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By E. O. Reinbold, J. H. Johnson, D. E. Keski-Hynnila

A field laboratory for use in monitoring underground mine air quality has been developed and proven in underground service. The laboratory includes two separate monitoring systems and data analysis computer programs. One is the Mine Air Monitoring Laboratory (MAML). This is an enclosed trailer-mounted laboratory capable of monitoring CO2, CO, NO, NO2 particulate matter, S02, NH3, temperature and air velocity in the mine drift. The MAML can be up to 1000 feet away from the area being monitored. The second system is the vehicle data system, mounted on the load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicle, which monitors engine speed, engine fuel rack position, exhaust gas temperature, ambient temperature, vehicle speed, CO2 concentration near the operators' breathing zone and the mode of operation of the vehicle. The two computer data analysis programs and the two field instrument systems comprise a complete Mine Air Quality Laboratory (MAQL) for underground pollutant studies. Data from the systems have been used for studying vehicle duty cycles, ventilation systems, exhaust after-treatment devices, vehicle exhaust system design and portable instrumentation. Descriptions of the laboratory are presented along with a summary of some of the experiments performed. The capabilities of the lab are discussed, along with future potential uses.

Jan 1, 1981

By Peter F. Weiss

INTRODUCTION Austro-American Magnesite Co. of Radenthein, Carinthia, Austria, is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Refractories Company, Bala Cynwyd, USA, and has been incorporated since 1908. The raw material basis is the magnesite mine on Millstatt Alp, located in the mountains near Radenthein at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level. The mined crude magnesite is crushed in a surface crushing plant to minus 35 mm and consequently hauled to the processing plant in the valley by means of a cable conveyor of 7.5 km length. The annual production of 350,000 mt is accomplished with 20 supervisors and 122 workers (of those 60 are in the mine). The labor requirement for block caving is 0.2 man hr/mt, corresponding to an output of 40 mt/man/ shift. GEOLOGY The rock in this area mainly consists of crystalline type schist. There are mostly coarse crystalline garnet mica schists with varying mineral concentrations, and to a lesser degree, some deposits of amphibolite and marble. This petrographically rather homogeneous rock is divided into numerous different tectonic units (covers and scales). The magnesite deposit itself is a foreign body that also has been tectonically inserted. The ore body has a length of 600 m, is 450 m deep, and has a thickness of 60 m on average, varying substantially however, The contact with the accessory rock is very precise. The deposit 1 = ore body, 2 = previous open pit, 3 = caved in area, 4 = block under excavation, 5 = land slide consists of coarse crystalline magnesite in excess of 90 per cent. The few impurities consist of dolomite and talc. The lower part of the deposit is inclined parallel with the schists at approx. 40 degrees. In profile it can be seen, however, that the upper part of the deposit has been tilted over. This is a result of a post-glacial land slide reaching from the bottom of the valley at 1400 m above sea level to the peak of the mountain at 2100 m above sea level. Due to this land slide, with horizontal movements of up to 100 meters, as well as older tectonic events, the rock was crushed to a vast extent. Through mining, the land slide was reactivated; about 40 million cubic meters of rock slowly flow downhill almost like a plasticized mass. Near the surface, the rock is completely crushed and resembles a glacier rupture zone. This renders the originally impermeable rock completely water permeable so that practically all of the annual quantity of 1000 to 1100 mm of precipitation permeates the rock and flows down into the mine. The carbonate rock turns into the preferred aquifer. From 1700 to 2600 cubic meters of water have to be pumped from the mine daily. On one hand, additional problems are caused by the water in the mine, on the other hand we have learned to make use of the down- hill pressure forces to improve the crushing process during block caving. The boundary of the downhill shearing zone moves downward as mining goes deeper.

Jan 1, 1981

By Pieter W. Greeff, Graeme W. Mitchell

INTRODUCTION This paper describes the underground environmental planning parameters developed for Pancontinental Mining Limited's Jabiluka uranium deposit. The deposit is located 230 km east of Darwin in the Alligator Rivers region of the Northern Territory, Australia. The deposit is situated within land subject to an Aboriginal land claim, adjacent to a National Park and within a proposed extension to that National Park, as well as being close to a long- established Aboriginal reserve. In addition, being the first large underground uranium mine planned in Australia, the environmental considerations, both on surface and underground are considerable. Pancontinental is committed to the highest practicable standard of environmental management in the operation of the mine. In addition, Government regulations and requirements are particularly stringent by world standards. The underground environmental problems are discussed later in the paper with emphasis placed upon radiation aspects, both gamma and radon daughters, and dust. Consideration has also been given to heat and humidity due to the location of the deposit in a sub-tropical region 12° south of the equator. The paper explains how these environmental factors influence the design and selection of stoping methods. GEOLOGY AND ORE RESERVES The Jabiluka Two orebody is completely overlain by flat-bedded Kombolgie Sandstone with a thin layer of surficial colluvial sands. The orebody occurs in an east-west striking folded succession of Lower Proterozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Cahill Formation. Uraninite and pitchblende constitute essentially all the uranium mineralisation and are contained in the four lithological series, as shown in Fig. 1. - ,Upper Graphite Series - Main Mine Series - Lower Mine Series 1 - Lower Mine Series 2 The succession at Jabiluka has been folded and forms an east-south-east striking, asymmetric syncline-anticline which dips south and plunges to the east. A major fault bisects Jabiluka Tw8 having a north-south trend and dipping about 80 to the west. A near vertical tourmaline granitic pegmatite dyke up to 30 m in thickness has intruded the Jabiluka Two orebody at the western end. Current drilled ore reserves for Jabiluka Two are 52.0 million tonnes at 0.39% U308. Included in these reserves are 1.1 million tonnes of gold ore at 10.7 g/tonne. A large proportion of the orebody can be mined in thick sections (over 80% of tonnage) either as single sections or by bulking a number of thin sections which are close together.

Jan 1, 1981

By D. W. Carson, R. J. Trembley

Thoron daughter WL&apos;s measured by alpha-spectroscopy and the Kusnetz method are about one-half those of radon daughter WL&apos;s in a uranium mine in Canada.1 A diffusion model can account for the relative concentrations.l Since the Kusnetz technique is most widely used for measuring radon daughter WL&apos;s in uranium mines, a general procedure is derived to extend this method to measurement of WL&apos;s of radon and thoron daughters in air containing their mixtures. Coté P. and Townsend M.G., 1981. A procedure is also suggested for counting radon and thoron daughters by 3-channel [a]-spectroscopy. Errors in WL(Rn) are calculated for standard radon daughter counting procedures when a-decay of both thoron and radon daughters is attributed to radon daughters alone. Providing overall counting times are short, [<]30 min, these errors are generally small. The precision of ß -counting methods is also investigated. A portable 3-channel alpha spectrometer for measurement of radon and thoron daughters in uranium mines or homes is described, Carson D.W., 1979. The computer programs for analyzing the data to give, depending on the mode employed, some or all of the concentrations RaA, RaB, RaC, ThB, ThC and WL of radon and thoron daughters by alpha spectrometric, modified Kusnetz, Rolle and Tsivolglov methods are presented.(l) A commercial apparatus, based on the above prototype, incorporating a microprocessor and built under contract to EMR is now available.(2) A number of personal radiation dosimeters for miners are now being tested in mines. One of these is the CEA dosimeter which uses the track-etch film method, Duport P., Chapuis A.M. and Pradel J., 1979. An apparatus for rapid reading of track-etch films by the spark technique has been described previously, Cross W.G. and Thomasino L., 1970 and Huang V.F., 1975. We have developed such an apparatus for rapid semi-automatic reading of films exposed to radiation from mixtures of radon and thoron daughters in CEA dosimeters. The films used, Kodak LR 115 Type II Strippable, may be stripped rapidly and easily, for counting after irradiation and developing, by use of a special punch and suction technique. The method promises to provide an inexpensive and rapid technique for reading large quantities of personal dosimeter films. However, the present CEA dosimeter has faults in design, leading to a contamination problem. Those films that show contamination cannot be read by automatic means. A commercial apparatus based on the above prototype spark counter and built under contract to EMR is now available.3 1. These computer programs are available on request. 2. Pylon Instruments, Ottawa 3. Bondar Clegg, Co. Ltd., Ottawa. REFERENCES Carson, D.W., 1979, "Canalph-3, a Portable Three-Channel Alpha-Spectrometer for Measuring the Daughter Products of Radon and Thoron", CANMET Division Report MRP/MSL 79-108 (TR). Coté, P. and Townsend, M.G., 1981, "Mixtures of Radon and Thoron Daughters in Underground Atmospheres", Health Physics, Vol. 40, pp 5-16. Cross, W.G. and Thomasino, L., 1970, "Rapid Reading Technique for Nuclear Particles Damage Tracks in Thin Foils", Radiation Effects, Vol. 15, pp 85-89. Duport, P., Chapuis, A.M. and Pradel, J., 1979, "Appareil Individuel pour lu Dosimetrie des Descendants du Radon", Advances in Radiation Protection Monitoring, IAEA Vienna, pp 435-443. Huang, Y.F., 1975, "Determination of Uranium in Minerals using Fission Tracks", M. Sc. Thesis, University of Toronto, 48 pp.

Jan 1, 1981

One of the best known of the early mining districts of Nevada was that at Eureka, where gold was first produced in 1864. While the most productive period for the district was during the early 1900s, production was maintained until World War II. During this time it is said that the Eureka district produced as much as $200 million from over 3,200 km (2,000 miles) of tunnels and workings. The Windfall Mine was discovered in 1902; and a 100 ton cyanide plant was operated there during the periods 1907 to 1912 and 1932 to 1940. Since 1974, however, Windfall Venture has been operating a unique heap leaching facility on the site of the old Windfall Mine. Gold at the Windfall occurs primarily in the Cambrian Hamburg dolomite which has been "sanded" and in which the original cementing material has been destroyed. The gold is micron sized and is accompanied by anomalous amounts of arsenic and mercury; however, the ore is low in base metals which distinguishes it from the typical Eureka district ores. Mining the ore causes it to break down into very fine sizes, approximately 50% minus 150 microns (100 mesh). Conventional heap leaching by spraying proved to be impossible; and extensive test work on alternate methods, aided by the United States Bureau of Mines, was conducted using 9 m (30 ft) high columns and then large tonnage heaps. The leaching procedure adopted was to build 10.6 m (35 ft) high heaps on a 50 mm (2 in.) asphalt pad covered with a layer of gravel for drainage assisted by perforated pipe drains and gravel-packed sumps. A berm is constructed around the top of each pad and cyanide solution is allowed to “pond” on top of the heap. The resulting percolation is at the rate of 24 liters per sq m per hr (0.6 gal per sq ft per hr), a figure about 2.4 times the average used in other heap leaching operations. The dolomite furnishes its own protective alkalinity and no lime or caustic is used in the solution which contains 0.4 kg per mt (0.8 lb per st) of NaCN. Pregnant solution from the heaps averages about 0.7 g Au per mt (0.02 oz per st) with a cyanide content of about 0. 2 kg per mt (0.4 lb per st) and a pH of plus 9. Addition of NaCN brings the pH of the leach solution up to 11 to 12. Carbon adsorption of the gold was originally done in six enclosed columns mounted in a trailer but five conventional columns have been substituted as the size of the operations has increased. Carbon stripping is with hot caustic, cyanide and 10% ethanol solution. The

Jan 1, 1981

By Clifford Britch

"Kaiser Resources Ltd. has completed feasibility studies resulting in approval of $277,500,000 for the construction of the Greenhills Surface Coal Mine, located 35 km north of Sparwood, B.C. The mine is designed to produce 1,800,000 tonnes per year of metallurgical coal over a 20-year period by conventional truck /shovel methods.The project is in the detailed design phase, with some preparation work being carried out on the site. The major construction activities are scheduled to commence in the spring of 1981. Mine development and pre-stripping will commence in July 1981, with first coal production scheduled for mid 1983.This paper will be a general description of the project and will include a discussion of the geology, reserves, mine planning, coal handling and processing, surface facilities and related topics.IntroductionProject DefinitionThe Greenhills Project is designed to produce, by conventional truck I shovel surface mining methods, 1,800,000 clean tonnes of metallurgical coal per year for twenty years . The production/ life constraints were chosen as being meaningful for planning and evaluation purposes after appraisal of the market potential and are not limited .by economic reserves. Substantial additional strippable reserves are available which would facilitate expansion of the proposed mine life and/ or capacity. In fact , all the facilities are designed so that they can be expanded in the future to accommodate a doubling of annual coal production, and certain portions of the coal processing facilities are being installed with an annual capacity of 3,600,000 tonnes. The mine will also produce approximately 2,400,000 clean tonnes of oxidized thermal coal, mostly in the first decade."

Jan 1, 1981

By Dan Crackel, G. G. Ramos, Mark Heisel

INTRODUCTION Feasibility studies indicated that a cratering type stoping method was best suited to the character of the first ore block at Carr Fork. This method known as vertical crater retreat (VCR) has since been modified to a combination cratering and deck blasting using VCR drop raises for initial undercut development . The modified form retains many of the advantages of VCR while allowing high tonnage production blasts which have offset many of the disadvantages. FIRST CONCEPTS AND PREMISES Geologic Considerations The Steep Highland Boy (SHB) skarn orebody, the first of several blocks being developed, is a steeply dipping 70° to 90° limb of a syncline, with a width averaging 25 m (82 ft). The bed has a consistent east-west strike length of over 400 m (1300 ft) and extends from the surface to depths of over 1000 m (3300 ft). The footwall is highly fractured quartzite and the hanging wall grades from garneti te to limes tone and hornfe 1s. Because of the limestone in the hanging wall, the hanging wall appears more competent than the footwall. The ore is garnetite with lenses of massive sulphide and magnetite. The quartzite footwall is highly fractured not only because of the bedding but also due to the folding and intrusion of the quartz monzonite. This irregular footwall outline of some stopes in- creases the likelihood of excessive dilution. The principal ore mineral is chalcopyrite with some bornite. The garnetite ore is quite variable in terms of compressive strength and drillability. In addition to the sulphide and magnetite lenses, it is transected by clay- altered dikes and major and minor north-east faults. TABLE (1) gives the range and mean strengths of the rocks. Investigating Mining Methods Initial consideration of a suitable mining method centered around maximum safety and efficiency with minimum potential dilution. The following major methods were considered and investigated. Cut and fill mining was eliminated because of low productivity, the cost and problems associated with providing fill, and the relatively unsafe nature of the method. Sublevel caving was rejected due to the unpredictable cavability of the waste and the geometry of the ore body. Conventional sublevel or blasthole methods require excessive development, as fan and ring drills are limited to efficient drilling in the 18 to 25 m range (60 to 80 ft). Mining downdip with equipment drilling small diameter holes would have required eight separate extraction/drill horizons with crosscuts and associated excavation in the main ore block. The use of down the hole (DTH) machines cap- able of drilling 165 m (6g in) diameter holes

Jan 1, 1981

By Lowell T. Harmison

I appreciate very much the invitation to speak with you and the opportunity of bringing you messages from both the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Assistant Secretary for Health/Acting Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you (the organizers of this Conference) on identifying the critical issues in the field and assembling such a broad array of experts to address them. I would like to present a brief view of the emerging framework for health that puts into perspective some of the aspirations of the Administration and to highlight several points with regard to prevention and occupational health. The goals are: 1. To improve the overall health status of our people. (This has been and will remain the National policy regarding health.); 2. To engage the Nation in the important effort of enhancing public health. (This is not reserved exclusively for the activity of the Federal Government or for State Governments. Public health has to be a cooperative effort that brings together all of the people engaged in the process of serving the people.); and 3. To pledge that health care will not be priced out of anyone&apos;s reach because of inflation. (It is clear that there are major tasks of bringing about economic recovery in our country. One aspect of this effort is to guard against the cost of health care not being allowed to rise beyond the reach of persons who need that care.) "How will these goals be achieved and what must change in the delivery of health and medical care in our society?" There are a number of real issues as well as perceptions that adversely affect the attainment of these goals: First, The cost of medical care is soaring and the public, industry unions and other elements of our society are becoming concerned. (They recognize the problem and are demanding a solution.); Second, There is a growing concern about the priorities that have been set. (For example, the evidence that preventive interventions are the most effective approach is overwhelming, yet medicine has not yet given that a high priority.); and Third, There is the perception that physicians do too much to too many people at too great a cost and that too much and too costly technologies are used. In view of the perceptions, we all must accept some changes and the challenges that needed changes will bring. A month before the new budget went to Congress, President Reagan went on nationwide television and told the American people that, "It is time to recognize that we have come to a turning point and we are threatened with an economic calamity of tremendous proportion and the [old business as usual treatment can&apos;t save us. Together we must chart a new course]." Now eight months down the road from this and a long Spring and Summer of discussion both within the Executive Branch and in the Congress, many plans and programs and concepts have emerged. The new course has been charted and the turning point has been made. Business as usual has been put aside and the Administration&apos;s leadership has been stretched and tested in putting forth a better approach with the reality that money is tight and that old habits of delivering care are difficult to change. The Congress has now given us a look at a new health budget that takes into account some of the harsh economic realities and that does make allowances for the persistence of familiar behavior. Against this background, it is now possible to begin addressing ways to provide health services to people at a price the Nation can afford to pay. There are without question difficult decisions involved but the Administration is committed to supporting and improving health care in America. It has been the President&apos;s contention that one of the principal causes of the inflationary spiral in the country was the steady and indefensible growth of the Federal budget. The problem stems from the fact that we have been living well, but beyond our means for nearly 30 years. Now we are discovering that there is a bottom to the barrel after all. It is possible for our society to run out of things like energy (oil), water or money. The health bills must be paid -- by Government, by insurance, by parents or by someone. Each year with a bigger shopping list and more money to spend the Federal Government went into the marketplace to buy. This action altered the

Jan 1, 1981

By A. Liard, H. Sommelet, G. Sauriol

"Description des études qui ant conduit à la conception spécifique du système de drainage de la mine à ciel ouvert. Les approches différentes sont examinées ainsi que la valeur du système recommande.IntroductionLa Division Mines Gaspé de Mines Noranda Ltée exploite un gisement de cuivre par mine souterraine et mine à ciel ouvert à Murdochville, Québec. L&apos;exploitation par mine aciel ouvert a commencé en 1965 avec une operation à flanc de montagne. Elle se poursuit actuellement sous Ie niveau de la vallée dans une fosse dont Ie diamètre est de I&apos;ordre de 800 m (2,600 pi), et la profondeur de 150 m (500 pi) sou s Ie fond de la vallee. Elle doit atteindre une profondeur de 360 m (l, 180 pi) sous Ie fond de la vallee , avec des murs hauts de 360 à 490 m et des pentes moyenne de 44°. Le rythrne d&apos;extraction est actuellement de 85,000 tonnes par jour.Dans Ie cadre des etudes entreprises par les Services Techniques de la Division Mines Gaspé, la compagnie Géomines Ltée a été consultée pour étudier les conditions hydrogéologiques et hydrologiques locales et participer a la conception d&apos;un système de drainage superficiel et souterr ain. Un tel systerne de drainage visait: a éviter les importantes venues d&apos;eau qu i affectent I&apos;exploitation en periode de crue; amaintenir les pressions hydrostatiques au sein des parois de la fosse dans les limites imposees par les etudes de stabilite des pentes réalisees par la Mine.Les principales étapes de cette etude ont porté sur: la collecte et la compilation des données sur la géologie, l&apos;hydrologie et l&apos;hydrogeologie du site; . la détermination des caractéristiques hydrauliques du milieu rocheux à partir d&apos;études structurales et de test s de perméabilité;"

Jan 1, 1981

By Samuel G. Vera

INTRODUCTION The Climax Mine is a property of Climax Molybdenum Company, a division of AMAX Inc. Climax is located in the central part of the Colorado Mineral Belt on the west slope of the Tenmile Range, Lake County, Colorado at 3,425&apos; m. above sea level. Climax Mine, the largest single producer of molybdenum in the free world, has been a cornerstone of mining in the State of Colorado for many years. Before molybdenum was known, the early hunters of gold and silver laid their hands on the outcrops of the Climax deposit and left it as low quality lead or graphite without much value. Today, 44,000 TPD of ore is extracted from the heart of Bartlett Mountain. The molybdenum, separated from the ore, is vital for mankind, being used for everything from fertilizer to fine components of aerospace ships, because of its valuable physical and chemical properties. The operations at Climax have never remained static. Constant demand for the "gray gold", and technological advancements, have converted Climax into an "open book of technology", where learning the still-hidden secrets of mining is a continuing process. (All figures related to tons are metric tons) BRIEF HISTORY The mine produced its first molybdenum ore in 1918. It was shut down in 1919, resumed production in 1924, and has been in continuous production since that time. During World War 11, a peak of 20,000 tons per day was reached, then tonnage dropped from 1945 to 1950. Since 1951, production has been in- creasing, reaching a peak of 46,000 tons per day during the month of June, 1980. Early mining used shrinkage stoping. Block caving using the grizzly system was introduced in the early 1930&apos;s. Caving methods were improved through empirical studies of rock behavior and by trial and error, evolving a very efficient mining method by the late 1940&apos;s. This form of continuous retreat panel caving, with small modifications, is still used today, and has made the Climax Mine one of the biggest underground mines in the world. The Climax Mine, synonymous with molybdenum, was essentially an underground mine until 1973 when the open pit was introduced. Since then, both mining methods have operated successfully. Current production is 60% from underground, and the remaining from the open pit. Climax has been in continuous operation for 56 years, and as of December 31, 1980, more than 386 million tons of ore have been mined. The orebody is not fully defined, and at the present mining rate, the known life span of the mine will be to the year 2020. GEOLOGY The Climax deposit is a large low-grade porphyry molybdenum deposit somewhat similar to porphyry copper deposits, with a well- mineralized quartz molybdenum stock work sys- tem. It lies within the pre-Cambrian granites and schists and the Tertiary Climax porphyry. The age of mineralization is thought to be mid-Tertiary and is characterized by fracture filling and replacement through silicification. The main economic mineral is molybdenum, with pyrite, cassiterite and wolframite as by-products. Fluorite and topaz also occur, but are not recovered at this

Jan 1, 1981

By W. Clark Ashby

Trees are an essential ingredient of sound reclamation in nearly all surface mining regions. There are, however, possible problems in current reclamation regulations and practices which need to be evaluated and remedied. Recognition and accomodation of growth requirements for trees and other plants will greatly increase reclamation success. Surface mining encompasses a series of processes from a pre-mining baseline study to bond release following revegetation. Land owners, and society, have a great interest in subsequent plant growth on reclaimed areas and in future land values.

Jan 1, 1981

By G. A. Savanick

The Bureau of Mines has designed, fabricated, and field tested a water jet cutting device capable of perforating nonmetallic well casings for the purpose of completing or stimulating in situ uranium leaching wells. The device is lowered into the wellbore, where it issues a high-velocity water jet that penetrates either a polyvinyl chloride or fiberglass casing, cement, and from 1 to 4 feet into the surrounding uraniferous sandstone. The resulting perforations allow leaching solution to pass between the sandstone and the wellbore. This report describes the water jet perforator, tells how it is used, presents cost data, and discusses the results of laboratory and field tests. The tests were designed to (1) determine the optimum operating conditions for water jet perforation, (2) assess the effects of changes in these conditions, (3) evaluate the performance of the water jet perforator under actual conditions, and (4) compare this method with other methods of well completion. These tests showed that water jet perforation is superior to conventional well completion methods for selectively achieving communication between the well-bore and adjacent sand while maintaining sand control, for restoring permeability lost through wellbore damage, for stimulating poorly performing wells for completing wells with casings that have inside diameters as small as 2 inches, and for extending the effective well diameter.

Jan 1, 1981

By John M. Karhnak

The Bureau of Mines has a long history of research in Ground Control. For many years, this work was done at Bureau facilities by Bureau researchers. As the tiles changed, however, the area of research interest broadened, and additional methods of implementation, such as con- tracts, were added. &apos;Ibis paper outlines the organization, goals, and methods of implementation of the Bureau Ground Control Program, along with procedures for project selection. This program organization is followed by several specific examples of Bureau research that will be soon ready for use in the mines.

Jan 1, 1981

By T. C. Vogt

The past history of uranium production has been dominated by strip and shaft mining methods, but recently in-situ leaching has emerged as a viable alternative for uranium recovery. (1-8) Mobil was the first company to start in-situ uranium leaching in New Mexico. Mobil&apos;s Crownpoint project areas are in Mdinley County and are part of the Grants Mineral Belt. The major uranium deposits in this area occur in the Westwater Canyon Member of the Jurassic Morrison Formation. (9-11) The ore depth at the Crownpoint project is about 2000 ft. In an earlier paper we discussed the uranium mineralogy of an areally broad sampling of Crown- point ore. (12) The organic carbonaceous material often associated with the coffinite ore was characterized in some detail. The organic material appeared to be a very mature, coaly-type kerogen derived from plant components. This result was consistent with other studies on such carbonaceous material. (13-15)

Jan 1, 1981

By R. J. Lloyd

INTRODUCTION The Mount Isa Mine is a large modern underground mine located in North-Western Queensland, Australia. Two ore types are mined and treated separately. Currently silver-lead-zinc ore is mined at the rate of 2.6 million tonnes per annum and copper ore at the rate of 4.6 million tonnes per annum. The silver-lead-zinc orebodies are mined by sub level open stoping and cut and fill methods whilst all copper ore is extracted by various forms of sub level open stoping. The mining operations are highly mechanised and utilise diesel powered load-haul-dump units of various sizes, two and three boom face drilling jumbos, electric-hydraulic rotary-percussive ring drills, in-the-hole hammer drills, rotary blasthole drills, raiseborers, battery/trolley locomotives, a large fleet of rubber tyred service and supply vehicles plus light rockdrills mounted on airlegs, rail mounted overshot shovels and battery and diesel powered locomotives. All stoping production ore is extracted with diesel powered load-haul-dump units. The ore is tipped into orepasses which connect to the main rail haulage levels. On the haulage levels electric battery/trolley locomotives are used to pull rakes of bottom dump or side dump trucks which feed the ore into primary crushers. Following two stage crushing the ore is conveyed to the shaft and hoistod to surface in bottom dump skips. Each ore stream has its own rail transport system, crushing stations and hoisting shaft feeding separate concentrators. This paper will consider some aspects of the role of equipment and machinery in the growth of the mine, will discuss in some detail the machinery and equipment in use today and will conclude with a look at some possible developments in mining equipment for the future, with particular reference to the Mount Isa Mine. A summary of mining equipment in use at Mount Isa is given in the Appendix. THE PAST Silver-lead-zinc ore was discovered at Mount Isa in 1923 and within a very short time many small mines were being developed. However the rich surface ore traces did not continue and by 1928 Mount Isa Mines Limited had acquired sufficient leases to plan for a large scale mine to exploit the low grade orebodies. At this early stage it was recognised that the mine would need to adopt the most mechanised mining techniques then available in order to overcome its twin disadvantages of low graaes and extreme remoteness. The Company introduced bar mounted drifters and overshot shovels to replace hammer and tap and hand shovelling in development work and by 1930 headings were advancing at the rate of 30 metres per week. In keeping with the concept of mechanisation the early engineers designed the Man and Supply shaft with a very large, for those days, cage compartment measuring 3.8 m x 3.4 m. This shaft was the main means of access into the mine for 36 years until the K57 shaft (now R62 shaft) was commissioned in 1966. Man and Supply is still in regular use. Production commenced in 1931 at an annual rate of approximately 660 000 tonnes of silver-lead-zinc ore. The mine was mechanised to an extent which was previously unknown in Australia; whilst the concentrator, smelter and power house utilised the most modern and efficient equipment available. Even so, the mine was very near to closure on several occasions and did not return a dividend to its shareholders for many years. Production levels remained at or slightly below 660 000 tonnes until a separate copper ore streani and mill was commissioned in 1953, doubling the existing production levels. The first underground crushers were installed at this time. Production rates expanded in the years between 1953 and 1973. By 1960 production reached 2740 000 tonnes of ore. In 1965-66 total production was 3650 000 tonnes and in 1973 the production rate plateaued at the current level.

Jan 1, 1981

By C. L. Pillar

INTRODUCTION The location, size, character of the ore de- posit and its adjacent formations will deter- mine the mining system best used for its ex- traction. The mining system chosen will have to be engineered to suit the ore deposit and the people that will extract it. What can be done in the Philippines cannot always be accomplished in the upper Northwest Territory of Canada. Mining operations developed under a free enterprise system are planned to achieve a satisfactory return on the capital required to place them into production. Hence, the choices made in planning and developing the mining system must be dictated by sound economics. The mining system planned must favor: 1. Maximum ore extraction of the deposit with minimal grade dilution. 2. The amount of capital expenditure used to develop and equip the mine must be in harmony with the financial policy of the group yet be sufficient to provide a reliable mining system. Excessive frills and extras that are not required for efficient, safe production should not be provided. 3. Mine production costs are determined by the amount of men, material, equipment and energy used in the production process. These must be kept to minimal limits in order to insure dependable, low cost production. Extras that later are needed in the production operation can be added as required by the operator. Basically block caving is a mining system that is normally used to extract deep seated, massive, low grade deposits of copper, molybdenum and iron where stripping ratios for open cast mining are economically prohibited. The caving system is limited in its selectivity. It is a mass production type of underground ore extraction that under favorable conditions is one of the most efficient, low cost mining systems in the world today. Usually block cave mining systems are large. They are capable of producing ore at a rate of 10,000 to 100,000 tons/day from large deposits at costs that are comparable with many open cast mining systems burdened by high waste to ore ratios. Block cave mining systems differ basically in the plan of the area layout, the method of undercutting and the method of draw. The balance of the mining system is the mechanical transportation of the drawn ore to the surface, the mine supply, drainage and ventilation systems. This paper deals mainly with the methods of draw. The method of draw to be used in a block caving system dictates the development plan of the mining area, is highly influential in the method of undercutting to be employed and the supply and ventilation system to be used. There are three basic methods of draw commonly used in today&apos;s operations. They are: Gravity draw Slusher draw LHD draw The type of draw planned will have a major affect on: Capital expenditure and time required to bring a deposit into production. Productivity, efficiency and cost of the production operation. Percent recovery of the ore deposit in both tonnage and grade. Degree of production reliability Fundamentally the type-of draw used must be compatible with the physical characteristics of the deposit to be extracted and the financial position of the mining operation. The type of draw chosen must work to advantage with the size, configuration, depth, strength and fracture pattern of the deposit and its adjacent formations. It must favor the financial protection of the planned mining operation. A Gravity Method of Draw requires a finely fragmented, easy flowing product from the caving action of the deposit. To obtain the desired economic advantage the ore deposit must also have sufficient area and height of column to permit minimal development cost on a per ton basis. The gravity system re- quires the maximum amount of development openings and uses the minimum amount of mechanized equipment of all the caving systems. It is unskilled, labor-intensive and is highly sensitive to size of ore fragmen-

Jan 1, 1981

By A. R. MacPherson

The procedure to arrive at an energy efficient autogenous grinding plant is carried out in the following steps: First Step - Determine power requirements to grind a particular ore. This work carried out on small samples ground in a 450 mm diameter Aerofall Hill and the results are checked against a standard Bond Index test. Second Step - A bulk sample from the ore zone is ground in a 1.8 m diameter pilot mill. This work is carried on until the power objectives as indicated from the first step have been realized. Third Step - Correlate the pilot mill data, with the data from the numerous samples ground in the small 450 mm mill and arrive at design criteria for the commercial plant. Ensure commercial mill design will be suitable to obtain similar results as those obtained in the pilot mill.

Jan 1, 1981

By Potter OE

There appears to have been a swing away from the study of mathematics, the physical sciences, foreign languages and the classical humanities subjects by many students in high schools in Victoria. The same trend is believed to be occurring in other states as well. This has the direct result of many students entering tertiary studies inadequately prepared academically. This is particularly true in engineering and commerce. The position as far as postgraduate training in the areas of concern to the minerals industry is critical with almost no Australian nationals undertaking advanced technological studies.

Jan 1, 1981

By Shepherd J

Megascopic and microscopic studies of cleats and mining induced cleavage in Ihe first workings at Leichhardt Colliery reveal the presence of four distinct fracture sets. Microscopic studies confirm underground observations of the fracture sets.The most likely order of formation of the fractures is (i) &quot;butt&quot; cleats (ii) facc cleats (iii) shallow dipping faults (iv) mining induced cleavage. Three fracture sets apparently formed by tensiIe failure. Microscopy shows that the mining induced cleavage surfaces have preferred starting or lerminating points at the extremity of a &quot;butt&quot; cleat and a vitrite-dull coal band boundary. It is postulated that the induced cleavage begins at &apos;butt&apos; cleats which behave as Griffith flaws under high compression around Leichhardt Colliery faces. Instantaneous outbursts of coal and gas are associated with only those workings which are affected by mining induced cleavage and occur at or adjacent to working faces.

Jan 1, 1981

By Gunn S. G, Wilson E. G

Studies by Telecom showed that the existing cable tunnel system in the Melbourne C.B.D. required expansion in order to meet the future telecommunications needs of the City. Due to physical locations of the various telephone exchanges in the CBD, together with a necessity to connect into existing ATC tunnels, a network of low cover small sized tunnels was proposed to maintain and extend the existing telephone cable network. This paper reviews the feasibility studies, design criteria and constructional aspects involved in building 5 tunnels (total length of 1850 m) and 13 chambers (4 open cut and 9 underground)-together with ancillary works, which form part of the new cable tunnel network.

Jan 1, 1981