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By Tom Ireland, Sumi Eratne

The approach to Risk Management during the procurement of major projects often has a significant outcome on the ultimate successful delivery of a project. The $NZ4.4B Auckland City Rail Link project is the largest and most complex transportation project yet undertaken in New Zealand. Risk management prior and during procurement was undertaken in accordance the ITIG Code of Practice for Risk Management of Tunnel Works (TCoP) and through the use of an Alliance Geotechnical Baseline report. This paper describes the measures taken during the procurement process to achieve certainty with respect to outcomes and minimise project risks whilst also achieving value for money. This included the use of cloud-based delivery of geotechnical data and 3-D geological models, reducing tendering costs and allowing a focus on risk mitigation measures during the tender rather than data management.

Jun 13, 2021

By Thomas Lane Carter

THE history of mining in South Africa differs somewhat from that of other countries in the part taken by the aborigines in the development ?of the mineral deposits. The Spaniards in America, and the fortune-seekers of Australia and New Zealand, found large numbers of natives in these new countries, but the inhabitants did not become willing or efficient workers ill the mines which the white men started. The Kaffirs of South. Africa have not shown the same antipathy to labor, nor do they show any signs of dying out in the presence of the white man's civilization. They are a virile race, and so far the vices of civilization have not killed. them. While it is true that the brain and skill necessary for the exploitation of the mineral resources of this sub-continent-have been supplied by the white race, it is also a fact that most of the rough labor in the development of the mining industry of South Africa has been done by the Kaffirs. The Kaffir tribes differ greatly in their mental and physical capabilities. Compare, for instance, a Zulu of Natal with a Bechuana, or a Xosa of Cape Colony with some of the degenerate tribes of Central or East Africa, and you will find that they have little in common, save that their skin is black and that they do not believe in clothes. As a general rule, the tribe's in the milder, healthier climates are far superior, both in mind and body, to the Kaffirs brought up in the hot malarial sections of Central Africa; and it naturally follows that the black men from the temperate zones of the country, are much finer workmen than the degenerates from less favorable sections: It is universal in South Africa to speak. of the .Kaffirs as " boys." No matter if he is 90 years old, the Kaffir is always a " boy," and in this paper the word " boy " is synonymous with Kaffir.

Nov 1, 1908

By K Edwards, A J. J Mouton

Hematite represents the vast majority of iron ore exported from Australia as the development and processing cost of magnetite is generally seen as a barrier to the development of vast magnetite resources. However, a number of magnetite projects have attracted a significant amount of interest and investment from large Chinese steelmakers.This paper compares the relative merits of the development of Australian magnetite and hematite ore from the point of view of the steelmaker, taking into account the factors that influence the capital costs of the development of the ore types and the relative costs of operating the process plants to treat these ores. By modelling the relative operating cost for the production of hot rolled coil in China for the two ore categories, the paper demonstrates the economic drivers behind the Chinese steelmakers’ large investments in the magnetite resources of Western Australia. It does this by estimating the potential value of magnetite concentrate to the steelmaker in the event that the maximum potential is realised by operating the blast furnace with a 100 per cent pellet burden.Under the conditions described, it was found that direct reduction (DR)-grade magnetite concentrate could command a price premium over 62 per cent Fe fines of up to 46 per cent (December 2014 on a cost and freight (CFR) basis). The corresponding premium for blast furnace (BF)-grade magnetite concentrate is 17 per cent, which demonstrates the dependency on grade.The capital expenses for a 14 Mt/a concentrate plant is estimated at US$3.1 B for BF-grade magnetite and US$3.35 B for DR-grade, with operating expenses at US$45 and US$50 respectively. The corresponding free on board price for a break-even net present value is calculated at US$82/t for BF-grade magnetite and US$90/t for DR-grade. The minimum long-term iron ore price (62 per cent Fe) that would be required to underpin such a project is estimated at US$78/t CFR for BF-grade magnetite and US$68/t CFR for DR-grade concentrate.Apart from the financial benefits, it is demonstrated that the use of magnetite concentrate in ironmaking has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 400 kg per tonne of hot rolled coil.CITATION:Mouton, A J J and Edwards, K, 2015. Magnetite – a higher-grade blast furnace feed and its potential benefits for the ironmaker, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 613–620 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By Oliver Bowles

"Simple systematic accounting that adequately records all transactions has long been regarded as essential to the welfare of any business enterprise. Some of the defects that detract from the prosperity of the slate industry are attributable to a lack of effectiveness in cost keeping. This condition has prompted the United States Bureau of Mines to make a detailed study of accounting methods for the slate industry, and to present for consideration a system of accounts, which it is believed would enable the industry to attain more economical management and operation if accepted by a fair proportion of its important units.The method of accounting presented herein has been worked out with the assistance of leading slate producers and the recommendation are tentative and are submitted in this form as a means of developing constructive criticism. Believing that cooperative effort in this, as in many other problems, will bring the most enduring benefits to the industry as a whole, the writer urges that the most earnest consideration be given to this vital problem now facing the slate industry.Grateful acknowledgment is made of the helpful assistance rendered by R. E. Eckert of the accounting firm of Eckert, Degan, and Palmer of Easton, Pa., in compiling the charts and the explanatory text. He has brought to this work a wide knowledge of accountancy, supplemented by a background of direct contact with the slate industry, and his presence at the various conferences has been of great advantage in clearing up difficulties. The National Slate Association sponsored the cost study and chiefly through the efforts of President W. H. Smith and Secretary W. S. Hays, has aided greatly in conducting it. Acknowledgment is also made of assistance rendered by William F. Marsh of the United States Bureau of Mines."

Nov 1, 1929

By A. Ducastel, S. Connemann, A. Stark, F. Bouillot, C. Fricke-Begemann, LSA, H. Knapp, L. Horckmans

"Refractory materials are essential for all high-temperature applications in industry. Depending on the position in the furnace and specific process requirements, refractories are produced from several raw materials, such as dolomite, magnesite, bauxite, graphite or chromite. Most of these raw materials are not rare but strict quality requirements limit the producers of refractories to only a few deposits in the world. Thus, raw material supply is a critical factor for the production of refractories and accounts for 40-50 % of the total costs of refractories.A possible way to lower dependency on raw material supply is recycling of spent refractories. Main challenge in recycling is the separation of different brick types from each other and the removal of impurities, such as steel or slag. The European FP7 project REFRASORT aims to apply sensor-based sorting for separation of spent refractories. Sensor-based sorting is known from food industry, recycling and mineral processing and has proven its reliability. Nevertheless, some adjustments are necessary compared to applications in mineral processing because of other sensor-types and a higher number of products in one sorting step. This paper presents the results of feasibility tests for sensor-based sorting of refractories with near infrared spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Both sensors showed the potential to identify different brick types but the most promising results were obtained using LIBS technology. INTRODUCTIONRefractories are solid, ceramic products, which can sustain temperatures of more than 1500°C, without losing their stability or shape. Bricks of refractories have to withstand corrosion in contact with liquid steel or slag. Various high temperature applications, such as the production of glass, steel, copper or cement, require high quality refractories. The quality requirements of refractory bricks are strict, because small impurities can lower the thermal strength significantly."

Jan 1, 2016

By H. Wilton Clark

"IntroductionTHE CANADIAN use of short-period delay-action detonators in coal shooting has been carried on for about two years, mostly in British Columbia, and this is a preliminary report on progress to date. Entire coal faces are being shot successfully with one application of electric current.The electric blasting cap came into use about the beginning of the century. The low-tension electric cap, the type most commonly used, consists essentially of a metal tube containing an initiating explosive. Two wires lead into the end of the cap and are connected inside the cap with a short 'bridge wire .of very high resistance. This •bridge wire is buried in a match-head of a readily ignitable powder composition. When current goes through the lead wires, the bridge wire becomes extremely hot and sets• off the match-head which, in turn, ignites the powder just below it in the tube. This explosion sets off the main charge of explosive. Thus, by connecting a group of caps to a source of electric .current, a number of charges could be exploded simultaneously. This immediately became of great value to mine and quarry operators. Explosives could now be used to break up large masses of material at one time, as against the older, slow method .of blasting small amounts with single charges.The next step was to develop a delay detonator which would allow charges of explosive to fire one after the other, one or two seconds apart. Such detonators allowed first blasts to relieve some rock burden before the next charge fired, giving the second charge an easier task in forcing out more rock, and so on for the rest of the series of charges."

Jan 1, 1953

By T. Peter Philip, Erich U. Petersen, William J. Tafuri, Donald M. Hausen, Douglas N. Halbe

Scarcely a month goes by that I or someone else at Newmont Mining or Newmont Gold isn't asked to give a talk on the topic I was asked to discuss today. Investors, financial analysts, geologists, metallurgists, even our government--everybody wants to know what the future holds for gold mining. Well, you're not going to get exactly what you asked for. Today, I'm prepared to focus primarily not on what the future will bring to us, but rather on what the future will demand from us. More than that, I cannot undertake because it isn't within my scope to predict how wise and resourceful everyone in our industry will be in the future. What our future will hold, as I see it, will depend on our--and our colleagues'-- responses to these very real demands. Three critical issues stand out in my mind as to what the future will demand of us in the gold mining industry. And these demands will be for: 1. The very greatest of technical expertise and innovation. 2. The highest order of environmental sensitivity and timely accommodation. 3. Planning, planning and more planning. All of these flow inexorably today from the traditional objective of any mining company--or any company in any business, and that is, to make money. Nothing as I see it, should be undertaken by a geologist, metallurgist or even an environmental department, unless the exercises will enhance profits; and nothing may be ignored which can have consequent damage to the bottom line. Thus, the three issues I've listed for you subordinate themselves to the objective of making money, although at least in the environmental area, it might seem to some that we can only incur additional costs without even a dollar-for-dollar return. I hope to disabuse you today of any such out-of-date notion. Let's tackle the first issue-- Technical Expertise and Innovation. Newmont Gold Company this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary of successful and profitable operations on the Carlin Trend. Carlin in 1961, which is when exploration began on the "Trend" by Newmont, actually may share a lot of similarities with Carlin today. They didn't then know where the gold was and, if they found it, they had one hell of a challenge mining and processing ore at a profit because gold was selling at only $35 an ounce. Today, we know where the current reserves are. But we don't know where our future reserves lie. Furthermore, we don't know exactly how we're going to mine them, and, as everyone here knows too well, we don't know what the optimum metallurgical treatment is, even if we can find and mine them. And all that despite the abundant level of modern experience and skills within the current generation of mining companies, and the fact that, even taking inflation into account, gold sells at a higher price today than in 1965 when Carlin began operations. But, of course, I'm telling you what you already know.

Jan 1, 1990

By C. M. Wright

Siendo la veta principal San Cristóbal, una de las estructuras que atraviesan el Anticlinal Chumpe en la provincia de Yauli, su explotación ha sido limitada a las rocas volcánicas y filitas en el flanco sur-oeste del anticlinal. Por tal motivo, el texto señala que el análisis de la distribución de los metales y minerales dentro de la veta, revela un zoneamiento horizontal bien definido, que es compatible con el origen de las soluciones hidrotermales en el centro del anticlinal. Asimismo, este estudio cuantitativo determina las características de las partes ricas de la veta, trazando líneas de contornos de los cuatro tipos de metal en secciones longitudinales, como los controles de la distribución de metal y relaciona las áreas ricas de la veta con su medio geológico. De otro lado, en San Cristóbal, la distribución del metal presenta una característica zonal donde la paragénesis y el zoneamiento están íntimamente relacionados. Concluyéndose que con la aplicación de los resultados de este estudio, se permitirá una mejor exploración y desarrollo de las áreas ricas de la Veta Principal San Cristóbal y se proporcionará una guía útil para la exploración y desarrollo de vetas paralelas en esta área.

Aug 20, 1963

By R Dunne, J Dodd, J Snyder, F Roberto

Energy costs are steadily increasing worldwide while the availability and quality of water are becoming contentious issues between the users (municipalities/households, agriculture, manufacturing and mining). Refractory gold ore treatment - pressure oxidation, biological oxidation and roasting (ultra-fine grinding, or UFG, will not be discussed here as this process only reduces the particle size of the feed prior to cyanidation) - requires substantially more energy and water quantity and quality are vastly different compared to the standard and simple flow sheets used for treating non-refractory ores This paper will provide an overview of the energy and water requirements for treating refractory gold ores, a topic which does not appear to have been considered previously in the literature.CITATION:Roberto, F, Snyder, J, Dodd, J and Dunne, R, 2013. Energy and water requirements in the treatment of refractory gold ores, in Proceedings World Gold 2013 , pp 527-532 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 26, 2013

By James W. Reil

A test series of small, precisely-controlled and thoroughly-monitored production blasts was conducted at two quarries. In each series, all variables except delay were kept constant, as much as practically possible. The first aim of the study was to determine the effect of local geology on ground vibration. The second aim was to test several hypotheses relating the effect of millisecond delay intervals to fragmentation and ground vibration. A resonant frequency of ground vibration was shown to be related to the thickness of the overburden, in accord with a model proposed by Gupta (1961). Since the overburden geology creating this resonant vibration cannot usually be changed, two methods were tested to choose delays such that blast vibrations would destructively interfere. These were shown to be effective in modifying both the peak particle velocity and response spectra of ground vibration. The delay interval chosen also affects fragmentation, primarily in massive rock, with an optimum relief between holes of 2 ms/ft. Strain gage records indicate a possible mechanism consistent with this information.

Jan 1, 1985

By S. J. Oosthuizen

This paper examines innovation in relation to the availability of anew material: the metal titanium. The paper aims to highlight the need for the inclusion of entrepreneurial innovation as a necessary focus area in the development of a titanium metal value chain. Both the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) have identified the creation of titanium metals production capabilities as a key growth area for South Africa. Using historical literature as a source of data, the activities of selected innovators who used titanium metal as a central component in their success, were investigated. The origin of the process innovation behind the titanium metals industry, and two titanium product innovations: namely, medical implants and sporting goods, were detailed as case studies. It was found that individual innovators were responsible for the creation, and rapid growth, of the titanium industry and titanium product applications. There is a need to link the current research and development into titanium metals production with individuals and organizations capable of commercializing innovative processes and products.

Jan 1, 2011

By T. Johnson, K. Lambrych, D. Kelley

Materials for construction of equipment used in hydrometallurgical plants are selected based on a combination of their ability to perform as required in aggressive process environments as well as their cost. As a material of construction, fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) has been shown to provide equal if not improved durability relative to alternative materials such as corrosion resistant alloys at a considerably lower cost. This is particularly true in the case of equipment used in acid leaching processes for copper, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements. The selection and extensive use of FRP over alloys in new hydromet plant construction in North and South America illustrates this advantage of FRP effectively. This paper will compare corrosion performance and cost of plant equipment fabricated with stainless steel alloys and FRP made with Epoxy Vinyl Ester thermoset resins. Real world case histories for FRP piping, storage tanks, extraction vessels, and electrowinning cells combined with laboratory based corrosion studies will be reviewed to demonstrate how FRP materials are selected for hydrometallurgical equipment.

Jan 1, 2015

By W. G. Pariseau

Face and pillar bursts, bumps and bounces are violent failures that occur in underground coal mines in response to a complicated interplay of face and pillar geometry, seam depth, coal strength and moduli and interactions between roof, seam and floor strata. Additional complications arise from the presence of gas, mainly methane, and associated pressure and flow that vary with time and are further influenced by the rate of face advance. Numerical models provide a means of quantitatively accounting for the various complications of mining geometry, the stratigraphic column, mechanical properties, gas flow properties and associated interactions. A fully coupled hydromechanical finiteelement code, utAH4, serves the purpose well and allows study of the important interaction between stress concentration and gas pressure in determining safety and stability of the face during the advance of a longwall panel in a deep underground coal mine in central Utah. Face advance is relatively fast compared with gas flow and depressurization in coal seams of low gas permeability. Consequently, gas pressure is high at the face. When a longwall is stationary, depressurization occurs at the face, so effective stress and strength increase. thus, when gas flow at the face is high and requires a pause in face advance to bring gas concentration to an acceptable level, a second benefit occurs because of timely depressurization. However, quantitative analysis of a deep coal mine shows that regardless of gas pressure, high stress concentration is more likely to pose a threat to face and pillar wall stability.

Aug 1, 2013

By Harold J. Bennett

This study was performed by the Bureau of Mines to evaluate the potential supply of primary copper from domestic resources. A tonnage-price relationship was developed indicating the quantity of copper that could be produced economically from known deposits at various copper prices and at various rates of return on the required capital investment. Costs of production are based on estimated capital and operating costs for mining, concentrating, smelting, and refining the copper. Total known recoverable copper resources are 189 million short tons of which 83 million tons could be economically recovered assuming a price of $0.50 per pound of copper, credit for the recovery of byproducts, and a 12-percent rate of return on capital investment. The quantities of recoverable byproducts associated with the 83 million tons of recoverable copper are molybdenum, 1.8 million tons, gold, 43 million troy ounces, and silver, 740 million troy ounces.

Jan 1, 1973

By William D. Dodge

A typical quality program plan is presented for explosion-proof (XP) electrical enclosures. The plan is suggested for manufactures of XP enclosures which are to be certified by MSHA for mining use. The plan describes the quality system, organization and implementing mechanisms which are to be applied in the manufacture and delivery of certified XP enclosures. Example forms and example procedures are included.

Jan 1, 1984

By V. R. Burkhart

Pennsylvania Power & Light Company is an investor-owned public utility which was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on June 4, 1920, with general offices at 901 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania. At the present time PP&L is operating five coal-fired steam electric stations, two hydroelectric stations and one steam heat plant which is being converted from anthracite to oil fired. In addition, PP&L is a partner in both the Keystone and Conemaugh mine mouth bituminous coal-fired steam electric stations in Central Pennsylvania and also part owner of a company which operates another hydroelectric station. PP&L plants, other than the two mine mouth stations, are located in Central Eastern Pennsylvania. (Figure 1) The company derives about 99% of its operating revenues from supplying electric service, while the balance is from the one steam heat plant serving the city of Harrisburg. The entire service area covering 10,000 square miles in 29 counties, has a population of approximately 2,300,000 people. The area served is mostly suburban. It includes 109 communities each having a population in excess of 5,000 people. The largest cities served are Allentown, Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Lancaster, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport which range from 50,000 - 120,000 in population. So you see our service area does not include any major cities. The area has industrial, commercial, residential, agricultural and recreational activities that are linked with the Eastern Megalopolis by an extensive interstate limited-access highway system and railroad networks. We consider this Central Eastern Pennsylvania area we serve as the "heart of the market" -- an area with great growth potential.

Jan 1, 1973

Safety rules for installing and using electrical equipment in and about coal mines covered in this information circular supersede those previously included in Bureau of Mines Bulletin 514, issued in 1952. This revision brings these rules up to date and more nearly in line with present operating and safety practices in the industry. The rules are intended to supplement existing Federal and State regulations, and no provision shall be construed to oppose or supersede any provisions of the Federal Mine Safety Codes, the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act, or the mining laws of any State. The rules were designed to permit progress, such as application of new or improved materials and equipment or use of new practices where these materials, equipment, or practices retain or improve the level of safety established by these requirements. It is hoped that they will fill the need for a concise edition for mine electricians and electrical engineers, especially those who do not have ready access to more detailed rules or codes.

Jan 1, 1964

Safety rules for installing and using electrical equipment in and about coal mines covered in this information circular supersede those previously included in Bureau of Mines Bulletin 514, issued in 1952. This revision brings these rules up to data and more nearly in line with present operating and safety practices in the industry. The, rules are intended to supplement existing existing Federal and State regulations, and no provision shall be construed to oppose or supersede any provisions of the Federal Mine Safety Codes, the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act, or the mining laws of any State. The rules were designed to permit progress, such as application of new or improved materials and equipment or use of new practices where these materials, equipment or practices retain or improve the level of safety established by these requirements. It is hoped that they will fill the need for a concise edition for mine electricians and electrical engineers, especially those who do not have ready access to more detailed rules or codes.

Jan 1, 1964

By G. R. Hopkins

According to reports received by the Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, as of January 1, 1934, there were 591 completed refineries in the United States, an increase of 86 ever the total reported at the beginning of 1933 and the largest total ever recorded. It should be noted that the 1934 total, although large, probably does not include more than half of the "pot-still" plants of 1 barrel to 50 barrels daily capacity which have sprung up within the last 2 or 3 years and about which very little information is available. However, the combined operations of these snail refineries are of negligible importance as altogether they refine less crude than one plant of average size. Of the completed plants, 454 were operating on January 1, 1934 and 137 were shut down. In addition, 13 refineries were under construction on January 1, 1934. Compared with the previous year these data indicate a marked increase in the number of operating plants, little change in the number of inoperative plants, but a decline in' the number being built. The material gain in the number of operating plants resulted primarily from the construction off approximately 25 refineries, averaging about 100 barrels capacity in the Kooky Mountain district, as well as from the addition of about 20 plants in the East Texas field.

Jan 1, 1934

By J Geronimo, P Kumar, Z Yussupova, M Yahyaei, M Powell

This work goes beyond the general perception of how the well-known mine to mill process can be applied, by applying deeper knowledge along the mining chain. Grade deportment and dilution are considered at the mining stage, and modelled with the new SMI blast movement simulator, linking with the block model data. Assessing the shift to a considerably more competent section of the orebody is quantified via substantial milling trials at standard and higher-intensity blasts. These were stockpiled for batch processing through the mill to ensure feed integrity. The trial work included operating the mill at widely different fillings to develop Grindcurve milling responses. Additionally, model informed process control is initiated via a mill prediction tool.It has been found that accounting for blast movement for the higher intensity blasts could generate additional value of around $1.5M per blast. With the high-intensity blast and changing mill control, the plant was easily able to exceed projected mill throughputs with the far more competent Pipeline ore. Strategies to shift the workload and debottleneck the milling circuit were proposed and proven during the milling trials, demonstrating an increase in throughput of 7 per cent despite running at a lower SAG mill speed, and potential of 16 per cent for increasing the SAG mill to standard operating speed. A number of process improvement opportunities have been identified to enhance current productivity and ensure long term capability to process the considerably more competent future ores. All of this is being linked in with the major digitisation program at the Barrick Cortez site, with an objective of linking all the data into a mine-wide process optimisation system, that can embed the processes by providing process-wide data access and production support via the future dynamic models linking ore body knowledge to productivity along the full process chain.CITATION:Powell, M, Yahyaei, M, Geronimo, J, Yussupova, Z and Kumar, P, 2018. The designed approach to mill liner optimisation – experience at Pustynnoye mine, Kazakhstan, in Proceedings 14th AusIMM Mill Operators' Conference 2018, pp 595–612 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 29, 2018