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The newsletter of the Metallurgical Society of The AusIMM | Vol 2 2012
In this edition: The G D Delprat Distinguished Lecture 2012 | Notes from the Chair | Congress 2012 | ANCOLD Workshop
AMMOP Project update | Mineral Processing Toolbox | CEEC | OneMine | Mill Operators’ Conference | Committee and contacts | Bulletin | Events | Social media
Congress 2012
The AusIMM Congress is held annually over three days with
participants representing all the major discipline and interest
groups of The AusIMM such as Branches, Societies, New
Professionals, Students, Directors, Chairs of Committees,
Taskforces and Strategy Groups, CEO and AusIMM Services Staff.
The role of Congress, as a gathering of the prime
representative body of The AusIMM, is to elect the President
from the democratically elected Directors; review the progress
in the implementation of the Strategic Plan presented at the
previous Congress and make recommendations for change;
review and approve the Strategic Plan for the following year;
and identify and discuss any existing or emerging issues of
interest or concern.
Congress 2012 was held in Auckland, 27-29 April. A
summary of the outcomes of the meeting is accessible via The
AusIMM website: www.ausimm.com.au/content/docs/congress_2012_outcomes.pdf.
Congress provided an opportunity
for discussion with other societies of
the Institute and one outcome was to
continue to work together on
assisting students with vacation
work opportunities.
Chartered Professional (CP) status
was discussed and delegates were
urged to encourage members to
apply. The Professional
Development guidelines are not
onerous to meet
[www.ausimm.com.au/content/
default.aspx?ID=139#status] and
becoming a CP raises the
professionalism of the Institute and
its members.
The G D Delprat Distinguished
Lecture series for 2012 began in
Brisbane earlier this year and will
continue in October in Melbourne,
Perth and Hobart. More information
about the series and its lecturer
Emeritus Professor Alban Lynch is
included in this newsletter
Philip Stewart has indicated that he
would like to step down from his
role on the editorial panel of the
Transactions Section C, Mineral
Processing and Extractive
Metallurgy, sometime in the next 12
months. Philip has spearheaded the
drive to improve the relevance and
quality of Section C with notable
success.
We would like to hear from
anybody who would be interested to
finding out more of what the role
involves. If you are interested or
know someone who might be,
please contact me via
David Pollard
Notes from the Chair
Miriam Way, Deputy Chief Executive; Director Member Services, The
AusIMM with incumbant AusIMM
President for 2013, Geoff Sharrock.
The G D Delprat Distinguished Lecture Series 2012
The 2012 lecturer is Emeritus Professor Alban
Lynch, presenting on the topic Mineral
Processing during the 20th century – the
highlights, why they occurred, what comes
next.
The first lecture was presented in Brisbane (to
follow an AMIRA P12 sponsor’s meeting) with
the remainder of the timetable as follows:
Perth: Tuesday 23 October
Melbourne: Thursday 25 October
Hobart: Sunday 28 October (preceding
the 11th Mill Operator’s Conference
2012).
Further details will be available from these
local Branches and from the MetSoc webpage.
Alban Lynch was, from 1970-89, the first
Director of Australia’s JKMRC and from 1988-
93 Head of the Department of Mining and
Metallurgical Engineering at the University of
Queensland. From 1993 until 2007 he was
Visiting Professor to universities in Brazil,
Malaysia, Mexico and Turkey. His students and
colleagues are truly part of the international
minerals community. He is the recipient of
many awards and influential in the development
of Australia’s leading role in developing
innovation and efficiency in mineral
processing.
Henry Hodges, in his book entitled Technology
in the Ancient World, concluded that:
Nowhere was the rate of technological
advance a steady, even, upward climb.
Always one seems to be confronted with
sudden bursts of technological innovation
followed by long periods of virtual
stagnation.
Mineral processing in the 20th century was no
different. There were about 50 years of
innovation from 1880, 30 years of virtual
stagnation from 1930, then another 30 years of
innovation. Professor Lynch will review
progress in mineral processing technology
during those years, and give us his predictions
of developments in the next 30 years.
MetSoc is grateful to FLSmidth and Outotec for
their sponsorship of the lecture series.
Congress
Page 2
ANCOLD Workshop
On 18 May in Adelaide, the Australian National Committee on
Large Dams (ANCOLD), in association with The AusIMM
Adelaide Branch, presented a workshop based on the May 2012
release of the revised Guidelines on Tailings Dams. The report to
the Branch is reprinted in MetSoc News for the interest of
members.
The program covered key sections of the revised guidelines. The
first session explained, with examples, how the new guidelines are
based on lessons learnt from the past; sustainable use of dams for
tailings storage; and tailings dam lifecycle management. Examples
were given throughout the workshop of dam failures causing major
loss of life and property.
Tailings dam sizes are increasing as mine production increases and
risk is proportional to dam height. It was stated that dam closure
conditions will dictate mine technology by 2030 and closure
liability becomes as important in planning a mine as ore reserves.
‘Tailings dams are the biggest business risk in a mine; it cannot
operate if it cannot dispose of tailings.’
The problems are worsened because tailings dams are often built in
stages, with the later stages sometimes receiving less engineering
input than the early stages.
Discussion included the risk of increased seismic activity caused
by large dams and that dams must be designed for a maximum
credible earthquake activity. The South Australian regulatory
approach was described as a good one and is based on risk
management which integrates tailings storage risk with the
operational risk. However, this approach is partly qualitative.
There is a need to determine acceptability criteria for
environmental, engineering and economic factors.
In Chapter 2 key management decisions are made using the
ANCOLD Guidelines and must cover the lifetime of the tailings
storage. If the wrong tailings management method is selected, the
mine cannot be closed.
Chapter 3 addresses storage methods and deposition principles
and methods of containment. Questions to be answered include:
How are the tailings prepared (flocculation? water content?)
Types of water?
Does it segregate after deposition?
Does storage time play a role?
Does the chemistry play a role?
Chapter 4 covers the properties and behaviour of tailings. The
design problems are similar to those facing processing plant design
engineers: there is a limited amount of material for test-work and
there may be doubts about the representativeness of the material
tested. The mineralogy and chemistry of the tailings may affect the
physical properties of the tailings and also the environmental
behaviour.
Chapter 5 is about design for storage capacity and water
management, including capacity, water balance, spillways, rainfall
runoff, tailings decant water, evaporation and dam linings.
Chapter 6 looks at embankment, stability analysis, settlement,
shear strength and earthquake considerations and durability of
construction materials. The guidelines are for guidance, they are
not a ‘how to do’ manual.
Chapter 7 is on construction, including supervision and
documentation, the responsible engineer, construction site
management, foundation, instrumentation, source of materials,
commissioning and the construction report. Dams take years to
build and good documentation is essential. Good design allows for
changes to be made in the light of new knowledge.
Chapter 8 covers operation, beginning with operations plans,
management and training and the requirement for an emergency
plan. Upstream and centre lift dams require a high level of design
input, operator skill and owner diligence to ensure ongoing safety.
Maintenance and security are important – embankment raising
requires more design input and awareness of consequences.
Chapter 9 addresses closure, closure options and consequences.
Summary
In his summary at the end of the workshop, David Brett made the
following points:
Tailings disposal risks are as large as the ore body risks.
The perception of risk by management is skewed by the
good work in dam design and operation, there are very few
failures.
Always consider the worst case scenario and have a plan.
Tailings properties vary greatly, so there is a pressing need
to get representative samples and carry out more tests.
Consider seismic events.
The Guidelines on Tailings Disposal can be purchased via the
ANCOLD website www.ancold.org.au/default.asp
Princess Creek TSF (courtesy Copper Mines of Tasmania at Mount Lyell)
Workshop tailings management to industry standards by David Pollard HonFAusIMM
Australasian Mining and Metallurgical Operating Practices
(AMMOP) is The AusIMM’s largest current publication project
from 2010-13. Following considerable effort from contributing
companies, authors and reviewers, we are now very close to having
received all of the material for inclusion in this monograph. Our
main focus now is chasing up the final five or six outstanding
papers and undertaking final peer reviewing, editing and desktop
publishing of the volume.
AMMOP will be comprised of just under 200 papers in total,
covering over 220 sites and plants throughout Australasia as well
as preliminary chapters covering the changing nature of site
operations, developments in mining and processing, education,
training and professional development.
Commodity overview papers have also been submitted by
prominent industry experts and AusIMM members. The
commodity overview papers provide general information on
commodity specific issues and trends, including the status of the
relevant industry sectors, technology, outlook, challenges and new
developments.
This publication will be the culmination of extensive dedicated
work and involvement from people across The AusIMM’s
membership and industry at large. This involvement includes
participation from societies, committees, branches, and member
volunteers – and of course the authors from mining and
metallurgical operations from all around Australasia who have
written high-quality papers for inclusion in the publication.
It is anticipated that the final AMMOP monograph will be
approximately 2000 pages in total to be produced across two or
three volumes. The volumes will prove to be an invaluable
technical reference and database on industrial production practice
in the Australasian mineral industry, featuring papers from
significant mining and processing operations in Australia, New
Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
We are very grateful for everyone’s involvement in bringing this
publication together, and to the vital support we have received
from AMMOP’s sponsors – Principal Sponsor Rio Tinto; Major
Sponsors Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton,
MMG, Newcrest, Newmont and Xstrata; along with Sponsors
AMC Consultants, Atlas Iron, Ausenco, Centennial Coal, Gold
Fields, Iluka, Lycopodium, Ok Tedi, Sandvik, Vedanta Resources,
Wesfarmers and Western Areas.
The AMMOP Project team anticipates that AMMOP will be
launched in early 2013, and hopes to provide more information
surrounding the exciting launch of this publication in forthcoming
issues of The AusIMM Bulletin.
Please contact me if you have any questions about AMMOP via
Publications
Page 3
AMMOP project update by Stephanie Omizzolo, Publication Projects Coordinator, The AusIMM
Page 4
The Coalition for Eco-Efficient Comminution (CEEC) was
established in 2011 to support knowledge sharing and change in an
area of high energy consumption for the mineral industry.
In June, 40 attendees (representing 30 companies – miners,
equipment manufacturers, researchers, consultants, service
providers and consultants) from across the globe took part in a two
day CEEC workshop. The workshop invitation challenged delegates
to consider:
What can be done now in design and operation to implement
what is already known about energy-efficient comminution?
What R&D needs to be undertaken to deliver paradigm
change, eg a 75 per cent reduction in comminution energy in
the next ten years?
The CEEC workshop was opened with a presentation by Dr Geoff
Garrett, the chief scientist of Queensland, on the theme of
innovation. Presentations from Chris George of BHP Billiton and
Noko Phala of AngloGold Ashanti gave a mining company view on
energy efficiency in comminution.
Strategies for energy management and conservation were presented
by Alan Bye (SMI CRC-ORE) and Victor Bush (Newmont) while
an engineering view was put by Michael Young (Xstrata
Technology) and Greg Lane (Ausenco).
The delegates were asked to define the problem and identify the key
obstacles to change and to nominate the key topics for short term
and long term roadmaps.
Professors Malcolm Powell (University of Queensland, Julius
Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre) and Mike Nelson (University
of Utah) challenged the delegates to consider a leap in thinking.
The roadmaps will be published shortly and will be presented at
Enermin 2012 as well as IMPC 2012. The 2012 workshop delegates
agreed to use CEEC as the vehicle for ongoing communication and
coordination of projects via CEEC’s website, LinkedIn group and
Twitter account.
www.ceecthefuture.org
The Coalition for Eco-Efficient Comminution
CEEC
The Mineral Processing Toolbox by Peter Tilyard FAusIMM(CP)
We are always looking for additions to the
Toolbox. As time goes by these become more
difficult to find but we were recently given a set of
incredibly useful Moly-Cop Tools by OneSteel.
These are also available on their website but we are
pleased to have a set for the Minerals Processing
Toolbox located in the members’ section of the
AusIMM website.
The updated CD version of the toolbox has now
been released and is available for sale through The
AusIMM online shop. The production process
involved seeking updated permissions from the
various providers, most of whom were happy to
give us continued use of their documents, for which
we are grateful.
Although the new edition of the Cytec Mining
Chemicals handbook won’t be in the toolbox for a
while, the 2003 version will remain. Metso will
continue to provide the Basics in Mineral
Processing handbook and the Orica and Cognis
handbooks will remain.
A new and welcome addition on the reagent front is
an information document from reagent supplier Tall
Bennett, who along with Moly-Cop are sponsors of
the CD version of the toolbox.
Toolbox
OneMine
The AusIMM joined OneMine in June 2011 and all members now
have access to this global online library of minerals industry
publications.
To see what it offers, log into The AusIMM website, click on the
‘Access OneMine’ button in the dropdown menu (Members’
Area) or go directly to www.ausimm.com/onemine
OneMine is a collaborative effort among multiple societies to
place the world's most comprehensive collection of mining and
minerals based research in one place. This aggregate includes
technical documents, conference papers, articles and pre-prints.
OneMine’s titles are published by societies and other not-for-
profit organisational publishers which, until now, have been
available only in printed form. OneMine provides integrated, cost-
effective access to a thoroughly linked information resource of
interrelated documents focused on the mining, mineral and
exploration sciences. OneMine is unique in that it brings these
sources into one search engine and location.
Societies around the globe that are part of OneMine include
AIME, AusIMM, DFI, IMMS, NIOSH, SAIMM, SME, and TMS
To see what it offers, log into The AusIMM website, click on the
‘Access OneMine’ button in the dropdown menu or go to
www.ausimm.com/onemine and login using your AusIMM
website login.
OneMine – full access for AusIMM Members by David Pollard HonFAusIMM
Page 5
Conference
11th Mill Operators’ Conference 2012
Insert program here.
This year’s conference will be held on 29-31 October in Hobart,
Tasmania. Themed ‘Milling into the Future – The Challenge
Continues’, the comprehensive three day program will provide
attendees with the tools required for improved safety, performance
and productivity.
A substantial program of more than 70 papers has been selected
for the 11th AusIMM Mill Operators Conference 2012 and will
incorporate six accompanying workshops as well as two tours
aimed at providing an insight to innovative metallurgical
techniques and concepts.
Workshops
Sunday 28 October:
Strategies for plant control
Does your plant control system consistently perform as you
expect?
If your answer is not always, an interactive workshop to discuss
problems and explore strategies to improve control may deliver
some insights. Issues identified as causing common problems will
be briefly introduced by experts from operations, instrumentation
suppliers and R&D, and discussed in open forum. This will be a
rare opportunity for open ended discussions between metallurgists,
operators, and designers and developers of control systems.
Ion exchange for the mining industry This short course will provide attendees with an introduction to
Ion Exchange and its application in the mining industry, with
focus on process selection, design and operational considerations.
Foundations in geometallurgy This course will provide attendees with an overview of the
purpose and intent of geometallurgy, and an understanding of
some key aspects of geological theory that go a long way towards
explaining why and how geologists and miners think the way they
do, what activities, processes, equipment and decision-making
steps are key to their activities, and what their constraints and
challenges are.
Workshops
Thursday 1 November:
Strategies for optimising gold/silver projects
This workshop is designed to provide key knowledge for
optimising gold/silver projects and associated processes to mining
personnel, project managers, geologists, senior mine and
processing plant operating staff, engineers and researchers.
Training providers, suppliers to the resource industry,
technologists, brokers and investors can also benefit.
Energy efficient comminution
This course will provide attendees with an overview of established
strategies for improving comminution energy efficiency, including
‘quick wins’ and longer term programs. New research directions
and strategies are also reviewed.
Lowering plant energy through innovative flow sheet
development
The course will provide an in depth look into the innovative
methods of utilising current and evolving separation techniques for
the beneficiation of ores most importantly to reducing the ongoing
treated mass at the earliest comminution stages within the
processing route.
Tours
The West Coast – processing among the Trout Lakes
Wednesday 31 October to Friday 2 November
Vedenta Copper Mine Facilities, Unity Mining’s Henty Gold
Mine, MMG’s Rosebery operation
The Tamar Valley – processing among the wineries
Thursday 1 November to Friday 2 November
Nyrstar, BCD Resources, Pacific Aluminum
For details of workshops and tours see:
www.ausimm.com.au/milloperators2012/tours.asp.
Page 6
Events conferences and workshops
Events
2012
Sampling 2012
21-22 August, Perth, Western Australia
www.ausimm.com.au/sampling2012
AusIMM New Zealand Branch Annual
Conference 2012
27-29 August, Rotorua, New Zealand
www.ausimm2012.org.nz
AusIMM New Leaders' Conference
2012
2-3 October, Ballarat, Victoria
www.ausimm.com.au/newleaders2012
11th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference
2012
29-31 October, Hobart, Tasmania
www.ausimm.com.au/milloperators2012
2013
MetPlant 2013
15-16 July 2013, Perth, Western Australia
Contact Tara Hicks [email protected] Iron Ore 2013
12-14 August 2013, Perth, Western Australia
Contact: Belinda Martin
[email protected] World Gold 2013
26-29 September 2013, Brisbane, Queensland
Contact: Jessica Cowan
GeoMet 2013
30 September – 1 October 2013, Brisbane,
Queensland
Contact: Tara Hicks [email protected]
MetSoc committee and contacts
David Pollard (Chair)
Peter Tilyard (Vice Chair)
Dr Andrew Newell
Ben Murphy
Diana Drinkwater
Dr Philip Stewart
Rod Elvish
Dr Rod Grant
Simon Donegan
Richard Holder
Zeljka Pokrajcic
Secretariat and AusIMM contact:
Donna Edwards Senior Coordinator,
Society and Committee Services
Committee and contacts
The AusIMM is not responsible for statements made or opinions advanced by authors in this
publication and accept no liability (including liability in negligence) for and given no undertaking
concerning the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided.
Social Media
Remember to connect with The AusIMM across our various social media pages.
The AusIMM Bulletin
The editorial team endeavours to source
articles for The Bulletin from AusIMM
members where possible.
October 2012 (editorial deadline 17 August )
Regional feature: South Australia
Mine management
Mineral processing
New technologies
Minerals education
December 2012 (editorial deadline 12 Oct )
Regional Feature: Northern Territory
International Focus: Canada
Health and Safety
Drilling and Blasting
Water in Mining
Authors should email
[email protected] for enquiries about
contributing an article.
The Bulletin
Contribute to the MetSoc news
If you have any feedback, would like to
make a suggestion or contribute to the
MetSoc News with an article or comment
piece, please email the Secretariat Donna
Edwards via: [email protected]
or alternatively contact Peter Tilyard via:
The editorial deadline for Volume 3 of the
newsletter is 22 October, 2012
Contribute
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