Search Documents

By P Benjamin, H Bohannan, C Farr

Geoffrey Blainey's historical account of the mining activity on the west coast of Tasmania, æThe Peaks of LyellÆ documents the changes over 130 years of activity in the region. Commissioned by the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, emphasis is placed upon the development of the Mount Lyell Mine in Queenstown. Chapter 19 æWidening HorizonsÆ details the review the Mount Lyell Company undertook in 1904/05 to ensure the future of the operation, following the pessimistic outlook regarding diminishing reserves and poor grade ore. The analogies documented between the Mount Lyell Company at that time, and Gold Mines of Australia 90 years on are remarkable, with both companies demonstrating a commitment to the Mount Lyell area through active exploration, the proactive search for alternative technology and the recognition of the valuable human resource. As Blainey writes (Blainey, 1993), æwith its expanding chemical works, its huge Tasmanian mines, its railways and smelter, its coke works and its mine crusade, Mount Lyell was probably one of the nation's five great industrial companies in 1906 or 1907. This brief phase of industrial and mining expansion had its seed in the threat of extinction . . .Æ After a number of reprieves, the Mount Lyell mine did stop production in 1994, but that only provided an impetus for a review and rebirth.

Jan 1, 1998

By J Jones

A common problem in the mining industry is that company exploration groups operate in relative isolation to the rest of the company; resulting in poor knowledge transfer (Qureshi and Briggs, 2006) and often priority conflicts with mine geology, operations and project departments. In recognition of this problem, Newcrest created a Minerals Division responsible for stewardship and governance of mineral assets across the value chain from reconnaissance to rehabilitation. It was recognised at an early stage that effective collaboration both internally and externally would be required to improve decision making, deliver faster cycle times and improve governance.Collaboration in companies is generally associated with the introduction of new IT functions. However, modern IT-based collaboration systems and practices are relatively simplistic compared to the long-standing practices associated with collaboration and knowledge management in science and engineering disciplines such as geology and mining.The authors of this paper have started a trial of a 12-point plan for effective collaboration, which recognises that significant efficiencies can be gained and barriers to future success removed if more effective collaboration can be achieved between science and engineering divisions in a company along with external professionals and with the collective intelligence (Tapscott and Williams, 2006) of the outside world. To meet growth aspirations some companies, like Newcrest Mining Ltd, are adopting this comprehensive, step change approach by moving from a closed model the isolates mine geologists to an open and collaborative model that uses IT visualisation systems strategically. The paper describes how an open model provides people with the right work environment and the right information at the right time, which will help individuals and workgroups to work more collaboratively day-to-day. The aim is to achieve speed, focus and mitigate risk through an environment where everyone and anyone can contribute effectively (Cisco, 2008).

Aug 22, 2011

By V 7. 0 / 300 dpi

WHEN the copper smelters were built, in Montana, all of the refractory products which were used in their construction were shipped in from Eastern factories. It was apparent that if a material suitable for the manufacture of these products could be found within the State, a saving of freight could be effected and a new industry built up. Prospecting for such materials was started and experiments were made with samples from numerous deposits. Considerable effort and funds were expended in an attempt to manufacture silica brick from Dillon quartz, a light colored sandstone that is found near Dillon, Mont., on the Oregon Shortline railroad. As a brick material the Dillon quartz was a failure, but it has proved very satisfactory as a silica cement. It is now being used in laying silica brick and for reverberatory furnace bottoms. A bed of quartzite that is particularly suited to the manufacture of high-grade silica brick -was finally discovered at Browns Spur, 6 miles west of Anaconda. The material from this deposit is now being used in the manufacture of the Anaconda silica brick, which have gained a wide reputation for heat-resisting and lasting qualities. The analysis of all average sample of this quartz is: SiO2,, 96.7; Fe203, 0.3; Al203, 2.5; CaO, 0.3 per cent. The very low percentage of fluxing ingredients makes this a most refractory material. All of the Anaconda silica brick are hand molded. Various types of brick machines have been tried, but the hand-mold process proved the best suited to the manufacture of silica brick from this material. The silica is first put through a jaw crusher and is then clumped into wet pans, where 4 per cent. of lime paste is added, to produce a bond. Without the lime the. material would not be plastic enough to mold. After a few minutes' grinding in the wet pans the material is conveyed to the molder, who forces it into the molds by hand. The brick are then dumped on pallets and placed in the drier, where they are left until dry enough to be set in the kilns. Some of the brick are re-pressed before being dried. They are burned about five days, in round down-draft kilns. It is not necessary to have as much heat in the kilns as the brick will be subjected

Jan 9, 1913

By Rambabu Pothina, Rajive Ganguli

The economics of a mineral processing circuit is dependent on the numerous sensors that are critical to optimization and control systems. The sheer volume of sensors results in mines not being able to keep the sensors calibrated. When a sensor goes off calibration, it results in errors which can severely impact plant economics. Normally, these errors are not detected until the error grows and becomes a large (“gross”) error. Undetected errors are not remedied until the next calibration, which on average are a year apart Beamex (2019) [1] across all industries. Classical statistical methods that depend on linear relationships between input and response variables are typically used to find gross errors, but are not effective for highly non-linear and non-stationary operations in mining and mineral processing industries. Calibration of sensors is time-consuming and generally requires physical intervention that results in equipment downtimes causing production losses. Therefore, in situ detection methods are warranted that do not require physical removal of sensors to compare with standard measurements or well-calibrated sensors. Data-mining based techniques and algorithms have high success rate in tackling such problems. This paper presents results from a groundbreaking multi-year big data research project whose goal was to develop data-mining-based original techniques in a multi-sensor environment to identify when sensors start to stray, rather than wait for errors to grow. The carbon stripping (gold) circuit in the Pogo Mine of Alaska was selected for this project. Maintaining strip vessel temperatures at optimum levels is crucial for maximizing gold recoveries at Pogo, and hence the focus was on the temperature sensors of the two strip vessels. An automated algorithm to detect errors in strip vessel temperature sensors was developed that exploited data from multiple sensors in the strip circuit. This algorithm was able to detect with a high success rate when bias errors of magnitude as low as ± 2% were artificially induced into strip vessel temperature data streams. The detection times of about 1 month were much less than the industry average calibration frequency of 1 year. Thus, the algorithm helps detect errors early, without stopping the circuit. The algorithm alarms can serve as triggers when calibrations are done. Experimental methodology along with results, limitations of algorithms, and future research are also presented in this paper.

By M. G. Beukes

"In South Africa most of the large gold mines operate between 1500m and 4500m below surface where reef is accessed initially through a vertical shaft system then via a network of tunnels and mined in either a longwall, sequential grid or scattered mining configuration. Due to the complexity of the ventilation networks used to ventilate these mines and the potential disastrous consequences associated with underground fires, it is of utmost importance that these mines are managed in such a way that underground fires are prevented. However, if they do occur the fires are managed to firstly prevent the loss of life and secondly protect the infrastructure and viability of the mine. The aim of this paper will be to: • Discuss current SA mining legislation regarding underground fire prevention and control. • Examine these fires from a risk management perspective by means of a bowtie assessment. • List and discuss the major Threats and Consequences as determined by the bowtie assessment. • Discuss the various prevention and consequence controls for deep level underground fires. • Examine how to effectively run an emergency control room. From this, a practical way of designing, implementing and managing an underground fire management system is explored. Lastly, the paper identifies new technology and ways of thinking and how these can be used to combat underground fires. INTRODUCTION The orebodies of South African gold mines are generally narrow tabular structures that vary in thickness between 0.8m and 1.2m with an inclination of between 200 and 700. This, coupled with depths of between 1500m and 4500m, as well as the unpredictable geology, creates unique challenges and significantly impacts on mine designs and mining methods. In general, gold bearing reefs are accessed initially through a vertical shaft system then via a network of tunnels and mined in either a longwall, sequential grid or scattered mining configuration (Figure 1). Mining is very labour intensive with very limited mechanisation opportunities and this increases the risk to human life if an underground fire occurs. On 16 September 1986, one of the worst mining disasters in SA mining history took place when 177 mineworkers were killed at Kinross Mine. An acetylene tank sparked flames that swept through the mining tunnel igniting plastic covering on the wiring and the flames also set fire to polyurethane foam. The burning plastic combined with polyurethane and the toxic fumes that filled the shafts caused the miners death. This incident was a stark reminder of the serious consequence that underground fires can have on human life as well as the crippling financial and asset impact for the mining companies. Over the past thirty years, the SA mining industry reduced the number of mine fires significantly by replacing normal timber support with fire retardant treated timber, alternative support systems such as backfill and elongate support and many other fire prevention initiatives. Although the number of fire incidents and number of fatalities due to fires does not show a direct correlation because of various factors, the controls put in place against fires has had an impact on the number of fire and explosion fatalities (Figure 2)."

Jan 1, 2019

By K. Gum, W. C. Hirt, D. A. Rice

Selective flocculation was used to produce a superclean zinc concentrate by minimizing silica contamination. Research was carried out on a flotation concentrate from the Jersey Miniere Zinc Company (JMZ) in Gordonsville, TN. The material was first dispersed with sodium silicate and then causticized tapioca starch was used to selectively flocculate the sphalerite, leaving the silica in suspension. This technique has been applied commercially to iron ore beneficiation but never to zinc processing. The feed material assayed 0.45% SiO2. The use of 0.56 kg/ t (1.13 lb/st) sodium silicate and 0.070 kg/t (0.141 lb/st) causticized tapioca starch resulted in a 98.2% zinc recovery and produced a purified zinc concentrate assaying 66.0% Zn and 0.24% silica. The target level for silica contamination in JMZ zinc concentrates is currently 0.30% Si02. This work demonstrated that selective flocculation is a potential method for cleaning flotation concentrates, particularly where low silica products are required.

Jan 1, 1995

By Barbery G., A. Maachar, M. Bourassa

Laboratory testing for flotation circuit design is carried out on a routine basis in a large number of lab- oratories throughout the world. Usually a sample of ore, assumed to be characteristic of the material to be processed in a future plant, having a mass of the order of a few kilograms, is ground in a batch ball or rod mill, in the presence of water and some re- agents (for pH control, etc. .. ); after dilution to the adequate solid concentration, the resulting slurry is transferred into a laboratory batch flotation machine, having a volume which can vary from 0.5 to 8 10 -3m3. Various types of machines are in common use, manufactured by the same companies that market industrial size flotation machines. The operation of flotation in the laboratory is carried out by an experienced technician, who uses parameters such as impeller rotation speed, air flowrate addition, froth height, froth removal rate, in conjonction with reagent addition sequence, to "test" the ore. After flotation, the froth products ("concentrates"), and the solids remaining in the cell are filtered, dried, and analyzed for the various elements of interest. For flotation circuit design, a kinetic test is usually carried out, in which the froth products obtained at various times are collected to assess the time response of the ore in the laboratory machine with the combination of reagents used. Although this description is rather sketchy, it enables to outline some of the major difficulties in using laboratory data for flotation circuit design: 1. ore sample representatively 2. feed preparation procedure (laboratory compared to industrial scale) 3. laboratory procedures (type of ma- chine, type of operation, experimental errors. . . ) 4. flotation machine scale-up 5. flotation kinetic scale-up 6. flotation circuit design using laboratory data These various points will be discussed in the present paper, in order to stress the problem areas as well as possible solutions. ORE SAMPLE REPRESENTATIVITY It has been stated many times that one of the major problem in designing a flotation circuit is the representatively of the sample to be taken. Sampling of an ore body during prospection and evaluation is a specialized field, which has been progress in with the introduction of geostatistics. The application

Jan 1, 1986

By Stephen T. Bloomer

The application of a direct current electrical potential between a metallic pile and a fine grained soil results in an almost instantaneous change in the magnitude of the forces acting on the pile. During installation, with the pile connected as a cathode, the driving force needed can be reduced dramatically. Reversal of the polarity results in an increase in ultimate bearing capacity. The cause of the aforementioned phenomenon has been investigated and found to be two-fold; ie the electro-osmotic transport of pore-water and the electro-chemical hardening of the clay in close proximity to the pile. In the case of the former effect, the pore-water is transported towards the cathodic pile resulting in a temporary, reversible change in the engineering properties of the clay surrounding the pile. This effect is represented by a change in Skempton's Adhesion Factor (a). A total of one hundred and forty eight model tests was undertaken to study the change in the a valve using different types of metallic pile. The tests revealed changes in bearing capacity related to embedded length, skin-friction, end bearing and electro-osmotic gradient. It was shown in skin-friction-only tests that variations in soils strength across the soil profile caused by the electro-osmosis caused resultant changes in bearing capacity. This work is being carried out with the collaboration of Hercules Piling, a subsidiary of Stent Foundation Ltd.

Jan 1, 1996

By P. H. Royster

For a number of years the Bureau of Mines has been investigating certain problems relating to the blast furnace. In the course of these investigations it was desirable to measure, with the optical pyrometer, the temperatures occurring in the hearth of the furnace. Since no systematic measurements of these temperatures have been published a statement of the results may be of interest. The data given in this paper were obtained it thirty-two blast furnaces operated by seventeen companies; twenty of these furnaces were making iron, eight ferromanganese, and five spiegeleisen. The collection of this information was made possible by the cooperation of the American Manganese Co., Bethlehem Steel Corpn., Brier Hill Steel Co., Buffalo Union Furnace Co., Clinton Iron & Steel Co., Donner Steel Co., John B. Guernsey & Co., Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., E. E. Marshall, the McKinney Steel Co., National Tube Co., New Jersey Zinc Co., Republic Iron & Steel Co., Seaboard Steel & Manganese Corpn., Southeastern Iron Corpn., the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., and the Wharton Steel Co.

Jan 9, 1919

By D H. Bell

Slab-buckle failures in coal sequences involve thin slab deformation in strata dipping parallel to the footwall, and are a consequence of both unloading and the weak nature of the thinly bedded rock mass. Methods of modelling and predicting such occurrences include: +        a conceptual model using a base friction table, +        a mathematical model using the Euler solution for column and beam bending (after Goodman, 1980), and +        computer analysis techniques such as UDEC (Universal Distinct Element Code after Cundall and Hart, 1993).   Slab-buckle failures have the potential to seriously disrupt production because of their volume and rapidity, and to endanger both equipment and personnel working on the pit floor.   In July 2004 a large slab-buckle failure occurred overnight after a new batter and bench had been formed at the Malvern Hills Opencast Mine in inland Canterbury. This involved the entire length of the pit (85m along strike) when a 2m thick intact slab with a total volume of ~3500m3 translated down dip 6.2m on the base of a thin coal seam to form a pronounced buckle at the toe. The coal measures consist of finely laminated mudrocks with multiple coal seams of varying thickness dipping ~45¦ to the southeast, and the opencast mine had been designed with footwall batters formed parallel to bedding with a vertical bench separation of 15m.   Back analysis of the Malvern Hills failure was necessary to investigate the controls on footwall instability, and for future mine design. An engineering geological model was created and samples of the slab material and failure surface were collected and tested to establish the required parameters for use in the Euler solution for column and beam bending. Back analysis using the Euler solution provided unrealistic results that overestimated the overall length of a stable slope by more than 10 times.   No further large scale slab-buckle failures have developed at the mine site, in part because of the slow rate of coal extraction, but precautionary drainage of the footwall slopes has been undertaken to improve overall batter stability. The location of the slab-buckle failure on a critically positioned pre-sheared thin coal seam with full hydrostatic head is considered the most probable cause of the July 2004 failure, rather than inherent instability of the generic bench and batter arrangement adopted. The use of a precedent-based engineering geology approach to future mine design is considered the most appropriate solution in the circumstances.

Jan 1, 2007

By Z. F. Lodhi, J. H. W. De Wit, H. A. Terry

Zinc and its alloys have been extensively used as replacements for Cadmium coatings in aeronautical and automobile industries. Zn alloys with low Co or Fe have been highly investigated but coatings with higher amount of Co are very difficult to achieve due to anomalism associated with these coatings. Anomalous Zn-Co-Fe alloy is a relatively recent addition to the family of Zn alloys. It is found that the addition of Fe in the electrolyte assist in overcoming the anomalism. In this research Zn-Co-Fe alloys especially with higher amount of Co (>15%) and Fe (~1%) are investigated, after overcoming the anomalism associated with its deposition, and the corrosion resistance is compared with pure Zn and Cd. It is found that an increase in Co to higher than 25 % accounts for a shift in the OCP to a level near Cd yet keeps it electronegative to steel. The coating shows superior corrosion resistance, in terms of its sacrificial and barrier properties in 3.5% NaC1 as compared to Zn and Cd.

Jan 1, 2006

By Augustus Locke

In 1900, when. the public first heard of "secondary enrichment," the Butte chalcocite seemed clearly supergene. Mining, through successive regions of leached capping, bonanza sulfide, and sulfide less rich, had paused at lean bottom levels which, though chalcocite-bearing, suggested the waning of copper. The deepest chalcocite, at 1500 ft., was yet too shallow to disturb the supergene hypothesis. But, with deeper mining, lean levels yielded to fat ones. Here and there they showed, within the same vein, an inverted distribution, chalcopyrite above and chalcocite below. To the miners' astonishment, they carried chal-cocite, unaffected by cross faults, on an independent course to the depth of 2500 ft. The pattern of ore distribution, hitherto revealed only in fragments, was now appearing in perspective, and, in the depth of the chalcocite, was beginning to make Butte differ from all districts where the chalcocite is indubitably supergene. The idea of hypogene origin at length came into favor; by 1913, when Sales' advocated this origin, the argument had become a powerful one. This argument rested on field evidence; but, already, there was beginning to emerge microscopic evidence not included in this argument. Especially pertinent was the proof that (1) the deep chalcocite lies in-mixed with bornite, often microscopic; (2) the deep chalcocite often replaces bornite; and (3) replacement of bornite by chalcocite is accomplished more easily than that of pyrite, enargite, or chalcopyrite. The microscopic evidence has been accumulating for ten years and it demands

Jan 1, 1924

By H. Hu

Observations were made on the recrystallization of a 70 pct cdd-rolled silicon-iron crystal with an initial orientation of (113) [332]. Its polygonization and recrystallization characteristics were studied. Results indicated that re crystallization tendency of the deformed crystal is much weakened by the polygonization of the matrix. Complete recrystallization in such specimens is achieved by the growth of recrystallized grains of sufficient size and of the right orientations in relation to the matrix. Evidence was also furnished which suggests that the difference in the re-crystallization tendency is a result of the difference in the severity of lattice bending rather than the difference in orientation of the deformation texture. DUNN and Koh1,2 have made an extensive study on the rolling and annealing textures in silicon-iron crystals. Their results indicated that the recrystallization tendency can be widely different in crystals with different orientations. A particularly interesting example of their results was a crystal with an initial orientation of (113) [332], which developed a deformation texture of (001) [110] after 70 pct cold-rolling. Recrystallization in this crystal took long time anneals at high temperatures. Other crystals having different orientations recrystallized very rapidly. Wiener and corcoran3 have observed the retention of the (100) [011] deformation texture in a low-temperature annealed specimen of a commercial silicon-iron alloy, corresponding to areas of light-etching low-angle boundaries in the annealed struc-

Jan 1, 1960

By Voermans F. M, Hoyle M. W H

The Archean geological sequence in the West Pilbara region (Fig 1), a deformed greenstone volcano-sedimentary succession regionally intruded by layered mafic/ultramafic lopoliths, batholithic granites, granite stocks and transected by swarms of dolerite dykes, has prompted several companies to search for a variety of base metals and and platinoids (Fig 2). In the first instance, detailed aeromagnetic surveying was completed, producing patterns of marked magnetic anomalism which proved substantially successful in the demarcation of areas warranting geological reconnaissance and detailed follow-up. Revelant to this paper were the obvious magnetic features overlying outcropping and buried mafic/ultramafic bodies which ultimately were proven to be host to Ni-Cu sulphides, pgm, Ti, V, Cr and, more recently, Ag and Au mineralisation. Routine stream sediment, soil sampling and ground geophysical techniques of the day appear, in most cases, to have been adequate in the detection of mineralisation, except in the case of Radio Hill massive sulphides where the Turam E.M. (1972) signal essentially failed to detect the blind conductor (Peters, de Angelis 1987).

Jan 1, 1988

By Roderick 1. L. Guthrie, Mei Li

"A mathematical model was developed to study the role of orifice shape in the detection of inclusions in LiMCA (Liquid Metal .cleanliness Analyzer) system. The fluid flow field within the ESZ was obtained by solving the Navier-Stokes equations. The trajectories of entrained particles were calculated using the equations for motion of particles. A numerical study of the effect of orifice shape on signal shape generated by inclusions passing through orifice showed that the signals in a parabolic orifice are gaussian in shape, while those in a cylindrical orifice are trapezoidal in shape. This signal shape difference needs to be taken into account when performing particle discrimination. Orifice shape influences also pass-through fraction of inclusions. Finally, a study of the orifice shape on critical conditioning currents suggested that as the polynominal coefficient of the parabolic orifice increases, the critical conditioning current, which is also the maximum operating current, decreases dramatically. These critical conditioning currents also increase as the fluid flow velocity within the ESZ increases. IntroductionThe presence of non-metallic inclusions in metals often leads to impaired mechanical properties such as a reduction in fatigue strength, and to processing problems such as tear-offs in deep drawing and increased breakage rates in wire drawing operations. Similarly, inclusions cause a variety of surface defects in rolled or extruded products.Prior to the development of the LiMCA system (1) at McGill University in the early 1980's, it was not possible to measure inclusions, in situ, in liquid metals. Compared with other techniques, such as sedimentation, filtration and metallography, which require considerable amounts of labor and time, the LiMCA method has the advantage of providing not only information on the volume concentration of inclusions, but also on the size distribution of inclusions immediately and quantitatively."

Jan 1, 2001

By Richard S. Kunter

The Bulldog CIP plant treats the slime portion of current tailings and reclaimed flotation tailings from the adjoining 350 tpd (3.67 kg/s) silver-lead flotation mill. Changes to the dredge reclaimer, pulp storage tank and trash removal system have allowed an increase in tonnage treated to a sustained 460tpd (4.83kg/s). CIP feed is 3-4 oz/T Ag (102.9-137.1 ppm). Following conventional cyanidation, carbon is added to the slurry. Silver loaded carbon is stripped in atmospheric-pressure vessels using hot caustic cyanide. Silver recovery from this solution is by Zadra- type cells. Some of the modifications to the plant and operating techniques are discussed.

Jan 1, 1981

By Lorraine Kent

Excessive floor and side deformation are major problems in deep coal mine entries in Europe, and in particular in the UK where rockbolt support is used at depths of working of around 3000 ft. This has major economic and safety implications for the industry resulting in the potential for sidewall instability, disruption to mine infrastructure, (belt conveyors, floor mounted transport systems and powered supports), and the requirement to safely manage excavation of large quantities of floor material. European research aimed at improving deformation control is described. The outcomes include innovations in support systems, materials and installation practices, as well as better methods for predicting and monitoring deformation levels. As coal mines get deeper, some entry deformation is inevitable, and methods for mechanised removal of floor lift and repair of sidewalls have been developed to allow production to continue as mining clearances are re-established.

Jan 1, 2014

By D V. Bright

Oroya Mining LimitedÆs Mt Gibson Gold Project, 280 km north east of Perth, is one of Western AustraliaÆs more recent discoveries of a major gold resource. Modern gold mining commenced in 1986, on a shallow laterite reserve of 6.62 million tonnes averaging 1.50 g/t gold. By the end of 1998, mining had progressed from an initial three shallow laterite pits to a series of 14 open pits with maximum depth of 100 m, on three separate trends with a combined strike length of over 10 km. The Project has yielded 868 400 ounces of gold from 16.5 million tonnes of ore at an average recovered grade of 1.64 g/t gold, from near surface laterite, supergene and primary sulfide ores. This includes a 160 m deep underground decline operation which mined 120 000 tonnes at an average grade of 9.1 g/t gold and a four million tonne Dump Leach on a synthetic base which yielded 68 900 ounces. The Project was placed on Care and Maintenance in 1999 pending drilling to refresh reserves. Hosted by strongly tectonised and altered Archaean volcanic rocks within and adjacent to a major regional shear, primary gold mineralisation occurs as structurally emplaced sulfide and quartz lodes. On the main Gibson Trend, multiple zones of mineralisation occur within a zone up to 600 m in overall width. The overall footprint of known mineralisation exceeds 20 km2 and the potentially mineralised domain exceeds 100 km2. The current estimate of a combined resource of 9.4 million tonnes averaging 2.47 g/t gold (749 500 ounces) is derived from a database of 10 500 drill holes, of which only four per cent test below 100 m vertical depth. Ore envelopes which remain open at depth and major gaps in the drilling pattern beyond the currently defined resources promise straightforward potential to define additional resources. Oroya Mining Limited and its joint venture partner Barrick Australia are targeting a major gold mining operation from this potentially world-class mineralised system. Oroya has the exclusive right to produce up to 500 000 ounces and is working toward the completion of a feasibility study into a resumption of mining using the existing 1986-built 1 Mtpa processing plant. The joint venture is in the early stages of testing the depth and lateral potential of the Mt Gibson mineralised system. Mining options currently under review include progressive open pit extension and amalgamation leading to one or more large open pits, and underground operations. It is too early in the development of the Project to offer definitive economic models of potential large-scale mining operations.

Jan 1, 2003

By Dick Ruby

Most miners know that Latin America's major mineral areas are in the mountains of Mexico and down the backbone of the Andes in South America. These areas comprise some of the more rugged and challenging parts of the world's geography, and the risks of doing business in these areas are just as difficult as the impressive task of extracting and processing ores. However, Latin America does contain mineral deposits, some untouched and many to be discovered, that convince venturesome people that the tremendous effort required to mine them will be worthwhile. The rewards have often been adequate in the past. Hopefully, they will be in the future. Background The safest statement that can be made about Latin America is that the "ballgame is constantly changing." Here are some examples: Chile. Under President Frei in the 1960s, Chile welcomed foreign mining interests, even though the government was acquiring significant ownership interests in the big copper properties. Then, under Allende in the 1970s, the big mines were taken over and compensation was denied on various grounds including the allegation that extraordinary profits had been made that should have been taxed. After Allende, an about-face was made in policy; former owners of the expropriated mines received some compensation and new foreign investment was seriously welcomed. Many major companies announced intentions to return to Chile. Some have. Peru. After a military takeover in 1968, Southern Peru Copper

Jan 7, 1983

By Frank Hirthammer

Since the introduction of the Explosives Track & Trace in Europe in 2014 for manufacturers and 2015 for end-users, a lot has changed in all areas of the supply chain and the use of explosives. The regional associations, manufacturers' organizations, and trade associations have proven that it is possible to overcome a hurdle, that looks almost impossible in the beginning, through consistent cooperation. The paper gives an insight into the problems involved in introducing such a requirement, identifies ways and solutions, and concludes them. When looking at the current situation, the paper describes the process by which a prescribed change in business processes are transforming into a solution that increases productivity, security, and handling. It shows examples from daily work, in which possibilities for optimization, improved quality assurance, and work facilitation are explained. It presents the resulting potential by comparing process flows, before and after the introduction of Track & Trace solutions. What challenges will we face in the future concerning the use of T&T solutions? Will the tracking of explosives become the norm worldwide? What are future hardware and software developments to be expected? What impact will this have on the global supply chain?