appear to have derived some of their constituents from volcanic sources. They have been metamorphosed to the greenschist facies of regional metamorphism. At least two stages of deformation and folding have occurred. The first stage folded the rocks on a south pitching fold axis into their present configuration, and superimposed a strong axial plane cleavage which subsequently guided the emplacement of the mineralization. The second stage of deformation is considered to have controlled the zonal distribution of the orebodies.

Jan 1, 1970

The Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres (BRGM) (a French Government-sponsored geological and mining agency), through international experience gained over many years, has become very skilled in alluvial prospection, particularly for diamonds. The research laboratories within the BRGM have also been active in creating new mineral processing equipment, some of which is directly applicable to such prospection. One such development, the mobile prospection unit, is described and its application in mineral exploration is demonstrated by a consideration of the diamond search in Australia and the general exploration of the Massif Armoricain (France). Because this latter study was fundamental in the development of the concept of 'mineral-geochemistry', and its application in mineral exploration, it is also briefly described.

Jan 1, 1971

By J Nell, J Petersen, X C. Goso

The feasibility of increasing the deportment of titanium species and the stability of the pseudobrookite solid solution (M3O5) in a titaniferous slag was investigated, to facilitate the valourisation of titaniferous slags. Thermochemical simulations using FactSage™ software, ver 8.3 (by Thermofact/CRTC and GTT-Technologies), and equilibration-quench experiments were conducted using an appropriate synthetic titaniferous slag composition in an oxygen partial pressure (pO2) ranging from air to 10-16 atm under non-isothermal conditions. The temperature-pressure phase stability diagram for the synthetic slag containing 37.19 per cent TiO2, 19.69 per cent SiO2, 13.12 per cent Al2O3, 16.00 per cent CaO and 14.00 per cent MgO showed that the spinel solid solution (M3O4) was the primary phase until a pO2 of 10-10.5 atm, thereafter M3O5 was the primary phase until a pO2 10-13.2 atm. M3O4 again was the primary phase between a pO2 10-13.2 and 10-16 atm. The changeover of the primary phase coincided with an increase in the liquidus surface. When cooling the slag in a pO2 of 10-16 atm, M3O5 crystallised as a ternary phase that showed a rapid increase in mass while that of the primary M3O4 phase decreased and that of the secondary perovskite (CaTiO3) phase increased at a slower rate. At 1300°C under sub-liquidus conditions, the contents of M3O5, M3O4 and CaTiO3 were about 20 per cent, 15 per cent, and 11 per cent, respectively. Experimental results showed that the Ti3+/Ti4+ mass ratio in the M3O5 phase, ie a measure of the reduction of titanium species, is not considerably sensitive to equilibration temperature in the reviewed range. Slow cooling and minimum/no oxidation during cooling of titaniferous slag would increase the deportment of titanium species to, and the growth and stability of the M3O5 phase.

Jun 19, 2024

By P M. Hancock, Associates

Lacustrine sediments, hydrothermal explosion breccias and spring precipitates deposited 5200 - 1800 years BP as a result of geothermal activity at Lake Rotokaua, contain New Zealand's largest known sulphur reserves. Current drill indicated reserves are 2 600 000 tonnes of elemental sulphur, assuming a ten per cent (dry basis) cut-off, contained in some 17 000 000 tonnes of ore with an average grade of 214.0 per cent (dry basis) sulphur. Additional inferred ore containing 500 000 - 900 000 tonnes of sulphur has yet to be prospected by drilling. Geological factors will be important in exploitation of the deposit, particularly the extent and disposition of the orebody, sulphur grades and distribution, physical characteristics of the ore, permeability and stability of the overburden and the nature and extent of geothermal activity in the area. Trials to date indicate that Frasch mining and possibly opencutting are unlikely to be successful mining methods. Further mining feasibility studies will be required to ascertain the most likely mining system for the deposit.

Jan 1, 1984

The mineralogy and textures of a portion oC ore from the 25 level northern orebody, North mine, Broken Hill are described. This ore, in places, contains up to 70 per cent cubanite (CuFe2S3 ) which has crystallized directly with other sulphides and associated gangue minerals.Several breakdown reactions involving the cubanite are also considered.

Jan 1, 1969

By P J. Bangerter, J Pan

Optimising for Net Present Value (NPV) with a strategic optimiser such as COMET, Prober-E, Blaser or Minemax has hitherto lacked a dynamic method for analysing the so-called third-order outcomes (such as Carbon emissions) of optimisation within life-of-mine planning. Optimisation, per se, has natural effects on carbon emissions in a life-of-mine plan. Contemporary strategic planning employs a mathematical optimiser to make sense of non-linear data (ie a block model) and produces a best-NPV optimised mining schedule, within a set of constraints. The very act of optimisation influences emissions, and in a dynamic way.

Aug 2, 2023

By P K. Smith, N G. Corner, R J. Ryan, D C. Arne, F P. Bierlein

The Reefton Goldfield has produced 67 t of gold from mesothermal vein gold deposits in metasedimentary rocks of the Greenland Group (Cambrian-Ordovician). The Globe-Progress deposit contributed 13.2 t (418,000 oz) of this total, predominantly from quartz veins. Recently a resource of 14 Mt at 1.96 g/t Au (27.5 t or 882,300 oz of contained gold) has been delineated at Globe-Progress in quartz vein remnants and disseminated within adjacent sedimentary rock, much of which has been locally brecciated. The breccias consist of quartz vein and sedimentary wall rock fragments set in a matrix of clay ærock flourÆ and sulphide (arsenopyrite plus minor pyrite and stibnite). Gold, closely associated with sulphide, is disseminated within the breccia. Disseminated gold also occurs in massive siltstone and sandstone adjacent to the quartz veins and breccias. Exploration drilling at Globe-Pogress, and several other Reefton prospects (e.g. Capleston, Merrijigs, Big River and Alexander River), has intersected zones of disseminated arsenopyrite carrying up to 20 g/t more gold. These mineralised sediments commonly have little or no megascopic quartz and or carbonate veining. There is little visible indication of former primary or secondary permeability for the passage of hydrothermal fluid and deposition of gold. However, porosity and permeability were formerly present in inter-granular pore spaces and microveinlets now filled with quartz, carbonate and K-mica. The Fosterville gold deposit in Victoria bears many similarities to the Globe-Progress deposit at Reefton, in terms of age, host rocks, hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation style. Many ofthe disseminated deposits in Nova Scotia, including deposits at North Brookfield and Moose River (Touquoy Zone), have similar characteristics to the Reefton disseminated mineralisation, but commonly have abundant pyrrhotite and some deposits have disseminated metal alloy grains of complex metallurgy.

Jan 1, 2000

By A Keogh, P Allen, P Stoker

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Private equity (PE) firms are comparatively free of mandatory requirements for the level and scope of due diligence applied prior to making investment decisions in minerals projects when compared to listed entities, sovereign funds or financial institutions adopting the Equator Principles (Equator Principles Association, 2013). While this freedom allows for flexibility, agility and innovation in making investment decisions, it can also expose PE firms to material risks that may impact their ability to successfully list the projects or attract later financing.Financial institutions and investors with mandatory due diligence and disclosure standards may refrain from investment in or acquisition of a project if it fails to meet various performance requirements. There are many high-profile projects that have suffered significant write-downs on book value after acquisition because specific non-mining issues were not adequately assessed. Thus, a PE firm may be left with an asset that is difficult to divest and incapable of securing development finance.PE firms can manage this risk by being aware of the growth trend in the adoption of ‘international standards’ in addition to host nation standards and legislative requirements. This paper outlines key issues for PE firms to address to maximise the chances of obtaining funding or successfully taking an exploration or mining project through to listing or divestment. Two steps are required: identification of gaps in performance and priority matters of interest to financial institutions and development of action plans to ensure that the priority requirements are met or capable of being met.A PE firm can set its project for success by understanding the social and environmental performance requirements of international standard financiers and by setting the project on the right path to meeting these requirements, and thus making it an attractive investment.CITATION:Allen, P, Stoker, P and Keogh, A, 2015. Setting for success – private equity exploration and mining project buy-in to listing and divestment , in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 93–100 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

The Bulli Seam, New South Wales, comprises medium to low volatile bituminous coal, generally of coking quality. It is worked over an area embracing 300 square miles.Variations in several factors are found.1. The seam is somewhat disturbed and dissected by various structural features.2. This structure, and present topography, have resulted in depths of cover from very shallow to approaching 2,000 ft in the presently worked areas.3. Wide variations of seam thickness occur.4. Gradations of rank occur from place to place.5. Variations in seam gas content and wide variations in seam gas composition are experienced.6. Variations in coal strength occur.These factors may contribute to the occurrence of stress and gas phenomena in mining exploitation.INTRODUCTIONThe Bulli Seam, the most extensively worked seam in Australia, is the uppermost seam of the Illawarra Coal Measures, which comprise the southern portion of the Sydney Coal Basin. Generally, the rank of the seam and its assemblage of types make it ideal for the production of hard metallurgical coke. The thickness and relatively flat dips render the seam suited to mechanized bord and pillar mining, and this method is used almost without exception. At the north-eastern corner of the field, stress and gas phenomena have occurred during mining.Various data have been assembled on physical, chemical and geological conditions of the seam which may influence the occurrence of stress and gas phenomena. This material is presented in an attempt to explain the location of such phenomena to date, and to enable variations in conditions to be considered when future possibilities are being assessed.

Jan 1, 1963

By E Amini, N Beaton

Application of ore pre-treatment technologies such as Grade Engineering and in-pit ore treatment require comprehensive analysis to show proven value is being generated by switching away from the current practices. Considering most mining operations last several decades; the pre-treatment technologies must be investigated over life of mine (LOM) to truly show value was generated or lost. Therefore, a value chain flowsheet model has been usually developed to run those analysis/simulations over LOM using a set of defined ore characteristics and the operating equipment capacities. The Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) has been used for this type of LOM simulations as it has the necessary flexibility to accommodate the whole mining value chain flowsheet in one platform and provide essential computation power to run mass simulations for the given scenarios using the resource block model. This allows to forecast the value chain response over the LOM for all given scenarios in a feasible amount of time. The traditionally developed flowsheets for the analysis/simulations are usually limited to the mineral processing plant and were developed based on a single audit conducted on the plant in a very short time, e.g. several hours. The process plant is being operated with a certain ore at a certain condition during the short audits which would not reveal the true capacity of the operation equipment when ore characteristics changes. Therefore, it would be impossible to define the true capacity of the equipment and identify the constraints along the value chain. In this study, a methodology was developed to identify the constraints along the value chain and implement those in the IES flowsheet using process information. Also, the equipment models were fine-tuned to represent the true capacity of the equipment in the flowsheet using the same data set. The methodology was tested over five process plant in two operations and showed the performance forecast was significantly improved over the traditional methods being used so far. Then those high-fidelity flowsheets were used to evaluate the ore pre-treatment technologies proposed by the relevant resource company experts.

Nov 10, 2020

By R H. Knight

Uncertainty in prediction and modelling of geological (physical) ore continuity in geometrically complex ore deposits is a key risk factor in mining. Reducing geometric uncertainty of hard-boundary ore/waste contacts and related geological features improves the efficiency of local mineral resource estimation and reserve calculation, mine/stope planning, ore control and in-mine exploration. Detailed underground mapping of serial-level drives provides a continuous record of the characteristics and contact configuration of ore, as well as crucial ore-related geological features that are required to resolve geometrical variability when closely spaced drilling proves inadequate or is cost-prohibitive. The mapping-based approach described in this paper re-establishes the focus on the geology of the orebody by incorporating high-value, detailed geologic mine mapping information. Mapped ore-related configurations and relationships, recorded on a succession of faces or on a series of levels, provide the basis for 3D interpolation and extrapolation of the local geologic continuity of an orebody. Correlative points representing locations of key ore-related geologic features on each face or level are linked by 3D polylines or trajectories forming a coherent geometrical framework. The coherent progression of geometric changes mapped by these trajectories reveals the overall ‘dynamic’ of the geometrical framework, as well as the spatial tendencies of its geological constituents. Distinct sets of ore control trajectories are selected from within the framework and are used in the construction of alternative geological ore continuity models. As mining proceeds, alternative models are evaluated, and are then either refined or rejected. The geometrical framework is used to evaluate theoretical models and practical heuristics, focus exploration targeting and inform and guide all aspects of mine geology in active mines. This approach also lends itself to analysis of global ore continuity in the re-evaluation of mature or abandoned mines. Its use is particularly effective in geometrically complex orebodies such as the West Branch orebody and the orebodies of No 2 mine of the Balmat-Edwards-Pierrepont zinc district, which are used to illustrate the method. CITATION:Knight, R H, 2014. A mapping-based approach to geological continuity prediction using examples from the Balmat-Edwards-Pierrepont Zinc District, St Lawrence County, New York, USA, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 65–76 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 18, 2014

An understanding of the origin of mineral deposits and their relationship to local and global geotectonics is essential if regional targets for mineral exploration are to be chosen. Volcanism, metamorphism and tectonism are especially significant for the origin and emplacement of mineral deposits, which, far from being fortuitous oddities of nature, occupy well defined positions within distinctive lithofacies. Thus, suggestions for mineral exploration targets can be made taking into consideration the position of 'fossil' convergent and divergent plate tectonic boundaries to indicate areas of specific types of mineralisation. To be borne in mind, though, that level of exposure, time and location of magma generation are all additional and important controlling factors. To further understand the importance of the above parameters, one must refer to the concept of paired metamorphic belts (Miyashiro 1973) which develop during an orognic cycle. These belts are generally constructed in such a way that an ophiolite type complex with metamorphic grades related to high pressure and moderate temperature regimes is flanked by an area of calc-alkaline volcanism and granitic activity with metamorphic grades within a region of high temperature and low pressure. The former situation is usually the seat of primary magmatic mineralisation, whereas the latter contains base metal. Deposits of acid plutonic and volcanic association. As will be seen later, this particular metamorphic-volcano-orogenic situation is well developed in some parts of New Zealand. For the present purpose a distribution of potential ores as related to plate tectonic processes is given below:a) Divergent plate boundaries: primary magmatic Ni-Cu, Pt,Cr, PeS2 and Cu, Pb,Zn in hot brines-hydrothermal environments Mn deposits.b) Convergent plate boundaries: stratabound Cu-Fb-Zn-Ag of felsic volcanogenic association. Porphyry eu-Au of island arc type, porphyry Cu-Mo of continental type. Cu, Au, Y, Sn, Hg, Sb of vein type and replacement lode related to granitic activity.c) Au of hydrothermal vein association, related to late dynamo-metamorphic events. By virtue of ocean floor spreading, regions of divergent plate boundaries are eventually juxtaposed or welded n to areas where plate collisions occur. This is then followed by partial melting due to various causes, just above the descending plate; thus creating a zone of acid to intermediate magmatism. The final picture is that of an orogenic zone with the paired metamorphic belts outlined above.

Jan 1, 1976

By P W Haines

The McArthur, Balma (new name) and Habgood Groups are thick (up to 4.5 km) correlative sequences of shallow water evaporitic carbonates, mudstones and sandstones that are exposed largely within the Batten, and southern and northern Walker Fault Zones (Batten and Walker Troughs) of the McArthur Basin respectively. Recent re-mapping of the Walker Fault Zone has provided data for refined stratigraphic correlations between these groups. Two significant hiatuses are now recognised within the Balma Group (base of Vaughton Siltstone and base of Yarrawirrie Formation) and these may represent tectonically-generated sequence boundaries which may correlate with similar local hiatuses within the McArthur Group such as at the base of the Teena Dolomite and Lynott Formation respectively.

Jan 1, 1994

Industrial minerals and rocks are those which are economically important because of desirable physical and/or chemical properties rather than metal or energy content. The evaluation of these resources for investment purposes in general follows established procedures after due consideration of well documented input data. However, in view of the sensitivity of many industrial mineral projects to specific inputs they require very careful analysis. The characteristics of the industrial minerals and the industrial minerals industry are reviewed and the significance of logistics, customer requirements, technology and marketing are discussed. Implications in relation to resources/reserves terminology are considered with phosphate rock used as an example. It is concluded that industrial mineral projects as a consequence of technology and market dependence in particular can give a high level of investment risk. The industry, however, offers most interesting and challenging employment opportunities for geologists, mineral engineers and economists.

Jan 1, 1988

By S H. Algie, D P. Taplin, S G. Doig

"Suboptimal performance of clusters of hydrocyclones (cyclones), relative to the performance of the individual cyclones that comprise the cluster, is a common phenomenon. The primary cause is well known: uneven distribution of the slurry feed into the individual cyclones. The direct result of uneven distribution is that each cyclone in a cluster performs somewhat differently. Hence, some, if not all, of them do not work at their intended operating points, and the classification is not as sharp as intended. The impact on grade, recovery and milling efficiency will vary depending on the duty of the processing circuit, but the most immediately apparent consequence of uneven distribution is a difference in wear rates in the individual cyclones; this exacerbates the problems of unequal performance of the individual cyclones. In severe cases, and as differential wear proceeds, flows from the individual cyclones may become visibly different. Uneven distribution, once the phenomenon was identified, was seen to be a significant issue in the high-solids hydrocyclone cluster in the ball mill recycle section of Evolution Mining’s Edna May Operation (EMO, Westonia, Western Australia) gold processing plant. In 2012, a FloCEP® hydrocyclone feed distributor system was installed to alleviate the problem. Over the next four years of operation, this innovation has proven its value in the metallurgical and maintenance areas. Individual cyclones now wear at the same rate, greatly reducing the need for operator intervention, as well as increasing overall plant availability through minimising unplanned maintenance. The costs of the installation can be justified by savings in maintenance alone, though the greatest value, as is described in this paper, is in allowing the plant to produce consistently closer to its operational design limits. The FloCEP® system is a low maintenance, readily installed retrofit, based on two patented devices that are combined with complementary proprietary design methodology allowing customisation for specific flow rates and slurry particle properties. Together, these devices produce and distribute a pseudo-homogenous slurry flow without moving parts.Citation:Taplin, D P, Doig, S G and Algie, S H, 2016. Experience with FloCEP® Slurry Flow Conditioning at Evolution Mining's Edna May Operation, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2016, pp 251–260 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Oct 10, 2016

By J G. McLellan, B Miller

Copper and Gold mineralisation at the Ernest Henry deposit is bound by two controlling shears along the hanging wall and footwall margins. The shear zone geometries have been influenced by a large diorite intrusion, dated at ca. 1660 Ma, which lies to the north-east and south-west of the main orebody. The shear zones, which partitioned strain prior to the main mineralising event ca. 1514–1504 Ma, and in conjunction with adjacent regional structures, have been a critical factor in the deposit location and geometry. Conventional exploration techniques have been utilised proximal to the current deposit since the initial discovery in order to expand upon known resources, with limited success. However, new geomechanical modelling techniques have now been employed to target structurally controlled mineralised zones in three dimensions. The main aim of the geomechanical modelling was to simulate the effects of regional deformation events to highlight areas of anomalous strain, which indicate areas with a higher likelihood of fluid focusing and mineralisation potential. This project was focused on testing the latter stages of a D3 event (NE-SW compression) to examine preconditioning of the system, and a D4 event (SE-NW compression) which have ultimately been responsible for the current location of the mineralisation.CITATION:McLellan, J G and Miller, B, 2017. Geomechanical modelling of the Ernest Henry iron oxide copper gold deposit – identifying fluid pathways to predict potential mineralised zones, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 75–82 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 20, 2017

By L Thorburn

In 2009, the Queensland Government developed a series of amendments to environmental authorities (EAs) for mines throughout the Fitzroy Basin in response to studies that assessed the cumulative impacts of mine water discharges in the basin. One of the key amendments was the requirement for all mines in the Fitzroy Basin to develop and implement a receiving environment monitoring program (REMP). The intent of the REMPs was to provide baseline information on the condition of the receiving environments of the mines and any impacts resulting from release of mine-affected water. Since this time, the requirement to complete a REMP has been incorporated into new or revised EAs for mines (including metalliferous mines) in other regions, as well as for other industries that discharge to natural watercourses (such as coal seam gas). This paper discusses the approaches that can be used to incorporate biological monitoring and direct toxicity assessments into REMPs. It highlights the importance of collecting biological data using sound experimental design principles to investigate whether releases resulted in environmental harm; and the use of monitoring data, coupled with direct toxicity assessments, for setting more realistic, site-specific trigger values and release limits (compared to the default guidelines such as Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), which may not be appropriate to the region). Implementation of a robust REMP can maximise outcomes for both the proponents and the environment.CITATION:Thorburn, L, 2013. Receiving environment monitoring programs - making the most out of biological indicators and direct toxicity assessments for monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013 , pp 143-148 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 26, 2013

New Developments in Spirals and Spiral Plant Operations Records indicate that spiral separators have been utilised in mineral separation for over 100 years. The Spiral's predecessor, the sluice, has been in use for centuries in different forms and a spiral can be thought of as a sluice wound around a column. The spiral separator is distinguished from the straight sluice, and other flowing film separators, in uniquely introducing centrifugal motion. The elegance of the spiral concept was embraced due to significantly improved separation efficiencies, ease of operation and tolerance of variation in feed conditions. Advances in spiral technology have improved the metallurgical performance, modernised the materials of construction, increased unit capacities and simplified operation. These advances have ensured that spirals continue to play a major industry role amidst other advancing and competing technologies. Recent developments in spiral and spiral plant technology include: the launch of the VHG spiral model, specifically aimed at feeds with very high levels of high-density mineral particles; the introduction of a high capacity wash water spiral model; and innovations in feed stabilisation and control. Details of these developments are presented together with the resultant operational benefits including feed stabilisation, product control and improved metallurgical performances.

Sep 13, 2010