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By J Bolen, I Cameron, M Huerta, M Okrutny, K O’Leary

As greater amounts of fine iron ore concentrates enter the marketplace, new investments in iron ore pelletising capacity are inevitable to deliver these concentrates to steel industry consumers. When investors assess the two well-proven pelletising technologies, the straight grate and grate-kiln, the most appropriate choice may not be immediately evident. Certain technical, market and site-specific factors will favour one technology over the other; investors need to be aware and understand these factors in order to make the best investment decision. Hatch has compared the merits of both technologies regarding plant configuration; type of iron ore processed; energy consumption and flexibility to use a variety of fuels; ability to produce the required pellet quality; required plant capacity and scale; operating and capital costs and environmental performance. A technology assessment checklist that investors should consider when making a new pellet plant investment decision is presented.CITATION:Huerta, M, Bolen, J, Okrutny, M, Cameron, I and O’Leary, K, 2015. Guidelines for selecting pellet plant technology, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 45–52 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By K Williams, G M. Evans, S M. Iveson, K P. Galvin, C E. Loo

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has recently established an Industrial Transformation Research Hub in the area of iron ore, focused on iron ore characterisation, beneficiation, materials handling and end-use functionality. The research hubs are part of a new initiative aimed at building stronger relationships between industry and universities, while addressing issues of national significance. The ARC Research Hub for Advanced Technologies for Australian Iron Ore will focus its attention on developing innovative approaches for creating enhanced value across the full value chain through the characterisation of different ore types, beneficiation and materials handling and transport. This hub brings together five industrial organisations and a research team formed from well-established research groups based at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources. These groups have a record of working closely with industry to create opportunities. Examples include new beneficiation technologies such as the Reflux Classifier for achieving gravity separation, the expertise of TUNRA Bulk Solids in materials handling and the Iron Making Centre at Newcastle, which is a capability maintained by BHP Billiton following the closure of its Technology Centre in 2009. The purpose of this paper is to provide an outline of the research hub and its objectives, some background on the research groups that now form the hub and an insight into the strategy adopted for developing and implementing new technologies. The paper also describes a range of novel technologies that have the potential to be developed and applied to iron ore beneficiation.CITATION:Galvin, K P, Roberts, A, Loo, C E, Evans, G M, Williams, K and Iveson, S M, 2015. Australian Research Council research hub for advanced technologies for Australian iron ore – an introduction, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 7–12 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By J de Witte

When used in suitable ground conditions, rock bolts can have advantages over other permanent tunnel lining solutions. Permanent rock bolts offer flexibility in tunnelling profile and rapid rock bolt installation can enable time and cost savings. There are also disadvantages when considering the suitability of rock bolts for permanent support installations. These generally concern achieving the specified durability requirement over the specified design life. By investigating alternate approaches to rock bolt installation, quality assurance (QA), monitoring and design life it may be possible to alleviate some of these concerns.The design and construction benefits that can be realised through the use of rock bolts are primarily related to reducing project program time. This time reduction could be realised if rock bolts are considered as a permanent solution, with the installation being completed as a part of the primary excavation cycle. Any reduction of the program could allow direct and indirect cost savings and in the case of a major project, allow the revenue stream to be realised earlier.Currently ambiguity exists where the treatment of rock bolts as permanent support components is inconsistent with that of (often identical) ground anchors, as utilised in stabilising cut and cover structures. The ground support design process, implementation and testing are generally similar, though the acceptance of rock bolts as long-term support elements is treated differently to ground anchors in technical specifications.This paper discusses some of the benefits available through the use of rock bolts. It offers different solutions to the concerns surrounding durability, including alternate approaches to installation, Quality Assurance practices and monitoring solutions. The selection of an alternate design life is also investigated as another means of alleviating concerns around long-term durability. The paper will also provide an indication of savings that could be expected through the use of rock bolts as part of a long-term support system.

Mar 8, 2011

By K Baker, J Purtill

One of the key challenges for the mining industry globally is the rehabilitation of mine waste, and Queensland is no exception. Out of pit waste structures including waste rock dumps and tailings storage facilities, create novel landforms which require ongoing maintenance and pose risks to the environment and sometimes to communities. Where multiple mines co-exist, such as parts of Queensland’s Bowen Basin, individual mines can often be constrained by adjoining operations. This presents opportunities for broader rehabilitation strategies to be considered, more than the current single mine focus, that may provide better environmental outcomes for a region. Given recent global disasters involving tailings storage facilities, and our team’s endeavours to drive Queensland to achieve leading practice in mined land rehabilitation, we are exploring the potential to maximise in-pit tailings disposal opportunities for coalmines through shared waste management strategies. A shared waste management strategy is where two (or more) mines, owned by different companies and operated under different environmental permits, transport tailings from one mine to the other in close proximity, for disposal in a disused pit. This would reduce the number of waste structures to be built, operated, rehabilitated, and managed in perpetuity. Our objectives are to identify and remove barriers to tailings transfers between sites to:  minimise environmental risk  minimise long-term liability of managing mining waste and associated structures  support improved outcomes for the local community. To determine the scale of coal waste disposal practices in Queensland, internal data and publicly available imagery was analysed by the Department of Environment and Science in 2022. Approximately 6500 ha of land in Queensland is utilised for coalmine tailings storage facilities or codisposal areas, with ≈ 3700 ha of this being out of pit.

Aug 2, 2023

By G R. Ballantyne, M S. Powell

A comprehensive Australia-wide survey of comminution energy consumption at copper and gold mines was presented by the authors at the 11th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2012. The database has been extended to include major overseas mines and used to benchmark comminution energy consumption across the industry. The mines included in this study now represent 15 and 24 per cent of the total global gold and copper production respectively, and almost all Australian production. The comminution energy intensity per unit of saleable metal has been presented in a graphical form similar to a cost curve used in economics. The graphical method has been developed to assess the competitive advantage that can be achieved by reducing comminution energy intensity.This benchmarking tool has been applied to three published case studies to assess its applicability. The first case study indicated that a large reduction in size-specific energy (kWh/t -75 µm) was achievable by converting standard semi-autogenous and ball mill circuits to include high pressure grinding roll and stirred mills. The second case study investigated the metal-specific energy reduction historically achieved by Bougainville with the addition of a preconcentration screening plant. The final case study was conducted by Barrick Gold Corporation and involved incremental efficiency upgrades at three of its gold mines: Cortez, Cowal and Mara North. The application of the benchmarking tool to each of these case studies successfully demonstrated the scale and competitive advantage that was achieved by reducing energy intensity.CITATION:Ballantyne, G R and Powell, M S, 2014. Benchmarking comminution energy consumption for improved efficiency, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 95–100 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 1, 2014

By Yinxiang W, Chunlai Y

In older to improve efficiency of surface pre--grouting in sealing off water in heavily water-bearing strata, such as sandstone,siltstone and limestone, several methods have been used in China, they are ; intermittent pre-grouting, adjusting pre-grouting parameters and stepwise repeated pre-grouting methods. The paper describes effect of deviation on water sealing in pre-grouting. Deviation correction measures, like mechanical, technological and changing hole position methods have been introduced with satisfactory results in practical engineering projects without increasing the volume of engineering project and without causing delay.

Jan 1, 1988

A field method combining solvent extraction and paper partition chromatography permits a simple and rapid semiquantitative estimation of gold in siliceous, argillaceous and sulphide ores. The method will facilitate the eyaluation of prospect samples in which the gold is too fine for separation by panning.Ethyl alcohol-hydrobromic acid mixtures are suitable for chromatographic development of the gold complex, and give clear reproducible definition of the gold zone. Substitution of commercial "methylated spirits" for the ethyl alcohol gives equally good definition, improving the potential of the method for field use.A batch of six samples in the range of 0·5 to 5·0 dwt/ton can be completed in two hours. The range may be extended by simple modification to higher or lower values.INTRODUCTIONIn a chromatographic method described previously (Lever 1958, Nevill and Lever 1959), gold from a standard volume of ore clamped between -plate glass was extracted by aqua regia on to the paper. After cautious drying the chromatogram was developed by an ethyl acetate-nitric acid-water mixture and gold was identified by spraying with stannous chloride solution. Sensitivity of the method in the low range was poor. The brown line obtained in the 1-3 dw/j ton range, caused by movement of gold in the reduced form, was not considered to be a satisfactory confirmation of the presence of gold. It was felt that the method would be improved by using a more elegant extraction and applying developing conditions which would produce a well defined purple line at all gold values. Iron was a limiting factor, and a method of eliminating its interference was needed.The method now developed overcomes these shortcomings, and gives a reliable result with a purple line for assay values of 0·5 dwtjton and over. Gold is dissolved from an...

Jan 1, 1964

By J F. H Thompson

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Mineral exploration and mining are challenging businesses. Remote and at times harsh conditions have always made it difficult for exploration, but modern explorers also have to deal with cover, numerous technologies, an explosion of data and critical early community engagement. Mining deals with the reality of moving and breaking thousands of tonnes of rock each day to extract what can be a very minor component of economic value, and, furthermore, society expects that this will be done in a clean and sustainable manner. The exploration and mining challenges appear disparate, but they are intimately related.Although not widely appreciated, both exploration and mining have a long tradition of innovation. Over the last 50 years, major step changes in exploration have resulted from radical advances in our understanding of ore forming processes, new geophysical, geochemical and remote sensing technologies, and new ways to integrate and interrogate data. Over a more extended period, close to 100 years, mining has developed bulk surface and underground methods, selective extraction through flotation and leaching and global positioning system–geographic information system control systems that collectively facilitate mining at a massive scale. And yet, in spite of these successes and the boom that we have enjoyed in the last ten years, the industry is under pressure and the need for innovation and change is paramount.The major drivers for innovation are the need for increased quality in discoveries and mines and the need to interact effectively with communities and jurisdictions such that the benefits of quality mines are recognised and enjoyed widely.We are still making new discoveries around the Pacific Rim and elsewhere, but many argue that the quality – grade and accessibility – of these discoveries is decreasing. The net result is that explorers are delivering resources and reserves for development at lower grades and with higher capital and operating costs than current operations. For mining, the increasing age of many existing operations contributes to increasing costs, which, when combined with decreasing cut-offs and lower grades, also results in declining quality. The combined picture does not look good.Just as the pressure to improve performance and margins in the face of declining inputs increases, we are simultaneously faced with increasing societal demands for improved environmental performance and sustainable practices. This is most apparent at the local, community level, where opposition ultimately leads to delays or even cancellation of new projects. Quality is again the issue – quality of the initial and ongoing engagement and quality of the proposed mine in terms of environmental and economic performance.CITATION:Thompson, J F H, 2015. Exploration and mining – the need for innovation , in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 45–48 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By C K. McKenzie

As more and more mining operations around the world either switch to, or trial, electronic initiation systems, the breadth of knowledge and experience regarding their effective application has widened considerably.In South America, for example, there is a strong perception that in order to achieve the finest possible fragmentation, very short electronic delays must be used between successive holes within a row. Limited field studies involving measurement of fragmentation have been conducted to support that paradigm and there are few long term studies which have been strongly supported by measurements of productivity either in the pit, in the plant, or in the leaching pads.On the other hand, some well documented studies have been conducted in North America, showing not only the impact of delay timing on fragmentation but also the effect on semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill productivity over extended periods of in excess of 12 months. To date, those studies suggest that optimum timing is considerably longer than the times commonly used in South America.This paper explores the current knowledge of the effects of delay timing on issues ranging from size distribution to vibration impacts in pit walls, to vibration and overpressure impacts in surrounding communities. It also explores how fragmentation modelling can be adapted to reflect fragmentation trends that have been reported in various technical conferences around the world.

Nov 8, 2011

Several coal preparation plants are presently "automated" to the extent of automatic sequencing and interlocking via digital means, together with closed loop control on various level and density circuits. This paper will explore the potential for second generation automation utilizing on-stream ash analysers and other measuring elements so as to optimize the total metallurgical process. This would enable maxim-ization of recovery, improved product homogeneity and minimum reagent consumption.

Jan 1, 1985

By Sehic O. A

Geology can be the root of evil or a source of bliss; there is a choice; to ignore geology is at a mine's peril.Risk can be minimised and profitability maximised by the application of a detailed understanding of geology, alteration, structure, mineralogy, chemistry, fabric and texture.Geology is dynamic, not static.The impact of geology is pervasive.The integration of ore quality control with grade control is one strategy for improving the utilisation of both the mineable reserves and existing plant and equipment. Grade maintenance is but one constraint on the problem of how best to blend the ore. Other ore characteristics such as mineralogy, hardness for grinding, and pulp fluidity or density for slurry size classification can be included to explore alternative blending Strategies.

Jan 1, 1993

An Integrated Geology-Mine-Plant and Eco-Efficiency Simulator for Anglo Platinum's Evaluation and Operational Improvement Initiatives

Sep 13, 2010

Procedures employing thiocyanate and dithiol complexes of molybdenum have been developed for the determination of the metal in the presence of large quantities of ferric iron. The procedures are developed for field application and it is possible to complete 200 analyses per day with laboratory accuracy. Use is made of sulphuric acid extraction and ascorbic acid reduction in the case of the thiocyanate procedure whilst the reducing system in the dithiol procedure is potassium iodide-sodium sulphite. Using a simple photometer the range of determination possible is 0-10~g for the thiocyanate procedure and 0-5 g for dithioI.INTRODUCTIONOf the many colorimetric procedures that have been developed for the determination of molybdenum only those using the thiocyanate or toluene-3, 4-dithiol complexes of the metal are sufficiently free from interference to be of use in geochemical prospecting. Rapid methods based on both these complexes 'have been developed at the. Broken Hill Division of The University of New South Wales as part of a general programme designed to improve geochemical procedures. Whilst speed rather than high accuracy is the important factor in prospecting, the aim of the programme is to develop procedures which will allow determination of 200· samples per man-day without loss of normal laboratory accuracy for the methods concerned.In most geochemical procedures visual estimation of a coloured complex is used in the determination of the quantity of metal present. At the high rate of sample determination of the improved methods this procedure places severe strain on the eyes. For this reason all methods are designed for determination by means of a simple filter photometer...

Jan 1, 1965

By Prosser AP

The large body of knowledge about the relation between chemical process efficiency and mineralogical features is of only limited use. The profession ought to try to improve the methods of using information as well as adding to the knowledge. One attempt isòdescribed. Correlations between process efficiency factors and the mineralogical features of low- grade concentrates have been developed from both a theoretical analysis and experimental measurements. The ultimate recovery of a reactive phase in an inert matrix can be calcu- lated from simple measurements of the particle size, porosity and pore size of the concentrate, and the grain size of the reactive mineral., The rate of recovery, up to 98% recovery, can be calculated from simple measurements of particle size, porosity, proportion of reactive mineral and tortuosity. Some details are given. The correlations are of potential use in process selection and preliminary design. Satisfactory predictions have been made for near-ideal systems. Improvements in the measurement of pore size and tests on more realistic materials are required. The ultimate benefit of the correlations will be determined by the magnitude and frequency of the effects of mineralogical features other than those specified above.

Jan 1, 1975

By D Rattray, D Macfarlane, I Robb, N Halpin, G T. Dale

Mining faces many environmental, social and regulatory liabilities of which water management is just one. Others include site rehabilitation, carbon emissions, biodiversity offsets, strategic cropping land, subsidence, and noise and dust generation. Management of these liabilities is commonly seen as a cost of doing business and each is often independently addressed, bypassing the opportunity to reduce costs through integrated approaches. Furthermore, approaches to dealing with these liabilities tend to be constrained by a prevailing culture of engineered solutions and lack of appreciation of risk associated with alternative and hybrid alternative-engineered solutions. Suboptimal outcomes can also be reinforced by rigid regulatory constraints. While the cost of addressing operational liabilities may be a small proportion of overall mine management costs, failure to do so effectively may influence social licence to operate and, as recently demonstrated by the decision of the NSW Land and Environment Court to block expansion of the Warkworth Mine near Singleton, absolute licence to operate.Integration of environmental, social and regulatory liabilities with value-creating and risk-reduction opportunities such as beneficial water use, carbon bio-sequestration, habitat connectivity, keyline farming, improved grazing design and management systems, windbreaks and visual screens, presents opportunities to reduce risk and create value. This potential may achieve overall improved outcomes in both economic and non-economic mine performance criteria.Two case studies in beneficial use of waste water from the mining and coal seam gas (CSG) sectors (which operate under different legislation) will be used to illustrate the potential to address mine development, operational and closure liabilities by understanding opportunities to reduce risk and create value through a holistic water management framework. The technical requirements and alternative approaches to beneficial use of mine water are addressed, along with the direct economic benefits for mine operational costs and opportunities to positively engage communities and build resilience into social licence to operate. Regulatory barriers to achieving improved outcomes will be discussed.CITATION:Dale, G T, Robb, I, Halpin, N, Macfarlane, D and Rattray, D, 2013. Opportunities for integrated mine management to minimise risk and create value, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013 , pp 227-234 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 26, 2013

By T N. Little

The grade control process undertaken at mines aims to maximise the value of the ore (valuable product) mined and fed downstream for processing or sale. The full range of grade control activities includes: reserve estimating, drilling/sampling, assaying, modelling, ore block design, blasting, ore mark out, excavating, stockpiling, processing and reconciling. Over the last 25 years, the grade control process has undergone significant improvements and this is in part due to the developments in grade control blasting. This paper discusses the development and classification of grade control blasting applications in surface mining. A review by the author in 1988 (Little and van Rooyen, 1988) is used as a benchmark for discussing the very significant progress that has been made.Two major technology initiatives have enabled this development. The first was the development of a method for the measurement and analysis of total displacement during the blasting process. Currently, the Blast Movement Monitor (BMM®) is a practical tool that has been used around the world to improve the industry’s understanding of three-dimensional blast movement dynamics. The second technological enabler was the development of electronic detonator systems. The unique aspects of electronic detonating systems are their higher accuracy and that all detonators are activated at time zero (initiation). From a grade control blasting perspective these features and other improvements allow experimentation and, ultimately, more complex, multiobjective blasts to be designed and implemented.This paper reports on a classification and review study undertaken by the author. In all, five selective blasting methods and nine bulk blasting methods are classified and reviewed. Five important observations are made: there is value in classifying the range of grade control blasting strategies, and the blasting objective framework presented is helpful in this regard the range of strategies available to designers is increasing as enabling technology develops, so too do the ambitions of blast designers and the expectations of downstream customersgrade control blasting and Mine to Mill concepts are merging, and this paper caters for this trend using multiple blasting objectiveshaving a technical primary blasting objectives framework, combined with the classification system presented here, should assist practitioners and stakeholders with lateral thinking in regards to future technological innovations, grade control blasting and Mine to Mill initiatives.CITATION:Little, T N, 2015. Classification and development in grade control blasting for surface mines, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 343–354 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 24, 2015

Recent operating experience from West Australian open pit gold mines has shown that geotechnical input into initial design is rare. As a result, ground stability is poor - almost half the pits designed in this way suffer major failure.West Australian experience shows that geotechnical studies for individual mines are site specific, and therefore empirical experience cannot be transported from site to site. Geotechnical studies performed prior to design have resulted in significantly improved pit stability.

Jan 1, 1990

By R D. Morri, D J. Alexander

The design and optimisation of mineral flotation circuits is currently performed using a combination of laboratory, pilot plant and full scale testing. Owing to the variable nature of flotation circuits and the complex nature of the flotation process, it is difficult to interpret the data collected from flotation testwork. JKSimFloat is a computer modelling package which is being developed to interpret flotation testwork data collected at the various stages of the mining cycle. The parameters derived from the program can be used to assess potential circuit configurations in both the design of new flotation circuits and in the refinement of existing operations. The aim of this paper is to outline the modelling methodology used in JKSimFloat and to outline how it can be used effectively to model data collected from either the laboratory, the pilot plant or the existing flotation circuit. The use of flotation model parameters in circuit evaluation will be demonstrated via the use of a case study based on data collected from ComincoÆs Red Dog lead flotation circuit.

Jan 1, 1998

By Keren Z, Huanguo G, Jlchuan Q

In this paper, the authors introduce a new flotation technique, a double collection flotation precess, which succeeds in separating feldspar from quartz effectively in weak acidic medium (pH = 5-6). In the presence of sodium hexametaphosphase(HMP), sodium oleate selectively improves the floatability of feldspar in the first collection step. Dodecyl amine- hydrochloride is used as collector in the second collection step to separate feldspar from quartz. The flotation tests with pure minerals as well as artificial mixture give out satisfactory results. The mechanism of reagent effect was investigated briefly, which is helpful for understanding the Process.

Jan 1, 1993

By Prince R. G H, Guerney P. J, Frew J. A, Vanderkruk C. R, Wanigasekara-Mohoti D. K

This computer-aided design system for mineral processing flowsheets which are based on froth flotation, size reduction and classification combines an expert system for generating flowsheet structures with numerical models for the physical processes and the economics. Design decisions, such as specification, size and placing of process units and the destination of recycle streams, are based on clear technical and economic criteria. These decisions are controlled by user-set parameters, which allow the incorporation of industry experience and preferences and the generation of sets of good designs, from which choices may be made by further criteria, such as controllability. Liberation is now fully modelled and the early results from this extension continue to suggest potential substantial increases in added value over conventional approaches.

Jan 1, 1997