Search Documents

By Coronel PT

Like companies in other sectors of industry, mining companies are experiencing significant problems with low labour productivity, high labour turnover, and accidents. Increasingly, companies are recognising that good training is a vital factor in dealing with these problems. One such company is Aberfoyle Tin Limited. Early in 1979 the company engaged P.A. Consulting Services Pty. Ltd. (P.A.) to upgrade and formalize its miner training procedures. P.A. developed a programme using their Process Analysis Method of Training (P.A.M.T.) and trained a company trainer in its use. As a result of its application and the establishment of a formal training school, the rate of production of trained miners has been greatly increased. Despite some problems caused by lack of resources at the mine, the trainees graduating under the new scheme have been shown to be of comparable standard to those produced by the previously used "on the job" training method.

Jan 1, 1980

Mineragraphy is a coined term to signify the field of microscopic investigation of ore minerals. The term is not euphonius and is sometimes regarded as superfluous because the subject is no more than an enlargement of the scope of petrology. In the past the practical field of petrology has been largely limited by the instruments which were designed for the study of rocks and' the microscopical properties of the transparent minerals. The addition of mineragraphy has been brought about by the use of the reflecting microscope and a totally different technique.The use of the petrological microscope, as it has been employed in the training oi geologists and mining engineers for nearly half a century, has been justified many times, not only in its application to general geological problems, but also in the more restricted field of the exploration and examination of ore deposits. It provides information of the gangue minerals and rocks associated with an ore body which is of great value in some mining fields. In cases where ore deposits occur selectively in certain favourable types of rock, the recognition and delineation of these rock types is a useful guide in prospecting. The Boulder Belt at Kalgoorlie forms one of the most striking examples in Australia where important significance is attached to different rock types, and the petrological microscope is essential to their elucidation.

Jan 1, 1932

By J J. Cilliers, E Ventura-Medina

Mineral froth flotation is used to separate particles of valuable mineral from its associated gangue. It involves the selective separation of the hydrophobic particles from the slurry into the froth. As air is blown into the slurry, the hydrophobic particles attach to the air bubbles, while the waste particles remain in suspension. While the froth rises up, bubbles start to coalesce and burst, allowing the entrained liquid surrounding the bubbles to drain and return part of the gangue to the pulp. Mineral separation is therefore a function of the amount of valuable material loaded on the bubble shells, as well as the amount of gangue material entrained in the liquid channels separating the bubbles (Plateau borders). As a result, the separation performance of the process is affected by mineral attachment and drainage or bursting in the froth. This study aims to establish the relationship between solids loading, froth stability and separation performance. For this purpose, a series of industrial experiments were carried out to measure mineral attachment as well as bubble bursting by combining direct sampling of the bubble films and video image analysis of the froth surface. This work suggests that the solids loading on bubbles strongly affects the separation performance. The results generally showed that solids loading and concentrate grade are closely related, while froth bursting rate can be linked to the drainage of gangue from the Plateau borders and also to the overall recovery of valuable mineral. It was shown in particular that higher loadings, usually associated with higher froth bursting rates, are indicative of more selectivity in attachment and therefore a higher mineral grade in the concentrate. Additionally, this work suggests that bubble solids loading and froth stability are essential parameters to include in froth flotation models as they allow control and optimisation of the flotation performance.

Jan 1, 2005

Mineral Changes that Occur During Coal Gasification

Sep 13, 2010

By A Larsson, K Niiranen

The Palaeoproterozoic Leveäniemi iron oxide apatite (IOA) deposit of the so-called Kiruna type is currently mined by Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (publ.), commonly known as LKAB. The mineralogy of iron oxides, ie magnetite, hematite, maghemite, and goethite is more complicated compared to the neighbouring and more famous IOA deposits of Kiirunavaara and Malmberget. Furthermore, the mineral chemistry of the iron oxides in the Leveäniemi deposit is also slightly different. Especially, the information about the deportment of titanium and vanadium in iron oxides and distribution in the deposit is essential since they can have an impact in the steelmaking process. For this study 50 samples were selected from exploration drill cores and investigated by optical microscopy, FE-SEM-EDS and EPMA at LKAB and the Geological Survey of Finland. Investigations revealed that magnetite is the predominant iron oxide mineral with secondary hematite being the second most abundant mineral. Primary hematite, maghemite, and goethite seem to be less abundant. It should be noted, however, that this investigation focused on magnetite which currently is the only mineral with economic value. Vanadium occurs as a substitution element in the crystal lattice of iron oxide minerals in the Leveäniemi deposit and not as discrete stochiometric vanadium minerals. In the investigated samples vanadium concentration in magnetite ranges from 0.12 to 0.32 wt per cent V2O3 with higher concentration in the southern part of the deposit. Contrary, titanium does not substitute for iron in the crystal lattice of magnetite or secondary hematite (less than 0.018 wt per cent TiO2). It either occurs as tiny inclusions of titanium oxide minerals or as exsolution lamellae of ilmenite in magnetite. The spatial distribution for titanium in the deposit, however, remains unknown. Furthermore, results of this study indicate that alteration of primary magnetite to secondary hematite has had no significant effect on the trace element chemistry of these minerals in the Leveäniemi deposit.

Nov 8, 2021

The Peelwood district of New South Wales is located some 65 miles south of Bathutst on the Tuena-Crookwell road. A number of occurrences of lead-zinc-copper ore are known from this district but only three mines, Peelwood, Cordillera and Mt. Costigan, have achieved any significant production. The purpose of the paper is to describe the mineral composition of sulphide ores from these three localities.HISTORYNo published information on the geology of the Peelwood area is available. Came (1899) reports that, at the time of cessation of mining operations in 1888, the Peelwood mine had produced some 600 tons of copper metal and regulus, the Cordillera mine had yielded 9000 tons of ore at the recoverable grade of 2·5 per cent Pb, 2·5 per cent Cu, 90z/ton Ag and 1 dwtjto:p. Au, but that no production figures were available from Mt. Costigan. No further work was carried out on these properties until 1951 when the Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia instigated a programme of geological mapping and exploratory diamond drilling (Whitten, unpublished data, 1953). The Peelwood district was recently mapped by Mutton (unpublished thesis, 1960) from whom the following geological summary account was taken.GENERAL GEOLOGYAll rocks in the Peelwood area belong to a series of interbedded fine grained sediments and volcanics that are thought...

Jan 1, 1961

By Edwards A. B

Renison Bell is on the Emu Bay Railway, midway between Zeehan and Rosebery on the west coast of Tasmania. The tin deposits in this area have been described by G. A. WaIler (1902), L. K. Ward (1909), H. Hermani (1914), and Hartwell Conder (1918), for the Tasmanian Geological Survey. The ore-bodies occur in the slates, grits, altered lava flows and tufts of the Dundas Series, and consist of fine-grained cassiterite disseminated through massive sulphides (chiefly pyrrhotite or pyrite), or through bodies of quartz and sulphides. Some of these bodies show a N.W.-S.E. strike, parallel to the strike of the tin belt, but others strike N.E.-S;W. or E.-W.The ore-bodies are of two types: (1) steeply dipping fissure veins,' spoken of locally as "feeders," and (2) flatter-lying bodies more or less conformable with the bedding planes of the slates (bedded veins), spoken of locally as "floors."The feeders range from 5-12 ft. in width, with occasional bulges as great as 4q ft. Their lengths vary from 100 ft. to several hundred yards, and they are known to continue to Clmsiderable depths. 'They dip steeply, generally at angles of 45° to 60° to the east or south.The floors, where they occur, 'are directly connected with the feeders, and are sheet-iike bodies of sulphide ore. The composite ore-bodies thus have the shape of an inverted L, or a T, according to whether 'the floor extends out from one side or both sides of the feeder. Most of the floors extend from the hanging-wall side of the feeder. Where erosion has removed the connection, they appear as separate bodies.The feeders as a rule carry more quartz and arsenopyrite than the floors, and are richer in tin. In addition, the cassiterite tends to be coarser grained in the feeders than in the floors. The floors, on the other hand, carry a greater proportion of -sulphides, chiefly pyrrhotite, and the grade of ore and grain size of the cas,siterite tend to decrease as the floor is followed down the dip away from the feeder, so that the outer and lower extremities of the floors may be too low-grade to work economically. The average grade of the ore worked at present is 0·9,0/0 tin. The slates forming the roofs of the floors are commonly much contorted and silicified,' so that they form hard rocks in which the contortion and shattering of the original slates are well preserved. Joints extending upwards, more or less at right angles to the roof of the floor, are occasionally filled with finely crystalline quartz, similar to that in the orebodies, and are often rich in tin, so much so that the slate as a whole may average 0·4% tin.Some carbonate gangue is present in all of the ore-bodies, commonly on the footwall side, and, in places it becomes an important constituent...

Jan 1, 1943

By A B. Christie

In Northland, Coromandel, Taupo and Canterbury, weathering and hydrothermal alteration of Cenozoic volcanic rocks has resulted in the formation of various types of clay deposits. Subtropical weathering of rhyolite in the Matauri Bay area (Matauri and Mahimahi deposits) in Northland has formed high quality halloysite deposits. The Matauri Bay halloysite is mined and processed to produce reputedly æthe world's whitest clayÆ that commands a high price in niche ceramic markets. In the Coromandel, some argillic alteration zones contain kaolinite clays (at Hahei) and advanced argillic alteration zones contain kaolinite-gibbsite-pyrophyllite assemblages (at Pumpkin Hill and Lookout Rocks). In addition to known halloysite and kaolinite clay deposits, there is also economic potential for smectite clays produced by hydrothermal alteration of volcanic rocks. Bentonite (mainly ferriferous-beidellite) is mined from weathered basaltic ash in Miocene lake beds at Coalgate in Canterbury.   We have compiled interim mineral deposit profiles for bentonite in basaltic ash, halloysite in rhyolite, kaolinite in altered rhyolitic rocks, kaolinite-gibbsite-pyrophyllite clays in advanced argillic alteration zones and for smectite clays in argillic alteration zones. These deposit profiles include geological and mineralogical attributes, which are linked to the underlying volcanic, hydrothermal and weathering processes that have produced the clay minerals from their source volcanic rocks. Further work on refining the deposit profiles includes characterising the composition of selected deposits to determine spatial trends in mineralogy and geochemistry.

Jan 1, 2007

By D S Wallis

Northern Australia leads in world-class mineral deposits' is a bold statement. First there must be a starting point. Land north of the Tropic of Capricorn (23¦ 26' 5") will be regarded as Northern Australia covering nearly 40 per cent of the land surface of Australia. As opposed to land south of the Tropic of Capricorn, it should be regarded as Tropical Northern Australia and for the sake of brevity, (TNA) Refer Figure 1. Apart from the tyranny of distance from centres of power and population in the temperate zone, it suffered in the past from the belief that the tropics are unsuited for European workers and from the lack of infrastructure. Outstanding mineral deposits of iron, base metals, gold and diamonds, discovered and developed in the past three decades, provided the substance for the title. There are many world-class mines producing and there are mineral deposits neutralised through Government policy. TNA can maintain its lead in world-class mineral deposits provided Government policy will stop partitioning the land and decreasing that available for exploration. Let's look at what we have that is world-class. In Western TNA iron ore deposits at Paraburdoo, Mt Tom Price, Marandoo, gold at Telfer, diamonds at Argyle. In central TNA uranium at Ranger and Jabiluka, lead-zinc-silver at McArthur River, gold at the Tanami, manganese at Groote Eylandt and bauxite at Gove. In eastern TNA Mt Isa, Hilton, Century zinc-lead, bauxite at Weipa, gold at Kidston, Mt Leyshon, magnesite at Yamba and coal mines in the Bowen Basin. Those mines or deposits stand out yet are only an indication of the numerous lesser mines and of mineral deposits depending for development on market demand and/or changes in Government policy, eg 'The Three Mines' policy. Very large areas of mineral rich structures in the western, central and eastern parts of TNA are concealed below flat lying comparatively young unmineralised sediments. The Great Artisan basin sediments in eastern TNA can and do host oil shale and non metallic minerals. Nearly 40 per cent of western TNA is covered by the Great Sandy Desert. The Canning Track, with a series of 54 wells, was constructed by surveyor Alfred Canning in 1908 - 1910 with great difficulty. It extends 1700 kilometres from Halls Creek in the north to the gold town of Wiluna in the south, through the Great and Little Sandy Deserts. Gold explorers are following favourable structures extending to the north east below the sediments and sand hills covering the track. Half of central TNA's mineral structures are concealed by the Tanami desert and the Cretaceous sediments covering the pastoral regions of the Barkly Tableland and the Daly Waters to Top Springs pastoral areas. The Georgina Basin in the south eastern section is part of the concealment.

Jan 1, 1994

By J Mauk

Water-rock reactions such as pyrite oxidation and calcite dissolution strongly influence the pH of pit lakes that develop in open-cast mines after mine closure. The Martha Mine, located in world-class epithermal Au-Ag deposit at the southern end of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, is scheduled to close in 2007, after which the pit excavation will be rehabilitated into a recreational lake; the first pit lake in New Zealand. Mineral distribution maps from XRD results of 130 andesite samples identify regions that could produce or consume acidity in the future pit lake. Maps show pyrite, calcite, adularia, albite, illite and chlorite distribution in the wall rocks. These data identify five alteration mineral associations: potassic, propylitic, weathered, oxidised and weakly-altered. Pyrite occurs in potassic, propylitic and weathered associations, whereas calcite is restricted to propylitic association in the northeast wall. Subaerial, epilimnion, and hypolimnion exposure zones describe the physical and chemical weathering processes that are likely to occur in regions of pit wall, and the potential effects on lake water chemistry. The pH of epilimnion water will depend on the relative abundance of pyrite and calcite in the propylitic association in the northeast wall, whereas hypolimnion pH will depend upon the frequency of whole-lake circulation events that distribute dissolved oxygen to deep lake layer. In mines with diverse alteration associations, mineral distribution maps are an essential precursor for accurately estimating water-rock reactions in pit lake environments. Data may be directly incorporated into a quantitative geochemical model of future pit lake water chemistry.

Jan 1, 2002

Mineral exploration is the business of finding and defining ore deposits. Ore bodies are developed into mines and mines supply every mineral and metal upon which our society is built. Whether it be steel for our bridges, cement and aggregate for our concrete, coal for our power stations, copper for our wire, phosphate for our fertiliser or gold for our jewellery it first must he found, then mined and processed before we can use it. There is no other way.

Jan 1, 1993

By Fredley D. C

Georgius Agricola wrote in De Re Metallica in 1556 that a prudent a miner should not work in a region ruled by a tyrant-a person inimical to mining. In 1926, Associate Chief Sherman of the United States Forest Service in a speech stated, "It is the policy of the Forest Service to encourage the development of the mineral resources within the boundaries of the National Forests ... a man who fails to cultivate a friendly, helpful, cooperative spirit in his relations with those who are endeavoring to develop the mineral wealth of our mountains has no place in the Forest Service." Both statements are as true today as they were in 1556 and 1926. The challenge to the Forest Service and the mineral industry today is to maintain that cooperation in a world that has changed significantly since Agricola and Sherman. The United States Forest Service manages 77,000,000 hectares of land-mostly in the Western United States-an area equal in size to New South Wales. The vast majority-75 million hectares are National Forests, and 1.6 million hectares are National Grasslands. National Wilderness Areas account for 13 million hectares or rough- ly 17 per cent of the National Forest System. National Forest System lands (NFS) are some of the most visible, scenic and controversial lands in the country. They are also some of the most valuable for their mineral potential and production. The value of mineral produced exceeds US$4 billion per year. There are over 1200 producing mines, 15,000 oil and gas leases, and some of the largest lead, copper, silver, gold, platinum, molyb- denum, and coal deposits in the hemisphere. Every year the Forest Service approves nearly 5,000 mineral operations on the NFS. Much of the NFS (75 per cent) is open to location of mining claims pursuant to the 1872 Mining Law. And an equal amount of land is legally available for oil and gas leasing.

Jan 1, 1991

The early development patterns of both Australia and New Zealand were substantially in parallel and both were heavily indebted to gold mining for, providing the stimulus to growth. However, since the mining boom, of 1895 - 1899, the mining sector in New Zealand has progressively declined, while in Australia it has assumed an increasing importance in the economy. The continued dominance of minerals in Australian trade, and the fact that eight out of the top ten companies in Australia are directly involved in mineral exploration and production, has strongly influenced government and public attitude's to the minerals sector. Although the legal framework of mining and exploration Acts and Regulations are similar it is in, the method of administration, particularly in regard to exploration and prospecting licences, that the gulf across, the Tasman is apparent. Despite the relative ease of application and granting of licences in Australia, in the more settled south eastern part of the continent we are finding more and more land is being zoned unavailable for exploration. In the remote areas, the Aboriginals now control nearly ten per cent of the land area of Australia, virtually with drawing that portion from exploration. The concept of 'Australianisation' has softened a hardening attitude against foreign investment in mining on the part of the bureaucracy. This anti-mining attitude is fortunately, not shared by the public, and we can but hope that the will of the Australian people can filter through to our masters in Canberra, and ease the rapid increase in the number of regulatory bodies which does so much to inhibit the normal conduct of business. The delays caused by interminable hearings and committee investigations all cost money. This cost can only rebound back on the end consumer, who after all is a voter.

Jan 1, 1982

By Dickson B. L

Groundwater geochemistry is controlled by chemical interactions with aquifer rocks, and offers a powerful geochemical exploration technique for locating concealed mineral- isation. Techniques are applied for identifying constituents of aquifers using the compositions of their groundwaters, collected from the surface through drill holes, water bores or springs. Even slowly moving groundwaters have passed through large volumes of rocks which surround any sample site. Products from these rock-water contacts modify the groundwater. By relating water composition to the minerals from which the dissolved species may have been derived, geochemical exploration information is obtained for a significantly larger zone than is represented by drill hole rock samples. In this paper we describe some solution chemical tech- niques we are applying in mineral exploration, particularly in areas of Australia where ground- waters are highly saline and contain enhanced concentrations of trace metals. EQUILIBRIUM MODELS FOR SALINE GROUNDWATERS Central to our technique is the assumption that in low rainfall regions, aquifer rocks and contained groundwaters are in chemical equili- brium. Solubility calculations then allow us to predict upper limits to the soluble products of groundwater interaction with aquifer rocks and to identify minerals with which the groundwater is saturated. Whilst equilibrium calculations require input of concentrations of all dissolved species, they are actually based on "activity" of dissolved species rather than the analysed concentrations. Unless waters have very low ionic strengths (a measure of total dissolved solids), activity of a solute is not equal to its analytical concentration but equals concentration multiplied by an "activity coefficent". Several methods exist for calculating mineral solubilities. The ion-association model, commonly used in programs such as WATEQ (Truesdell and Jones, 1974) and later deriv- atives such as MINTEQ, assume the formation of complex ions such as MgSO4(0), CaCl+, which are described by formation constants. Activity coefficients are obtained by the extended Debye

Jan 1, 1988

Since the earliest recorded prospecting of the 1860's mineral exploration and mining in Fiordland has been discouraged by the formidable physical difficulties presented by its isolation, extremely rugged relief, treacherous coastal waters and generally unfavourable weather conditions. Government assistance was often sought by the miners and prospectors but little, if any, support or encouragement was received after the initial period. During the 1840's decorative marble was quarried at Caswell and Dusky Sounds. A prospector discovered and attempted to mine copper sulphides to the north of Dusky Sound (Parks Mineral Beds) and near Mt Solitary. A small Pb, Zn, Cu, Ag, Au bearing quartz reef was discovered and driven on in the granite coast line of Preservation Inlet (Bradshaws Reef) and the ore roasted on site. Alluvial and quartz lode gold was discovered at Preservation Inlet in the 1890's and led to the recorded recovery of 11 000 oz of mainly lode gold. Falloff in grades with depth, thinning and splitting of the reefs and the high mining costs at this location led to a virtual abandonment of the field by 1906. In the late 1950's and early 1960's the geology of Fiordland was mapped by the Geological Survey at 1:250 000 scale, but field work was largely confined to the shore lines of the coast and fiords. In view of the physical difficulties it is not surprising that mineral exploration and mining up to 1970 was limited to the scant attention outlined above.

Jan 1, 1977

By Spooner H. W

The paper describes the search for mineral deposits in an area of 4,500 sq. miles of south-west Tasmania. The area is one of difficult access and the problem of speedy movement and maintenance of field parties was solved by the use of helicopters. The programme has followed a systematic pattern of the aerial photography of the exploration area with the preparation of photQmosaics and topographical base sheets from these mosaics. Geological maps were initially prepared by photogeological interpretation and making use where possible of pre-existing information. The maps produced were later checked by ground traverses. Geophysical maps were obtained by the use of airborne magnetic, electromagnetic and radiometric methods. Geophysical and geological anomalies were checked on the ground by a campaign using ground geophysical equipment in the former case and geological and geochemical work in both instances. Audio Frequency Magnetic and Induced Polarization techniques were used in an area which was covered by several hundred feet of Tertiary sediments.The campaign has reached the stage of the drilling of specific targets.INTRODUCTIONThis paper describes the activities of Lyell-E.Z. Explorations (L.E.E.), an organization which was formed in 1956 by the Mt. Lyell Mining and Railway Co. Ltd. and the Electrolytic Zinc Co. of Australasia Ltd. to explore for mineral deposits in an area of approximately 4,500 sq. miles in southwest and southern Tasmania. To provide the necessary personnel and equipment for this project the exploration resources of both Companies were pooled and augmented and a headquarters was established in Queenstown. The work was directed by a Committee of four made up of officials from both Companies; a review of this structure has recently been presented by Hall (1959).

Jan 1, 1960

By W A. Peppin, D N. Riley, N W. Schulenburg

In June 2008, a joint airborne collection using hyperpspectral systems was tested on a single Twin Otter aircraft. This experiment was designed to incorporate two airborne hyperspectral sensors for geological and environmental projects. Mineral exploration and environmental impact statements are two areas where full spectrum hyperspectral data can document the mineralogy at the surface prior to mining operations. Many previous hyperspectral remote sensing collections were collected on a single aircraft with a single sensor. Mineral mapping using hyperspectral sensors that measure in complimentary regions of the electromagnetic spectrum is cost effective as it allows for the mapping of clays, sulfates, carbonates, feldspars, quartz, garnets and many other minerals. This report describes the experiment using the following two hyperspectral sensors: ProspecTIR, a visible near and shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) sensor with 356 channels and spectral range of 0.4 to 2.5 ¦m, along with a spatially enhanced broadband array spectrograph system (SEBASS), a midwave and longwave infrared (MWIR-LWIR) sensor with 128 channels from 2.5 to 5.3 ¦m and 128 channels from 7.6 to 13.5 ¦m. SpecTIRÆs ProspecTIR system and The Aerospace CorporationÆs Spatially Enhanced Broadband Array Spectrograph System (SEBASS) are pushbroom sensors, have high signal to noise ratios, have similar swath widths and instantaneous fields of view. Examples of data collection experiment will be shown with a focus on mineral/lithologic identification and mapping along with environmental assessment in the western United States. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

A mineral exploration manager's prime function is to provide a frame- work within which new mine production can be achieved. As part of this framework, the manager should know his employerb future requirements, and should direct exploration towards those particular mineral commodities which indicate satisfactory growth in consumption and price. Selection of these commodities can be assisted by studies of world reserves, and long term trends in price and consumption. Exploration planning is most efficient with an assured and reasonably uniform supply of funds.

Jan 1, 1980

Mineral exploration management has undergone major changes particularly in the last decade. Parallel to these changes in management, and partially responsible for them, have been the changes in governmental laws and regulations at both National and State levels reinforced by a highly competitive climate created by the exploration boom in Australia. The influence of overseas methods and approaches have been married to the Australian techniques resulting in a management climate which is not only familiar with the technical aspects of exploration, but is also familiar with the personnel, economic and legal phases associated with the expenditure of very large sums of money. The utilization of all the geosciences coupled with mathematical models and computer techniques for pre-selection and assessment of areas are now normal aids used in management decisions. Management techniques developed and being developed will ensure that successful exploration will be carried out if sufficient incentives are guaranteed.

Jan 1, 1974

By R Cowen

Past successes of low impact mineral exploration and rehabilitation of mined areas in developed land of subdued contour provide little guidance for similar activity in more sensitive high country or mountain environments. Land management agencies and environmental pressure groups have expressed considerable concern about mineral development in these areas by land especially where the land involved has high environmental or productive values. Mineral explorers are responding with detailed proposals for integration of environmental assessment and mineral exploration at an early stage. A model programme for Fiordland National Park presented in this paper illustrates this approach.

Jan 1, 1981