Category: New technology

UNSW School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering: Leading the Way in Education and Innovation   The UNSW School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering (MERE) is a leading provider of innovative world class engineering education and research, and a proud sponsor of the 2023 Oral Presentation Prize at this Year’s World Mining Congress in Brisbane. Operating for over seventy years, the School continues to thrive with highly sought-after undergraduate and postgraduate programs, alongside an increase to its internationally acclaimed research output. In the latest global rankings, MERE was ranked both 4th in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2023), and 10th in the world (Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2022). The School prides itself on creating and nurturing industry...

SciAps Lands Down Under   Boston-based instrumentation company SciAps recently opened a location in Australia. The company specialises in handheld portable analytical instruments that measure any mineral, any element, in any place on the planet. It’s industry-leading X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and laser-based (LIBS) analysers are hard at work across every major industry, including the new specialty field of geochemistry. As the only handheld instrumentation company to offer both XRF and LIBS for the geochemistry and mining industry, SciAps gives asset owners complete visibility when it comes to research, exploration, grade control, block modeling, process optimisation, and much more, all via a handheld device. SciAps has 35 years of combined experience with elemental handheld technology across the United States and Australia....

Fibre optics technology for conveyor fires Fibre optic DTS 34% cheaper than conventional fire detection systems Mine conveyors – typically long and transporting material through terrain at varied incline, at high speed and in harsh conditions – have been difficult to protect from costly fires that put people, infrastructure and operations at risk. Traditional fire detection systems – relying on hundreds of conventional point heat detectors and smoke detectors - have struggled to perform, come at a very high capital cost, and require continuous maintenance. A new era in fire protection offers a simple, cost-effective solution lead by cutting edge technology that addresses these challenges: a single fibre optic cable to provide the earliest and most accurate detection of abnormal...

Safer underground mines with environmental monitoring systems Australian mining location intelligence company GeoMoby has partnered with Sydney-based Digital Terrain to apply its real-time technology to monitoring environmental conditions in underground mines. Underground conditions are hazardous and dangerous, with these fully-integrated technologies from GeoMoby and Digital Terrain providing environmental monitoring solutions that record a host of information, improving mining conditions and ultimately save lives. GeoMoby director Mathieu Paul says temperature and potentially-lethal gases such as carbon monoxide or methane can easily be remotely monitored and recorded, with alerts triggered where required. “Essentially Digital Terrain has the technology to monitor many conditions – from levels of...

Stockholm, Sweden: Epiroc, a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, will continue to support Roy Hill as it enters the final stage of its autonomous haulage system (AHS) from March 2023. This will convert Roy Hill’s mixed fleet of 96 haul trucks to driverless operation, creating the world’s largest autonomous mine. This follows a successful two-year testing phase. Epiroc, together with automation specialist ASI Mining, since 2020 has worked with Roy Hill in Australia to develop an autonomous haul truck solution that is interoperable and scalable regardless of manufacturer, so called Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agnostic. The project’s production verification phase is complete, and 10 haul trucks have been converted to driverless operation using ASI...

BHP has unveiled a fully electric Jumbo at Olympic Dam to support the company’s target to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including by minimising reliance on diesel. The 28.7-tonne, 14.5-metre long battery-electric Epiroc Boomer M2 “Jumbo” will be powered by a 150kW traction motor and 150kW battery system, eliminating GHG emissions from diesel. It will be tested for efficiency, productivity and comfort over the 12-month trial period. Jumbos are used in underground mining development to drill holes, which are then loaded with explosives and open up new areas. Post-blasting Jumbos install large bolts to stabilise mine walls. BHP currently operates 16 Epiroc Jumbos at Olympic Dam. The fully-electric Jumbo will also break new ground in its user experience by...

Advanced Braking Technology Limited (ASX: ABV) has entered into an agreement with Glencore Australia Holdings to develop a heavy vehicle Sealed Integrated Braking System (SIBS) for the Volvo FMX Haul Truck. The design solution will include Intellectual Property developed by ABT and related to the proven and trusted Failsafe brake for light commercial vehicles, that has been used extensively within both the Australian and international mining sectors over many years. The parties are proceeding with the expectation that upon successful development, testing and validation of the SIBS, subject to Glencore’s approval, Glencore will consider progressive deployment of the SIBS across its fleet of Volvo FMX Trucks globally. Further, following successful validation and subsequent period of exclusivity, ABT will offer the...

Epiroc has announced the release of Unigrout M2 Smart - the world’s first grouting rig which features Epiroc’s well-renowned Rig Control System. The Unigrout M2 Smart has come onto the market as the new digitalized grouting standard with full connectivity and control. The improved Unigrout M2 Smart continues to be the first choice in injection grouting for civil construction. The grouting platform configuration makes for excellent flexibility while the automated features bring optimization opportunities. The connectivity between Unigrout M2 Smart and the drilling unit, on surface or underground, creates a base for the digitalization of the complete process from hole to grout.

Global Drone Solutions founder and CEO Mahmood Huseein has taken out the 2022 Western Australian Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award was presented as part of the 31st annual Waitta Incite Awards, Western Australia’s longest running Tech Awards programme. Waitta Incite Awards chief judge Bob Cross said Mahmood met all the criteria of the awards. “Mahmood took a risk by funding the startup personally with help from family and friends, in an industry that was still developing approval processes. "He has made a difference by building a successful drone training business with the biggest names in mining and oil and gas as customers, and he is an inspiration as the media’s ‘drone guru’, developing primary, secondary and tertiary...

Weir Minerals and Eriez Flotation have announced a cooperative agreement to design and develop coarse particle flotation (CPF) systems. Course particle flotation facilitates more efficient separation, while also reducing water and energy consumption and producing safer tailings. “This cutting-edge technology is a step-change improvement over conventional flotation systems,” Eric Bain Wasmund, Ph.D., Professional Engineer, Vice President of Eriez Global Flotation Business said. “The cooperation allows both companies to better connect  the Eriez equipment  with the slurry classification and conveying expertise of Weir Minerals. As mining companies look to optimize their plant and processes while also reducing their carbon footprint, we’ll see CPF being more widely adopted,” Ricardo Garib, Division President of Weir Minerals said. “This agreement enhances Weir Minerals’ all-of-mine...

Servicing all areas in Australia and New Zealand, Adelaide headquartered Pipefreezer Pty Ltd is offering a specialist service that is providing major savings for mining companies in reducing costly downtime and improving water management. The Australian Mining Review recently spoke to pipefreezing specialist Richard Griffin about what makes the company’s services so valuable for companies with a pipe issue? AMR: How would you talk a potential client into using pipe freezing? RG: The main advantage of pipe freezing is that we can maintain a system’s uptime and the client doesn’t have to shut that critical pipeline down. Essentially, if people need to work on a pipeline, for example they may need to do a weld on a pipeline, the only...