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By L. J. Barnes

The process for bio-remediation of sulphidic slag (BROSS) operates at 45 degrees C in a neutral (pH 7), aerobic aqueous environment in which sulphide in the slag is converted to sulphate. A two-stage version has been developed that involves quantitative chemical pre-oxidation of total sulphide to thiosulphate, followed by complete biooxidation of thiosulphate to sulphate. Ferric hydroxide, also produced, acts as a flocculant in the bioreactor effluent, concentrating heavy metal precipitates in the thickener as a sludge which can be returned to the smelter. The process has a high sulphate production rate and low acid and nutrient consumptions. Microorganism growth is the rate-limiting stage, requiring a minimum liquid residence time in the bioreactor of about 7 h. Although large quantities of oxygen are needed, sufficient gas mass transfer can be attained in an air-lift reactor. Products are an aqueous stream containing sodium sulphate with only trace levels of toxic heavy metals and a benign, toxic metal-containing sludge

Jun 18, 1905

By D. C. Kaliampakos, A. K. Moutsatsou, J. K. Skotaras

The wastes from marble extraction in the Thasos- Kavalla-Drama region of northeastern Greece could be utilised as a new source of high-quality white carbonate fillers for the European market. Large deposits, satisfactory properties, acceptable processing costs and environmental benefits are among the factors that would have a positive bearing on a proposal for their use in this way. DTH, the waste arising from dolomitic marble quarrying operations on the island of Thasos, appears to be the more suitable material than DA waste from Nikissiani on the mainland because of the lower cost of primary grinding and the higher production rate of ultrafines with a mean particle size of 5 micrometres (the optimum size for filler properties in the case of both DTH and DA), its superior whiteness, the benefits that such use would bring to a very severe and complex environmental problem and the lower transport cost

Jun 18, 1905

By M. V. Swain, N. Bristow, R. D. Dukino

During mining, crushing and handling the size of iron ore lumps decreases. Key factors in determining the amount and size of fines that are produced are the mechanical properties of the ore. In a continuation of earlier work on the same ores the mechanical properties of three Australian iron ores from Yandi, Koolan and Mt. Whaleback were determined. In particular, fracture toughness was investigated in greater detail by examining its relationship to crack length using the compact tension test. The elastic modulus and strength of the ores were also determined in flexure and compression. The results were interpreted using Weibull statistics, enabling the ores to be ranked according to strength and elastic modulus. These results, together with data on the mechanical response of the ores to stress and observations concerning the effect of mineralogy on cracking, provide a coherent understanding of the mechanisms involved when the ores fracture

Jun 18, 1905

By D. Witchard, G. C. Penny

An important conclusion of the study is that altering the properties of the granulation water is a practical way of improving the sintering performance of blends that contain porous ores, and more work is under way to investigate other additives. Previous studies of iron ore blends containing pisolite ore showed that losses in sintering productivity were a result of deteriorating green-bed permeability. Pisolite ores are extremely porous and absorb a proportion of the water added during granulation. Although increased water addition could be used to counteract losses in productivity, the current study examined methods of inhibiting water absorption by pisolite ore as a means of improving productivity. Additives were used to alter the properties of the granulating water. With no increase in mix moisture contents pilot-scale sintering studies showed that sugar-based additives gave productivities that are higher than those obtained for a comparable ore blend containing haematite rather than the pisolitic ore. Several techniques of adding the sugar to the sinter mix were examined and found to increase productivity to varying degrees. Theoretical considerations, in some cases supported by experimental results, indicate that sugar-based additives not only inhibited water absorption by porous ore particles but also improved the permeability of the sintering bed. The study also suggested that, contrary to some commonly held views, the highly reactive nature of Yandi ore from Western Australia is beneficial for sintering. Porous ores enabled the formation of a strong sinter at fast flame-front speeds-both good strength and a short sintering time are requirements for high-productivity operation

Jun 18, 1905

By M. A. Leosson, S. H. Bottrell, R. J. Newton

Sylvite at Boulby is mined 1 140 m beneath the sea and the mine suffers from the influx of water. This is of two kinds: persistent flows originating in the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer and entering the evaporite sequence through fractures in the intervening mudstone, and impersistent flows which are transient in nature and of uncertain origin. Water from the overlying sandstone has become enriched with NaCl and large amounts of KCl and some Mg and Br have been added by interaction with the evaporites. Waters from the transient flows are isotopically distinct from those in the Sherwood Sandstone, being enriched in H and O. They are also saturated with respect to halite and sylvite, but have higher K/Na than the persistent flows and are much more enriched in Mg and Br

Jun 18, 1905

By P. J. O'Connor, V. Gallagher

The addendum, to the paper published in Trans. IMM B, vol.103, 1994, p.B175-B187, acknowledges data from Celtic Gold plc at Navan and apologises for the omission

Jun 18, 1905

By D. K. Bose, R. H. Rakhasia, V. D. Shah, J. C. Sehra

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the effects of roasting temperature, soaking period and quantity of soda ash added. At a laboratory scale, under optimum conditions of roasting at 873 K for 2 700 s with soda ash 10 wt% in excess of stoichiometric, molybdenum recovery was 99%. The investigations indicate the technical feasibility of producing high-purity MoO3 by combining the roasting process with carbon adsorption/desorption. The process uses low-cost chemicals, can be scaled up readily and is free of the SO2 pollution generated by conventional roasting, as the sulphur content of the concentrate is converted to sodium sulphate

Jun 18, 1905

By P. J. Baguley

The model has been developed on the basis of the observation that the partitioning behaviour of a particle is related to its calculated terminal velocity. It utilises a theoretical calculation of the terminal velocity of each particle class. This is then correlated with the observed partition data for a plant separator using empirically-derived functions of operating conditions which take into account effects such as bath turbulence, holes in drum lifters and feed arrangements. The model successfully decouples the effects of medium density and viscosity and is appropriate for any bath-type separator. The correlation between calculated terminal velocity and actual partitioning behaviour was established and modelled using data obtained from two Wemco drums treating Fe and Mn ores. The model can be used to predict the prevailing size-by-size partition curves and the separation (product grades/recoveries) given the washability of the feed and operating conditions. Simulations are used to show that, for the treatment of Fe ore, there is a maximum medium density beyond which product grades fall and that this maximum decreases as the proportion of magnetite in the medium increases. This is attributed to the dominant effect of viscosity at higher medium solids concentrations

Jun 18, 1905

By R. Scheepers, J. E. Misiewicz, A. C. Fitzgerald

Discussion by A.C. Fitzgerald of the paper, published in Trans. IMM A, vol.104, 1995, p.B121-B135, is presented together with the authors' response. Fitzgerald points out a number of problems with the idea of mineralising fluids leaving no trace in the large volumes of rock traversed before depositing all minerals of value in a particular horizon or rock type with which the required isobaric or isothermic surface also coincides. He suggested that in the case of the Rooiberg tin deposits, the Lebowa Granites may be batholiths that reached the surface and were capped by sheets of their own volcanics. The authors agree that they had considered a possible syngenetic origin for the stratabound deposits, explain that no conclusive evidence for this could be found, discuss the relative ages of the sediments and volcanics of the Rooiberg Fragment and explain the role of its low-intensity deformation and flat dip in the coincidence of an isobaric-isothermic surface with the lithological stratification

Jun 18, 1905

By P. K. Kaiser, R. K. Brummer

Paper presented at the conference Risk assessment in the extractive industries, held in Exeter, 23-24 March 1994. A risk-based decision-making procedure has been developed for selecting rockburst-resistant tunnel support in burst-prone mines. The method is based on a risk-cost-benefit analysis and uses support cost data, costs associated with the risk of support failure or excavation loss, costs associated with accidents, injuries and deaths, and the benefits achieved by installing rockburst-resistant support. It takes into account the risk of damage to the support systems due to rockbursts, potential loss of production and the need to rehabilitate in the event of a damaging rockburst. A practical example is provided to illustrate the principles involved in the decision process

Jun 17, 1905

By A. L. W. Lips, T. J. R. Barclay, E. Rothery, S. H. White

Paper presented at the conference Economic geology in Europe and beyond II, models for mineral deposits in sedimentary basins, held in Keyworth, UK, 13-14 April 1994 (originally entitled: The Broken Hill base metal deposit - a tectonically transported and modified basinal deposit within the Proterozoic Willyama fold and thrust belt). A regional structural study was undertaken which incorporated the role of shears. Their positions were identified from earlier mapping, from regional aeromagnetic data and by additional field work. Kinematic studies determined movement histories and petrological studies of the fault rocks formed within the shears identified the relationship between the movements and regional metamorphism. It was found that the shears formed a part of an earlier, major thrust event with transport from NW to SE and a later, minor one in the reverse direction. Neither had any significant effect on the mineralisation apart from local displacement, but the shuffling of the basin stratigraphy adds to the difficulty of recognising the original volcanic and sedimentary protoliths of the metamorphosed sequence. The mineralisation at Broken Hill mine is confined to a single recognisable thrust slice within a shear corridor. It is stratabound with locally transgressive remobilisation due to the high-temperature thrusting and some metasomatic alteration as a result of the retrograde shearing. This variation accounts for the different genetic models applied to the deposits in the past

Jun 17, 1905

By T. From

The organisation's mission is to promote research and technological development in processes relevant to the minerals industry by providing expertise, developing and managing jointly funded projects, undertaking commissions and education and establishing and maintaining research and development networks. It was responsible for the administration of the Mining Technology 2000 national programme to reduce production costs per metallic unit by 50% over 5-8 years, which involved 120 projects in all. Technical areas included ore characterisation/delineation and mine planning, rock fragmentation, rock mechanics, maintenance, energy and ventilation, automation and information systems, cut and fill, bulk mining methods, drifting and production-face development. Other projects have been the Ore Geology Related to Prospecting (PIM) programme to raise the standard of ore geology research in Sweden and promote exploration for volcanogenic massive sulphides in three key regions, and a joint research project on ventilation control according to requirement, including development of fan and gas monitoring systems and an improved, adjustable and intelligent fan

Jun 17, 1905

By D. J. Spottiswood, R. K. Tuteja

Axial grade profiles were analysed for a pilot column operating in reverse flotation mode to float talc from a gold-bearing sulphide ore. It was found that concentration gradients in the pulp are very low. Most of the cleaning action, both upgrading of valuable minerals and rejection of gangue, occurs in the froth zone

Jun 17, 1905

By R. T. Grant, C. Bazin, D. Hodouin

It is shown that most of the variation in the results of semi-batch flotation tests is related to the unavoidably stochastic nature of the flotation process. The preparation and analysis of flotation samples and, to some extent, operator error in performing the flotation test procedure are responsible for a small proportion of the observed variability of the calculated flotation performance indices

Jun 17, 1905

By D. H. Watkinson

Paper presented at the IAGOD international symposium on mineralisation related to mafic and ultramafic rocks held in Orleans, France, 1-3 September 1993. Part of the contact of the 4b orebody with the enclosing Murray granite is characterised by the presence of recrystallised and biotitic Sudbury Breccia; in places the contact is faulted and sheared. In other areas of the contact partly silicified granite contains disseminated chalcopyrite and quartz-chalcopyrite veins with other minor minerals. Both ore and veins contain platinum group minerals (PGM); predominant PGM are michenerite, kotulskite, merenskyite and sperrylite with Au, galena and Bi-tellurides. At some silicified-granite contacts Mn-rich garnets, some containing inclusions of PGM and quartz, are associated with biotite + epidote + stilpnomelane + quartz. PGM and Au also occur within Cl-rich biotite and ferropyrosmalite in massive sulphide and in siliceous ore. Quartz, chalcopyrite and feldspar in the contact rocks and in veins contain abundant, highly saline fluid inclusions. Studies showed that the fluids were trapped at intermediate temperatures. The 4b orebody is surrounded by a sheath of brecciated granite but is close to the Contact Sublayer. During and after emplacement of sulphide magma, saline formational fluid that was resident in the breccia interacted with hot massive sulphides in and near the Sublayer and remobilised Cu, Au and PGE. This fluid reacted with cooler rocks and ore in footwall fractures, enriching the 4b protore and producing the adjacent Cu- and PGE-enriched quartz veins. Exploration for Cu and PGE enrichment in footwall rocks of the Sudbury South Range is warranted not only in zones of magmatic ore in the Contact Sublayer but also in fractures and permeable units within Sudbury Breccia

Jun 16, 1905

By V. Distler, E. F. Stumpfl

Paper presented at the IAGOD international symposium on mineralisation related to mafic and ultramafic rocks held in Orleans, France, 1-3 September 1993. The massif contains large chromite bodies of "Alpine-type", ophiolitic affinity. Orebodies reach thicknesses of 150 m and sizes of more than 150 000 000 t chromite ore with average grades of 55-60 wt% Cr2O3. Chromites in the Main ore field are low-Al, high-Cr spinels which exhibit some variation in their Mg-Fe distribution. This differs markedly from high-Al spinels in peridotite host rocks and in narrow chromite pods which occur in the western and northern parts of the massif. Chromites carry silicate inclusions, often hydrous silicates such as amphibole. Chromites in massive chromitites contain micron size inclusions of platinum group minerals (PGM). Composite grains containing two PGM and, occasionally, a hydrous silicate are common. Os-Ir alloys rimmed by PGM sulpharsenides occur in narrow serpentine veinlets that cut chromite and are evidence for the reconcentration of PGE concomitant with introduction of As, probably during serpentinisation. Whole-rock PGE contents are highest in massive chromitites of Diamond Pearl mine (totals of 500 ppb). Chondrite-normalised PGE patterns of chromitites show negative slopes which are typical for ophiolitic, podiform chromitites in mantle sequences. The PGE patterns of host rocks are flat and rather depleted compared with those of chondrites and chromitites. Petrological data from unaltered host peridotites suggest a high temperature overprint leading to sub-solidus re-equilibration of olivine and spinel and to the growth of pargasitic and edenitic amphiboles

Jun 16, 1905

Paper presented at the conference Risk assessment in the extractive industries, held in Exeter, 23-24 March 1994. Sensitivity analyses based on financial variables are now routinely applied to the forecast financial results of mining projects especially during the feasibility stage. Risk analysis is gaining acceptance but is still almost universally confined to the effects of variations in financial variables. The single most sensitive factor in almost all mining projects is the ore reserve, but it is either ignored or improperly used in sensitivity and risk analyses. Unlike financial variables, the components of the ore reserve (grades and tonnages of mining blocks) are a function of location within the orebody. Physical (mining) access to these components is therefore a function of time which has a crucial effect on forecast cash flows. It is critical that these fundamental concepts are included in risk analyses of mining projects. The effects are considered of the uncertainty of the ore reserve on feasibility studies and open-pit mine design for a small gold mining venture. Geostatistical simulation is used as a method of quantifying the risk in using grades and tonnages estimated from sparse data

Jun 16, 1905

By A. M. R. Neiva

The WNW-ESE-trending hydrothermal veins cut alternating mica schists and quartzites of mainly Ordovician age and, to the west, a Hercynian muscovite-biotite granite. They have been prospected and developed to a depth of 300 m and reserves of 20 t Au estimated. The paragenetic sequence and chemical compositions of the ore minerals are generally similar to those at Jales to the south. Gold, electrum and aurian silver form inclusions in arsenopyrite, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, pyrrhotite and quartz and also occur in veinlets that cut these minerals. Silver has been found in gold, electrum, aurian silver, tetrahedrite, freibergite and the Ag-Pb-Sb sulphide owyheeite. Early arsenopyrite crystallised at an estimated 480 degrees C and the more common, later arsenopyrite in which Au and Ag are generally included at 430-300 degrees C. Sphalerite crystallised at 307-100 degrees C. Monoclinic pyrrhotite may have been formed by the inversion of hexagonal pyrrhotite at 248 degrees C

Jun 16, 1905

By J. Temporal

An introduction to the conference material in this issue is given together with the issue contents list, closing remarks by its chairman Dr. J. Temporal, the list of contributors and their companies, and the information that the 26th Sir Julius Wernher memorial lecture had had to be presented by the lecturer's wife, M. Biggart, in his absence due to site problems on the Storebaelt project

Jun 16, 1905

By J. J. Mackay

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the UK's Department of Transport introduced the symposium, approved its emphasis on environmental planning and the mitigation of environmental impact, discussed the publicity resulting from the recent opening of the Channel Tunnel as well as the role of private financing, and pointed out the leading role played by the Department of Transport in the introduction of the New Austrian Tunnelling Method to projects such as the Jubilee Line extension and the Heathrow Express (an editor's footnote, however, mentions with regret the Heathrow subsidence that occurred just before the journal went to print)

Jun 16, 1905