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By A Boeing

Rock-breaker automation and remote operation improves the safety and efficiency of mining operations. This paper presents an overview of the Rocklogic rock-breaker automation system architecture that provides collision avoidance, automated parking and remote operation functionality. The system consists of a distributed computer control system that interfaces with sensors attached to the rock-breaker, the rock-breaker hydraulics and the site infrastructure. We present results of an automated Transmin rock-breaker installed in a production environment at an underground Australian mine site. The system has been in production use for over 900 days, during which there have been no reported collisions and 100 per cent adoption of the remote operation technology. As a result, Rocklogic has significantly improved the safety of rock-breaking operations and reduced the rock-breaking cycle time, thereby improving the site’s overall throughput.CITATION:Boeing, A and Douglas, E, 2014. A remotely operated robotic rock-breaker with collision avoidance for the mining industry, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 131–136 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Mar 24, 2014

By C Vejrazka, A Wyllie

A common problem faced by underground mining operations around the world is airborne dust sourced from production and auxiliary processes. In most underground mining methods, air is generally directed through a limited number of drives and is thus more effective at carrying dust away from operational areas quickly. In a block caving operation, there are a number of ways to set up ventilation systems. In its simplest form the air is entering the extraction level through access drives and then split over the number of extraction drives—based on the pressure differences—without being regulated. This is the case at Northparkes Mines. Larger operations and panel caves most often utilise designated ventilation levels and ventilation raises with some form of regulation to ensure adequate airflow to all work areas.Northparkes Mines utilise electric loaders as a productive means to transport ore to the run-of-mine (ROM) bin, which have the added advantage of allowing the mine to require less airflow through the extraction drives as dilution of exhaust gases is no longer required. Dust was controlled during the operational period of the previous two block caves by using water spray bars in each of the drawpoints, which were seen as the main source of dust. These drawpoint spray bars only wet the surface of muck piles and require a lot of water to achieve an effect on the overall air quality. The drawpoint sprays can be remotely operated from mine control, whenever a loader is sent to bog a particular drawpoint. A significant amount of airborne dust is also generated during loading as rilling of material occurs, with further dust being generated during tramming and dumping activities as only limited mixing of the water and ore occurs. The water sprays are ineffective at precipitating dust that has already become airborne.When built, the currently operational E48 cave was fitted with drawpoint water sprays. As the cave is in a different orebody with higher silica content, the water sprays were not able to keep airborne dust and thus silica quantities under control efficiently. It was therefore necessary to find more sustainable solutions. The problem was further intensified by the concurrent load-haul-dump (LHD) processes across multiple extraction drives and tipping points, as well as secondary breaking, using non-explosive blasting and development activities occurring nearby.This paper describes the practical approach taken at Northparkes Mines to reduce personal dust exposure on the E48 extraction level. As the extraction level is one of the main contributors to airborne dust at the mine, it is believed that much can be learnt by focusing improvement efforts initially on this part of the mining process and later applying the effective solutions in other parts of the mine.CITATION:Vejrazka, C and Wyllie, A, 2014. Reduction of airborne dust on the E48 extraction level at Northparkes mines, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 227–232 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Mar 24, 2014

By M B. Lovitt

At present there exist few engineering calculations and principles to determine exclusion zones for personnel in the vicinity of underground explosive storage areas. This paper is written to encourage discussion and proposes a method to determine the impact of a blast wave through scientific principles. Then, criteria to determine an ‘exclusion zone’ need to be identified.There has been much work on identifying the pressure rise and the energy of explosive detonations underground but little to develop standards in criteria that can be used to identify exclusion zones for useful design of underground infrastructure. The author presents the newest ways of calculating the pressure rise and energy (impulse) of detonations and puts forward some criteria to be used in the identification of personnel exclusion zones to spark peer review and discussion of these criteria towards developing standards for engineering design.Smith and Sapko (2005) used Sach’s scaling laws to develop a relationship for both pressure rise and impulse, which incorporated factors for intersections. Intersections will have a large bearing on the peak pressure and the energy of the blast wave and needs to be incorporated. Silvestrini, Genova and Leon Trujillo (2009) developed the scaling laws with an energy concentration factor to predict blast propagation in partially confined geometries and together the author has proposed equations for determining the peak side pressure and the impulse in a tunnel. Given the weight and type of the explosive, the average cross-section of the tunnel complex and the number and type of intersections encountered, the pressure and impulse can be calculated.The military has carried out many investigations as to the influence of blast pressure and impulse on the human body. Lung damage, ear damage and velocity knock down are three of the criteria standards that are presented as possible methods of determining exclusion zones around an underground explosives magazine. The author suggests that the velocity curves presented by Bowen, Fletcher and Richmond (1968) could be an acceptable method of determining an exclusion zone as it incorporates the side pressure and the energy of a blast wave to determine the ability of the wave to knock down personnel.CITATION:Lovitt, M B, 2014. Exclusion zone calculation for underground explosives storage, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 319–326 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Mar 24, 2014

By S Coughlan

"A personal account of my journey from a student from suburban Melbourne in the 1970s through 40 odd years in and around the mining industry including the important events that have moulded my thinking and, as result, have formed the guiding principles of the mining contracting business and related entities that make up the Byrnecut Group. On reflection the game of chance has played a big part in the journey, from the selection of initial study based on my parents financial capability and the one and only offer of early employment by Western Mining Corporation where the formative phase of my career took place in what was the vibrant can do environment that existed in Kambalda in the 1970s and early 1980s. Subsequently the unplanned meeting with Frank Lubbock drawing me back to Kalgoorlie from Fiji in 1987 and the resultant formation of a private mining contracting business, the excitement of the mid 1980s Kalgoorlie mining environment followed by the turmoil of the 1987 stock market crash where business survival was the game, resulting in a relationship with the German based Thyssen Group.Thereafter the development of a large privately owned international multifaceted mining services group and the principles behind that growth. These include: development of strategic personnel and retention of those personnel cashflow management and debt within a private company scenario recognising opportunity for synergetic growth but insisting on market forces driving those business elements, as opposed to internal divisions group-wide sustainable business systems, particularly in relation to leading safety and training processes innovation and renewal to provide the elusive advantage in a competitive market the role of entrepreneurial small businesses in development of technology.The above principles combine to make a margin in a cut throat contracting environment, competing on the world stage against other contractors and owner mining options.CITATION:Coughlan, S, 2014. A miner’s journey, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2014, pp 3–10 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 24, 2014

By T Purvis, J Calverd, A-K Greve

The Ernest Henry Mining (EHM) underground mine is situated adjacent to the Great Artesian Basin in North Queensland and within a fracture zone. Underground development commenced in February 2008 and has extended to approximately 1000 vertical metres below the surface.Groundwater has been encountered in numerous locations throughout the mine, predominantly on the eastern side of the orebody and often related to fault structures. Most of the groundwater encountered has been managed with conventional pumping systems; however, on occasions large water inflows have been encountered, which have had a significant impact on the planned development of the mine. Some of the intersections encountered had the potential to compromise the mine from a combination of high temperature (over 45°C), high pressure (3500 kPa) and high flows (50–100 L/s).This paper describes three case studies where significant water inflows were encountered and then controlled by the injection of cementitious grout into the rock mass. The case studies are the 1650 mid-shaft heading, the 1325 shaft access decline and the 1625 to 1475 fresh air rise (FAR) raise bore. Each case study includes a brief description of the event that occurred and the grouting equipment and techniques developed to enable mining to continue.The paper also describes the development of a hydrogeological map of the mine, the probe-hole regime used for high-risk headings and the required processes and systems to inject both cementitious grouts and polyurethane resin into the rock mass.CITATION:Purvis, T, Calverd, J and Greve, A-K, 2014. Management of high-pressure groundwater in underground development at Ernest Henry Mine, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 217–226 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Mar 24, 2014

By C Beal

Proper understanding and management of production drilling in sublevel cave (SLC) mines is essential for meeting production targets and for avoiding inefficiencies that could lead to costly bottlenecks. In many SLC mine management models drilling is considered a derivative activity of firing and bogging. Its scheduling is considered to be implied in a firing schedule and given an arbitrary target completion, ‘several weeks’ or ‘a month’, ahead of production firing. Like development, drilling activities are most efficient when conducted separately from other production activities. Unlike development, however, it is not apparent during planning and feasibility how far in advance of firing drilling activities ought to be conducted. This paper presents a method of defining a minimum threshold of drilled stocks above which drilling, firing and bogging operations occur most efficiently. As an example, the drilling activities, procedures, and maintenance at Glencore Xstrata’s Ernest Henry Mine are presented, and the larger scale consequences of improvements to these areas are presented to illustrate their importance in the operation of an SLC mine.CITATION:Beal, C, 2014. Understanding the role of production drilling and drilled stocks in efficient operation of a sublevel cave mine, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 235–242 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Mar 24, 2014

By J P. Sykes, A Trench

Mineral commodity prices are subject to volatility over both the short and longer run – driving fluctuating operating margins for mining companies over time. Such market dynamics influence mine operating decisions depending on the interplay of company-specific and mineral market factors. The company factors include corporate financial strength and price-risk management strategy, as well as mining practices and methods at the operation level. The critical mineral market factor is the price of the ex-mine product. This results from underlying microeconomic and macroeconomic root-causes pertaining to mineral supply and demand, in addition to the activities of financial participants within commodity markets.Significant changes in commodity prices of an extended duration, either up or down, remain the principal influence upon mine economics – and therefore on mining practices too. Accurate and precise forecasting of commodity prices (and of relevant exchange rates) continues to prove elusive both to mineral economists and market analysts. Thus, at any given point in time, there are often widely differing price forecasts available for both the relevant commodity and currency. Companies as a result are unclear how to respond in practical operating terms to such price-side uncertainty – other than to manage incremental capital and operating expenditure. Typical company – and industry financier – responses to the difficulty in predicting future mineral commodity prices are to take measures to manage uncertainties in mining project revenues and costs. These operating practices are prudent – yet come at an economic cost: that is, lost revenue and margin opportunity is inevitable in any such system not easily capable of responding to price volatility in the market. The mine of the future will seek to capture this lost economic opportunity. This paper presents a three-stage framework for analysing commodity price forecasts to aide understanding of the commodity price cycle and the periods of high-margin opportunity.CITATION:Trench, A and Sykes, J P, 2014. Perspectives on mineral commodity price cycles and their relevance to underground mining, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 19–32 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Mar 24, 2014

An upgrade to Vale?s existing Clarabelle dual-pinion, semiautogenous (SAG) mill was completed by the power and automation technology company, ABB. The mill is used to reduce the size of the ore at the company?s nickel and copper mines in the Sudbury area. The project was completed on time and on budget with an excellent safety record. Located in Ontario about 400 km (250 miles) north of Toronto, Vale?s Sudbury operations are primarily underground nickel sulfide mines, with integrated mining, milling, smelting and refining operations. One of the characteristics of Clarabelle Mill is to accept nickel-copper ore from various sources and companies and to produce a nickel-copper concentrate and copper concentrate for further processing. The size of the ore is further reduced in SAG mills, rod mills and ball mills, where all milling is done wet.

Mar 1, 2014

Caterpillar unveiled a new dozer, the new Cat D10T2 dozer, that builds on the success the company has had with its D10T model. The newest version of the dozer includes refinements to its power train, automated controls and structures. The result, the company said, is high productivity with superior fuel efficiency, reliable operation with long-lived structures, as well as enhanced access for service technicians and operators. The D10T2 uses the latest load-sensing hydraulics technology combined with Cat advanced engine controls to maximize the amount of material moved for every drop of fuel burned. Improved filtration protects the fuel system, hydraulic system and power train oil system to help ensure high reliability and minimal machine downtime. Refined large structures, such as redesigned track roller frames, deliver longer service before rebuilds. Improved access and egress features enhance safety and productivity of technicians and operators, and optional powered access systems and platforms enable configuring the D10T2 for the site. Caterpillar offers the D10T2 with two variations of the Cat C27 engine with ACERT Technology. One version is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Final certified, and the other is capable of achieving emission levels equivalent to EPA Tier 2 standards. Both engine configurations produce net power of 447 kW (600 hp) in forward gears and 538 kW (722 hp) in reverse gears. The engine controller automatically adjusts power output based on the direction of travel. With the new system, the D10T2 has about 20 percent more power in reverse compared to its predecessor model. The result is faster cycle times and greater productivity in certain applications. The D10T2 is suited for a variety of applications including mining, heavy construction and bulk materials handling.

Mar 1, 2014

In subterranean mining operations, access to communication networks deep underground is critical for transporting data, voice and video, and other supporting applications that are essential for efficient and safe operations. Whether accessing sophisticated ERP or maintenance management systems, engaging in fleet management, video surveillance, or access control, or protecting miners with wireless locator systems, these networks serve as a literal lifeline between workers deep within mines and surface operations. For this, mining networks require more than permanently installed network cabling, it also requires unique deployable systems designed for quick installation, extension and even relocation as the active mine site area moves, or equipment is moved in and out.

Mar 1, 2014

By Salomón David Albis Pacheco

El presente texto señala una herramienta de gestión actual que mejore las operaciones logísticas de la empresa, perfeccione el sistema de información con los proveedores y brinde una mejor respuesta a los clientes mejorando el nivel de servicio. En ese sentido, Supply Chain Management (gestión de la cadena de suministro) es una herramienta de gestión que ofrece minimizar los costos y logra un mejor servicio al cliente - en tanto al aplicarla a una contratista minera de perforación diamantina, optimiza los contratos, compras, almacenes, transporte de materiales, tecnología de información y maneja la responsabilidad social y ambiental.

Mar 1, 2014

By F. Calizaya

A booster fan is an underground ventilation device installed in the main airstream to handle the total quantity of air circulated to one or more working districts. It is installed in a permanent stopping and equipped with airlock doors, a monitoring system and interlocking devices between the main fan and the booster fan. When adequately installed, a booster fan can be used to reduce the main fan pressure, reduce leakage and decrease the power consumption. However, an inadequate installation can increase the likelihood of mine fies and recirculation of air contaminants. This study identifies hazards associated with the operation and maintenance of booster fans. It analyzes the accompanying risks and recommends control measures to reduce those risks to acceptable levels. The ventilation network of an existing coal mine was updated to include a booster fan. The hazards associated with the operation of this fan were identified, the risks analyzed and the esponse to each failure mode established.

Mar 1, 2014

By Giovanni Franco Sepúlveda

Dado que los procesos de planificación minera en los depósitos a cielo abierto en Colombia se realizaron a través de herramientas deterministas que excluyen la evaluación de riesgos y las incertidumbres del negocio minero, se plantea modelos alternativos de planificación minera que optimizen las condiciones de competitividad y productividad a través del uso de los algoritmos genéticos y su aplicación a los procesos de planificación minera para explotaciones a cielo abierto. Es decir, se busca realizar una aproximación al planteamiento minero estocástico desde dichos algoritmos genéticos y así mejorar la cadena productiva del proceso minero.

Mar 1, 2014

By David J. Hatem

Public-private partnerships (PPP) are gaining in popularity at the federal, state and local levels as the public sector seeks private capital to finance infrastructure and other projects that traditionally have been funded with public funds. In general, a PPP involves a development agreement between a public owner and a private sector concessionaire. Under the development agreement, the concessionaire is responsible for financing, designing, constructing and typically operating and maintaining the completed project for a concession period (often multi-decades in duration). The concessionaire typically enters into an agreement ? the design-build agreement ? with a design-builder to design and construct the project. The concessionaire may secure financing from banks, investors or from a combination of these and other sources (collectively the financier). While the PPP experience in the United States has been modest to date, an increasing number of projects involving tunneling or other significant subsurface work are already being delivered in the PPP mode. Public owners have significant options to address risk allocation for subsurface conditions on PPP projects. The same sound and fundamental principles of fairness in risk allocation that apply in other major subsurface projects should be applied and adopted in the PPP context

Mar 1, 2014

By Andrew C. Katen

The mining industry faces increasing geopolitical risk in the coming decades. Constraints such as resource nationalism, corruption and social license could grow to outweigh fundamental limitations like geology or supply and demand (Ernst & Young, 2013; Verrastro et al. 2010). Lurking beneath these more immediate and palpable concerns, however, may be more significant risks entrenched in geography and history. Deep-rooted cultural and strategic forces that emerge slowly ? or erupt suddenly and unexpectedly ? can generate momentous and far-reaching political, social and economic changes. While multinational enterprises routinely assess for political risk, the nature of minerals extraction means long-term and systemic geopolitical conditions are especially important for mining companies to identify and understand. Mine development is a decades-long process that binds companies to the land and makes changing course to avert emerging threats a difficult and costly option. Consequently, geopolitical assessment is a pertinent and valuable tool that mining companies can use to more comprehensively evaluate strategic threats and opportunities. Geopolitics is the study of society, politics and strategy through the lens of geography (Gray, 1996). Its emphasis on relatively permanent physical features of the earth makes geopolitics a uniquely valuable tool for assessing political risk. Topography, climate and natural resources have shaped, constrained and motivated peoples and governments throughout history. These influences transcend regimes, policies and borders ? and even states themselves ? which, by contrast, change often and dramatically. Framing politics against mountains, deserts and rivers supports identification of historical patterns and forecasts of emerging trends. In other words, the physical map provides an objective and consistent model for studying a subjective and dynamic subject such as politics (Sloan and Gray, 1999). Consequently, geopolitical assessment can highlight threats and opportunities that go unaddressed by other risk methodologies that emphasize current conditions (Glancy, 2012). Taken together, the permanence of geography, hindsight afforded by centuries of political history, and interconnectedness of world events makes geopolitical assessment a valuable approach for conceptualizing strategic risk.

Mar 1, 2014

By Heather Wright

Shovel operators are one step closer to having a better tool to operate and monitor their equipment. The development of a unified shovel interface is proceeding into phase three, focused on producing a standard application programming interface (API) for connecting onboard devices. This solution will positively impact safety, performance and productivity, and is the result of collaborative work driven by the Global Mining Standards and Guidelines Group (GMSG). Proof of concept revealed During the spring of 2013, Peck Tech Consulting was engaged to develop the working proof of concept (POC) software implementation, which integrates multiple vendors? systems into a single interface using one-to-two displays. As a result, the GMSG developed a functioning, manipulatable, unified shovel interface proof of concept and unveiled it at the World Mining Conference in August in Montreal. The proof of concept effectively provides a unified operator interface that pulls together the many divergent systems onboard large shovels.

Mar 1, 2014

By Ben Roderds

The Waneta Expansion Project (WAX) is located near the existing Waneta Dam site at the confluence of the Pend d?Oreille and Columbia rivers, approximately 10 km (6.2 miles) south of Trail, BC, Canada. The WAX owners consist of a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Basin Trust and the Columbia Power Corp. This design-build project was awarded to SNC-Lavalin in late 2010 and is expected to be operational in mid-2015. The WAX consists of a new 335-MW powerhouse, including two new Francis turbine units, each generating approximately 167 MW. The powerhouse is located downstream of the existing Waneta Dam, and will make use of excess water that would otherwise be spilled during the runoff season. Water will be funneled to the turbines through an intake structure and two 10.5- m (34.5-ft) diameter, concrete-lined Penstock Tunnels. A 10-km (6.2-mile) transmission line will connect the powerhouse to existing electrical grids. Redpath/FKCI Waneta Tunnelers (RFK) was subcontracted by the heavy civil contractor, the Aecon/SNC Lavalin (ASL) joint venture, to excavate the two penstock tunnels and install the cast-in-place concrete liner. RFK is a joint venture partnership between J.S. Redpath Ltd., an underground mine contractor located in North Bay, Ontario, and Frontier-Kemper Constructors ULC, a heavy civil tunneling contractor based in Nova Scotia, Canada. Since penstock tunnel excavation was planned using drill-and-blast methods with a significant grade of more than 17 percent, the combined experience of these two contractors was a perfect match.

Mar 1, 2014

We have lived through a period of strong metal pricing during the past eight to 10 years. Copper has been hovering in the range of $3-$4/lb during much of the past eight years, averaging close to $3.30/lb. Gold increased steadily from less than $300/oz levels in the early 2000s, reaching almost $1,890/oz in the third quarter of 2011, before tempering back down to the $1,200-1,400/oz range in 2013. Iron ore prices started to rise in 2005 before the staggering increases experienced in 2008- 2010, reaching almost $190/metric ton in early 2011. During the past four years, iron ore prices have ranged from $100-180/t, averaging approximately $140/t. In the aftermath of such a run, it is perhaps too easy to forget where we have come from: The copper price averaged just 77 cents/lb during the six-year period from 1998 to 2003, and averaged just over $1/lb from 1989 to 1997. The gold price averaged $350/oz during the 10-year period from 1994 to 2003. Even more dramatically, iron ore traded in the range of $10-$15/t between 1985 and 2004. So, we have seen sustained, three- to four-fold increases in copper and gold prices, and 8 to 10-fold increases in iron ore prices.

Mar 1, 2014

By Steve Kral

The Northwest Mining Association (NWMA) has been an advocate for the U.S. mining industry since 1895. For several decades, the organization has represented mining members located mostly in the Northwest and some southwestern Canadian provinces. Today, though, the NWMA?s membership is located in 42 states and seven provinces and has become a national voice for the mining industry. So, during the association?s 119th and final meeting as the NWMA, a name change was announced. The organization is now called the American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA). But that?s not all that has changed, according to the association. The new name reflects more closely the diversity and location of the AEMA?s membership. It will still be an advocate for the mining industry, dealing with land, environmental and community issues on state and federal levels. The conference, held in December 2013 in Reno, NV, attracted about 2,500 attendees. And the accompanying exhibit included 230 equipment and service suppliers in 246 booths. Technical programming ran the gamut of mining industry issues and technologies, including surface and underground mining; high technology systems and automation in mining, metallurgy and exploration; along with social issues, finance and safety. The following is a sample of some of the sessions.

Mar 1, 2014

By B. Mishra

This paper presents a rock mechanics investigation of the time-dependent behavior of the rock immediately surrounding the excavation in a hypothetical one-entry coal mine based on the geology of the Illinois coalfields Research in the area of time-dependency is almost nonexistent and, therefore, this research was performed to make inroads into this neglected research area. Numerical analysis of a typical one-entry coal mine in an Illinois basin was performed using the commercial finite difference program FLAC3D. The immediate roof of the coal entry was assumed to be a shale formation. Shale in other formations has shown a tendency to creep with time. Therefore, in this study the authors modeled the shale in the roof using time-dependent characteristics. The input properties were taken from laboratory creep tests performed on shale. Model runs were performed at different stages, mimicking the progressive excavation of the entry. The model results showed that stresses in the roof attained the limit of yielding. Using Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria, potential zones of failure were also predicted. The results showed that the current computational capacities are sufficient to explore this previously uncharted territory of ground control.

Mar 1, 2014