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By K J. Ward, C N. Hatton, J Scalia IV, C A. Bareither, D L. Spencer

The mining industry is experiencing change in the governance of tailings facilities (TFs). Guidance and regulations across many jurisdictions contribute to this amorphous change. The Canadian Dam Association, Mining Association of Canada, Australian National Committee on Large Dams, and the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management, produced by the International Council on Mining and Metals, are establishing guidelines for more rigorous industry governance. Evolving guidance regarding TFs is developing concurrently with a shortage of experienced tailings engineers, which adversely affects the resource base available to support new governance. This paper presents an updated semi-quantitative estimate of the impending resource shortage of qualified tailings professionals. Updates are provided herein for the estimated number of TFs worldwide, which included available data on active and inactive TFs, as well as the estimated labor resources required to service these facilities. The tailings labor shortage is discussed in the context of academic and professional training currently available to increase the quantity of trained personnel. This paper represents a discrete moment in time as contributions to the available information and inventories accessed continue to improve, but as of today are incomplete. However, the data and information included provide insight into the resource deficiencies currently within our profession, training and education opportunities to address those resource deficiencies, and a snapshot of a recent professional training course offered on mine tailings.

Jul 1, 2021

By S Novak

A world-class example of sustainable development in practice, the Local Resource Development Initiative (LRDI) grew from agreements between the Ambatovy nickel mine developers and the Government of Madagascar. A program of training and community development, the LRDI aims to maximise local benefits by optimising the integration of local resources during the construction period of the mine. By local resources, we mean the local labour force as well as local goods and services. Begun in 2007, the foundation of the LRDI is to integrate local resources into the mining project and where gaps are identified, design and implement training, mentoring and other programs to fill those gaps. The principal accomplishments are: the establishment of training centres that trained over 4000 people in little over one year, 96 per cent of whom hired to work at the mine; a support program for local micro, small and medium enterprises that has led to the award of 65 contracts for goods and services with training and mentoring of over 100 local businesses; and a number of special projects that have, among other results, strengthened local agricultural development and created employment for young people. The LRDI provides unique insights into key indicators and lessons learned to strengthen the social and economic sustainability of mining projects in developing countries. The paper will discuss these in terms, among others, of: the importance to project success of upstream planning to address socio-economic issues; the role of civil society and other local partners to strengthen and expand sustainability outcomes, and to spur governments to demand that major projects promote economic and social sustainability; and the integration of mine sustainability with sustained regional social and economic development.

Jan 1, 2009

By D James

Fletcher Challenge Limited through its subsidiary Grampian Mining Co Limited has carried out an ore evaluation of one of New Zealand's largest known deposits of ilmenite located at Barrytown on the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand. The ilmenite is located in a beach sand environment which has previously been mined for gold. Two analytical techniques were developed to quantify the resource. Considerable difficulty was experienced in this phase of the evaluation due to the presence of major inclusions within the ilmenite grains. Wet and dry concentration circuits, utilising spiral, wet magnet, high tension and plate electrostatic separators have been designed to produce ilmenite from the ore. Studies to utilise the titanium content of the Barrytown ilmenite have been made. Recent work has been directed towards a titanium dioxide pigment process.

Jan 1, 1986

AMONG the multifarious duties which fall to the lot of a mining engineer it is safe to say that there is none of more fundamental importance than the study of the ore-deposits on which it is thefunction of his profession to operate, inasmuch as the whole business of mining in all its complicated ramifications rests first of all on the existence of something to mine. -When the ore supplies in a mine fail, the enterprise comes to- an end, and nothing, therefore, is of more importance than a thorough understanding of the conditions under which the ore occurs, so that everything possible may be done to open up the mines well ahead of their immediate output requirements, and develop new ore reserves to take the place of that which is raised from day to day. The great aim which the mining engineer has to keep before him in his study of his ore-deposits is to obtain such a knowledge of them that he will have sound grounds for prediction as to how they will behave in parts of the mines which are well beyond the point of the pick. It is on his judgment of probabilities in this respect that mining operations are entered upon, and the more thorough his knowledge of all the factors affecting the problem, the more is the judgmentlikely to be a sound one. The test of any theory is experimental confirmation of the truth of predictions based upon it, and our aim should be to try to perfect our knowledge of the rules governing deposition of ores, so that our theories may prove themselves equal to the task of successful prediction.

Jan 1, 1909

By M Sparrow

The Victoria Park Tunnel project is an inner-city alliance project in central Auckland, New Zealand. The existing two-directional viaduct will be modified to single-direction flow, and a new northbound 440 m cut and cover tunnel will be constructed beneath Victoria Park. Three-dimensional (3D) visualisation media were used to communicate key design innovations to stakeholders and the general public. The 3D visual material has proven a useful tool for informing motorists of a new safety barrier method adopted for traffic management.This presentation will explain how 3D visualisation was incorporated in the project and will showcase the 3D visualisation media created for the project.

Mar 8, 2011

By K C. Williams, A W. Roberts, J D. Prigge

For stockpile design, the flowability and structural interfaces are critically dependant on the stress conditions throughout the pile. Historically, the predictive methodologies for stress determination have been too conservative, which adds inefficiency to the stockpile reclaim interface selections, especially for live reclaim stockpile systems. In addition, accurate pressure profiling throughout stockpile is essential to correctly design the stockpile support structures, which are buried within the stockpile. Such buried structures include trestle legs or columns to support load-out conveyors or the roof of bulk storage sheds. Improved methodologies with respect to the development of the hoop stress condition which exists in material ædrawn-downÆ within the stockpile has been developed. This hoop stress approach has significantly improved the live capacity prediction to over 90 per cent accuracy and improved rathole structure prediction within live reclaim stockpiles. Additionally the methodologies in estimating the vertical and circumferential stress variation acting on buried stockpile structures have been significantly progressed, with experimental testing shown good agreement with the theory.CITATION:Williams, K C, Roberts, A W and Prigge, J D, 2013. Recent developments in stress analysis and live reclaim prediction within iron ore stockpiles, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013 , pp 501-510 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 12, 2013

IN the recent monograph on Broken Hill, N.S.W., by E. C. Andrews,* two independent petrological reports appear as Appendices 1 and n, by W. R. Browne and F. L. Stillwell respectively. In these considerable differences of opinion occur. Andrews contributes to some of the questions at issue, but no analytical review of the differences appears in the body of the report. Their development may invite question, and the following notes have been prepared partly in explanation and partly as a summary of some of the divergences. The soope of Browne's report extends over the whole district of Broken Hill, while Stillwell's deals with the rocks within 25 chains of the main lode. The more difficult and important rock-types occur in both areas, raising similar questions. In both cases observations extended beyond the limits of the prescribed areas. Broadly, Browne faces his problem as a study of a series of primary igneous rooks, acid and basio, whioh are intrusive into a series of sillimanite gneisses. The development of the sillimanite gneisses is regarded as belonging to an earlier period than the intrusion of the igneous rooks, while the gneissio structures of the latter are features which are incidental to their orystallization, and are not acquired subsequent to their consolidation. He finally produoes a picture in which his views of igneous injection and differentiation takes a prominent place. One direct result is the claim that three separate periods of metamorphism have oocurred in the Broken Hill area. Stillwell primarily examines the rooks as schists and gneisses since their present dominating features have been acquired during metamorphism. The effort is made to understand suoh differences as might arise from differing conditions of metamorphism upon rocks of similar and different oonstitution. The aim is to divest the rocks of those oharaoters which are due to metamorphism before approaching the questions of intrusive relatio'nships between igneous rocks andsediments.

Jan 1, 1924

By G I. Lumley

‘Every mine is a pilot’ is an attitude which encourages the mining paradox of optimistic mine plans and equipment under performance; propped up by an environment lacking accountability. The premise that ‘every mine is a pilot’, appears to underlie the development and operating approach to most mines. It is the hypothesis of this paper that many mining companies, development teams and their managers largely ignore what is done elsewhere. Anecdotally, most planners don’t know whether the selected rates are high or low (rates based on theoretical models tend to be high – certainly higher than what most companies can achieve). Mines then consistently operate the equipment at rates well below targets; often more than 20 per cent below. Further to this paradox, mine performance data demonstrates the average mine is currently operating their equipment at levels of output not much more than half the output of those in the top ten per cent. On the whole mines don’t know the potential of their equipment and therefore don’t put appropriate plans in place to do better. After all, when ‘every mine is a pilot’ there is little reason to look to one’s peers for an indication of potential. This paper will outline why every mine is not a pilot and how mines do value some knowledge, but not as much as they should. This paper proposes a two-pronged approach to address this issue in the area of equipment performance. This approach is to:1. engage in better forecasting of equipment rates and better subsequent performance through benchmarking against industry standards2. provide conditions for more accountability.These parameters are linked and proper implementation of them will address the losses which many shareholders and financiers have incurred when investing in companies with unrealistic mining plans.CITATION:Lumley, G I, 2016. Is every mine a pilot? In Proceedings International Mine Management Conference, pp 75-88 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 22, 2016

By G McCullough, J Els, J Bassan

Integrated Remote Operations Centres (IROCs) have a crucial role in optimising a mine’s carbon emissions, especially as industry faces an imperative to achieve net-zero emissions on an accelerated timeline. To meet this time pressure, operations must adopt a comprehensive approach to energy-related carbon management and history has proven that modern technologies cannot be simply bolted into existing operations. An IROC is the most dependable solution to enable a swift transition from strategy to operational tactics that support carbon optimisation. Achieving net-zero emissions requires addressing significant energy management challenges such as fleet electrification, integration of renewable energy sources and large-scale energy storage. These challenges demand a profound change in planning, managing and executing work at large operations. The key to overcoming these challenges is an integrated approach incorporating collaborative decision-making across the value chain and more sophisticated planning approaches. Additionally, closer integration with downstream processing offers opportunities for carbon optimisation across the value chain. This includes the ability to supply tailored products that meet more varied feed-requirements of customers transitioning to less carbon-intensive processes and developing collaborative decision-making across the entire steelmaking value chain (by incorporating steelmakers, transport, coal/natural-gas/hydrogen supply, energy supply and iron-ore supply). However, this requires significant improvement in collaborative maturity and integrated decision-making capability. Finally, the imperative to reduce carbon emission demands the introduction of a range of new technologies into existing operations. The new technologies will increase the operational complexity of the mines and IROCs will need to evolve capabilities to manage the increase complexity and support the effective operationalisation and integration of these new mining technologies. This paper outlines the new capabilities required and the role of IROCs in effective integration across the demand value chain. The focus is on building on the mining industries’ existing IROC experience and augmenting with processes, technologies and lessons from other industries.

Sep 18, 2023

The importance of the minerals industry to any economy is clearly demonstrable. Its raw materials and products are the foundation of modem society and they have shaped the history of mankind from prehistoric times to the space age of today. However, those in the minerals industry have clearly failed to impress this fact on the consciousness of the public, bureaucrats and politicians. They have also failed to engage their dedicated opponents in a constructive debate. This is mainly because the minerals industry has been unwilling (until recently) to deal with the "soft" issues of civil society, nor understand and operate on a more emotional level. Technical professionals (as well as managers) in the future must be as comfortable in handling community concerns over social, environmental or landowner issues, as they are with logging complex drill core, designing blast patterns and separating one mineral from another. They must become caring, effective communicators and mediators. These are the new skills of a professional in the Third Millennium. These issues are outlined and discussed with some Australian data used to illustrate the point. If there is to be a future for all, then the policy makers within all levels of government (national, regional or local) must not drive essential mineral development offshore. They must address ways to support wealth creation mechanisms, particularly innovation. The minerals industry is a powerful wealth creator for ordinary citizens and an innovator. Politicians and their advisers must not .be allowed to forget this fact. If the ANZAC minerals industries do not win the emotional debate and successfully deal with the "soft" issues as well as they deal with the technical issues, there can be only a dim future ahead.

Jan 1, 2000

By M S. Kizil, T OÆConnor

It is predicted that underground coal mines in the Bowen Basin will have a significant rise in heat problems as mines aim to increase production, depth of extraction and length of longwall panels. At an actual Bowen Basin mine, extended longwall panels greater than 4 km in length are planned to be mined at depths with a virgin rock temperature (VRT) of more than 40¦C. Research has been completed into the reasons for the substantial increase in temperature at the face for underground coal mines in the Bowen Basin. An analysis into heat loads produced at the Bowen Basin mine for the development and production phases shows a significant amount of additional cooling will be required to ensure safe working temperatures. All of the major sources of heat, which included both natural and mine induced heating, were considered for the analysis. Maximum heat loads were assessed, together with peak intake surface temperature to determine the maximum cooling capacity required at a Bowen Basin mine. These maximum heat loads were assessed for a specific longwall panel, Longwall A, which extends to over 4.1 km in length and at a maximum depth of over 330 m, resulting in a VRT above 40¦C. The cooling system positional efficiency was analysed, determining that underground cooling via an indirect heat exchanger was preferred to increasing the capacity of the current bulk air cooling (BAC) on the surface. A preliminary cost analysis was also detailed which compared the cost of additional BAC compared to implementing underground cooling.CITATION:OÆConnor, T, Kizil, M S and Belle, B, 2013. Required cooling system capacities for extended longwall panels at a Bowen Basin mine, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference , pp 249-256 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 1, 2013

By J W. Hedenquist

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Epithermal deposits (Au or Ag dominant, ± base metals) form within ~1 km of the surface in volcanic belts, both arcs and rifts, with the different tectonic settings reflected in distinctly different characteristics. Within arcs, deposits are typically intrusion centred and commonly associated with hypogene advanced argillic alteration, both in lithocaps and as halos to shallow or proximal portions of some veins; such alteration is coupled with processes that form porphyry Cu-Au deposits at depths of ~1–3 km. Introduction of metals is related to the subsequent phyllic-stage overprint; if this fluid rises to the level of the lithocap or into epithermal veins, Au mineralisation with Cu or Ag may occur, associated with sulfate minerals or muscovite. By contrast, Au-rich (both low Ag:Au ratio and bonanza grade) colloform quartz veins form at shallow depths in volcanic rifts, typically within a few hundred metres of the surface, with clay halos and topped by silica sinter if the palaeosurface is preserved. The geologic variability in volcanic belts, including host rocks, structures and hydraulic gradients, means that many epithermal deposits vary from the end-member features of the principal styles. Effective exploration requires familiarity with end-member styles as well as potential variations, plus the mineralogical indicators of palaeotemperature (eg evidence for erosion depth, fluid flow channels). This knowledge helps the geologist in the field to imagine what might be buried and where, and how to best test the target with drilling.CITATION:Hedenquist, J W, 2015. Recent developments in understanding of and exploration for epithermal deposits in volcanic arcs , in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 11–16 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

The pyrite-sphalerite-galena and barite orebodies at the Rosebery mine are concordant with the shale host rock and have been deformed into one system of folds with an associated axial plane cleavage. The folds are tight and overturned with east-dipping axial planes. Folds in the sulphide ore are commonly disharmonic, particularly between adjacent bands of different composition.Concentric style folds occur in the competent bands, e.g. pyrite-rich bands. Similar style folds are predominant in the less competent sphalerite-galena-rich bands and also in the shale of the host rock. The trends and plunges of the fold hinge-lines are variable but axial planes are of reasonably constant orientation throughout the mine area. The folds in the orebodies are of limited axial extent, approximating to conical folds, and are arranged in en echelon patterns. The fold system was possibly formed in one period of folding by heterogeneous strain that may have been caused by the presence of a mass of tectonically mobile sulphide ore. Lineations parallel to the ore/host rock contacts appear to reflect movement between the ore and the host rock during folding.

Jan 1, 1972

The need for the hydraulic transportation of coal in the New South Wales coal industry, both from the coal face to the surface and from the coal mine to the consumer or the port for export, is explained. Details of research projects currently in progress and involving the hydraulic transportation of New South Wales coals are given together with information on the hydraulic transportation of coal in the United States of America. The potential of hydraulic transportation as a viable alternative to the proposed expansion and upgrading of the New South Wales railway system to meet the projected New South Wales coal production to the year 2000 is described.

Jan 1, 1980

Project Sustainability Assessment - Matching Method to Enterprise Size Sustainable development requires managing natural resources, including minerals, in a way that is conducive to long-term wealth creation and the maintenance of capital (natural, social, human, economic and physical). One aspect of the minerals sustainability discussion focuses on replacing depleted mineral capital with other forms of capital so as to ensure that the contribution of a mineral project is net positive over its life. Another, equally important, aspect focuses on selection of projects and technologies that contribute to the achievement of a variety of sustainability objectives, such as environmental protection, efficient use of resources, water and energy, worker health and safety, and the equitable distribution of risks and benefits within and across generations. Technical feasibility and relative economic performance remain necessary decision criteria for mineral investment decisions, but they are no longer sufficient. Enterprises, regardless of size, are now confronted with the challenge of comparing investment alternatives based on a new, broader set of criteria. The field of integrated sustainability assessment (ISA) emerged in response to this changed social and business environment. ISA is a structured process for examining the economic, social and environmental impacts of a project or technology. The purpose of an assessment can be broad, a strategic review of corporate behavior for example, or quite narrow, input to a specific decision process such as the selection of a piece of equipment. There are numerous methods and analytical tools available to conduct ISAs and selection of the most appropriate for a given situation will depend upon temporal focus (retrospective to prospective), decision context (strategic, tactical or operational), and phase of the assessment process (problem structuring, analysis, resolution, ex post review), among others. Selection also depends upon enterprise size and the attendant availability of financial and human resources. Large multi-national firms often undertake complex, data intensive sustainability assessments, in part because the projects they are involved in are multi-faceted, long term, and require significant financial investments. Small and medium sized enterprises are seldom able to commit the same level of resources to an ISA, and if the projects they undertake are less complicated, a time consuming and detailed assessment may be unnecessary. Regardless of enterprise size, the tangible and reputational benefits of conducting as ISA must exceed the actual monetary cost of doing so. This presentation will provide an overview of available ISA tools, categorising them in terms of their data requirements, methodology, outputs and applicability in various decisions contexts. Distinction will be drawn between situations where reasonable approximations of project impacts can be expected to provide an adequate amount of information and those for which more detailed analysis is essential. Finally, ISA strategies that have been successful and cost effective at different scales of business enterprise will be identified. This is an abstract only. No full paper was prepared for this presentation.

Sep 13, 2010

By E Villaescusa, A Kusui, R Talebi, R Hassell, C Arcaro

Northern Star Resources (NSR) operates several seismically active mines as part of its Kalgoorlie Operations. In order to successfully continue mining at depth in increasing stress conditions, strategies need to be developed to reduce, control and manage the impact of seismicity causing damage to the rock mass. Consequently, a research partnership was developed with the WA School of Mines (WASM) through Mining3. The main aim of the project was to develop appropriate ground support standards that could withstand the expected dynamic response with minimal to no rehabilitation required for the life of that excavation. The project utilised a design methodology for determining the required energy demand based on detailed geotechnical mapping, probabilistic analysis of wedge formation and an estimate of rock ejection velocity based on uniaxial compressive strength of the intact rock (Villaescusa et al. 2016). The ground support scheme consists of high tensile chain link mesh, resin encapsulated de-coupled posimix bolts and plain strand cable bolts, in one, or multiple passes together with plain shotcrete. Implementation of the design posed several challenges including how to install the chain link mesh, maintaining the required productivity, ensuring quality control, and understanding the interaction of the several ground support components within the scheme. The implementation of the system within a trial area was successful from development mining to open stope extraction. The most significant field verification of the system occurred with near field M+1.9 seismic occurring in proximity to an operating long-hole drill. Despite large displacements exceeding 0.5m in places, there was no significant ejection of rock or failure of the ground support system. Following the successful trial, the ground support design methodology and standards have been implemented across several NSR sites. The system forms the basis for the successful extraction of resources in future high seismic risk areas.

Mar 15, 2021

By L D. Queen

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The Tifalmin porphyry copper district is located in the Star Mountains roughly 35 km north-east of the Ok Tedi mine. The district is a cluster of temporally and geochemically related porphyry copper deposits and their associated skarns. It covers an area of roughly 10 × 6 km and comprises at least three intrusions (Olgal, Futik and Kum Kom) where drilling has demonstrated the presence of porphyry copper mineralisation, and another three intrusions (Rattatat, Unfin and Pad 48) where porphyry copper mineralisation is strongly suggested by surface investigations and geochemical or geophysical signatures.Copper and gold mineralisation was first discovered in the area in the 1960s as part of the regional exploration program by Kennecott that located Ok Tedi. The mineralisation is associated with poly-phase porphyritic diorites, quartz diorites and tonalites that intrude the Upper Eocene to Middle Miocene Darai limestone and underlying Cretaceous to Eocene Feing Group. Radiometric K-Ar and U-Pb zircon ages cluster between 4 and 2 Ma for both the mineralised and post-mineral intrusions. In addition to porphyry-type mineralisation, variable amounts of calc-silicate and/or magnetite skarn occur near the contact of most of the intrusions. Mineralisation in the Olgal and Futik porphyries occurs as chalcopyrite replacement of mafic minerals and in a stockwork of micro-veinlets. Mineralisation mostly occurs in the intrusions but is also observed in hornfelsed siltstones and sandstones of the Feing Group on the southern margin of the Olgal intrusive body. Quartz veining is uncommon. Secondary magnetite is commonly associated with the highest copper and gold grades. Sericitic alteration is most prominent in the mineralised hornfels. Structurally, the area is dominated by syn- to post-mineralisation thrusting from the north. At least one of the deposits (Olgal) appears to be truncated at depth by a thrust fault.CITATION:Queen, L D, 2015. The Tifalmin porphyry copper gold district, Star Mountains, Western Papua New Guinea , in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 357–360 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

Anglo American Metallurgical Coal (AAMC) manages five open cut coal mines in Queensland and New South Wales, producing approximately 30 million tonnes per annum. The size and complexity of these mines require efforts by a large and diverse number of personnel to minimise adverse geotechnical events from occurring. To achieve this, the AAMC coal mines in Australia are developing a concept of managing the geotechnical risks associated with open cut coal mines. The overall system utilises a combination of internal training, a management system (operational management systems) and standards, numerical modelling, monitoring, inspections and audits. The development of the standards as well as training and mentoring of exploration personnel, geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists and mining engineers with an interest in the geotechnical aspects of mining, training of the production workforce, mentoring and training of the technical staff create the basis for achieving a pro-active rather than a reactive system. Audits are used to assure that personnel are maintaining the standards and to facilitate cross-mine leanings so that best practices are developed across all sites.

Nov 25, 2010

By Wesley, Worner H

During the meeting of the Institute last year at Port Pirie, the opportunity was taken to sample the lead bullion coming from the blast furnace and various stages during the refining process. Also, in the desilverising section, the upper zinc rich phase was sampled as the silver content built up and in the cupellation operation a series of samples was taken as the silver content of the bullion increased. In these two cases, the samples were taken under the supervision of a member of the staff of the Broken Hill AssociatedSmelters.In the following account of the microstructure of the samples taken, only the main phases present have received attention. In this connection deduction from phase diagrams of binary alloys has been used in conjunction with the assays carried out on duplicate samples taken at the same time as those for micro examination.

Jan 1, 1938

By Ralph B. S

Bacterial leaching of low grade quartz felspar porphyry copper ore was studied in large-scale laboratory percolation leaching columns.Limitations in the release of soluble copper showed up before fifty per cent recovery, due to occluding precipitates of iron oxides and hydroxides. Precipitates were removed by increasing the acidity of irrigation feed four-fold with respect to sulphuric acid. However, irrigation at low pH (pH 1.5) inhibited copper leaching. Resumption of bacterial leaching at pH2 was achieved by introducing a period of non-irrigation. The results suggest a 'direct' attack by bacteria on the chalcopyrite substrate rather than an 'indirect' ferric-leach mechanism.

Jan 1, 1981