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By K White, C Ferguson, M Harding

Understanding watercourses and river processes at a landscape scale is vital for managing risk to mining infrastructure and operations as well as minimising future environmental impacts beyond the life of the mine. Recognising this, Iluka Resources Limited engaged Alluvium Consulting Australia to identify and characterise watercourses across several neighbouring mineral tenements in the Eucla Basin, South Australia (Alluvium, 2013, 2014a, 2014b). The objective of the studies was to inform planning for risk management during mine planning and operation and appropriate landscape rehabilitation for mine closure.Mining operations in the area are by open cut extraction of mineral sands. The extracted resource is processed on-site before leaving the site for export. Several pits are to be developed in stages with simultaneous backfilling and surface reinstatement. Mining is initially taking place in the Jacinth tenement, where up to 100 km of watercourses may be directly or indirectly impacted (refer to Figure 1).The total study area (shown in Figure 1) is approximately 330 km2 and spans three smaller areas that were the focus of separate investigations during mine planning.CITATION:Ferguson, C, White, K, Harding, M and Hardie, R, 2016. Landscape-scale assessment of watercourses in remote arid South Australia to inform mine planning to mine closure, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2016 Conference, pp 200–204 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jun 28, 2016

By Howes PM

In the iron and steelmaking processes, dusts are generated and treated by wet dedust- ing methods to form slurries which are high in iron content, but also contain certain impuri- ties. For many years these slurries have been processed and the wet cake, which is produced, has been dumped because of the high zinc and alkali chloride contents. Sintering is an appropriate process for recycling of these materials, provided the deleterious impurities can be kept under control. Zinc is a deleterious element in blast furnaces because it promotes the formation of accretions on the upper walls of the furnace. This results in irregular furnace performance. Alkali chlorides effect the emissions from the sinter plant waste gas due to the high resis- tivity of these components, resulting in decreased efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator. Experimental work indicated a concentra- tion of zinc in the -11 pmt particle size frac- tion. A cyclone plant was installed producing a "coarse" usable product and a "fine" waste Product.

Jan 1, 1984

As mining and extraction processes improve and lower grade ores become economic, mining for most ores have extended to depths beneath the zone of weathering oxidation created over geological history. These deeper openings expose sulphidic formations and reduced mineral species as either primary ore or simply as accessory or gangue minerals in the country rock. This is not new, underground mining for primary base metal and gold have long been familiar with these problems, as have coal and uranium miners. The change is simply that the number of mines exposing sulphidic waste rocks, tailings to the atmosphere and/or leaving behind dewatered sulphidic rock surrounding the mine void has increased the number of sites from where acid mine drainage (AMD) may emanate with consequential problems for the hydrological environment including downstream catchments (Miller et al, 1996). The principles of ecologically sustainable development (Brundtland, 1987) have been more or less ratified by all the developed nations of the world and this has led, amongst other things, to an expansion unprecedented in the research and documentation of means for achieving long-term environmentally acceptable stabilisation of solid wastes of all sorts. These have revealed that AMD problems can be minimised and even reversed in many cases by the integration or co-disposal of biodegradable organic wastes with oxidising sulphidic wastes (Elliott et al, 1996). This paper considers how this might be achieved at mine sites in Australia and the results encountered at some relevant sites.

Jan 1, 1997

By Hunsaker R. D

The description, characteristics, advantages and application of a new bulk explosive for medium to large diameter dry blasthole conditions is described. A brief outline of the delivery system for the product is also included. This explosive has been designed to provide an alternative to ANFO, currently the most common bulk dry hole product available to the mining and quarrying industry. The selection of the optimum explosive for any blasting operation is of prime importance. It is a major factor contributing to the production of the desired results in terms of muckpile fragmentation, shape and diggability. The optimum explosive can be defined as the most cost-effective in producing satisfactory breakage and displacement of the material. ANFO satisfies this prerequisite for a significant proportion of dry hole applications. This unique, low density and low velocity of detonation explosive has been developed to provide the industry with a cost competitive alternative to ANFO. Typical loading or average inhole densities nominally range between 0.40 g/cc to 0.70 g/cc, depending on the application. Characteristics of this explosive allow for specific and common applications in open cut coal and metalliferous operations. These include ore/waste control operations, prestripping and presplitting applications, sites confronting cap rock problems, and large hole diameter quarries.

Jan 1, 1995

By L Clarkson, D Williams, P Redcliffe, F van der Wal

This research presents a snapshot and insight into the trends, patterns, and common considerations identified in the current standing of real-time tailings dam monitoring practice. Based primarily on information derived from concurrent research by the author (in form of a Catalogue of Real-time Instrumentation and Monitoring Techniques for Tailings Dams), challenges and opportunities when transitioning to a real-time monitoring system are discussed. Learnings and key considerations between different monitoring approaches are explored, including themes of limitations and advantages that were observed consistently through global supplier feedback.

Jul 1, 2021

By Restarick C, Jowett A

A cylinder-cyclone system, fitted with a flow control valve between the cylinder and cyclone plus in some tests a variable cyclone spigot, has been used to achieve classifier separations at unusually coarse sizes relative to the diameter of the units used. The method has proved to be useful for low tonnage flows at low pulp density and variable feed rate. The system relies on use of a cylinder unit to reject excess water and fine particles, the amount rejected being adjusted by the flow control valve. The valve also adjusts flow rate and pulp density of feed to the cyclone unit, and can be adjusted to give a separation at a coarse particle size. The system has been used in connection with experiments on the pilot plant at Mount Isa, where a 76 mm system was used to classify feed to the lead secondary rougher circuit at sizes as coarse as 52 micrametres galena equivalent for split conditioning tests. Further tests have been carried out with quartz to assess the range of size separations Possible.

Jan 1, 1978

By T Seifert, P Krolop, K Niiranen, S Gilbricht

The Per Geijer iron oxide apatite deposits (IOA) display significant potential mineral resources for Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (publ), known as LKAB. LKAB continuously mines magnetite/hematite ores in northern Sweden for almost 130 years. The Per Geijer deposits reveal a high phosphorus content and vary from magnetite-dominated to hematite-dominated ores, respectively. Furthermore, they show a large variation in texture, mineral composition, and relation to wall rocks. The high phosphorus concentration of these ores results from highly elevated content of apatite as gangue mineral. Reliable, robust, and qualitative characterisation of the mineralisation is required as these ores inherit complex mineralogical and textural features. For this purpose, comminution tests at laboratory scale in combination with scanning electron microscopy-mineral liberation analysis (SEMMLA) were carried out. Based on this work, significant information on the modal mineralogy and degree of liberation of minerals of economic interest (eg magnetite, hematite, and apatite) were obtained. Results show that there is a difference in the degree of liberation of magnetite and hematite between ore types. This seems to be dependent both on the size fractions and the dominance of each iron oxide in the individual ore type. The amount of gangue minerals seems to have no significant impact on the degree of liberation after comminution. Apatite is generally best liberated in ore types associated with silicates, regardless of magnetite or hematite dominance. Based on the results of this study it can be inferred that a high degree of liberation of the minerals of economic interest can be achieved. However, results need to be verified with further beneficiation steps such magnetic separation, apatite flotation and possibly reverse silicate flotation.

Nov 8, 2021

By R Berry

This paper looks at two ways to estimate the bulk mineralogy of the rocks for assay intervals. The aim is to find an efficient indicator of the most common minerals in the rock. Phase (modal) analysis has traditionally been done using visual methods such as point counting and image analysis. A modern version of this process is the X-ray point counting routine using the SEM-EDS based software. These methods are too slow and expensive for routine analysis of bulk sample mineralogy at the normal assay spacing.Two sources of data were considered that provide information that can be used to determine the mineral abundance in assay samples. The most widely applied method is (semi-) quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD). The QXRD method is most applicable to major minerals and has limited application to minerals at low abundance. The nominal detection limit is 0.5 per cent. Values below five per cent have large errors. A second, less common, method is calculation of mineralogy from chemical assay data. Conversion of chemical analyses to mineralogical analyses depends on the unique chemical composition of each mineral. Elements only found in one mineral are easily accounted for, but many compositions are ambiguous. Deciding on the actual mineralogy is not simple. Recalculation of mineral mode from chemical analyses is more accurate than QXRD when the correct minerals, and mineral compositions, are known.Where only a few QXRD analyses are available they can be used to setup a protocol for calculation of mineralogy from assay data. Linear programming works well in this environment. The best results are obtained when both H2O and CO2 are directly measured. Loss-on-ignition (LOI) should be included if these are not available.Where both QXRD and chemical analysis are available for all samples, the best results are obtained using the least squared method to merge the data sets assuming QXRD has much higher analytical errors than chemical assays. The combined method provides more robust results because the high abundance minerals are controlled by the QXRD measurements while the chemical assays improve the precision for low abundance minerals

Sep 5, 2011

By A N. Parry

In May 2018 Kasbah Resources Limited (“Kasbah”) completed an ore sorting test work program which was a precursor to releasing in July 2018 an updated Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) for the Achmmach Tin Project in Morocco, which it is proposing to develop along with its joint venture partners. The testwork program evaluated ore sorting as a pre-concentration option to achieve early elimination of gangue and the low-grade component of ROM feed, thereby potentially:  Significantly upgrading the head grade of tin to the downstream processing plant.  Significantly reducing the required throughput capacity (and projected capital expenditure) of the downstream processing plant.  Reducing total consumables, power and water requirements in downstream processing.  Increasing the recovery of tin in the gravity and flotation circuit due to the higher feed grade achievable with ore sorting.  Reducing tailings tonnage, tailings cost and environmental footprint.  Using sorter rejects for mine backfill or road base applications. Key aspects of the design of the metallurgical testwork program centred around the need to ensure that samples representative of ROM ore feed (including projected mining dilution) were selected for the ore sorting testwork. The design and implementation of the ore sorting bulk testwork program is described, as well as a summary of the test work results and a discussion of the enhancement of the project economics reported by Kasbah, which led the company to adopt ore sorting as part of the proposed processing circuit in the updated 2018 DFS.

Nov 10, 2020

By L Mackinlay

The Apeketon Business Hub in Lihir, Papua New Guinea, emerged in 2019 through a partnership between Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) and Lihir Gold Limited (LGL), a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation. This development was driven by a shared vision for the Lihir gold mining operation to further enhance opportunities for the local community and strengthen the economy’s resilience post-mine. At its core, the business hub serves as the epicentre of ABV’s operations in the region. It includes a drop-in resource centre which provides the community with mentoring and consulting services, and access to a range of impactful workshops facilitated by ABV’s local staff and skilled volunteers. These workshops focus on local Lihirians but are open to the entire community, including Newmont employees. We design and continually refine Apeketon Business Hub support programs and offerings driven by community priorities, building trust through long-term relationships, and working side-by-side on real-time challenges. We offer three core programs to different levels of the community, from individuals and families to start-ups, large corporations, and landowner groups. There is significant demand for the support services provided by ABV, with over 350 Lihirians participating in our workshops over the 2023 calendar year. One of the hub’s core offerings is the Family Money Management Program, which addresses crucial challenges faced by Lihir households, particularly in terms of financial resilience. The program takes a comprehensive approach, assisting families in long-term planning and developing skills to effectively manage the income they derive from their employment with LGL and other enterprises. Significantly, the program also addresses financial stress, a factor often associated with domestic violence (Fox et al, 2002). By empowering women and promoting joint financial decision-making, the Family Money Management Program fosters a culture of savings and improved financial management, ultimately enhancing economic resilience within the community.

Sep 1, 2024

The Southern Mines Rescue Station (S.M.R.S.) has been established for 55 years and in the past 15 years has had only 4 major call-outs. Whilst the mines rescue training program has continued to expand, the Station has become involved in other work which includes mine worker training and limited research. Notwithstanding, the prime role of the Mines Rescue Station has not been overlooked and the Station has only advanced with the many changes that have occurred in the coal industry. The Rescue Station activities are financed by contributions from Colliery proprietors and the aim of the S.M.R.S. Committee is to provide a service in which colliery management and mine workers will have a high degree of confidence.

Jan 1, 1981

By N Murthy

Alumina is a major impurity in Australian iron ores and as the higher grade ores become depleted there will be a stronger focus on treating lower grade haematite/goethite ores and developing suitable beneficiation techniques to reduce the alumina content. High alumina in iron ore is deleterious in that it can:• produce slags with lower desulfurising capacity,• reduce sinter/pellet strength and quality, and• produce higher slag volume and increase slag viscosity.Meeting iron ore quality specifications for alumina by blending ore from different sources will eventually be insufficient. Hence, innovative flow sheets based on new and commercially available technologies will be required. Their advantages and disadvantages, the testing methodologies and the challenges and diffi culties involved in reducing the alumina content of iron ores are presented and discussed.

Jul 11, 2011

This paper examines some of the important aspects of mineral taxation policies and practices, with reference to the mining tax regimes of selected Pacific Rim countries (see Tables 1 and 2). The following subjects are addressed:what is æmineral taxationÆ?, basis for mineral taxation, types of mineral taxes, objectives of the mineral taxation regime, best practices, and mineral royalties. Many countries, in some cases with the encouragement and assistance of international funding agencies, are actively assessing the international competitiveness of their mining tax regimes with a view to attracting investment. However, these countries recognise that the mining tax regime is not the only consideration that is taken into account by prospective investors. The countryÆs geological prospectivity, physical infrastructure, labour force, political risk, and regulatory system are also important factors in the investment decision making process. Although it is probably true that an attractive mining tax regime will not necessarily attract mineral investment, there is a real possibility that an unattractive regime can drive away investment. For example, Hugo Dummett, general manager for discovery at BHP, hinted recently that BHP could cease exploration in Russia in the absence of positive tax changes. Dummett is reported as saying that if taxes æend up being as onerous as they are now, we really have to rethink why we are hereÆ (Mining Journal, London, November 27, 1998).

Jan 1, 1999

By T Goldsmith

The mining industry is cyclical, but those are more than normal business cycles. In the early 2000s the industry saw the start of China as a game changer for the mining industry which lead to catch phrases like ‘stronger for longer’ and even ‘stronger forever’. Enter the global financial crises and the more recent slow-down in the Chinese economy and confidence that the future is bright has dimmed! This paper looks at the long-term forces that are likely to impact the global mining sector and explain why the industry has an excellent future. However, the industry is not without its many challenges and while demand may be in a prolonged step change, the ability to generate profits will depend on the fitness of each asset and company.The author also discusses the hated terms of ‘boom’ and ‘bust’ and considers how the industry can reduce them, but normally exacerbates them. The ability of the junior sector to raise funds being a primary example and one that remains closed to all but the very best exploration assets. There is also consideration of Australia’s position as a mining country in the future world.CITATION:Goldsmith, T, 2014. The future of the global mining sector, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 15–20 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 18, 2014

By Mantsevich M, Ivanov V, Volkov V, Ponomarov G

A new ecologically promising technology for the copper-nickel ore benefication using insert gases and pyrrhotite depression is under consideration. The finely dispersed nickel-containing sulphides and the pyrrhotite are easily oxidised during the process of flotation resulting in deterioration of selectivity and valuable component loss in the tailings. One of the ways to improve the benefication is the flotation of easily-oxidising minerals in an inert atmosphere. In the experiments nitrogen was taken as the inert gas supposing that in the industrial scale operations nitrogen generating, as a by-product of the oxigen production. will be used (Rybas et at, 1989). The most wide-spread mineral in the Norilsk rich sulphide copper-nickel ores is pyrrhotite containing iron, sulphur, nickel and platinum group metals. Up to 30 per cent of the pyrrhotite sulphur is recovered into the nickel concentrate causing the high sulphur dioxide emission in the further pyrometallurgical process of nickel production. This is the reason why the problem of the pyrrhotite removal during the ore concentration should be solved, the critical factor of the problem being the lowest possible nickel content in the pyrrhotite. According to the data of the geological and mineralogical mapping the nickel content in the pyrrhotites of rich ores varies from 0.3 to 1.8 per cent, with the mean value equal to 0.6 - 0.8 per cent. This assures the technological and economical effectiveness of the low-grade pyrrhotite removal during the flotation process.

Jan 1, 1993

By Espig D, Standish N

In the paper a stochastic model of the batch sieving procedure is presen- ted resulting in a system of ordinary differential equations to describe the time dependence of the mass fractions on the sieve surfaces being randomly influenced by sampling errors. The coefficients of the system can be interpreted as sieving velocities. Their dependence on the sieving con- ditions is discussed and a special type of functional relationship and methods are suggested to determine this function experimentally. Moreover the applicability of the approach is demonstrated by an example to evaluate the particle size distribution, if only the result of incomplete test sieving is known. For this problem a rough error estimation is performed.

Jan 1, 1984

By N Power, A D. Costar

There has been significant growth in mining and energy exploration in South Australia, which has identified new major potential opportunities. This sector generates significant economic value to the state and their support remains a priority for the state government. The delivery of this economic and associated community value to the state is dependent on the mining and energy sector being able to access reliable water supplies.The vast majority of priority areas for the mining and energy sectors are located in areas that have traditionally been of low priority from a water-use perspective and hence, data and knowledge levels are generally low.Recent studies have identified a potential increase in demand for water in the mining and energy sector for potential developments from approximately 40 GL to over 170 GL over the next ten years. The studies found that water and water infrastructure is the second highest proportion of planned infrastructure capital investment by resource companies. The South Australian GovernmentÆs Plan for Accelerating Exploration (PACE) initiative (PACE 2020), also identifies addressing the issues of location, use and management of South AustraliaÆs water resources as a key priority for the growth of the mining and energy sector.The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) has developed the facilitating long-term outback water solution (FLOWS) initiative. DEWNR is currently undertaking a suite of programs to provide groundwater information at the regional scale to better target water supply options for mining and energy developments and community water supplies.The Goyder Institute for Water Research has leveraged significant research investment of $3 M to develop methodologies to interpret airborne geophysics to map groundwater sources.The FLOWS Initiative will provide key content for the PACE Water Program and will also assist in the development of water supplies for remote far north communities by identifying alternate groundwater sources to improve water supply security.This paper will discuss how developing an appropriate science and knowledge base will encourage and secure development where appropriate, enable prudent decision-making and policies regarding water allocation, accounting and licensing, whilst ensuring the protection of environmental assets.CITATION:Power, N and Costar, A D, 2013. Finding long-term outback water solutions, in Proceedings Water in Mining 2013 , pp 191-196 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 26, 2013

By Kellerwessel H, Oberheuser

Since its invention by Professor Klaus Schonert of the University of Clausthal, Germany, high pressure rolls comminution has attained near total acceptance as the preferred method of size reduction in the cement industry. Over 300 units have been manufactured worldwide. At locations where the system has been installed, considerable energy savings have been realised. These energy savings are generally in the range of 20 to 30 per cent compared to conventional ball mill circuits. However up to 50 per cent power saving has been achieved at some installations. This technology, with the exception of the diamond industry, has up to now had only limited success in ore processing. This has mainly been attributable to the abrasiveness of ores encountered in this industry leading to high wear rates. These high wear rates have given rise to an unacceptably short life time of the wear surface of the rolls, requiring regular replacement. A new wear surface has been developed which has shown to give a ten-fold increase in service life over conventional surfaces. This, together with developments made in machine design now give the units the ability to attain the high availabilities demanded by the mining industry, and therefore to allow this industry to achieve the considerable operating cost savings offered by the high pressure rolls.

Jan 1, 1992

Minerals and Metals Group (MMG) Century mine (Century) is a large open-cut mine in northwest Queensland approximately 2.5 km long, 1.5 km wide and 240 m deep, with an ultimate pit depth of 320 m. In 2009, the mine experienced three failures which began as small failures, and progressively developed into significant multi-batter failures. The incidents were managed by a combination of analysis, redesign and practical management to achieve positive outcomes for the mine. On the south wall of the mine, a series of batter-scale wedge failures occurred in December 2007. Analysis of structure orientations and design changes aimed to minimise the risk of failure extending over multiple batters, while accepting a risk of further small-scale failures. Design changes were constrained by a culturally sensitive area (CSA) located south of the wall. As mining progressed, shallow wedge failures developed over multiple batters and cracks were observed 60m back from the pit crest, indicating that a large-scale wedge failure was developing. Movement increased in January 2009 as a result of significant rainfall. After considering several design options, the area was stabilised by a cut-back of the wall. Two multi-batter failures also occurred on the north wall as mining progressed through a structurally complex area. Both north wall failures began as small failures that progressively developed, and required a redesign of the wall below as well as practical management of safety aspects. The complex structural geology was difficult to predict ahead of mining, and required geotechnical input into design changes as mining progressed. All three failures potentially had significant impact for ore recovery, and were managed by a combination of analysis, redesign and operational management have resulted to achieve positive outcomes in a challenging mining environment.

May 1, 2010

Cobar Mines Pty. Limited (CMPL) uses sodium sulphite as the principal depressant to attain selectivity in copper flotation prior to sequential recovery of lead and zinc. The usage of sodium sulphite is examined both from a theorectical viewpoint ana from the manner in which the copper circuit at (MPL has developed. The results of relatively recent investigations, both in the laboratory ana the plant, are discussed aria shown to support the present operating Techniques.

Jan 1, 1983