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In September 1980 the N.S.W. Environ- mental Planning and Assessment Act was gazetted. This legislation created a new arena of government involvement in the procedure for obtaining approval to open a new mine, or expand an existing mine in N.S.W. Since 1980 the legislation relating to environmental protection requirements, the procedure for obtaining Development Consent and the nature of relevant government policies have caused considerable confusion on the part of many potential developers. Implementation of the legislation has now become systematic and relatively predictable. However, certain aspects can be improved and require urgent government action.

Jan 1, 1983

An efficient energy management programme can often significantly reduce a company's energy costs. The programme consists of a series of steps, namely a statement of support from senior management, assigning the management team, the energy audit, defining the goals and comwnicating with and training employees. The energy audit provides the information base from which the company can start to control and improve upon energy Usage.

Jan 1, 1983

By Di Pasquale S, Osler GD

Mount Isa Mines Limited recently commiss ioned an 800 tph Heavy Medium Preconcentration Plant for lead/zinc/silver ores. The decision to build this plant was made in late 1979 based largely on investigations conducted in the Company's pilot plant on a variety of ore types including Hilton ores, between 1972 and 1978. The paper reviews the historical develop- ment of the pilot plant heavy medium circuit through this period and illustrates the extent to which this work impacted on the final design criteria. This review also includes a description of plant operation, manning levels, process equipment and metallurgical performance Achieved.

Jan 1, 1978

By Downs M

The use of a cutting machine designed to allow simultaneous cutting and setting of roof supports has numerous advantages few development roads in coalmines. The use of such a machine with the added ability to cut a curved roof profile is of considerable interest for longwall development in thick coal.

Jan 1, 1998

By Ritchie I, Fleay J

The key issues in the conceptualisation and testing of treatment options for gold and base metals mineral processing projects are discussed. A prerequisite of this process is the need for close interaction between geologists, mining engineers and metallurgists to facilitate an understanding of the orebody based on the parameters impacting on each discipline. Typical testwork programs for unit operations, including comminution, flotation and gold processing are Described.

Jan 1, 1997

Some fundamental aspects of recent single-particle fracture studies are reviewed. Findings from this research shed new light on the utilisation of energy during comminution operations and provide useful pointers to new research directions that could lead to significantly better comminution machines. Two methods for quantitatively predicting mineral liberation during comminution are reviewed. These methods have been developed into useful practical procedures, but they are almost unknown in the mineral processing community. Their use should promote the consideration of mineral liberation as an important variable to be considered during the design and operating control of comminution circuits.

Jan 1, 1993

Of the energy resources present in Australia, coal and uranium are by far the largest. These two resources ap- pear sufficient to satisfy Australia's energy needs beyond the immediately foreseeable future and long after the natural petroleum resources are exhausted or have ceased to play a significant role. By that time, coal could be converted in plants of very large size to synthetic liquid and gaseous fuels which will be used as substitutes for pet- roleum fuels, particularly for transport. The basic role of uranium will be to supply electricity from nuclear power stations for heat and power requirements, thereby freeing non-coking coal largely for conversion purposes. The establishment of these enterprises will require a massive national effort and a high degree of co-ordination at the planning stage.

Jan 1, 1975

By K H. Esbensen

During the next five years Denmark will implement a significant reduction in the national CO2 emissions to fulfil the Kyoto Protocol. The energy sector is central for achieving this goal and extensive use of renewable energy is the most important single factor contributing to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. DenmarkÆs renewable energy sources comprise wind energy and biomass. Wood chips and straw are the dominant type of biomass in Denmark. More than 500 000 tons of wood chips are used annually, currently with rapidly growth prospects. This contribution focuses on sampling of wood chips.

Jan 1, 2005

The process and control technologies incorporated into the coal preparation plant at Newlands were to be used for the first time in Australia. The commissioning organisation and procedures were set up on the basis that commissioning personnel, while being competent, would be unfamiliar with the equipment. In addition the commissioning process would have to be completed quickly. The organisation coped with all of these problems and more.

Jan 1, 1986

An intensely sheared and mineralisedIzone occurs in the Quartz Dolerite Greenstone (or Younger Greenstone) mass on, the western limb of the Kalgoorlie Syncline. This zone comprises the western part of the Golden Mile and has produced the greater part of the 33,000,000 ounces of gold produced to date from the main mining belts. A study of.th e general geological and structural features gives rise to the expectation that the lode shear system,will continue southward on a pitch similar to that of the maln syncline whose axial plane may be referred to as the "Boulder Dyke". Although payable ore has recently been found further south than previously, the expectation of large quantities extending southward from the present mining areas is Problematical.'

Jan 1, 1964

This paper deals with the evolution of present mechanised declining and orebody development practices at Kambalda, since their inception in 1969. Eight separate decline accesses have been established over the past eighteen years and to date some 175 kilometres of declining and lateral development has been achieved utilizing a wide range of mechanised development and mucking units. Improvements in-the range of equipment available, functionalization of the develop- ment tasks and the resultant changes to piecework contract structuring have all contributed to the improved performances achieved in this concept of mine development. Even though numerous development advance rate records have been established at Kambalda, an ongoing evaluation of changes to both drilling and mucking units is underway to further improve these development performance rates.

Jan 1, 1987

By Conley R, Payne I

The Vickery Coal Mine commenced open cut mining operations in May 1991. All overburden and interburden is drilled and blasted for excavation by dragline or hydraulic excavator. The mode of operation adopted from the feasibility studies requires that throw blasting of the overburden be used to assist dragline productivity.This paper reviews the development of the drilling and blasting practices with particular emphasis on the throw blasting of the overburden and optimisation of costs. This review includes analysis of the pre-production drilling and blasting feasibility studies by comparison with actual results.

Jan 1, 1992

Increasingly, mineral operations need to manage water as a key business asset. Managing water solely as an environmental issue leaves a business exposed to social, cultural and economic risks associated with water. Adopting a company-wide strategic approach, which takes account of the true value of water will provide businesses with opportunities and risk protection. Rio Tinto has recognised the business imperative for water stewardship and has responded by producing the Rio Tinto Water Strategy. This strategy commits the company to managing water assets in a responsible manner, taking account of environmental, social and economic values. To incorporate the true value of water in site decision making, a new set of tools is required at the operational level. A key part of the strategy focuses on developing a framework to value water based on case study examples from around the Group. This paper presents progress on the companyÆs experiences in developing and implementing the water strategy.

Jan 1, 2006

By Sillet R, Corin P. J, Wilson G

Zinc Corporation of Broken Hi11 had some long hole stopes coming into use which could not be mined using diesel loaders, because of ventilation restrictions. In preference to use of pneumatic loaders, and because there were no field proven electric loaders in Australia, Horwood Bagshaw Ltd., were commissioned to repower a diesel loader with an electric motor, within the confines of the existing machine

Jan 1, 1977

A Presidential Commission of Enquiry into the conservation of South Africa's coal resources was appointed in 1970. This Commission, in co-operation with the Chamber of Mines of South Africa, established a national inventory of South Africa's in situ and extractable resources and reserves of coal of various types and grades by several mining methods. South Africa's future demand for coal by all market sectors and the specifications of coal required, were also established by means of econometric models. A comparison of potential supply and anticipated demand indicated serious defi- ciencies of certain types of coal and the need for the conservation of others. This paper describes recommendations for alternate strategies for the optimum utilization of available resources. Con- sideration was given to various policies relating to pricing, exports, taxation and incentives, and to the possibility of the substitution of higher grades of coal by lower grades. The steps so far taken to develop a national coal policy in South Africa are described.

Jan 1, 1977

By Wilson O. A, White R. W G

The Mount Morgan mine occupies a unique place in the mining history of Australia and although not as glamorous during the second phase of its existence, it made a significant contribution to the technical and financial history of the nation throughout its life. The stories of the intrigue surrounding its discovery and early operation, the enormous return received by its original investors in its first five years as a public company, its influence on the local, national and international scene to its final closure have been documented in many publications, the most recent and authoritative being by John Kerr (1982). Institute publications as far back as 1911 have documented details of the mining, metallurgical and engineering practices of the two companies which worked the 100 or so acres which were alleged to be `the richest single gold mine in the world'. Within the Institute records appear the names of Presidents, Institute Medal recipients and others connected with Mount Morgan who have played an important part in the Institute history.

Jan 1, 1993

By T Galvin

Drilling and blasting at Westside Mine near Wallsend, NSW, has presented a challenge for Orica Explosives, Australia. The colliery produces 600 000 tonnes of steaming coal per year from two seams using surface mining techniques. Tapping into underlying coal will greatly improve the yield, but there are many issues which make this an enormous challenge. Hunter Valley Earthmoving engaged Orica Explosives to supply the explosives products and to provide much of the blasting expertise that is needed on the minesite. Hunter Valley Earthmoving and Orica Explosives have proven to be an outstanding, unified technical team on this project. The success of the team is based on good communication, progressive attitudes, extensive expertise in blast design and most importantly, care and accuracy in implementing the agreed upon designs.

Jan 1, 1999

By Johnston G, Revy T

Dominion Mining Ltd. and the JKMRC have conducted a detailed investigation of the performance of two of Dominion Mining's gold treatment plants (Haveluck and Paddy's Flat). In terms of design each plant is considerably different. The Paddy's Flat plant uses a single stage SAG mill with recycle crusher, followed by single stage ball milling. The Haveluck plant uses the more traditional approach of multi-stage crushing and ball milling. The performance of these two plant designs in terms of energy efficiency and cost of comminution equipment, developed at the JKMRC, to accurately predict both power draw and size reduction characteristics at these plants is evaluated.

Jan 1, 1991

By A J. Moore

The Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) funded project, No C14057, entitled æEffect of Blasting on InfrastructureÆ, has been carried out with the objectives of providing methodologies for the assessment of the strength of infrastructure types and the establishment of responsible and realistic limits. Personnel from Melbourne, Newcastle and Swinburne Universities and Terrock Consulting Engineers conducted the project. Infrastructure types including: conveyors; power transmission towers; wooden power poles; electrical substations; pipelines, bridges; public access roads and underground workings have been investigated by both field studies and structural analysis. Railways, underground telecom cables, dams and industrial buildings have been reviewed using general structural analysis. This paper has been prepared for the mining industry to provide a progress report on the project.

Jan 1, 2007

By Gigmai W

Ok Tedi Mine is a high production open pit porphyry copper mine located high in the Star mountains of Papua New Guinea. The mine produces an average of 160 000 tonnes of ore and waste daily at a 1:1 strip ratio. Full scale drilling and blasting began in 1988, prior to which time all material was ripped and dozed.Drilling and blasting procedures at Ok Tedi underwent a major review commencing mid-1989. As a result of a mutual commitment by management at Ok Tedi and the mines explosives supplier ICI, significant reductions in overall blasting costs have been realised. These cost savings are primarily the result of the introduction of air bags, expanded patterns and better field execution.

Jan 1, 1992