Category: Historical

EXISTING copper resources will sustain increasing world demand for at least a century, refuting claims that mineable supplies could run out within 30 years, according to new research. After compiling and analysing a database of current worldwide copper resources, Monash University researchers concluded there were ample resources within the reach of existing technologies. Published in two peer-reviewed papers, the database focussed on mining company resource estimates and included vital information for carbon and energy use modelling, such as the ore grade of the deposits. Monash University School of Geosciences researcher Dr Simon Jowitt said the database could transform the industry’s understanding of copper availability. “Although our estimates are much larger than any previously available, they’re a minimum,” he said. “In...

QUEENSLAND thermal coal miner New Hope has scaled back production and initiated job cuts at its Jeebropilly open cut mine, in what economists have interpreted as a further indication of the deteriorating nature of Australia’s coal industry. The latest casualty of the market slump, the Jeebropilly thermal coal mine in Amberley, Queensland, is undergoing what New Hope terms “strategic downsizing” in response to the extenuating high costs of the current market conditions, compounded by the current weakness of commodity prices. The move was announced by the company in a recent quarterly activities report, stating that since April, Jeebropilly in which it had operated five days per week instead of six as a direct strategy to reduce costs. New Hope justified...

A new solar-powered Cisco wireless mesh network is being used to run the mine fleet automation system at Barrick’s Cowal gold mine in NSW. Barrick commissioned Brisbane-based CBO Telecommunications to design and implement the system, which comprises Cisco aironet 1524SB outdoor mesh access points managed by the Cisco prime network control system. The network has self-healing capabilities to suit the harsh mine site environment, and can also be mounted on CBO solar mobility trailers, providing the capacity for consistent connectivity anywhere within the mine, regardless of pit depth or geographical distance. The Cowal mine uses the Caterpillar MineStar software to manage its mining dispatch operations, with operators using screens in their vehicles to enter information into the system. This and...

ASX-listed Adelaide Resources’ exploration efforts at the Moonta copper-gold project in South Australia have received a significant boost through the digitation of massive volumes of more than 50 years of exploration data collected by major miners. Adelaide Resources reported that it had begun the process of digitally capturing past records with the goal of identifying prospects that could contribute to the Moonta project’s growing mineral inventory. It estimated that the cost of repeating diamond and reverse circulation drilling completed by one past explorer alone would be more than $20 million – illustrating the importance of the existing data. The company stated that significant modern exploration of the broader Moonta project began in 1959, dominated by major mining houses including Western...

TO say that Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine is a diamond in the rough may be a bit of a stretch, but with ramped-up underground mining and the installation of a massive new underground system for harvesting the gems, the overall operation is set to shine even brighter. Argyle will then add another ‘world’s biggest’ to its impressive reputation: already one of the largest producers of diamonds in terms of sheer volume, at about 20 million carats per annum, the East Kimberley mine looks to maintain that output as it transitions from an open-pit venture to an operation that will include the biggest mechanical system of its kind, built by Swiss precision engineering and manufacturing company Sandvik. Since being commissioned in...

WITH 600 square kilometres of tenure spanning three world-class gold structures – the Zuleika Shear, Kunanalling Shear and Ora Banda-Grants Patch goldfield – near Kalgoorlie, Phoenix Gold rapidly increased its mineral resources by 276 per cent in the 18 months to August 2012. In December 2011 Phoenix outlined its key goals for 2012, all of which have been achieved or will be by the year’s end. The company was aiming for another gold resource increase (targeting 2.5 million ounces); further acquisitions to consolidate its highly-prospective tenure; and the completion of a five-year mine plan for its flagship Castle Hill project. Phoenix’s resources have now increased to 2.24moz, with further increases imminent. During 2012, the company also purchased the Kintore tenements...

SILVER Lake Resources’ $426 million acquisition of Integra Mining will create one of the largest gold mining companies in Australia, boasting a 6.6 million ounce resource and $107 million in cash. With the merger likely to be finalised by the end of the year Silver Lake, which already has an extensive asset portfolio throughout WA, will be on track to produce 400,000oz per annum of gold in 2014. As part of the transaction, which was announced in August, Integra shareholders will be offered one Silver Lake share for every 6.28 Integra shares they hold. Silver Lake, which will be 40 per cent owned by Integra shareholders, will have four operating underground mines, one large-scale open pit and two processing facilities...

WHEN a major gold mine in WA experienced problems with its conveyor belt system, which was in danger of becoming unstable due to weak ground, Uretek Ground Engineering’s senior engineer Tom Bailey was called by the mine’s engineers to deliver a solution to the problem. With previous experience dealing with many similar problems at mines such as the Glennies Creek Hunter Valley coal mine, Mr Bailey knew how to achieve the best solution. The Uretek team first logged the precise depths and dimensions of the underground footings of the affected construction elements. The footings were massive: the slab holding the motor drive for the belt pulley system measured 25 metres by 12m and 1.5m deep, built onto 12m deep spoil...

MULTI-disciplinary engineering firm ASPEC Engineering focuses on three key areas of heavy industry service: materials handling machines; structural integrity; and engineering projects. The company’s expertise lies in machine and asset integrity – key drivers on both port and mine projects – and its team incorporates technical professionals that are highly proficient across a range of engineering disciplines. The company’s knowledgeable team designs specialist projects, as well as providing ongoing engineering support for mines and ports. Undertaking the majority of its engineering design work in-house, ASPEC has extensive experience in run-of-mine and rail dump stations; bins, bunkers, and silos; conveyor systems; reclaim tunnels; crane and machine runways; supports for vibrating machinery; throughput upgrades and retrofits; marine structures; mine buildings and workshops;...

A partnership agreement with mining major Anglo American looks set to fast-track exploration activities at Arc Exploration’s Trenggalek gold project in Indonesia. The 300 square kilometre project, in the southern mountains of East Java, sits along the same belt as Intrepid Mines’ Tujuh Bukit copper-gold deposit, which holds an estimated resource of 25 million ounces of gold. “This new agreement with Anglo American is a very positive step forward for Arc Exploration,” Arc managing director John Carlile said. “Our exploration results to date indicate that Trenggalek is an area with major gold potential.” An ongoing exploration program conducted by Anglo will be used to review the project’s potential, with the objective of moving the project towards resource estimation. Anglo recently...

WORK has begun on extending the historic Kalgoorlie to Boulder railway line to increase tourist accessibility to the region’s famous Super Pit gold mine. A partnership between Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM), which manages the Super Pit, project management company Engenium and Brookfield Rail will see phase one of the extension begin at a disused railway line at the Boulder City station. Engenium managing director Wayne Peel said the extension, which would run across the Goldfields Highway to the Super Pit lookout, would boost the amount of visitors to the region. “The Super Pit is a must-see tourist attraction and an extended railway line up to the lookout will increase its visitor numbers considerably,” he said. “Kalgoorlie is renowned for...