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By R. W. Harper, M. C. Fuerstenau, J. D. Miller

Data were obtained with hematite with octyl hydroxamate and oleate as collectors to determine the mechanism of collector adsorption and also to establish the roles that conditioning time and temperature assume in this system. The presence of hydroxy complexes of iron are apparently necessary for chemisorption of collector to occur, and it appears as if extended conditioning times and elevated temperature promote greater dissolution of the mineral and hence greater concentrations of hydroxy complexes. Data were also collected with two natural hematitic ores. With one ore that was ground to 70% - 15u, an addition of 0.4 lb per ton hydrox-amate resulted in a final concentrate recovery of 86% at a grade of 64% iron. Satisfactory concentrate grade could not be obtained with fatty acid under these conditions. The effect of conditioning time prior to the addition of collector was also examined with another ore. When the ore was conditioned for 3 min, 19% of the iron was recovered in the concentrate at a grade of 67% Fe. With a conditioning time of 7 min, 73% of the iron reported to the concentrate at a grade of 62% Fe. These products were obtained with an addition of 0.2 lb per ton hydroxamate. This ore also responded well to flotation with fatty acid. The use of potassium octyl hydroxamate as a collector for iron oxide has been the subject of an earlier study.1 From this initial study, it was suspected that hydrolysis of surface ferric iron was involved in collector adsorption. More recent work in other systems has shown that slight mineral dissolution, followed by hydrolysis of cations common to the mineral lattice, is apparently necessary, and that adsorption of these hydroxy com- plexes probably occurs prior to the adsorption of collector. In view of these facts, work has been continued on the hydroxamate-hematite and oleate-hematite systems to gain better insight into the mechanisms of collector adsorption on iron oxide. Microflotation experiments in conjunction with infrared analysis were used in this regard. In addition it was felt necessary to establish more clearly the responses that can be obtained from natural ores when hydroxamate is used as collector as compared to those obtained when fatty acid is used. Experimental Materials and Techniques Pure potassium oleate, potassium octyl hydroxamate, synthesized from hydroxylamine hydrochloride and methyl octanoate, and a distilled Tall Oil were employed as collectors. Conductivity water was used in the

Jan 1, 1971

By Robert L. Sundeen, Richard V. Wenberg

INTRODUCTION Shotcrete can be defined as spray-applied concrete with a maximum size aggregate in excess of 9.5 mm (0.375 in.). The concept evolved from guniting, which uses smaller aggregate and generally produces concrete with poorer physical properties. The larger aggregate used in shotcrete requires less water in the mix, while offering larger bonding surfaces, thus imparting greater tensile and compressive strengths. TYPES OF MACHINES Two basic designs of shotcrete machines in general use are the wet or prehydrated zero slump and low slump type, and the dry or nozzle hydrated machines. Fig. 1 shows a typical zero-slump machine in a con¬figuration commonly used for small-volume require¬ments. The prehydrated zero-slump machine mixes exactly proportioned batches in a sealed pressurized chamber. "Slugs" of hydrated shotcrete mix and com¬pressed air are sent through a distribution hose to the nozzle where the wet mix emerges as a spray. The spray is directed onto the rock surface by the nozzle operator. The low-slump machine is similar, except that a thick slurry mix of aggregate is delivered throughout the distribution hose to the nozzle. Fig. 2 shows a typical low-slump shotcrete machine used in moderate-volume applications. The nozzle-hydrated shotcrete machine accepts a premixed "dry" (4 to 6% moisture) batch of aggregate and cement. A constant feed of this mix is directed by compressed air through the distribution hose to the nozzle. At the nozzle, water for hydration is introduced into the emerging spray. The hydrated mixture is di¬rected onto the rock surface by the nozzle operator. Fig. 3 shows a typical dry-mix machine. The major difference between the two basic machine designs is the consistency of the shotcrete quality. Pre¬hydrated machines have high degrees of consistency and produce high-strength concrete, resulting from their ability to produce exact mixtures of zero or low-slump concrete within the machine. Nozzle-hydrated machines tend to produce poorer quality concrete because of the difficulty in controlling the water content at the nozzle. Water input essentially is an art. As such it is not precise, and the shotcrete produced is of variable quality. MATERIALS HANDLING Materials handling presents a problem to either type of shotcrete machine. At times considerable quantities

Jan 1, 1982

By Silvana Costa

The quality of life in remote mining communities is a significant factor that impacts the mining industry?s ability to attract and retain high quality workers in remote areas. The rapid growth of mining development, along with the shortage of skills and training globally are reflected in an increasing need to identify the ideal conditions for employee wellbeing and investigate ways to improve quality of life of miners and their families in remote locations.

May 1, 2007

By G King, Q Shu, W Cao, F Gyakwaa, H Singh, S Wang, M Huttula, T Fabritius

Metallurgical slag, such as refining slag, is essential to enhance or promote steel cleanliness. The CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 system is the primary source of oxides-based inclusions. It plays a vital role in applications in various pyrometallurgical processes. Numerous thermodynamic databases and physicochemical properties of slag studies mainly focus on quenched samples and measurements at room temperature. Consequently, the present study explored the physicochemical, structural properties and crystallisation evolution for CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 glassy slags via in situ hightemperature Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The study was carried out by synthesising CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 slag with varying Al2O3/SiO2 ratios. The results from the in situ high-temperature measurement demonstrated a pattern showing a transformation of a broad peak from the glassy matrix to crystalline peaks. The study showed crystallisation of dominant phases such as Ca2SiO4, Ca2Al2SiO7 and CaAl2O4 that correspond and are attributable to changes of structural units during in situ high-temperature measurements. The results further showed a correlation between an increase and transformation in crystalline phases observed from the spectra obtained from non-isothermal heating of the samples.

Jun 19, 2024

By Stefan Mewes

Europe’s second-largest seaport has installed a new combi wall consisting of pipe piles, sheet piles and inclined shaft grouted piles to support it. The new Liebherr piling rig with swinging leader was used to drive shaft grouted piles into a very dense soil layer of sand with glauconite. The 60 m Liebherr swinging leader was suspended at an inclination of 45° via a suspension frame and suspension ropes from the crawler crane. This inclined installation of shaft grouted piles via freely hanging swinging leader, as used for this project, is unique in Belgium. Moreover, the pile length of 43 m is a novelty for this type of pile. Shaft grouted piles consist of a steel profile with a separate box-like pile shoe with an open top. A thin grout is injected via an injection pipe during driving and emerges just above the pile shoe. As the pile is driven further down, so compressing the ground, the space above the pile foot is immediately filled with grout under pressure. This piling system is ideally suited for the transfer of high tensile loadings. It is a method to increase geotechnical load-bearing capacity and to reduce negative skin friction during pile driving.

Sep 1, 2022

Tile National Research Council announces further appointments to National Research Fellowships in physics and chemistry. The object of the National Research Council in maintaining a system of research fellowships is to promote fundamental research in physics and chemistry primarily in educational institutions in the United States. Fellowships are awarded to persons who have demonstrated a high order of ability in research for the purpose of enabling them to conduct investigations at educational institutions which make adequate provisions for research: in physics and chemistry. The new appointments are as follows: In Chemistry.-Warren C. Vosburgh, of New York City, B. S. Union College, 1914, A. M. Union College, 1916, Ph. D. Columbia University, 1919. Research assistant to the Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University for the past six months. George Scatchard, of New York City, A. B. Amherst College, 1913, Ph. D. Colt tibia University, 1917. Formerly research assistant to the Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University and instructor in organic chemistry: First Lieutenant. Sanitary Corns. U. S. A.

Jan 7, 1919

By A. G. Guy

Thermodynamic activity rather than chemical composition is basic to the analysis of diffusion. This is the essential conclusion reached by Darken1-3 and by Birchenall and Mehl.4 If so, it is reasonable to expect that diffusion calculations should be carried out using activities. This paper will illustrate a method of employing activities in analyzing interstitial diffusion. For interstitial diffusion (of carbon in iron and probably generally) the diffusion of the solvent atoms, volume changes, and other such complexities not explicitly provided for in the usual diffusion equations cause a negligible error of the order of 1 pct. Therefore it is relatively easy to test the validity of an analysis based on activities in the instance of interstitial diffusion. The mathematical treatment of the more complex substitutional diffusion could be simplified once the adequacy of the activity method had been established for substitutional diffusion. Thus the present work has the purpose not only of providing a superior analysis of interstitial diffusion but also of indicating a possible approach to the more important question of an adequate treatment of substitutional diffusion. Development of the Diffusion Equation Although activities are convenient quantities to determine experimentally, they are derived from the more fundamental fugacities.9 Possible confusion in using activities can be avoided by basing equations involving their use on the relationship, dP = -D1d/ax dt [I] where, dP = the number of grams of solute crossing one cm2 in the time dt sec. D, = the diffusion constant for use with fugacities; it is assumed to be constant at a given temperature, and has units of secs. f = the fugacity of the solute in the solid solution; the units are those of pressure, dynes per cm2. x = the distance in cm. Eq 1 can be considered to be the basic form of the first Fick Law for one-dimensional diffusion. In order to convert Eq 1 into an equation involving activities, a choice of a standard or reference fugacity, f°, must be made: then. a = f [2] where a is the activity corresponding to the fugacity f. However, the value of a is also determined by the relation, a = a\c [3] where a is the activity coefficient and c is the concentration. For a given value of a (such as a = 1) it is evident that the units used for expressing concentration will affect the numerical value of a corresponding to a given amount of carbon dissolved in y-iron. Since weight per cent concentration is so widely used, this unit will be adopted as the standard in this paper. When the value off given by Eq 2 is substituted in Eq 1, the first Fick Law becomes, dP= -D,f°dl [4] Since D,f° is constant (at a given temperature), the second form of Fick's Law can be obtained in the usual manner, -dt D'f° dx [5] where c' is the concentration in g per cm3. In terms of weight per cent concentration, c, Eq 5 becomes, dc _ 100 d2a Tt = T /f w [6] where p is the density of the solid solution and will be assumed to be constant. In order to simplify Eq6, it is necessary to consider the standard state, f°. Standard states are chosen for convenience. There appears to be one especially convenient choice for the analysis of interstitial diffusion. If the activity coefficient, a, is set equal to unity at infinite dilution of the solute, 100 then — 100D1fl° is approximately equal P to the usual diffusion constant in dilute solutions. This is true since the activity, a, in Eq 6 can be replaced by the concentration, c, with little error in an infinitely dilute solution.* Here f1° is the standard fugacity necessary to achieve this standard state. It is proposed that a diffusion constant Da' be defined, Da1=100/pD1f1° [7] where A is the metal whose diffusion is * The second derivative of a is equal to the second derivative of c in dilute solution only if -da/dr- is. zero. Although theory does not require this condition, in the systems C in Fe, and Zn in Cu, dc is in fact found to be essentially zero.

Jan 1, 1950

By Sakir Selcuk, Brian Hamilton, Paul Zick

The 1.8 mi (2.9 km) Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Light Rail Transit Tunnels and Station project is comprised of the underground segments of the 11.8 mi(18.8 km) Hiawatha Light Rail Transit route in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 21 ft 2 in(6.5 m) diameter twin tunnels were mined 65 ft beneath one of the busiest airports in the United States using an earth pressure balanced tunnel-boring machine. This paper will provide a project overview, review the major equipment selected, tunnel segment casting, and describe excavation and lining operations for the tunnels and station.

Jan 1, 2003

By E. J. Ripling

A NY mechanism proposed to explain hydrogen embrittlement in titanium and its alloys must, of course, be consistent with the experimental data that characterize this embrittlement. Unfortunately, however, the mechanical behavior of hydrogen-bearing titanium, at least a-ß titanium, has not been unequivocally defined. Lenning, Craighead, and Jaffee have clearly shown that hydrogen cmbrittles a-titanium by elevating its transition temperature, probably as the result of the formation of titanium hydrides. Therefore, in these alloys, hydrogen acts like at least one other interstitial contaminant, namely, nitrogen.&apos; On the other hand, ß-titanium has been shown by these same investigators to tolerate very large amounts of hydrogen without suffering severe mechanical damage.2 Mixing these two phases, however, to form the most important class of commercial alloys, the a-ß alloys, again results in severe hydrogen embrittlement, although the mechanism by which the embrittlement is produced is not of the same type as that which causes brittleness in a alloys. Ductility damage due to hydrogen increases as the strain rate is reduced in a-ß alloys, while embrittlement in a alloys increases as the strain rate is increased, since the latter is a transition temperature behavior. Steel, like the a-ß alloys, becomes more hydrogen sensitive at slow strain rates, suggesting that the mechanism producing the embrittlement in these two metals is similar. Brown and Baldwin&apos; described the hydrogen-produced ductility depression in steel as a function of testing temperature and strain rate by defining the slope of the two surfaces that produced the depression in a three dimensional chart, Fig. 1. One of these surfaces was given by the equations (de/de)4 > 0 (de/dT) < 0 [1] while the other was defined by the pair of equations Surfaces of the type given by Eq. 1 are suggested in two ways. One is an embrittlement mechanism wherein the diffusion rate of hydrogen is competitive with the rate at which the material is being deformed, as suggested by the planar pressure theory of Zapffe and his co-workers.&apos; The other is the diffusion controlled extension of Orowan&apos;s theory on delayed fracture in glass by Petch and Stables.&apos;&apos; Surfaces of the type given by Eq. 2 are also compatible with a mechanism of pressure build up in voids, according to de Kazinczy,&apos; since the solubility of hydrogen in the metal increases with testing temperature so that as the temperature is raised, the pressure in the voids is reduced. Kotfila and Erbin recently presented some data on the dependence of ductility on testing temperature and strain rate for the a-ß 3 pet Mn complex alloy at four different hydrogen levels.H Although data were presented for only three testing temperatures at three different strain rates, their results indicated that surfaces of the types defined in Eqs. 1 and 2 are produced in the alloy when the hydrogen level is sufficiently high—200 and 300 ppm—Fig. 2. Jaffee and his co-workers presented data on a number of different a-ß alloys which indicated the existence of surfaces of the type described by Eq. 2, but the ductility recovery at low temperatures as given by Eq. 1 was not found." In an attempt to aid in crystallizing this description of the ductility dependence of hydrogen-bearing a-ß alloys, tests were conducted by the author on a-ß titanium 140A with three different hydrogen contents. The tensile properties of two as-received rods and one vacuum annealed rod* were obtained over a range of testing temperatures and strain rates as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Hydrogen analyses were made by the Battelle Memorial Institute on four pieces of the rod whose properties are shown as solid circles in Fig. 4. The hydrogen content of these pieces, taken at widely spaced intervals within the rod, were 280, 270, 289, and 270 ppm, indicating that the hydrogen content within a single as-received rod was quite uniform. One of the broken test pieces whose properties are shown in Fig. 3 as solid circles was also analyzed, and found to have a hydrogen content of 310 ppm. The analyses obtained on two of the vacuum annealed specimens were 92 and 170 ppm.

Jan 1, 1957

By C. E. Morris, S. R. Pollack

Current -vo1tage -temperature characteristics were studied for Al-A12O3-Al, Au structures. The oxide film was grown by gaseous oxidation in an 0, glow discharge. The electron-transfer mechanism was identified as tunneling and the barrier heights and thickness were determined. It was found that the barrier height at the parent aluminum-oxide interface is 1.5 ev and the built-in vloltage with an aluminum counter electrode is 0.35 v. The growth mechanism of the oxide is also discussed and it is suggested that Mott&apos;s theory is not applicable in describing the growth. Discrepancies were observed in the detailed comparison of tunneling theory, based on a trapezoidal model, with the data, and several possible explanations are discussed. THEORETICAL analyses of electron tunneling from one nonsuperconducting metal to another through an extremely thin insulating film have been presented.1-6 These calculations relate the current density, J, to the voltage, V, between the two metals, and to the temperature, T. The results of these calculations indicate that the magnitude of J and the detailed shape of the J-V characteristic will in general depend most strongly upon such properties of the insulating film as the thickness, the dielectric constant, and the structure of the electron energy barrier profile. The experimental results of many7-11 workers have corroborated the main features of these calcu- lations and have in fact been used to determine properties of the thin insulating film. It has been demonstrated, for example, that the tunneling current formulation of simmons4 is adequate to describe the observed J-V characteristic over approximately 10 orders of magnitude of current. Furthermore, from these observations and analyses, insight into the nature of the A1-A12O3 (thermally grown) interface region has been obtained.&apos;&apos; The temperature dependence of the tunnel current has also been studied and, although a self-consistent set of tunneling parameters can be chosen to describe these data at low voltages (i.e., <0.5 v), the tunneling parameters are different from those obtained from higher voltage (i.e., of the order of 1 to 5 v) measurements." We have measured the effect of temperature and voltage upon the tunnel current at higher applied voltages and find that the theory is inadequate to describe all of the effects reported here. A discussion of the origin of this inadequacy is presented following a description of the samples used for these experiments, and the experimental results. SAMPLE PREPARATION Metal-insulator-metal structures were fabricated in the following way. A 99.999 pct A1 charge was used to deposit, in vacuo, thirty films, 2000Å thick, onto a 1 by 2 in. glass substrate (7059 Corning glass). Prior to deposition the substrate was glow-discharged for final cleanup and then baked at 200°C for 2 hr at a pressure of 5 x 10-7 torr. The pressure during deposition of the metal films was 2 X 10-6 torr and the deposition rate was 50 to 100Å per

Jan 1, 1965

By R. J. Barnes

Consider a typical blast at a surface gold mine in North America. For example, the low-grade area of Bench 4000 at AMAX Gold&apos;s Sleeper Mine (Winnemucca, Nevada). Bench 4000 is 20 feet high (=6m) , and blast holes are drilled and sampled on a 14 foot by 14 foot square grid (a4m x 4m). A representative blast includes between 50 and 150 holes, encompassing 15,000 to 45,000 tons of material (w14,000 to 41,000 metric tons).

Jan 1, 1989

By I. Gaballah

The kinetics of oxychlorination of pure CI-2O3 with C12+02 gas mixtures is studied by ThermoGravimetric Analysis (TGA) in non and isothermal conditions up to 1000 °C. The reaction of Cr2O3 with C12+O2 chlorination gas mixtures starts at about 550 °C and the reaction product is CrO2Cl2. The oxychlorination rate of Cr2O3 is almost proportional to the chlorine partial pressure and to the fourth root of the oxygen partial pressure in the chlorinating gas mixtures. At 800 °C, the maximum chlorination rate is obtained using a gas mixture having a C12/O2 ratio equal to 4. The apparent activation energy of the oxychlorination reaction of Cr2O3 is 87 and 46 kJ/mol at temperatures lower and higher than 650 °C, respectively. By varying the chlorine and the oxygen partial pressures of the oxychlorinating gas mixtures at temperatures higher than 550 °C, it is possible to extract selectively the chromium chlorinated compounds from the chromium bearing materials. a. Laboratoire Environnemem et Minéralurgie, BP 40, 54501 Vandceuvre, France, b. École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie, Rue du Doyen Marcel Rouhault, 54501 Vandoeuvre Cedex, France, c. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 3 rue Michel - Ange, 75794 Paris Cedex, France, d. Insritut National Polytechnigne do Lorraine, Rue de la Font de Haye. 54501 Vandceuvre Cedex, France.

Jan 1, 1997

By Gordon A. Gross

Banded siliceous manganese-iron bearing sediments recognized as distinctive facies of Algoma-type iron formation constitute low-grade resources of manganese in many countries. Manganiferous facies associated with oxide and carbonate facies of iron formation have iron to manganese ratios ranging from 0.2 to 2 and commonly about one. Manganiferous facies up to 30 m thick occurring separately or with other iron formation facies are associated with cherts, carbonates, shales, turbidites, tuffs, and lavas. Primary cherty manganiferous facies and their gondite metamorphic equivalents represent significant manganese resources and are protores for higher-grade deposits derived by secondary enrichment processes.

Jan 1, 1983

"The pumping of the underground water of the Butte mines is largely done from two central plants of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. The mines of one part of the mining district are served by a modern and mechanically efficient underground plant at the High Ore mine, and the remaining part by a similar one at the Leonard mine. Properties not affiliated with the A. C. M. Co. have separate pumping plants, although in several instances that company handles the water of outside companies, under which arrangement costly single plants are dispensed with. An extensive system of underground crosscuts and drifts connects these mines to both the main pumping plants, so that either may receive the water from all the mines in case there should be a failure in the other to perform its designed service.Quintuple) vertical electric pumps, 7 inches by 12 inches each, of a capacity of 600 gals. per minute under a head of 1,203 feet, are installed at both the plants. Each pump is direct connected to two 150 h-p. motors using 2,300 volts, the motors being on top of the pumps.At the High Ore plant the power cable of 400,000 c. m. is placed in a nearby shaft, the cable at present being hung from the surface to the 2,200 level. From this cable feeders of 300,000 c. m. are laid in connecting crosscuts to the pumping station at the High Ore shaft.The Leonard motors use 440 volts. The practice of building the pumps with the motors on top requires stations with high roofs, but permits the operation of the pumps if they should be submerged by an unusual flow of water."

Jan 1, 1913

By G R. Hancock, S Grant, T Whiteside, J B. C Lowry, J Boyden, T J. Coulthard

Physically-based landform evolution models (LEM) provide a spatial framework to forecast the long-term geomorphic stability of post-mining landscapes. When used to test the relative stability of different landform designs, LEMs may assist with the development of optimal closure designs for rehabilitated mines. However, in order to reduce prediction error, factors controlling landscape evolution must also be accurately represented by models. This requires that the correct sets of processes are represented and that driving parameters used in LEMs are, if necessary, calibrated to the landscape of interest.Vegetation exerts strong controls on the hydrologic and geomorphic processes that drive landscape evolution. Hence, the spatial and temporal scales over which typical patterns in vegetation are represented in different landscapes are important considerations in LEM calibration. However, vegetation is rarely accounted for in LEMs and even when integrated is often represented simply, without representing spatial dynamics of vegetation cover that may impact landform development.This study focuses on characterising vegetation patterns to calibrate a new vegetation module of the The Cellular Automaton Evolutionary Slope and River (CAESAR)-Lisflood LEM to be applied to a conceptual rehabilitated landform of the Ranger uranium mine located in the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR) of northern Australia. In the ARR the spatial dynamics of vegetation over time are largely driven by monsoonal rains and topography. Extensive dry season fires are also common in the region, temporarily reducing vegetation cover where they occur. Hence, hydrology, topography and fire disturbance interact to shape a distinct, yet dynamic, mosaic of different vegetation types of varying cover density. As a basis for calibrating the new vegetation function, the distribution and dynamics of vegetation are characterised for this savannah landscape by remote sensing, in conjunction with ground data.CITATION:Boyden, J, Lowry, J, Coulthard, T, Whiteside, T, Hancock, G and Grant, S, 2016. Accounting for vegetation dynamics in landform evolution modelling, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2016 Conference , pp 63–66 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 28, 2016

Opening AddressThank you for inviting me here today to open what promises to be a significant conference on the technological aspects of extractive metallurgy. I would especially like. to welcome delegates who have travelled great distances in order to contribute to, and be participants in, this examination of the technical innovations which have always been a crucial part of our industry.

Jan 1, 1992

By Bradford NL

The Isa Mine of Mount Isa Mines Limited produces 5.1 million tonnes of copper ore and 2.2 million tonnes of silver-lead-zinc ore from sublevel open stopes annually. Extraction of the narrow, steeply dipping silver-lead-zinc orebodies requires a strategy quite different to that used in the massive copper orebodies. A range of blasthole diameters, explosive types and initiation systems gives the flexibility needed to adapt open stoping to a variety of situations. Hole diameters from 70 mm to 200 mm are being used, with lengths of up to 100 m common for the latter.

Jan 1, 1982

By Trumpff H

Opencast Lignite Mining requires topwall strata of seams to be fully depleted and footwall aquifers sufficiently depressurized. To prevent a spread of the cone of depression into protected wetlands some distance away, alternatives had been investigated such as closing water works, underground slurry wall barriers and recharge by infiltration. As a result of these investigations, the infiltration method has been chosen and in a first phase during the next decade it will utilize as much as 55 x 106 m3/year. Using this approach, the survival of the wet lands is assured.

Jan 1, 1988

By Anderson JDC

Opencast Lignite Mining requires topwall strata of seams to be fully depleted and footwall aquifers sufficiently depressurized. To prevent a spread of the cone of depression into protected wetlands some distance away, alternatives had been investigated such as closing water works, underground slurry wall barriers and recharge by infiltration. As a result of these investigations, the infiltration method has been chosen and in a first phase during the next decade it will utilize as much as 55 x 106 m3/year. Using this approach, the survival of the wet lands is assured.

Jan 1, 1988

By Mutton B. K

Hilton Mine is being developed as an integrated component of the Mount Isa operation, to achieve continuity of silver/lead/zinc production well into the next century. The mine has a chequered history from its discovery in 1947 through several periods of intense development activity, each of which has been curtailed due to the further development of the Isa Mine operation. This era has now passed; to sustain increased production rates at Mount Isa, there is a requirement for Hilton ore in 1989. The decision was made in 1983 to accelerate the programme of Hilton development by installing skip hoisting facilities in the main service shaft (P49), to facilitate the development of the mine to pre-production status. The Hilton development plan provides for the mining of selected orebodies, a broadening of the underground exploration drilling programme, and the establishment of significant mine infrastructure. Several technical challenges have been identified as important. The Hilton orebodies, although occurring in the same rock type as Isa Mine, are more faulted, jointed and intersected by intrusive dykes. The ore is more variable in terms of ore continuity, boundaries, grade and metal distribution and the mineralogy more complex. As a consequence the development of this project consists of a co-ordinated programme of mine exploration and development, rock mechanics investigations and metallurgical research and development work. Production will commence in 1986 at a rate of 1000 t/day using mechanized cut and fill techniques. It is planned to introduce sublevel open stoping and by 1996/97 the production rate will be 2.5 million t/yr.

Jan 1, 1986