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By S Winter, G Klenowski

During longwall mining in the Bowen Basin, open tension cracks formed by overburden subsidence occur to a height of about 175 m above the mining horizon. Within this zone, water in aquifers or inundated workings will flow into the mine.At the Oaky Creek mines Aquila seam, open cut pits containing pit water overlie German Creek seam longwall panels at a height of about 105 m. The highly saline water is classified as contaminated and cannot be discharged off-site. Because alternative water storage facilities were not available, innovative water management solutions were needed to allow longwall mining to proceed without underground flooding.Computer modelling and underground inflow measurements have been completed to accurately determine inflow rates into longwall mines from overlying water sources at increasing overburden heights. Research work has also included determining cost-effective blanket treatment of final voids and reshaping spoil piles to minimise downward seepage.Ponded water overlying the Aquila low, Grasstree south and A6 pits required remedial works prior to longwall undermining to prevent flooding. In the Aquila low pit it was necessary to partition the pit and remove water overlying longwall 32. Two in-pit bridges were constructed by dozing and track compacting low wall spoil. The final void above the longwall panel was kept dry during undermining. Maximum recorded underground inflow rate was 30.0 L/s.The Grasstree south pit final void, part of the ramp and much of the spoil piles were inundated prior to undermining of 308 panel. A bridge and blanket were required to prevent ponding above the longwall. Maximum recorded inflow during undermining was 23.2 L/s.The pit A6 south final void, which contained dumped, saturated rejects and inundated highwall mining entries was undermined by longwall 36 at the Oaky No 1 underground mine. Because mapping of highwall entries was not available, the maximum calculated inflow rate of 73.0 L/s was based on all design entries being fully inundated. The actual inflow rate during longwall mining ranged up to 20.0 L/s.Water management improvements that have been implemented include greater use of contaminated pit water to wash coal, use of evaporation fans, and installation of a 6 ML/day reverse osmosis plant for water purification.CITATION:Klenowski, G and Winter, S, 2017. Inflows into longwall mines from inundated overlying workings, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 183–190 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 16, 2017

By J M. Totterdell

The Permian-Triassic Bowen Basin and the Jurassic-Cretaceous Surat Basin evolved in a backarc tectonic setting behind an active convergent plate margin in eastern Gondwana. Several extensional (Early Permian; Eocene) and contractional (mid-Permian; Early Triassic; Middle-Late Triassic; early Late Cretaceous) intraplate deformational events are recognised in the basins. These can be correlated with similar events in the New England Orogen that was being deformed in the Late Permian-Late Triassic as a foreland thrust belt. The intraplate deformations were probably the consequence of plate interactions, including the accretion of terranes, at the ancient active plate margin, remnants of which now occur in New Zealand.

Jan 1, 1995

By M I. Pownceby, M A. Rhamdhani, W J. Rankin, G Brooks, I R. Ignacio

Steelmaking has a significant contribution in producing greenhouse gases and there is a worldwide push towards decarbonising the process. One of the approaches to reduce CO2 emissions is to use hydrogen in the blast furnace (BF) as the reductant gas. However, hydrogen reduction is an endothermic reaction, bringing changes to the temperature distribution in the BF. Understanding iron ore sinter mineralogy and reducibility under a hydrogen atmosphere is essential to optimise the process. In this study, sinter analogues in the Fe3O4-CaO-SiO2 (FCS) ternary system together with industrial sinters were reduced in H2-rich and CO atmospheres and the resulting reducibility and associated mineralogical changes were observed. Results show that magnetite-lime-silica (MLS) sinter analogues had similar reduction rates under H2 and CO, and also higher reducibility than most of the industrial sinters, suggesting that magnetite sinters could be used efficiently in a conventional or hydrogen blast furnace.

Sep 18, 2023

By J C. Volkwein, A D. A Hansen, E Sarver, C Barrett

Ensuring that diesel particulate matter (DPM) levels in underground metal and non-metal mines are maintained below statutory limits is an essential requirement of mine ventilation systems. However, despite the cost of providing ventilation, air ventilation rates are usually based upon models, assumptions, or measurements integrated over long durations rather than actual need. Real-time measurement of DPM, interpreted in terms of mine activity schedules, can offer better ventilation management to keep DPM within regulated levels while controlling costs. This work presents data from three demonstration sites with in-mine applications of an environmental particulate sensor that measured black carbon (BC) as a surrogate for DPM.Aethalometers are a class of environmental monitors that measure the light absorbance of aerosol particles at several optical wavelengths. A model AE33 Aethalometer was operated in three separate mines for periods of two weeks, three months, and seven-plus months, and the data was reported in real time as a concentration of BC. Concentration of aromatic organic compounds, which can indicate other forms of combustion, was also reported. The data was used to:- measure the relative efficiency of a new scale-model DPM air scrubber- determine if ventilation could be reduced in a shotcrete loading facility without compromising air quality- evaluate diurnal and weekly DPM levels in a large-entry stone mine. Instrument data were displayed locally and stored for later downloading in all cases. In one mine, the instrument was connected to a local controller, and in another it was connected to the mine’s underground network so that DPM data was presented in real time to a display in the mine ventilation engineering office on the surface.The results showed that the air scrubber removes from 82 per cent to 95 per cent of the DPM; that DPM produced during shotcrete loading is only a minor part of overall DPM levels; and that wide variations in DPM levels exist in the limestone operation. The DPM monitor operated continuously for extended periods in these underground environments. The only maintenance required was the routine replacement of filter tape, typically on a two-week schedule. A sample diluter, which is currently being tested, could extend the intervals between filter changes. The real-time data output of the Aethalometer is appropriate for direct integration into ventilation-on-demand control systems.CITATION:Volkwein, J C, Barrett, C, Sarver, E and Hansen, A D A, 2017. Application of an environmental ‘black carbon’ particulate sensor for continuous measurement of DPM in three underground mines, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 143–150 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

By J L. Mauk

The Martha epithermal Au-Ag deposit contains multiple generations of quartz veins with a range of textures. We examined: +        vein textures, +        crosscutting vein relationships, and +        the paragenetic sequence within the pit walls as well as a wide range of hand specimens. Samples include host rock, breccia, and veins, but these groups are not distinct; instead, they form a continuum.   Veins at Martha mine show a wide range of textures on a local scale; these textures also change significantly over both the lateral and vertical extent of the pit. Common textures include crustiform bands, comb quartz, colloform bands, platy quartz, massive quartz, drusy quartz, sedimentary textures and brecciation.   Vein grades relate to textures. Many textures, including crustiform, platy, cherty, and sedimentary textures display predominantly low grades, but some textures are linked with high grades, such as ginguro, massive and comb quartz where they are associated with visible base metal sulphides and/or electrum. Host rocks and most breccias are low grade, as most samples contain <2 ppm Au.

Jan 1, 2006

A new porphyry copper gold district has been discovered at Goonumbla near Parkes in central New South Wales. Endeavour 26 North is the largest deposit known to date with a possible resource of 166.4 million tonnes at 0.74% copper, 0.12g/tonne gold and 1.7g/tonne silver, using a cut-off grade 0.3% copper. Mineralisation is primarily bornite in the higher grade zones and chalcopyrite in the peripheral lower grade zones. Most of the copper, gold mineralisation is associated with potassic alteration. Two mineralised quartz monzonite porphyry intrusive stages have been identified and these are related at depth to a large monz- onite stock which may have been the source of some of the mineralisation. On the basis of detailed paragenesis studies, the potassic zone can be divided into three symmetric subzones. The low grade inner potassium feldspar subzone is confined to the later intrusive porphyry. The outer potassium feldspar subzone is the most highly mineralised alteration halo due to the focussed superimposition of two hydrothermal cycles which have overprinted intrusive and volcanic rocks. The fringing biotite potassium feldspar subzone reveals alteration minerals which are developed early in the paragenesis. Fracture controlled quartz sericite alteration with low sulphide content, fringes and, in part overprints the potassic zone. The restricted pipe-like nature of the alteration zones and related mineralisation suggests that Endeavour 26 North is repres- entative of a multiphase focussed porphyry copper gold system.

Jan 1, 1986

By J M. F Clout

In the iron ore industry significant emphasis is placed throughout the mining process on meeting chemical composition specifications for the export of fine ores, however, little has been published on the implications of ore chemical composition for iron ore sinter and pellet product quality. The ore bulk composition, together with the nature of the minerals in the fine ore both play a critical role in determining the type of high temperature bonding phases that form during sintering and pelletising. This paper uses the experimental determination of phase relations in model sinter and pellet systems such as Fe2O3-CaO-SiO2 (FCS) and Fe2O3-Al2O3-CaO-SiO2 (FACS) to examine the links between iron ore chemical composition and the temperatures used during sintering and pellet firing. The phase relations help to establish the critical thermal and compositional parameters that control the bonding phase chemistry which in turn influences the physical characteristics of the sinter or pellet matrix. Results show that lower Fe-grade (

Jan 1, 2002

The introduction of a new mining method to Australia is not without its risks and challenges. This paper discusses the processes of planning a new operation, with particular emphasis on block caving and its Northparkes adaptation. As well as applying advanced technologies, here also is the opportunity to develop the art and science of block caving for its application to a wider range of geotechnical conditions than previously Envisaged.

Jan 1, 1995

The National Economic Viewpoint? Any substantial project undertaken by private enterprise would normally be subjected to a Discounted Cash Flow analysis of its commercial viability, and would proceed only if the rate of return was judged satisfactory. A 'national viewpoint' analysis attempts to do the same but from the viewpoint of the community as a whole. The objective is to ensure that those projects are undertaken which yield the best return, economic and social, to the nation as a whole.

Jan 1, 1984

By A B. Christie

Space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is becoming available over much of the world, includingNew Zealand. Radar imagery has a number of very advantageous features, including all-weather capability; it also has artifacts, such as layover, which require processing before these data may be used to best effect.   This paper gives an outline of SAR, details the image processing required, and discusses the use of the first New Zealand Japan Earth Resources-1 SAR data to aid geological mapping on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Jan 1, 1994

By I M. Turnbull

QMAP (the Quarter Million Mapping Programme, 1:250 000 scale) is a geological mapping programme which will build a digital geological database of the whole country and publish maps and books to document it. The programme was established in 1993, following a recommendation by a review panel appointed by the Ministry of Research, Science & Technology, and is funded by the government, from the Public Good Science Fund. The relevance and fundamental value of QMAP lies in the greatly improved geological knowledge it will provide for researchers and other end-users of geological information.   QMAP research involves assessment of previous work, field and laboratory investigations in key areas, and data storage, manipulation and publication using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer technology. The QMAP digital database of New Zealand geology will be completed by 2006, as will the series of 21 full colour printed geological maps and accompanying explanatory texts. Two are already completed and published (Kaitaia and Dunedin), and six other projects are well advanced.   QMAP information will also be available in digital form. Next year we hope to expand the scope of the programme to cover the reconciling and linking of many other earth science databases to QMAP, because we believe this will create a powerful research tool. The intention is to develop internet access to the databases, to make the information publicly available.

Jan 1, 1997

Failure of rock materials is a process of crack propagation. Crack initiation takes place when the crack tip stress intensity K reaches a critical value called fracture toughness, K1C. The rock fracture toughness is known to be affected by the surrounding environment such as temperature, confining pressure and humidity. In order to examine the effect of humidity, a series of semi-circular bend tests were performed under various water vapour pressures in a rock material that is known to be anisotropic. Water vapour promotes stress corrosion of rock and therefore the fracture toughness was found to have a decreasing trend with increasing water vapour pressure. The rate of decreasing the fracture toughness depends on the microcrack density that promotes the migration of water vapour into the rock. Also in an anisotropic rock, the fracture toughness depends on the direction of crack in relation to the anisotropy of the rock material.

Dec 6, 2010

By Y Yang

This paper discusses various issues surrounding the metallurgical control for furnaces, especially focusing on processes with long time-constants and æmetallurgical memoriesÆ. Examples will focus on furnaces accepting particulate and sometimes ill-defined feeds, eg submerged-arc furnaces, blast furnaces, secondary scrap smelting operations, recycling operations, waste incinerators, etc. Generally, because of the usually higher metallurgical time constant of these furnaces, these reactors have to be controlled in a feed-forward manner by the use of a hybrid of æblack boxÆ or empirical and ægrey boxÆ semi-empirical first principles metallurgical modelling and simulation techniques in a supervisory metallurgical control capacity.

Jan 1, 2000

This paper presents the near-field rock damage owing to production blasting in limestone quarry in the western region of Japan. The study's purpose is to learn the mechanism of crack development due to blast vibration. In this study, blast vibration's magnitude was expressed with peak particle velocity (PPV) which was obtained based on seismographs recorded database. In attempt to pursue a research's purpose of this study, there were two considerable interests: near-field blast vibration propagation and prediction, and crack observed and prediction. Furthermore, with regards to considerable interest of the study, there were three essential aspects which were challenged, such as: monitoring and interpretation of seismic wave propagation in a rock mass near large explosive charge of production blast scale, measurement of blast rock damage in adjacent to blasthole, and determine critical value of PPV which may produce significant rock damage. In order to determine precision critical PPV, understanding correlation between rock damage with vibration level is firstly important to be done. This paper also discusses how to measure, detect and quantify near-field blast vibration and blast rock damage in adjacent to blasthole.

Dec 6, 2010

By P Shen, K Hattori, H Pan, E Seitmuratova

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Ore-bearing intrusions in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) were examined from nine mines: Boshekul, Nurkazgan, Kounrad, Borly, Aktogai, Koksai, Baogutu, Tuwu and Erdenet. The intrusions are diorite, granodiorite and tonalite with SiO2 contents ranging from 58 to 75 wt per cent, and show mildly fractionated rare earth elements (REE) ([LREE]N/[HREE]N = 2.7–4.7) – light REE and heavy REE – and varying Eu anomalies ([Eu]/[Eu]* = 0.58–1.4). The ratios of Sr/Y vary from 7.9 to 115 and the contents of Y from 4.6 to 23.9 ppm. The parental magmas of the intrusions are intrinsically oxidised. Zircon grains in the ore-bearing rocks from large- and intermediate-sized porphyry Cu deposits show high Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios characterised by 65–422 at Boshekul (>4.1 Mt Cu), 76–480 at Kounrad (>4.8 Mt Cu), 90–280 at Aktogai (>12 Mt Cu), 80–250 at Erdenet (>11 Mt Cu) 74–370 at Nurkazgan (>3.9 Mt Cu), 100–210 at Koksai (>1.6 Mt Cu), and 71–340 at Tuwu (~2.0 Mt Cu). In two small deposits, the ore-bearing rocks display low values of Ce4+/Ce3+; Borly (0.6 Mt Cu) ranging from 28 to 158, and Baogutu (0.6 Mt Cu) from 29 to 113. The Ce4+/Ce3+ ratio of 120 distinguishes large intermediate-size deposits from small-size deposits. This information is potentially useful in exploration for porphyry Cu deposits in the belt.CITATION:Shen, P, Hattori, K, Pan, H, Jackson, S and Seitmuratova, E, 2015. Granitoids associated with porphyry Cu deposits in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt – characteristics and oxygen fugacity, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 377–382 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By Z Li, A Fleming, S Webster, L Snyman

Northparkes Mines is developing the E26 Lift 1 North block cave mine, which is adjoined to the existing E26 cave. This paper presents the challenges and methods used to design the ground support system during the feasibility study. Calibrated numerical simulations were conducted to forecast the levels of rock mass damage and to assist the ground support design. Generally, low to moderate rock mass damage is forecast on the extraction and undercut levels. However, poor ground conditions are expected in sheared and preconditioned zones adjacent the existing E26 cave. This will result in difficult ground conditions during development, undercutting and drawbell establishment. Empirical assessments were conducted to make sure the ground support system is able to handle both the static and dynamic load demand, and to accommodate the deformation values. A safety factor of 1.5 was used for the designs to cover the unknown rock mass conditions and potential for larger seismic events. Learnings from the E26 Lift 1 and SLC, also mining against the E26 cave, are incorporated into the design. Fibrecrete, mesh and resin bolts / mechanical anchors are the primary ground support system used, and cable bolts for intersections with a span of more than 6 m. Following undercutting and during the operating life of the mine, secondary ground support and rehabilitation will be required.

Mar 15, 2021

The Bega granite at Whipstick, N.S.W., consists of a granite metasomatically altered to leucogranites and a spessartite-granite. The ore occurs in pipes controlled by jointing and shows evidence of post-depositional tectonic forces.The principal ore minerals are molybdenite and bismuthinite, with minor amounts of uraninite, pyrite, gold, bismuth, joseite A, joseite B, tetradymite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, and skutterudite. The gangue minerals are microcline, albite, quartz, muscovite, and spessartite, with fluorite, chlorite, magnetite, and biotite as accessory minerals.The intrusion of granite was followed initially by ascending metasomatic fluids which penetrated along joints to be trapped in the domed roof of the intrusion to form the leucocratic granite. Iron-manganese-rich fluids metasomatically altered the granite to a spessartitegranite which is associated with the later deposited ore.Quartz veins and dykes of varying composition post date the ore deposition.

Jan 1, 1968

CONTENTSIntroductionGeneral GeologyCoral Reef-Volcanic Set'iesRock TypesMicaceous Sandstone and MudstoneLimestoneVolcanic RocksChertsDepositionDiatremesEarth MovementsRelation of Ore Bodies to StructureINTRODUCTIONThe author encountered the problems discussed in this paper in 1947 while surveying the mining centres of Mungana and Redcap for Broken Hill South Ltd. After his resignation from that company he made a semi-regional survey to investigate the regional problems raised by the preliminary study. Broken Hill South Ltd. continued its studies on the known ore bodies while the author's investigation was going on, and he is indebted to the staff of this company for assistance during his field work.The area mapped is part of a larger area mapped in reconnaissance by the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia by a party headed by Dr. H. I. Jensen...

Jan 1, 1952

By J Samosir, L Snyman

Northparkes was the first mine in Australia to use block cave mining method which relies on gravity and natural rock stresses to fragment and recover the ore. It was also the first hard rock mine to use hydraulic fracturing, in conjunction with CSIRO, to promote caving of E26 Lift 1. The technique was later used on E26 Lift 2 wedge and E48 prior to undercutting.Northparkes production is currently sourced from the E48 Lift 1 block cave mine and E26SLC. The E48 block cave contains economic ore to the north and south of the current cave footprint. To recover this ore the footprint has been extended on the north and south with two extraction drives and one extraction drive, respectively. Modelling of cavability above the additional drives indicated that the cave would not readily propagate to a sufficient height of draw to mobilise the ore and tended to arch over into the existing cave. To address the modelling results and to reduce the risk of the project, rock mass preconditioning was adopted.This fracturing campaign was performed from surface drill holes adjacent the subsidence zone angled to intersect the higher grade and higher elevation ore zones.Optical televiewer surveys, run prior to fracturing, picked intervals and fault zones to be avoided. Holes were resurveyed post-fracturing to detect newly created fractures and as a measure of success of the program.During fracturing operations water and gel fractures were run at varying depths and pumping pressure was logged for each fracture. The mine seismic system monitored significant events and dye in the fluids utilised for tracking water inflow locations during underground inspections.Towards the end of the project, guar fibres from gel were detected within the mill circuit and required treatment to resume optimum processing.CITATION:Webster, S, Snyman, L and Samosir, J, 2016. Preconditioning E48 cave extension adjacent to an active cave, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 471–478 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

Identifying Opportunities to Reduce the Consumption of Energy Across Mineral Processing Plants

Sep 13, 2010