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By P. A. Plunkert, D. E. Morse, L. McCartan, J. F. Papp

The mineral sector is a fundamental part of the U.S. economy. It contributes to the real gross domestic product (GDP) at several stages —basic (mining), intermediate processing, manufacturing of finished goods and construction. The real GDP increased by 3.5 percent from 2004 to 2005. The nominal GDP was $12.5 trillion at the end of 2005. Housing starts were up by more than 5 percent for the year, and the unemployment rate decreased to 5.1 percent in 2005 from 5.5 percent in 2004. The prime interest rate increased from 5.25 percent at the beginning of the year to 7.25 percent at the end of the year. The value of minerals mined in the United States in 2005 rose significantly because of increased unit prices for some metals —particularly molybdenum — and significantly increased production for some industrial minerals, mainly cement, construction sand and gravel, and crushed stone.

Jan 1, 2006

By D. Harrington

A uniform hoisting-signal code for mines hoisting from more than one level, if adopted by all mining States, would be beneficial to employees and owners alike and should largely reduce the number of hoisting accidents. Misunderstood hoisting signals cause many shaft accidents involving injuries to men, damage to equipment, and loss of production from the resultant delay. Many of the metal-mining States have adopted codes for hoisting that are effective within the borders of that State but usually entirely different from the signal code, if any, in use in an adjoining State. For many years safety engineers have recognized this lack of uniformity as a distinct hazard, but a uniform code has never been adopted by the States or by the mining industry in those States that have not incorporated signal codes in their mining laws or mining regulations.

Jan 1, 1944

By F Gervilla, J Laukkanen

The Kevitsa Ni-Cu-PGE deposit in northern Finland contains disseminated Ni-Cu-Fe sulfides, and platinum-group minerals (PGM). The 2.05 Ga-old ultramafic-mafic, funnel-shaped intrusion is intruded into a volcanosedimentary sequence. The major ore minerals are pentlandite, hexagonal pyrrhotite and troilite, chalcopyrite, cubanite and magnetite. Pyrrhotite and pentlandite are replaced by pyrite, millerite and heazelwoodite near the surface. Nickeline, maucherite and gersdorffite are locally abundant. A pilot feed sample of 575 t of the main orebody at Kevitsa had average grades 0.45 per cent Cu, 0.36 per cent Ni, 1.85 per cent S, 0.33 g/t Pt, 0.34 g/t Pd and 0.19 g/t Au, with 0.06 per cent Ni contained in silicates. Higher PGE contents (2 - 27 ppm) occur in a vertical N-S bearing fault zone. The PGM (n = 6022) mapped in specimens of four drill holes, consist of sperrylite 34.7 vol per cent, braggite and cooperite 18.5 vol per cent, geversite 17.2 vol per cent, moncheite 14.7 vol per cent, merenskyite 6.7 vol per cent, stibiopalladinite 4.3 vol per cent, sobolevskite 1.9 vol per cent, kotulskite 0.7 vol per cent, michenerite 0.6 vol per cent, keithconnite 0.3 vol per cent, rustenburgite 0.1 vol per cent, melonite, froodite, laurite together 0.1 vol per cent and only a few grains of sudburyite, irarsite, vysotskite, erlichmanite, hongishiite, Pt-Cu-alloys, three undefined Pd and Pt bismuthinides and antimonides and a Pd-Cu-bearing Pt-Ni-Fe sulfide. Most of the PGM, 62 per cent, are enclosed in silicates, 29 per cent are intergrown with sulfides, nine per cent are within sulfides. A portion of the PGE occurs in solid solution in sulfides and arsenides. Ni flotation yielded smelter-grade concentrates averaging 12.2 per cent nickel. The average sulfide Ni recovery is 78.8 per cent and total Ni recovery is 65.3 per cent. The average Pt is 10 g/t at 55 per cent recovery, Pd 7.7 g/t at 38 per cent recovery and Au 1.6 g/t at ten per cent recovery. Cu concentrates averaged 28.6 per cent Cu with an average recovery of 78 per cent and further 11 per cent in the nickel concentrate. The copper concentrate contains 4 g/t Au at 24 per cent recovery. The average Fe to MgO ratio 17.9 is well above the targeted minimum of 4.5. The pilot results show that the previously used TETA (triethylene tetramine) can be avoided and good quality, smelter-grade concentrates can be produced from the Kevitsa ore at economical levels of recovery by conventional flotation methods.

Jan 1, 2008

For the first time in its history, the George A. Fox Conference let its focus venture away from the friendly confines of the East Coast of the United States to spend part of the one-day conference looking at projects from around the globe. With a record-setting attendance of 377 people, the conference, titled ?Tunneling: An international perspective,? opened with a keynote speech from special guest In-Mo Lee, professor, Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. He is also the president of the ITA-AITES. In a sweeping presentation, Lee walked the packed audience through some of the most fascinating and challenging projects in his home country. Among the projects he spoke about were Korea?s longest railway tunnel, the Solahn Tunnel and the Inje Tunnel, a freeway tunnel that is 11.94 km (7.4 miles) long.

Jan 1, 2012

By T. MacKinnon, M. C. Bétournay, D. Eastick, F. C. Delabbio, C. Graves

"The successful implementation of a new technology in an underground production mine requires many challenges to be overcome. These challenges include mine hardening of new technology, mitigation of safety risks and hazards, mine operation support, and technology transfer to mine staff. In the end, the majority of these challenges relate to the human aspects of implementation. The approach selected to overcome these challenges must be customized and appropriate for each unique situation.This paper outlines the approach used to address these challenges as part of successful implementation and resulting demonstration of the hydrogen fuel cell locomotive at the Placer Dome (CLA) Limited Campbell Mine. This technology demonstration at Campbell Mine is critical for determining technical, regulatory, and implementation aspects to be incorporated into future fuel cell prototypes such as the LHD project."

Jan 1, 2005

By Wilson D, Kirkland J

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) uses low cost off-peak energy to compress air and pump it into pressurised underground storage. Expanding the air through a modified form of gas turbine generates electrical energy when required. While generating power, a CAES station consumes approximately one-third of the gas required for the equivalent installed capacity of a conventional gas turbine. Air can be stored in underground rock caverns, caverns in salt domes, or in aquifers. Existing CAES power stations use caverns mined out of salt domes. Aquifer storage for CAES has been proposed, but not yet implemented. The groundwater in the aquifer would be displaced during air injection and when required the air would be extracted using the natural hydro-static pressure. Victoria has no salt domes, but has aquifers onshore in the Gippsland Basin with geological dome structures of suitable depth, discovery pressure, porosity, permeability and caprock for CAES development. Field tests costing several million dollars would be required to prove the suitability. The most suitable aquifer is near Seaspray, where several dome structures exist. The aquifer, comprising of coarse sands capped by coal and mudstone, is some 600 metres deep with a hydrostatic pressure of 6.3 MPa. Computer simulation of injection and extraction of air from the aquifer under various combinations of horizontal and vertical wells, permeability and tubing head pressures indicated the largest aquifer structure had the capacity to sustain a 300 MW station. A well field comprising of 24 directionally driven wells with a horizontal exposure to the aquifer would achieve the air flow rates required. Using plant similar to that recently installed at McIntosh Alabama USA, would mean high capital costs compared to standard gas turbine plant. However, a review of modem gas turbines indicated that they could be easily and economically adaptated to CAES duty. Adapting a 120 MW gas turbine would give 344 MW output. A separate air compression plant would be used. Economic evaluations indicate that, for gas prices above $1.95 per GJ, a 344 MW CAES plant is more economic for intermediate/reserve load duty than simple cycle gas turbines.

Jan 1, 1992

By W. P. Yant

Canister-type gas masks Pave become an essential part of the equipment of many industries, not only for use in .emergencies, but also in performing normal operations of industrial processes and procedures, particularly where ventilation is not practically or economically feasible. They are also used widely for enhancing safety of operations which previous to the development of gas masks had been performed in harmful atmospheres. Since the inception of industrial gas masks the Bureau of Mines has been actively engaged in endeavoring to increase the efficiency and safety of these devices, and this bureau bas become a source of advice to manufacturers in producing devices of good quality and to industry in the proper selection and use of these devices. In order to give first-hand information and keep current with the demands and needs of industry it is necessary to perform investigations from time to time. This report deals with tests of certain types of commercial gas-mask canisters for protection against mercury vapor.

Jan 1, 1932

To date Iron Monarch is the most important Australian source of iron ore and since HH5 has produced about 84 million tons of direct shipping ore containing 62 per cent iron and 3 per cent manganese.Previous geological work, mainly by Rudd, Edwards and Miles is reviewed and the results of later exploration by quarrying and drilling are discussed and modified interpretations of both stratigraphy and structure are advanced. Renewed study of the mineralogy of the iron ores is advocated.The Iron Monarch orebody lies on the up-thrown side of a major transcurrent fault that truncates it on its northern boundary. The nearby Iron Knob orebody is believed to occupy a horizon that is some thousand feet stratigraphically above Iron Monarch.The origin of the ore cannot be explained by any simple theory; development probably took place over a long period of time from Lower Palaeozoic to Tertiary.INTRODUCTIONIron Monarch orebody has supplied the Australian iron and steel industry with the greater part of its ironstone requirements since the establishment of the Newcastle steelworks in 1915. Annual production of direct-shipping ore has exceeded three million tons but declined slightly after 1956 when Iron Prince was brought into production. Total production of ore from Iron Monarch to the end of 1962 is about 84,000,000 long tons containing some 55,000,000 tons of metal.The deposit (Lat. 32°44'30"S : Long. 137°08'30"E) is 34 miles north-west of Whyalla, on the western shore of Spencer Gulf. A 42 in. gauge railway connects Iron Monarch and its associated small town of Iron Knob with Whyalla (Fig. 1).For the purpose of this paper Iron Monarch includes Iron Knob and the intervening jaspilite hill known as Substation Ridge, and the description of the general geology necessarily 'Assistant Chief Geologist, The Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd.This paper was presented at the Annual Conference of The Institute, 14-24th August 1968.

Jan 1, 1964

Prominent among the ore minerals at Mt. Ellison, in the Brock's Creek district, Northern Territory, are a number of copper-bismuth sulphides wittichenite, aikinite, emplectite, in association with nativebismuth, chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, sphalerite and linnaeite.Linnaeite and aikinite formed first and were followed by native bismuth. Wittichenite was later and substantially replaces earlier minerals. Replacement of aikinite by wittichenite has produced secondaryor reaction bismuth.INTRODUCTIONThe Brock's Creek district of the Northern Territory lies to the south east of Darwin and has been the locale of intermittent mining of small but rich deposits of diverse ore type. Gold, tin, and copper ores were recovered especially between 1890 and 1910 with minor exploitation up to the present time. Copper ores were of prior importance, the main production coming from supergene enriched deposits of chalcocite.The mines are situated in strongly folded Precambrian strata comprising slates, sandstones, volcanics and amphibolites with replaced haematitic rocks (Sullivan, 1953). The strata in the Brock's Creek area immediately north of the Darwin-Birdum railway line are domed around a roughly circular granitic mass some 5 miles in diameter. The Mount Ellison mine is located near the N.E. margin of the granite in metamorphosed basic country rock.Study of a series of polished sections from Mt. Ellison revealed the presence of linnaeite, chalcopyrite, bornite, aikinite, wittichenite, emplectite, bismuth, sphalerite, and chalcocite. With the exception of sphalerite and emplectite each of these minerals is prominently developed and intimately intergrown with the other constituents.

Jan 1, 1963

By Brian W. Stump

Seismic networks provide the primary technology for monitoring compliance with a comprehensive test ban treaty. The design goal of the network is the identification of possible clandestine explosions detonated below the earth’s surface and possible in the oceans. Complementary technologies such as infrasonic, hydroaccoustic and radionucleide (particulates and noble gases) monitoring supplement the seismic monitoring covering explosions in the atmosphere and oceans. Seismic sources that will produce detectable signals will be both natural and man made in origin. Naturally occurring events include earthquakes, many of which are beneath the oceans or deeper than it is possible to drill, and volcanic eruptions. Accurate locations of such events to depths of beyond 10 km precludes consideration of these events further.

Jan 1, 1995

By K. S. Rao, R. P. Tiwari, V. K. Shrivastava

ABSRACT: In this paper numerical simulation of jointed block mass behaviour obtained in an experimental study has been presented. Singh et al. (2002) conducted extensive tests on the jointed model materials with several joint configurations. The results of this experimental study were used to validate the strength behaviour of numerical block mass model developed using professionally available software. This software basically contains different kinds of material models. From the results of numerical simulation the existence of strength anisotropy was observed. The strength anisotropy so obtained has been compared with the experimental values reported by Singh et al. (2002). The anisotropic curves in both cases are U-shaped with flat base. They show good agreement in sliding mode of failure zone in which inclination ß (= 90° - ?) of joint set-I lie between 20° to 40° for all cases of interlocking. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: In dieser numerischen Papiersimulation des verbundenen Blockmasse Verhaltens, das in einer experimentellen Studie erhalten wird, ist dargestellt worden. Singh et al. (2002) leiteten umfangreiche Tests auf den verbundenen vorbildlichen Materialien mit einigen gemeinsamen Konfigurationen. Die Resultate dieser experimentellen Studie wurden verwendet, um das Stärke Verhalten des numerischen Blockmasse Modells zu validieren, das mit professionell vorhandener Software entwickelt wurde. Diese Software enthält im Allgemeinen unterschiedliche Arten der materiellen Modelle. Von den Resultaten der numerischen Simulation wurde das Bestehen von Stärke Anisotrophie beobachtet. Die Stärke Anisotrophie also erreicht ist mit den experimentellen Werten verglichen worden, die von Singh et al. (2002) berichtet werden. Die anisotropen Kurven in beiden Fällen sind mit flacher Unterseite u-förmig. Sie zeigen gute Vereinbarung in gleitender Erscheinungsform des Ausfalls Zone, in der Neigung ß (= 90° - ?) von der Verbindung stellenSie Lüge zwischen 20° auf 40° für alle Fälle vom Ineinandergreifen ein. RESUME: Dans cette simulation numérique de papier du comportement joint de la masse de bloc obtenu en étude expérimentale a été présenté. Singh et autres (2002) ont effectué les essais étendus sur les matériaux modèles joints avec plusieurs configurations communes. Les résultats de cette étude expérimentale ont été employés pour valider le comportement de résistance du modèle numérique de la masse de bloc développé en utilisant le logiciel professionnellement disponible. Ce logiciel contient fondamentalement différents genres de modèles matériels. Des résultats de la simulation numérique on a observé l'existence de l'anisotropie de force. L'anisotropie de force ainsi obtenu a été comparée aux valeurs expérimentales rapportées par Singh et autres (2002). Les courbes anisotropes dans les deux cas sont en U avec la base plate. Elles montrent la bonne concordance dans le mode coulissant de la zone d'échec en lequel la inclination ß (= 90° - ?) du joint placez-Je le mensonge entre 20° à 40° pour tous les cas d'enclencher.

Jan 1, 2003

By M. Pérez-Tello

A mathematical model to represent the expansion and fragmentation of copper matte particles oxidized under flash converting conditions is presented. The model assumes that the particles are initially nonporous, have a constant mass prior to fragmentation and travel at a constant velocity throughout the reaction chamber. The model requires the specification of the following five parameters: the particle expansion rate, a fragmentation diameter factor, a fragmentation size distribution parameter and the fractions of the finest and the coarsest particles in the feed that undergo fragmentation. The model predictions show good agreement with the experimental data collected in a laboratory furnace over a wide range of experimental conditions. The evolution of the size distribution of the particles along the reactor length was computed, and the model parameters were correlated with the experimental operating variables. Model predictions indicate that particle residence time is an important factor in the generation of dust. The presence of two maxima in the particle density function may be attributed to turbulent conditions prevailing in the furnace, which cause particles to follow different trajectories within the furnace even if they are injected at the same location.

Jan 1, 2008

By A. McGarr

The shear stress t that can be sustained by the rock mass in the environs of a mining-induced earthquake controls the near-fault peak ground velocity v of that event according to v=0.25(ß/G)t, where ß is the shear wave speed and G is the modulus of rigidity. To estimate t at mining depths, I review the results of four studies involving Witwatersrand tremors that relate to the bulk shear strength. The first and most general analysis uses the common assumptions that the seismogenic crust is pervasively faulted, has hydrostatic pore pressure before mining, and an extensional stress state that is close to failure. Mining operations reduce the pore pressure to zero within the mine and redistribute the stresses such that, in localized regions, the state of stress is again at the point of failure. Laboratory friction experiments can be used to estimate t in the zero-pore-pressure regime. Second, model calculations of states of stress in the vicinity of mining at about 3 km depth indicated the shear stress available to cause faulting near the centre of a distribution of induced earthquakes. Third, laboratory experiments combined with microscopic analyses of fault gouge from the rupture zone of a mining-induced event provided an estimate of the average shear stress acting on the fault to cause this earthquake at a depth of 2 km. Fourth, moment tensors determined for mining-induced earthquakes usually show substantial implosive components, from which it is straightforward to estimate t. These four different analyses yield estimates of t that fall in the range 30to 61 MPa which implies that near-fault particle velocities could be as high as about 1.5 m/s. To the extent that the causative fault ruptures previously intact rock, both t and v, in localized regions, could be several times higher than 61 MPa and 1.5 m/s.

Jan 1, 2002

By B. E. Burakov, S. D. Lupal, O. A. R. Thalhammer, B. Saini-Eidukat

Electric-pulse disintegration is a mineral separation technique that liberates all mineral grains from any igneous or metamorphic rock irrespective of its lithology or grain-size distribution. The normal mechanical crushing of whole-rock samples is replaced by the rending effect of an explosion, produced by applying an electric current from a high-voltage power source. A voltage greater than the 100 kV necessary for the electrical breakdown of rock samples is achieved by using capacitors charged in parallel, but discharged in series. The sample sits in a water bath and the rapid distribution of electric pulses leads to an explosion which occurs preferentially along grain boundaries of the sample. Individual, undamaged mineral grains can be recovered in their original shape and form regardless of grain size. Examples are given of the liberation and concentration of important accessory minerals from different rock types. The examples show the recovery of diamond from two types of non-kimberlitic host rock in Popigai and Kumdykol in Kazakhstan and platinum group minerals associated with chromitites from the Konjdor intrusion and sulphides from intrusions in the Kola Peninsula in Russia

Apr 1, 1995

By Claude Bazin, Patricia Obiang

"The slurry density (pulp percentage of solids) and the size of the grinding media are often used for the optimization of an operating ball mill. In many cases a change of ball size is made at the slurry density used with the original ball size. But is the optimum slurry density changing with grinding media size? Laboratory grinding tests were conducted to answer that question and results indicate that more than likely there is no need to adjust mill slurry density when adjusting the size of a grinding media in a ball mill. Full scale behaviour could be different because slurry density affects the slurry transportation through the mill and the classifier operation.INTRODUCTIONOre preparation begins with a fragmentation step that liberates valuable minerals or exposes mineral surface to the environment. The size reduction step of a mineral processing operation is energy demanding and the optimisation of this process should always be an objective for the plant metallurgists. Various approaches could be considered for improving the operation of a grinding circuit. For a close grinding circuit an adequate tuning of the classifiers operation may lead to substantial savings (McIvor, 1988). Once a grinding mill is in operation, few variables remain to be considered for process optimization. The ball charge is usually maintained to achieve a target power drawn by the grinding mill motor. The rotation speed is seldom considered (McIvor, 1983; Bazin and Lavoie, 2000) as a change of mill speed usually implies a costly pinion change. If the liner and lifter configuration is critical for SAG and AG mills (Latchireddi et al., 2005), few discussions are available for ball mills (Fuerstenau and Abouzeid, 1985; McIvor, 1983). The mill feed size distribution can also be adjusted but this implies changing the upstream processes, which transposes the optimization process to another level. Modification to grinding media shape is a possible avenue (Cooper et al., 1994), but it remains that slurry density and grinding media size are probably the most frequently considered variables for the optimization of a ball mill."

Jan 1, 2007

"The Merensky Reef is a platinum group minerals (PGM) bearing reef in the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. The reef has been treated by bulk PGM and sulphide flotation with the aim of maximisingthe valuable minerals recovery and gangue minerals rejection.Synthetic water with a calcium concentration of 80 ppm and 500 ppm was prepared and the flotation results obtained were compared to a simple electrolyte in order to determine the effect water quality has on pentlandite and pyroxene surface alteration and, ultimately, floatability. During the study, the possible effect of interactions between the minerals investigated and Ca2+ ions in the presence of sodium isobutyl xanthate was studied at pH 6 and pH 9 by means of zeta potential determinations, microflotation tests and ToF-SIMS analysis.The results obtained on 1:1 pentlandite-pyroxene mixtures showed that the quality of process water plays an important role in flotation. The flotation recoveries of pentlandite and pyroxene were lower in synthetic process water compared to those obtained in a simple electrolyte solution."

Jan 1, 2003

By P E. H Gregg, R B. Stewart

Reclamation field trials commenced in 1985, two years before the granting of the Mining Licence. The level of pasture production on varying soil depths (0 cm, 5 cm, 15 cm and 25 cm) overlying both tailings and oxidised waste overburden was assessed.   After seven years, the rate of increase of N, C, P and S, losses of Sand P and pH changes were investigated on the plots where grass seed was sown into bare tailings. It was determined that on these plots it would take approximately 24 years to reach the original carbon and nitrogen levels at the mine site. Further tailings trials have been initiated to investigate alternative land use options for the tailings dam. Growth increases of 73% occurred in native species growing directly in tailings, and growth increases of 78% occurred in tailings amended with compost over the first six months. Pasture trials on tailings with and without a compost amendment have also been initiated. Research has commenced to investigate the restoration options for acid producing pit slopes. The early field trials have been put into practice with the restoration of oxidised waste on the tailings embankment. This is progressive with approximately 16 ha restored to productive pasture at present. Yields compare well with those of the most versatile and productive soils types investigated in baseline studies of the area before the tailings dam was constructed.

Jan 1, 1995

By S. K. Chan, C. Badeen, S. Goldthorp, H. Feng, I. Alilovic, R. Turcotte

Over the last few decades, water-based explosives and their precursors, despite their apparent insensitivity, have been involved in a number of accidents around the world. A large proportion of these accidents occurred when these emulsions were pumped either for their manufacture, transport, or handling. In Canada, this has led to the development of “Guidelines for the Pumping of Water-Based Explosive”, which state that “using pumping pressures well below the laboratory measured minimum burning pressure (MBP) of the corresponding emulsions or watergels is a good safety practice”. However, in the above document, there is no description on how the MBP should be measured. In the last few years, a research program at the Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) in collaboration with Orica has been focused on the development of a validated measurement protocol for realistic MBP measurements.

Jan 1, 2014

By J L. Maule, S J. Mathews, K A. Rodgers

Gold and Silver bearing epithermal veins of the Golden Cross deposit are hosted in Miocene and Pliocene calc-alkaline volcanics occurring 8 km northwest of Waihi at the southern extent of the Coromandel Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand. Veining occurred during a period of hydrothermal activity that began early to late Pliocene, and possibly continued into the Pleistocene.   Field relations and petrographic relationships reveal that multiple generations of FeS2 occur in the Golden Cross region, with FeS2 occurring in all nine rock types recognised at Golden Cross. The variability of FeS2 morphology was investigated by preparation of high purity FeS2 separates, and grain counting. Marcasite is the dominant FeS2 phase at Golden Cross, and along with pyrite is shown to have a systematic habit variation. Pyrite shows a sequence from cubes through octahedra to pyritohedra to dendritic growth. This pyrite sequence conforms to an experimentally determined sequence. The parallel sequence for marcasite at Golden Cross is from tabular through bladed aggregates to euhedral miscellaneous marcasite morphologies. The FeS2 sequences observed are believed to be due to increasing temperature, and perhaps also increasing FeS2-oversaturation and fluid flow.

Jan 1, 1994

By S C. Dominy

Various styles of gold mineralisation pose problems during sampling because of their complex gold grade distribution and presence of coarse gold. Effective sampling and sample preparation forms the basis of resource estimates. The design of a sampling and assaying protocol must be based on a thorough understanding of the mineralisation in question, which should include consideration of gold particle size and mass distribution. The proportion of coarse gold within samples has a profound effect on the requirements for sample preparation and assaying. Choice of preparation procedure and assay type is of critical importance if sampling errors are to be minimised. Traditional fire assays, using small charge sizes, often understate assays gained from large charge sizes and techniques such as screen fire assay and LeachWELL. Proper application of the Theory of Sampling reduces errors during collection, preparation and assaying. A quality control/quality assurance program must be implemented and critically assessed. A case study from the Ballarat mine is presented, which is characterised by substantial quantities of coarse-gold hosted in quartz veins. Diamond core drilling is the key input into resource delineation. A number of different sampling and assay options have been trialled over the recent project history. The current sampling protocol utilises whole drill core, using LeachWELL assays after logging and photography.CITATION:Dominy, S C, 2017. Sampling coarse gold-bearing mineralisation – developing effective protocols and a case study from the Ballarat mine, Australia, in Proceedings Eighth World Conference on Sampling and Blending , pp 71–84 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2017