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Ilmenite production in Western Australia commenced in 1956. There are now five producers, all in the Bunbury-Capel district, and current total production capacity is about 450,000 t.p.a.The deposits occur near the surface and average between 10 and 50 per cent heavy mineral. About 70-85 per cent of the heavy mineral is ilmenite. Other heavy minerals present include leucoxene, zircon, rutile, monazite, and garnet. The ilmenite contains 52-60 per cent Ti02. and is very low in chromium (0·03-0·04 per cent CrS03)Mining is done by sluicing, drag line excavation, or dredging. Primary concentration of the heavy minerals is achieved by spirals, revolving cones, or Reichert cones. After drying and screening, ilmenite is separated from the heavy mineral concentrate by various types of magnetic separator.Separate leucoxene, zircon, rutile, and monazite concentrates are also produced. Each plant uses a different technique and the processes used include chemical attritioning, screen plate electrostatic separation, high tension rolls, air tables, and dry launders.INTRODUCTIONThe treatment of beach sands in the Bunbury/Capel area for the extraction of ilmenite is a very recent development in the mining industry in Western Australia. Nevertheless, since the commencement of production in 1956, ilmenite has become the sixth most important mineral produced (Table 1).The increasing world recognition of Western Australia as a major producer of ilmenite (Table 2) is due primarily to the low chromic bxide content of the mineral (0' 03-0' 04 per cent Cr203), combined with a medium to high titanium dioxide content (54-60 per cent Ti02), supported by large reserves, a stable government, and close access to good shipping facilities. Ilmenite is. produced from these deposits at low cost which enables the industry to compete on world markets despite high rates for sea freights because of the distance from major markets.

Jan 1, 1965

Australia is the world's leading producer and exporter of mineral sands. Despite increased production from some other countries in recent years, Australia maintained its No.1 position in 1988 among world producers of mineral sands concentrates. Production of the titanium minerals -- ruffle, ilmenite and leucoxene, as well as synthetic ruffle -- by the seven companies currently comprising the Australian industry increased in 1988 in response to continuing strong demand for feedstock by the pigment industry. Production of co-product zircon remained at the 1987 level, reflecting declining zircon grades. Exports of mineral sands concentrates increased in 1988; export earnings exceeded $300million. Prices for mineral sands concentrates are now at a historical high and, assuming that the world economy remains strong, real prices should continue to trend upwards in the short term. Exploration in the Eneabba-Cooljarloo region and the Scott River area, both in WA, the Murray Basin, Vic, and the central Queensland coast area, has identified substantial resources of heavy mineral sands. These discoveries have reversed the trend of the early 1980s of falling resources of mineral sands. In 1988, BMR estimated that economic demonstrated resources (EDR) of ilmenite, rutile, zircon and monazite combined was about 72.8 million tonnes. However, a substantial portion of the resources on the east coast are frozen as a result of environmental considerations. The proportion of mineral sands concentrates processed in Australia increased with the commissioning of two new synthetic rutile plants; Australia is now the world's leading producer of synthetic rutile (total capacity 272000 tonnes), most of it for export. Australia's two TiO2 pigment producers have both increased capacity, lifting national capacity by some 70p ercent to over 120000 tonnes/yr. As part of the expansion one producer converted from the sulphate to the chloride process. Other new pigment plants are being proposed for the future.

Jan 1, 1989

By Milner A, Brockway D, Hodges S

The combustion of brown coals in Latrobe Valley power stations produces approximately 500 000 tonnes of solid wastes each year. This material, which includes precipitator ash, char and furnace ash, is hydraulically sluiced to large ashing ponds and the supernatant solution is ultimately discharged to the sea. There are significant operational and capital costs associated with the current ashing system. The ash produced from the Latrobe Valley coals is unique and has a wide variety of potential applications including soil conditioning, concrete and cement extenders, fillers in non-metallic materials, components of building products. In addition, with the application of appropriate technology, it is possible to extract char, sodium sulphate, calcium carbonate and magnesium metal (as the chloride) in substantial quantities from the ash. Research has been carried out to explore the prospects of these various options for ash utilisation. The research has focused on detailed characterisation of the ash material and the potential extraction efficiency for various species under various conditions. From this work a conceptual process has been developed and subsequent studies have been directed towards understanding variables and optimising operating regimes for product extraction. Currently, the work is concentrating on the separation of char, the development of high-grade carbon products and the extraction of sodium sulphate.

Jan 1, 1992

By G J. Lyman, F S. Bourgeois

As the prices of metals slide, financial control of mineral processing operations becomes more and more important. Control of a mineral processing operation implies measurement of grades, recoveries and losses, with every effort being made to recover more product from the same feed. Shareholders become more concerned with the transparency of the operations and the corporate governance.There is only one way to achieve this and this is by sampling and making good use of the results of that sampling. Sampling systems that provide only 'rough' figures are not good enough. Similarly, a competitive position in the marketplace demands close control of product quality. Maximisation of product output demands that the product just meet the specification so that product yield is maximised. Decisions based on precise sampling results carry less risk that those based on imprecise results.This paper reports some recent advances in sampling theory that permit full quantification of sampling distributions, not just the sampling variance as has been possible in the past. These advances can be used together with simulation methods to tie down sampling precisions and develop calculations that quantify decision making risk when using the sampling results. A number of examples illustrate the use of the new advances and a final example indicates the development of risk analysis curves in the coupling of sampling precision to sale of a commodity.CITATION:Lyman, G J and Bourgeois, F S, 2015. Sampling, corporate governance and risk analysis, in Proceedings MetPlant 2015, pp 27–34 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 7, 2015

By Worner H. K

Education has always been a topic to rouse the interest of mining and metallurgical engineers, but the recent activities of the Education Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 1, 2, together with the moves throughout the Commonwealth to extend the field of technological education, have made the subject a very live one at the present time. The authors have felt it would be appropriate that on the occasion of the First Ordinary Meeting for 1950, in Victoria, some contribution should be forthcoming concerning the history, present status and possible future trends of mining and metallurgical education in this State. As for the past, the time approaches when there will be none having personal recollections of the beginning of Victorian mining schools or of the men who started them. As for the future, it is obvious that rapidly expanding metal-producing and metalconsuming industries will demand a greater output of competent graduates and diplomates. The era immediately ahead seems to be bristling with opportunities, but mining educators need to temper their enthusiasm for various policies and programmes with the realisation that they are helping to train men who will be leaders 15-20 years hence when the problems of industry and trials of life generally may be very different from what they are to-day.

Jan 1, 1950

Some 50 miles of tunnel have been driven in the Snowy Mountains Area since tunnelling commenced in 1951. Hates have improved progressively due to the know-how of American supervision and use of large matched equipment of modern design.The work has been carried out by contractors, working almost exclusively under schedule of rates contracts. The Authority has maintained active research into tunnelling problems, especially that of support, and this has resulted in considerable economies and improved rates of progress. The contractors also have sought economies both by management and equipment techniques. Ammonium nitrate came into favour as an explosive essentially because of its lower cost, and handling techniques have improved progressively. Rock conditions preclude use of the "Mole" type equipment in its present stage of development, but one contractor introduced the "sliding floor" and this could exert a great influence on future tunnelling methods.Examination of tunnels that have been in service for some time confirmed the quality of the work and endorsed the policy of continued research and development.GENEHALThe Snowy Mountains Scheme provides for the diversion of the Snowy and Eucumbene waters through two transmountain tunnels to the western river systems. These diversions, together with additional regulations provided for waters already flowing inland, will provide an average additional discharge of 1,818,000 ac it per year for irrigation.Furthermore, approximately 6,000 million kWh of electrical energy will be generated annually in power stations with a total installed capacity of some 3,000,000 kW (Fig. 1.).INVESTIGATIONThe aim of investigation work is firstly to collect sufficient information to allow the overall scheme to be planned and then to follow up with detailed information on eachproject. The correct balance for all aspects of this work is a matter for keen judgment, as the tunnels must be planned...

Jan 1, 1963

By D Jensen, L Riffo, S Yu, F Traczyk, D Meadows

With the steady increase of molybdenum demand worldwide and the favorable molybdenum market, many technological innovations on both process and equipment have been developed and applied in many modern molybdenum plants around the world. This paper introduces the most commonly used molybdenum flotation flowsheet, together with the introduction of the flotation chemistry. Many different types of flotation cells are used in modern moly plants, and each type of flotation cell has its own unique advantages suited for particular ore and process conditions. This paper tries to provide some insight and guidelines in flowsheet development and flotation cell selection in the molybdenum plants.CITATION:Meadows, D, Jensen, D, Traczyk, F, Yu, S and Riffo, L, 2013. Molybdenum flotation circuit and flotation cells, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013 , pp 387-398 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 15, 2013

By Green P. F

Apatite Fission Track Analysis (AFTA) is a thermal history reconstruction tool that enables determination of magnitude and timing of maximum paleotemperature and paleo-geothermal gradient at the time of maximum paleotemperatures. From this information, the amount of section missing at major unconfornities can be estimated and incorporated into basin models. The Gippsland Basin has a number of distinct problems that can be tackled using AFTA. 1. The nature of the regional break between the Late Cretaceous-Tertiary Latrobe Group and the underlying Early Cretaceous Strzelecki Group. 2. The tectonic history of the basement flanking the basin and its effect on sediment composition. 3. The age of igneous activity in the basin, as typified by the widespread basaltic plugs and dykes intruding the outcropping Strzelecki Group. Major uplift and erosion within, and adjacent to, the early Cretaceous rift basin in the Mid-Cretaceous, at -95 to 100 Ma, initially constrained the Latrobe Group depositional area to the central deep of the Gippsland Basin and provided an elevated source of quartz-rich detritus for the Latrobe Group reservoirs. This is in marked contrast to the preceding period in the early Cretaceous when contemporaneous volcanism dominated as a source of detritus, producing quartz-poor lithic sandstones, in which a host of attendant diagenetic reactions destroyed their reservoir potential. Initial uplift and erosion of the volcanogenic Strzelecki Group also occurred in the mid-Cretaceous as revealed by a number of distinct inversion structures, and erosion of this material will have locally provided very poor quality sand to the basal Latrobe Group.

Jan 1, 1992

By D Brett

"Mine waste storages including tailings dams and waste rock dumps represent arguably the biggest risk on a mine site from both physical and geochemical viewpoints, related firstly to structural stability and the consequences of failure and secondly from potential on-going seepage or run-off of acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD). The risks are most likely to increase during operations and continue through the closure and post-closure phases, with the waste storages likely to be the most difficult features to resolve in the mine closure process. Contaminated water quality from tailings dams and waste rock dumps can require treatment "in perpetuity" at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. The problem is increasing with ever larger mine operations and waste generation volumes. This paper identifies leading practice methodologies in planning and operating mines and process plants to minimise the risks from tailings storages and how this might also affect waste rock management and even the design of mine excavations. These methodologies require a "big-picture" approach to develop an understanding of the overall issues and identify synergies between the different operational areas on a mine site that can reduce overall risk. With a conservative approach and realistic allowance for future costs it is possible to facilitate decisions at the mine planning stage that can reduce risk and save cost over the long term. This is in contrast to the common approach where each operational area is looking to minimise its own costs with a short-term view. Incorrect mine methodologies can be developed by allowing net present value (NPV) accounting methods to trivialise future closure issues.Methodologies discussed include: Integrated Waste Management - Significant structural improvements to tailings dams can be achieved if the structures can be incorporated into the waste rock dumps. Risk of AMD can also be reduced by utilising the tailings and waste rock effectively. This could go even further to consider the placement of wastes to limit mine void environmental issues; Process Optimisation - Water quality and the nature of potential tailings dam structures can be highly influenced by the geo-chemistry of the tailings. This can be modified by processing, where simple changes such as maintaining separate streams of geo-chemically different tailings rather than recombining them or by initiating further processing to remove problematic minerals such as sulphides; Enhancing Geophysical Properties - The geochemical performance of waste repositories can be greatly influenced by the geophysical properties of the stored materials, particularly the air-water characteristics, which are influenced by particle size, density and permeability. The geotechnical properties can be enhanced by strategic paddock dumping, blending and compaction.These methodologies are demonstrated by case histories.CITATION:Brett, D, 2013. Mine waste risk minimisation by integrated waste management and process optimisation, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013, pp 247-258 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 15, 2013

By D Johnston

Within the first full year of BarrickÆs Cowal Gold Mine operation, the Lake Cowal Foundation Limited (LCF) has already been delivering results consistent with its goal to protect and enhance the natural environment of Lake Cowal and its catchment area. The LCF is a non-profit Environmental Trust established in June 2000 in conjunction with the development consent process for the construction of BarrickÆs Cowal Gold Mine. Its primary goal is to protect and enhance Lake Cowal, a nationally significant ephemeral wetland located 350 km west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Significant concentrations of water birds visit the lake and the Australian Heritage Commission listed Lake Cowal on the Register of the National Estate in 1992. The LCF is managed by a Board of Directors from representative member organisations including the Total Environment Centre, National Parks Association, Nature Conservation Council and Barrick Australia Limited. Although largely funded by Barrick, the Foundation also attracts external funding and works in partnership with a diverse range of other groups and organisations, beyond the mine fence. The total value of currently approved projects is estimated to be in excess of $7.1 million, which includes æin-kindÆ contributions made by the local community and in particular the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (LCMA) and local farmers. To date, LCF has been involved with the development and implementation of 30 projects with a total of 34 project partners. LCF has worked with over 60 landholders to improve Lake Cowal and its catchment, with 6180 ha of land now being managed for conservation or sustainable farming in the local area. Many landholders have been, or are involved in property planning or participating in other training opportunities. Sustainability of LCF programs and outcomes will be assured by commitments to projects within four key themes: conservation, research and research support, sustainable farming and community education and training. The LCF works independently from the mining company and has no responsibility for the environmental management within the mining lease. It is about capitalising resources generated by the mine to enhance environmental outcomes in the wider Lake Cowal catchment area by working collaboratively with the local community, industry and government authorities to ensure the long-term protection of a unique wetland ecosystem affected by landscape scale degradation.

Jan 1, 2007

THE object of the present paper is to give a brief description of the metallurgical process followed by the Grand Junction Co, and the results obtained therefrom. All figures quoted are from the actual working of the plant over a period of six months from January to June, 1910. The short ton of 2000 lb. is used by the company. Its gold is valued at 84s. per oz. fine, silver at 2s. per oz. fine. The ore consists essentially of a gangue of quartz and calcite, with 8 to 10%sulphide-pyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, and traces of arsenic and antimony. The colmtry-rock is a highlyaltered dacite. Small stringers of highly-mineralized ore penetrate the footwall of some of the lodes, forming a valuable stockwerk up to 3 ft. in thickness. In stoping, this is mined with the well defined lode, thus bringing into the mill at times a considerable quantity of hard country-rock. The gold exists in an exceedingly fine state of division, consequently rendering it necessary to grind very fine to obtain a satisfactory extraction.

Jan 1, 1912

By E Selvapandian, R Barr

Arrium (previously OneSteel) initiated a desktop study into the performance of its hematite ore beneficiation plant in early 2010. The beneficiation plant utilises jig concentrators and spirals to upgrade low-grade hematite recovered during mining at the Iron Duke (ID) mine site located 60 km south-west of Whyalla. The study, conducted in conjunction with Mineral Technologies, identified a number of opportunities for improvement, which were validated by a series of sampling campaigns and a pilot plant trial. One of the major recommendations was to upgrade the ultra-fines processing circuit from a single-stage spiral circuit to a three-stage circuit. The upgrade of the ultra-fines circuit was estimated to provide a significant increase in fines production and grade.In order to capitalise on the strong iron price at the time of the project, Arrium decided to utilise a fast-tracked approach to design, construct and commission the processing equipment required to achieve the improvements identified. This decision introduced the risk of missing critical steps in the project development process, which could have potentially resulted in major issues in latter stages of the project. In addition to the challenges introduced due to the expedited time line for project completion, this project presented unique challenges due to its brownfield nature. One such challenge faced was the integration of the new equipment and control system software.Furthermore, the importance of the ID ore beneficiation plant (OBP) contribution to the companyÆs export commitments meant the upgrade work had to occur while minimising disruption to normal operation. This decision presented a set of new challenges to an already complex project. One such challenge was the need to build and commission the new spiral circuit in isolation from the operating plant.The aim of this paper will be to highlight some of the challenges faced in a complex brownfield project such as the ID OBP upgrade and discuss how they were managed to enable the successful commissioning of the process in early 2012.CITATION:Selvapandian E and Barr, R, 2013. Managing challenges faced in the brownfield commissioning of an ultra-fine hematite processing circuit at ArriumÆs Iron Duke ore beneficiation plant, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013 , pp 533-538 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 12, 2013

Australia's iron ore industry is entering a challenging period with the development of new orebodies, the introduction of new products and the push for further downstream processing. In addition, the recent price reductions for iron ore exports have intensified the focus on reducing capital and operating costs. To assist in these areas, CSIRO is expanding its research capabilities, including the incorporation into CSIRO of the Mineral Processing Laboratories in Perth, which were previously managed by the WA Department of Minerals and Energy. In addition, a large part of the $24.4 million expansion of CSIRO's Pinjarra Hills laboratories in Brisbane will be devoted to enhancing iron ore processing research, providing purpose built laboratories and large process bays.

Jan 1, 1999

By I M. van Waveren, F Hasibuan, M J. Crow

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. Two Hg-Au occurrences west of Bangko, Sumatra occur within the West Sumatra Permian Volcanic Plutonic Arc. The Melipun Hg-Au occurrence was exploited in the past and mineralisation occurs within a hydrothermally altered cupola of a buried intrusion. The Salak Hg-Au occurrence occurs within the outcrop of the Dusunbaru pluton, likely within the remnants of a caldera in which hydrothermal mineralisation was developed. Both occurrences formed late in the history of the volcanic arc, probably between the Triassic and early Jurassic. The Melipun occurrence may have potential at depth, but that at Salak is small and lies within the area of a proposed Geopark.CITATION:Crow, M J, van Waveren, I M and Hasibuan, F, 2015. Two Hg-Au occurrences in the west Sumatra Permian volcanic-plutonic arc west of Bangko in Sumatra, Indonesia , in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 573–578 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By Hibbert W. D, Lottrey A

The behaviour of coal in a process is a function of both the coal properties and the processing conditions. In the case of the Loy Yang coal deposit, extensive testing has been undertaken to determine: ò the extent, distribution and structure of the coal resource; ò the variations in properties throughout the resource; and ò evaluation of the behaviour of the coal during processing. This has involved the conduct of an extensive borehole drilling program, backed by geological modelling and material characterisation (chemical, physico-chemical and petrological). Evaluation of the behaviour of the coal during processing has ranged from theoretical modelling, laboratory-scale investigations through to pilot scale and full-scale tests. Until recently, the bulk of the work was directed at evaluating the behaviour of the coal for existing pulverised fuel (pf) firing/steam boiler technology and a high level of understanding has been developed of both the coal resource and its behaviour within these systems. More recent efforts have been directed towards the evaluation of new technologies directed towards cheaper and more efficient power generation using this coal. Loy Yang coal has been evaluated in the following technologies: ò Hydrothermal dewatering/direct coal-fired gas turbine; ò Steam fluidised bed drying; ò Solar drying/densification; ò Briquetting; and ò Gasification.

Jan 1, 1992

The profitability of gold placer mining operations is determined by more factors than many placer miners recognise until too late. This study is based upon field trips to examine the efficiency of mining and transportation of gravels to a wash plant by bulldozer and truck. At the examined open pit mining operations gravels were washed using water canons, derockers or scrubber trommels. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between unit costs and power requirements for gravel mining and processing. The author conducted a number of time and motion studies at four open pit gold mines, including the Maly Patom Creek, the Nizhny Patom, the Taimendra Creek and the Kadali-Makit in the Bodaibo District, Irkutsk Region and collected and processed field data. As a part of the study significant correlations were determined and empiric regression equations derived between: power requirements (Ep) and unit cost (Cp) for gravel processing; and total power requirements (Et) and total unit cost (Ct) for gravel mining, transportation and processing. Based on the results of the study it was proposed to modify the current mining procedure methods and to replace water cannons at the Maly Patom Creek with a PPM-5 derocker. Introduction of the proposed technology resulted in 2004 in US$385 000 mining cost reduction at the Maly Patom Creek over a short-time Siberian mining season.

Jan 1, 2007

By S B. Stewart, C J. Restarick

Over a four-hour period of steady plant operation samples were taken at regular intervals frum points within the grinding and flotation circuits. Size fractions of each composite sample were analysed for lead and zinc values and a comparison made of the behaviour of the lead, zinc and gangue minerals, size by size throughout the whole circuit. Analysis of the breakage behaviour using dynamic mathematical models gave the rates of breakage of each size fraction of each main component. Simulated grinding experiments shaved that the main grinding circuit had some reserve capacity. In the lead flotation circuit all lead values between 150 mesh (Tyler) and 5 ¦m had excellent flotation characteristics, and a major proportion had a high rate of flotation which was practically the same for all sizes. Increase in overall lead recovery would require improvement of the flotation behaviour of ultra-fine lead minerals. These were slav floating and were responsible for approximately half the lead losses in the final zinc concentrate and one thiro of the lead losses in the final tails. All sizes of zinc values between 150 mesh and 7 ¦m floated well and the performance of the zinc flotation circuit was mainly limited by the relatively poor flotation of the very fine zinc values. Approximately 60 per cent of the zinc lost to the final tails lay within the -7 ¦m fraction. The overall flotation conditions were conducive to very good selective flotation of the major proportion of the values and limitations in metallurgical performance were mainly due to the properties of the ultra-fines.

Jan 1, 1971

Coals from the Southern Coalfield of New South Wales treated in the Port Kembla coal preparation plants of Australian Iron and Steel Pty. Ltd. differ supstantially in their characteristics. Knpwledge of performance not only enables comparison and promotes better control, but also provides the means for predicting results.Evaluation of performance of cleaning equipment has been made in terms of probable error (Ep). Results for Baum jigs, a Chance cone, heavy medium cyclones, and water washing cyclones were examined. The efficiency factors derived from the probable error were applied to the float and sink analysis, mathematically simulating operating conditions. This method was applied to the Balgownie seam.The Balgownie seam lies between the Bulli and Wongawilli seams in the coal measures of the South Coast and mining on a large scale began recently in the Bulli area. It is known locally as the Four Foot seam and exhibits rather difficult washability characteristics, due to a comparatively high middlings content. These properties and the relatively high inherent ash make careful selection of cleaning equipment essential for optimum recovery. The prediction technique is used to determine the possible results when this coal is cleaned in the Port Kembla plants. Predicted values are compared with results from full scale trial washings demonstrating the validity and accuracy of the technique.Applications of result forecasting are listed.

Jan 1, 1971

Cyclonic Separation Effect of Metallic Ores in Cyclonic-Static Micro-Bubble Flotation Column

Sep 13, 2010

By Wilson O. A

TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Introductiona. Process Changes since 1939.b. Current Practice.2. Ore Characteristicsa. Copper Minerals.b. Gold Occurrence.3. Treatment of High Grade Acid Orea. The Ore Treatment Planti. Coarse Crushing SectionDust Controlii. The Concentrating MillDesliming SectionGranular GrindingGranular FlotationGranular Flotation ReagentsFlotation MachinesSlime FlotationConcentrate CleaningConcentrate Handlingiii. Scavanging No.1. Mill Granular Tailings at No. 2 MillRegrinding UnitScavenger Flotationb. Pyrite Productioni. Pyrite Flotationii. Pumping of Pyriteiii. Storage of Pyriteiv. Pyrite Loading

Jan 1, 1952