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By A R. Bye

The mining industry is facing some key challenges that provide a compelling case for geometallurgy initiatives. Over the last 30 years, the average grade of Australian orebodies being mined has halved while the waste removed to access the minerals has more than doubled. In the last eight years, the industry’s energy consumption has increased 70 per cent while multi-factored productivity has fallen 24 per cent. The paper documents a broad range of industry case studies which demonstrate strategies for gaining value from geometallurgy.The mining industry constantly faces the key questions of how significant ore variability is on mine valuation and how would knowledge of the variability change the mining schedule, mine to mill design and operation. Using case studies the paper describes the methods used for incorporating mineral extraction attributes into orebody models and their technical integration into daily operation as well as mine planning optimisation. While pit optimisation from a fully attributed geometallurgical model highlights areas of opportunity and risk it is shown that during the scheduling phase of mine planning that significant value can be added. The benefits from these projects included reducing geotechnical and environmental risk, improving mine to mill performance, option analysis and quantified cash flow risk. There is growing acceptance within the minerals industry that ‘realistically assumed modifying factors’ defined by a competent person/s are not sufficient to mitigate the risk of funding mining ventures. Geometallurgy is moving away from factored ore reserves to data-rich block models providing reliable information for mining, metallurgical and environmental considerations.

Sep 5, 2011

By R Verreet

In April 2000 Mount Isa Mines installed hoist ropes of a new design on the double-drum winder at their P49 shaft. The ropes, CASAR Duroplast, were about three times as expensive as the previously used triangular strand ropes. The P49 shaft is situated at Mount Isa MinesÆ George Fisher Mine, located some 30 km north of Mt Isa. This shaft used the tried and proven 6 x 33 triangular strand style ropes. The rope life attained by these ropes at the time was acceptable due to many years of satisfactory performance. The following study indicates the improvement of service life using CASAR Duroplast rope in P 49 shaft, which depends on shaft and winder parameters of that particular shaft and cannot necessarily be generalised to other shafts.

Jan 1, 2005

By S H. Algie, D P. Taplin, S G. Doig

"Suboptimal performance of clusters of hydrocyclones (cyclones), relative to the performance of the individual cyclones that comprise the cluster, is a common phenomenon. The primary cause is well known: uneven distribution of the slurry feed into the individual cyclones. The direct result of uneven distribution is that each cyclone in a cluster performs somewhat differently. Hence, some, if not all, of them do not work at their intended operating points, and the classification is not as sharp as intended. The impact on grade, recovery and milling efficiency will vary depending on the duty of the processing circuit, but the most immediately apparent consequence of uneven distribution is a difference in wear rates in the individual cyclones; this exacerbates the problems of unequal performance of the individual cyclones. In severe cases, and as differential wear proceeds, flows from the individual cyclones may become visibly different. Uneven distribution, once the phenomenon was identified, was seen to be a significant issue in the high-solids hydrocyclone cluster in the ball mill recycle section of Evolution Mining’s Edna May Operation (EMO, Westonia, Western Australia) gold processing plant. In 2012, a FloCEP® hydrocyclone feed distributor system was installed to alleviate the problem. Over the next four years of operation, this innovation has proven its value in the metallurgical and maintenance areas. Individual cyclones now wear at the same rate, greatly reducing the need for operator intervention, as well as increasing overall plant availability through minimising unplanned maintenance. The costs of the installation can be justified by savings in maintenance alone, though the greatest value, as is described in this paper, is in allowing the plant to produce consistently closer to its operational design limits. The FloCEP® system is a low maintenance, readily installed retrofit, based on two patented devices that are combined with complementary proprietary design methodology allowing customisation for specific flow rates and slurry particle properties. Together, these devices produce and distribute a pseudo-homogenous slurry flow without moving parts.Citation:Taplin, D P, Doig, S G and Algie, S H, 2016. Experience with FloCEP® Slurry Flow Conditioning at Evolution Mining's Edna May Operation, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2016, pp 251–260 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Oct 10, 2016

By D J. Kilkenny

Work practices involved in shaft construction can be aligned with current industry standard operating practices. However, the working environment during conventional shaft construction introduces unique conditions which can not always be overcome by hard engineering controls. To provide an improved working environment, future shaft diameters will generally be greater than has historically been the case for the Australian hard rock mining industry. This paper aims to explore both what can be constructed from the contractors perspective, and how does an owner extract maximum business efficiency from an asset that in many ways is likely to be larger, more complex and more expensive than initially envisaged.Newcrest Mining Limited, or an associated company, has constructed two major shafts over the last seven years. In both cases, Byrnecut Mining, or an associated company, was the contractor engaged for the shaft sinking activity. The first is the 1127 m deep, 7.0 m diameter production and intake airway at the Telfer Gold Mine, the second is a 295 m deep, 5.5 m diameter split shaft at the Gosowong Gold Project in Indonesia that was primarily designed as both an intake and exhaust airway. Importantly both shafts are designed to provide emergency egress from the respective underground operations.From an Australian shaft sinking perspective, the construction of these two shafts resulted in the following learnings: •constructability is of equal importance to desired functionality;•allow six months of interactive design between the owner/engineer/contractor/regulator to get it right;•shaft sinking and equipping are intimately entwined, therefore engineering of both needs to be complete prior to any activity commencing; and•the mobilisation of both equipment and experienced personnel to a new shaft sink takes up to eight months.Shaft sinking is not extinct in the Australian hard rock mining industry. But, if you are considering constructing a shaft, approach it as a long life asset, front end planning to a high level of detail is required to unlock its full value. Think – plan – think and remember it’s going to take 12 months to get from the whiteboard to firing the first cut.

Mar 21, 2011

By D Kent, J Bullock, M Wilkinson

Over the last few years at Glencore’s Mount Isa Copper Operations (MICO) mining conditions have become increasingly challenging through lower head grades and higher work indices. MICO has had great success improving operating efficiencies and increasing productivity through focusing on technology, innovation and operational discipline. The recent implementation of the Mine Site Technologies (MST) ImPact System has supported the continued transformation of the MICO operations through improved personnel safety and direct measurement of productivity. The ImPact System has implemented new safety systems such as the heavy vehicle proximity detection system, underground personnel tracking system and emergency evacuation dashboards improving the overall safety of the workforce. The ImPact System has facilitated productivity improvements via real-time equipment and personnel monitoring, and the implementation of exception reporting (personnel productivity), KPI reports and production dashboards, and transparent reports highlighting developing maintenance issues.This paper discusses the components of the ImPact System, the current installation at MICO, and critically analyses the implementation processes and right sizing of the system to meet the needs of the business today and into the future.CITATION:Bullock, J, Kent, D and Wilkinson, M, 2017. Productivity and safety improvements supported by MST’s ImPact System at Glencore’s Mount Isa Copper Operations, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 279–286 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 16, 2017

By W A. Peck

Raise boring is the preferred option for constructing ventilation shafts in Australia. The trend has been towards larger diameters and longer single-pass shafts, and if at all possible, reaming through to the surface. The risk of raise failures, due to missed, unforseen or latent ground conditions has therefore been increasing, along with the need for better, more confident stability assessments.While the stability of specific weak zones and structures must be assessed individually, empirical rock mass classification schemes have been successfully used for about the last 20 years to assess general raise stability; eg the McCracken and Stacey method (M&S).Unfortunately M&S, as originally documented in McCracken and Stacey (1989), did not include a database of raise diameter and rock mass conditions versus actual performance. Nor was there a procedure for assessing the risk of failure due to adverse ground conditions. Peck and Lee (2008) published an Australian database of raise bore performance. Raise diameter and ground conditions, in terms of a lower bound Qr value, were presented for 50 cases versus raise performance. This paper updates the 2008 raise performance plot with more and SRF-corrected data. McCracken and Stacey (1989) had previously recommended that additional geotechnical data should be acquired and analysed when the proposed raise plotted on the unstable side of raisebore stability ratio (RSR) = 1.3, but the Australian data used in this study also suggests that all sites with Qr Contributions and sensitivities of various rock mass parameters (RQD, Jn, Ja, Jr, Jw, SRF, time-dependent weathering/deterioration) to raise stability and risk of failure are discussed. Numerous case studies are used to illustrate issues with stability assessments.As raises can now be remotely supported using sprayed fibrecrete, questions of time-dependency are also discussed. In recent times, contiguous piles, ‘mini-piles’ and grouting have also been successfully used to presupport or otherwise improve the stability of near-surface sections of weathered, or poor quality rock masses.

Mar 21, 2011

By P Hagan, S Campbell

A study was undertaken using various methodologies to determine the optimum loading and hauling configuration for different haul routes at Callide Mine, a coal mine located in central Queensland. The study involved development of an effective flat haul model that was used to estimate production rates in truck and shovel circuits that employ two excavators of differing capacities then Queuing Theory to construct a capacity constraint model for scheduling purposes to assist in truck allocation and finally a cost model to determine the most cost effective fleet configuration.The model was calibrated using haul road design and performance data of trucks and excavators currently in use at the mine. The study examined the effects of cycle time for different truck and excavator fleet configurations on production rate and costs.The study found haulage cost was directly related to cycle time while production rate reduced with cycle time. The study indicates the approach taken in combining a cost model with a capacity constraint model offers a simple and effective method of scheduling an optimum number of trucks in a haulage circuit.CITATION:Campbell, S and Hagan, P, 2012. Selection of an optimum truck and shovel fleet based on effective flat haul and capacity constraint modelling, in Proceedings Eighth Open Pit OperatorsÆ Conference , pp 19-26 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 18, 2012

By J C. Volkwein, A D. A Hansen, E Sarver, C Barrett

Ensuring that diesel particulate matter (DPM) levels in underground metal and non-metal mines are maintained below statutory limits is an essential requirement of mine ventilation systems. However, despite the cost of providing ventilation, air ventilation rates are usually based upon models, assumptions, or measurements integrated over long durations rather than actual need. Real-time measurement of DPM, interpreted in terms of mine activity schedules, can offer better ventilation management to keep DPM within regulated levels while controlling costs. This work presents data from three demonstration sites with in-mine applications of an environmental particulate sensor that measured black carbon (BC) as a surrogate for DPM.Aethalometers are a class of environmental monitors that measure the light absorbance of aerosol particles at several optical wavelengths. A model AE33 Aethalometer was operated in three separate mines for periods of two weeks, three months, and seven-plus months, and the data was reported in real time as a concentration of BC. Concentration of aromatic organic compounds, which can indicate other forms of combustion, was also reported. The data was used to:- measure the relative efficiency of a new scale-model DPM air scrubber- determine if ventilation could be reduced in a shotcrete loading facility without compromising air quality- evaluate diurnal and weekly DPM levels in a large-entry stone mine. Instrument data were displayed locally and stored for later downloading in all cases. In one mine, the instrument was connected to a local controller, and in another it was connected to the mine’s underground network so that DPM data was presented in real time to a display in the mine ventilation engineering office on the surface.The results showed that the air scrubber removes from 82 per cent to 95 per cent of the DPM; that DPM produced during shotcrete loading is only a minor part of overall DPM levels; and that wide variations in DPM levels exist in the limestone operation. The DPM monitor operated continuously for extended periods in these underground environments. The only maintenance required was the routine replacement of filter tape, typically on a two-week schedule. A sample diluter, which is currently being tested, could extend the intervals between filter changes. The real-time data output of the Aethalometer is appropriate for direct integration into ventilation-on-demand control systems.CITATION:Volkwein, J C, Barrett, C, Sarver, E and Hansen, A D A, 2017. Application of an environmental ‘black carbon’ particulate sensor for continuous measurement of DPM in three underground mines, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 143–150 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

By A R. Bye, T R. Stacey

Anglo PlatinumÆs Potgietersrust Platinums (PPRust) operates three open pits and plans to excavate 90 Mt of rock in 2007. With pit slopes expected to reach a height of 400 m, the geotechnical department has a key role to play. Over the last four years PPRust has successfully implemented new geotechnical strategies and tactics to reduce risk, improve safety and maximise profitability. A large database of core logging, face mapping and rock testing data has been assembled and used for failure analysis, geotechnical zoning and rock mass ratings. The data has also been used for optimising blast designs on a daily basis through the use of a geotechnical block model. This greatly improves blast fragmentation and therefore loading and milling efficiencies. The slope design process involves limit equilibrium analysis, numerical modelling, rock fall analysis and block modelling. Slope management includes comprehensive limit blasting and visual inspections, and state-of-the-art slope monitoring equipment, namely the GroundProbe radar, Riegl lasers and GeoMoS automated prism monitoring. The risk-consequence approach has been used in slope optimisation, where all the slope analyses, operational controls, costs of failure, economic analyses of various slope designs and fault tree analyses are used to determine the ideal slope designs. These activities added over $25 million of value to the operation and also ensured compliance with Anglo AmericanÆs acceptable risk level. The successful mining of the optimised slopes is to due to the greatly improved geotechnical knowledge and slope management. PPRustÆs geotechnical work is used as a benchmark for Anglo American open pit operations. The focus of the paper will be on the value added to the operation by all aspects associated with slope management.

Jan 1, 2007

By P Christen

The Ernest Henry Copper gold mine situated in North West Queensland, Australia, is owned and operated by Xstrata Copper. Currently the open pit produces 11 Mtpa of ore. With open pit mining ceasing in mid 2011 development has begun on an underground sublevel cave mine to extend the life of the operation by another 12 years. When completed the open pit will be 530 m deep and 1.5 km in diameter. The orebody dips at approximately 45° and has been outlined a further 450 m below the base of the pit. This provides some challenges for the Ernest Henry underground mine which is designed to initially truck development and production ore from the end of the pit until a hoisting shaft is commissioned in 2013. Production will then increase to 5.0 Mtpa on its way to an ultimate rate of 6.0 Mtpa in 2016.This paper will focus on the capital development and infrastructure requirements for the underground mine. Areas covered include mine accesses, ore handling system, accommodations for the dip of the orebody, primary ventilation design, dewatering systems and selection of an underground workshop over surface only maintenance.Discussions include the complications arising due to the mine being located directly below a large open pit and the combination of first principle cost analysis and risk assessment which has been used to safely optimise the feasibility study designs.

Mar 21, 2011

By R Price, B H. Miller

"The rise of autonomous haul truck fleets may have been initially driven by the rapid escalation of the cost of equipment operators, but the actual improvements reported by the major iron ore miners far exceeds the simple reduction in workforce. Utilising cost models developed for feasibility studies and mining contract modelling, the limits of cost improvements due to simple labour reductions are compared to those achieved by the early autonomous fleet adopters and through traditional process improvement techniques such as fleet class upgrades or hot-seating of equipment. As autonomous fleet implementation matures, it is likely that the gains seen by current adopters will seem minor compared to the limits generally governed by the limit of equipment utilisation. This ultimate limit is explored through time utilisation models, which were also developed for use in feasibility studies and mining contract modelling.Citation:Miller, B H and Price, R, 2016. Autonomous Haul System Savings - It's Not about Less Truckies but Better Truckies!, in Proceedings Ninth AusIMM Open Pit Operators' Conference 2016, pp 2–10 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Nov 15, 2016

By Martinick WG

In July 1986, Cable Sands (W.A.) Pty Ltd commenced mining for mineral sands at Minninup, approximately 16 km south of Bunbury, Western Australia.The area being mined is from the heel of the foredune to the rear of the hind-dune. The vegetation is mostly native vegetation with some old degraded pasture.The mining operation will be by suction cutter dredge, with continuous dredging, mineral separation and re-depositing of the sand.

Jan 1, 1986

The proper selection of a coal for a particular use depends on knowledge of fundamental data concerning the coals that offer, particularly their type and rank. Type of coal depends on the nature of the original plants and the environment in which they accumulated.Rank reflects the subsequent metamorphism of the coal, and is of two kinds-physical rank and chemical rank.INTRODUCTIONIn the different coalfields of the Commonwealth of Australia there occur many different kinds of coal which provide the coal-research worker with a wide range of material, but to the fuel technologist they represent complex problems in utilization.In the past it has been common practice to instal coal-using equipment of a design based on plant used in large industrial centres of other countries and then search for supplies of suitable coal. This has led to the transportation of coal mainly from New South Wales to other States, which have inadequate supplies of coal suitable for use in the equipment they have installed. However, modern economy and industrial practice demand local resources of coal for the development of industry, transport and domestic services, and a change in the old order is rapidly taking place. Technologists and engineers are now faced with the problem of designing and installing equipment to use whatever kind of coal is available in local coalfields.Much has been accomplished in this direction and important investigations are at present being carried out, but there still remains a wide field of problems for research.In planning and carrying out investigations into coal utilization it is essential that fundamental data and knowledge should be available and that its significance should be appreciated.

Jan 1, 1955

By Low Russell

Mark Westfield, writing in The Australian on 16 May 1994 stated: The role of the independent expert is crucial to Australia's investment system. When it falls down, there can be very dramatic consequences. The scope of these consequences was dramatically illustrated in the decision of Rogers J. at first instance in Cambridge Credit Corporation v. Hutcheson (1983) 8 ACLR 123 when the auditors of the failed company were found liable for breach of contract and faced a damages award of $145 million, well in excess of their insurance cover. No comfort should be sought in the fact that this decision was overturned on appeal, for the result of the appeal rested on whether there had been a causal connection between the breach of contract which had occurred and the loss suffered, rather than on the fundamental principle of auditors' liability. Thus: Those who prepare experts' reports in company cases carry a heavy moral responsibility, whatever their legal duties may be... Unless high standards are observed by those who prepare these reports, there is a danger that systems established for the protection of the investing public will, in fact, operate to their detriment through reliance placed on those reports and on the reputations of those who furnish them. In lending his name, the expert will often, as in this case, be lending a name to conjure With.

Jan 1, 1995

By S J. Schafrik, Z Agioutantis, E C. Jong, K Luxbacher

Real-time monitoring of mine operating parameters is available at most mines. However, access to these data for an individual operation is typically underutilised by mine managers and technical personnel. Such monitoring systems are typically designed to provide data streams and alarms to a responsible person, but they are not utilised to extract underlying trends or correlate different data groups. Furthermore, multiple monitoring systems are usually implemented at a given site without interconnection between vendors’ systems or connection to any central management, and mine personnel are only exposed to a minimal subset of such data. Thus, it is not easy to analyse and correlate individual data streams and generate information to enhance day-to-day operational decision-making and improve safety and efficiency.This paper addresses the primary challenges associated with centralising data management and effecting greater utilisation of the vast amount of collected data, while at the same time reducing the time and effort required to manage such large data sets. Furthermore, it presents the conceptual design of a database application that can organise, present and analyse data collected by multiple sensors in different environments. The database is designed to operate in a passive manner so that active mine data management systems are not impacted. An example is given where this database is used for managing atmospheric data collected at an underground coalmine operation in the US. These techniques have a universal application and can be incorporated in a wide range of mining and construction projects.CITATION:Agioutantis, Z, Schafrik, S J, Jong, E C, Luxbacher, K and Karmis, M, 2015. A platform for managing and analysing atmospheric data in underground coalmines, in Proceedings Third International Future Mining Conference, pp 3–10 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 4, 2015

OWING to the gradual depletion of the hitherto plentiful supply of firewood in the immediate vieinity of Queenstown and Gormanston, which caused a steady increase in the cost of fuel for domestic purposes, the Mount Lyell Company took steps several years ago to make available as a substitute electric current from its Lake Margaret hydro-electric supply. In order to make this practicable it was necessary that the cost of electric power for heating purposes should compare favourably with the cost, of fuel, and the installation of domestic appliances brought within reach of the average householder, and efforts have been continuously directed towards this end since the year 1928.WATER HEATERSThe installation of electrical apparatus in local dwellings began with hot-water services, the heating elements being the types then procurable on the market and adapted to meet requirements.These, however, did not prove satisfactory, but the study of their bilure resulted in a type being developed locally which has overcome all difficulties. The first type of water heater evolved was an outside circulation one the element of which consisted of an iron pipe through which the water passed, insulated with micanite and wound with nichrome wire, the latter being covered with alundun cement to keep it in position and prevent oxidation. This was insulated on its outside surface with a layer of asbestos flour, and connected to the hot-water container as shown in Fig. 1. It was found, however, that the iron pipe had a short life, due to a certain amount of acidity in the water, and a copper pipe was substituted which proved very durable. Some heaters with this improved type of element are still operating after six years of use. The resistance wire is run at a very low current density, which ensures durability.

Jan 1, 1927

By C J. Pitzer

The prevention of fatal risks is a key objective for the global resources industry, especially considering poor performance with regard to fatality rate reduction and the continued occurrence of mine disasters globally. However, the industry has a credible history, over several decades, of the development and deployment management systems to control potential Serious Injury, Fatal and Catastrophic (P-SIFC) risks. While these systems have had a significant impact on the thinking and approaches to the prevention of fatal risks, fatal accident rates have not shown the desired reduction. Recent fatal and serious injury events in Australia have led to the establishment of several enquiries to further identify improvements that could be considered. Globally, fatal accident rates remain stubbornly high or plateaued in many jurisdictions, and several catastrophic events have occurred, such as tailing dams disasters in Brazil and South Africa, and the recent coalmine disaster in Turkey. Apart from the apparent lack of progress, it is evident that the deployment of critical risk systems has introduced more bureaucracy, slower response systems and additional burdens on already overloaded middle and supervisory levels of management. Organisations are rarely able to effectively tap into the risk source of risk knowledge of the frontline worker and supervisor, for various reasons discussed in this paper. To establish a valid and valuable channel of critical risk information flow from the frontline employee, Debmarine Namibia instigated the development and deployment of a system called SafeSENTRY, where the focus is on the ‘dynamic identification of dynamic risks’. This paper outlines the system, the principles of the design, the range of risk metrics that can be derived from the observations of the frontline operators, and demonstrates how a range of posited shortcomings in critical risk management is addressed how features of the High Reliability Organization (HRO) have been developed.

Mar 29, 2023

By J J. Robinson, B N. Noller, D M. Franks, G McIlveen, D R. Mulligan, A T. Soro

Fiji is a developing nation that relies on economic opportunities and recently experienced increased interest in mining and mineral exploration that could potentially benefit the country. In order to understand the lack of, or failure of, past rehabilitation activity, this study applied risk-based approaches to identify the significance of activities or actions applicable to rehabilitation of post-mined land in Fiji. This involved the use of qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative risk methodologies, which allow assessment and evaluation of mechanisms of mining administration and practices, as well as rehabilitation methods and approaches that have been applied successfully to post-mined land in other countries with similar environmental and climatic conditions and social and regulatory environments to Fiji. The semi-quantitative risk-based technique followed an earlier approach applied for mine closure by Laurence (2006) and provided a systematic way to assess and evaluate rehabilitation issues that were identified on-site by assessors, who were able to estimate through expert judgement the likelihood and consequences based on conditions, situations observed and circumstances on-site. It demonstrated that experienced professionals could reproducibly score likelihood and consequence of selected items relevant to mine site rehabilitation, despite the wide-ranging issues identified during post mined land rehabilitation. The quantitative risk-based approach was adopted as a method to determine environmental bonds for mining projects using the assessment of consequences and likelihood results from the semi-quantitative approach, then incorporating unit cost of materials or activities for local conditions required to fully rehabilitate each issue at net present value. Application to both an abandoned mine site and a newly opened mine site in Fiji showed that this approach could provide a risk-based estimate for rehabilitation cost and demonstrated potential applicable in the Fijian context.CITATION:Soro, A T, Mulligan, D R, McIlveen, G, Franks, D M, Robinson, J J and Noller, B N, ?2014. Risk-based Rehabilitation Strategies for Post-mined Land in Fiji, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 165–180 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014

By O Jones

Longstanding occupational health challenges of the underground hard-rock mining sector require both an analysis of historical data to assess evidence of linkages between the source of the problem and subsequent illnesses, as well as investigating the means by which health risks to workers can be eliminated or minimised. This paper refers briefly to a recently established National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) sponsored Epidemiological Study into the incidence of Lung Cancer, contracted by mineworkers in Western Australia (WA) due to the inhalation of diesel exhaust fumes from 1996 to 2012. Thereafter it reviews current knowledge of the nature of the challenges facing those responsible for the health and wellbeing of underground hard-rock miners in WA, commencing with the recent categorisation of diesel exhaust as ‘Carcinogenic to Humans, Group 1’, by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). An attempt is also made to explore how the challenge has changed with the adoption of more advanced engine technologies, including the increased generation of ultra-fine volatile organic and other nucleates, submicron carbonaceous agglomerates and toxic gases.The compounding effect of using the mine decline access entry as both the primary ventilation intake and haulage-way is also discussed, as is the need to develop a more appropriate metric for regulating diesel engine emissions. Finally the paper refers to ongoing in-mine research pursued by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at its Diesel Laboratory in an underground limestone mine near Morgantown in the USA.CITATION:Jones, O, 2015. Diesel exhaust and the underground miner in Western Australia, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference, pp 167–172 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 31, 2015

By S Thomas, S Ricketts, R Hassell

Northern Star Resources (NSR) operates several operations utilising narrow vein stoping operations in the Kundana area. Stope dilution performance is variable across these operations, with unplanned dilution reducing individual stope economic viability, increasing risk to personnel and machinery operating in and around the stope and delaying the overall stoping sequence. Technical investigations were undertaken to objectively understand the variables which had the largest impact on stope performance and then use the findings to help develop mining strategies to reduce dilution. A stope reconciliation process was developed to compile key stope performance information such as stope design parameters, geotechnical and drill and blast factors. These were compared against the measured dilution. Production targets necessitated a high turnover of stopes in the operations, and hence a requirement for an expeditious process and mine design software with automated tools. The output of these results, together with numerical variables from geological, geotechnical and drill and blast data were analysed via multivariate regression. The analysis identified the factors with the greatest influence over stope dilution, and a forecast model was consequently created. Confidence was gained in the model when the subsequent stopes performed in line with prediction. Different drill and blast designs were subsequently trialled and found to reduce dilution. The model was then updated with the new practices, facilitating further regression analysis to identify revised key controlling factors. The subsequent production results however, displayed a poor correlation with the prediction from the revised model. Inconsistencies in drill and blast designs and execution were identified as key factors in the dilution performance. This was an important finding as the correct implementation of the design is critical and this has become a key focus for future stoping. Overall the technique presents an objective process to identify causal factors of stope dilution resulting in improved economic metrics for stope production. The process will be applied to other similar Northern Star operations.

Mar 15, 2021