Australian Mining June 2011

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SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

VOLUME 103/6 – JUNE 2011

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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COMMENT

Mining Australian

Copyright Reed Business Information Published 12 issues a year by Reed Business Information (ABN 80 132 719 861) Tower 2, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067 Australia Tel: (02) 9422 2999 Fax: (02) 9422 2966 Editor – Cole Latimer Tel: (02) 9422 2352 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Journalist – Jessica Burke Tel: (02) 9422 2909 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Account Manager – Sarah Bateman Tel: (02) 9422 8994 Mob: 0408 991 585 Email: sarah.bateman@reedbusiness.com.au Account Manager – Tim Richards Tel: (02) 9422 2818 Mob: 0407 948 774 Email: tim.richards@reedbusiness.com.au WA Representative – Jamie Wade Mob: 0435 945 868 Email: jamie@wadebusiness.com.au QLD and SA Sales Manager – Sharon Amos Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 Mob: 0417 072 625 Email: sharon.amos@reedbusiness.com.au New Business – Alex Evans Tel: (02) 9422 2890 Email: alex.evans@reedbusiness.com.au RBI Manufacturing & Electronics Group: Publisher – Michelle Graves Email: michelle.graves@reedbusiness.com.au Graphic Designer – Dave Ashley Production Co-ordinator – Mary Copland Tel: (02) 9422 2738 Fax: (02) 9422 2966 South Africa – Bob Stephen Stephen Marketing PO Box 75, Tarlton, Gauteng 1749, South Africa Tel: 27(011) 952 1721 Fax: 27(011) 952 1607 USA – Jonathan Sismey RBI 24th Floor, 125 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Tel: (1) 212 370 7445 Fax: (1) 212 370 7441 Email: jsismey@ix.netcom.com Larry Arthur RBI Suite 203, 3700 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Tel: (1) 949 756 1057 Fax: (1) 949 756 2514 Email: lharthur@ix.netcom.com Printed by GEON 20 Baker Street, Banksmeadow, NSW 2019 Tel: (02) 8333 6555

Always a sting in the tail The Federal budget leans heavily on the mining industry to support the economy.

W

ith the recent release of the Government’s budget I’m reminded of the fable of the Frog and the Scorpion.

In this story, the scorpion needs to cross a river and asks the frog to help, but the frog does not trust the scorpion and is wary.

However the scorpion tells the frog that it wouldn’t sting it as they are crossing the river, as they would both drown.

The frog sees the logic in this and agrees, taking the scorpion on its back and into the water.

When they are about halfway across the scorpion stings it regardless, and when the frog asks why, the scorpion simply replies that it is its nature.

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Now, I’m not comparing the Government to a deadly scorpion, but it seems that as the mining industry has carried the Australian nation through the global economic downturn fairly unscathed, it appears to have turned on the industry – stinging it in the form of this latest budget and upcoming mining tax.

While the mining industry has always played a role in supporting the Australian economy through troubled times, it has always had to look out for the proverbial

sting in the Government’s tail as it reaps industry benefits.

Federal shadow spokesman Ian Macfarlane slammed this same ‘stinging’ budget as too reliant on the mining industry, saying that it is basing its entire return to surplus on whether the resources sector continues to grow and commodity prices remain stable or rise themselves.

But for every instance where we have a BHP stating that they are “making money faster than we can spend it”, there are juniors struggling to

find the minerals, pay for exploration or pay for the development of their site.

A few outliers do not an average make: the Government is gambling a lot on the boom holding out and on it holding strong.

Although the budget relies heavily on the industry, it in some degree repays the communities of mines with infrastructure and greater push in developing industrial skills.

It also looks to the nation’s main minerals and metals buyer – China – to supplement the skilled shortfall.

How many of those Australian looking for jobs in the industry are going to take this news is fairly predictable.

Be mindful, despite the best intentions, there’s always a sting in the tail.

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Contents

June 2011 issue

Brown coal’s new goals

New brains for mining giants

Victoria harnessing its brown coal reserves….p10-12

PLCs for the world’s largest mining trucks….p38-39

Features VICTORIA/TASMANIA SPOTLIGHT From green to gold Tasmania’s mining past and future ............... p14 MINERALS PROCESSING Technology to float your boat Flotation process imaging technology ..... p16-17 Driving the processing industry Vertical mounted processor drives................ p18 Feeding your thickener Understanding flow patterns and thickener performance ............................ p20-22 HARD ROCK MINING Sand, fire, Copper Australian Mining explores Sandfire Resources DeGrussa hard rock project .................................................... p24-25

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QUARRYING, CRUSHING, SCREENING Separating itself from the rest of the pack Mobile screening and separating on-site....... p26 Working down the line Quick jaw and cone crusher change outs ..... p28 Good vibes Dealing with unchecked vibration................ p30 Surface mining: A selective approach Unconventional mining methods ............ p32-34 SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE Cloud control Cloud computing on remote sites................. p40 The harshest testing ground In vehicle computers for Australian mines ... p40 MAINTENANCE AND MONITORING Sounding the way Ultrasonic engine cleaning............................ p42

Minimising machinery downtimes Oil and lubrication in harsh environments ............................................... p44 The sounds of silence Maintaining and protecting drill sites .......... p44

Regulars INDUSTRY COMMENT .................................. p6 NEWS ............................................................ p8 PERSONALITY PROFILE ....................... p46-47 PRODUCT FOCUS: Test & Measurement.......................................... p48-49 PRODUCT SHOWCASE ............................... p56 PROSPECT AWARDS .................................. p58 JOBS ........................................................... p60 EVENTS ....................................................... p62

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

Skills to pay the bills The skills shortage won’t be solved overnight, The Dirt writes.

H

ow can the mining industry really boom if there are not enough people to actually light the fuse?

It’s like trying to perform brain surgery without the surgeon. The tools are there, the brain is there, but unless there are a few pairs of hands to do the work and some knowledge on how to go about poking a squishy brain, nothing can progress.

In WA alone, 33 000 workers are needed in the resource sector by next year. That’s right, one year.

Not ten years, not even five but in less than seven months; that’s about 30 weeks, the country’s largest resource state needs more skilled workers than the entire population of the town of Orange in NSW. But where can we get them from?

People with the skills to do the jobs can’t just materialise out of thin air, they need education and training and experience.

And that takes time.

Only problem is, time is one thing we just don’t have.

Solving the skills shortage is a matter of time: time we don’t have.

With our nation’s wealth depending on the resource sector, we need the jobs done and we need them done now.

Wayne Swan’s announcement of speeding up some apprenticeships is a good start, as is allowing an extra 16 000 foreign workers into the county for the duration of the work for which they are required.

Some argue that many Australians can’t get work in the mines, so why should we recruit people from overseas to take away our jobs?

Well, mostly because the jobs that need to be filled are technical based positions like geologists and engineers, not the labour-focused ones like drivers and fitters.

Whenever I speak to people in the industry, they always say the single biggest problem is that there is simply not enough skilled workers for the roles, and as Gavin Thomas from Kingsgate pointed out recently, that is a big ‘F’ on the part of the industry and the government.

Time and time again we hear about the ‘old fellas’ in the mining industry who want to retire but they can’tas here is nobody to take their place.

Hindsight is beautiful thing, and it is unrealistic to think that the industry and government could have predicted our current situation when the number of people earning the qualifications dropped drastically back around the 70s.

Nonetheless, this is where we are.

And until the time machine is perfected and we can go back and fix the mistakes, we need to ensure we don’t find ourselves here in another 30 years by ensuring funding is given to the education and experience of workers who contribute so much to the standard of life we take for granted.

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6 June 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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HEADLINES

The latest mining news and safety Australian Mining presents the latest news and safety affecting you from the boardroom to the mine and everywhere in between. Visit www.miningaustralia.com.au to keep up to date with what is happening.

Man dies at Rio Tinto mine A man has died at Rio Tinto’s Clermont mine near Rockhampton.

Emergency crews were called to the scene on 12 May and a company spokesperson confirmed a man had gone into cardiac arrest.

He showed no signs of injury.

The incident will be investigated by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.

The leg was partially amputated on site by paramedics after a metal hatch fell from scaffolding and crushed his leg.

The 53 year old man’s left leg was also crushed in the incident on Tuesday afternoon.

This accident is the latest in a string of safety incidents on the Bechtel run construction site this year, after a sulphuric acid spill and a mass walk-out on site due to workers’ concerns over safety.

$20 million mining school bid The New South Wales city of Dubbo has made an initial bid for a mining school in the area.

The Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices would ultimately be a $20 million investment and the city’s initial $7 million bid has already been lodged with the federal government.

The Centre would use virtual technology to train students and John Walkom, chairman of the Orana regional Development Australia branch said the city would be an ideal location.

Refinery worker loses leg A worker has had his right leg partially amputated following an accident at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun 2 refinery construction site.

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AustralianMining

Xstrata phase out copper smelting Xstrata Mount Isa Mines will phase out copper smelting and refining operations in Townsville by the end of 2016.

The miner announced the move as part of its long term vision for its North Queensland operations.

Xstrata will also expand its existing mining operations and concentrate production, as well as continue lead smelting operations and the expansion of port facilities in Townsville.

Mining boom to benefit WA Western Australia looks set to receive $4

billion per year in mining royalties.

Premier Colin Barnett committed to a $20 billion cap on state debt last year, but it is likely to be broken within two years.

Yesterday business groups called on Treasurer Christian Porter to make cutting payroll tax his first priority to increase job creation.

Lift NSW, Victorian uranium ban: Ferguson The Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has called on Victoria and New South Wales to rethink the bans on uranium mining.

Ferguson welcomed the change to uranium policy in the last few years and said New South Wales and Victoria should make moves to catch up with the other states.

“Uranium exploration and mining have long been banned in NSW and Victoria. This limits our knowledge of potential deposits in these states,” he said.

“The issue of uranium exploration and mining is something I believe the incoming governments in both NSW and Victoria will need to consider.”

Australian Mining gets the latest news every day, providing mining professionals with the up to the minute information on safety, news and technology for the Australian mining and resources industry

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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VICTORIA/TASMANIA SPOTLIGHT

Brown coal’s NEW GOALS The amount of brown coal in Victoria could have huge benefits for the industry and State, as Jessica Burke reports

V

ictoria is home to an abundance of brown coal occurring close to the earth’s surface; one of the largest and lowest cost energy sources in the world.

The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) says there is a proven resource potential of 430 billion tonnes of coal located in the state, IBISWorld figures stating that it is a quarter of the world’s brown coal reserves, 90 per cent of which are in the State’s Latrobe Valley.

Recently rising global energy prices and low emissions coal technology have created new, non-power related investment opportunities for the Victorian brown coal industry, according to the DPI. “More than 80 per cent of Victoria’s resource is located in the Gippsland Basin in South East Victoria, with seams in the Latrobe Valley region containing an estimated measured resource of 65 billion tonnes,” the DPI says.

About half of the brown coal is deemed to be “potentially economic” and the Victorian Government has not yet 10 June 2011

AustralianMining

allocated about 13 billion tonnes tion is very low, it’s very close finding new ways of using it of it to potential developers. to the surface so we can use in energy generation.

“Virtually all the brown open cast methods to access ‘The cost issues with brown coal mined in Australia is it,” he said. coal are that because it has a extracted from that region “The cost of the material lot of water vapour in it, you and used to generate electric- is quite low; we’re focused on have a lot higher capital equipity in power stations located how to use brown coal in low ment costs, when you use more close to the coal mines,” emission environments, to efficient types of coal generaccording to IBISWorld. improve efficiency of energy ation it means higher temperBrown coal output in and carbon capture and stor- atures and you face other costs 2010-2011 is expected to be age, finding how to capture issues with the size of the about 70 million tonnes, emissions from brown coal.” boilers and the cost of some compared with the 68 million Brown Coal Innovation the materials.” tonnes in 2005-2006.

Australia was created primaThe dire skills shortage “The brown coal indus- rily to find practical solutions across the resource sector is try is expected to generate brown coal mining and usage, definitely being felt in the revenue of about $972.6 brown coal industry, million in 2010-11, A quarter of the entire world’s Gurney added. compared with $935 “We’re looking at million in 2005-2006.” brown coal is found in Victoria. the workplace issues The brown coal and working on how it industry was not spared the Gurney explaining that while will need to change considerwrath of the global financial there are issues, the industry ably because we will no longer crisis (GFC) when investment remains committed to alter- be digging up coal and throwand exploration plummeted. nate uses. ing it into a furnace and burnAs the world gets back on “We’re just about to an- ing it,” he told Australian its feet following the GFC, the nounce a new round of fund- Mining. importance of harnessing skills ing, looking at gasification “In terms of staffing issues, and technology for use in brown techniques, new ways of pro- one problem is that there is coal is being realised, as Phil cessing coal, longer term things that there isn’t a great deal of Gurney, chief executive of are looking at how we can expertise in brown coal, it Brown Coal Innovation Aus- turn coal to liquids or to other hasn’t been invested in up until tralia told Australian Mining. gases, potentially hydrogen, recently because there hasn’t “For Victoria, is a low cost using the fact that you have been such a huge focus on resource, the cost of extrac- water in the brown coal and emissions.

“People who can handle it are getting older.

“If we don’t do anything to capture information and transfer it to a new generation we will make the same mistakes, where we bring in equipment and machinery from overseas and nobody will know how to use it.”

Earlier in the year, the Australia-Japan High Level Group held discussions on energies and minerals, in a workshop that provided opportunities for business and government from the two countries to discuss, review and advance coal technologies.

Each year, considerable focus is placed on the importance of brown coal, with many speakers highlighting the world-class reserves present in Victoria.

Japanese government leaders from METI, NEDO AND JCoal joined Australian Federal and State government representatives, including the CSIRO. Representatives were also there from Kawasaki, MitsuContinued on page 12 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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VICTORIA/TASMANIA SPOTLIGHT

Continued from page 10 bishi Heavy Industries, the Australian Coal Association and Brown Coal Innovation Australia.

The need for advanced use of brown coal and the need to dry the coal prior to using it in high efficiency power generation facilities to lower the CO2 emissions generated during the production of electricity was a focus.

A consistent theme throughout the day was the need for more advanced usage of brown coal reserves and the need to dewater the coal prior to its use, particularly when used to lower CO2 emissions generated in the production of electricity.

The focus is on the removal of the water trapped in the brown coal – both physically and chemically – in a cost effective way, which could create a cost-effective gate way for the use of brown coal in conducting and producing electricity.

ECT has developed the Coldry process for the removal of water from brown coal,

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AustralianMining

Brown coal’s high moisture content; which ranges between 48% to 70%, reduces its efficiency.

and says it uses heat to dry the coal by 10 to 14 per cent.

Environmental Clean Technologies chief executive Kos Galtos highlighted the importance of Coldry as part of the technology recognised by Government and Industry.

“Coldry is being taken

very seriously as a solution that can help retain Victoria’s competitive advantage in the national electricity market while offering a front end solution to other technologies looking to create value” Brown coal seams in the Latrobe are up to 100 metres

thick, with multiple seams often giving virtually continuous brown coal thickness of up to 230 metres.

Seams are typically located under only 10-20 metres of overburden.

“Favourable coal to overburden rations (between 0.5:1

and 5:1) in the Latrobe Valley area of the Gippsland Basin indicate a high tonnage of coal for every cubic metre of noncoal material mined,” IBISWorld says.

Beyond the Gippsland Basin, other brown coal deposits can be found in the Otway Basin (mainly within the Bacchus Marsh, Altona and the Anglesea coalfields) and across the Murray Basin.

Access to all sites is subject to the appropriate exploration and mining licenses.

Brown coal basics are that it is typically low in ash, sulphur, heavy metals and nitrogen, making it very low in impurities by world standards.

However, its high moisture content – which ranges from 48-70 per cent, reduces its effective energy content.

Gurney told Australian Mining the focus is on finding alternate uses for the resource.

“We need to be focused on technology that can use the resource and maybe turn it into an exportable commodity, looking at developments so turn coal to liquids and that sort of thing.”

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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VICTORIA/TASMANIA SPOTLIGHT

Grange Resources’ Savage River mine is the State’s most well known operation.

Drilling at Metals X’s Renison Bell underground tin mine.

From Green to Gold Australia’s island state has a mining industry that is making its own future, Cole Latimer reports.

T

asmania is typically seen as Australia’s ‘greenest’ state.

And with the nation’s most widely recognised Greens member Bob Brown as its Senator, it is easy to see why.

With such a strong history of environmentalism, and inversely a reputation for logging, many people forget about its strong mining and minerals processing industry and the role it plays.

As the Tasmanian minister for energy and resources Bryan Green recently said, “the value of the mining sector is not as widely appreciated as it should be.”

From being the major source of Australian tin to hosting lead, nickel, coal and iron ore, it really is a multicommodity state.

So as the mining industry recovers from the global financial crisis, just where does Tasmania and its mining industry stand and what is the perception of this island state in the rest of the country?

First thoughts always drift to safety, especially as we count just over five years since the Beaconsfield tragedy, when the underground gold mine collapsed on Anzac Day in 2006, trapping Todd Russell and Brant Webb for a fortnight and tragically taking the life of Larry Knight.

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AustralianMining

The town of Beaconsfield recently marked half a decade since the event by unveiling a 3-D hologram which explained the underground gold mine accident and also acts as a learning tool for the mining industry.

This anniversary has overshadowed the massive mining safety push the State took earlier this year, when it debuted new workplace safety laws.

In late February, the Tasmanian minister for workplace relations, David O’Byrne, introduced the new health and safety laws which specifically targeted the hazards of the mining industry.

These laws came after a coronial inquiry into the death of a Tasmanian coal miner in 2000; which was caused by a rockfall; found the incident was completely avoidable and highlighted the inaction of safety authorities.

A similar accident at the Renison Bell mine in 2003, where a tin miner was killed in an underground rockfall, further emphasised the need for change.

At the time, O’Byrne said “the tragic mining accidents at Renison and Beaconsfield brought home to Tasmania the risk involved in underground mining.”

The State’s industry has also drawn focus due to union

scuffles with Rio Tinto Alcan at its Bell Bay alumina smelter, where the miner was accused of breaching International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

The Australian Workers Union drew attention to the issue, claiming that workers were being paid around $20 000 less than their mainland compatriots.

However, while these incidents have caught the public’s attention and highlight the potential dangers and hardships of mining, it has not diminished the strong role the industry plays in the State, nor its future.

Tasmania’s resources sector is currently in the best position it has ever been, and “the

importance of the mining and mineral processing industry to the State should not be underestimated,” the State’s minister for energy and resources, Bryan Green, recently told the Tasmanian Minerals Conference.

For the 12 months to the end of February this year, the mining, minerals processing and smelting industry brought in $1.39 billion for Tasmania, nearly half of the State’s gross export income.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics highlighted its booming exploration sector, which saw levels higher than before the global financial crisis hit, with mineral exploration expenditure almost doubling over six successive quarters.

MMG’s Roseberry lead zinc mine, in Tasmania’s north west.

“Minerals exploration really underpins our mining industry and the unprecedented interest in the state is very encouraging,” Green said.

“The discovery of new mineral bearing deposits is crucial to sustaining the mining industry in the long term,” he added.

Tasmanian Minerals Council CEO Terry Long explained that the industry is growing, stating that “you’d have to say the outlook for mining in Tasmania is strong now; it will be even stronger next year.”

An example of this is the expansion of Caterpillar’s underground mining vehicle construction facility due to growing mining industry demand.

The facility, located in Burnie, was forced to lay off nearly 300 workers in 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis.

But with the newly strengthened industry in the state and international demand, the equipment manufacturer has had to create an additional 50 jobs since November last year, and will add another 70 before this year is through.

The Cat facility expansion is a metaphor for this island state’s burgeoning mining sector, which is an industry on the move. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MINERALS PROCESSING

Technology to

FLOAT YOUR BOAT Efficient flotation processes are now possible in the mining industry.

N

Mineral carrying froth rising to the surface inside of a tank.

ew imaging technology on the minerals processing scene is set to increase the efficiency of floatation processes in concentration plants.

It is now possible to use measurement devices based on impedance tomography to create real-time three dimensional images from inside the pipelines and tanks used by the processing industries.

Finnish company Numcore Oy has created an application for the technology for use in concentration plants in the mining industry.

The company says the technology will open up entirely new possibilities to control flotation processes, an important component in the concentration process of minerals.

Put simply, the principle of flotation is to blow bubbles of air into a

mixture of ore, water and chemicals, whereby the mineral particles cling onto the bubbles.

Mineral-carrying froth is generated by the process as the bubbles rise up to the surface which are then collected from there.

“However, problems emerge if the froth cannot carry the load of mineral particles or the process otherwise becomes disturbed,” Numcore’s Jukka Hakola said.

“The froth bed then disappears, and restarting the entire process wastes valuable time.”

Numcore’s measurement devices monitor the size and quantity of air bubbles and the solid matter content of the froth bed using electric conductivity distribution.

“If the solid matter content and bubble size in the froth bed changes,

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16 June 2011

AustralianMining

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MINERALS PROCESSING

It produces a conductivity index curve for monitoring the froth bed condition.

and solid matter starts to gather underneath the froth, this can cause the froth to become rigid or to collapse,” Hakola explained.

“When this situation can be predicted, the problem can then be solved by changing the processes’ operating parameters.”

The system continuously provides the operator with factual data on what is happening in the flotation cells, for example the location of minerals and the bottom surface of the froth bed.

“Because it has not been possible to look inside tanks, controlling a mineral concentration process has largely been based on experiencederived know-how. Now that operators can ‘look’ inside the process, it

www.miningaustralia.com.au

is possible for them to maintain an optimal mix all the time,” he said.

According to Hakola, measuring as such does not create added value, rather the results should be used to control the operation.

“At the moment, our sensors are in use at two concentration plants, where we have been able to see in practice which parameters need to be controlled and how we can really numerically prove the benefits that can be achieved for the customer.

“Our goal is to intervene in any upcoming problems at such an early stage that the process can go on without disturbances.”

Numcore’s measurement technology for minerals processing is currently

already being tested at a number of copper and zinc mines.

Depending on the diameter of the pipeline or tank, Numcore measurement devices are realised either as a flow-through sensor or as a probetype sensor for installation inside large pipelines or tanks.

By supplying a weak alternating current to the electrodes of the sensor, they can measure conductivity differences between the phases, including for liquids, inside pipelines and tanks, as different substances show different conductivity values.

The actual image is created by means of inverse calculation.

“Our CoreApus flow-through sensor lends itself for analysing material flows inside pipelines of less than one metre in diameter.

“Because processing tanks are generally larger than this, we have developed the probe-type CoreHydra sensor which can analyse a larger area of the tank,” Hokala said.

“With several sensors, one can even analyse a large tank or cell.”

Both sensor types can accurately measure interfaces between liquids and solids, but CoreApus is also applicable for imaging rapidly flowing liquids for example in pulp and paper mills. The biggest difference compared to previous systems is that now you

The measuring technology can operate in harsh working environments.

can analyse why and how something is happening in the process, and how you can prevent an event if necessary,” he said.

“We focused on making the system easy to use to enable real-time and on-site corrective measures rather than relying on, say, laboratory samples.”

AustralianMining

June 2011

17

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MINERALS PROCESSING

Driving the processing industry Vertical mounted dry well HD drives keep minerals processing on track.

High grade torque distribution.

The dry well construction aids to safeguard against oil leaks into any process liquids due to any ageing seals or wearing.

According to Bonfiglioli managing director Malcolm Lewis, “these particular drives were aerators at a wastewater treatment plant, but many of the features apply to process applications such as minerals processing liquids.

“For example, drive bearings were engineered to accept the greater loads generated when used on the long shafts found in aerators.”

The HD drives can also be individually tailored.

The drives feature a high degree of torque distribution across their entire ratio range, with gear ratios laid out in close progression and the drives designed with a rugged capacity to cope with the shock and impact of vibration and intermittent loads that are typically faced in the minerals processing industry.

Finite element analysis and multi body simulations

G G

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were conducted on the vertical mounted drives to identify the stress patterns on each of the main components to optimise the design for system structural stiffness; gear geometry; shaft deflection; and extended gear and bearing lifespan.

HD drive combinations are particularly suited to

conveyor drives and materials handling applications mineral processing, primary processing, resources, energy and water and waste water, Lewis added.

• Bonfiglioli Transmission 02 8811 8000 sales@bonfiglioli.com.au www.bonfiglioli.com.au

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991mm

www.narva.com.au 18 June 2011

AustralianMining

5 years and does not cover physical damage, abuse or normal wear and tear.

It has integrated 55kW and 10kNm six pole motors with HDP helical parallel series drives featuring dry well construction and an OP2 lubrication pump.

The pump has been incorporated to ensure efficient bearing performance in vertical mountings.

They were also epoxy coated for corrosion protection and durability.

Contamination of minerals processing fluids by motor oils could potentially ruin the processed throughput, resulting in costly unscheduled downtimes to fix the problem.

* This warranty guarantees the operation of the L.E.D components for a period of

J

ust what drives the minerals processing sector onwards?

Is it the industry striving to achieve and maintain the highest processing standards, a need to constantly work harder and better, or is it higher earnings through increased output acting as the main motivator?

It’s none of the above.

Heavy duty drives do.

In custom designing drives for clean and consistent operation, Bonfiglioli has created a HD drive that can be vertically mounted to aerate or mix liquids for the minerals processing industry.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MINERALS PROCESSING

Feeding your thickener Understanding your feedwell increases thickener performances, Chad Loan* writes.

T

here is no doubt that current economic and environmental constraints accelerate the need for thickeners to yield superior design solutions and process results.

And whilst there have been some thickening technologies and processes which have seen major advances in recent years, there are some processing areas which have yet to realise their full potential.

One such area is the feedwell in the thickener.

Most designs unfortunately result in significant feed short circuiting, inefficient feed and dilution liquor mixing, high aggregate shear forces on exit and hence overall inadequate feedwell and thickener performance.

So what exactly is the feedwell supposed to do?

It performs two main functions, firstly to dissipate feed momentum and distribute feed slurry across the entire mud bed.

Secondly, it acts as a mixing vessel for flocculation.

Designing a feedwell to perform both tasks is challenging.

A turbulent connection The two feedwell functions of momentum dissipation and flocculation are functionally linked by turbulence.

The same turbulence that dissipates the feed momentum also provides mixing for the feed’s dilution and subsequent flocculation.

Consequently, a feedwell typically contains a number of elements to promote turbulence, but these may have unintended consequences.

Oversized baffles, for example, may stall the flow and then cause the feed to short circuit rapidly out of the feedwell.

This is where tools like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can really help understand and customise designs to achieve improved performance.

A retrofitted Vane Feedwell solved mixing problems on site.

Flocculation – stirred but not shaken Flocculation is, in essence, a “mixing problem” and does not respond well to the usual engineering approach to mixing, i.e. aggressive impellers driven by high powered motors.

This leads to irreversible aggregate breakup, where the aggregates won’t re-form without the addition of more flocculant.

In essence, the feedwell must slow the feed stream, mix it gently with

Thickener trends prior to and after the Vane Feedwell retrofit.

20 June 2011

AustralianMining

dilution water and flocculant, hold it in the feedwell long enough to complete the flocculation and capture all the fines and then direct the flocculated slurry gently and symmetrically across the entire mud bed.

Benefits of in-depth feedwell understanding The Outotec Vane Feedwell is the culmination of a number of years of R&D and site testwork.

It is based on a dual zone design, where the upper zone dissipates most of the momentum and creates turbulence for mixing.

The Vane Feedwell incorporates reduced flocculant use; improved thickener operability; improved thickener capacity; maximised water recovery; improved underflow density; and improved overflow clarity as well as CFD capabilities.

Using CFD, designs can be specifically customised for particular sites and duties.

Alternatively, the likely improvements of retrofitting Vane Feedwells into existing units can easily be assessed.

Site validation at Tiwest Cooljarloo operations At Tiwest’s Cooljarloo site in Western Australia, the dry mine feeds clay residue (slimes) to an Outotec 20m High Compression Thickener.

The feed dilution system incorporates both forced dilution and selfdilution.

The unit was designed to a duty of 80 t/h and a feedwell volume flow of 2500 m3/h, based on 3% w/w feedwell solids.

Feed material characteristics at the site changed and subsequently thickener performance declined.

Thickener flocculant dose increased, underflow density reduced and sliming/ pulping occurrences increased as a Continued on page 22 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MINERALS PROCESSING

Continued from page 20 result of both the change and variability of the material.

All this resulted in poor thickener performance, with significant water losses and slimes dam capacity impacts.

To improve thickener performance, Vane Feedwell components were retrofitted to the internals of the existing feedwell.

The feedwell performance before and after the Vane Feedwell retrofit at Cooljarloo was modelled by CFD. There were many scenarios modelled during this programme.

One element was the flow pattern coupled with shear rate distribution.

Moderate shear rates are required for flocculation, however excessive shear rates will cause irreversible aggregate break-up.

Ideally, shear rates should be moderate in the top of the feedwell where the flocculant is added, and then be lower in the lower zone to ensure the aggregates safe passage through to the settling and clarification zones out in the thickener tank.

Fitting the Vane Feedwell components remedied poor mixing in the upper zone.

Higher shear rates in the top of the feedwell which, when associated with the better solids retention in this area, resulted in improved flocculation.

Higher solids concentration in this region also indicated better feed momentum dissipation.

Finally, the shear rates were decreased in the exit region, indicating a reduction in flocculated aggregate breakage when discharging into the thickener body.

Results Process data taken showed slimes thick-

ener flocculant dose for the period prior was averaging 490 g/t with a standard deviation of 114 g/t. Post installation, flocculant dose reduced by approximately 20% to an average of 393 g/t and process stability occured with a standard deviation of only 12 g/t.

Thickener underflow density Underflow density showed a significant difference pre- and post Vane Feedwell installation. Prior to the retrofit, the slimes underflow density averaged 18% w/w with a standard deviation of 3.7% w/w.

Post Vane Feedwell installation, a density of 20% w/w was averaged, perhaps more interesting is the standard deviation being only 1.2% w/w.

This implies that not only a higher underflow density can be achieved but also more consistently, resulting in improved process operability.

Flocculant demand Flocculant dose, as determined through the laboratory characterisation procedure, can be viewed as being essentially consistent at an average measure of 300 g/t both prior to the Vane Feedwell installation and post.

Although there was a reduction in dose demand immediately post installation; and some noise in the upward direction; the average still essentially equates to the same as prior. *Chad Loan is a technology manager at Outotec. This article originally appeared in full at The International Seminar on Paste & Thickened Tailings. â&#x20AC;˘ Outotec Laura White 02 9984 2500 laura.white@outotec.com www.outotec.com

Elevation view of flow patterns and solids concentration in an unmodified feedwell.

22 June 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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We’re as passionate about our equipment as you are about your process Experts in bulk material handling for more than 125 years.

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We understand that keeping your process running efficiently with minimum down time is your number one priority. That’s why our staff work relentlessly to provide you with the most reliable equipment money can buy.

At every step, be it application engineering, design, project management, manufacturing, despatch or commissioning, we are there by your side to ensure that your process runs smoothly and profitably.

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HARD ROCK MINING

Sand, fire, and

COPPER

Since the discovery of high-grade copper gold deposits in Western Australia, Sandfire Resources has risen to national and international prominence, Rita Mu reports.

O

ut in the middle of the dusty outback of Western Australia, the booming sound of an explosive blast, followed by a cloud of red sand swept through the sky like a small dust storm.

This was an explosion that marked new beginnings.

Well, for Sandfire Resources, at least.

In April, the mining company began the development of its DeGrussa mine with the excavation of a box-cut to establish a decline portal. This occurred exactly two years after the miner first discovered the high-grade DeGrussa copper-gold deposits, located 900 kilometres north of Perth.

Sandfire’s DeGrussa Pro-

ject, which forms part of its Doolgunna tenement package, the most important section being the DeGrussa deposit, which consists of a primary deposit, near-surface chalcocite zone, and oxide copper zone.

Sandfire managing director Karl Simich, told Australian Mining DeGrussa was one of the most significant mineral finds in recent times because of its high-grade copper-gold deposits and Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) mineralisation.

“DeGrussa is one of the most exciting mineral discoveries seen in Australia in recent years. The reason for a lot of this excitement is that the

Excavation of a box cut to establish a decline portal at the copper gold project.

DeGrussa Project hosts VMS mineralisation, which typically occurs around the world in ‘clusters’ of deposits – it’s very unusual for a single VMS deposit to exist in isolation.

“The discovery of the DeGrussa Project has opened up a potential new mining province in the Bryah Basin

of Western Australia, and Sandfire – as well as numerous other companies – are currently exploring to identify additional VMS deposits,” he said.

The execution According to Simich, Sandfire’s DeGrussa mine will

include both open-pit and underground operations.

“The DeGrussa nearsurface chalcocite zone is a ‘direct shipping ore’ – that is, it requires very little processing and can essentially be dug up and shipped as is. It is close to surface and will be mined via open pit,” Simich explained.

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24 June 2011

AustralianMining

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HARD ROCK MINING

The other deposits are deeper underground and the ore will require processing before it can be shipped.

Production from the pit is set to start in early 2012 and continue for two years.

It will include the extraction of 143,000 tonnes grading 25.6 per cent copper and 2.5g/t gold, resulting in 37,000 tonnes of copper and 12,000 ounces of gold.

Production from the underground mine, which will include transverse and longitudinal long-hole open stoping, is expected to begin sometime late next year.

The underground ore will be processed via an on-site concentrator, which will include crushing and milling processes, followed by flotation, de-watering and filtration processes.

Going to market According to investment banker, Barclays Capital, the grade of recovered copper ore worldwide has declined since the mid-90s.

This year, the copper market is expected to fall into deficits of about 600,000

www.miningaustralia.com.au

Initial blasting to establish underground operations carried out at Sandfire’s DeGrussa site

tonnes this year, and 380,000 tonnes next year as supply falls short of demand, according to a Goldman Sachs and JBWere report released in February.

With such bleak figures projected for the copper market, the discovery of highgrade copper-gold mineralisation at DeGrussa, could not have come at a better time for Sandfire Resources.

According to Simich, the DeGrussa open-pit and underground production mine is expected to produce an average of 60-70,000 tonnes of payable

copper and 40-45,000 ounces of payable gold per annum, when the underground mine reaches its full production rate of 1.5Mtpa by mid-2013.

“The Project is anticipated to generate average annual pre-tax operating cash flows of $330-$350 million from the 2012/2013 financial year onwards - based on open pit and 1.5Mtpa of underground production,” Simich said.

Further exploration In addition to its DeGrussa Project, Sandfire is conducting exploration at two other

sites in Western Australia as well as at a site in the Northern Territory.

According to Simich, mining activities at DeGrussa will help fund further exploration across Sandfire’s tenements.

Lead-zinc deposits have so far been identified at Sandfire’s Yanmarie Project, located 250 kilometres northeast of Carnarvon in WA. Grades of up to 500 parts per million of uranium have also been at the site from surface sampling.

Located in the West Pilbara region – 80 kilometres south-

east of the coastal town of Onslow – Sandfire’s Urandy Project is a prospective tenement for primary gold mineralisation and base metals, while the miner’s Borroloola Project in the Northern Territory has identified zinc-leadsilver deposits, as well as manganese, uranium and iron ore mineralisation.

Simich said that while the company looked forward to a diverse portfolio of mining projects, its current focus was on the development of DeGrussa.

“The DeGrussa Project is Sandfire’s flagship asset – it has been the foundation of the miner’s success to date, and is set to become a premier high-grade copper mine and one of the largest copper producers in Western Australia,” he said.

For Sandfire Resources, it appears the best is yet to come.

With the development of the DeGrussa Project now underway, it is only a matter of time until it takes a seat next to the big players of the Australian mining industry.

AustralianMining

June 2011

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QUARRYING/CRUSHING/SCREENING

Separating itself from the rest of

THE PACK

A new mobile screening unit from Metso is demonstrating its capability to screen and separate on-site

26 June 2011

AustralianMining

E

The unit is compact enough to fit on a trailer.

nsuring a clean and sized end product is the essence of all screening products.

Getting it done quickly and efficiently as well as being mobile is the aim of many screens.

A n d M e t s o ’s l a t e s t screen, the Lokotrack ST3.5 is hitting this mark.

Most recently it demonstrated its ability at a quarry in Pollenza, Italy, where it processed rock based recycle materials which were mixed in with wood, plastic and other scrap.

With a vibrating grid, it ensured the screened end products remained consistently clean.

According to the quarry owners, as the screening unit is fairly compact, the screen could be transported on a normal trailer.

On top of its normal screening capabilities, the Lokotrak ST3.5 can also be

fitted with an optional vibrating grid.

In quarrying operations this will allow for quicker feeding and reduces the need to tilt the grid for cleaning.

Inside of Metso’s new Lokotrak ST3.5 mobile screen, the upper deck houses a 30 millimetre mesh size and the lower deck 5 millimetres.

Oversized materials separated by the grid are returned to the crushing stage.

It can reach outputs of around 118 tonnes per hour.

The mobile screening unit can also utilise separate remote radio controls for the screening unit and the vibrating grid, allowing for total steering and adjustment of the screening process easily from the excavator to front end loader cabins.

• Metso Minerals 07 3623 2999 www.metso.com

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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QUARRYING/CRUSHING/SCREENING

Working down

THE LINE

Changing jaw and cone crusher liners just got quicker and easier.

L

iners are an integral part of every mining jaw and cone crusher.

So fitting new liners, which is critical in their efficient operation, is key but the process is long and requires serious pre-planning.

You can’t just have an unscheduled liner change.

So an innovative new jaw and cone crusher liner lifting tool – Mangasafe – is set to change this aspect of quarrying and crushing in mining as it allows workers to quickly and more importantly, safely,

lift and replace the liners, which in turn then saves a mine crane time and removes the need to weld lugs.

Developed after several years of research by manganese liner supplier Crushing Equipment, Mangasafe has had extensive field-testing and completed rigorous NATA and AS3776-2006 load certification.

Crushing Equipment’s managing director Tom Bruce explained that the new lifting tool is “a simple solution to what can often be an extremely

The lifting tool allows for the replacement of liners in minutes.

28 June 2011

AustralianMining

The tool inserts into the liner’s pre-cast holes, removing the need to weld lugs.

dangerous task in the mining is measured in a matter of He went on to say that all industry. minutes. of the company’s liners are “We have created this “It is a safe and efficient now cast to use the tool. simple yet innovative response procedure which is done in The new cone crusher to the hazardous and time less than a minute and also lifting tool is currently underconsuming method of weld- positions liners at the right going final testing and further ing lifting lugs to the development and is exmanganese liners.” pected to be available The lifting tool has completely Mangasafe works soon, according to Crushremoved the need to weld lugs by simply inserting ing Equipment’s Bruce. into the liner’s pre- onto the crusher liners.

“We’re sure that over cast holes, after which time, Mangasafe will a stabiliser bar is fitted and angle to lower against the jaw become the first word assothe lifting chains are then face,” Bruce said. ciated with safe crushing liner attached.

“While we had an obvious change outs – just like Hoover “We have totally removed focus on improving produc- is to vacuuming.” the need to weld lugs and the tion in developing Mangasafe, associated risks involved and our real motivation is to improve • Mangasafe can now lift a jaw liner in five safety throughout the mining 03 9338 0200 www.mangasafe.com.au simple steps in a process that industry.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Spherical bearing for spider bearing; The spherical bearing can receive the high load with the wide areas. This has long bearing life as result.

Robust structure design frame; The crushers process various characteristic ore.

The structure of HPC crushers are designed to stand the large fracture loads of hard ore.

Replaceable parts of the main shaft for easy maintenance; “Screw thread collar” and “main shaft sleeve” can be replaced independently.

No thread type on main shaft; No thread on the shaft makes the strength much stronger than conventional design.

Special crushing chamber for high performance crushing

“Flared bottom frame” to avoid wear of bottom frame liner.

Long life roller bearing

No leakage fourfold V-packing Strong and silent spiral bevel gear and pinion.

1500kW, large head diameters exceeding 2700mm

THE MOST ADVANCED HPC RANGE AVAILABLE Remote automation ability, ultra-efficiency, outproduces the rest, most technologically advanced, continual customization… describing the features of Kawasaki’s new HPC crushers range goes on and on . But perhaps the best benefit of all is the legendry Minprovise Site Services team that comes with it. Highest quality installation, maintenance and optimization from a team of highly-trained experts who maintain and optimize over 80 customer’s crushers at various sites. Kawasaki and Minprovise… an unbeatable combination.

www.minprovise.com.au

Call Perth (08) 9470 9180, Brisbane (07) 3255 5919 or Mackay (07) 4952 4272 for more details.

13381 Aust Min

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Good

VIBES

Reducing the levels of machinery vibration also reduces your stress.

V

ibration in machinery can result in a wide range of problems if it is not properly attended to.

Sometimes vibration is caused by imbalances in rotors, bearings, springs and gears as vibration migrates from the source to surrounding structures and wear-prone components.

If vibration is left unchecked, the consequences can lead to energy waste due to kinetic energy required for vibration or operator fatigue and noise nuisances.

Noise harshness and vibration (NVH) is an increasing problem in workers compensation issues.

Unchecked vibration can also lead to bearing failures, metal spring cracking and collapsing, metal structures cracking and weakening, potentially leading to unexpected plant shutdowns.

Interference with nearby computer, electrical and electro-magnetic equipment is also a concern as it can potentially lead to production disruption.

Marsh Mellows springs have fabric reinforced solid rubber isolators used for quiet isolation of machinery vibration and for general shock absorption throughout industry.

The company says it is a simple, robust and effective means of solving vibration and isolation problems.

The cylindrical springs, developed

by Firestone – the world’s biggest producer of air springs for isolation and actuation – are used world-wide as an alternative to metal coil springs for applications involving building, construction, computer, electrical and electronic equipment including motors, gearboxes, compressors, conveyors, materials handling machinery and shock absorbers.

Marsh Mellows provide consistent performance regardless of changing loads, while offering high lateral stability and compact size, according to Simon Agar, General Manager for Marsh Mellows’ Australian distributor, Air Springs Supply.

Agar explained that Marsh Mellow springs are constructed of a solid rubber core with a hollow centre and several plies of fabric-reinforced rubber as an outer cover.

“Marsh Mellow springs are quiet in operation, unlike steel springs which readily transmit high frequency structural noise and often suffer from coil chatter,” he said.

“A failing coil spring may crack,

30 June 2011

AustralianMining

The springs work to reduce unwanted levels of machinery vibration.

causing fragments of the coil to damage equipment, resulting in expensive unscheduled downtime.

“This problem is eliminated with Marsh Mellow springs, which are tolerant of overload and, if they ever do fail, do not fail catastrophically.

“The quiet performance of Marsh Mellows – and the fact that they resist water, grit and

The marshmallow spring.

contamination – means they are ideal for applications where high levels of workplace safety and hygiene are essential.

“Their high load capability means fewer springs may be needed in an application, resulting in less overall cost,” Agar said, adding that Marsh Mellow spring elements can be modified to meet customers’ specific load and performance requirements.

Marsh Mellow’s fabric-reinforced spring has more lateral stability than an all-rubber spring of the same size, so it can support greater loads while maintaining its cylindrical shape.

A spring with a smaller overall size than an all-rubber spring of identical load capacity can be chosen for when space is restricted.

Marsh Mellow springs are maintenance-free, have no moving parts and require no lubrication.

Their rubber and fabric-reinforced construction is corrosion resistant for a durable, long life. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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SURFACE MINING: A selective approach

Surface mining technology is finding favour in greenfield projects where conventional excavation methods are constrained or uneconomical, Jamie Wade writes for Australian Mining.

W

ith quality deposits diminishing, mine operators are facing increasing cost pressures, particularly where existing or proposed mining activity near built-up communities occurs.

This is especially so in areas such as the New South Wales Hunter Valley and Western Australia’s Margaret River, where mining occurs in a highly visible and contentious region.

Thankfully, technology is keeping pace to aid in overcoming these challenges.

For a few decades now, surface miners have filled the niche for mining applications that required a selective approach to ore extraction.

However, surface miners are no longer just auxiliary equipment – they’ve become the key production machines in many mining operations locally and globally.

A special cutting drum cuts and crushes the material before it is loaded on dumpers via a robust conveyor system.

The material can alternatively be deposited as a windrow between the miner’s crawler tracks – an option that enables surface miners to not only save time but costs and energy as well.

In addition surface mining technology allows raw mineral materials to be mined by cutting, not by drilling and blasting, which prevents damaging vibrations in the immediate vicinity of the mining site.

Heavy vibration restrictions and strict blasting are in place around the Hunter Valley due to the close prox-

imity of the mines to nearby communities.

Even so, complaints of increased vibrations, despite falling well within guidelines, still occur and negatively effect the public’s perception of the mining operation.

It also prevents the possibility of dust plume events due to blasting, which anger

the local communities and raise the concern of ‘toxic fumes’ spreading around the site, despite the fact these events are often caused by damp, coloured dirt rather than ‘dangerous’ chemicals.

Surface mining supplier Wirtgen has been on the front foot in developing the technology that aids in avoiding these situations.

Speaking to Australian Mining on the eve of their surface mining workshop in Perth, Wirtgen staff including group manager mining division Bernhard Schimm, mining manager Colin Ford and national development manager Andrew Gotley were keen to highlight how new technology was making dollars and sense.

“There is a growing demand in mineral mining for mining methods that are more economically efficient and more environmentally compatible at the same time,” Schimm explained.

A Wirtgen SM2500 Surface Miner in operation at FMG producing in excess of 1000 tonnes per hour.

Continued on page 34

Filling the niche The operating method of surface miners resembles that of cold milling machines.

32 June 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Continued from page 32 “With increasingly difficult geological conditions resulting in lower contents of useful minerals both in existing and newly developed mineral deposits, surface mining increases the exploitation rate of mineral deposits, because it enables the minerals to be mined in a selective operation.

“Selective mining produces a high yield of useful minerals of high purity, while saving natural resources at the same time,” Ford added.

“Mineral deposits can be exploited right up to the peripheral areas of the mine.”

On the surface of it The low levels of noise and dust developing during the mining operation are yet another mark in favour when compared to conventional drilling and blasting methods.

Surface mining permits allow useful minerals to be mined effectively and without difficulty right up to residential areas or roads.

The surface miners cut and crush the minerals to be mined, producing small-sized material that is ideal for profitable processing, because it requires only minor additional treatment.

Mining coal, bauxite, phosphate, kimberlite or salt becomes increasingly profitable, and surface miners are capable of mining even hard lime or

34 June 2011

AustralianMining

A Wirtgen SM4200 Surface Miner in operation at FMG producing in excess of 2500 tonnes per hour.

granite rock of up to 260 megapascals without the need for drilling and blasting.

Coal mine operators in Australia can benefit greatly from surface mining technology, according to Colin Ford, who sees strong application of the technology on Greenfield coal mine sites on the eastern seaboard.

“New South Wales and Queensland have coal strata that are absolutely ideal for surface mining,” he said.

The ability to mine close to residential areas is of key importance for operators in the two states’ coalfields, where large open cut coal mines often back on to residential areas and acreage, which has caused tension in the regions as communities claim the mining industry is impact the region and encroaching on their land

due to its visible and extremely noisy operations.

The machines have also seen use at Fortescue Metals Group’s iron ore mines in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, where the surface miners were able to produce in excess of 2500 tonnes/hour.

Crushing and screening Not to be outdone by advances in surface miner technology, crushing and screening technology has delivered greater efficiencies – particularly in the process flow of material through the crusher.

“We started about five to 10 years ago by placing independent vibrating double-deck screens on mobile equipment before the crusher to remove more of the fine or on-size material to bypass crushing,” Gotley said.

Greater belt widths are also said to be improving the flow of material through the machines to reduce blockages.

For the latest Mobirex MR 110 ZS Tracked Impact Crusher, “we start with a metre wide belt on the feed hopper followed by a 1.1m wide belt on the crusher, a 1.2m wide belt on the chute underneath the crusher to accept the materials, then a 1.3m wide belt coming out,” Gotley added.

Another key advance in the machinery, says Wirtgen’s Andrew Gotley, has been the change from hydraulic to electric drives for better fuel economy: “Less diesel means less cost to process the raw material.”

Moving forward Other key developments in the crushing machinery, accord-

ing to Andrew Gotley, have been the development of new blow bar designs and crushing wear plate designs that improve the flow and crushability of material.

With mobile crushers, adds Gotley, many Kleemann machines are now fitted with back to base monitoring or a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) card.

“As long as there’s a network, you can access the machines and troubleshoot if required,” he said.

Another key trend seen is stationary processing plants increasingly being replaced by mobile machines.

Under the Kleemann brand, Wirtgen has developed special secondary crusher units which work, electrically interlocked, together with other machines such as primary crushers and screens.

Its secondary impact crushers and cone crushers are, depending on the process requirements, operated with or without fitted screens.

Depending on the application, the secondary crushers can be used as secondary or tertiary machines.

Even complicated processing sequences can be solved nowadays with several machines connected in series.

• Wirtgen Australia Andrew Gotley 02 4735 2699 kleemann@wirtgen-aust.com.au www.wirtgen-aust.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Innovation

through proven experience

MMD remains the proven performer in the field of modern high capacity fully mobile IPCC solutions, having designed and built the two highest capacity track mounted mobile sizers in the world to date; MS1, 8,000 - 10,000TPH of overburden commissioned in 2001.

OS1, 6,000 - 8,000TPH of oil sands commissioned in 2006.

Many improvements and design features gained from the 10 years of development and operating experience have been incorporated in the MMD mobile sizer stations which are now ready for full production.

All unnecessary complications have been eliminated to reduce the weight and therefore cost, whilst substantially increasing the production capability. The low profile, low weight design is extremely manoeuvrable enabling continuous movement to be synchronised with the face shovel, offering maximum operating efficiency at production capacities far in excess of that achievable by truck and shovel operations, and with much less impact on the environment.

All of these mobile sizer stations utilise standard MMD apron plate feeders and MMD twin shaft mineral sizers, which have been developed by MMD over the last 30 years, and have a proven track record in a wide range of minerals, from soft and sticky to abrasive hard rock applications including; bauxite, gold, kimberlite, iron ore, copper ore and granite. Visit the MMD website for more information.

10,000TPH Mobile sizer processing overburden

8,000TPH Mobile sizer processing oil sands

MMD leads the way with tried and tested, efficient, high capacity, fully mobile successful IPCC solutions

MMD WORLD LEADERS IN MINERAL SIZERS MMD Australia Pty. Ltd. Tel: +61 7 3112 2640 sizers@mmdaus.com.au www.mmdsizers.com

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ASIA-PACIFIC’S INTERNATIONAL MINING EXHIBITION aimex.com.au

6-9 September 2011 SYDNEY SHOWGROUND I SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK I NSW I AUSTRALIA

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Too big to miss.

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New brains for

MINING GIANTS Reducing the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;brainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; size of PLCs on mining trucks is increasing performance, Andrea Mayer* writes.

M

ining trucks are huge transport vehicles used on open-cut mines all over the globe, and the T 282 C made by Liebherr is one of the most powerful models in the world.

High-performance PLC units are required to control these vehicles and to ensure they operate reliably.

For its dump truck, Liebherr chose the heavy-duty industrial PC ThinkIO from Kontron.

Liebherrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavy-duty mining trucks work hard transporting coal, diamonds and copper in places like the United States, Africa and Chile.

These vehicles have tyres that are nearly 4 metres high â&#x20AC;&#x201C; more than twice as tall as a full-grown adult â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and weigh in at 5289 kilograms, making them the largest in the world.

More impressive is the payload capacity of these massive beasts.

Liebherrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s T 282 C can carry up to 363 tonnes at a top speed of 64 kph and that with a relatively low empty vehicle weight of 237 tonnes.

A mining truck of this size needs to be able to control all vehicle components efficiently and reliably.

For example, it features continuous acceleration and deceleration, which helps reduce wear and tear on parts.

This means that when the driver accelerates or brakes, the system logs the position of the pedal and then converts this information is into a command for the electric traction motors that are located on the rear axle.

To ensure the motors get enough energy to perform the command, the necessary rotational speed has to be communicated to the truckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diesel engine.

A generator converts the engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mechanical power into electrical power that sends exactly the right amount of drive to the wheels.

The steering works in a similar way.

When the driver turns the wheel, the torque for the two power trains is calculated separately for each according to the steering angle, enabling the mammoth truck to get around the corner safely.

Handling all these complex, high-speed control processes requires a powerful, reliable programmable logic controller (PLC).

These logic controller

Liebherrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s massive mining trucks need heavy duty PLCs for mine site operations.

computer components act as the brain of the vehicle.

The brain must be able to work dependably under the harsh conditions of mining because all vehicle components apart from the hydraulic steering and brakes depend on it.

If the brain shuts down, the entire truck comes to a halt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and that can lead to significant losses in terms of haulage.

High-performance giant In spring 2009, Liebherr decided to equip its mining trucks with a new and more powerful control unit.

One of the main requirements the PLC had to fulfill was the ability to work reli-

ably in extreme temperatures without a cooling fan.

Due to the harsh conditions the trucks operate in, the PLC could not include any components sensitive to shocks and vibrations, such as fans and hard drives.

Another requirement concerned the other end of the temperature range.

Mining trucks need to function flawlessly in regions with extreme climates, such as in Chile, where they might be working at 4,500 meters above sea level, or in Canada, where temperatures can plunge to double-digit subzero temperatures in the winter.

The unit has to manage a cold start even in these extremely harsh conditions.

Liebherr also needed a PLC with four independent CAN bus interfaces.

The mining truck is equipped with a variety of devices that all have to be connected to the control unit via a field bus.

These devices include certain inverters for the power train and peripheral sensors for recording temperature and pressure values.

Liebherr wanted to be able to group the devices by their various function and relative importance.

This would mean that, for example, one CAN bus would handle only data necessary for the power train, while another would transfer less critical signals.

The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest logistics systems supplier

S C H A E F E R

P: 1800 SCHAEFER 38 June 2011

AustralianMining

ingle shop supplier ollaborative development & design olistic Solution suppliers fter sales service nationwide uropean design & conformity

ngineering expertise and Project Management ight supply choice

E: info@schaeferssi.com.au

www.ssi-schaefer.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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This is designed to make the trucks more reliable.

File system facilitates fault diagnosis The PLC also offers a file system that makes it possible to archive operating data and then retrieve them during maintenance and fault diagnosis operations.

This “condition monitoring” allows engineers to identify, for example, excessive wear and tear on the vehicle’s components such as the engine’s air filter.

Using the saved information, they can then identify what parts need to be replaced and when.

Users can retrieve fault files using an Ethernet interface or USB stick and then analyse them at their leisure.

This system gives maintenance staff access to up-tothe-minute information on

the truck’s various sensors and actuators.

Technical requirements aside, Liebherr also wanted to find a PLC manufacturer with a strong, sustainable market position.

The devices have a service life of at least ten years and replacement parts must be available far beyond this period, so Liebherr wanted a PLC provider that could be counted on over the long term and could guarantee that it can supply its device or a compatible follow-up model for at least ten years.

In their search for a suitable supplier, the Liebherr team came across Kontron.

According to Liebherr, Kontron’s heavy-duty industrial PC ThinkIO met all the requirements the team had identified.

The ThinkIO works with a 1.06 GHz Intel Celeron M

processor and runs Linux OSADL and CoDeSys Version 2.3. Developed specifically for use in harsh environments, it can handle temperatures from -55 to 60ºC and is shock and vibration resistant.

The standard version only has one CAN bus interface, but Kontron modified it for Liebherr with an additional board to provide the four interfaces required.

One of the major advantages of the heavy-duty industrial PC ThinkIO is its processing power.

Liebherr wanted its new control system to be at least four times as fast as the previous version.

It met this target, performing at six times the speed of Liebherr’s previous solution.

This processing power allowed functions previously divided between two control units to be combined into a

A graphic display in the truck’s driver’s cabin display important information such as payload.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

The ThinkIO comes with four CAN interfaces and is designed to be shock and vibration resistant.

single device – without even touching on the PLC’s performance limits.

So despite the high level of integration, there is plenty of scope for future add-ons, which will save time and money down the road.

The graphic display is also useful for drivers and service staff because it gives them onscreen access to important information on payload, faults, temperatures etc.

From diesel engine diagnostics to brake wear, the central PLC can record and display on screen everything that can be saved as electronic data and that is essential to vehicle operation.

The graphic interface can connect the monitor in the driver’s cab directly to the logic controller.

Previously this required installing and programming a separate visual display device and PLC. Integrating these functions into one device has cut down on time and effort in a number of ways, such as making it unnecessary to update three

separate programs for every add-on.

Already in action A number of mining trucks are now working with the Kontron heavy-duty industrial PC ThinkIO. The first went into operation in late 2009, which means Liebherr engineers have had nearly two years of experience with the new technology.

Project manager Bernd Sommer explained that “with one unit instead of two handling all the functions, we’ve been able to take a big step forward in terms of development – everything goes much faster now.”

Since early 2010 Liebherr has been fitting all its mining trucks with the Kontron heavyduty industrial PC ThinkIO. *Andrea Mayer is a marketing manager at Kontron • Kontron Australia 02 9457 0047 info@kontron.com.au www.kontron.com.au

AustralianMining

June 2011

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Cloud control Cloud computing is making an impact in the remote mining scene.

M

aking shapes out of clouds just got a whole lot more interesting.

Cloud based technology has exploded onto the mining scene, and a recent seminar held in New South Wales highlighted the number of businesses who are interested in the technology.

The advantages of Cloud based technologies, where data is stored in a central location and available for use from different places is a concept that can help mining companies with their operations.

Chief executive of software and technology company Verb, Damien Wilde said Clouds can provide many benefits to companies.

Chief among them is the ability to provide Sydney CBD-like services to remote and rural mining areas from Verb’s Central Coast facility.

“Data centres utilising the same or similar technology to the Verb Data Centre have been deployed by the likes of Google, Microsoft and Verizon in the Northern Hemisphere but we were the first in our region,” he said.

“Everything about the facility is best of breed and focused on delivering increased efficiencies to customers,”

Cloud computing allows remote miners greater IT options in the field.

“This centre will enable high speed, high density computing power to be attainable at a significantly lower cost for businesses, aiding in the process of future development in the area.”

The company’s sales director, Roy Pater said the recent conference held on the Central Coast aimed to educate local businesses, including mining companies, about how Cloud computing can save them money on remote sites without sacrificing power and reliability.

He said the dependability and speed now available for miners in regional and rural areas was previously only a possibility for large corporations like banks.

“To be successful in today’s highly competitive and fast paced world, mining businesses need to be agile,” he explained.

“They need to have the flexibility to respond to challenges and opportunities as they happen and not have IT slow them down.

“That means reducing costs, increasing efficiencies and operating proactively rather than reactively.”

Pater said Verb Data has collaborated with other companies, enabling them to offer the technology to the mining industry.

“To offer industrial and mining customers the very best products and service we set up partnerships with proven computer resellers such as Andor to deliver our services to the market.

“In addition Verb has formed solid partnerships with the most highly regarded companies in the IT and telecommunications industries including Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Cisco, Telstra, Optus and Kaseya.

Pater says having the correct IT structure in place is crucial to achieve business goals, and with the Verb IT technology can deploy IT resources “as a service” that you only pay for when and how its needed.

He says Verb can help reduce capital expenditure on buying and maintaining expensive equipment like servers and hard disk storage.

• Verb DC www.verbgroup.com.au

The harshest testing grounds AUSTRALIA is often seen as the testing ground for mining equipment; if it can survive here, it can survive pretty much anywhere.

This is particularly true of mine vehicles and their supporting equipment and electronics.

With dust and heat a constant factor in the industry, less rugged machines quickly give up the ghost.

Unitronix latest release, Acrosser’s AR-V6002FL, is one piece of equipment that is designed to operate in this unforgiving environment.

The fanless and dustproof in-vehicle computer is designed with standard power input for car batteries of 12V/24V capability to operate in rugged environments of as low as -20°C through to temperatures of more than 50°C degrees, which can often be found on remote mine sites.

Being fanless and dustproof increases its ability to work within the Australian mining environment, which is often much more dry and dusty compared to typical European, Asian and North American mining conditions.

The in-vehicle computer is built to withstand shocks and vibration up to 2G, which allow enables the system to be implemented across a number of various

40 June 2011

AustralianMining

The computers are fanless and dust proof. vehicle applications, such as fleet management, telemetrics, traffic safety control and numerous other mobile environments.

The AR-V6002F can be readily integrated with optional GPS/GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA/ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules for mobile communication and navigation, which is key when working in a loud and constantly moving environment such as the mining industry.

In addition, AR-V6002FL has a 2-pin JSB CAN-BUS

connector, which supports CAN 2.0A/2.0B protocol to facilitate in-vehicle data transmission.

It also features 2 mini-PCIe slots to adapt most offthe-shelf modules.

Besides supporting standard 12V/24V car battery input, AR-V6002FL has many unique power management designs, such as 8 modes of smart power management with low-power protection, ignition control to prevent accidental drain of battery, and software to control delay timing, two kinds of trigger type to power on and off by car ignition or remote switch, and application programming interface to modify delay timing by software, The AR-V6002FL also features a fanless Intel Atom D425/D525 with heat pipe, and Intelligent Power module with API for delay timing customisation.

It has an array of I/O including VGA, 2 x RS-232 and 2 x RS-232/422/485 plus 4 x USB, 8-bit GPIO Board and 1 x GbE RJ45 LAN port.

Storage is via Conpact Flash or Solid State Disk.

• Unitronix 02 4977 3511 www.unitronix.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Innovation for sustainable solutions Outotec is a global leader in the design, fabrication and supply of thickening and clarifying solutions for the minerals industry.

The Vane FeedwellTM is the first major feedwell innovation in the thickening industry in well over 15 years.

This innovative feedwell is also a more sustainable choice. The unique design can increase underflow density, reduce flocculant consumption, improve water recovery and clarity, and increase reagent/mineral recovery.

One site, for example, after a Vane FeedwellTM retrofit, reduced its flocculant costs by 20% and improved underflow density by 2% w/w.

For more information, see www.outotec.com/vanefeedwell or call Sydney 02 9984 2500 or Perth 08 9211 2200.

Outotec innovates, develops and delivers sustainable technology and service solutions to minerals, metals, chemical and energy industries. Outotec collaborates lifelong with its customers in order to optimize the utilization of raw materials and energy efďŹ ciency as well as to minimize the environmental impact and operating costs.

Outotec Oyj is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.

www.outotec.com

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MAINTENANCE & MONITORING

SOUNDING the way Ultrasonic cleaning is removing the hazards of engine maintenance, Australian Mining reports.

C

leaning motors requires some heavy duty cleaners and acids to ensure all the oil and grime is removed from your machine.

This makes for a dangerous workplace as employees are exposed to some seriously hazardous chemicals from the acids baths required for cleaning.

A slightly safer alternative is sand blasting, but this still requires workers to work under equally hazardous conditions, and just like acids can damage the nonmetal pieces of machinery.

There is also the waste issue, as you can not just pour toxic chemicals down the drain.

Ultrasonics Australasia is creating a safer workplace while completely moving the issue of dealing with hazardous waste, through the release of the ultrasonic cleaning bath. Speaking to Ultrasonics’ Peter Cochrane, he

told Australian Mining “these ultrasonic cleaning baths are not only safer but are able to get to every part of the machinery.”

He explained that it is a safer alternative for both workers and on the pieces themselves as “workers won’t be exposed to harsh chemicals or acids and neither will the machinery, so you can now clean steel, rubber and plastic without have to first dismantle the engine completely.”

The baths also come with skimming bars to clean oil removed from the engines.

It works by placing the engine head in the bath, and using ultrasonic sounds waves bouncing through heated water to remove dirt and grime from the heads without damaging it or stripping the metal and destroying nonmetallic parts.

“The system is all water based and uses the sound waves to get

into areas that you can’t see, it can provide precision cleaning that is not possible by hand,” he said.

Cochrane explained that the entire system is completely scalable and could be built to fit an entire Cat 793 engine if need be.

On top of providing a safer work environment, he explained that the ultrasonic cleaning system is also cheaper and quicker to run than traditional cleaning methods.

“The system cuts time by around 80% over acid bath cleaning,” he said.

It runs off generators using 240 volts, which powers three phase 11KW heaters which can heat 350 litres in 20 minutes and then turn off.

• Ultrasonics Australasia Peter Cochrane 0428407748 peter@ultrasonicsAUSTRALASIA.com.au www.ultrasonicsAUSTRALASIA.com.au

The baths use sound waves to clean dirty engines.

It is uses 3 phase 11KW heaters for cleaning.

By Professionals.

For Professionals.

FLIR T-Series Taking image quality to a whole new level, the T620/ T640 (640x480 IR pixels) provides the highest available infrared resolution. Innovative features include Wi-Fi connectivity to iPhone/iPad. ◊ 4.3” LCD touch-screen and on screen report generation ◊ Highest image quality (640 pixels for IR and 5 MP for visual)

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The exciting, new T620/ T640 moves to the top of its class in professional and expert level infrared cameras.

◊ Built in colour viewfinder suitable for brightly lit environments

For more details of MeterLiNK visit www.flir.com/meterlink or contact FLIR Systems.

◊ Wi-Fi & Bluetooth ® connectivity

FLIR Systems Pty Ltd. 10 Business Park Drive, Notting Hill, Victoria 3168, Australia VIC: 03 9550 2800 NSW: 02 8853 7870 WA: 08 6263 4438 QLD: 07 3861 4862 SA: 08 8274 3747 Tel AU: 1300 729 987 NZ: 0800 785 492 Email: info@flir.com.au www.flir.com

42 June 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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The sounds of silence Portable sound barriers are making drilling easier in built up areas.

W

hen drilling in or near residential areas, it’s not the drilling they complain about, it’s the noise.

And no one wants heavy machinery operating nearby, especially not loud drills working from morning till night.

So effective noise attenuation and acoustic insulation is an important factor in these operations.

Which is why Peace Engineering has worked with AGL Energy to develop an acoustic panel solution called ‘Sound Barriers’ for AGL’s coal seam gas well drilling operations.

While there are many noise barriers making their way around the market that drown out as much noise, what set these acoustic panels apart from most is their portability.

Most acoustic panels that are capable of significantly reducing the noise of drilling rigs or similar noise from heavy machinery and mining equipment need to be thick and solidly built while also being fairly high.

This often means that when

nies invest in very reluctantly.

“We’ve found these Sound Barrier panels have been accepted on sites as they are easy to set up and boost productivity by allowing work to continue around the clock if need be,” Peace Engineering’s Robert Mason said.

He explained that these barriers are quick and easy to assemble and can be easily dismantled than relocated to another site.

The Sound Barriers work by attaching to standard concrete road barriers which sit on top of the ground on any work site.

So when the drilling rigs have to move to another location, the panels can be picked up by a small mobile crane, flat packed, and then trucked to the next site.

The acoustic panels also double as security fences for the drilling site.

The portable panels allow for greater noise retention on drilling sites in public areas.

they are erected in open spaces the panels are at the mercy of any wind, which can topple them over. Due to this the panels typically require steel

rods to be sunk two to three metres into the ground for support.

As these panels are often three metres high and weigh

hundreds of kilograms, it’s a hard task.

On top of this, “acoustic insulation is often seen as a grudge purchase which compa-

• Peace Engineering Robert Mason 02 4647 4733 robert@peaceengineering.com www.peaceengineering.com

Minimising machinery downtimes DOWNTIME caused by machinery component failure represents a major cost for the mining industry, however attention to some basic, good lubrication practices is a simple approach to minimising these costs.

Using top quality oils, in conjunction with sub-micron bypass filtration and quality oil sampling, can aid in substantially extending the reliability of expensive equipment.

Enginecare Systems’ CEO Laurie Hyland said some lubricants can produce contaminants from heat, causing carbonising oxidation, nitration and polymerisation of the oil.

“This process can reach the stage where oil filters start to block, bypassing contaminated and unfiltered oil through to the engine.

“This debris laden oil causes rapid wear and hastens filter blocking in a

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grade synthetic oils and fine, lowmicron bypass filtration in gearboxes, crushers, conveyors, mills, drive boxes and mobile plant can save significant annual maintenance costs.”

“Apart from boosting mechanical reliability, major savings can be achieved by using 100 percent synthetic oils that reduce wear on the fastest moving components exposed to the thinnest oil film,” he said.

“There are also environmental benefits that include a reduction in the disposal of used oil and filters. Just doubling an oil and filter change interval reduces that waste disposal by 50 percent.”

The best available quality oils in conjunction with sub-micron bypass filtration and quality oil sampling can substantially extend machine reliability. vicious snowballing circle,” he said.

“By using premium quality 100 percent synthetic hydraulic oils it enables valve

banks, pumps and hoses to last much longer than with using standard lubricants. An investment in premium

• Enginecare Systems Laurie Hyland 1300 774 662 sales@enginecare.com.au www.enginecare.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MINING PERSONALITY PROFILE

Movers and Shakers: Gavin Thomas The CEO and Managing Director of Kingsgate Consolidated talks to Jessica Burke about his time in the mining industry and why his mother is his personal hero.

Kingsgate Consolidated managing director Gavin Thomas says an interest in geology was in his blood.

G

avin Thomas is the managing director of Kingsgate Consolidated, but he identifies first and foremost as a mining geologist.

It is the university course he trained in and in what he believes Australian educators and governments need to be working harder to train more young people.

He says that Australians have an amazing ability to insert themselves into other cultures without the problems people from other nations have due to the Australian “no muss, no fuss” attitude.

Thomas sat down with Jessica Burke to chat about what he’s seen in the industry and where he sees it going in the future.

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JESSICA BURKE: What was your progression through the industry to where you are now?

GAVIN THOMAS: Well, that’s a forty year story. I’ll make it very fast.

Young geologist, originally got excited through my mother in fact, she was a geologist way back in the 30’s and got me excited in that, and my father had a few gold and tin mines, and then it was sort of something that I always liked and so I did geology.

Came out at the very end of the nickel boom in the late 60s early 70s and there were no jobs around, absolutely none at all.

I went to Papua New Guinea as a field assistant and fell in love with the country, I’ve lived and worked there for 27 years since that time and that’s

where I learnt how to take geology, you saw raw geology in the making up there and I’ve taken the lessons I’ve learnt about how wild Mother Nature can be and how quickly things can happen and used that all throughout my life.

JB: What is the single biggest change

you have witnessed in your time in the industry?

GT: Respect.

JB: Respect?

GT: Respect for miners.

JB: So it’s gone from little respect

to…

GT: Forty years ago, mining was that

funny little industry over there. A lot of people made money on it, but

they were Pitt Street miners, in terms of what I see now, it is the average man in the street, where people say “what do you do?” and I say I’m a managing director but I am a geologist, which is what I do, and they start talking about mining, geology.

You know, it’s come from being an industry that was distant to one that is now part and parcel of the Australian society.

JB: What do you think is the single

biggest problem facing the mining industry?

GT: We as an industry and the Government have failed in educating an adequate amount of Australians to move the industry forward.

This is an absolute ‘F’. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MINING PERSONALITY PROFILE

It is a failure on both sides; the government and the industry.

JB: What is the most interesting thing

you’ve seen in your time in the mining industry?

GT: The most interesting thing I’ve seen is probably how Australians have gone from a humble background and quite frankly become, in my view, the most highly professional group of international managers at the operating coal face.

It’s just been wonderful to see how we, as a nation, have progressed from being second rate to being world class.

JB: Do you have a personal hero?

GT: Oh, I have lots.

I like the guys that have taken a pretty average asset and are creating something big out of it.

That’s what I like to do, I like taking junior companies that are valued at under ten million dollars and creating billion dollar companies out of it.

The men I admire…let me think.

JB: It doesn’t have to be a man…

GT: Well, unfortunately, women are

still struggling to come up in the mining industry, if you want to go back, unfortunately there were a lot

www.miningaustralia.com.au

of hurdles to face…well, hang on; I would say that my mother influenced me a lot.

She was denied the university medal for geology at Sydney because she was a lady.

It was given to the other guy, but anyway, Australia and the world have moved a long way.

Mining, and that’s a grand, grand story.

Just one of overcoming adversities and coming through all the way to the top, he did it because of his strong, iron will and his ability to make the right decisions.

JB: Where do you think the gold

mining industry is going?

GT: Well, the gold mining industry

JB: So therefore was your mum your is facing a lot of challenges, at the was a big influence, because she got moment. Look at where the gold you interested in geology? price has gone, everyone thinks we’re GT: Oh, it’s in a maspart of the “It’s been wonderful to see how we, as sive hole. genes isn’t If you a nation have progressed from being it? go back Every second class to being world class” to look at person the reality who thinks their mother isn’t a hero in timeframes of what happened to isn’t a human being as far as I’m gold from 1970 to about ’95, now concerned. this current boom that we’re in, it But in terms of mining heroes … really started in 2000. let’s pick one in Australia.

On a model of times, we’re still Arvi Parbo for one. well below where gold went to back He took on incredible challenges in the 70s and 80s, so I think there’s and survived. still a long way to go.

That’s from the actual mining In gold, for the last five years, side of it, there are so many other we have been working on a de-facto men and ladies that I do admire. gold standard, people are just coming But we’re not here for ten hours. to realise that right now.

Arvi Parbo understood what was If you go and look at the US required, he came to Australia from dollar, people do not believe in fair Estonia, worked on the coal face and countries, currencies, paper money, came through to manage Western they are looking for hard assets.

So properties and commodities are where they’ll head.

We are essentially living in a world of negative real interest rates.

We’re one per cent, maybe two per cent, but in reality the world is inflating itself at over two per cent.

With the way the world’s going, there’s increasing inflation, we’re having higher commodity prices, the petrol increases are going to come through and we’re looking at probably a four per cent inflation rate around the world.

If that is the case, people will not be going to paper; they’ll be going to gold.

The bonds – if you look at the markets around the world – the bond market is about $92 trillion, equities about $42 trillion and gold is one trillion dollars.

If you doubled inflation, you will cut the value of those bonds by ten per cent or over nine trillion dollars.

The world will not allow that to happen, they will go and find something else to invest in, we’ll see bonds being less preferred and hard assets being preferred.

And the good thing about gold, it is one of the very few instantly fundable hard assets.

So I see a long term future for gold and gold mining.

AustralianMining

June 2011

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PRODUCT FOCUS: TEST & MEASUREMENT

Under PRESSURE Ensuring Australian hydraulic standards.

E

very high pressure hydraulic pipe and hose has a breaking point.

And no machinery operator wants to unexpectedly find their equipment’s breaking point when it explodes right in the middle of work.

Pirtek group general manager Stephen Dutton stated that “lives are at risk when it comes to the high pressures of hydraulic systems within today’s machinery.”

Which is why the company, in conjunction with Bridgestone and Interacto, has established an independent testing facility in Sydney called BPI Technologies.

With National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) certification, BPI “undertakes static pressure testing, destructive burst testing (up to 65 000 psi) and impulse flex testing,” Dutton explained.

48 June 2011

AustralianMining

It is also developing procedures for material hardness testing, abrasion testing for hydraulic hoses, and FRAS (Fire Resistant Anti Static) rated testing and salt spray testing.

“We can simulate life cycle testing in the impulse flex test rig so it is in essence simulating real life application of the product including temperature, pressure, impulse and flexing.”

Dutton explained that the NATA certified testing facility is speeding up the development of products specifically for the Australian market.

“Now that we have a facility in Australia we can undertake product development,” he said.

The majority of products used in the hydraulic and industrial hose industry are manufactured overseas, and are rarely specifically designed for Australian conditions or

The hydraulic testing centre can simulate life cycle testing in its impulse flex test rig.

to localised standards such as MDG41.

MDG41 is a draft standard specifically developed for the mining industry in Australia.

“There are particular standards in the manufacture of hydraulic hoses, including pressure and ratings and ensuring a matched system of hose and end couplings. There are certainly Australian standards,

but moreover in the hydraulics industry there are more international standards: ISO, or DIN (Deutsch Industry Norms) and SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers).

“Hydraulics are extremely dangerous. The importance of testing and meeting particular standards is the integrity of the hose assembly,” he said.

To increase safe testing

levels, Pirtek has mapped all of its work procedures to Certificate II in Engineering – High Pressure Hose Assembly, which is a nationally accredited engineering standard.

The testing facility is also open to industry, Dutton added.

• Pirtek 134 222 www.pirtek.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCT FOCUS: TEST & MEASUREMENT

Level switches TRIMOD Besta have launched ATEX certified level switches. The level switches now have IEC Ex Certification in addition to ATEX certificates, enabling them to be used in Ex ed and Ex ia applications in Australia. Unlike most level switches on the market, it adopts a three-module design concept comprising the switch Uses a three-module design concept. module, the flange module and the float module. This enables unlimited level switch combinations that will reliably manage applications requiring high pressure components, self checking switch elements, or corrosion resistant wetside parts. Switch modules are available with electric, electronic or pneumatic output signals. The switches are shock and vibration resistant. High and low temperature and explosion proof versions are available. The switches are especially designed for easy installation with a hinged cover, captive screws and the self-lifting terminal clamps. The float modules, like all wetted parts, are made of stainless steel, Hastelloy C or high quality plastics.

• Control Components 02 9542 8977 www.controlcomponents.com.au

Incremental encoders AUTOMATED Control Engineering have introduced Hengstler’s RI80-E Incremental Encoder. The central element of the RI80-E is the latest Hengstler OptoAsic technology, which offers high EMC immunity with increased reliability by reducing the number of components and integrating a diagnostics system. The encoder has a robust mechanical design and also allows for integrated monitoring of pollution, disk damage, Has a robust mechanical design.

LED lifetime and temperature. It has an incremental output; a 30 to 45mm hollow shaft; an unbreakable disc; a voltage range between five to 30 volts; and a protection class of IP50 or IP64. It is suited for applications such as asynchronous motors and Industrial Machinery.

• Automated Control Engineering 02 4954 5004 sales@aceg.com.au www.aceg.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

Wireless data loggers PACIFIC Sensor Technologies have released MadgeTech’s Therm A Lert temperature data loggers.

The wireless temperature monitoring and alarming For critical temp system is designed for monitoring. critical temperature monitoring areas.

The system can be used to monitor a single temperature location or expanded to include hundreds of locations by adding additional transmitters.

Therm A Lert provides real time notification of temperature deviations, and features a user programmable alarm that can be configured to send a message via text message, screen alarm and/or e-mail if an alarm condition occurs.

The system includes an internal sensor.

It is equipped with wireless two-way communication.

• Pacific Sensor Technology 1300 662720 sales@pacificsensortech.com.au www.pacificsensortech.com.au

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M&E WA PREVIEW

Mining & Engineering WA Preview Perth will see its first Mining and Engineering exhibition this July.

T

he Mining & Engineering Convention will include discussions on the future of mining, best practises and technology, as well as demonstrations and explanations.

Paul Baker from Reed Exhibitions told Australian Mining it hopes to mirror the success the exhibition has had at its rural locations, such as Kalgoorlie and Mackay.

“It is about maximising people, innovation and technology and the future of sustainability, so it’s all about productivity and how technology can help achieve that but also people and communities, in WA. “There’s a lot of rural mine sites, and there’s a lot of fly in fly, out so we try to cater for them and those mining companies can benefit from the content of the exhibition as well,” Baker explained.

The move within the mining industry away from focusing only on machinery and mining itself and towards the health and happiness of mine workers and their families is something the organisers of the event will be promoting.

“From our statistics, 70 per cent of the population in WA live in Perth and pretty much most of WA is fly in fly out,” Baker explained.

“We’re aligning ourselves with a couple of FIFO organisations and it’s not just about the miners but about their families as well.

Mining Family Matters, an organisation that provides information and support to families in the mining and resource sector will be a partner in the event and will provide seminars and information on maintaining a healthy and happy home environment with FIFO workers in the family.

The team will also present two forums during the exhibition, one aimed at mining companies’ HR teams and management, and one aimed at FIFO miners and their families, Mining Family Matters founder and director Alicia Ranford said.

“Through our online chat forum and specific questions put to our resident psychologist and social worker, Mining Family Matters has gained amazing insights into the challenges facing mining families and in particular mining wives/ partners,” said Ranford. “If mining companies can better understand these challenges, they can implement strategies to keep families happy and workers more content – and potentially build a more stable workforce.”

The presentations will look at a wife’s perspective on FIFO and the unique challenges the families face with the work type and provide practical tips for effective communication and happy relationships.

“For FIFO families, the usual pressures of relationships and communications are intensified because they are so often apart,” Ranford said.

“By working with our professional psychologist, we have developed a series of simple strategies to ease the pressures of FIFO rosters and living apart from family.

“It is becoming more important for the mining resource companies, more important that their workers are working at maximum capacity, especially with the current skills shortage,” Baker told Australian Mining.

Safety is also a key focus of the event as it’s more and more so becoming a major issue on site.

“It’s always been a big issue and it’s never going to go away and I think the mining companies are investing a lot of money in safety.

“We have a couple of sessions on safety and one in particular is going to be the new set of national standards

WA is the country’s most productive resource state

that have come in and will effect everyone. They could cost more money for people or companies but it could save them money as well.”

With all the focus on people and families, the actual mining itself will not be forgotten, and audiences will hear expert opinions on the global demand for Australian resources, the current economic climate and the future of mining.

The keynote address by Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Norman Moore will explore how the industry can face the challenges of mining in the 21st century; future forecasts for the sector, and how Australia can overcome skills shortages in boom times.

Mining and Engineering WA will be held from 5-7 July at the Perth Convention Centre.

Safety first. Call us first.

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We understand today’s complex workforce structures and have specialist expertise in mining and energy. This means you can concentrate on running and growing your business, while relying on us to source, assess, develop and manage your workforce.

WORKFORCE

All our workforce operations are underpinned by integrated and innovative OH&S programs that have helped us to become one of Australia’s safest employers.

In fact, many of the region’s most highly regarded companies use our services to help them reduce workplace risk, while enhancing the efficiency of their human resources.

Visit www.chandlermacleod.com for details of the specialist mining and energy team closest to you.

RECRUITMENT

CONSULTING

www.chandlermacleod.com 50 June 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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The mining exhibition & conference Perth has been waiting for.

5-7 July 2011 Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre Register Now

miningandengineeringwa.com.au

Your premium mining industry marketplace & information exchange.

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M&E WA PREVIEW

Dust control

Collision avoidance

QUATTRO Solutions will feature its integrated solutions for dust control problems in mine, quarry and broadacre situations at M&E WA. The Perth-based company focuses on surface stabilisation and dust abatement issues associated with mine access and haul roads.

Headlining Quattro’s dust suppression and road stabilisation product range at M&E will be Dustac, which is based on lignin, a constituent that gives rigidity to wood.

Dustac is described as a natural, sustainable and environmentally friendly product.

“It has been used in a variety of applications, in many countries, under a range of climatic conditions for a number of years ... and during this time there has never been a substantiated report of any negative environmental consequence,” Quattro’s Alan Douglas said.

“Accordingly, it is probably fair to argue that there is no less invasive or more environmentally sustainable dust suppressant available.”

At M&E WA, Quattro will also feature its synthetic polymer, SoiLoc, which is used in areas such as mine dumps, slimes dams and broadacre sites requiring a less durable and permeable seal for dust abatement.

Quattro’s Performance, a product that can provide a fully permeable seal to specific surfaces, will also be shown at the exhibition. Its areas of use include the coal industry and slime dams.

Quattro has also provided solutions for dust emission problems on tailings dumps, settling dams, and plant and process buildings as well as for dust problems associated with conveying lines and other process plant equipment.

“This is achieved through the use of line-fogging systems and fog-producing cannons which are based on the principal that problematic entrained dust, by definition, consists of dust particles less than 75 micron in size and which use water droplets of equal size to knock these out of entrainment,” Alan Douglas said.

The result was a significant reduction in dust entrainment without an equal increase in water consumption or hydration, he said.

• Quattro Solutions 08 6142 3101 info@totaldustcontrol.com.au www.totaldustcontrol.com.au

MINE Radio Systems (MRS) will unveil what it says is new cost-effective and robust technology for collision avoidance, monitoring and reporting at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre from July 5-7.

The MRS Solarian Collision Prevention Solution uses transponders to collect vital tracking information, then alerts personnel and vehicle drivers of approaching dangers with audible and visual alarms.

An adjustable detection range and real-time reporting capabilities enhance the system’s appeal.

The Solarian system can be integrated with other MRS communication systems or can be deployed as a stand-alone unit. It can be easily installed or relocated.

“Mining and tunnelling collisions can result in major production losses, costly repairs and equipment purchases, injuries and/or fatalities so collision prevention protocols are vital,” MRS’s Graeme Corbett, managing director said.

“The Solarian overcomes the performance limitations and high costs associated with other technologies to deliver the reliable collision avoidance coverage necessary to establish and maintain critical monitoring of personnel and assets.

“It means personnel injuries or deaths, vehicle collisions and lost productivity are no longer a concern for mining and tunnelling operators,” he said.

MRS, which has been supplying communication technology to the mining and tunnelling industries for 25 years, has undertaken more than 400 installations at mining and tunnelling sites in 50-plus countries and is ISO 9001-registered.

• Mine Radio Systems 08 9091 9999 australia@mineradio.com www.mineradio.com

Roller bearings COOPER Bearings will feature the latest developments in its fully split-to-the-shaft roller bearings and double-row tapered roller bearings during the 2011 Mining and Engineering WA exhibition.

The Cooper Split Roller Bearing saved huge amounts of time and money by reducing downtime and increasing productivity, the company’s WA representative, Stuart Goates, said.

“The split feature means inspection, maintenance and replacement is cut to a minimum while the superior sealing promotes longer bearing life.

“As a result, business profitability is increased,” he said.

Split to the shaft.

Sharing the spotlight at M&E WA will be Cooper’s double-row tapered roller bearings which, Goates said, were “born to make high thrust loads no longer a problem”.

New, compact 100 Series bearings for higher-speed applications and a heavy duty bearing, which is compatible with Cooper’s pedestal 08SDC Series, will also be on show.

Mining industry applications for Cooper bearings include material handling, crushing and milling, ventilation and air movement, hauling and winding, stockpile and surge pile management, screening, sizing and washing.

“In the mining industry, the Cooper brand is synonymous with proven cost savings and extended bearing life,” Goates said.

“Either on the surface or operating underground, Cooper’s products continue to perform in the most hostile and challenging environments.”

• Cooper Bearings 08 9397 9990 sgoates@kaydon.com www.cooperbearings.com

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Structural resins URETEK Ground Engineering will demonstrate an innovative engineered structural resin injection that helps rectify moving and sunken built structures in mines at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre in July.

The patented Uretek method uses structural resin injection to raise, re-level and resupport mine structures such as stacker-reclaimer rails, conveyor belt structures and machinery bases as well as driveways, floors and buildings. It is described as akin to keyhole surgery.

“Uretek can often substantially reduce major closure or down time and fix OH&S issues in mines caused by moving and sunken built structures,” Uretek’s Project Manager, Tom Bailey said.

Uretek’s engineered resins combine chemically on entering the ground and expand very strongly, but in a well-controlled way. Any voids are filled and any weak ground is compacted in the process.

If the injection is continued, slabs or structures are raised back to their correct levels “The process is quite rapid but is constantly monitored by laser level for a precise result,” he said.

The two main processes are Uretek Slab-Lifting for raising and re-levelling. This involves injecting expanding structural resins under the element concerned through 16mm holes; and Uretek Deep-Injection for improving ground-bearing capacity by compacting foundation soils. Again, this patented process involves resin injections through tiny holes at multiple depths in weak strata.

The Uretek Deep-Injection is often used in conjunction with the Uretek Slab-Lifting to relevel a structure and compact the ground.

The Method is noted for being fast and involving only a fraction of any replacement time.

Most jobs take only a day or two and operations can resume just 30 minutes after an application.

It also has the flexibility to treat one area at a time.

“The results are that safety issues are addressed quickly, effectively and economically while costly closures are eliminated and downtime is minimised,” Mr Bailey said.

“For example, trip hazards and slab movement are eradicated, trucks and forklifts will ride smoothly again and machinery base slabs are re-levelled and re-supported,” he said.

The Uretek Method is also clean and cost-effective. There is no excavation, no water and no mess.

• Uretek Ground Engineering 1800 623 312 info@uretek.com.au www.uretek.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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M&E WA PREVIEW

Volatile corrosion inhibitors

MINPROVISE will unveil its new hydraulic fastening devices on Stand 1909 during the 2011 Mining and Engineering WA exhibition at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre.

These Technofast high-pressure, hydraulically operated bolt-tensioning devices can be quickly and easily fitted and used with standard hydraulic pumps and equipment.

Australian-owned and headquartered in Perth, Minprovise was established in 2004 with the purpose of helping to increase safety, efficiency and risk prevention in the mining and resources industries. It provides equipment, site services and support to companies such as Pilbara Iron, Newmont, Barrick and Newcrest Mining and has offices and workshops in both WA and Queensland.

At M&E WA, Minprovise will also show the latest version of the Dugless 900 conveyor spillage cleaning unit.

This is designed to manoeuvre safely under low conveying systems and in other inaccessible areas without any risks to workers or equipment. It also features a personal proximity transmitter that the operator wears to prevent the unit coming too close as well as proximity detection cones to demarcate the unit’s operating area.

Earthtechnica crushers, Kawasaki/Kobe gyratory and the latest HPC cone crushers and Huntsman Araldite crusher and backing and Wearguard systems will be another feature of the Minprovise stand.

Minprovise’s services such as its on-site services/consultancy, off-site repair capabilities, and project management will also be highlighted at the event.

• Minprovise 08 9470 9180 administration@minprovise.com.au www.minprovise.com.au

AUSTRALIAN Inhibitor will showcase its Volatile Corrosion Inhibitors (VCI) technology for mining and engineering equipment and machinery. A specialist research and development company, Australian Inhibitor manufactures of VCI packaging materials and related products and services including flexible films, rigid plastics, foil laminates, foil bubble packaging and flute board. The company’s packaging materials are said to be virtually moisture and vapour proof. The company’s range of extra-large Ferro Foil VCI laminate barrier bags and VCI coated papers of varying sizes will headline its M&E WA display. Two low density films, Ferro-Pak and Metalguard, which incorporate masterbatch resins designed to protect a wide range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, will also be shown. These

Ea Fr rly B id i ay rd ,2 e 7 xpi M re ay s

Hydraulic fastening

are available in centerfold, lay-flat sheet, bag-on-roll, bubble pack, and tube configurations at varying gauges.

Another highlight of the Australian Inhibitor display will be its VCI range of rust-preventative aerosols and liquids, developed to provide heavy duty industrial protection in the mining, engineering and automotive industries. Milspec (military standard) packaging materials which Australian Inhibitor supplies to the mining industry and armed forces for short or long-term storage or shipment.

• Australian Inhibitor Les Amy 03 9768 2322 enquiries@australianinhibitor.com.au www.australianinhibitor.com.au

Mobile and fixed generators REDSTAR Equipment will show new additions to its range of generators, welders, compressors, lighting towers and fuel tanks during the 2011 Mining and Engineering WA exhibition. Redstar offers complete lines of industrial standby, mobile and prime fixed generators ranging from 6KVA to more than 3250KVA, and is the exclusive Denyo supplier for Australia. The company also offers full lines of industrial diesel welders, industrial and mobile compressors, lighting towers and fuel tanks, with fuel efficient options available across its entire range of products.

The equipment is targeted at specialised industrial users

Australia-wide. Redstar focuses on providing informed choices and sharing technical knowledge to assist purchasers with acquisitions that best meet their needs.

Redstar also offers complete service solutions including fabrication, equipment customisation and specialist components, plus support ranging from scheduled service and maintenance to engine replacement.

• Redstar Equipment 1800 733 782 info@redstarequipment.com.au www.redstarequipment.com.au

Mining Investment Conference 2011 Assessing local and international investment Thursday 23 & Friday 24 June, Amora Hotel Jamison, Sydney Speakers include: David Moult Managing Director Centennial Coal

Nick Dacres-Manning Founding Director Helmsec Global Capital

Dr Raymond Shaw Managing Director Bandanna Energy

Tom Price Commodity Analyst UBS

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact John La Rosa on (02) 9282 2245 or ema li jlarosa@fa ri faxmedia.com.au

To register or for futher information, call 1800 032 577 or visit www.afr.com/events Brought to you by:

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

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M&E WA PREVIEW

Mine lamps

Four channel oscilloscopes

APS – Supply will unveil a range of new work lamps, beacons, object detection systems and pre-cleaners at M&E WA. These include: the Speaker 7150 series LED work lamp which outputs 3000 effective lumens compared with 2000 to 2200 effective lumens from conventional 24V HID/Xenon work lamps. The new lamp comes in 12V or 24V capacity, has LED durability and is designed for use in extreme operating environments for at least 12 months; the ABL 500 Series 6 LED 3x3 work lamp of 2000 effective lumens in compact 3x3 HID, available in 12V-80V and 24-80V versions. These feature a hardened glass lens, an amber fog lens, are vibration tested up to 10G and can operate in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +85°C; the Preco 7660 series RotoLED beacon, an upgrade of APS’s 7611 and 7612 models with eight-LED hybrid technology. Features of this rotating LED warning light include a high intensity rotation warning signal using a long-life brushless magnetic drive and mirror system in place of gears, brushes or bulbs which have a limited life; preview Xtreme radar object detection systems with solid-state radar alerting vehicle operators to both moving and stationary objects up to 10m from the sensor and which are resistant to moisture, dust, mud, vibration, heat and cold. New Centri heavy equipment pre-cleaners will also feature on the APS stand. These incorporate all stainless-steel/aluminium construction for additional reliability.

• NAPS Australia 08 9248 4419 ssatherly@aps-supply.com www.aps-supply.com

FLUKE Australia will launch what it says are the world’s first portable four-channel oscilloscopes engineered for harsh environments on Stand 1511 during the 2011 Mining and Engineering WA exhibition at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre from July 5-7. The Fluke ScopeMeter 190 Series 11 handheld scopes feature four input channels which are fully isolated from each other to undertake differential floating measurements, a critical consideration for trouble shooting fixed installation three-phase power electronic devices like variable speed motor drives. They are also designed to test inverter power electronic technology used in green energy generation and transportation applications.

The new scopes are safety rated for Cat III 1000V/Cat IV 600V environments. They also carry the International Protection (IP) -51 dust and drip proof rating, making them suited to industrial and field environments.

In particular, the four channels enable users to solve problems, such as signal amplitude or shape variations, by simultaneously inspecting input signals, output signals, feedback loops or safety interlocks.

• Fluke Australia 02 8850 3333 sales@fluke.com.au www.fluke.com.au

Plastic welding machines PLASTRAL Pty Ltd will release a new overlap welding machine (Leister Variant T1) for joining of industrial fabrics used in ducting, ventilation and tarpaulin manufacture on Stand 1116 during the M&E WA exhibition. These developments are said to suit the mining industry’s increasing use of thermoplastics. “Swiss-made Leister is at the forefront of research and development into new and better plastic welding and joining equipment for plastic fabrication and repair and civil engineering projects, including geomembrane lining and tunnel construction,” Plastral’s Andrew Webb said. It will also feature Leister’s range of hand-held, hot-air welders as well as extrusion welders and overlap welders and accessories. The hand-held extruder, Weldplast S2, from Leister Process Technologies

with brushless blower is designed for perfect seam welding and produces up to 2.3 kg extrudate an hour. Weighing 5.8 kg, the Weldplast S2 features well-balanced ergonomics, a double-sided and twist-free wire intake, and an adjustable swivel-mounted handgrip. The Ritmo range of pipe butt welders, socket fusion and electrofusion welding equipment will also be showcased.

“Plastic pipe systems are being installed in greater quantities,” Plastral’s Andrew Webb added.

• Plastral Andrew Webb 02 9695 3213 plasticwelding@plastral.com.au www.plastral.com.au

Moving parts and equipment is easy with the new HSM Profipack

Instant packaging when you need it, where you need it.

Now, you can safely and quickly move essential parts and equipment with the new HSM Profipack.

It instantly recycles your excess cardboard into free, sturdy packaging material. Cardboard is transformed into an interlaced weave pattern that provides excellent protection and padding.

Non-slip and easy to bend and roll, the packaging lets you dispatch parts and tools around sites or to suppliers with ease and peace of mind.

Portable, reliable and built to last, the Profipack improves productivity and helps you get the job done. Call Renz Australia now on 1300 856 383 for more information or a free demonstration.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

See video at: www.renz.com.au/profipack

AustralianMining

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Axle oil range

Comes with increased driver visibility.

Skid steer loaders BOBCAT Australia has released the new Bobcat T650 compact track skid steer loader.

Coming with an 1165kg operating capacity and 55.3kW of power, the track loader has a vertical lift for maximum forward reach.

This latest loader has increased visibility on previous models, with the top window nearly doubling in size and a cab-forward design which moves the operator close to the attachments and gives a better vantage point.

The cab itself has 20% more interior space, and is fully pressurised to keep dust to a minimum.

Noise is also kept to a minimum, as sound within the cab has been cut by 60%.

It also features a roller suspension undercarriage.

• Bobcat Australia 1800 643 853 bobaust@bobcat.com.au www.bobcat.com.au

KOMATSU has introduced the AX080 axle oil. The oil has been developed for machines with axles that feature integrated brakes or differential units.

The oil has been developed to exhibit excellent heat resistance, maintaining its friction characteristics over an extended period to maximise brake performance. The AX080 axle oil is available in both 20-litre and 205-litre quantities. It is also offering engine and hydraulic oil in larger 1000 litre pods. Komatsu National Sales and Business Development Manager – Consumables, Daniel Hopkins-Jones said the re-usable pods significantly reduce the number of individual drums required by larger operations.

“The 1000-litre pods provide an environmentally sustainable solution to customers by reducing the number of wasted drums, which often are expensive to dispose of,” he said.

• Komatsu 1300 566 287 www.komatsu.com.au

Optimise brake performance.

Cable and hose hangers

Magnetic hangers.

SWIFT Metal Services have expanded their range of brackets and components with, the introduction of innovative, relocatable, magnetic hanging brackets for cables, hoses and pneumatic lines. Swift Cable-Mate and Swift Cable-Buddy, developed by the family company are essential for trades personnel using electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic equipment, where having leads, hoses or lines on the ground can present a serious trip hazard.

Swift Cable-Mates are relocatable and combined with powerful magnets, can hold up to 25kg, in the vertical plane. They feature permanent and temporary installations, each magnetic CanbleMate can hold up to 25 kilograms and the adjustable HDPE strap is designed to support various quantities and sizes of hoses, cables and pneumatic lines.

• Swift Metals Services Pty Ltd 1800 626 525 sales@swiftmetal.com.au swiftmetal.com.au

Plant-wide weigh batching system FLEXICON has unveiled an automated Plant-wide Weigh Batching System engineered that can simultaneously weigh up to seven major ingredients received in bulk bags and unlimited minor An automated system. ingredients received in 23 kg sacks, pails or boxes.

The system then conveys weighed batches to a downstream blender that feeds a bulk bag filler and a paper sack filling machine. Systems components include: Five loss-of weight Bulk-out bulk bag dischargers with large surge hoppers and rotary airlock valves; to loss-ofweight Bulk-Out bulk bag dischargers with small surge hoppers and flexible screw conveyors; two loss-of-weight bag dump stations with flexible screw conveyors; a check-weighting hopper; a twin-Centrepost bulk bag filler; a Pneumati-con dilute-phase pneumatic conveying system including blower, filter receiver and conveying lines; and a programmable controls package.

The large surge hoppers accommodate the entire contents of a bulk bag containing a major ingredient, providing operators time to load full bags into the frame as material is removed at high rates through a common pneumatic line terminating at the filter receiver. The smaller surge hoppers on the lossof-weight Bulk-Out bulk bag dischargers provide sufficient capacity to allow reloading of major ingredients conveyed at lower rates by small diameter flexible screw conveyors, providing higher accuracy than possible with large rotary airlocks. Also conveyed by loss-of-weight flexible screw conveyors are minor ingredients, which are tipped manually at either of two tipping stations equipped with vacuum filtration systems to contain airborne dust.

• Flexicon Corporation 1300 353 942 sales@flexicon.com.au www.flexicon.com.au

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8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, Co-hosted by AIMEX In this issue we have a brief word from some of the sponsors about their companies and why they choose to sponsor the Prospect Awards.

SEW-Eurodrive

BASF Construction Chemicals

SEW-Eurodrive is proud to be sponsoring the coal mine of the year award at the 2011 Australian Mining Prospect Awards.

As a key supplier to the coal mining industry, we believe in quality and efficiency when it comes to drive technology.

Supplying a range of industrial gear units, motors and drives in sizes in excess of 1MW, we deliver more than just products to heavy industry.

A team of talented engineers develop effective and timely solutions based on customers' motion requirements, which are backed by after-sales commissioning and product support that is second to none.

We also understand that time is money, so units are delivered within a matter of weeks from our local assembly plants, rather than waiting months for items to be shipped from overseas.

The coal mining industry is one of Australia's strongest assets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as the world's greatest exporter of coal, we can be thankful for an industry that has given us global recognition.

SEW-Eurodrive takes great pride in sponsoring the coal mine of the year award, which we hope in turn, encourages the organization in and industry which has greatly supported our company over time.

We hope that this award goes to a fitting recipient to provide them with the acknowledgment they deserve for making such a strong contribution to Australian industry.

SEW-Eurodrive looks forward to further ongoing partnerships with all forms of mining, now and into the future.

BASF Construction Chemicals; Underground Construction division (UGC), can provide state-of-the-art solutions for 'Ground Support' requirements in mining and tunnelling. BASF is the largest chemical company in the world, with R&D and innovation being the key factor for it's continued success in the remaining the global leader in its field. A prime reason why BASF are proud to sponsor the Innovation Mining Solutions category for the Prospect Awards.

Atlas Copco For over 130 years Atlas Copco has supplied the world with mining equipment, making it one of the most experienced suppliers in the industry. Since setting up shop in Kalgoorlie in the 1950s, Atlas Copco has learned from the very specific and in many ways original Australian mining methods, which differ from the rest of the world. On top of higher demands on people and equipment, conditions faced in Australia (especially water) are very often tougher than most.

One of Atlas Copco's highest priorities is reducing people's exposure to the drilling process and to the hostile environment often found in underground mines.

With our first experience in automation over a quarter of a century ago, and having spent the past 12 years refining our common rig automation platform RCS, the performance of Atlas Copco's production drill rigs, RCS control system, rock drills, Cable bolting rigs and innovative braking system (SAHR) have set the standard in the industry for productivity and safety.

The Prospect Awards recognise personal and company achievements, and they recognise the new benchmarks these create within the industry.

As a company and as individuals, Atlas Copco and its staff are pleased to support this event the Contract Miner of the Year and Hard Rock Mine of the Year awards because we appreciate how hard it is to be at the frontier of mining.

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Orica Mining Services Orica Mining Services is the world's leading supplier of commercial explosives and blasting systems and is committed to developing and applying new technologies to achieve productivity, safety, environmental and financial gains for its customers.

Sponsoring the 'Excellence in Environmental Management Award' in Australian Mining's Prospect Awards is one of the ways we contribute to and celebrate the success of this vital aspect of the mining industry, an industry that is not only critically important to the economy of our country but also to our business.

There is no single 'answer' to environmental issues, most improvements are incremental and are the result of hard work, close collaboration and sound science.

At Orica we are, however, making real progress. We have invested heavily in developing mining technologies and processes that can bring about, measurable step changes in environmental performance.

We are proud to sponsor this worthwhile award and consider the Prospect Awards an excellent way to recognise the valuable work undertaken in environmental management. We thank all participants for taking the time and effort to submit their entries and we look forward to meeting the finalists in September.

Caltex Australia Caltex is Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading transport fuel supplier and convenience retailer and the only integrated oil refining and marketing company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Our business value chain incorporates supply, refining, logistics and marketing.

We are committed to operational excellence at all levels. We strive for clean, safe, reliable operations for the benefit of our employees, contractors, franchisees, resellers and stakeholders alike.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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At the 2011 8th annual

AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS 7th September Doltone House Sydney, Co - hosted by AIMEX NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES

DON’T MISS MINING’S NIGHT OF NIGHTS! 7TH SEPTEMBER, SYDNEY For the 8th year, Australian mining professionals will come together to recognise and celebrate innovation and outstanding performance in the industry.

Held on the second night of AIMEX, the event showcases the best that mining has to offer.

● ● ● ●

Mine of the Year Mine Manager of the Year Contract Miner of the Year Minerals Processing Plant of the Year ● Excellence in Mine OH&S ● Excellence in Environmental Management ● Innovative Mining Solutions

● ● ● ●

Explorer of the Year Coal Mine of the Year Outstanding Contribution to Mining Employer of Choice Award

AND NEW FOR 2011 ● Mining’s Female of the Year ● Young Achiever of the Year ● Community Interaction Award ● Hard Rock Mine of the Year

WHY NOMINATE?

NOMINATION DEADLINE 30 JUNE

>> EXPOSURE AND PUBLICITY >> RECOGNITION FOR YOUR HARD-WORKING TEAM MEMBERS >> VALUABLE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH KEY INDUSTRY LEADERS

DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION KIT AT WWW.MININGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU/AWARDS SPONSORS:

6-9 Sept 2011

For further information contact Margaret Tra on (02) 9422 2759 or email margaret.tra@reedbusiness.com.au To book a table at the awards contact Alex Evans on (02) 9422 2890 or email alex.evans@reedbusiness.com.au

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MINING JOBS To advertise a new job contact Hussein Azzan at 02 9422 2851

To see the latest jobs available visit www.miningaustralia.com.au, which is updated daily.

MINE PLANNING SUPERINTENDENT Location – Hunter Valley Company – Rio Tinto Coal Australia Description: Rio Tinto Coal Australia is one of Australia's leading mining organisations with a highly successful record in developing and managing world-class open cut and underground coal operations. We recognise the importance of equal employment opportunity and the benefits of a diverse workforce. As part of the way we work, we seek to build enduring relationships with all of our communities that are characterised by mutual respect, active partnership and long term commitment.

Rio Tinto Coal Australia's Bengalla mine is a modern, open-cut coal operation located near Muswellbrook in the picturesque Hunter Valley region. As well as being Australia's oldest wine producing region, the location offers an outstanding lifestyle with excellent health, school and housing facilities. A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Mine Planning Superintendent to take on a pivotal role at this award-wining site.

Reporting to the Manager-Technical Services, you will lead and direct a team of technical professionals in the production of mine plans and schedules that meet business targets. You will work cross-departmentally with the production, maintenance and CHPP functions to ensure the plan is communicated effectively and executed accordingly. You will also have opportunity to identify and instigate improvement activities, reporting and budgeting, complete higher level project work and oversee the mining strategy.

Tertiary qualifications in mining or civil engineering, with proven mine planning experience in a truck, excavator and dragline operations is preferred. Strong safety leadership capability is mandatory. Of importance, will be the ability to take on the challenge of leading and developing a group of technical staff to ensure optimal individual and team performance. The role is also expected to be closely engaged with the mine operations teams to ensure compliance with mine plans and ongoing productivity improvement.

On offer is an attractive remuneration package, access to a range of Rio Tinto benefits and a Hunter Valley lifestyle second to none within the industry.

To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au SENIOR METALLURGIST – MINERAL PROCESSING Location – Melbourne Company – MMG Description: MMG comes with a long and proud history of providing metals and minerals of all kinds to customers around the world. The Group owns and operates a portfolio of world-class base metal mining operations, development projects and exploration fields.

MMG is one of the world's largest producers of zinc as well as a substantial producer of copper, lead, gold and silver. The group currently has mining operations located in Australia and Asia and a large portfolio of advanced and early stage exploration projects through Australia, Asia and North America.

The key purpose of this role will be to improve metallurgical performance across MMG's operations. A major part of the role will comprise the provision of operational and technical advice/support to existing operations and input into the metallurgical component of studies for new projects and M&A opportunities. This position will report to the Group Metallurgist and you will interact with internal and external stakeholders across our Operations.

This is a new position that has been created to play a key support role to the Group Metallurgist and to the wider Business and Operations. The focus of this role will be to provide expert metallurgical advice that assists in the improvement of mineral processing. This will involve working with our various Operations and Exploration Sites specifically in the area of extractive metallurgy for the recovery of metals from ores, concentrates, and recycled or residual materials as well as the production of concentrate.

To be considered for this exciting new challenge at MMG, you will need to demonstrate a solid background in the area of metallurgy. In considering your application we will look for experience in the mining industry with a track record in metalliferous mining, exposure to a number of metallurgical plant processes as well as good knowledge of the mining industry workings from resource through to customer.

MMG is an equal opportunity employer and our values of Respect, Integrity, Action and Results guide us in our dealings with individuals, cultures, sustainability and the environment.

If you wish to explore the opportunity to be part of MMG, please contact James Waters on +61 3 9288 0495; alternatively, or to apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au PRINCIPAL MINING ENGINEER Location – Kalgoorlie, Goldfields and Esperance, WA Company – MMG Description: MMG comes with a long and proud history of providing metals and minerals of all kinds to customers around the world. The Group owns and operates a portfolio of world-class base metal mining operations, development projects and exploration fields.

MMG is one of the world's largest producers of zinc as well as a substantial producer of copper, lead, gold and silver. The group currently has mining operations located in Australia and Asia and a large portfolio of advanced and early stage exploration projects through Australia, Asia and North America.

The key purpose of this role is to provide the highest level of mining engineering and mine planning technical services to ensure that MMG's operating assets are optimised in delivering on the business plan and that new projects and opportunities are identified and studied. In addition you will provide technical due diligence support to the Business Development Group.

This is a key technical role for the MMG Business, reporting to the General Manager of Technical Services and will be based in our Group Office in Southbank. Travel to our operations in Australia, South East Asia and other global locations is expected.

With opportunity to work across reserve estimation, LOM modelling, and optimisation projects for both open pit and underground, this position offers a level of diversity and international scope rarely seen outside the consulting industry. Additionally, there'll be occasion for you to input into feasibility studies and conduct technical due diligence for development projects and acquisition targets.

Drawing on all aspects of your mine engineering expertise, these roles offer you the longer-term opportunity to pursue a management career in a head office environment or remain a technical leader who'll continue to provide critical expertise in support of MMG's aggressive growth agenda.

To be considered, it is essential you have base metals mining experience within a comparable owner / operator or from the private consulting industry. Tertiary qualified, you'll be a current member of AusIMM and have literacy in a design program such as Whittle, Vulcan or Mine 2-4D. We will offer you an excellent remuneration package and the opportunity to make a real impact on MMG's operations and assets through improved mining performance.

MMG is an equal opportunity employer and our values of Respect, Integrity, Action and Results guide us in our dealings with individuals, cultures, sustainability and the environment.

If you wish to explore the opportunity to be part of MMG, please contact James Waters on +61 3 9288 0495; alternatively, to apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au MINESITE REPRESENTATIVE – ORANGE, NSW Location – Orange, NSW Company – Minova Australia Description: This is a fantastic opportunity to make your mark within a global leader and specialist manufacturer and provider of products and services to the underground mining industry. We are looking to expand our talented team of professionals at all levels. We value our people and invest in "growing our leaders to make a difference". Safety, quality and innovation are keys to our success.

As the Technical Service Representative, reporting directly to the Technical Sales and Service Representative, NSW, the primary focus of this newly created role is to provide technical and operational support to a key client Mine site. Leadership in customer relationship management and efficient delivery of contractual products & services will be key aspects of the role.

You will have the responsibility to lead safety performance, manage technical and product application support at a major mining operation, identify new opportunities and solutions to assist clients needs through effective account and relationship management and ensure customer satisfaction across all contractual service delivery areas.

You will bring to the position a solid understanding of UG mining operations and procedures and training practices necessary in a mining environment. You will be able to use this knowledge to train operators and trainers in product application and develop well written procedures. You will be able to present to a wide range of audiences and communicate at all levels.

You have a commitment to the highest standards of service delivery and will happily contribute to an environment of accountability. You are self motivated, proactive and results orientated with an enthusiastic positive outlook.

We are part of the global Orica group and offer competitive remuneration, benefits and career opportunities. We provide the opportunity to build and develop your experience and skills and support you to be the best and safest at what you do.

For more information on Minova Australia, see our website http://www.minova.com.au/ or to apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au

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SENIOR SAFETY AND HEALTH/SHE MANAGER – WYONG, NSW Location – Wyong, NSW Company – Minova Australia Description: This is a fantastic opportunity to make your mark within a global leader. Minova is a specialist manufacturer and provider of products and services to the underground mining industry.

We are looking to expand our talented team of professionals at all levels. We value our people and invest in “growing our leaders to make a difference”. Safety, quality and innovation are keys to our success.

This newly defined senior SHE & Training Systems Manager role reports to the NSW Operations Business Manager and will provide strong leadership and advice to the management team. The role will focus on ensuring appropriate resources and knowledge to comply with SHE & Training statutory and operating requirements across all NSW mining operations sites.

Critical to the role will be your strong analytical skills and ability to gain a quick understanding of the diverse business operations. Your commercial understanding will enable you to contextualise SHE requirements and think laterally to plan, modify and adapt existing systems to ensure an overall SHE program that aligns with the immediate business needs and long term goals.

Your personal passion for achieving and upholding high SHE and Quality standards will enable you to engage and influence all stakeholders to deliver superior SHE performance in all areas. You will be able to demonstrate your proven capacity to gain credibility, build confidence and deliver results in a similar function and operating environment.

We are part of the global Orica group and offer competitive remuneration, benefits and career opportunities. We provide the opportunity to build and develop your experience and skills and support you to be the best and safest at what you do.

For more information on Minova Australia, see our website http://www.minova.com.au/ or to apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au.

OHS&E Manager Location – Perth Company – Schenck Process Australia Description: Qualified and experienced OHS&E manager required for this industry leader in the weighing, screening and automation sector, based in Henderson, WA. Preferably you will have had experience in the Mining or Heavy industry sectors. Looking for someone to start ASAP. Formal qualifications in OHS&E a must.

To strengthen our National Safety team we are currently seeking an OHS&E Manager We are offering an interesting career opportunity within a global company. If you are interested,please send your resume to applications@schenckprocess.com.au or please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR Location – WA Company – MMG Description: MMG comes with a long and proud history of providing metals and minerals of all kinds to customers around the world. The Group owns and operates a portfolio of world-class base metal mining operations, development projects and exploration fields, and is a substantial producer of zinc as well as copper, lead, gold and silver. The group currently has mining operations located in Australia and Asia and a large portfolio of advanced and early stage exploration projects throughout Australia, Asia and North America.

The Golden Grove underground base and precious metals mine in Western Australia produces concentrates of zinc, copper and other base and precious metals. This is an exciting time for Golden Grove as we have recently recommenced exploration, and are re-opening an underground mine which has been under care & maintenance. We are also creating an open-pit mine mid-to-late 2011.

With all this growth we now need an experienced Senior Environmental Advisor to join our busy Environment and Community Relations Department.

Reporting to the Environment & Community Relations Manager, you will help us to achieve our environmental objectives through the implementation of effective management systems and projects.

Key functions of this role include: • Ensuring compliance to our ISO14001 management system, and legislative requirements • Coordinating and preparing submissions for internal and external reports and environmental approvals • Coordinating environmental monitoring programs, including vegetation monitoring, dust monitoring, water monitoring, chemical and hydrocarbon management, waste management and recycling, revegetation and rehabilitation.

• Continually championing environmental and community relations issues to raise awareness • Managing environmental incidents or complaints • Managing environmental projects As a senior member of the department you will also be required to manage the team in the absence of the Environmental & Community Relations Manager.

As an experienced and passionate environmental practitioner you will have a sound knowledge of relevant legislation, government approval processes, and environmental management systems as they pertain to the mining industry. You’ll be experienced with environmental monitoring and project management, have strong report writing skills and be able to manage your time effectively. You also hold a relevant tertiary qualification and current drivers licence.

With all the growth and development happening at Golden Grove this year, this role is ideal for someone looking for a challenging role that will broaden your experience base. This permanent position will commute on an 8 days on/6 days off roster flying in and out from either Perth or Geraldton.

Accommodation and meals are provided in a comfortable modern camp with swimming pool, fully equipped gym, Foxtel, beach volleyball, outdoor cricket pitch and tennis courts. The successful candidate will be offered a remuneration package commensurate with their experience and the current market.

If you wish to explore the opportunity to be part of MMG, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au SENIOR MINING ENGINEER Location – WA Company – MMG Description: MMG comes with a long and proud history of providing metals and minerals to diverse customers around the world. The Group owns and operates a portfolio of world-class base metal mining operations, development projects and exploration fields.

The Golden Grove underground base and precious metals mine in Western Australia produces concentrates of zinc, copper and other base and precious metals. The mine is entering a new phase as open pit mining is scheduled to commence in October. This is an opportune moment for a Senior Mining Engineer to get on board now and join MMG’s owner’s team as our well established operation turns a new page. Mining will be undertaken by a contractor using one 190T class excavator and a fleet of 85T dump trucks.

Reporting to the Open Pit Manager, the successful incumbent will have a strong production focus coupled with superior technical expertise. As an experienced leader, adequate direction will be provided to ensure that daily production targets are met within an environment that fosters an unwavering commitment to employee safety. Utilising your extensive skill set you will pay significant attention to the management of the drill and blast programs, specifically focussing on flyrock and vibration levels. Additionally, you will actively assist in the review, design and evaluation of potential expansion possibilities near the site.

To achieve success in this role, effective collaboration with open pit personnel will be crucial as you ensure production targets are met and daily pit operation schedules are completed. As mining will be undertaken by a contractor, experience supervising contractors will be highly regarded.

To be considered for this role, you must be degree qualified mining engineer and possess a WA Quarry Managers certificate (or equivalent, as the incumbent will routinely fulfil the statutory duties of Quarry Manager). You will be familiar with Open Pit Risk Assessment, Safety Management and Investigative Processes within a hard rock open pit mining environment. Additionally you will be literate in a computer software package, preferably Surpac.

This is a rare opportunity to work autonomously, demonstrating your technical skill, whilst being supported by an established framework and a network of experienced personnel. This is an exciting time to join MMG, as our expansion plans offer numerous development opportunities within an environment that fosters a work life balance.

This permanent position will commute on an 8 days on/6 days off FIFO roster from either Perth or Geraldton. Accommodation and meals are provided in a comfortable modern camp with swimming pool, fully equipped gym, Foxtel, beach volleyball, outdoor cricket pitch and tennis courts. The successful candidate will be offered a remuneration package commensurate with their experience and the current market. Relocation assistance is also on offer.

If you wish to explore the opportunity to be part of MMG, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au

CONSIDERING A CAREER IN FINANCIAL PLANNING Location – Sydney Company – AMP Description: Providing financial advice to Australians for over 150 years, AMP has a long and proud history in financial planning. We are passionate about finding the right people to train and develop as our financial planners of the future. Based in St Leonards, Sydney the industry-leading AMP Horizons Financial Planning Academy is dedicated to the development of aspiring financial planners.

What is the Horizons Career Changer program?

The 12 month Career Changer program is open to applicants from a variety of backgrounds.

Structured as a ‘professional year’, the program incorporates 10 weeks of intensive academic training (in Sydney) as well as 9 months working as a financial planner in an AMP Horizons financial planning practice (in your home state). After graduating from the program, you will have the opportunity to either join an AMP Financial Planning practice or start your own business as an AMP financial planner.

Please do take into consideration that our recruitment process has multiple stages and therefore we ask that you submit your application as soon as possible to ensure we can work within all necessary timeframes.

Interested? Still studying? Or just want to know more about our opportunity – please visit our website at www.amp.com.au/horizons or call us on 1300 30 75 44. Or to apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au MINE GEOLOGIST Location – WA Company – MMG Description: MMG comes with a long and proud history of providing metals and minerals to diverse customers around the world. The Group owns and operates a portfolio of world-class base metal mining operations, development projects and exploration fields.

We are striving to be the next generation's leading global diversified minerals and metals company and we want a Mine Geologist to join the Geology team at Golden Grove to help realise this vision.

The Golden Grove underground base and precious metals mine in Western Australia produces concentrates of zinc, copper and other base and precious metals. This is an exciting time for Golden Grove as we are currently re-opening an existing mine that has been on care & maintenance, and we will be creating an openpit mine mid-to-late 2011. With all this growth we now need an experienced Mine Geologist to join the team.

Reporting to the Senior Mine Geologist, you will be geologically responsible for an area of one of the underground mines.

This role would ideally be suited to an individual who has recently commenced their Geology career and is seeking to expand their experience.

This is a great career opportunity for a motivated Mine Geologist who is looking to expand their capabilities within in a supportive team environment.

This permanent position will commute on an 8 days on/6 days off FIFO roster from either Perth or Geraldton. Accommodation and meals are provided in a comfortable modern camp with swimming pool, fully equipped gym, Foxtel, beach volleyball, outdoor cricket pitch and tennis courts. The successful candidate will be offered a remuneration package commensurate with their experience and the current market. Relocation assistance is also on offer.

If you wish to explore the opportunity to be part of MMG, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au MINE TRAINER Location – WA Company – MMG Description: MMG comes with a long and proud history of providing metals and minerals to diverse customers around the world. The Group owns and operates a portfolio of world-class base metal mining operations, development projects and exploration fields.

The Golden Grove underground base and precious metals mine in Western Australia produces concentrates of zinc, copper and other base and precious metals. We are currently operating the Gossan Hill mine and re-opening the Scuddles mine that has been on care & maintenance. As we continue to expand our operations, we will be opening an open pit mine in mid 2011. Due to a recent promotion an opportunity exists for an experienced Mine Trainer to join our Human Resources and Development Department.

Reporting to the Senior Mine Trainer, you will assist in the training and development of underground miners to national industry standards. As a key customer of the MMG mining department you will assess current employees, confirming and reporting individual competencies against the industry standard for their discipline. Facilitating career progression will be crucial to this role as you highlight individual developmental opportunities.

Creating an environment that fosters a safe working environment, you will regularly be tasked with developing and revising training and assessment resources, contributing to the continuous improvement initiatives of the department.

This permanent opportunity will commute on an 8/6 FIFO roster from either Perth or Geraldton. Day and night shifts will be required on a rotating basis. Accommodation and meals are provided in a comfortable camp with swimming pool, fully equipped gym, Foxtel, beach volleyball, outdoor cricket pitch and tennis courts.

If you wish to explore the opportunity to be part of MMG, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au MINING MANAGER Location – WA Company – MMG Description: MMG comes with a long and proud history of providing metals and minerals of all kinds to customers around the world. MMG owns and operates a portfolio of world-class base metal mining operations, development projects and exploration fields, and is a substantial producer of zinc as well as copper, lead, gold and silver. We currently has mining operations located in Australia and Asia and a large portfolio of advanced and early stage exploration projects through Australia, Asia and North America.

We are striving to be the next generation's leading global diversified minerals and metals company. To help realise this vision we want a Mining Manager to be an integral member of the senior management team at our Golden Grove mine in West Australia.

The Golden Grove underground base and precious metals mine produces concentrates of zinc, copper and other base and precious metals. This is an exciting time for Golden Grove as we have recently recommenced exploration and are re-opening a mine which has been under care & maintenance.

Reporting to the site’s General Manager, you will lead the Mining team to optimize the extraction of zinc ore to meet the mine's annual business plans. Critical to success is the leadership of the mine's production improvement work, which includes driving operational excellence and leading the identification and realization of opportunities to create step improvements in production methods.

With a strong commitment to safety and operational excellence and relevant senior management experience, you will possess: This permanent position will commute on a rotating roster of 8 days on/6 days off followed by two swings of 4 days on/3 days off roster flying in and out from either Perth or Geraldton. Accommodation and meals are provided in a comfortable modern camp with swimming pool, fully equipped gym, Foxtel, beach volleyball, outdoor cricket pitch and tennis courts. The successful candidate will be offered a remuneration package commensurate with their experience and the current market.

If you wish to explore the opportunity to be part of MMG, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au MINE PLANNING ENGINEER Location – WA Company – MMG Description: MMG comes with a long and proud history of providing metals and minerals of all kinds to customers around the world. The Group owns and operates a portfolio of world-class base metal mining operations, development projects and exploration fields.

The Golden Grove underground base and precious metals mine produces concentrates of zinc, copper and other base and precious metals. This is an exciting time for Golden Grove as we have recently recommenced exploration and are re-opening a mine which has been under care & maintenance.

We are currently seeking 2 experienced Mine Planning Engineers to join our busy Mining team to help plan for the future.

Reporting to the Technical Services Superintendent, you will ensure the timely planning and design of development headings, stopes, infrastructure and services required to ensure that production targets can be safely met or exceeded in the short, medium and long term.

These permanent positions will commute on an 8/6 FIFO roster from either Perth or Geraldton.

Accommodation and meals are provided in a comfortable camp with swimming pool, fully equipped gym, Foxtel, beach volleyball, outdoor cricket pitch and tennis courts.

If you wish to explore the opportunity to be part of MMG, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Mine Rescue & Emergency Management 2011 31 May-1 June Brisbane, QLD This event will provide you with up to date strategies, procedures and models that can help you and your company become proactive in your emergency response procedures.

Not only will this event focus on proactive measures, but it will also look at strategies that can be applied in those crucial and decisive moments where every second counts. Attend this event and invest in the safety of your businessesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most important asset â&#x20AC;&#x201C; its staff. â&#x20AC;˘ Mine Rescue www.minerescue.com.au

5th Annual Mining the Pilbara Conference

booming resources region of north west Australia, focusing on a range of key topics including: economic outlook and prosperities;operating mine updates; transport and infrastructure in the Pilbara; mining and the community; and projects under development. At Mining the Pilbara you will hear operational case studies from leading mines. in the region. â&#x20AC;˘ Informa Richard Beattie richard.beattie@irr.com.au www.irr.com.au

7th Australian Workshop on Acid and Metalliferous Drainage

MineTech Summit 2011

20-24 June Darwin Acid and Metalliferous Drainage (AMD) is the single most important environmental issue for the worldwide mining industry. In spite of considerable amounts of expenditure to remediate sites affected by AMD, progress in waste characterisation, acid drainage treatment and

15-16 June Walkington Theatre, Pilbara, WA The 2011 Mining the Pilbara conference will be a must attend event for anybody involved in the

management, it is apparent that AMD still presents many challenges for mining companies and opportunities for new research.

The workshop theme, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Emerging Trends in AMD Managementâ&#x20AC;?, emphasises the need for companies to learn from advances in long term AMD management including assessment of AMD risk at prefeasibility stages of projects, and integration of appropriate emerging technologies and research. â&#x20AC;˘ JK Tech Leigh Goss 07 3346 5923 l.goss@jktech.com.au www.jktech.com.au

28-29 June Perth The event will demonstrate through case studies and specifically targeted sessions, current technological solutions to enable effective and safe mining practices.

It will include presentations from global mining companies, mining

technology solution providers and key experts in the mining innovation field. The mining industry knows that it is vital to invest in innovation, research and development for better ways of improving the environment. â&#x20AC;˘ ChilliIQ 02 9818 6566 www.chilliiq.com.au

M&E WA 5-7 July Perth Convention Centre, WA M&E WA is a new mining industry exhibition and conference that focuses on the unique needs, challenges and opportunities facing WA's mining industry. Based in Perth, M&E WA will create an exciting new mining marketplace where miners, and the companies who supply them, can come together to network, source products & services, and do business. â&#x20AC;˘ Reed Exhibitions Luke Griffin 02 9422 2339

luke.griffin@reedexhibitions.com. au www.miningandengineeringwa. com.au

AIMEX 6-9 September Homebush, Sydney Held once every four years and firmly established on the international mining calendar, AIMEX is the flagship event within the portfolio of established industrial trade fairs staged by Reed Exhibitions. AIMEX is where Australian and international suppliers of mining technology, equipment and services come together with mining industry buyers and specifiers from throughout the Asia-Pacific region to network and explore business opportunities, and exchange technical information. â&#x20AC;˘ Reed Exhibitions Peter Thompson 02 9422 2472 peter.thompson@reedexhibitions. com.au www.aimex.com.au

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Mobility is Mine Economy

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