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Aspiring to be excellent makes you a good leader as it shows a capability for strategic thought, defining and implementing a vision, making a job easier, more efficient and effective. Every great business leader can generate additional revenue or cost savings for their company. Becoming excellent requires the desire and action to follow it through. There are many established methods of excellence: benchmarking, target setting, supply chain and market analysis, employee suggestions and knowledge sharing forums. In BHP Billiton, practices benchmarking is a key tool in generating improvements for functional areas such as processing, mine operations and mine planning. Practices Benchmarking involves organisational and technical questions that allow the site to self-assess their maturity and generate a prioritised improvement path. Not only does it benchmark and identify gaps, but the approach also facilitates networking, education and team building. For new leaders it is important to remember that you are not alone. Chances are your problem has been solved before. Networks û internal, external, formal and informal can get you started and often save you time and effort. Any leader can achieve success in excellence through a proper process of problem formulation, data and analysis. Again, using key players can make the process more effective. It is important to remember that the people side of the solution is the key to success and that monitoring will ensure the solution will work. In the words of BHP BillitionÆs CEO, Chip Goodyear: Excellence is a mind set. ItÆs something that comes when people get rewarded forthinking outside the box and applying their skill and knowledge. It happens, not in$50 million chunks, but in hundred thousand and million and $2 million chunks.When you get 35 000 people thinking that way, then youÆve really got somethinggoing.

Jan 1, 2005

At depths greater than several kilometres in the crust, elevated temperature, confining pressure, and the presence of reactive pore fluids typically drives rapid destruction of permeability in fractured and porous rock. Ongoing deformation is required to regenerate permeability and facilitate the high fluid flux necessary to produce hydrothermal ore systems. A dominant influence on the evolution of fluid pathways in hydrothermal systems is provided by stress states, fluid pressures and reactions that drive permeability enhancement and compete with permeability destruction processes (Cox, Braun and Knackstedt, 2001). An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By M M. Pande, M Ishfaq

The effect of aluminium on nitrogen solubility was investigated by equilibrating melt comprising master alloy of Fe-Al with pure electrolytic iron in a controlled atmosphere (pure argon) at 1873 K. Nitrogen in the samples was measured by sampling technique using inert gas fusion absorptiometry. It was found that nitrogen content decreases steadily with aluminium concentration and gradually, becomes close to 1 ppm for very high aluminium steels. Wagner’s second order interaction parameter formalism has been used to estimate the equilibrium constant and interaction parameters. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation showed, dual-phase inclusions comprising AlN phase surrounding alumina core. The 3D morphology of inclusions was studied by extracting the sample from the top and the central bottom portion of the solidified ingot. A sparse distribution of nitrogen was found for most of the inclusions which manifested the presence of almost pure alumina inclusions with different morphologies and sizes.

Jun 19, 2024

By Smith C. B

Major diamond pipes discovered in Western Australia in the late-1970s exhibited a number of unique features that not only resulted in Australia becoming the largest diamond producer in the world in volume terms by 1986 but also changed geological thinking on the primary occurrence of diamond. They were: - lamproite is an alternative primary diamond host to kimberlite. - the extremely high mean grade of the Argyle lamproite pipe at 5 ct per tonne. - the tectonic setting of the lamproite pipes in mobile zones mar- ginal to the Kimberley Craton in contrast to the traditional African setting within stable cratons. Diamond was one of the earliest economic minerals discovered in Australia but 128 years elapsed between its first recognition and the first Australian economic pipe discovery (Argyle). During that period some 200,000 ct of alluvial diamonds were mined in Australia (mostly in New South Wales), but such alluvial output is insignificant on the world scene where annual production today runs at 95 million ct of natural stones some 76010 of which comes from primary pipe sources such as Argyle which alone produces 30 million ct per annum. Of particular significance therefore is the geological nature of the primary diamond source rocks in Australia. The Argyle and Ellendale Pipes are lamproites, differing from kimberlite in their mineralogy and geochemistry, and characterised by the presence of typical lamproite minerals such as leucite, priderite, potassic richterite, and the abnormally high content of chemical elements incompatible with ultramafic rocks. But not yet widely appreciated is that many other Australian olivine-rich lampro- phyres also contain diamond. Such picritic alkaline rocks can

Jan 1, 1988

Australia has a long and successful record in mineral processing technology extending over 100 years. This has included the development of new processes and equipment and new analytical techniques. These developments have added greatly to the efficiency of mineral processing and thereby to Australia's national wealth. Demands on mineral processing engineers in the future show no signs of diminishing, in fact they will increase considerably as more difficult areas must be treated and the requirements for quality control become more stringent. These demands must be met successfully since mineral processing must continue to be one of the most important technologies in Australia's economic future.

Jan 1, 1989

By R M. Papini, A C. Araujo, A E. C Per

Flotation is an important process used in the concentration of iron ores. One of the challenges for process engineers is the low metallurgical recovery associated mainly with the fines fraction. In this work, the use of synthetic flocculants in iron ore reverse cationic flotation was investigated. The flocculants utilised were polyacrylamides of high molecular weight and different ionic degrees. Bench scale flotation tests were performed to compare the flotation performance with and without addition of polyacrylamides. It was observed that cationic and non-ionic polyacrylamides cause a significant increase in the metallurgical recovery. The anionic flocculant did not improve the flotation performance. An adverse effect was a slight increase in the silica content of the concentrate. Flotation with polyacrylamides was influenced by the hydrodynamic conditions of the pulp, such as agitation and the weight percentage of solids in the flocculant conditioning and flotation stages.

Jan 1, 2005

By P Cameron

Many products and technologies have been developed from outcomes of research projects carried out by the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC). When these products and technologies are applied to the design and optimisation of blasting, comminution and separation, improvements in profitability can be realised. In 1970 Alban Lynch promoted two practical ideas to improve plant operations: Ore and equipment properties can be separated allowing experience with one type of ore or equipment to be transferred to other types of ore and equipment. If this experience was encapsulated in a mathematical model, then these properties could be combined and used to simulate (ie to design and to optimise) complete mineral processing circuits. Many problems associated with scale-up from laboratory to industrial equipment could be eliminated by experimental work on full-scale equipment in the plant. Many JKMRC research projects have focussed on the development of models of unit operations in mineral processing and their application to process simulation. Models of comminution and classification developed at the JKMRC have been used since the early-1980s. Ore characterisation techniques developed to support these models are licensed world wide through JKTech. The application of comminution modelling techniques to blasting, which optimises the process feed size distribution is used in Mine-to-Mill? projects. The advances in the understanding and modelling of froth flotation over recent years have provided the opportunity for integrated ore characterisation and process optimisation from resource to product. JKMRC project outcomes often provide proven opportunities for the mineral industry to improve performance and productivity. JKTech was established in 1986 to commercialise and market the most promising outcomes and thus ensure their continuing availability to the mineral industry. These include: commercial software (JKSimMet, JKSimBlast and JKMetAccount); monographs (Comminution and Blasting); technologies (Mine-to-Mill? and flotation optimisation); and hardware products (JKFrothCam, JKJetLift? and the Mineral Liberation Analyser). This paper summarises these technologies and their benefits.

Jan 1, 2002

By G J. Lyman

Sampling of grain for mycotoxins is challenging in that some mycotoxins, such as Ochratoxin A (OTA), have very low permitted levels and the kernels carrying the mycotoxin may be highly localised within the bulk of the grain as ‘hot spots’. Sampling for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be fraught with similar problems, especially if the contamination is adventitious and random. Incremental sampling under these circumstances can be shown to lead to a high variance in the sampling result.A new design of sampler for grain and other free-flowing particulates has been developed that is effective in practically eliminating the sampling variance due to distributional heterogeneity (DH).This paper introduces the design and argues that the sampler should be free of sampling variance due to DH.CITATION:Lyman, G J, 2017. A new sampler for grain and other free-flowing particulates, in Proceedings Eighth World Conference on Sampling and Blending , pp 277–280 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2017

By Reid JG, Cutfield S

Considerable quantities of dissolved nickel are lost in the waste liquors from the QNPL nickel treatment plant. Cementation, precipitation and ion exchange techniques were investigated to reduce this loss. Ion exchange was the most successful of the procedures studied and a process for recovering nickel from stripped ammoniacal process liquors was developed in the laboratory and scaled up to plant flow volumes. The system developed uses a carboxylic ion exchange resin operated in a completely ammoniacal cycle. The regenerant is itself regenerable using existing plant, thus the only loss is the stoichiometric value of NH4+ required to displace the exchanged cations from the resin. Existing plant sand/anthracite filter beds have been adapted for use as resin columns containing 3 cubic metres of resin capable of treating effluent at a flow rate of 6000 litres/min.

Jan 1, 1978

Anyone who has driven backwards using only their rear view mirrors knows how difficult it is to avoid spinning the steering wheel the wrong way. So why run your mine that way? Traditionally Reconciliation has focused on the past performance of the mine. In this paper we make a case for Prognostication û the act of forecasting or predicting something in the future from present indications or signs. Reconciliation is a common activity carried out at most mines around the world. Countless geologists and engineers spend hours poised in front of spreadsheets diligently comparing how their resource/reserve model, grade control, and survey pick ups compare to what was actually produced. The result is usually a group of factors, which are applied to future estimates in an attempt to better predict how the operation may perform. Unfortunately, if the road ahead isnÆt the same as what you have just been down, youÆll be æoff-roadingÆ in no time! An alternative is to constantly collect and analyse key measurements that are used to calibrate critical estimates in an iterative process. When variations occur, they are analysed and corrective action is taken to ensure the estimates and measurements realign. In this way the estimates become forecasts and can then form the basis for decision making to ensure that what does happen in the future will match the plan or schedule. By automating this process, some mines have been able to be proactive on a daily basis in order to improve the overall performance of the operation. This paper outlines the key estimates and measurements used for reconciliation, details the characteristics of an automated web based information management system to facilitate the process and provides some insights about how mining operations might move beyond reconciliation.

Jan 1, 2003

By Arnold J. J

The design of a coal preparation plant using bore core data cannot be discussed without some reference to the wider considerations of design. A thorough knowledge of coal preparation processes and processors as well as ancillary equipment is essential if the coal properties determined from bore cores, are to be fully utilised. Whilst generalised information of processes is available from a wide range of publications and equipment suppliers for the intending plant designer, local operational experience must be taken into account where there are similarities. However it would be wrong to assume that satisfactory plant design can be achieved merely be repeating previous design parameters. A detailed examination of bore cores used in conjunction with well proven design 'criteria will identify important differences in design parameters without which efficient and economic plant/sectional sizing cannot be achieved.

Jan 1, 1977

By M A. Vinokurova, V M. Mullov

Due to treatment of refractory carbonaceous low-grade gold ores a new technology providing improved precious metal recovery is required. For this reason, a technology including gravity, flotation, recleaning of the flotation concentrate, intensive cyanidation of the gravity concentrate and carbon in leach (CIL)-process for intensive cyanidation tailings and the recleaned concentrate was developed. The proposed technology allows to decrease preg-robbing activities of concentrates treated by subsequent cyanidation. Total gold recovery by the proposed technology from the ore with a head grade of 0.8 g/t was 83.9 per cent. The gold loading onto the activated carbon from CIL process was 6.500 g/t.

Jan 1, 2007

By Tsuchida N

The history of world nickel production has been affected significantly by the supply and demand situation and fluctuation of LME price of nickel metal. In the beginning of the 1980s, the decline of price and demand lead to the withdrawal of un-competitive producers and the shrinkage of the production capacity. During the same period, Sumitomo Metal Mining maintained the production level with continuous improvement of the traditional matte electrorefining process. However, Sumitomo has recognised that the continuous improvement alone does not promise us the ability to catch up with rapid changes in the world. In the meantime, Sumitomo intensively researched chloride hydrometallurgy and has developed the chloride process for the nickel refining. This includes the solvent extraction and chloride electrowinning in the mixed sulphide process and the chlorine leach of the anode slime arising from matte electrorefining. In the late-1980s, Sumitomo Metal Mining decided to develop a new nickel refining technology based on chloride hydrometallurgy. The new process was designed from the comprehensive aspects involving safety and the environment. Construction of the plant for the matte chlorine leach electrowinning (MCLE) process was commenced in 1991. The MCLE plant with a capacity to 2000 tonnes per month has been commissioned at Niihama since 1992. The process has provided high productivity, overall good economics and high quality of electrolytic nickel produced. After the establishment of the process, Sumitomo has maintained continuous improvement of the new process and has attained the best practice of the work classification.

Jan 1, 1996

The process selection and design aspects to treat primary ore in a new carbon-in-pulp (C.I.P.) plant while utilizing, where possible, existing equipment and infra- structure are discussed. The existing crushing plant, water supply, reagents, laboratory and infrastructure facilities from the heap leach have been upgraded and expanded to meet the C.I.P. plant requirements. The new power supply is from the North Queensland grid system. A series of metallurgical tests was carried out and a review of the data showed that the primary ore was amenable to conventional cyanide leaching. Following feasibility studies, a new process plant which included grinding mills, leaching, and adsorption tanks, thickener, desorption and gold roam facilities was constructed.

Jan 1, 1989

Segregation of granular material is a very common phenomenon. Realised in a forced manner it is a basis of all separation processes in mineral processing, mainly classification and beneficiation. Spontaneous segregation, occurring under dynamic conditions and making possible mutual translocations of grains, is however an undesired phenomenon as a rule. It decreases the degree of blending of the material which in many cases is an important technological feature of the material. It should be noted that the segregation can be treated as the reverse phenomenon to blending. The importance and frequency of spontaneous segregation has caused many rules and technical solutions to be developed aimed at decreasing the possibility of the spontaneous segregation. However, not enough attention has been focused on an quantitative description of the phenomenon of segregation, either to ways of quantitatively evaluating segregation effects or to explanation of the influence of conditions under which the grained material exists on the occurrence of segregation and its degree. The paper presents the following topics: 1. new numerical indicator for evaluation of the segregation degree (and blending) of material contained in an arbitrary determined region is proposed; it is determined relative to the maximum possible degree of segregation of the given material when taking into account its individual properties; values of the indicator can be calculated effectively for an arbitrary material, also for ulticomponent material. 2. there is proposed a way of evaluating the state of segregation (or blending) of material in an arbitrary part of the region mentioned above, based on investigation of the gradient of distribution of the material features; algorithms of analytical procedures and calculations are presented for typical cases met in mineral processing; 3. results of initial experimental studies, both laboratory and industrial, concerning the effect of the chosen factors occurring in transport and storage of the material on its degree of segregation are presented; and 4. conclusions referring to the fundamental and practical significance of the results are also presented.

Jan 1, 1993

By Bawden WF, Paynter JT

This investigation involves laboratory testing and stability analysis of paste fill at the Golden Giant Mine. Site-cast samples are tested in unconfined, confined, and consolidated-undrained triaxial compression. Pore pressures during shear and consolidation characteristics are measured to determine both drained and undrained shear strength parameters and assess the potential for undrained loading. Liquefaction potential is also considered. A limit equilibrium solution is used to obtain factors of safety against failure of the fill during mining of adjacent stopcs

Jan 1, 1998

By Brown P. L

A study has been made of the geochemistry of the Ronneburg mine district as input to the overall management strategy for the rehabilitation of the mine site. The study drew on the geological data and information store developed over the 40 years of mineral exploration and mining at Ronneburg, and on chemical data from the literature which described the chemical processes of weathering, oxidation, dissolution and precipitation of minerals. The geochemical processes were divided into three groups based on their rate of reaction. Fast processes were assumed to proceed to equilibrium and were modelled using equilibrium chemistry equations; slow processes were assumed to be proceeding at a quasi-steady state rate and were modelled using chemical rate equations; very slow processes were assumed to have no role in describing the geochemistry for rehabilitation purposes.

Jan 1, 1995

The Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand and the Philippine Mobile Belt in the Philippines are characterized by active subduction, active volcanism and high seismicity. The main factors affecting characteristics of geothermal systems in both countries are: tectonic setting, source magmas, maturity of the systems, and depth to the degassing magma body. Within New Zealand, geothermal systems are grouped into arc- and rift-type. Fluids in arc-type systems contain high amounts of volatiles (40%) and higher Cl contents (3,000-10,000 mg/kg). Maximum temperatures are also higher, reaching up to >400¦C. Arc-type alteration assemblages in New Zealand and the Philippines are similar. Because Philippine geothermal systems are less mature, have higher temperatures and steeper geochemical gradients than New Zealand ones, advanced argillization is more widespread occurring down to depths of 2000 m. Mineral phases are more varied due to the active input of magmatic waters and the formation of vapor conditions at depth, forming P04-, B-, Li-, Ce-, F-, and Cl-bearing minerals at high temperatures. In the Philippines, high temperature magmatic-hydrothermal to contact metamorphic assemblages containing biotite, amphiboles and pyroxenes are relatively common, but rare in New Zealand.

Jan 1, 1995

By R C. Morris

Two major types of economic secondary iron ores occur in the banded iron formation (BIF)-rich Hamersley Province of the Pilbara, Western Australia:dominant BIF-hosted bedded iron deposits (BID)detrital ore deposits (DID sensu lato), which are mainly hosted in the three province-wide Cenozoic sequences that include coeval non-ore sediments and comprise:a. the major Miocene, fluvial channel iron deposits (CID)b. the lesser Eocene and Pliocene detrital iron deposits (DID sensu stricto).Striking differences exist between the massive CID resources and the much smaller underlying and overlying DID. CID are essentially riverine alluvial ooidal rocks with abundant small fossil wood fragments and variable iron peloids, but with only extremely rare recognisable lithic remnants. The original matrix is typically ramifying layered goethite. Eocene DID are mainly alluvial with minor pisoids, whereas Pliocene–Quaternary DID are dominantly coarse colluvial gravels, both derived from and largely retaining the original textures of BID, hard cap or variably ferruginised surface BIF. The colluvial DID matrix is typically ferroan-aluminous soil, resulting in canga where replaced by goethite, which may be dehydrated to hematite by exposure. The Cenozoic deposits occur in two dominant geomorphological environments: the southern Marra Mamba to Brockman Iron Formation strike valleys containing all three Cenozoic sequences and the much later northern Brockman Iron Formation plateau valleys that include only the Miocene and Pliocene sequences. The Cenozoic detritals formed in different climatic regimes, with an extended dry period forming a prominent province-wide dehydrated carapace on the Eocene DID. The Miocene ‘optimum’ followed with its thick scrub-covered deep regolith that produced the fossil wood-rich CID and was succeeded by the arid cool period of the Oakover limestone/calcrete. A major renewal of exposure and erosion in the Pliocene resulted in the extensive iron gravels of the Pliocene–Quaternary.CITATION:Morris, R C, 2015. The Cenozoic detrital iron deposits of the Hamersley Province of Western Australia – a tribute to Mal Kneeshaw, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 319–326 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By Gray N. B, Floyd J. M

To gain further understanding of the operating efficiency of the BHP Slab and Plate Products Division (SPPD) RH vacuum degasser, physical and mathematical model studies of the process have been undertaken. The purpose was to investigate how the various process parameters affect the liquid circulation rate, to visualise the flow patterns, and to identify and eliminate the cause of localised wear in the downleg. In the physical model mixing times were measured using an acid tracer technique. The results were applied to predicting trends in times required to obtain homogenous melt composition under varying conditions. A 2-dimensional mathematical model describing the liquid metal flow has been developed using the PHOENICS fluid-flow package. The physical model results were simulated and incorporated into the mathematical treatment and an improved design for vessel geometry is proposed. The effect of rounding the downleg entrance or installing a baffle between the legs is discussed.

Jan 1, 1987