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Over the past seven years, a combination of New Zealand-, Australian- and German-led research voyages using the research vessels Tangaroa, Southern Surveyor, and Sonne respectively, have revolutionised our understanding of the Kermadec-Tonga arc-backarc systems. This convergent margin is the most seismically-active subduction zone system on Earth with convergence rates steadily increasing northwards from the Hikurangi Trench to ~250 mm/year at northern Tonga. In combination with the intra-oceanic setting, factors potentially producing magmatic, tectonic, and hydrothermal variability in this system include an increase in potentially subductable sediment northwards along-strike, intersection of the Louisville Ridge (hot-spot chain) and Osbourn Trough (paleo-spreading centre) with the arc at ~25¦S, and the possibility of Samoan (hot-spot) plume ingression in the northern Lau Basin. The bulk of the magmatism is submarine; whereas only a few emergent (some transient) volcanic islands exist, about 80 submarine volcanic centres of significant size (>1000 m above surrounding sea floor) are present between White Island in the south to north of Tafahi in Tonga. About 35 per cent of these centres are hydrothermally active. Important petrogenetic features of the volcanic rocks along this arc system are the abundance of rhyolite (some quartz-amphibole-bearing), and the outcrop of primitive olivine-clinopyroxene-phyric basalts in satellite cones of the major edifices. Many of the edifices consist of complex caldera systems. Eruptions from and degradation of these edifices were probably tsunamigenic. Many of the hydrothermal systems developed within the edifices are likely destroyed during the sector collapses which are the characteristic edifice degradation mode. There are three backarc spreading systems along this margin: the Havre Trough, Valu Fa-Eastern Lau Spreading Centre, and the nascent Fonualei Rifts. The latter are particularly notable in having captured the entire suprasubduction zone magmatic flux for a distance of about 150 km, shutting down the adjacent volcanic front arc volcanoes.

Jan 1, 2005

By Hoskings AD

Bolting forms a prestressed elastic layer of rock which is capable of supporting loads at right angles to the bolted surface. Investigations on rock bolting made with a number of different models give rise to empirical and theoretical prin- ciples for the formation and action of the layer. In the models, flat and arched layers of many materials were used simulating rock conditions ranging from closely interlocked blocks to fragments of various shapes. Results of observations made in the underground works of the Snowy Mountains Scheme are related to the mode of action of bolted surface layers of rock. There is abundant experimental, theoretical and practical explanation for the well-demonstrated capability of bolting as a means of rock support.

Jan 1, 1971

By M D. Basuki Dwi Priyono

The Toguraci low sulfidation epithermal gold vein deposits are located 2 km WSW from the Gosowong mine and form part of the Gosowong Goldfield. The goldfield lies within a Neogene magmatic arc on Halmahera Island, North Maluku Province, East Indonesia. The terrain is moderate to steep, rainforested, and poorly outcropping. Exploration and mining operations are being carried out within the PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals Contract of Work (exploration tenement) jointly owned by Newcrest Mining Ltd (82.5 per cent, operator) and PT Aneka Tambang Tbk. (17.5 per cent). First pass exploration of the Gosowong area began late 1992 resulting in the discovery of weakly developed porphyry copper mineralisation (named Bora) at Toguraci in 1993. Early in the evaluation of this porphyry an overprinting epithermal Au/Ag mineralisation event was recognised, however exploration focus remained on the Bora porphyry deposit for some time. The discovery of the nearby Gosowong epithermal gold deposit and the exploration of other prospects in the area further diverted attention and funds from Toguraci. It was not until year 2000 that Toguraci was seriously reevaluated as part of a detailed appraisal of the epithermal gold potential within a 5 km radius of the Gosowong gold mine. A fly-camp based drilling campaign using man-portable rigs was undertaken between August 2000 and March 2002. All exploration at Toguraci was then stopped pending government approvals to mine. These were finally issued in May 2003 and immediately drilling restarted and pre-mine approvals (eg the environmental impact study) were sought and granted. The first Toguraci gold bar was poured in February 2004. Exploration at Toguraci and elsewhere in the Gosowong Goldfield continues today.

Jan 1, 2004

Close spatial relationships between the deposits of the Etheridge Goldfield (23,000 kg of bullion) and various regional geological and geophysical features suggest that genesis of the ore deposits was a multi-stage process that started with magmatic and metamorphic stages in the mid-Proterozoic, climaxed with structural and hydrothermal stages in the late Palaeozoic and terminated with an oxidation enrichment stage in the Cainozoic. Acceptance of this hypothesis permits classification of the Georgetown region into areas likely to contain deposits of the Etheridge type and those unlikely to do so. Consequently there is little scop- for the discovery of extensions of this field. However, the stratigraphic interval between the source rocks of the Etheridge field and stratigraphically higher host rocks of the Croydon field may contain disseminated replacement gold deposits of the Carlin type. The potential host (pyritic carbonaceous, and locally dolomitic siltstone of the Candlow Formation) is locally faulted and cut by granitoids and the extension of a mineralised, long-standing zone of structural weakness.

Jan 1, 1980

By B Walker, A Robertson, C Wels, S Fortin

A background characterisation study was carried out in the Sangre de Cristo mountains, New Mexico, to: quantify naturally occurring contaminant loads from mineralised areas; define site-specific background concentrations; and to determine key factors controlling spatial and temporal variations in contaminant concentrations. The study included a comprehensive sampling and testing program (paste pH/EC, ABA, leach extraction tests) of soil/bedrock from mineralised areas (including erosional scars), and a ground water and surface water quality monitoring program in selected mineralised watersheds. Results demonstrate that high concentrations of contaminants occur naturally in ground and surface water draining the mineralised area of the Red River basin. The erosional scars were found to represent the major source of acid rock drainage (ARD) (~66 per cent) in this area due to: high rates of weathering and erosion, which continually exposes sulfide-bearing outcrops; and high rates of run-off as a result of high elevation and lack of vegetation. The scar material is generally very acidic (paste pH ranges from 8.5 to 1.5; average = 3.6) with highly elevated concentrations of sulfate and leachable metals. The composition and concentration of leachable metals vary significantly, not only between scars but also within a given scar. While all streams draining the various scar watersheds are highly acidic, each has a characteristic æfingerprintÆ of sulfate and metal concentrations. Most of the run-off from the scars infiltrates into alluvial debris flow aprons and reaches the Red River via groundwater flow.

Jan 1, 2003

By P Hollings, J Holliday

Porphyry copper, gold and molybdenum deposits form in subduction-related settings in association with calc-alkalic or alkalic magmatism. Hydrothermal alteration assemblages are zoned, with potassic cores and propylitic haloes overlain by extensive domains of clay alteration and silicification (lithocaps). Copper sulfides, gold and molybdenite typically occur in veins or hydrothermal breccias, and less significantly as wall rock replacements. Epithermal deposits may form above or to the side of porphyry systems, and may be juxtaposed into the core of a porphyry deposit if rapid uplift and exhumation occur through the life of the magmatic-hydrothermal system. Volcanichydrothermal breccia pipes (ædiatremesÆ) commonly form late in the life of a porphyry system. They may contain clasts of porphyry-style mineralisation, and can host significant epithermal gold resources. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By P J. Harris, D J. Bradshaw

Surface oxidation of sulfide minerals, such as that found in the regions of a sulfide ore body near the water table, can have a significant impact upon flotation. This theme has been explored for Merensky ore type sulfides where an ore containing pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite was thermally oxidised and the role of potential remedies investigated. Back-scattered scanning electron microscope images are presented showing the oxidation layer which formed in the mineral surfaces. These oxidation layers were depleted in both sulfur and iron with incorporated oxygen. Flotation recovery rapidly decreased with increasing oxidation, particularly after 27 days and reached a plateau after 50 days. Up to 27 days, this effect could be partially overcome with higher collector additions. Oxidation had more impact upon the finer size fractions, particularly for pyrrhotite. For more heavily surface oxidised samples, ultrasonic treatment prior to collector conditioning was found to improve flotation recoveries. This treatment had the greatest effect upon chalcopyrite particles. Sulfidisation was successful in restoring the flotation recovery of the heavily oxidised sulfide minerals. Longer sulfidisation conditioning times were not conducive to good flotation recoveries of both oxidised pyrrhotite and pentlandite due to oxidation of the freshly formed sulfide surfaces. For maximum flotation recoveries of oxidised pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite, different sulfidisation conditions are indicated. It appears likely that in a mineral processing operation treating oxidised Merensky type ores, two stages of sulfidisation employing different conditions would be required.

Jan 1, 2005

Discovered in 1954 and mined since 1966, the X41 copper orebodies have produced over 143 Mt @ 3.3 per cent copper. By June 2002 the production from these orebodies had depleted the Mineral Resource to 36.6 Mt @ 2.8 per cent Cu (including 31.5 Mt @ 2.5 per cent Cu combined 2002 Ore Reserve). Mine production will ramp down to cessation beyond ten years. The 2002 Copper Business Study was commissioned to review the status of the Mount Isa copper business and to optimise the long-term strategy of the operations. The study resulted in a vastly improved geological and geostatistical model, and financial studies led to the optimisation of mine cut-off grades. Utilising these new models, a near-mine target generation workshop was conducted by the copper stream geology team. The workshop focussed on exploration for new ore sources and the extension of existing orebodies to supplement the Mineral Resource inventory for future conversion to Ore Reserves. Several prospective targets were identified and the Conceptual Northern 1100 Drilling program was subsequently designed. This paper shall discuss the practicalities of near-mine target generation in Mount Isa, the issues faced when locating and preparing drill sites in a mature mine environment, and the preliminary results of the drilling program so far.

Jan 1, 2003

By W A. Take, M McKellar, A Walsh, S McDougall, S G. Evans

Recent tailings dam failures have heightened public awareness of the hazard posed by storage facilities for mining waste, illustrating the need for a more critical examination of tailings dam breach mechanisms and the potential mobility of liquefied tailings. Knowledge from tailings dam breach studies will help improve safety and risk management through more accurate inundation maps, dam consequence classifications and emergency preparedness plans. Tailings dams differ from conventional water retaining dams, although dam breach relationships used in practice rely heavily on relationships derived for breach processes from the latter. Physical modelling offers a controlled environment to advance the understanding of tailings dam breach processes, thereby allowing for modelling of simple geometry and boundary conditions to test hypotheses. The performed experiments investigate prototypical tailings dam configurations and material behaviour, with the objective of validating numerical models that will enable practitioners to better assess and mitigate tailings flows resulting from tailings dam failures. Research conducted in the Queen’s University Landslide Flume at the Coastal Engineering Laboratory has investigated the breaching of 1 m high dams with tailings geometry by overtopping initiated by a v-notch incised in the dam crest. This paper presents the initial results of the next stage of this research comparing the outflow hydrograph following loss of containment caused by shear failure to overtopping initiated by notch flow. The two dam experiments presented are constructed with similar dam and reservoir geometries allowing for a direct comparison of the effect on the outflow hydrograph of each failure event. Preliminary outcomes suggest that although both dam failure events are triggered from separate mechanisms their geometries allow for similar values of Q_peak to be reached. Future work is currently planned to expand the shear test series to explore the influence of failure mechanism on the outflow hydrograph.

Jul 1, 2021

By S Bandopadhyay

The seasonal fluctuations of the dust content in Arctic mine environments and the environmental variables affecting the intensity of dust production are qualitatively well known, but quantitative models that allow simulation and prediction of dust generation and the effects of engineering control of thermal regime on the mine environment are still non-existent. In Arctic mines, the migration of moisture in the surrounding rock mass releases fine dust by freeing it from the ice matrix allowing it to escape into mine airway. The migration of moisture is the direct cause for the production of mine dust and heat is the primary driving force. This paper examins the heat and moisture exchange between the ventilation air and the surrounding rock mass in frozen ground, placer mines in the Arctic. Based on the simulated results of a coupled heat and mass transfer problem with phase change, methods of dust control have been identified for mines in the Arctic.

Jan 1, 2005

By M J. Saynor, J B. C Lowry

The Ranger Uranium Mine is located in the wet-dry monsoonal tropics approximately 250 km east of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia (Figure 1). Mining of open-cut ore bodies commenced in 1980 (Pit 1) and ceased in 2012 (Pit 3) and milling and production are scheduled to cease by 2021. At the conclusion of mining and milling operations, mine tailings will be returned to the mined out pits 1 and 3, which must then be physically isolated from the environment for at least 10,000 years (Australian Government 1999). The final landform also needs to have sufficient mitigation measures in place to ensure that areas downstream are not impacted by erosion products from the mine site. The proposed post-mining rehabilitated landform will cover approximately 847 hectares (8.5 km2) which represents an area that has the potential to supply sediment to catchments and streams downstream. One method of reducing runoff and associated sediment is the construction of rip lines along the contour to slow down the runoff velocity and to also trap fine sediment and nutrients in the depressions to assist vegetation growth.CITATION:Saynor, M J and Lowry, J B C, 2018. The impact of rip lines on erosion at the Ranger Mine Site, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2018, pp 150–154 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 25, 2018

By Iley J. D, Siviour N. g, Moffatt R. J

The process of desilverising by fractional crystallisation with reflux was investigated through laboratory batch tests and continuous laboratory bench scale tests at CSIRO Clayton, to a 300 kg/hr pilot plant at Port Pine. The pilot plant built at BHAS comprised a vertical cylindrical refining column with internal diameter 250 mm and height 3.2 m, attached at the top to an off-set cylindrical stirred crystalliser tank. Crystals were made in the crystalliser by intermittent immersion of steel cold fingers, which were water cooled between immersions. Gas heat was used for melting the crystals at the base of the column and for side compensation heating. A computerised in strumentation system was employed for data logging and for controlling some critical plant operations. A mechanical device was first employed to promote counter-current plug flow of crystals down the column against the rising stream of reflux liquid, but this was found to be unsatisfactory owing to excess noise, frequent mechanical failure, and excessive accumulation of dross. Plug flow was finally promoted by pulsing the column. Low silver levels, less than 1 gitonne, were achieved with both methods of crystal transport under total reflux conditions. The pulsed column gave results for silver and bismuth which agreed with the theoretical predictions of a computer model, but there was some selective drossing of antimony. In the mechanically agitated column, excessive drossing promoted selective removal of most of the antimony and some of the bismuth, and the results after extended operation were well removed from the theoretical predictions. Plant failures and operating problems prevented the achievement of satisfactory product quality with the necessary reliability under production conditions. Other priorities necessitated the termination of the project before the process could be optimised.

Jan 1, 1989

By B Zhou

Geophysical borehole logging, which measures various in situ petrophysical parameters, can be used not only for qualitative interpretation such as strata correlation, but also for geotechnical assessment through quantitative data analysis. It can play an important role for safe and productive mining operations. Here we provide various applications of geophysical logs such as the estimation of the strength of intact rock or unconfined (or uniaxial) compressive strength (UCS), automated lithological/geotechnical interpretation, geophysical strata rating and orebody delineation and grade estimation. These derived parameters could provide input to control of geological and geotechnical models. This could assist site geologists and planning and production geotechnical engineers to predict and manage mining conditions on an ongoing basis. Both conventional logs such as density, natural gamma and sonic, and less common logging data such as full waveform sonic and televiewer data are examined for different applications. Although the examples used here are mainly for coal mining applications, but they can be equally applied to hard rock metalliferous mining such as iron ore mining.

Nov 8, 2021

By J J. McNee and, J Crusius, T F. Pedersen

The use of water covers is a globally-applied method for minimising acid rock drainage (ARD) and metal leaching. Although the subaqueous disposal of potentially acid-generating materials has been shown to effectively limit ARD, under certain scenarios, metal remobilisation can occur at circum-neutral pH. The following paper presents data from four case studies in which metal mobility from submerged mine waste resulted in degradation to water quality in the overlying water cover. Subcentimetre resolution profiling of dissolved constituents across the tailings-water interface (dialysis arrays), in conjunction with mineralogical information, were used to elucidate the controls governing metal mobility. The data illustrate four pathways of metal remobilisation, including: the release of zinc via the oxidative remineralisation of metal-rich organics at the tailings-water interface; enhanced remobilisation of arsenic as a result of anthropogenic eutrophication; the release of copper resulting from the pH-driven dissolution of treatment sludges; and the release of radium from uranium mill tailings due to the dissolution of radiobarite [(Ra,Ba)SO4] by sulfate-reducing bacteria. The results highlight the conclusion that the chemical stability of submerged tailings reflects both: the solid-phase characteristics of the tailings material; and the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the depositional environment. In particular, the data illustrate that rigorous characterisation of both the waste solids and receiving environment must be performed in order to assess their compatibility. The results have relevance to the management of tailings repositories including constructed impoundments, pit lakes and natural lakes.

Jan 1, 2003

The Mount Kasi gold deposit in Vanua Levu represents an epithermal, high sulphur, gold-enargite system occurring within a volcanic caldera of Middle to Upper Miocene age. High level breccia pipes flare upward and form flat lying, near surface, mushroom shaped sheets parallel and near to the present land surface. The upper portions of the pipes contain explosion breccias which are capped by sandy siliceous sinter-like beds and are cut by alunite veins. Outlying intercalated scoriasceous lavas and breccia sheets show evidence of subsidence within a shallow basin. Detailed mapping of breccia types, intensity of silicification and the presence of multiple quartz veining and enargite abundance outlined blocks of more consistent gold mineralization within the breccias. This work has provided a model for mineralization which will aid future exploration and ore reserve estimations. A significant eluvial concentration of gold occurs in soils overlying the breccia sheet.

Jan 1, 1987

The production of copper by the Outokumpu direct blister process commenced in July 1988. The problems and incidents encountered in commissioning the main smelter equipment are outlined. Early difficulties were encountered in process control, hot metal handling, dust buildup in the off gas handling equipment, waste heat boiler tube failures, foam over of hot metal into the waste heat boiler and failure of ancilliary equipment.

Jan 1, 1989

By Minglin W, Zhixing L

The laws of detonation wave velocity variation in propagation process along the charge under channel influence are investigated widely in this paper. The result is obtained by blasting experiments. Bore hole is simulated by plastic tube or steel pipe (with outer diameter 45 nun, inner diameter 40 or 41 mm). Blasting experiment is carried out with a cylindrical charge of 32 mm diameter. The author analyses the characteristics of energy distribution along the charge under above-mentioned conditions. Reasonable initiating position and initiating direction are also analysed. A double-direction initiating method which consists of several initiating charges is put forward. The blasting effect of this initiating method when used in underground mining is stated out.

Jan 1, 1990

The on-going technical developments to enhance the productivity and cost effectiveness of large blasthole drills incorporate many of the blasthole drilling operating experiences garnered over the past half century.Those experiences have shown in part that on a drill unit with good quality structural elements the higher the percentage of the electrical and electronic components designed into the product, the higher its productivity and the lower its operating cost.

Jan 1, 1992

By Buizen M, Eagleton A. C

The results of calibration trials conducted on parachute stoppings both overseas and in Australia under a recently completed NERD&DC grant, are presented. Applications of parachute stoppings, for rapid regulation and control of ventilation networks are described including use in blasting areas and rescue work. Several parachute-type stoppings are described and their applications Investigated

Jan 1, 1988

Robe River Mining manages a large open pit iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of the North-West of Australia. The mine is managed for various joint venture participants.In July 1986, Robe River Mining made various changes to its management philosophy, which were heavily publicised in the media at the time.As a result of those changes to its management philosophy, Robe River Mining has been able to dramatically increase its production output, productivity, and safety performance without having to resort to major capital outlays and without the benefit of restructuring of applicable industrial awards.

Jan 1, 1992