Australian Mining October 2011

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AustralianMining

SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

VOLUME 103/10 – OCTOBER 2011

www.miningaustralia.com.au

NO.1 FOR MINING TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT

Game changing technology Aiding open cut automation Prospect Awards OCTOBER 2011

WINNERS EDITION Best of the Best

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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 Publisher – Michelle Graves Email: michelle.graves@reedbusiness.com.au Editor – Cole Latimer Tel: (02) 9422 2352 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Journalist – Andrew Duffy Tel: (02) 9422 2884 Email: ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au Key Account Manager – Sarah Bateman Tel: (02) 9422 8994 Mob: 0408 991 585 Email: sarah.bateman@reedbusiness.com.au Key Account Manager – Tim Richards Tel: (02) 9422 2818 Mob: 0407 948 774 Email: tim.richards@reedbusiness.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 WA Representative – Jamie Wade Mob: 0435 945 868 Email: jamie@wadebusiness.com.au RBI Manufacturing & Electronics Group: Production Co-ordinator – Mary Copland Tel: (02) 9422 2738 Fax: (02) 9422 2966 Graphic Designer – Dave Ashley 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

Four more years…

A lot has changed for the mining industry since the last AIMEX was held.

I

don’t know about you, but AIMEX left me exhausted.

If you were one of the many people who attended, it’s likely you were also overwhelmed a bit by the sheer size of it.

With plans to see quite a few companies, it would be safe to say that we didn’t even get to about half of the people we had planned to see.

Add to this our annual Prospect Awards in the middle of the week, and it made for a hectic time.

The fact that both AIMEX and our awards have dwarfed previous shows can only mean good things.

As it has been a very tumultuous four years since the last Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition was held.

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au In the time since the last exhibition, back in 2007, we have been through what was the worst global financial crisis in a generation, one that toppled Iceland and sent shockwaves throughout the world, and dragged down Australia’s mining industry when it was at the very height of an unprecedented boom.

Australia was one of the few countries to actually come out of the GFC relatively unscathed, compared to some of the European nations, largely in part to the mining indus-

try – weakened though it was.

It is only now that the mining industry has again taken off in earnest.

And while I’m not usually one to get reflective about things, it seems as though it has had to do this despite struggling against the tide, in particular the Resources Super Profits Tax; the Mineral Resources Rent Tax; and the newest of the lot – The Carbon Tax. In this time we’ve also seen the ousting of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and if

the media is to be believed, were closing to seeing it happen again with current Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Even since our last Prospect Awards in November 2010, things have changed a lot.

One of the major changes has been this carbon tax, and the $23 per tonne price.

There has been a fair amount of fuss kicked up over this, and the tax’s outcomes, especially as it is being used for a tax cut rather than being invested into green technologies to overcome some of these carbon emission problems.

With so many changes in such a relatively short time, it only makes me wonder what kind of changes we will see in the time between now and our next AIMEX, or even the 2012 Prospect Awards.

FRONT COVER ON the front cover of this issue we’ve featured trucks at Fortescue’s open cut operations. The latest technology from Leica will change the way positioning systems are used in open cut mines, increasing safety and accuracy.

In this special edition of Australian Mining, we focus on the technology that is increasing operational efficiencies and making work on site easier and safer than ever.

This edition is also the Australian Mining Prospect Awards Winners issue, where we announce the best of the best, and recognise the talent, and innovation, of the Australian mining industry.

All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

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Contents Features COMMUNICATIONS Camp Connections Mine camp communication networks ......... p10 Let’s get digital The move towards digital networks............. p12

October 2011 issue

Changing the game

MAPPING, SURVEYING AND MODELLING Mine mapping updates Making modelling easier ............................. p20 Micro-management Making mine mapping global ...................... p22 In the lead position New, world changing positioning systems ... p24 AUTOMATION AND REMOTE CONTROL New kids on the autonomous block Leica makes moves into automation ............ p25 Getting a handle on ore Automated multi-crushing systems ......... p26-28 Leading the way Using automation to harness the boom .. p29-32 Automation driving innovation Process automation is increasing efficiencies .. p34 SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE Training smarter miners New software is helping to make the link between the site and the office ..................... p36 Data in a box The rise of portable modular data centres.... p38 Built tough Mobile mining computers............................ p39 Baby steps in mine planning Mine site and maintenance scheduling......... p40 Geological data analysis technology New software is taking the complexity out of resource estimation ................................. p42 MINERALS PROCESSING Getting the miles out of mills Buyers need to be wary when purchasing new or refurbished mills .............................. p44

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The Caterpillar and Bucyrus merger….p14-18

Dust in the wind ESP dust recovery is solving smelting problems ..................................................... p46 Doing a fines job Overcoming wet fines build up .................... p48 A by-word in innovation Advancing coal tailings handling ................. p50 Spun out Compact dewatering centrifuges.................. p52 AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS Mine of the Year.......................................... p58 Hardrock Mine of the Year ......................... p60 Minerals Processing Plant of the Year.......... p62 Explorer of the Year .................................... p64 Contribution to Mining/Miner of the Year............................................................. p66 Mine Manager of the Year........................... p68 Employer of Choice ..................................... p70 Mining’s Woman of the Year ....................... p72 Young Achiever of the Year ......................... p74 Community Interaction ............................... p76 Contract Miner of the Year ......................... p78 Innovative Mining Solution ......................... p80 Excellence in Mine OH&S .......................... p82

Excellence in Environmental Management .. p84 Coal Mine of the Year ................................. p86 PROCESS CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION Can’t teach a young dog old trick Setting the technical standards for coal seam gas ...................................................... p88 UNDERGROUND MINING Technology is moving underground Innovation on the back of rapid coal development ................................................ p92 AIMEX WRAP UP One for the record books Australia’s largest ever mining exhibition........................................... p100-102

Regulars INDUSTRY COMMENT.................................. p6 NEWS............................................................ p8 PRODUCT SHOWCASE ......................... p95-98 JOBS......................................................... p104 EVENTS .................................................... p106

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

Training for an AUTOMATED future Let’s look to Silicon Valley writes Derek Hunter, CEO of the Mining Industry Skills Centre.

T

he availability of skills is one of the major variables affecting the development and sustainability of the industry. The performance of the mining industry is restricted by the shortage of appropriately skilled people.

We’re not meeting demand and the shortfall is increasing at an alarming rate. Rapid advances in technology are driving changes to functions, role profiles and skill requirements – and it is common knowledge automation technology has outpaced workplace skills development.

The mix of skills and knowledge required to support a move towards greater automation in the resources industry is distinctive. Some skills will become redundant while other roles will require redevelopment over time.

More to this, there is already a skills gap associated with automation that will only widen over

Site automation will dramatically change the roles on site.

time unless a systematic training framework is required to bridge the gap.

One of the key roles which will take off rapidly is that of the Automation Technician.

This role demands the highest level of skills and knowledge from trade level personnel which can be categorised according to four top level skills: communication, problem solving, planning and technology.

From a training point of view, the traditional “chalk and talk” approach certainly isn’t going to adequately meet this demand for reskilling. So what are we doing now to address this challenge? We’re best to look to Silicon Valley for the answer.

Recently, the Skills Centre – working in partnership with technology partners CAE Mining, CSIRO, Real Serious Games, SAGE and Immersive Realisation – developed a new

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The hubs can be located regionally, or in any major capital city, servicing a region or even a single organisation. They transform how people are skilled for the industry. This concept is the first of its kind – a new use of the latest technologies – and we’re confident it will radically redefine and improve skills in the resources workforce at an accelerated rate. This is training for the future.

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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.

ACCUSED MINING SCAMMER FREE ON BAIL The man accused earlier this month of running a mining recruitment scam in Queensland has surrendered his passport and been released on bail.

Yeppoon based David Macartney, 62, is charged with four counts of obtaining money by deception and two counts of attempting to dishonestly obtain money.

Macartney’s case was mentioned briefly on Friday in Maroochydore Magistrates Court, and he was ordered to hand over his passport as part of the bail conditions.

His lawyers requested the case be transferred to Yeppoon, on Queensland’s central coast.

The charges allege he defrauded six people out of more than $32,000 after falsely recruiting them to work for a major Western Australian mining company.

The victims were all from the Sunshine Coast and aged from their 20s to 40s.

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Police say Macartney posed as a representative from a high profile recruitment agency, and guaranteed people a job in the mining industry if they handed over their money

contributed to an unfolding economic crisis,” Lane stated “Putting the brakes on resource projects through mandated content quotas would consign Queensland’s economy to a similar fate,” he said.

The Government has pushed for local content laws to force miners to use Australian firms and goods at their sites.

QRC DISMISS LOCAL CONTENT MANUFACTURING CALLS The Queensland Resources Council has dismissed calls for government intervention and mandated local manufacturing content levels.

It claimed the Federal Government moves were ‘populist and projection’.

Acting chief executive Greg Lane said now is the time for the Queensland mining industry to act as the industrialisation of China and India is proceeding with or without Queensland’s participation,” Lane said.

“No-one is going to wait for Queensland or Australia to catch up with the most significant period of economic growth in world history.

WA WARNED AGAINST LOCAL CONTENT MANDATES

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

“What should be obvious from current affairs is that lazy government policies in both the United States and Europe have

A report by the Western Australian Department of Commerce says WA would break World Trade Organisation rules if it imposed local content quotas on mining projects.

The report, comparing the attempts of several countries to ensure local businesses get a share of mining developments, said Australia’s obligations under international treaties limited local content mandates.“Relevant WTO provisions include Trade-Related Investment

Measure Article 2 which requires that a trade-related investment measure must be consistent with national treatment obligation for like products,” it said.

“An example of inconsistent measure is mandating the purchase or use by an enterprise of products of domestic origin.”

It said any local content moves by WA would trigger retaliatory trade action from other countries.

LOCK THE GATE ALLIANCE ADMITS TO MISLEADING REPORT The Lock the Gate Alliance, an outspoken national lobby group opposed to coal seam gas exploration, has admitted aspects of its submission to state and federal CSG inquiries may be misleading.

The submission’s inaccuracies stem from parallels it attempted to draw between Australia’s CSG developments and the shale gas industry in the United States.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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It’s no secret that Scania builds robust, durable and dependable vehicles that perform a range of vital services in the Australian mining and construction industry. You may also be aware that we supply crew buses, stationary industrial engines and power generators.

But if you were to dig a little deeper, you’d see there’s a whole lot more to discover about Scania. First of all, we do things differently.

We’re dedicated to redefining transport and perfecting all the little things along the way. It’s this total approach that allows us to provide tailored transport solutions focused on uptime, productivity and operating economy. And best of all, everything we do is backed by a national network dedicated to keeping your business moving. So talk to us today and discover how Scania is redefining mining transport.

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COMMUNICATIONS

Camp

CONNECTIONS

The development of a complete camp network is setting miners apart.

R

emote mine camps aren’t like Despite having the technology for home. Because you can’t dump a while, Telstra has only began provida series of dongas in the desert ing the service in the last few months, and call it a community.

Hindes saying “the key is why we did Despite some benefits, the fly in it, it came out of our research as we fly out lifestyle does have a number saw that it was something that was of downsides. really needed onsite.

“There are some serious social “We’re facing a high staff turnover implications to a FIFO lifestyle, so in the mining industry as the boom when companies provide a higher continues and the skills shortage tightstandard of living at their camps, they ens, so companies that can provide can actively address some of these better accommodation and camp issues,” Alan Hindes, Telstra’s indus- services are able to position themtry development selves as the more executive for strate- It has created Basecamp, desirable compagic sales – mining, nies for which to a complete mine camp resources, and work,” he said. construction told communications network.

“It is designed Australian Mining. to deliver high He explained that following its speed internet, foxtel, phones, enterresearch into the mining sector and tainment services, and provide miners how companies can attract and retain social interactions with those back staff, in particular the contentious home.”

FIFO issue, Telstra developed BaseDelivered via fibre optics and reticcamp, a complete mine camp commu- ulated around the camp, it sits on a nications network.

Telstra IP network.

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Fibre optics, rather than satellite, is better for connections at mine camps.

By using fibre optics, rather than satellite communications, it also addresses the bandwidth issues, Hindes explained.

It installs the communications technology at both greenfields and brownfields camps.

“We had two opportunities at greenfields sites, so we worked with the people building the camp, to create a camp design and layout that works best,” Hindes told Australian Mining.

“At brownfield sites we simply retrofit it for the camp.”

Communications is key on site.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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COMMUNICATIONS

Let’s get digital The move towards digital communications in mines is opening up new opportunities.

C

onstant communication is critical in mining. You always have to be in touch, be contactable.

So ensuring that when something happens, you can be heard is more than a little important.

Which is why the constant incremental shift towards digital radio and communications networks in mining is one of the most important, if under recognised, changes happening today.

Speaking to Motorola’s Damien Tyrrell, he told Australian Mining that the industry is seeing not just a more rapid uptake of digital radio, but of completely digital networks, as “today’s digital technology is allowing miners to change the way they operate.

“Five years ago, we were really on the cusp of a digital migration where there were a few isolated deployments at the time, but now we are seeing a more rapid adoption of not just digital radio but entire networks,” he said. “Miners are seeing the benefits of a total system integration.”

One of the key aspects of the digital uptake has been its use in manage-

Digital communication networks are increasing safety levels on and off mines.

ment and for safety. The network allows users to track vehicles and equipment, monitor its wear and tear, its payloads and production cycles, and also prevent risky behaviour in vehicles.

“It is also an integral feature in automated, semi-automated, and

remote control vehicles,” Tyrrell added.

Management of fleets can now be moved off site and remotely programmed as well.

These networks also allow operators to integrate their various stand alone mine communication networks into a single over reaching network,

with radios logging all movements of the users and recording call log data.

“This approach cuts down on operating costs and provides a complete data review of everything that happens.”

Radio security has also been increased, as remote access allows site operators to find any radios that go ‘missing’, and even turn them off remotely.

“If a radio is compromised, you can track it via the log, identify it, disable access, or even kill it. This is really one of the most impotant aspects.”

However, safety is always the number one priority.

“There are many safety applications under these digital networks, users on it can even have an ‘emergency button’ on their radios which gives them priority over other radio traffic and provides a GPS location in case of an accident,” Tyrrell explained.

With Australia already one of the global leaders in the application of this technology, the applications are set to increase, especially in underground mining.

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CATERPILLAR

CHANGING the game

-

Following Caterpillar’s acquisition of Bucyrus, the company is set to make some huge changes, Australian Mining reports.

W

hat happens when two of the world’s largest mining machinery companies come

together?

Late last year, the world looked on as Caterpillar – a company synonymous with mine site vehicles, and Bucyrus – a firm well known for having the largest equipment running at most sites, merged.

In terms of acquisitions, this $8.8 billion one is definitely one of the largest ever carried out.

But why did it happen, and what is the company doing as it moves forward are the questions that everyone is asking.

At Caterpillar’s recent global briefing in Milwaukee, the company explained all.

Where it began Caterpillar had been on the lookout for an acquisition for some time.

Speaking to Australian Mining, they explained that the timing was right to make a move.

“We had been aiming to dramatic14 October 2011

AustralianMining

ally expand our product range to mining products. Our aim is that wherbecome ‘the single source solution’, ever there is mining, Caterpillar will and had been looking at the ways in be there”. which we could do that, but these plans had been put on hold while we Business as usual? all suffered from the global down- The two mining equipment compaturn,” Tony Johnson, Caterpillar’s nies’ products, while broad, did not Resources Division’s marketing manager, often go head to head, Caterpillar chairman Doug Oberhelman saying explained.

“As we came out of the global the two firms had virtually no overlap.

Whereas Cat is known for its trucks financial crisis, we were better placed and earthmoving than most as we had a recession Caterpillar had been on the equipment, Bucyrus draglines and plan in place, a underground coal ‘trough plan’. This lookout for an acquisition. mining machinery allowed us to survive the recession in a fairly healthy were a common sight on site.

However, “this was not business position.

“Having looked at Bucyrus before, as usual, this is not just buying new and not seen it as a viable option then, products,” Caterpillar vice president our new relatively strengthened posi- of mining products Luis de Leon tion in the market allowed us to make explained.

Wunning added that “its about the move.”

Caterpillar’s Resources Group growth, as we can see that we can president Steve Wunning stated that grow much faster together than we “this acquisition was all about growth could by ourselves”.

With the speed of the acquisition, and new opportunities, broadening our range of surface and underground from the announcement in Novem-

ber 2010 to finalisation in July 2011, it would not been unexpected to encounter resistance to the move from workers within Bucyrus.

However, the two blended surprisingly easily given the sheer size of the merger.

Bozeman explained that it has been a good marriage going forward, adding that the changeover to Cat had been welcomed from the staff.

During a recent trip to the Bucyrus manufacturing factory in South Milwaukee, Australian Mining noted a number of Bucyrus employees sporting Cat hats and shirts along with their aubergine Bucyrus wear.

“We made sure we spent a great deal of time meeting with Bucyrus employees to make sure this transition went smoothly,” Caterpillar’s president of the Resources Group Steve Wunning stated.

While the original decision was to slowly integrate the Bucyrus brand under Cat, with Bucyrus products to Continued on page 16 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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CATERPILLAR

Continued from page 14 remain branded so for the next three years, speaking to Bucyrus customers they welcomed the total rebranding.

“This wasn’t a Cat decision, it was a Bucyrus decision – we were to go yellow from day one,” Johnson stated.

The company also provided different model numbers for some equipment, to allow for product alignment.

However, it is keeping the Unit Rig electric drive trucks due to their strong market presence and history in the industry.

But these rebranding moves have worried some, with concerns raised over whether it will damage the markets of which Bucyrus had controlled a strong share.

Johnson said that while there are a lot of transitional challenges going forward, its important to get our dealers and customers on the same page, “since announcing the deal we have lost market share in some areas, but it just means we are going to have to work harder”.

Widening the scope Expanding its product range has now opened some new doors for Cat, allowing it to enter new territory.

In particular, it is looking to

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underground coal and hardrock mining it has not previously explored.

These opportunities and future strategies for the company were discussed in September.

However, moving forward there is already an outline for what Cat will be doing.

One of the major developments is the expanding of its service and distribution network.

Dealing with the issues Caterpillar told Australian Mining that is has increased its focus on the distribution and dealer network.

One way in which it has done this is by expanding its set network regions, growing from five ‘super region’ up to 15 “to provide greater support for our dealers and to drill down on customers demand,” Johnson explained.

Caterpillar is aiming to expand its underground coal mining presence.

strengthen its position in both underground coal and hardrock mining.

Chris Curfman, Caterpillar vice president for the Resources Group sales and marketing explained that “if you’re not in underground coal in the next ten years, then you won’t be in coal.

“There is a strategic imperative

to grow and expand our mining products in this space.

“Caterpillar has also played in the hardrock mining area before but has not been a major player, we are now investing in this sector to become stronger.”

He went on to say that there are some high growth opportunities in

The Australian question So how will this move effect Australian operations and sites?

With the increased focus on underground coal mining, operations at Caterpillar’s Burnie factory are set to quadruple, de Leon told Australian Mining.

It is set to grow to the degree that Continued on page 18

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CATERPILLAR

Continued from page 16

conveyors have mostly been underground, Cat is looking to expand the skills set into surface applications”.

Cat has also recently announced the release of new dozers, the D11T and D11T CD. The equipment manufacturer is also taking a step into the drill market.

In particular rotary blast hole drills and hydraulic track drills, which will all be Cat branded, Sri Srinath, Caterpillar’s materials handling division manager stated.

It also has a patent pending for carousel rod changers on its hydraulic drills.

Srinath went on to say that there are plans for regional manufacturing centres.

Cat is already looking to open another factory to fulfil demand.

But it is not just growing in underground mining equipment, with the company planning to dramatically expand its footprint for manufacturing, Bozeman said.

“This is part of our $5 billion investment in our mining division outside of the Bucyrus buy, particularly in R&D, in electric trucks, automation, new products, and increasing the capacity of our factories by 70 to 80%,” he explained.

The technology With a wide range of products to integrate, Cat found itself buying a lot of yellow paint.

In underground coal mining, the company has for the first time found itself a complete portfolio provider.

Underground product manager Keith O’Neil explained that the primary focus will be on China; however while Australia is still seen as the main driver from an innovation standpoint, in a joint venture between Cat and Shenhua of China it developed the SH680 for the Chinese market, which can carry smaller 80 tonne shields.

It is also looking at longwall technology such as automated longwall top coal caving, which is designed for extremely high seams.

Room and pillar mining is now a forte for the company, as it looks towards the development of continuous haulage solutions.

It has also branched out into highwall mining, to allow for the recovery of coal from room and pillar operations.

According to Cat, there is currently one highwall operation at work in Australia.

Automation and software

The company will put a greater focus on its drilling products.

articulate dump trucks, and is developing a new underground loader that will be ready for the market by the fourth quarter of next year.

It will also look towards expanding its presence in jumbo drills, with the company stating that it is “lagging behind in market share”.

One of its most interesting developments in this space is ‘Rock Flow’ – a continuous haulage flow system from draw points, negating the need for underground loaders.

It will see first deployment in 2013.

Hardrock mining

Mining trucks

Within the hardrock mining space, Cat has made improvements to its

Caterpillar will continue in its heavy focus on mining trucks, and keep the

Unit Rig brand alive while integrating Cat products (such as hoses) into the machines.

Unit Rig technology will also find its way into Cat trucks as well, surface mining trucks manager Ed McCord stating: “the merger of these companies is a two way street, as we can capitalise on each other’s knowledge.”

It will also look “to insource as many Cat components as possible into the new products, but we won’t simply jam a Cat engine into a Terex machine because it’s there,” Bozeman said.

McCord explained that they are spending $800 million to improve truck capacity, not just utilisation, and expect to produce 35% more mining trucks this year than in 2008.

There will also be an increased focus on technology, especially turbo charging, truck automation (such as the planned autonomous truck network for Fortescue Metal Group’s Solomon Hub) and exploring the use of LNG as an alternative fuel source.

Cat’s 789D is set to begin production in January next year.

Moving materials Materials handling has also risen in stature, with the company planning to introduce new hauling products over the next two years.

McCord added “while Bucyrus 18 October 2011

AustralianMining

In line with leaps forward in technology such as Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future in the Pilbara, Caterpillar’s “vision is to move to full site automation, from the pit to the port,” Al Frese explained.

“It is not just about driverless trucks.”

He said Cat’s Minestar system is assisting in integrating mining operations.

It consists of Fleet – an advanced vehicle assignment module; Terrain – which includes CAES and AQUILA; Detect – for vehicle proximity awareness and comes as standard for large trucks; Health – which proactively identifies problems that may cause downtimes; and finally Command – which provides controls for remote, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous drilling, dozing, hauling, and loading.

Draglines The draglines, for which Bucyrus is known, were first shipped as Cat draglines in August.

Joe Helfrich, the general manager for surface extraction, said “I don’t think there is a surface mining solution we can’t provide now”.

He explained that there will be greater standardisation across the manufacturing process to cut down lead times for draglines, rope shovels and hydraulic shovels, with a forecast dragline output of approximately one every eighteen months.

Cat is planning to integrate hydraulic shovels into the autonomous truck program to optimise shovel/truck oeprations, Helfrich adding that “there will soon be significant announcements on this front”.

It is also accelerating the development of the HydraCrowd, Latchfree Dipper and new cab features for hydraulic shovels. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MAPPING, SURVEYING & MODELLING

Vulcan 8.2 is scheduled for release mid next year.

The scheduling bundles have been designed for open cut mining.

Mine mapping UPDATES Maptek has updated its Vulcan software, and including a number of new features for Vulcan 8.2.

T

he goal of all miners is to achieve maximum efficiency. From the time you first break ground to site remediation; you want to get the most out of your site in the best way possible. Aiding this constant drive, Maptek has released Vulcan 8.1, which provides new engineering functions for underground stope studies, scheduling tools for open cut operations as well as other additional features.

Maptek’s Vulcan product manager Eric Gonzalez explained that “for Vulcan 8.1 we ran the largest product beta test

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AustralianMining

program to date, and the feedback has been instrumental in developing this latest product”.

Vulcan 8.1 includes new bundles from that its predecessor. The scheduling bundles have been designed for open cut operations, with the short term planner combining a new Sequence Accumulation tool with interactive scheduling tools already in Vulcan.

Improvements have also been made to the existing Chronos scheduler, with configuration parameters and multithreading aimed at reducing the time taken to run optimi-

sations. The Stope Optimiser itself has been tweaked to speed up the running of multiple scenarios based on variables in block models, including 3D mining zones as well as polygons and reports.

A new QuarryModeller bundle provides a set of modelling tools tailored for quarries, while an additional toolbar streamlines the Grade Control process.

Users can also now blast designs on the screen. The interface has been enhanced for the pit layout and bench and batter projection menus,

while new geotechnical display options include better tadpole plots and stickplots.

This latest edition of Vulcan is designed to allow for more accurate compositing, and allows data exported from 8.1 to be displayed using free viewers as well as embedded in documents, suing Ngrain and VRML formats. It also provides support for ECW image import. According to Maptek, work has now begun on 8.2, as it responds to user feedback.

Mark Scholes, Maptek’s manager for mine planning solutions, told Australian Mining

that it will contain a number of “exciting features”. These include rapid pit design modules; unfolding by anisotropy; IREDES export for automated drilling in open cut and underground operations; improved CSV/Excel import for drill hole databases; the addition of metadata information for triangulations; a new Boolean for triangulations; improved ODBC connection schemes; 3D PDF support; ROM models and stripping ratio for stratigraphic HARP models; as well as improved Block Model Flags from section polygraphs.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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MAPPING, SURVEYING & MODELLING

Micro-management The latest edition of a mine exploration and modelling software incorporates some global features.

M

icromine has released an updated version of its exploration and mine modelling software.

Coming only 18 months after Micromine 2010’s (M2010) release in March last year, the company’s latest software is designed to aid geologists and engineer.

Speaking to Micromine’s Kate Donaldson, she explained to Australian Mining that while M2010 focused on functionality and included changes to features such as plotting; pit optimisation and wire framing; and geolinked windows and fly-throughs, the new Micromine 2011 (M2011) has focused on enhancing compatibility, speed, and knowledge sharing.

She said that it is used by exploration geologists, mining engineers, and GIS specialists to identify deposits, estimate resources, as well as design

The program allows users to import and export data to Google Earth KML formats.

and model the mine to best extract these resources.

“It’s software that geologists like to use because it is geologically logical, intuitive, and easy to learn,” she told Australian Mining.

“This software allows them to locate prospective regions, search for mineral indicators, model and visualise ore distribution patterns, and design mining operations. It is also used by consultants for mining

studies, JORC standard reports and bankable feasibility studies.”

Donaldson said one of the latest features is third party integration with GIS/GPS and Google Earth, which allows the users to import, display,

and export data to Google Earth KML formats.

“Its flexible import/export functions make it really easy to share files between these tools and to display data using Micromine’s 3D modelling capability.”

M2011 comes with enhanced GIS and GPS compatibility which supports formats in 2D and 3D; is able to import, display, and export to GPS Exchange and GPS TrackMaker; as well as having raster (grid) data compatibility.

This updated geology software also has new binary fields to aid in reducing file size and in turn improve performance.

The drill hole optimisation level-of-detail feature now allows the user to switch it on or off, to improve the speed of interactive displays. Once a mine is operational, the software also allows forproduction control.

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MAPPING, SURVEYING & MODELLING

In the lead position The development of a completely new positioning system is set to change mining, Cole Latimer reports.

I

t’s no small thing to say that Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have changed the world.

From guiding smart missiles down the streets of Iraq to getting taxi drivers and your parents from point A to point B without having to think or getting lost, it has really opened up a number of opportunities for its application.

To the point now where it is essentially ubiquitous.

The same as Russia’s GLONASS, which has better coverage of northern Europe than GPS. But just because it is everywhere, does not mean it is infallible.

One of the major problems with the system is that is jammable and that the high precision positioning network that utilises GPS alone needs a clear view of the sky with sufficient geometry.

In mining, if these satellites are blocked, then the system fails.

Problem is, this is a fairly common occurrence in open cut mines with deep pits or when vehicles are working against high walls.

With mine production and automation becoming increasingly reliant on GPS positioning, failures of this

on carries out initial surveys, the rest around it are self configuring,” he added.

By doing this, each individual LocataLite unit functionally becomes the equivalent of a GPS satellite for the HP positioning network.

The LocataLites themselves are just small boxes about the size of a notebook, and can be placed wherever they are needed around the mine site.

They can be permanently positioned or moved at will.

Roberts went on to tell Australian Mining that, as the system runs on WiFi, it is not as jammable as regular GPS, which has directly lead to one of the largest announcements for the technology.

Leica’s new positioning system is overcoming some of the issues with traditional satellite positioning faced in mining, such as working in deep pits or against high walls.

type are a serious issue.

Even more so as the mining industry moves towards greater automation and semi-autonomous vehicles, which rely heavily on GPS tracking to adjust their movements and to follow pre-set paths within the site.

Speaking to Australian Mining, Leica Geosystems Mining’s CEO Haydn Roberts

GPS is increasingly important in directing autonomous vehicles.

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AustralianMining

explained that “there was a need for an alternative positioning system”.

Following his company’s partnership with Locata, it is now providing this alternative.

“We are now offering a ground based ‘alternative positioning system’.”

Roberts described the new technology, know as the Leica Jigsaw Positioning System (Jps), as “the world’s only high precision radio positioning system that is not reliant on GPS”.

Powered by Locata, it provides a “new constellation of ground based satellites” and alternative points of reference.

Working as additional points of reference, it can be used in conjunction with GPS and GLONASS, for exmaple using three GPS satellites with two LocataLites to provide a high precision position, something that is not normally possibly in deep pits – or operating completely independently from their satellite networks.

Locata’s CEO Nunzio Gambale added that “Locata, across the open pit mine area, is ensuring that Jps users have solid, operational cm-level

positioning which is independent of GPS”.

How it works In understanding Jps, you have to understand how GPS works.

One of the fundamental requirements for GPS positioning is that the transmitters are synchronised.

Atomic clocks are used in all GPS to achieve this, where as GLONASS needs at least four satellites to work, using three to determine user location and the fourth to sychronise clocks of the receiver and the other three satellites.

However the LocataLites transmitters can accomplish high levels of sychronisation without using atomic clocks, Roberts explained.

Soon after being turned on, the LocataLites create an autonomous; nano-second accurate positioning network through a sychronisation process Leica has called ‘TimeLoc’, which can even operate when the LocataLites are 50 kilometres apart, or even further if attached to high powered transmit amplifiers.

“After the first box turned

Flying the flag In September, Leica announced that the United States Air Force (USAF), who had actually created GPS, had approached the company to use Locata to provide the 746th Test Squadron (746TS) with increased accuracy in positioning at their White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, which covers more than 6500 square kilometers. The USAF is using Locata as GPS is known to jam, and provides inaccurate readings.

“I am excited about the potential Locata’s technology has to dramatically improve our reference system’s accuracy in a navigation warfare environment,” Christopher Morin, technical director for the 746TS, said.

“Delivering completely independent high accuracy GPS style positioning when GPS is not available no trivial task – in fact many believed it was not possible,” Gamble stated.

“We are the only company in the world that is doing it.”

Roberts added that this system is “providing something that no-one else can – OEM independent, GPS independent high precision positioning networks for mines and beyond”. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

New kid on the

AUTONOMOUS block

Leica Geosystems has initiated a new automation drive.

L

eica Geosystems Mining has announced it will partner with Autonomous Solutions Inc. (ASI) to provide completely OEM indepdent remote and autonomous mine machine controls.

Making this recent announcement at AIMEX, Leica described the move as an “entirely new approach to mining automation” as the technology is no longer connected with a machine manufacturer.

The ASI technology is pivotal to the Leica Jigsaw product suite which offers three levels of machine control: fleet management (Leica Jfleet systems), high precision guidance (Leica J2guidance systems) and now, with ASI, automated control (Leica J3autonomous systems).

Speaking to Australian Mining, Leica Geosystems

www.miningaustralia.com.au

Mining CEO Haydn Roberts said “we chose to work with ASI because they are the only OEM independent company that has developed and field tested fully autonomous mining equipment. They have a strong history in R&D and have hundreds of unmanned vehicles in industries like agriculture, mining, material handling, and the military.”

ASI chief executive Mal Torrie said his company chose to work with “Leica because they are market leaders in machine guidance and mining dispatch software which are both essential components needed for successful fielding of automation solutions in mining.

“We have worked with them in the past when we integrated their dispatch software with our unmanned haul trucks,” he told Australian Mining.

Leica will provide incremental autonomous integration, rather than full packages.

He went on to say that the two will focus on incremental integration of their automation system, and respond to the needs of the customer as they arise rather than selling full packages.

“The current OEM approach to automation in mining is wrong. It’s about developing something that miners want, rather than slapping everything together in a package and telling them that’s what they need,” Torrie added.

ASI’s Torrie explained that by building up the hours of system use, its reliability is demonstrated, even if there aren’t the same initial levels of automation uptake through the industry immediately.

“Trust in our sub-systems is being established with the end user one capability at a time, until the site wants to graduate to a full autonomous operation,” he said.

Leica will now provide haul truck ‘guideline’ convoy

system; remote-controlled, line-of-sight operated systems; tele-op systems (where operators work remotely via an operations centre using video feed and site plans); fully autonomous ripping for dozers (with a resultant 50% faster ripping rate); and a fully remote controlled all terrain walking track robot named Chaos, for underground mine surveying, post-blast analysis, and safety operations using its many sensor and robotic arm options.

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Getting a handle on ore An automated multi-ore crushing system in Western Australia is providing greater control, Kevin Gomez* writes.

S

ILENCE, they say, is golden. And for AI Automation’s owner Colin Heath, silence on the part of the Western Australian client who ordered a multi-trailer ore crushing system is testament to equipment reliability.

“We haven’t heard a peep from them, so there can’t be too much wrong,” Heath said.

AI Automation delivered a system which consists of six self-generating trailers, and a trailer mounted control room.

In each trailer, AI Automation implemented Mitsubishi Q series and FX series PLC equipment as well as Mitsubishi HMI touch screens.

Mitsubishi’s variable speed drives were used to provide finer control, as were Mitsubishi’s variable speed drives.

At final count, the full plant consisted of one primary jaw crusher, one tertiary cone crusher, one secondary cone crusher, one fines vibratory multideck screen, one scalping multi-deck

26 October 2011

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All the trailers provide operational feedback of critical system pressures and temperatures back to the control room HMI unit, and the system is expandable. For example, video plant surveillance can be installed later, as can direct remote access capabilities which will allow even more flexible monitoring and configuration.

Communications Communications between the trailLocal configuration and control for ers and control equipment is handled each trailer was by radio Etherafforded by the net, which elimThe trailers for the plant PLC system and inates the need for touch screens pre- can be mixed and matched. pesky re-cabling sent in every unit. when the modules This is in addition to the standard are reconfigured for new applications. central control.

Given the application, the speed “The main control room with 15 and reliability of radio Ethernet techinch touch screens is where the client nology was more than satisfactory can oversee the lot,” Heath explained. for the project.

“The screens themselves are quite “The data speed varies depending intelligent: they handle the transmis- on what we’re transmitting,” said sion of data between the systems and Heath. “We do not shift a large amount works quite well.” of data around. It was more necessary screen, and three height-variable roving radial stackers with ultrasonic material level sensing.

Each section of mobile plant can be independently operated, or coupled together for various plant configurations, for example to deal with different material grades or types.

to bring the system together into a single HMI screen and controller; we’re only periodically looking at the information or sending out bits of data.”

Mobility and flexibility Mobility was a big consideration for the project, with the modular nature of the trailers allowing the client to mix and match the plant according to its needs. For example, the client can choose to exclude plants when they are not necessary for the process. “[With this project], you can change the plant’s configuration easily. [With] a fixed plant, you can’t do that, you’re stuck with what you’ve got, and it’s a major exercise to reconfigure,” Heath explained. “This plant could be reconfigured in a number of ways, depending on what grade of ore you are processing, or what you’re trying to achieve.”

The self-contained nature of the Continued on page 28 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Continued from page 26 plants was boosted by the use of diesel electric generators on each trailer, meaning the system did not have to be tethered to a central powerhouse, a fixed power plant or power source, further improving the flexibility and configurability of the solution.

According to Heath, a system of the scope specified would normally be a fixed plant, but the need for two or three different configurations meant a fixed plant was out of the question.

“You wouldn’t be able to achieve that configurability with a fixed plant – the plant would have been massive,” Heath said.

While the trailers lend themselves well to being transported, the project in Western Australia was intended for just one mine site. However, Heath acknowledged the potential of such a system for higher end sectors, where the plants may need to be shifted to various sites on a needed basis, or around the site.

In addition to the flexible configuration of the plant, additional control over processes like material feed control, screening efficiency and stock piling was provided by the use of Mitsubishi variable speed drives.

This combination of equipment allowed the client fine-grained control over its operation, with the processes entirely adjustable according to the grade of ore it had to deal with. The variable speed drives also provided energy savings, ensuring a full tank of diesel lasts as long as possible.

Reliability In mining applications, with its tough conditions and when dealing with ore of various hardness, reliability is key – especially when any downtime can

represent millions of lost dollars.

By all accounts, the Mitsubishi equipment package has taken the 800 to 1000 tonnes per hour production rate, extreme heat, dust, vibration and precipitation in its stride, with reliable and efficient performance.

Heath swears by Mitsubishi equipment.

“I personally used Mitsubishi for some 15 or more years, and its systems are highly reliable,” said Heath. “Their equipment is advanced, and is considered a world-wide market leader.

Certainly it has a reputation of reliability and one that is well-earned.”

Reliability is certainly good news for the client. Depending on the grade of ore being crushed, these plants can be set up and run for ten years or more.

For distributors, happy customers are a good thing, but Heath wryly points out that this reliability means rarely will he get sales out of replacing broken equipment. Most of AI Automation’s work now comes from either expansion or superseded equipment replacement.

Conclusion Heath summed up the advantages of the project for the client as “mobility, reliability, configurability and cost”.

Through the use of Mitsubishi’s equipment and control technology, AI Automation was able to build a solution to address the client’s need for a flexible solution.

By mounting the plants on self-powered trailers, the firm opened the door to a solution which can be quickly and costeffectively rearranged to deal with a wide variety of tasks and material.

This innovative form factor, along with the proven reliability of the equipment, meant AI Automation’s client has been blissfully quiet about the project since its delivery. *Kevin Gomez is the editor of Australian Mining’s sister magazine PACE.

The mobility of the control room was a major factor in its application.

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Leading the way The challenges of the Australian environment has forced the nation’s mining industry to develop unique ways automated processes to harness the boom, Paul McRoberts* writes.

A

Automation is ensuring optimal processes on site.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

ustralia’s rapidly expanding multibillion dollar mining technology and services industry is leading the drive for innovations to boost productivity and efficiency.

As Australian mining exports increase, mining companies are investing significant resources into the development and implementation of remote automation and unmanned machinery to meet this demand.

The isolated geographical locations of many Australian mines, in addition to safety considerations, make remote automation and unmanned machinery an attractive option for mining companies. While traditional automation and robotic technology in the mining industry has comprised standalone autonomous equipment managing a selected process, today it is possible to connect these discrete processes resulting in an integrated, productive mining environment.

The development of smart technologies that enable remote automation and robotics to be available for mining applications is central to driving productivity and efficiency

gain. The advancement of technology during the past 10 years, in particular improvements in central processing unit capacity, access to smart technologies, and advanced sensor technology, has enabled the framework for intelligent software development.

Development of intelligent systems The notion of intelligent software has existed for a long time, but a paradigm shift is occurring in how critical and complex automation systems are designed, configured and controlled. Today, to achieve ‘artificial intelligence’ is the ultimate goal. A system where the intelligence of machines is such that traits like reasoning, knowledge, planning, learning, communication and perception; provide equipment with the ability to move and manipulate objects to improve commercial outcomes.

In the beginning, an individual computer would perform a sequential task or series of tasks; this progressed to the development of parallel processing which enables a synchroContinued on page 30

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Continued from page 29 nised, coordinated computing platform such as connection to network.

Parallel processing is much faster than sequential processing, with large-scale multithreading capabilities allowing for simple repetitive calculations on vast amounts of similar data. Holonic multi-agent systems are composed of autonomous software entities and display increasing complexity; they have the ability to simulate a system or to solve problems and to allow for invaluable integration of technologies in a mining environment.

Currently, the highest level of system capability in operation is referred to as autonomous, cooperating agents.

These agents have increased system complexity; able to make collaborative decisions and display the ability to re-configure parameters dynamically. Technology has come a long way but still has its limitations, particularly in supplying technology to continuous operations in remote areas to minimise human involvement. The development of mining machinery displaying ‘artificial intelligence’ is the ultimate goal. Intelligent systems integrated into machinery that can adapt to environmental conditions, evolve to overcome challenges and self-heal to prevent downtime are being actively developed. Equipment that can interact with its environment and adapt appropriately to increase productivity and sustainability in mining will be a valuable resource.

Automation increases safety and efficiency in mining The application of automated systems can make a significant contribution towards increasing the efficiency and sustainability of mining operations.

The introduction of automation to mining operations can help improve the quality of the work environment for employees by reducing their exposure to potentially dangerous situations. Recent advances in automated control equipment and robotics are expected to result in major improvements in the efficiency and safety of mine machinery. ‘Smart Devices” for automation generally consist of an embedded processor, sensors, logic and communications parameters. These devices provide improved control capabilities and can provide significantly more information on the operation and health of system components and the condition of the automation process.

A mining environment is an amalgamation of a set of related processes from drilling, blasting and transporting material through to crushing, grinding and to processing and transporta30 October 2011

AustralianMining

By automating repeated processes, it enables sites to take the man out of the operation, increasing safety on site.

tion of production output. Incorporation of remote automation involves the use of sensors that are able to provide data required to control mining and processing operations.

Advances in data processing technologies have met the requirement created by these sensors to analyse individual signals and integrate information from different sensors. Intelligent software development allows computers to autonomously, or at least semi-autonomously interpret the data in ways that can alter parameters of machinery during the mining operation.

The use of software agents in automation allows for the design of more flexible and smarter control architectures. By leveraging an agent communication layer (ACL) on top of communication networks such as EtherNet/IP, a system is able to achieve coordination of dissimilar systems.

These ACLs contain a set of message parameters allowing for excellent automation control. The message parameters that are required for effective agent communication will vary according to the situation. Intelligent parameters for the mining industry often includes features such as embedded diagnostics, communications, calibrations and control activities typically performed in a programmable logic controller (PLC) or other distributed control system.

The concept of associating functional system elements with an intelligent agent, provides the basis for excellent system operation, and performance even when unexpected compo-

nent failure, environmental changes, workload changes, or altered system operating objectives occur. The automation of increasingly complex, critical coupled systems can place a significant demand on centralised automation systems. Intelligent agents can be used to identify faults and then to collaborate and implement a loss mitigation and recovery strategy or a self healing process. Full functionality can be restored by intelligent agents when the faulty element is repaired, therefore reducing costly downtime and increasing productivity of a mine.

The technology of robotics Robotics is transforming mining around the world as a result of ongoing automation initiatives. Fully automated robotic mining encapsulates mines with smart drills for both production and material identification; precise automatic, remote controlled movement and positioning equipment; automated movement of vehicles such as trucks, and advanced management systems. Recent advances in intelligent software development have fuelled the development of functional robots and their role in mining. Robots offer improved safety, greater productivity and efficiency, and are able to operate in remote, harsh environments.

Automated control technology has already been applied to drilling operations, allowing an operator to set up and operate the equipment remotely.

This removes the operator from potentially dangerous zones on the drill rig, open cut or underground mine and increases overall efficiency of the

mining operation. Driverless haulage trucks are being developed for open pit mines. Artificial intelligence – incorporating GPS systems, wireless communication and object avoidance sensors enable these trucks to either drive themselves or be driven by an operator at a computer panel away from the mine site. Computer systems that provide information about the velocity and position of the vehicle can prevent accidents and increase the lifetime of the machine. Production loss can be minimised as breakdown frequency declines resulting in improved productivity and profitability in mining.

A significant challenge facing mining today is the increased global demand for minerals and metals while available resources are becoming harder to access due to location and harsh environments. Automation and robotics can help to provide a solution by providing streamlined processes for extracting ore, while reducing the exposure of workers to health risks. New sensing technologies such as GPS, radar and laser systems being incorporated into robotics will have an increasing impact on the safety, predictability, precision and efficiency of mining.

Energy efficiency and sustainability Automation enhances energy efficiency by reducing variability and increasing consistency in the operation of mining equipment. By using intelligent sensor technology, situational awareness of mining equipment such Continued on page 32 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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automation

When your profitability depends on the weight of the material that you are shipping, the accuracy and repeatability of your weighing systems are a clear priority to your business. At Schenck Process, we have been helping our customers to optimise the profitability of their bulk materials handling operations through precision weighing for 125 years.

Our legal-for-trade belt weighers can provide dynamic weighing with repeated accuracies of up to 0.25 % with Australian National Measurement Institute approvals. Because our systems are based on our own German made precision load cells and cutting edge software we can give you the peace of mind that your installation will meet or exceed your process needs and provide you with the profitability that you deserve.

AM.OCT11.PG032.pdf

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Continued from page 30

Future directions of intelligent agents in mining

industry. Mine sites are increasingly adopting robotics to remain at the forefront of mining technology development. Areas of continued focus include advanced analytical techniques to improve maintenance outcomes and efficiency; location awareness of vehicles and equipment, and improved process automation.

Computing platforms are required to operate at faster speeds while continuing to operate under the harsh and extreme conditions found at a mine site. In addition to increased computer power, new algorithms for signal processing, perception and control are being actively developed to help increase the safety, precision and efficiency of mining.

Innovations in information technologies are required to meet the increasing demand for Australian mining exports. A single company cannot do it all; Rockwell Automation recognises the importance of partnering with endusers, consultants, industry specialists and third-party manufacturers to achieve common goals in equipment control.

Advanced control technology has taken on new level control algorithms which will take advantage of gaming software for visualisation and self healing software to make adaptive changes to production.

Continued investment in this area will provide the mining industry with greater productivity and improved safety and sustainability.

The ultimate goal is to develop evolutionary, self-healing machinery and equipment that can effectively and efficiently interact with the mining environment.

Advances in intelligent software have lead to significant improvements in automation of processes and development of robotic devices for the mining

*Paul McRoberts is the industry solution manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Initiatives for Rockwell Automation.

as a smart drill or driverless truck, can increase productivity and sustainability of the mining operation. There is also a link between automation and emissions reduction resulting from the more consistent operation of equipment. Many benefits stem from this, including reduced fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs.

The use of robotics in mining will minimise environmental impact by allowing for more selective mining.

Environmental monitoring systems can use computerised instruments with wireless communications to accurately monitor and analyse variables such as ground water levels, underground ventilation and temperature changes. These monitoring systems allow companies to monitor and record the environmental impact of their mining activities.

Intelligent devices allow for the control of machinery to optimise and reduce energy and water consumption â&#x20AC;&#x201C; valuable resources for the mining industry. Advanced algorithms that can increase embedded computing and distributed intelligent devices are able to provide superior system operation.

Advances in intelligent devices have provided automation, control, optimisation and information solutions offering measurable results. Communication with the business enterprise platforms addresses the need for advanced data collection and analysis that facilitate energy-efficient practices.

Fully autonomous mines could be the future of the industry.

32 October 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

MMPR0823K_B2B_AM.pdf

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We’ve always provided health insurance.

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telephone health advice calls, providing support around the

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AM.OCT11.PG034.pdf

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AUTOMATION & REMOTE CONTROL

Automation driving innovation A recent Innovation Index put forth automation as a shining light in the industry, Kumar Chandrasekaran* writes.

O

ver the past decade, the mining industry has been a driving force behind the Australian economy.

The growth in demand for Australian minerals and the tripling of commodities prices between 2003 and 2008 have made our economy the envy of other developed nations.

But is mining an innovative industry?

The answer is definitely a qualified yes.

The IBM-Melbourne Institute’s Innovation Index of Australian Industry measures the rate of innovative activity across 13 key Australian industries.

It evaluates six dimensions of innovation: R&D intensity, patent intensity, trademark intensity, design intensity, organisational/managerial innovation and productivity.

The recently published fourth edition of the Innovation Index showed overall innovation rising by 6.1 percent from 2007 to 2008, following three years of fairly flat performance.

Compared to this national average, the mining industry’s results were disappointing.

The mining industry’s overall score did not change from 2007 to 2008 and has grown only 23 percent since 2000.

However, this overall score masks a more complex picture.

Mining productivity has fallen considerably since 2000, when the industry was one of the country’s most productive – it now lags the all-industry average by 15 percent.

Miners have invested heavily in labour and capital to meet booming demand, but these investments have not yet delivered higher levels of productivity overall. Strong commodity prices have encouraged miners to target more marginal deposits, while the industry suffers from bottlenecks in infrastructure and labour supply.

However, this drop in productivity was compensated by large increases in trade34 October 2011

AustralianMining

Remote controlled drilling is providing greater accuracy and faster cycles.

mark and design intensity. i.e. the amount invested in the registration of trademarks and patents. These are likely explained by the massive increases in mining companies’ R&D activities over the past decade. R&D intensity more than doubled between 2000 and 2007, although it tapered off in 2008 as companies faced uncertainty in the shadow of the Global Finan-

cial Crisis. After this intensive R&D, mining companies took out patents, trademarks and design registrations as their efforts came to fruition.

A key driver of innovation during this period was the increased focus on the environment and corporate social responsibility. Carbon emissions have become a particular area of focus. The results of research in this area that are

now starting to emerge will contribute considerable productivity gains as well as beneficial environmental outcomes.

Another driver is Australia’s talent pool of engineers and scientists, supported by research groups, universities and government R&D subsidies. We have bodies such as the Energy Research Alliance, which is a consortium involving Curtin University, the CSIRO and the

Innovations such as Rio Tinto’s remote operations centre were highlights. Photo: Christian Sprogoe.

University of Western Australia, delivering technology solutions to the global industry.

One flagship innovation that has emerged from this period is Rio Tinto’s remote operations centre near Perth’s domestic airport, which allows the company to remotely operate and optimise assets such as mines, processing plants, ports, power plants and its rail network. It includes driverless trains to carry iron ore, driverless trucks and remotecontrolled intelligent drills.

Innovations like this will become much more common across the mining industry over the next five to ten years. In 2010, IBM opened a Natural Resources Solution Centre in Perth, as part of its commitment to bringing innovation to the mining industry. As mining companies adopt these innovations, they will achieve efficiencies in exploration, production, supply chains and overall operations to drive the next wave of productivity growth. *Kumar Chandrasekaran is a senior leader at IBM’s natural resources division. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Stress support for workers could reduce absenteeism One in three surveyed rural and regional workers take at least one day off work every few months because they are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious or depressed.

New research by Medibank Health Solutions has revealed that Australian workers point to unrealistic workloads and a lack of work/life balance as reasons for taking time out from the workplace, with almost one in five surveyed taking one day off every month.

Despite this, surveyed employees report that less than a third of

would be encouraged to seek assistance if their employer provided

employers have a program to support workers who are dealing

a workplace support program.

with mental health issues.

Confidentiality concerns were identified as the biggest barrier

The research was commissioned by Medibank Health Solutions, a

to workers seeking assistance through their employer, with

new offering from Medibank that provides a comprehensive range

80 per cent saying they would prefer to access a free external

of high-quality injury prevention and health management services

counselling service.

for employers.

“The fear of colleagues finding out is a big concern for employees

Surveying 1,000 Australians, the research aimed to identify the

as there is still a stigma associated with mental health issues and

key mental health issues facing workers in rural and regional

people think that admitting they suffer from depression or anxiety

areas and whether there are adequate support services in the

may have an effect on their career.

community and workplace.

“Medibank Health Solutions is now providing workplace healthcare

The research revealed that 78 per cent of those surveyed believe

programs to more than 4,000 businesses and government

that there is not enough support devoted to those with mental

organisations, assisting employers to manage the physical and

health issues in their community, with depression, substance

mental health concerns of their staff, while protecting their

abuse and work-related stress identified as the most prevalent.

confidentiality” Dr Cullen said.

Dr Matthew Cullen, Group General Manager of Medibank Health

Medibank Health Solutions offers innovative and cost-effective

Solutions, said the results show that mental health issues among

healthcare services to business and government. The Medibank

staff were often overlooked by employers or there was a lack of

team of over 1,500 healthcare professionals provides more than

awareness about existing services.

3 million health care interactions a year, by telephone, online and face-to-face onsite in workplaces and from its Australia-wide

“While a lot of time and money is invested to provide a safe

network of clinics.

physical work environment, the effect of workplace pressures on an employee’s mental health is being overlooked at a huge cost to employers,” Dr Cullen said.

For more information about Medibank Health Solutions,

The research also revealed 78 per cent of respondents believe

visit www.medibankhealth.com.au

their employer has a responsibility to provide support for employees with mental health issues, with 64 per cent saying they

Medibank Health Solutions Pty Limited ABN 99 078 934 791

AM.OCT11.PG036.pdf

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SOFTWARE & HARDWARE

TRAINING smarter miners New software is helping to train those outside the industry to work with miners, Andrew Duffy reports.

I

n early September mining technology company Runge Limited announced the launch of its Smartminer mining course.

In something a little out of the ordinary, the training course was aimed not at miners themselves, but the professionals that regularly interact with them.

An often technical and jargonriddled operation, the mining industry can sometimes appear detached from the work of staff in main offices away from site.

But for those not working on-site, a greater understanding of the equipment and methods used in mining can help staff better interact with their colleagues.

It also helps them to network and communicate better with others in the mining industry, regardless of their job description.

36 October 2011

AustralianMining

Runge group training specialist Garry Gibson said the mining industry’s perception of employee training had progressively changed over the years.

He said resources companies no longer saw training as an isolated activity focused on a single site.

Training and learning was instead increasingly being seen as something to deliver on a company-wide basis.

The amount of computer based training packages on offer for heavy industries such as mining and construction has rapidly proliferated over the past few years.

Gibson said one of the advantages of Runge’s offering was its interactivity. The number one complaint from most users who have completed computer-based training courses in the past is their dullness.

While training isn’t necessarily supposed to be fun, it does need to

The training program is designed to more actively engage the users.

actively engage its participants and keep their attention.

Gibson told Australian Mining this concern had driven part of the program’s development.

“There’s a lot to click on, watch, and listen to,” he said.

“And once users have taken-on the information they are free to keep moving through the course, they don’t have to wait.”

On the technical side, Runge’s approach blends traditional instructor-led learning methods, like lectures and discussions, with online delivery,

email, and discussion boards.

But just how much staff can learn about mining by sitting on a computer in an office off-site is a difficult question to answer.

Runge managing director David Meldrum told Australian Mining the program was not intended as a complete solution to mine knowledge.

“It’s not designed to make competent miners.

“It’s designed so that other people in the company will be able to speak to workers and know what they’re talking about.”

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.OCT11.PG038.pdf

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SOFTWARE & HARDWARE

The entire data centre fits within an easily transportable shipping container.

Data ‘in a box’ The demand for portable modular data centres is rising on remote sites.

M

ining companies often operate in remote and regional areas.

This is essentially a given in the Australian mining sector, but it causes some difficulties, such as when they require immediate expanded data processing capabilities for temporary periods in order to meet the demands of their increasingly data focused business on site.

They do not have the luxury of waiting extended periods for the development and construction of the necessary IT infrastructure and network they need.

One way in which some miners are looking to overcome this issue is by employing portable modular data centres (PMDC).

IBM has developed a compact, portable, fully functional, high density and highly protected data centre ‘ina-box’.

Housed within a customised shipping container, the PMDC allows organisations to avoid unnecessary time and space required to build a new facility.

The fully insulated and sealed containers can be designed, built, shipped and deployed in as little as 12-14 weeks.

The PMDC’s flexibility means it can act as a remote data centre, temporary data centre, mobile data centre or private cloud data centre.

38 October 2011

AustralianMining

According to IBM, its PMDC supports multiple technology vendors and systems, complete with physical infrastructure including power and cooling systems and remote monitoring. PMDCs have all the elements of “raised-floor” data centres, including protection from fire, smoke, humidity, condensation and temperature changes.

The portability, security and durability of the PMDC provide an option for mines that may need increased operations for a limited timeframe, but during which period, are required to

support large amounts of data and business operations.

IBM say that the PMDCs are customisable, and provides a scalable platform if additional capacity is needed, simply byadding more portable data containers.

According to IBM, portable modular data centres alleviate some of the barriers created by Australia’s tyranny of distance and time by offering an immediate, secure and portable solution that meets the expanded data centre space and capability requirements.

The PMDCs can operate as private cloud centres. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AM.OCT11.PG039.pdf

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SOFTWARE & HARDWARE

Built tough New mobile computers have been built for the rugged mining industry.

P

anasonic has unveiled a new line of rugged computers for the mining industry.

It announced the expanding of its Toughbook range to accommodate increased demand for rugged, mobile computers.

The latest three ‘fully rugged models’ are the Toughbook CF-31 Mk2, which has been called “the most powerful fully-rugged notebook in Australia; the Toughbook CF-19 Mk5, which is designed for outdoors mission critical workers; and the Toughbook CF-H2 Field, which Panasonic calls the world’s toughest handheld tablet computer.

All of these notebooks, designed for use in the harsh mining industry, run on a Windows 7 Professional operating platform, and have an Intel Core i5-2520M proces-

The newly released Toughbooks are designed to provide more computing power to the industry.

sor which provides 1.7GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz for the CF-H2 Field and CF-19.

All of the toughbooks are rain, spill, dust and vibration resistant, and come with a IP65 and MIL-STD-810G certification.

They are 1.8 metres drop tested and feature a full magne-

sium alloy chassis with a sealed all-weather design for harsh climates.

This latest rugged toughbook range also comes with a shock mounted, flex connect hard drive and are designed to withstand 100 kgf pressurised vibration tests.

Standard battery life varies from model to model, but all

have 4GB of RAM, and are expandable up to 8GB of RAM. The weight of the range varies from 1.5 kilograms through to close 4 kilograms for the CF-31 Mk2.

All of the toughbooks have the capacity for multiple security features, including options for a Fingerprint Reader and

a contactless or insertable SmartCard Reader, helping to ensure that critical data is kept secure.

The range has a variety of embedded wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Panasonic released the rugged, mobile computers late last month.

Technology, solutions and outcomes.

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Our technology improves your operational efficiency. Across exploration, mine planning and production, Maptek expertise delivers value for your investment.

info@maptek.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

www.maptek.com AustralianMining

October 2011

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AM.OCT11.PG040.pdf

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SOFTWARE & HARDWARE

Baby steps in mine planning Without proper mine maintenance planning, you are only planning to fail.

M

aintenance planning and scheduling are two things miners do not do as well as other industries.

According to Absolute Data Group product development manager Michael Halter, who has spent almost 15 years developing software for businesses, the mining industry suffers from a lack of standards in maintenance and scheduling.

To overcome this, ADG has developed R4iBuildPoint, which Halter thinks can help solve some of those shortcomings, adding that many mine maintenance problems stem from companies using Excel spreadsheets to schedule, which is an outdated and unsuitable method.

He told Australian Mining for planning and scheduling mine site maintenance properly you need software that has been designed specifically for that purpose.

“You need a program designed for managing complex assets. Excel is not designed for that,” he said.

One of the biggest problems in using Excel to plan and schedule is that it does not track changes made to job requests, or make detailed records of maintenance work.

Good planning and scheduling should always leave an auditable trail for other workers and managers.

According to Halter, detailed records are some of the first things to go missing from Excel spreadsheets.

“A lot of the smaller miners are exposed in their maintenance. If someone wanted to come through and do an audit of who did what, when, and to what part, a lot of companies would have a hard time answering that.”

In an effort to make mine maintenance safer, part of BuildPoint’s record keeping involves fatigue management and staff statistics.

Halter told Australian Mining the more information

40 October 2011

AustralianMining

Halter described BuildPoint as ‘babySAP’, due to its relatively small size, lower cost, and sole maintenance focus.

maintenance plans and schedules made available to workers and managers, the safer the site would be.

“Unplanned maintenance is usually what puts people in danger,” he said.

BuildPoint makes sure only qualified staff are scheduled for maintenance work, and that they have the right tools and information for the job.

It also alerts managers of expiring staff qualifications and operator and safety certificates. Apart from working to improve safety and closing auditing gaps, BuildPoint is designed to help planners predict equipment failure.

While downtimes will always happen, if planners can predict failure productivity will rise, he said.

“One of the biggest challenges for miners is solving the problem of maximising uptime without sacrificing equipment servicing.”

BuildPoint includes features for documentation, planning, and auditing and combines them with cost, material, and

staff management to try and make this happen.

But for all of its features, most of what BuildPoint offers is not completely new or groundbreaking.

Most good miners already know about the importance of schedules managing things like fatigue and audit trails.

And there are already software packages like SAP and Eclipse on the market that offer these functions.

Halter told Australian Mining what ultimately differentiated BuildPoint from most pre-existing packages was its smaller size and cost, and maintenance-only focus.

“It’s a baby SAP. You could certainly put it that way.”

Programs such as SAP manage things like finance and corporate services as well as maintenance.

These programs usually come with high costs and teams of their own expert support staff. BuildPoint’s focus on maintenance means it is more tailored to junior miners rather than global giants, and has

allowed the developer to keep costs low by excluding tools smaller companies don’t need.

In whittling down func-

tionality to provide only what is needed BuildPoint settles comfortably into an important but often ignored sector.t.

BuildPoint’s smaller size is what separates it in the industry. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.OCT11.PG042.pdf

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SOFTWARE & HARDWARE

Geological data analysis technology Resource estimation can be complex, but new developments in geostatistical modelling software are delivering greater efficiency, speed and flexibility, Jamie Wade writes.

S

tatistical and geostatistical ing the reliance on a string of hardanalysis of data is a crucial to-maintain-and-audit batch part of resource evaluation. processes.

However, this analysis step can be A unique feature of the new particularly time consuming espe- software platform, says Snowden’s cially if there are multiple elements, group general manager – geosciences such as iron ore for example, and Ivor Jones, now enables geologists multiple domains. to more easily analyse the statistiGeological data analysis has, cal characteristics of an orebody over the last decade, tended to and the spatial continuity of the include more information and inter- grade data. activity, says Snowden senior consult“The ease and speed with which ant John Graindorge. the platform handles multiple “Software developments have elements and domains, and the largely been in making software ability to change these inputs or capable of handling more and more add data filters and quickly get complex algorithms in a time frame new results, will be key features of appropriate for resource evalua- its success,” Jones told Australian tion,” Graindorge explained to Mining.

Australian Mining.

A significant part of the new “This problem has been recog- platform is a statistical analysis nised and geostatistical modelling module – Analysor V8 – used to software has improved to the point generate summary statistics and where a 3D spatial workbench can statistical plots. be easily extended with new modules The module has two new feaand functionality.” tures: a correlation matrix said to Perhaps the most significant quickly show, with interactive scatter changes in how geoplots, the relationlogists have been able Significant changes ship between the to visualise, intervarious different elehave been made in pret and report on ments; and a de-clusgeological and min- how geologists now tering analysis tool, ing data sets, adds visualise data. which is said to make Snowden principal assessing data clusanalyst Rob de Bruin, is in the inte- tering and choosing an approprigration of 3D visualisation and ate declustering cell size easy than modelling of geological data with ever before. other tools.

Another key module under “When it comes to geological Supervisor V8 is a continuity analydata analysis, geologists are now sis and modelling application or demanding good data visualisa- geostatistical module. The module tion, comprehensive graphical analy- – Visor V8 – is said to allow rapid sis and 3D images, and integrated analysis and model spatial contispecialised tools within the same nuity within an ore body. software environment to cover the Variogram fans are generated whole exploration mining cycle,” to assist in determining the key de Bruin said. directions of continuity.

“Related to this, reporting and Once the directions have been auditing of the whole process is selected, directional variograms becoming more important. How can be modelled. was a result obtained? What were “With increasingly large datasets, the steps? Can the results be recre- Visor V8 is up to 20 times faster ated with or without the original than other software – including people?” previous versions of Supervisor – Snowden’s new geostatistical due to the optimised algorithms,” modelling platform – Supervisor Graindorge said.

V8 – is said to have addressed these “Other benefits of the module challenges allowing for the quick are its unique interactive viewing addition of new tools that enable of fans and variograms, and the geologists to stay within the one ability to model all three directions environment, decreasing or remov- of continuity on the screen at once.”

42 October 2011

AustralianMining

A significant part of the new platform is a statistical analysis module.

Directional models shown on the new geological software. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMICOCT_11.pdf

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AM.OCT11.PG044.pdf

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MINERALS PROCESSING

Getting the

D

uring the pre-GFC mining boom a new grinding mill was one of the longest lead items for a processing plant.

As a result many, mostly junior, miners rushed into the purchase of refurbished mills in order to quickly capitalise on the boom.

Their purchases were driven primarily by delivery time above price and quality.

Then the GFC struck and mill delivery times fell quickly, returning the market to a scenario where price and quality were the leading drivers.

As the mining sector heats up again delivery times are likely to lengthen, and the question of whether to purchase a new or refurbished mill is a timely one.

Outotec mechanical engineer Daniel Braithwaite told Australian Mining it was not uncommon for miners to be making the wrong choice when choosing between a new or refurbished mill.

“Normally this error is not seen as the wrong decision until the benefit of hindsight makes it clear,” he said.

According to Braithwaite there are two main factors to consider when purchasing a new mill.

The first factors are quantifiable costs, or costs that outline a definable capital expenditure or opportunity cost, and the second are unquantifiable costs, or costs that cannot be defined due to unknowns.

On top of these costs, a mill’s ability to adhere to safety guidelines is important.

“Meeting modern safety standards should be a large consideration in any mill purchaser’s ‘most wanted’ list,” said Braithwaite.

In terms of quantifiable costs, the price of equipment for a refurbished mill will typically appear as a cheaper option, but there are additional considerations such as costs for inspections and audits of components.

With refurbished equipment a complete design review is necessary to make sure the 44 October 2011

AustralianMining

MILES out of mills

While refurbished grinding mills can cut costs, buyers need to be wary, Andrew Duffy reports.

mill is suitable for its new role and its components meet current standards.

Along with this analysis thorough inspections are required to determine existing flaws such as cracks, dents, and casting defects.

“Basically you should be looking with the same rigour that a new designed mill would undergo,” he said.

“What is bought is what you get, and the owner has to live with this.”

Braithwaite said if these reviews weren’t completed properly they left buyers open to a number of serious problems.

“The consequences of failing to consider all factors in a review can be dramatic – both from an equipment and OH&S perspective,” he said.

Braithwaite said cracking of critical components through overloading, inadequate lubrication causing bearing failures, and vibration problems are some of the many risks of a poor review.

“Such factors can end up

costing a site millions in lost production,” he said.

Another major quantifiable cost is the design of the mill’s electrical equipment and its bearings.

Braithwaite said bearing selection was often overlooked by buyers, and while impossible to quantify on a generic basis, the energy lost through friction in old bearings could be significant.

hensive knowledge of the mill history,” he said.

Braithwaite said the need for maintenance tasks no longer possible due to modern safety standards, and unserviceable parts that are no longer available were two examples of these surprises.

“In the worst case scenario, and it has happened on many occasions, a second hand mill will take as long or longer to

What you bought is what you get, and the owner has to live with this, Braithwaite says In terms of delivery time, a new mill will generally have a longer delivery but installation and commissioning are usually shorter than for a reconditioned mill.

Reconditioned mills could often present unexpected surprises hidden until the commissioning stage, Braithwaite added.

“This is where it pays to have a thorough mill audit beforehand and also a compre-

become operational with no cost benefit, and with lower availability and higher maintenance costs.”

He went on to say that buyers could also be surprised by mill designs that did not take into account the conditions of the new location, such as heavy rain, dust, or high temperatures.

While new mills were specifically designed for each site, it was often hard to find

a good site match for second hand mills.

“Sometimes a close fit can be found,” he said.

“But as the difference between ideal size and installed size increases, the further the milling circuit moves away from being optimal.

“As the deviation from optimal grows, liner life decreases, leading to increased shutdowns and energy consumption.”

The terms of warranty and amount of ongoing support your seller is willing to give you are also important factors.

“For a new mill owner the most important aspect of warranty is the support provided by the mill supplier in the event issues occur,” Braithwaite said.

“This is invaluable to limiting down time.”

If all factors have been considered and a thorough analysis undertaken buyers should ultimately be able to make a well informed decision.

Braithwaite’s final advice is to play it safe. 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.

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

14008 A4+

AM.OCT11.PG046.pdf

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MINERALS PROCESSING

Dust in the wind An ESP dust recovery plant is not only solving an environmental problem, but turning a buck.

I

n copper smelting, it’s inevitable that the plant produces electrostatic precipitator dust (ESP), but what do you do with it?

Typically it is just stockpiled and left there, but this presents a serious environmental and health hazard.

It’s a liability.

But the ESP dust also contains a number of base metals including copper and gold, which aren’t being recovered and are simply lost.

At Xstrata Copper Mount Isa it developed a processing mechanism which took out two birds with one stone.

It created the ESP dust recovery program, which devised a method to safely and efficiently recover the value add elements while at the same time disposing of the non-valuable materials.

In creating the plan, it faced a number of problems.

During smelting, ESP dust is collected from the smelter gas stream in an electrostatic precipitator, where process water is added and the dust is either processed through the site’s ESP Acid Leach Plant or is simply diverted to the stockpile.

The dust itself is an “environmental hazard, presents a serious hygiene risk to people, creates a dusting problem, and takes up valuable real-estate on the mining lease when stockpiled,” Xstrata explained.

On top of this, dust is continually generated during the smelting process and over 16 years of operations a rather large stockpile has grown.

There also safety issues when dealing with arsenic solution While these are serious hurdles, the revenue stream from the recovered metals makes it a viable opportunity.

However the actual recovery process brought up a new set of issues – that there is only a very narrow window in pH available which would allow for the gold and copper to exist in a pregnant leach solu46 October 2011

AustralianMining

The ESP dust plant at Xstrata Copper’s Mount Isa operations in Queensland.

tion (PLS) while at the same time causing non-valuable solids to be separated out and disposed.

This narrow pH range is between 2.2 and 2.5 pH. Xstrata Copper developed its plan to deal with two sources of the dust; from the live smelting operations and its historic stockpiles, which over 16 years had grown to around 130 000 tonnes.

Extensive research went into an acid leach process over several years, and for the process to be effective it retained an extremely tight control of pH to separate out the minor elements while also keeping the creation of arsine gas (a highly toxic, colourless and virtually odourless gas) to a minimum.

During the neutralisation stage, the increase of the pH to 2.4 removes nearly all arsenic from the solution, eliminating the potential for arsine gas.

The neutralisation system itself is BATCH filled by the acid leach system, keeping the tank level between 40 per cent and 50 per cent so that only minimum water is added.

During this batching cycle

pH fluctuates, so a set points higher than 3 is needed to obtain an average pH of 3 in the thickener as lime addition will not keep up with the concentrated acid addition at the waste slurry tank.

At a pH of 2.4 precipitations begins, with a severe drop in the levels of arsenic and iron, with a small decline in copper.

Neutralisation is then performed by a Milk of Lime transfer system.

While the smelter had solved the ESP dust problem created during smelting, how would it deal with the large stockpile of dust left?

A reclaim and transportation method was also developed, as due to the composi-

tion of ESP dust traditional flotation circuits and direct smelting were not feasible.

So it created a purpose built 15m3, 316 stainless steel agitated mixing bowl mounted on a trailer (Agi-truck), where the dust is made into a slurry and then transported.

The dust reclaimed from the stockpile is transported and discharged into the leaching process in either the waste slurry tank along with the newly generated ESP dust from the smelter, is then neutralised and the copper and gold recovered; or put into the copper solution tank in the leaching plant after neutralisation and cementation, is thickened, dried and then blended in preparation for direct smelting again. Since commissioning the ESP leach and Agitruck process, Xstrata Copper Mount Isa’s smelter has had a copper recovery rate of up to 98 per cent.

It forecast that by 2016 it will have consumed all arising and stockpiled ESP dust.

As a result of this, an additional 20 000 tonnes of copper and 18 000 ounces of gold will be recovered that would have otherwise been lost, Xstrata explained.

A pH of 2.4 is the right level of solution to effectively separate copper from non valuable materials. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMHYDOCT_11.pdf

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AM.OCT11.PG048.pdf

Page

48

23/9/11,

9:56

AM

MINERALS PROCESSING

Doing a fines job Overcoming wet fines build up at transfer points.

M

inerals processing is a fairly intensive job. No matter the mineral or metal, there are always high levels of materials constantly passing through, often causing blockages due to build up.

According to Hawk Measurement, one minerals processor faced a similar problem.

The miner was recording numerous false trips on its switches, causing unscheduled production downtimes with their blocked chute switches.

These blocked chute switches were used to protect their primary crushers, secondary crushers and tertiary crushers, as well as the conveyor transfer chutes and wet screen.

The problem itself was caused by water sprays, clay, and the universally unavoidable processing problems â&#x20AC;&#x201C; wet fines build up, over the measurement switches.

This build up has to be removed regularly, depending on the levels of wet fines, causing production downtimes and flow on effects throughout the operation.

Wet ore fines building up on the measurement switches caused serious problems.

Hawk explained that the miner had attempted to use a number of different options to overcomes this issue, such as tilt switches, microwave

switches, as well as admittance probes, all of which had no effect.

The level positioning and flow measurement systems company designed

a solution to circumvent this omnipresent minerals processing issue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In order to work reliably in a wet environment that also suffers from a build up fines and clays, we had to use a technology that is not affected by this high dielectric environment and most importantly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will self clean, overcoming this build up problem,â&#x20AC;?

Hawk said, It used a Gladiator â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;low frequencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; acoustic switch, that reportedly atomises the moisture build up off of the face of the diaphragms with each pulse of the switchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transducer (which pulses approximately twice per second).

These diaphragms can be supplied with UMHW Polyethylene (wear plate materials) as well as titanium, for increased wear resistance.

The transducers themselves are flange mounted and can be separated by up to 500 metres from a remote Gladiator Amplifier.

A remote test function is also available, as well as a range of communications options such as ProfiBus PA, DP, FieldBus, and HART.

Repeat Customers:

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We offer a variety of 2WD and 4WD mine site and tour coaches with seating capacity between10-50 persons.

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48 October 2011

AustralianMining

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AD_AMOUTJUN_11.pdf

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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.

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AM.OCT11.PG050.pdf

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10:08

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MINERALS PROCESSING

A by-word in innovation Xstrata Bulga CHPP has developed a new method of handling tailings, Australian Mining reports.

T

he Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP) at Xstrata’s Bulga coal mine is known for its innovation.

From being the first Australian coal mine to introduce paste thickener to being the first coal mine to implement secondary flocculation tailings management processes on site, the plant is always looking towards better minerals processing.

So it was no surprise to hear that the crew at the Bulga Coal’s CHPP have achieved another Australian first in coal mining.

According to Bulga, it “has achieved innovative coal tailings management for tailings storage facilities” which “have specifically improved environmental standards by introducing innovative processes and techniques”.

Traditionally, coal tailings are pumped from the processing facilities at around 2535% solids wt/wt and disposed of in an open cut void or tailings dam, known as a tailings storage facility (TSF).

These TSFs are usually capped and rehabilitated at the end of the mine’s life to form a free draining landform; however due to the low solids percentage, much of the water remains trapped in the tailings, often taking years to dry out enough for effective capping and rehabilitation.

Bulga’s initial TSF was built in the 1980s, reached capacity in 1995, and took a decade before it was dry enough to cap.

However, as the TSF dried out the materials shrank and created a huge void from the end of the TSF into the centre.

This hole was approximately three metres deep.

As the surface area of the TSF was around 350 000 metres square, more than one million cubic metres of materials were needed to cap it and to create a free draining landform.

While distance from ongoing operations was a

50 October 2011

AustralianMining

The discharge pipe in the middle of the TSF at Xstrata’s Bulga coal mine.

problem, it was also faced with another critical issue – a new underground longwall mine was set to begin, and it ran directly beneath the TSF. Bulga looked at a number of options; such as traditional tailings disposal – which would not dry out before the longwall operations started; and at continuing the secondary flocculation process – which was discounted as the slope of the dried tailings were not conducive to allow for the new thickened tailings to flow into the centre and would not allow for the reclamation of the water that was released from this process.

Instead, it had to develop a method to deposit the tailings to create a ‘mound’ in the middle of the facility at continually increasing heights so that the water released from the tailings would move towards the edge of the facility to allow for reclamation.

CHPP manager Phil Enderby explained that after extensive research, they were unable to find any example of this process in the world being used for coal tailings.

“This is likely due to the fact that traditional methods of depositing coal tailings were cheaper and not conducive to

the creation of tailings ‘mounds’,” he said.

To test their method’s validity, Bulga’s CHPP built a prototype in 2009.

The mounds were built out of thickened tailings in the centre of the TSF so that it resulted in a free draining landform.

The new tailings spreading to fill voids in the TSF.

To enable this mound to be created, whilst still pumping at low percent solids, flocculent is added to the coal tailings at the discharge point.

The addition of this flocculent causes a rapid release of water from the tailings, and increases the deposition density of the tailings, causing the mound to grow in height proportionally around the discharge pipe.

As this mound grows in height, the pumped tailings automatically rise up to the next void near the discharge pipe, further increasing its height.

The height of the mound is only limited by the slope angle of the tailings mound and the distance to the edge of the TSF. During this, the water released by this process moves to the outside of the TSF and can be retrieved for recycling, significantly reducing tailings drying times.

Operating the prototype over three months the Bulga team demonstrated that it was a viable option for the TSF. “This innovation has the potential to change the way coal TSFs are designed and operated as it reduces the drying time to as little as two years. It also has enormous environmental benefits for the coal industry,” Enderby said To date, the process of building the tailings mounds in the centre of the original tailings storage facility has performed well, and while initially expensive has resulted in a reduction of drying times to as little two years; a higher percentage of recycled water; no legacy issues due to wet tailings; TSF rehabilitation during the life of the mine; and much lower impacts due to the reduction of heavy vehicle movements and their associated costs – both financial and environmental.

According to Enderby: “this process has the potential to change the way the coal industry manages tailings.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMNAGOCT_11.pdf

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Wet High Gradient Magnetic Separators Field strengths up to 10000gauss.

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For more information contact Tony Wilkinson on +618 9399 3934 or email to tony@nagrom.com.au

www.nagrom.com.au

AM.OCT11.PG052.pdf

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MINERALS PROCESSING

Spun out A new compact centrifuge is set to make dewatering easier on site.

T

he recent AIMEX show in Sydney is typically a time when companies take the opportunity to highlight the latest products or launch new equipment.

Schenck Process lived up to the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation.

It used the exhibition to launch its latest centrifuge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the SVC range.

The company explained that the SVC Horizontal Vibrating Centrifuge has an improved carbon footprint, as well as reduced maintenance.

Stating that this latest dewatering technology is â&#x20AC;&#x153;centrifuge redefinedâ&#x20AC;?, it is able to mounted in multiple configurations and features twin preload bearing arrangements with smooth rolling contact of the bearing rollers during vibration with reduced loads, which according to the company, increase service life of the machine.

The centrifuge is more compact than ever before.

The SVC range is powered by a 45kW motor.

These dewatering centrifuges also require the least amount of supporting structure than any other release.

It also comes with multiple centrate discharge chutes which provide increased versatility in plant chute design, which allows for coal preparation plants to either be more compact or provides more

assembly extraction system.

The technology company has also offered the option for vibration condition monitoring and control system equipment, VibroMAC, to be installed in the machine.

The VibroMAC system monitors axial vibration and machine imbalances, sending signals to the centrifugeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vari-

space for other necessary equipment in the plant.

A specially designed inlet chute allows for the centrifugeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s door to open without the need to remove the feed chute, resulting in less overall down times during basket change overs.

Schenck have also constructed its SVC range with what it calls a unique shaft

able speed drives to increase the vibratory motors to clear the basket whenever bulk material is unevenly distributed inside during feeding surges or overloading.

These vibratory motors can also be ramped down during any periods of low throughput to minimise general wear and tear of the machine.

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www.qmw.com.au 52 October 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMWELOCT_11.pdf

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AD_AMRIOOCT_11_LHP.pdf

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World Class Discoveries require a World Class Explorer.

2009 Jadar Lithium Borate Serbia

2002 Resolution Copper USA

2004 Simandou Iron Ore Guinea

2005 La Granja Copper Peru

2008 Mutamba Titanium Mozambique

AD_AMRIOOCT_11RHP.pdf

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GENERAL MANAGER EXPLORATION Rio Tinto Exploration Brisbane \ BRI001G4 Do you share a passion for Exploration and discovering world class assets?

Rio Tinto Exploration has a proven international track record of successfully discovering world class assets and a demonstrated commitment to exploration.

Integrated into our core business values and recognised as a key contributor to our growth & sustainability, we have maintained our dedication to exploration over time resulting in a reputation of excellence in discovery and mine development.

2008 Bunder Diamonds India

2005 Caliwingina Iron Ore Australia

We are seeking a General Manager - Exploration to join our highly successful team. In this position you will have the opportunity to be recognised, travel internationally and play an essential role in the search for new resources.

To find out more and to apply, visit www.riotinto.com/careers and search for reference number BRI001G4.

AM.OCT11.PG056.pdf

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

The 8th Annual Australian Mining

PROSPECT AWARDS The largest awards night ever, co-hosted by AIMEX, drew in the crowds from right across the industry.

A

ustraliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mining industry has much to be proud of.

Each year thousands of workers from different operations work hard meeting targets and finding new and interesting ways to improve the industry.

These innovations range from economic and productivity gains to environmental and safety successes.

The Australian Mining Prospect Awards have been the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship event for almost a decade, and aim to encourage, recognise, and reward this excellence in our industry.

Held, as always, at Doltone House in Sydney, it attracted around 400 guests and business leaders from around the nation.

In a world first, the awards were co-hosted by the inter-

The awards ran across sixteen categories this year, more than ever before.

national mining exhibition AIMEX. It was the largest ever turnout for the awards, with winners across 16 categories recognised for their contribution to the industry.

Around 400 people attended the night at Doltone House.

56 October 2011

AustralianMining

Standout achievers on the night included Xstrata Coal, whose Oaky Creek North mine took out the awards for mine of the year and coal mine of the year.

Kelvin Brown from Reflex Instruments also landed two awards for Miner of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to Mining.

Prizes covered the entire range of the industry, from junior explorers like Royal Resources to large companies like Xstrata.

Initiatives outside the purely business realm were also recognised, with Mining Family Matters recognised for their contribution to the industry and the way in which they help mining families.But whether winner or not all

guests said the awards were a special night to recognise achievements that often went unnoticed. They said it was also a good opportunity to network with other entrants, colleagues, and associates.

Mining industry businesses had the chance to learn from each other, share stories, and work together to ensure the industry kept moving forward and benefitting everyone who formed a part of it.

Nomination at the night was important for companies wanting to get the message out about their achievements and recognise their staff.

And photographers and journalists were there in force to ensure winners had their time in the limelight.

Comic host Vince Sorrenti ensured everyone had a good time and remained entertained throughout the night.

Next year the awards will be even bigger and better, and be there once again to celebrate the best, brightest, and most innovative individuals and companies in the mining industry.

Attendees saw the night as a good opportunity to network. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBAUOCT_11.pdf

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2011 X E M I N AT A E E S S A

CONTACT: BAUER Equipment Australia Pty Ltd. 39 Chapman Rd Vineyard, NSW 2765 PO Box 976 Windsor, NSW 2756 Tel. +61 (0)2 9838 3144 info@bauerequipment.com.au www.bauerequipment.com.au

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AM.OCT11.PG058.pdf

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Mine of the Year For lifting production and safety levels across the board, Xstrata Coal’s Oaky Creek North mine has been voted the MINE OF THE YEAR.

X

strata Coal’s QLD Oaky Creek North mine is the most productive underground coal mine in Australia and one of the safest.

In terms of productivity, three key statistics stand out.

The first is that the mine’s development metres are up 47.4 per cent over 2007 figures, which represents a year-onyear average rise of 14.9 per cent.

The second is that coal output is up by 7.6 per cent on 2009 figures and 56.9 per cent on 2007.

Finally pit to train loadout cost per tonne was up by 13.5 per cent over 2009 figures at $46.17 per tonne but has been trending downwards from 2007 by 0.1 per cent per year.

This means that in real terms the mine’s costs have decreased as output has risen.

The safety numbers are also impressive.

Oaky Creek’s workforce increased by 25 per cent from 2009 to 2010 but the lost time injury frequency rate was down 66 per cent to every one million hours worked.

This figure represents an average reduction from 2007 onwards of 42.2 per cent yearon-year despite the surge of inexperienced miners on-site.

The total recordable injury frequency rate was also down by 44 per cent on 2009 to 14, representing an average reduction from 2007 onwards of 69.6 per cent a year.

But enough of the numbers, the way they managed to get there is the important part.

Xstrata Coal told Australian Mining the past couple of years at Oaky Creek North had revolved around getting systems right.

Previously, productivity was impacted most heavily by component failure in the longwall operation, conveyor belt components and pulley systems.

Much work was required to improve output.

58 October 2011

AustralianMining

Xstrata Coal’s Shane Hansen accepting the award for Mine of the Year from MMD’s Mark McVey.

Xstrata said initiatives in equipment redesign and workforce changes were the key to extracting good results.

One of the key productivity initiatives at Oaky Creek North was the introduction of the mine operating system in 2009-2009. The system was targeted primarily at the

management team, and worked at controlling nearly all aspects of the mine’s operations.

Its goal was to detail how productivity targets were to be set right down to the specifics of time allocated to meetings. The move had immediate success after being implemented.

Xstrata Coal’s Oaky Creek North coal mine in Queensland.

The added structure the MOS provided meant that decisions were reached faster and implemented better, and provided a clearer chain of accountability for staff.

A second productivity initiative rolled-out by the company involved a new conveyor maintenance technique.

The unavailability of conveyors in a development or longwall operation represents an immediate hold on production.

In 2007, 2008, and 2009 Oaky Creek North experienced delays in conveyor availability due to idler failure and each time it adversely impacted production levels.

The resulting change-out process was time consuming and because the operating team was conducting maintenance as well it meant more delays as the switch from production to maintenance

focus took place. In 2010 the production team brainstormed on possible solutions and decided to create an idler management plan.

At the core of the plan was a switch from reactive maintenance to a proactive stance.

The company decided on trialling thermographic imaging to see which rollers were nearing the point of failure.

The idea was to try and co-ordinate roller changes within a regular maintenance window.

Rather than an inspection and change occurring at the same time, the thermographic imaging meant that inspections could now be made during production runs and changes scheduled for the next morning.

The result meant longer operating times and a reduction in overall maintenance cost on conveyors.

An Xstrata Coal spokesperson told Australian Mining the new initiatives and resulting productivity gains in the mine were the result of all staff members working cohesively.

“It has taken a whole-ofteam commitment, using a structure driven by management and owned by the operational teams to make the massive gains that have been recorded,” they said.

On the night of the awards Xstrata Coal said the Mine of the Year title meant a lot to those who worked at Oaky Creek North.

“It means a great deal of pride and honour to accept an award like this,” Shane Hansen said.

What the judges said The judges said that the management at Oaky Creek is to be congratulated for an extraordinary and sustained performance in increased productivity and safety. This represents genuine global industry leadership! www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMMDJUN_10.pdf

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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

AM.OCT11.PG060.pdf

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Hardrock Mine of the Year For focusing not just on generating more ore than ever before, but on developing an exceptional mine, the MMG Century mine has won HARDROCK MINE OF THE YEAR.

W

hat makes a hardrock mine exceptional?

Is it production rates, and how much metal or minerals the mine can generate?

Or is it safety on site, and the way in which management operates, or how the operation interacts with its local community?

It is all of this and more.

For achieving all this, and being a leader in the industry, MMG has won the Hardrock Mine of the Year Award for its operations at the MMG Century zinc mine.

Speaking to Australian Mining, MMG Century’s general manager (a former winner of Mine Manager of the Year award) Karl Spaleck said that “for Century, being recognised as one of the industry’s best confirms the success of our work to build a stronger, safer and more sustainable operation over recent years. This honour is due to the hard work and commitment of our people, who continue to deliver results day after day. The ongoing support of our suppliers, local communities and other stakeholders is also a key factor in our successes. The judges cited our significant safety improvements, commitment to the

MMG Century’s general manager Karl Spaleck and sponsor, Atlas Copco’s Steven Topalovic.

sustainable development of local communities and strong 2010 production when honouring us with this award and we plan to further build on these achievements in the future”.

It is the mine’s strong production, approximately 500 000 tones of zinc metal in concentrate annually or around 4 per cent of global supply, which saw it recognised in the first place.

In the December quarter of 2010, the miner recorded its highest output ever, producing 135 356 tonnes of contained zinc concentrate during the period.

This was a 9 per cent increase from the December quarter of 2008.

It managed to produce 510 910 tonnes of zinc for the entire year, despite a difficult 2009/10 wet season that

The MMG Century mine recorded its best ever year, generating 510 910 tonnes of zinc.

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impacted transport and caused serious shipping delays.

Production was halted for nearly 80 days in the December quarter of 2009 due to a pipeline failure.

MMG carries out conventional mining at its open cut pit in Queensland.

At its site it has managed to dramatically slash its Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate, from 12 in mid 2009 down to only 6.8 in mid 2011.

It achieved this through initiatives such as Actions Employees Can Take (ACET) training, which helps miners more effectively recognise and prevent unsafe acts and conditions on site.

The miner has also rolled out a Healthy Driver program to reduce sprains and strains experience by heavy vehicle operators, as well as carrying out comprehensive induction and re-induction processes for new staff, and existing employees every two years.

MMG holds an annual health challenge and also provides sessions with a personal trainer and masseuse, as well as group fitness classes each week.

One way in which the mine has set itself apart is through its heavy indigenous interaction, drawing around a quarter of its total workforce (approximately 240 people in total) from local indigenous groups, which is an increase from 20 per cent in 2009.

It has a range of programs designed to attract and train local indigenous people, as well as a 12 week Pre-Apprenticeship Course.

This course initially involves participants undertaking inductions, learning about the mine and completing a literacy and numeracy assessment.

They then complete TAFE modules, and are able to carry out work experience in different areas before choosing a traineeship and apprenticeship stream.

At the end of the course, they are then offered an apprenticeship at the mine.

The Century mine has already held two Pre-Apprenticeship Courses this year, with plans to hold a third.

There are currently around 80 apprentices and trainees employed across the mine’s operations.

The mine has also had an impact on the wider community, partnering with the Queensland Reds rugby team to encourage school attendance, as well as other local community groups.

MMG Century has also finalised a $13.5 million program of water management improvement works.

What the judges said The judges said this mine has a heavy accent on community involvement and is committed to apprentice training. It has shown a strong focus on environmental controls and managed to increase production despite difficult climatic conditions through the year. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Minerals Processing Plant of the Year For the transformation of a zinc processing site from one in decline to a concentrator power house, Xstrata Mt Isa Zinc has won MINERALS PROCESSING PLANT OF THE YEAR.

W

inning the Minerals Processing Plant of the Year award is all about the numbers.

It is one of the few truly measurable awards, and recognises what a processing facility has done, how it did, why, and the outcomes it achieved.

Which is why Xstrata Zinc’s Mount Isa zinc operations, which have increased performance at its concentrator less than 4 million tonnes in 2003 to more than doubling this tonnage annually by 2010, has been recognised as the Minerals Processing Plant of the Year.

Originally acquiring the sites from MIM Holdings in 2003, Xstrata Mount Isa now works the mines as two separate operations processing copper, and zinc lead silver.

Prior to this acquisition, the zinc lead operations at Mount Isa were in serious decline.

However, according to Xstrata “since we took over the processing operations have now become the largest producer of zinc concentrate within through group, which

itself is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of zinc.

“The increase in processing throughput has been significant.”

Speaking to Australian Mining, Xstrata Zinc Australia chief operating officer Brian Hearne said the award was a great boost for the Mount Isa team.

“We have invested significantly in our processing plant and I have personally been proud of our efforts to improve production, safety and environmental performance. “There have been a lot of people involved in this turnaround and this award recognises the team’s efforts on a national stage,” Hearne said.

“The award recognises the increase in the Mount Isa throughput from 3.5 million tonnes in 2003 to 8.6 million tonnes in 2010 and the results of investments in training, innovation, workplace conditions and technology to achieve significant improvements in safety, productivity, cost efficiency and environmental performance,” he said.

Xstrata’s Brian Hearne described the win as a great boost for the team as Mount Isa Zinc.

It achieved this through the installation of new ore

The processing plant turned around, producing more then double tonnages in only a few years.

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feed systems, a new concentrator filter plant, improvements to the heavy medium plant, and a $120 million expansion of the zinc concentrator itself, which was commissioned in 2009.

During this same period it developed the Smelter Emissions Project, which looked at ways to improve the capture of smelter off-gas and trials to validate and further develop it.

This has involved the installation of new in-stack monitoring equipment, converting the sinter furnace from diesel to natural gas, as well as improvements to the smelter’s infrastructure, and an $11 million upgrade to the concentrator to build larger flotation circuits and achieve higher quality concentrates. One particular achievement was the operation of

the Dynawave pilot plant in 2010, which was built to collect data for a potential commercial installation of technology which was able to steadily reduce sulphur emissions by between 80 and 95 per cent.

The pilot plant was designed to remove S02 from off-gas and produce effluent streams from which valuable by-products could be extracted, by using scrubbing technology.

Safety has also been a key focus, with the processing plant managing to cut the total number of injures from 30 in 2009 down to 16 the following year, following a detailed risk assessment at the site.

At its lead smelter, 120 employees have managed to operate Lost Time Injury free from more than 730 days.

It also dramatically reduced water usage, slashing the rate by 40 per cent, due to its use of reclaimed and recycled water.

“The future of Mount Isa Mines is in expanding our mining and concentrate production and we have a long-term strategy to achieve that,” Hearne told Australian Mining.

Part of that strategy is the series of Xstrata Zinc expansion projects currently underway in the Mount Isa area val ued at $800 million.

“We are focused on ensuring the full utilisation of the zinc-lead concentrator at an increased capacity,” Hearne said.

What the judges said The judges said the way this plant has turned around a declining operation, and then gone on to be the major contributor for zinc for the entire group, is to be commended. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Winner of the 2011 Australian Minerals Processing Plant of the Year Award.

Xstrata Zinc Processing Operations, Mt Isa, Queensland.

weighing

feeding

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Schenck Process Australia Managing Director, Mary Verschuer congratulates Brian Hearne and Xstrata Zinc Processing Operations, Mt Isa, Queensland for winning the 2011 Australian Mining Processing Plant of the Year Award.

A minerals processing plant that has improved productivity, safety, environmental standards and has reached notable milestones using new technology, innovative processes or techniques.

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16/09/2011 4:04:45 PM

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Explorer of the Year For the uncovering of, and the investigation of one of the most promising iron ore projects in South Australia, Royal Resources has won EXPLORER OF THE YEAR.

W

ay back in the 1960s the South Australian government investigated the Razorback Ridge deposit in South Australia.

Extensive mapping and testing of the region found magnetite deposits over a strike length of 4.5km, extending a further 10km to the east.

For years there was little action in the area after the initial Government exploration, until in November 2009 Royal Resources acquired the project.

Less than a year later, in August 2010, the company announced an inferred resource of 277mt at a 26 per cent grade.

Earlier this year further drilling upgraded the inferred deposit to 537mt, with a third phase of drilling planned to target an additional 200 to 400mt at grades of 25 to 45 per cent.

In a short period of time the company took the Razorback site from almost nothing to a large and promising deposit.

The work of the Royal Resources team in South Australia did not go unnoticed in the mining industry, and their efforts won them the Explorer of the Year title at this year’s Prospect Awards.

Royal Resources CEO Marcus Flis told Australian Mining the award had taken the company by surprise.

“We’re absolutely stoked, it was completely unexpected,” he said.

Flis said the award was a boost not only for management but those working on the ground at Razorback.

“Particularly for people in the field it’s a strong recognition of the hard work they’ve put in over the last 12 months,” he said.

“They’ve taken this site from nothing and turned it into a 600 million tonne resource in a short time while dealing with almost everything, from native title to extreme weather.”

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Royal Resources accepting the Explorer of the Year award from sponsor QMW.

Apart from moving ahead quickly on the business and exploration side of the project, Royal Resources has also made significant inroads in making community ties during the development.

In August this year the company signed a native title agreement with the Ngadjuri people.

The agreement ensured education and employment opportunities, as well as efforts to protect native culture.

Strong management of the deposit has meant Razorback has received community support for the project, and this has in part contributed to the project’s fast development. The site has also developed quickly because it contains

no areas that need to be avoided because of the presence of significant native vegetation or fauna.

On the business side, one of the major benefits of the Razorback project is the geology of the area.

The Razorback’s deposit is an outcrop and the mineralisation style is bedded magnetite.

This formation produces significantly softer rock than banded iron formations, which means the resource will be easier to mine and grind.

But by far the biggest plus of the site is its proximity to local infrastructure.

Flis told Australian Mining this availability was the project’s single greatest strength.

He said infrastructure access was a big issue in many developing deposits in Australia, and had the potential to derail projects.

“Access to infrastructure is the single item that is holding back a whole bunch of projects in Australia,” he said.

“It has a real impact on the viability of a deposit.”

“We saw that in the Western Australian exit of Sino Steel from the Mt Weld project purely because they didn’t feel the Oakajee port and rail would be available.”

Together with the bedded magnetite, Razorback’s proximity to infrastructure means it has a significantly lower capital cost compared to its iron ore peers.

Flis said the problem of infrastructure and the problems surrounding it were some of the most important decisions facing a company.

“Like any other bulk commodity, the logistics problem of resources is as important as the other business decisions,” he said.

“We went into Razorback because it had that availability.”

But Razorback’s close proximity to infrastructure is not limited to bulk rail and road access.

The site is also close to regional towns and can utilise many of the practical benefits that come from this.

These benefits include access to power and water, as well as a local workforce.

The deposit is within 3.5 hours drive from Adelaide, with the Adelaide gas pipeline and high voltage transmission power lines nearby.

“It’s not in the middle of no-where,” said Flis.

Over the coming 12 months the next big step for Royal will be bringing the deposit forward into an operational project.

Flis said the company was currently in discussions with a number of finance partners for the project.

He said while he couldn’t be specific the company was negotiating with two partners in China, one in India, and possibly one in Japan.

Looking forward to the future, as well lifting the resource amount through further drilling, he said the company hoped to finish a pre-feasibility study on the project by the end of the year.

What the judges said The judges said the Razorback project is set to really push the South Australian iron ore sector forward. It will be one to watch. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Contribution to Mining For the role he has played in demonstrating the Australian mining industry as a world leader has won the CONTRIBUTION TO MINING and the MINER OF THE YEAR awards

T

he Contribution to Mining category is an unusual award.

It attempts to collate and distil an entire life down into a few words, and then tries to compare one person’s achievements and life against another.

The award is always one of the hardest for the judges to preside over.

And this year was no different, with Kelvin Brown narrowly taking out the Contribution to Mining award, and the subsequent Miner of the Year award.

Kelvin Brown’s award recognises a lifetime of achievement, but has its real roots in a small event in Chile last year, which captured the world’s attention.

On 5 August 2010, a northern Chilean underground gold mine collapsed.

All were believed lost, until 33 miners were discovered still alive nearly two weeks after the initial collapse.

They had managed to take shelter in an underground chamber that had withstood the accident.

Brown highlighted the technology and expertise of the Australian mining industry.

Trapped 700 metres below the ground with minimal food, water, and oxygen, the miners were intersected by a percus-

sion hammer which punched into their chamber, upon which they attached a note indicating that they were all still alive.

Brown played a major role in locating the trapped Chilean miners last year.

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This was Brown’s doing.

Relfex Instruments, of which Kelvin Brown is a global product manager, were called in, by the president of Chile no less, to aid in the first phase of the mine rescue mission which sought to accurately locate the miners and make first contact.

Brown, a recognised expert in down hole surveying equipment, was part of the team that located and made initial contact with the miners on 22 August, and was on site when the drills first broke through to the trapped miners’ chamber.

His directional drilling skills were utilised for the planning stages of the drill hole’s design which lead the successful interception of the trapped Chilean miners.

It was during this stage Brown acted as consultant and applied his wealth of knowledge to provide advice on how to successfully intercept the trapped miners.

He also took Australian drilling technology over to the

rescue site, as it operated at a faster rate than any other survey instruments that were available at the site.

Brown also played a part in the second stage – or recovery phase, of the mission.

Speaking to Australian Mining, he said he was shocked to get a call from the Chilean Government.

“To have another country’s president call you, to source your expertise and your equipment, it was just great,” he told Australian Mining.

“But to be recognised by your peers for the role you play in the Australian mining industry, that’s just amazing.”

For the way in which he highlighted the skill and expertise of the nation’s mining industry, and the role he played in locating the 33 trapped miners where others had failed, as well as his long career as an authority on down hole surveying, Brown won the Contribution to Mining award.

However, that was not all he won that night.

With so many people entering across categories such as Young Achiever, Mine Manager, Contribution, and Mining’s Woman of the Year, Australian Mining and Drake International felt there should also be recognition across all of these categories, for someone who had really show what the industry is about, and what it can do.

Brown again highlighted the innovation of Australia’s resources sector, and its position as a world leader.

Making him a worthy recipient of this inaugural award.

“I really wasn’t expecting this Miner of the Year award at all,” Brown explained.

“Winning the first award was great, but this just left me speechless, it was just so unexpected.”

Brown continues to work for Reflex, which is a subsidiary of Imdex Limited. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Mine Manager of the Year For her management of Barrick’s Granny Smith gold mine and the way she constantly plays a positive role in the industry, Julie Shuttleworth has won MINE MANAGER OF THE YEAR.

B

arrick Gold's Granny Smith mine general manager Julie Shuttleworth is a busy woman.

Outside the responsibilities of her mine management she also works hard in the community raising the profile of the mining industry.

She works closely giving lectures, providing advice, sponsoring events, and awarding prizes to young people attempting to start in the mining industry.

She also makes regular media appearances, authors and presents papers at international conferences, and joins industry groups to help raise the profile of the resources industry.

Her recreation time is just as busy, with interests in scuba diving, surfing, rock climbing, photography, and piano.

She has travelled to over 70 countries, from Iceland to Ethiopia, and climbed to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro.

But it is Shuttleworth’s long list of achievements, awards, and contributions to the community and mining industry made her the standout mine manager of 2011.

After receiving the prize at this year’s Prospect Awards, she told Australian Mining it had been completely unexpected.

“It’s fabulous to win this award, I really wasn’t expecting it,” she said.

She said the award was particularly surprising given the Granny Smith mine’s isolated location.

“It’s great to be recognised on a national level, especially for a site in [Western Australia’s] north-eastern goldfields.”

She said the prize was a welcome acknowledgement of her and the Granny Smith team’s hard work.

“It’s great recognition for Barrick Gold and the work the team at Granny Smith has been doing.”

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Shuttleworth being presented the award by Caltex’s Phil Amos.

stand as an example for other people considering starting a career in mining.

“I hope that it’s an encouragement and inspiration to other young people, and women as well, to consider careers in mining.”

While understandably a little reluctant to talk about herself at length, Shuttleworth said her commitment to remaining an approachable manager was a big focus for her.

“I always try to be out in the field and available for people to communicate with me,” she said.

“I like to encourage a positive attitude and good teamwork,” Shuttleworth added.

She also said a close attention to safety was critical.

“I’m always focused on the safety and health of the team.”

On the business side of

her management, she said the willingness to take responsibility for the performance of the gold mine was important to her.

“The drive to achieve targets and be accountable for results, and looking ahead at strategic plans is important,” she said.

Shuttleworth achieved the position of general manager at age 35, and her experience climbing the ladder as a young person now informs how she helps others in the industry.

Under her management, Granny Smith will employ six graduates and six new apprentices in 2012, and the mine will also see a rise in vacation student numbers.

She has guest lectured for univesrity students at both Murdoch and Curtin University for technical and career talks.

She has also personally sponsored metallurgical student lunches and been available for private career discussions with students.

On top of this she personally provides the Julie Shuttleworth Prize in Mineral Processing, a scholarship at Murdoch University.

Granny Smith mine provides its own prize to the top mineral processing student at the Western Australian School of Mines, and Shuttleworth tries to keep in contact with prize winners to provide them with support and advice.

She is also assisting the WASM with an African mining education tour, with Granny Smith hosting an overnight site visit next year.

Outside of helping students and young professionals, Shuttleworth was a finalist in this year’s Chamber of Minerals

and Energy Women in Resources award.

She was also won the WA Young Business Woman of the Year Award in 2007, and has been interviewed on television for Wake Up WA. Other media appearances involve articles in the WA Mining Chronicle, Kalgoorlie Miner, and Barrick News.

Shuttleworth said she used the recognition provided by these awards and appearances as a forum to promote all of the opportunities for young people and women in the mining sector.

Her membership of industry bodies includes the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, the North Eastern Regional Council for WA, and Women in Mining WA, among others.

She said these memberships were an opportunity to work at promoting the involvement of women and young people in the industry.

But while Shuttleworth and the rest of the team at Granny Smith have achieved great success in the past 12 months, they are already focused on the future.

Shuttleworth said her work over the coming months would focus on continuing to expand Granny Smith while balancing community concerns.

“We’ll be working to meet the next targets, and have several resource expansion projects both in underground and open-pit,” she said.

“And we’ll be very focused on increasing the safety accountability of the site and the community relations initiatives in Laverton.”

What the judges said The judges said that while Julie has made a major impact on her site, the way in which constantly drives the positive aspects of mining globally is to be commended. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Employer of Choice For developing a response to the ongoing skills shortage, and training the next generation, Mastermyne has been recognised as the EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.

I

t’s no secret that the mining industry is suffering from an acute skills shortage.

But employers are divided over how to solve the problem, and whether utilising a larger portion of locals or bringing in foreign workers is the key.

Responding to the need in the labour market, Mastermyne developed its Myne Start Training Complex to help lesson the impact of the labour shortage.

Mastermyne’s move comes at an important time in the industry, where companies are scrambling to capitalise on high commodity prices and soaring demand, but struggling to meet potential opportunities because of a lack of workers.

To help quickly bring skilled workers into the workforce the program offers a purpose built underground training complex in Mackay.

Its physical structure and diverse range of training makes it a unique offering, and it is designed to introduce inexperienced personnel into the underground coal mining industry.

In the complex, workers gain an in-depth knowledge of the underground mining environment and its distinctive hazards in a controlled environment.

They can also be accelerated into the mining industry in a far reduced timeframe compared to traditional training methods.

To make such a training program work, Mastermyne faced a number of challenges.

The first was that it needed to have a strong connection with current underground coal mining practice and mine site needs.

The second was that it had to clearly articulate pathways from the training course into existing industry qualifications.

It also had to be credible and recognised by the relevant industries in Australia,

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The Mastermyne team collecting their award. They were congratulated for the way in which they are directly addressing the skills shortage and training the next generation of underground miners.

and be able to issue national qualifications.

By all measures the Mastermyne project met its challenges and has already started to contribute a small part to providing miners with the workers they need, and for this the company took out this year’s Employer of Choice award.

Mastermyne managing director Tony Caruso said the award was an acknowledgement for the company of its work and contribution to the mining sector.

“Mynestart is addressing an issue that is going to have a major impact in the mining sector so it’s great to be recognised by your peers for the good work being done in this, especially given the tough labour market we are working in,” he said.

He said the award also highlighted the quality of the staff at the company.

“It is also great recognition for the fantastic people who work at Mastermyne and it acknowledges their contri-

Mastermyne’s underground training facility.

bution to both the company and the wider sector.”

Myne Start project manager Brenda Witt told Australian Mining the skills shortage was crippling the coal mining sector and the industry needed to start to think of new solutions to the problem if it wanted to keep growing.

“In the underground sector we are seeing a significant increase in project approvals which means we have a rapidly growing sector and a diminishing pool of underground labour,” she said.

“We have to be more innovative if we are going to meet the skill needs to deliver these projects as well as maintain the operations already producing coal.”

She said there was no single solution to the skills shortage problem, but the answer would come in adequately engaging with a variety of different workforces.

“Unfortunately there’s no silver bullet, for us we have multiple strategies working

together to deliver the best result,” she said.

“We are endeavouring to use a balanced approach to HR which includes training, recruiting domestically and internationally and a focus on retention.”

Caruso told Australian Mining Myne Start’s real strength lay in its focus on practical teaching.

“There is no simulation it’s the real deal,” he said.

“We have purposely limited the amount of classroom training and replaced it with hands on development using the tools that the trainees will go on to use underground in the real environment.”

He said the training mimicked real-life situations right down to the final details, which set it further apart from most other training courses. “[The trainees] wear and use the safety equipment, they work in a realistic underground environment, they work on a roster while training and they even eat their lunch underground in the facility,” he said.

“It’s these little details that differentiate the facility from anything else and prepare the guys for mining life on Mastermyne projects.”

Mastermyne said over the next twelve months it expected to roll more trainees through the program and out into the workforce.

It said it was also working on developing new training programs for roles newly identified as in need.

It said the coal industry was currently experiencing a significant shortage of underground deputies and underground electricians, and courses for these positions were scheduled to be delivered by the last quarter of 2011.

What the judges said The judges said that it’s great that they prepare 'cleanskins for getting dirty’. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Mining’s Woman of the Year For her leadership of an integral team at ERA and the role she plays in furthering nuclear knowledge, Michelle Iles has won MINING’S WOMAN OF THE YEAR.

W

hile women only make up a small part of the mining industry, they play an important part.

And as their numbers grow, so to does the impact they have upon the industry.

Women currently represent around 10 per cent of the industry, although at some operations the number is significantly higher, such as Rio Tinto’s Clermont coal mine, where women make up nearly 25 per cent of the workforce.

Recognising the increasingly higher representation of women in mining, and the difference they make, Australian Mining created a new category – Mining’s Woman of the Year.

Winning this inaugural award for her work at Energy Resources of Australia’s (ERA) Ranger mine, and role as an authority on uranium mining, Michelle Iles has been recognised as Mining’s Woman of the Year.

Iles works for ERA as the manager of the Water Sciences team, which provides the mine with research, analysis and predictive water modelling services that form the basis for the mine’s operational and planning decisions in the Alligator Rivers Region.

Since joining ERA in 2008, she has focused on the best way to achieve sustainable resource development while also protecting the environment.

She has also spoke at numerous international nuclear conventions – most recently representing ERA and Rio Tinto at the joint World Nuclear Association and International Atomic Energy Agency’s 2009 technical meeting on ‘The Implementation of Sustainable Global Best Practices in Uranium Mining and Processing’ in Vienna, Australia.

Peter Eaglen, ERA’s general manager for environmental strategy, said he support Iles

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Energy Resources Australia’s Water Sciences team, led by Michelle Iles.

not only for her knowledge, but also the way in which she leads her team.

“Her expertise in environmental radiation and water management sciences, her understanding o the intense regulatory regime which governs uranium mining in the Northern Territory, and her knowledge of the Ranger project in particular makes her an extremely valuable member of Energy Resources Australia’s Environmental Strategy Department,” Eaglen said.

Her team’s evaluations are crucial to the Ranger mine, and its effective long term management of pond and process water, as well as the ultimate rehabilitation of the uranium mine.

This is critical in uranium operations such as the Ranger mine, which work under increased scrutiny due to the public perception of the resource.

Iles’s Water Sciences team also provided significant input into the development of ERA’s

ERA’s Ranger mine and its water source.

Environmental Impact Statement for its proposal to establish a heap leach facility designed to process low grade ore.

She also pushed for the increase in the number of water monitoring points on the mine site and in adjacent waterways, as well as the introduction of real time monitoring capabilities, which helped ERA to build a more detailed understanding o the hydrological impacts of mining and approved water releases.

However, it is not just the mine site where she has had an impact.

During her time representing the company at nuclear energy conventions, Iles participated in a number of technical working groups, and was invited to co-author an IAEA technical document on safe management of uranium mining and milling wastes, as well as present the Australian rehabilitation experience to the multinational Uranium Mining and Milling Remediation Exchange Group in Germany.

“This was a great opportunity to put into context how well the environment of uranium mines are coping – Ranger and Jabiluka in particular – and to demonstrate results showing in the data on the protection of the ecosystems,” Iles said.

“The Australian differences in restoring mines to a natural state is that its not just restoration of environment and habitat – the land has to be suitable for nomadic hunter-gathering lifestyles as well. It was an eye-opener for people to see the stringent processes we go through in Australia when there is a decision to be made or a change that has to be made in relation to uranium mining or processing.”

This year, Iles also cochaired the organising committee for the 2011 EnviroTox Conference in Darwin.

She has also shown leadership, not just on the international stage, but also in the office.

Iles has developed flexible working hours at her office to aid her staff in coping with the demands of the mining industry while also trying to raise a family.

“Managing a flexible work force is time consuming and is frequently questioned by peers outside the group, but without that flexibility I know we would have lost staff,” she said.

“So we need the flexibility to respond to urgent requests and business priorities, and yet keep skilled and experienced people.”

She continues to lead the Water Sciences team at ERA.

What the judges said The judges said that as a manager of the Earth & Water Sciences Team, Michelle has performed an extraordinarily difficult role in a visible and critical way. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Mining’s Female of the Year Award

Celebrating women’s success in the mining industry

Orica Mining Services is the world’s leading supplier of commercial explosives and blasting systems. We partner with our customers to develop blasting solutions to improve productivity, efficiency, safety and environmental outcomes.

Congratulations to Michelle Iles from Energy Resources of Australia on winning Mining’s Female of the Year Award at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards for 2011.

Accepting the award on behalf of Michelle Iles, Energy Resources of Australia, Mickitja Onus, Indigenous Support Officer pictured with Orica’s Strategic Marketing Manager Australia/Asia, Toni Laming.

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www.oricaminingservices.com

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Young Achiever of the Year Mark Robert Cosgrove has been recognised as the YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR for his drive and initiative, which has taken him from graduate to ventilation co-ordinator in only two years.

I

t is the young miners of today that will become the leaders of tomorrow.

So you want to hope that these young miners have the drive to succeed, the talent, and ability to transform the industry.

In recognition of the difference he has already made on site in the short time he has been there, and of the path he is building for himself in the future, Mark Robert Cosgrove has won the Young Achiever of the Year award.

In less than two years, Mark Cosgrove has gone from a university graduate, to participant in Centennial Coal’s graduate program, to ventilation co-ordinator at the company’s largest mine – Mandalong.

With more than 300 people working at the underground mine, the role of ventilation co-ordinator is critical.

Even more so in the face of a number of recent gas and ventilation mining disasters such as those at Pike River in New Zealand, and at Massey, in the US. The role demands leadership, initiative and drive, and Cosgrove’s employer Centennial has held him up as an example of this.

Centennial stated that “Mark has shown significant promise since his early years both academically and technically, allowing him to reach his first career goal in becoming ventilation co-ordinator”.

He was first employed at the mine as part of a two year graduate program, while at the same time undertaking post graduate studies and commencing his Graduate Diploma in Mine Ventilation.

This drive did not go unnoticed.

Mandalong mine manager John Turner stated that “from the time Mark commenced at Mandalong, he stood out from the crowd (of typical mining graduates) in a number of ways. Mark displayed the

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Cosgrove accepting the award from Bradken’s Brian Hodges.

ability to work effectively and with people at all levels of the organisation, and developed a reputation of being enthusiastic and technically competent. Regardless of what task he was assigned, he applied his knowledge and developed

experience in solving problems, either as part of team of by himself”.

During his first graduate placement at Mandalong, Cosgrove worked within the Technical Services Department, and underground as a

Cosgrove remodelled Mandalong mine’s vent system.

production team member on the mine’s longwalls and in gateroad development.

He then spent time working with Mandalong’s gas drainage co-ordinator, assisting in various ventilation activities such as the management of underground gas drainage boreholes, installation of ventilation devices, and underground in-seam drilling.

Cosgrove soon earned the privilege of carrying out Mandalong coal mine’s ventilation remodelling for the site’s ventilation requirements in the absence of the ventilation officer.

This modernisation work involved gas monitoring upgrades across the entire mine and the creation of new monitoring sites and parameters.

All while still in the graduate program.

Within 14 months, Cosgrove had completed the program and even secured the position of the mine’s ventilation co-ordinator.

“Mark was awarded the position over a number of other applicants, and although this type of position would not normally be offered to someone still completing their graduate program, it was without hesitation that I offered

Mark the role, secure in the knowledge that he will carry out the job technically, and will work effectively as part of the ventilation team,” Turner explained.

John Rose, from Mandalong’s ventilation office added that “Mark’s role as ventilation co-ordinator is one of great responsibility, one that would not normally be offered so early in a career, unless there was a demonstration of the skills required both academically and technically. Mark has amply displayed these skills along with a professional and personable nature”.

During his relatively short time in the mining industry, Mark has already contributed to the promotion of both Centennial Coal and the NSW Minerals Council.

He represented the industry when elected to speak at the Minerals Council’s annual recruitment dinner for the Newcastle and Hunter Region, as well as promoting the industry at regional events, such as the Newcastle Regional Show’s ‘Skills on Show’ exhibition.

Speaking to Cosgrove, he told Australian Mining that winning the award is “a fantastic opportunity that I’ve been given, even just to be recognised by my peers for what I’m doing here”.

He went on to say that he will continue pursuing a career in ventilation.

The swift progression of Cosgrove’s career has shown immense potential, and in less than two years he has gone from the lecture hall to the mine site – working the critical role of ventilation co-ordinator none the less, forging a promising career.

What the judges said The judges said that Mark is an impressive young engineer who is clearly well on his way to making a big difference to the industry. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Community Interaction Mining Family Matters have won the first ever COMMUNITY INTERACTION AWARD for their creation of a support network for the families of miners.

T

his year the Prospect Awards saw the creation of a new category, an award which recognises those within the industry that are making a real difference in the community.

While there were many applicants for this inaugural award, one stood above the rest for the wide ranging, and deep impact they have made to a group that is often unrecognised, and needed support – the families of fly in fly out (FIFO) miners.

For their unceasing support of the families of miners, Mining Family Matters have won the Community Interaction Award.

In their own words, “Mining Family Matters (MiningFM) is a small independent company that is committed to easing the pressures for mining families right across Australia – and is the only one doing so here, or anywhere else in the world”.

The brainchild of founders Alicia Ranford and Lainie Anderson, it was created when Ranford, a mining wife and mother of two, was unable to find professional advice to her daughter cope with dad often working interstate on a FIFO roster.

MiningFM has created the first online mining family community, and since last year has attracted scores of visitors from across Australia and

Mining Family Matters founders Alicia Ranford and Lainie Anderson accepting the award from Xstrata Coal’s Reinhold Schmidt

as far away as Canada and Argentina.

“We launched Mining Family Matters in February last year to provide free, professional services and support to families in mining and resources – but we really had no idea of the demand out there for a service of this kind. In the past 18 months the website has attracted more than 90,000 visitors, with more than 7000 people now coming onto the site every month,” Anderson said. The website features professional help, an online

forum, information on mining towns, lifestyle information and how to deal with the constant moving.

One of the major developments for the industry by MiningFM was the creation of The Survival Guide for Mining Families.

This hard copy reference tool is aimed at helping mining families survive despite the pressures of FIFO rosters and living away from family and friends.

Launched in March this year, it managed to provide

The group was designed to help the families of FIFO miners to cope with the lifestyle.

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more than 14 0000 in only two months.

The group has also taken an active role in raising the profile of mining families and the challenges that they face every day.

Federal minister for resources and energy, Martin Ferguson, said that he “applauds the initiative shown in establishing Mining Family Matters in order to provide support to the partners and families of persons working the mining and resources sector.

Speaking to Australian Mining, Lainie Anderson said “we were thrilled to win the community interaction award, especially as we were up against so many great finalists who are all doing such amazing work with local communities.

“The awards night itself was a brilliant opportunity to meet new people in the mining industry and to touch base again with others we’ve met and worked with in the past 18 months.

“Like everyone who starts a small business from scratch, we’re really proud of everything we’ve been able to achieve with

Mining Family Matters, our website www.miningfm.com.au and our printed Survival Guide for Mining Families. The award is not only a wonderful recognition of all the work we’ve put in, but also a great opportunity to spread the word to new mining companies, employees and families across Australia.

“We’re two mums who juggle Mining Family Matters with the full-time job of raising young families, and life really got crazy when we launched the Survival Guide for Mining Families in March this year.

“The guide contains professional advice and practical strategies for keeping families happy and relationships healthy, and we’ve now sold more than 25,000 copies to Australian mining companies,” Anderson said.

In the future, the group will continue to focus on providing professional advice and articles to help families in mining and resources to survive and thrive despite the challenges of living in isolated communities or coping with the demands of FIFO and DIDO living.

Anderson went on to say that “we have also just launched a generic form of the survival guide called Working Away: A Survival Guide for Families, in response to heaps of requests from companies outside mining, and we’re working hard to promote that to families in oil and gas, construction, transport, security, and cleaning services”.

What the judges said The judges said the ladies from Mining Family Matters are providing a vital service for the often forgotten aspect of the mining industry, the families and those who support the workers. Well done for creating an innovative and important support tool. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Xstrata Coal Xstrata Coal is the world’s largest international exporter of thermal coal and a significant producer of premium quality hard coking coal and semi-soft coal.

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, the Xstrata Coal business is world scale with interests in over 30 operating coal mines throughout Australia, South Africa and Colombia, producing approximately 96.5 million tonnes (managed) in 2010, about 80% of which was exported.

With an unmatched pipeline of competitive coal projects across all of its geographies, Xstrata Coal has the potential to expand current production by more than 50 million tonnes per annum.

The company employs more than 17,300 people (including contractors) across its underground and open cut mines, the majority of which are located in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Queensland’s Bowen Basin and the Witbank area of South Africa.

For career opportunities with Xstrata Coal, please visit www.xstratacareers.com

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Contract Miner of the Year For developing entirely new mining practices to overcome never before seen problems, ROCK Australia has won CONTRACT MINER OF THE YEAR.

A

fter 52 years of mining, BHP closed the doors on its Koolan Island iron ore project in 1993.

Part of their mine rehabilitation plan involved breaching the site’s sea wall and flooding the main pit to a depth of 100 metres.

Ten billion litres of seawater flowed into the site, containing a wide variety of marine life, including tiger sharks.

The site then lay dormant and flooded for seven years, until Aztec Resources acquired the mine in 2000 and began drawing up plans to resurrect the project.

In 2006 ROCK Australia were named preferred contractor for the remediation, and in 2007 Aztec were taken over

by Mt Gibson Iron.

MGI were able to generate an immediate cash flow from three satellite pits on the island, but their focus was the main pit, which contained the bulk of the island’s 67.7m tonne high grade hematite reserve.

ROCK’s contract for its remediation was to create a safe working environment for open cut mining that would commence 85m below sea level.

The mine floor would be overlooked by towering 100m footwalls that had been submerged for 14 years.

The main task was to remediate a 1500m run of 100m high footwalls that had been submerged – and unseen – since 1993.

Atlas Copco presenting ROCK Australia’s Roy Coates the award for its work at Koolan Island.

Some historic data and photographs were available, but the extent of corrosion and weathering could not been known until the water level was progressively lowered.

The amount of unknowns involved in the project presented ROCK with one of their first major challenges.

In the planning and execution of the remediation, it was necessary for the company to incorporate a range of contingency plans and be flexible enough to address issues as they arose.

Other challenges for the project were problems of safety and scale. To prevent rockfall the largest mesh drape in

ROCK had to remediate the pit below sea level.

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the world for a mining application needed to be installed.

The design and installation of the world’s longest debris flow barriers were also needed to protect workers from extensively weathered rock.

The remoteness and inaccessibility of the mine location was another problem, and required ROCK to develop a detailed logistics plan to ensure a steady supply of materials and parts.

But by far the biggest problem Rock faced on Koolan Island was the most obvious one, the water. The company recognised pretty quickly that most of the project’s drilling

A tiger shark – one of the on the job hazards.

would need to be done from the water, but no company had ever used floating drills in a mining context anywhere in the world.

ROCK Australia needed to identify the best rig available for the task, then attempt to develop a floating drill system themselves.

The rigs needed to be secured to the footwall to counter the back pressure generated by drilling, but the attachment needed to be flexible so the mobility of the barges was not inhibited as they moved along the mine’s footwall.

The drill also needed to be run remotely to ensure user safety during operations, and reliable monitoring systems were needed to provide early warning of any potential rock slides.

All of this work needed extensive risk analysis to ensure the appropriate procedures and systems were developed to do the work safely.

The development process for the Koolan Island remediation began in 2006 as part of the initial brief from Aztec, and took ROCK 18 months of planning.

ROCK Australia executive general manager Roy Coates told Australian Mining the Koolan Island project threw up surprises completely different to most other mine sites.

“There’s not many sites where you have sharks swimming around in the water below, and at one stage there was even a crocodile,” he said.

“It was highly complex and technical project in terms of installation, operation, and making sure you didn’t fall into the water and get eaten.”

Coates said the award was a good acknowledgement of the hard work the people at ROCK had put into both planning and executing the project.

“It’s a fantastic recognition of our key people in delivering this project from concept, to design, and execution,” he said.

“It’s also recognition of some of the great people we’ve got in our business.”

Coates said the site’s project manager Michael Moore had been a particularly important part of the project’s success.

“He’s been instrumental in bringing this whole thing from the design process through to execution,” he said.

Coates said there were a host of unique aspects to the Koolan Island remediation.

“The whole nature of the project is interesting,” he said.

“It being an abandoned open pit on a relatively remote offshore island that had been flooded to sea level.”

Looking to the future Coates said the company was planning to build on its experience from Koolan Island to promote growth for the business in the drill and blast sector.

What the judges said The judges said that this company has shown outstanding innovation, with a strong focus on safety and strategic planning. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Innovative Mining Solution GroundProbe has won the INNOVATIVE MINING SOLUTION award for the development of its revolutionary Work Area Monitor.

T

he issues of rock falls and safety are always at the back of any miner’s thoughts, particularly when working in open cut pits with steep walls.

Walls can suddenly move and bring down huge amounts of rock with very little warning.

The results can be incredibly costly, or worse still, fatal.

In response to continued concerns over rock wall integrity and a slow response from the industry, GroundProbe released its Work Area Monitor.

The tool has its roots in mine slope radar technology developed under research at the University of Queensland.

The research was funded by support from the mining industry, state and federal governments, as well as local companies.

After undertaking the research the University formed a company and commercial development of the technology began just under a decade ago, with the first sales two years later.

The WAM system comprises of a sensitive, fast-scan-

GroundProbe accepting the Innovative Mining Solution award from BASF.

ning radar and camera built into a vehicle to measure movement in mine walls.

It is operated directly by the local work crew and provides alarms with suffi-

The Work Area Monitor is designed to make working in open cut pits safer.

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cient warning when rock movement is detected in the work area.

The WAM operates as a sensor for slope movement in the direct vicinity of workers, as opposed to broader pit monitoring and deformation measurements.

To use the tool workers draw a shape on the monitor’s screen around the area of the rock face they wish to monitor.

So long as the tool’s green lights are flashing, work crews have peace of mind knowing there is no movement on the face.

The WAM is designed to protect workers, eliminate uncertainty, and improve confidence, and works with personal alert devices worn by workers.

If the monitor detects rock movement, the device beeps, flashes, and vibrates, and gives crews up to one kilometre from the monitor a text mes-

sage with the information they need.

A spokesperson for GroundProbe said winning the innovation category of the Prospect Awards represented an important recognition of the WAM. “The company is honoured to win this award,” he told Australian Mining.

“It is fantastic to have respected external validation of our product.”

He said the problem of accurately monitoring rock movement for workers was an important issue for the industry, and one that had not received enough attention. “[The WAM] provides a solution to a problem that until now has not been adequately addressed,” he said.

“Work crews still operate in high risk areas of open cut mines with limited safety cover against mine slope failures.”

He said while the WAM could not cover the whole pit at any time, workers still had an important tool to help protect themselves in work areas.

He said ensuring the integrity of mine walls under work lead not only to safety benefits, but lifted production too.

“The WAM can establish wall stability within safe limits, meaning that mining can continue in areas that have been previously deemed unsafe to work,” he said.

GroundProbe said the company was also proud of the tool’s intuitive and easyto-use design.

It said the acknowledgement of the Prospect Awards would form an important part of the WAM’s future rollout.

What the judges said The judges said the development of this technology will dramatically reduce the possibility of injuries in open cut mines. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Excellence in OH&S For dramatically slashing its injury rate and operating four years without a recordable injury, Macmahon has won the EXCELLENCE IN MINE OH&S award.

I

t has been over four years since Macmahon Contractors last recorded a lost time injury at Peabody Coal’s Eaglefield mine in Queensland.

For a contractor managing most of the on-site responsibilities, including coal and overburden mining, drill and blast operations, rehabilitation, and maintenance, the result is particularly impressive.

The Eaglefield site is operated under a mining contract between Peabody and Macmahon, producing around1.5 to 2.5 million tonnes per annum of coking and thermal coal.

The deposit is mined using conventional truck and excavator methods, and transported via rail to the Dalrymple Bay coal terminal south of Mackay.

Peabody acquired the project in 2004 and exports the coal to steel makers in Japan, Asia, India, and Europe.

The mining contractor has developed a safety management system in line with Queensland law, and since starting operations has achieved an extremely impressive safety performance.

Macmahon’s Surface Mining Division accepting the OH&S award from Boom Logistics.

The Macmahon surface mining team at the Eaglefield mine have received Peabody’s most improved and best safety performance for a surface coal mine in Australia in 2008 and 2010.

Eaglefield was also one of only three Peabody Energy

sites worldwide, and the only Australian Peabody site, to achieve zero LTIs in 2010.

Its continued good performance and strong safety record attracted the attention of this year’s Prospect Awards judges, with Macmahon – Surface Mining Division taking

Peabody’s Eaglefield mine, where Macmahon recorded zero Lost Time Injuries in 2010.

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out the Excellence in Mine OH&S safety award.

Macmahon executive general manager surface mining Fraser Ramsay said the company was pleased to add the accolade to its growing trophy cabinet.

He said it was particularly important to the company because it represented acknowledgement from the wider mining community.

“The Prospect Awards are important peer recognition of Macmahon’s industry leading safety performance,” he said.

“To win this award is a valued recognition of the company’s commitment to safety across its operations.”

Ramsay said the Eaglefield coal mine site was an example of a company-wide commitment to safety.

“Macmahon is dedicated to ensuring a strong focus on safety across all its projects and the Eaglefield coal mine is only on example of the company’s success in this area,” he said.

Ramsay told Australian Mining safety was something that needed all employees to work together.

“The project team has worked hard to achieve more than four years LTI, involving all employees in ensuring a safe and productive workplace,” he said.

Macmahon’s Eaglefield project manager John Anger said the low injury rate was the result of workers taking accountability for their safety and that of their workmates.

He said for a safety strategy to be effective it needed to extend to all workers, including labour hire, contractors, and Macmahon employees.

“Zero harm is non negotiable at Eaglefield and everyone on site, including contractors and visitors, are accountable for not only their own safety but also ensuring their actions don’t place others at risk,” Anger said.

He said the award was recognition of the work employees did to ensure Eaglefield was a safe site.

“We focus hard on achieving zero harm daily and reaching four years without a LTI is a credit to all those who work on-site,” he said.

The company said it encouraged good OH&S by awarding gifts to workers that contributed to mine safety. It said it also planned to hold a celebration dinner for all Eaglefield employees in recognition of their contribution to an LTI-free workplace. Macmahon said it also ensured its workplace rehabilitation staff worked closely with medical providers and injured personnel. Looking to the future, both Peabody and Macmahon said they were working on planning to increase production at the deposit and expand its coal handling and preparation plant.

What the judges said The judges said that it’s extremely impressive that Macmahon – Surface Mining Division managed to cut LTIFR down by 80%. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Environmental Management MetalloTek took out the EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT award for its X3 particle technology.

O

ne of the more under recognised aspects of the mining industry is the lengths some companies will go to remediate their former operations.

Whilst mining companies used to simply shut up shop and walk away, at best partly filling in a few holes or stringing up some fence around open shafts, miners now have to carefully plan their site’s rehabilitation and remediation before they even begin digging.

For its efforts in creating technology that is helping miners to rehabilitate their former operations and even revegetate sites that could not previously sustain life, MetalloTek has won the Australian Mining Prospect Award for Excellence in Environmental Management for its X3 particle technology.

The company itself is part of UniQuest, which is a commercial division of the University of Queensland, and was financially supported by Xstrata Technology and the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI).

The technology was developed to help mines rehabilitate their potentially contaminated waste rock and tailings, which are left after mining is complete.

Existing laws and regulations require miners and mineral processors to try and minimise the risks associated with these tailings and waste rocks, in particular the potential for the waste to move offsite via the transfer of contaminated soil or by leaching into local water supplies and aquifers.

Miners also have to try and restore native vegetation to the area or even attempt to re-establish conditions for commercial grazing or agriculture.

Any failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines and severe damage to the company’s reputation.

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MetalloTek’s Laurence Rossato accepting the award for Environmental Excellence for the X3 particle techology, which rehabilites waste rock.

But how can anything grow on soil which is contaminated, contains high metal levels, and lacks the essential nutrients to support life?

Some miners look at planting species that have a high tolerance for metals, known as metallophytes.

These plants may survive in metal-rich environments by different means, including the restriction of metal accumulation to the root system (excluders) or the accumulation of metals in the shoots (accumulators). Species with very high rates of accumula-

Rossato and James Bonner from Orica Mining Services.

tion (hyperaccumulators) have been used in bioprospecting for many years.

While these plants can be grown in high metal environments, some sites have levels that are too high even for these species to take hold.

To allow any plant to establish and survive in highly toxic metal conditions (above their phytotoxicity threshold), the soil quality of the root zone must be improved sufficiently at the time of planting. Conventional in situ remediation of metal-contaminated soils uses added topsoil (which has to be removed from elsewhere and is often scarce), or additives such as siliceous slag, zeolite, organic matter such as straw or woodchips, and lime or gypsum to rectify acidic or alkaline conditions. These amending materials have relatively low metal-binding capacities per unit weight, and therefore require large quantities of material to be applied per hectare, with consequent expense, even if only a super-

ficial treatment is used. Where amending materials are removed from other locations, they create a chain of impacts whereby the excavation sites may be degraded and in need of additional rehabilitation.

It’s a vicious cycle.

So MetalloTek developed a solution.

Its X3 particle technology is based on the combination of patented soil amendment polymer particles (termed ‘X3’) that bond irreversibly to metals, and carefully selected native metal-tolerant plant species (i.e. metallophytes). When X3 particles are added to soil they reduce the concentration of toxic soluble metals, reduce acidity and salinity, increase water availability and facilitate vegetation growth where it was not possible before. By helping establish vegetation, the risk of contaminating the surrounding environment via wind and water-erosion is reduced. This enables mine owners to relinquish leases sooner and avoid ongoing rehabilitation costs and possible legal penalties. X3 has the potential to be a low cost tool for the in situ remediation of metalcontaminated mine sites. The X3 particle technology has been demonstrated on contaminated mine soil in a glasshouse.

Speaking to Laurence Rossato, a member of the MetalloTek team, she described the win as “amazing, we really didn’t expect to win at all as there were so many major mining companies there who are carrying out innovative environmental management processes”. She went on to say that the focus for the company is now on the commercialisation of the technology.

What the judges said The judges said the X3 rehabilitation technology looks set to make mine site remediation a cleaner, faster process. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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The Excellence in Environmental Management Award

For great strides in sustainable mining

Orica Mining Services is the world’s leading supplier of commercial explosives and blasting systems. We partner with our customers to develop blasting solutions to improve productivity, efficiency, safety and environmental outcomes.

Congratulations to MetalloTek: X3 Particle Technology for Mine Site Remediation for winning the Excellence in Environmental Management Award at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards for 2011. Accepting the award, MetalloTek’s lead researcher Dr Laurence Rossato is pictured with Orica’s General Manager Australia/Asia, James Bonnor.

www.oricaminingservices.com

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS WINNERS

Coal Mine of the Year Sweeping the awards, Xstrata Coal’s Oaky Creek North mine took out not only Mine of the Year, but also COAL MINE OF THE YEAR.

O

ne of the highlights of this year’s Prospect Awards was Xstrata Coal’s Oaky Creek North mine taking out the honours not only for mine of the year, but also coal mine of the year.

The results proved the mine’s productivity and safety advancements made it a leader not only among coal mines, but all other operations.

A more detailed breakdown of the site’s achievements is already listed in the Mine of the Year section, but this page will again look briefly at more of the initiatives enacted by the mine that helped achieve its impressive results.

While Xstrata’s mine operating system and changed maintenance methods were techniques transferrable to other sites, Oaky Creek North did have specifically coal related initiatives.

The most notable of these was the introduction of new technology to the cutting face.

In 2009 Oaky Creek North moved from conical to radial picks on the cutting drums of the shearer, which translated to significant improvements in cutting.

The company also replaced ventilator drums with radial drums and saw an increase in reliability and longevity as well as lower dust generation.

These changes made a significant contribution to the mine’s production leap from 2009 to 2010.

But sitting equal with the drive to ramp up productivity was the company’s move to increase site safety.

Xstrata Coal said a number of new initiatives were implemented to this end.

The first was the introduction of carbon fibre vent tubes.

Analysis showed that the tasks of installing and replacing fibreglass vent tubes, as well as the tubes themselves, were both contributors to an unacceptable level of risk.

In 2010 investigations were made to find an alternative material that was lighter and wouldn’t splinter under repeat usage, and after testing carbon fibre was selected as the replacement material.

An Xstrata spokesperson said the introduction of the carbon fibre tubes was successful both from an equipment and safety perspective.

The Oaky Creek coal mine took out two prestigious awards.

“Since inception over 400 carbon fibre vent tubes have been installed at the site and while their reusability is far in excess of the fibreglass tubes they’ve replaced, the real gain

Carbon fibre vent tubes, which increased site safety.

is in the reduction of the risk of injury,” they said.

“The risk has been reduced from a medium to a low rating.”

Another important safety measure implemented at Oaky Creek North involved strengthening the core muscles of workers.

The move was implemented after the mine conducted research on the cause and effect of soft tissue injuries of the back.

The entire Oaky Creek North permanent workforce was recruited to participate in the research, which examined the hypothesis that many types of injury could be prevented by strengthening the core.

After completing the study the company made a number of measures to increase the core stability of workers, with impressive results.

An Xstrata spokesperson said the initiative had made significant improvements to worker health and the study’s findings had been fully implemented.

“Increasing core stability halved the rate of back injuries,” they said.

“The results of the study have now been turned into an everyday part of mine life at Oaky Creek North.”

The overall contributions these initiatives and others made to the mine’s total numbers was significant.

Mine workforce numbers increased by 25 per cent in 2010 over 2009 but the lost time injury frequency rate went down by 66 per cent.

This is especially commendable given the high influx of fresh miners to the site.

The total recordable injury frequency rate also dropped 44 per cent to 14, an average reduction from 2007 onwards of 69.6 per cent per year.

What the judges said The judges said that Oaky Creek North had exceptional productivity combined with a low LTIFR.

The World of

(IÀFLHQF\ Our goal as the world leader in intralogistics: to provide efficiency-increasing solutions for our customers.

P: 1800 SCHAEFER E: info@schaeferssi.com.au www.ssi-schaefer.com.au

86 October 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMDRAOCT_11.pdf

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A GLOBAL BUSINESS THAT SPECIALISES IN YOUR LOCAL MARKET Drake is in the ‘people’ business, we specialise in solving your human capital issues – anywhere, anytime.

Companies who are recruiting in specialised verticals such as the Mining, Oil & Gas and Engineering sectors will tell you that demand is stronger than ever, and access to highlyskilled staff is limited.

Drake’s global reach means we are able to source excellent candidates from within Australia and around the world.

We offer: Global and Local Recruitment for those hard-to-fill roles Safety Training programs and technology Behavioural Assessments Employee Assistance Programs and Trauma Management Professional Development training programs Team Building profiles Leadership Development Workforce Planning Six Sigma and Lean Training Performance Management And much more

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AM.OCT11.PG088.pdf

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PROCESS CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION

Can’t teach a YOUNG old tricks

DOG

The technical standard for coal seam gas needs to be set, writes David Greally*.

M

ANY have been questioning the pace at which energy giants seem to be rushing to get gas out of the ground.

There may be public misconceptions about the industry particularly surrounding access to the abundant resource, but there’s also some concern with the gas extraction methods.

This aside, Australian companies mostly apply world class practices where the practice has been refined over many years.

However, with CSG, this is not necessarily the case and in fact a different economic and technical model is mostly required before the project is viable.

Scaling any system whether it includes technology, business processes or resource management requires careful operational consideration and generally a lot of trialling.

It may have worked for the initial production, but will it work for full production?

Even if we think we have the solution, you can be assured you will still be modifying and adapting to the new scale to maintain your position as a low cost producer.

One of the most significant costs in a CSG project is the operational cost due to the number of wellheads 88 October 2011

AustralianMining

compared to a similar conven- their technology design is flex- you can’t teach a young dog tional gas reservoir. ible and open. old tricks!

And one of the most sigKnowing how to integrate Furthermore, you simply nificant methods to reduce the latest technology such as cannot apply plant technolthose operational costs is RF IP, allows them to ade- ogy to disparate assets and through technology operator quately monitor and micro expect your system to deliver integration. control their assets 24/7 from the low cost production results.

There are gas companies anywhere in the world (includIf only few CSG compaleading the pack in techno- ing from a smart phone). nies are leading the technollogical solutions that could The right technology ogy game, what is everyone lead the way to low cost quality approach upfront, means not else waiting for? production on a large scale repeating mistakes as you Perhaps sticking to old ensuring profit. expand. methods, legacy technology These companies are not The cost of replacing down- or more importantly the wrong shy to try something new, hole equipment and working approach is the reason. however they insist on best over a wellhead all because For the last 20 years Auspractice, open and maintain- you didn’t know when your tralia has been proving area able solutions that are wide asset operational fit for purpose. issues can be managed The right technology approach The rush that was effectively. Water, transon to see who could upfront avoids mistakes later on. portation and electriget gas out of the cal transmission and ground the fastest is now pump was about to seize is distribution industries have proving to be less efficient and completely unnecessary. been getting great results with productive as knowing how Correlating well attrib- successful large-scale disparate your asset should operate in utes with live data ensures you operational systems. an economic and efficient know your field and how best Their approach is nothing manner for optimum perform- to manage it. like a service facility or plant ance during its life.

One might presume that approach and that’s the reason Investing early-on in getting the standard of today’s control they succeed. to know how to manipulate and monitoring technology is Resource planning, remotethe right technology to get all great and yet the typical stan- ness and asset particulars are the information your business dard of technology actually Australian CSG problems that really needs, allows you to deployed for CSG is mind you can’t solve using a US, truly manage the CSG extrac- boggling.

Europe or other international tion process effectively.

Disparate assets, costs and model of information manageThe business costs of man- the technological demands of ment. power on the ground are driv- coal seam gas are proving drasMost of the conditions are ing CSG companies to work tically different from conven- unique which require soluwith automators in develop- tional gas applications. tions developed in similar ing control systems that ensure So in this case it seems, Australian industries.

Not enough gas companies are investing early enough in fit for purpose technology that is perhaps the smallest cost component of CSG capital costs yet supports a low operational cost model and ensures the value of the field is realised earlier on.

You can have appropriate technology that supports the desire to test new methods without starting again every time.

Technical flexibility and core development services will help to deliver again and again.

A ‘considered’ design and smart ‘open’ technology choices, mean that the cost need only be borne once in the lifecycle of the coal seam, especially where the newer approach shows that hundreds of assets can be added to a system with little impact on the cost of expansion.

Whether or not gas companies see the light in taking up the technical challenge in the right way remains to be seen, but what is becoming abundantly clear, is the investment in the right technology approach can only help boost confidence in this new Australian industry. *David Greally is Chief Operations Officer of Parasyn. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMVERAPR_11.pdf

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THIS IS WHERE THE NAME ON THE MACHINE MATTERS MOST.

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PROCESS CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION

Handling Bulk Powders and Granules?

We are System Designers, Suppliers and Integrators.

Dense Phase Pneumatic Conveying for efficient powder transfer Microveyor shown under a bulkbag discharge station

low-rate economical MicroveyorTM models 100kg to 10 te/hr

high-rate ‘KT’ series, rates of 5 to 500 te/hr

Temperature transmitters YOKOGAWA Electric Corporation has released its YTMX580 multi-input temperature transmitter. The YTMX580 is based on the ISA100.11a industrial automation wireless Features eight inputs. communication standard and features eight analog input channels. The transmitter accepts inputs from temperature sensors such as thermocouples or resistance temperature detectors (RTD) and converts this to an electric signal for transmission to a monitoring and control system. When three channels or less are in use, signals can be output to a monitoring and control system at intervals as short as one second; with four or more channels, signal output intervals can be as little as two seconds. It is powered by internal batteries that provide years of use under normal operating conditions. This makes this transmitter easy to install.

An added benefit is that the YTMX580 has the same battery pack used in Yokogawa’s ISA100.11a compliant EJX-B series pressure/differential pressure transmitters and the YTA510 temperature transmitter.

• Yokogawa www.yokogawa.com

Flow meters

The autoinflating seal.

AMS Instrumentation is releasing McCrometer’s V-Cone Flow Meter. Featuring a space saver design that reduces installation and operation costs the V-Cone Flow Meter is installed as a master meter at the CO2 source with stainless steel piping split run to as many as 16 injection wells. Even with 16 pipe Built in stainless steel. runs, the V-Cone master meter maintains accuracy when the volumes of the16 pipe runs are added together. With built-in flow conditioning, the V-Cone Flow Meter features advanced differential pressure (DP) technology to nearly eliminate the up- and downstream straight pipe runs required by other dP instruments, such as orifice plates and venture tubes. Requiring only 0-3 straight pipe diameters upstream and 0-1 downstream for precise operation, it reduces typical straight run by 70% or more as compared to traditional flow measurement technologies. It is available in line sizes from 0.5 to greater than 120 inches in materials and with flanges compatible with any application. It operates over a wide flow range of 10:1, is accurate to ±0.5% and offers repeatability to ±0.1%. It features standard beta ratios of 0.45 to 0.85 with custom betas available.

• AMS Instrumentation 03 9017 8225 www.ams-ic.com.au

Models to 7 bar pressure, andoto 480 C.

Linear actuators

Discharge of powder products to silos from containers.

We offer a range of solutions, and rates of transfer.

The ‘Original’...

For Handling Powders - Very heavy duty -

Valve Closed

Fill and empty Bulk Bags and Automated packaging systems.

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www.kockumsbulk.com.au 90 October 2011

AustralianMining

HAYDON Kerk Motions Solutions has released a new version of its 36mm G4 linear actuator. This latest configuration features an adapter plate that allows for the smaller 36mm OD unit to replace the 42mm and 46mm units in current applications by using the same Features an adaptor plate. bolt pattern and pilot surface. Force output range for the G4 linear actuator is from 70N to 260N (16lb to 58lb).

Its design utilises teeth geometry along with high-energy neodymium magnets, which provides higher continual force.

These linear actuators have 20% higher output of force across the entire speed range compared with other designs of similar size, Haydon Kerk say.

The G4 incorporates the latest custom-engineered plastics and larger bearings for greater rotor support and higher axial load capability.

Haydon Kerk’s linear actuators come in three configurations: Captive, NonCaptive, and External Linear.

• Haydon Kerk www.haydonkerk.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PROCESS CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION

Ethernet switches Explosion proof encoders.

Incremental encoders AUTOMATED Control Engineering have introduced the RX 70TI and RX 71TI incremental shaft encoders.

The incremental shaft encoders are available in an explosion proof design with explosion proof enclosure â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; under RX 70 and RX 71. Typically used in processing applications, it has a resolution up to 10.000 ppr; a housing diameter of 70mm; a shaft diameter of 10 mm (solid shaft); shaft load axial and radials of 50N and 100N respectively; stainless steel shafts for the available for the RX 71, as well as aluminium housing for the RX 70 and a stainless steel housing for the RX 71. â&#x20AC;˘ Automated Control Engineering 02 4954 5004 www.aceg.com.au

BELDEN has launched the Hirschmann MACH104-16TX-PoEP Ethernet switches with power over Ethernet Plus. The switch can power 16 ports at 15.4W or 8 ports at 30W, enabling users to take advantage of PoE devices. The MACH104-16TX-PoEP series of hardened Ethernet workgroup switches Facilitates media redundancy are managed all-Gigabit switches with sixteen Gigabit PoE/PoE+ ports and four additional Gigabit systems such as HIPER ring.

RJ45/SFP combo ports. Power options include a choice of single/dual 110/220V AC inputs or external 48V DC external inputs for fanless operation (0°C to +50° C). Each chassis measures 448 by 44 by 345 mm and can be mounted in a 19 inch (48.5 cm) cabinet. The switch's management functionality facilitates media redundancy systems such as HIPER ring, MRP (IEC ring function) and rapid spanning tree to ensure a high level of network availability. The extensive security mechanisms provided include multi-client authentication via RADIUS server, access control via IEEE 802.1x or MAB (MAC Authentication Bypass), IP and MAC port security plus SNMP V3 and SSH. â&#x20AC;˘ Belden 1800 500 775 www.belden.com

Low frequency moisture analysers Built for the mining industry.

THERMO Fisher Scientific have released the third generation of its low frequency microwave moisture analysers. Dubbed the LFM3, it analyses moisture levels and allows its operator to add water to materials, aiding in dust reduction on mine sites. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The LFM3 allows for the precise addition of water to control dust in operations where adding too much water can cause ore to become sticky, clog chutes and gum-up blind screens. It also easily integrates across Thermo Scientific material handling solutions that incorporate sampling, weigh feeders and elemental analysis through our Thermo Scientific CB Omni cross-belt analyser,â&#x20AC;? Tim Sennet, Thermo Fisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global marketing manager said. This latest generation of technology provides improved, real time moisture measurements and can easily be integrated and installed across a number of mining applications, Thermo Fisher says.Its electronic modules are easily replaced, resulting in simple maintenance. â&#x20AC;˘ Thermo Fisher 08 8208 8200 www.thermoscientific.com

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UNDERGROUND MINING

The fireproof powerpacks designed for underground coal mines.

The coal mining telehandlers are designed to be explosion proof.

Technology is moving

UNDERGROUND

The rapid expansion of coal mining is seeing an explosion of innovation in the sector, Cole Latimer writes.

A

t a recent press briefing for a large equipment manufacturer, Australian Mining was told that if equipment companies aren’t in the underground coal space, then in the next ten years they won’t be in coal.

With coal exploration reaching record highs last month it’s no surprise.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics announced that more than $207 million was spent on coal exploration in the June quarter alone, well above the $122 million in the December quarter last year.

This June figure is nearly double the previous corresponding period.

Added to this are the growing economic powerhouses of China and India on the nation’s doorstep hungry for coal for their steel industry, not to mention their increasing desire for thermal coal; particularly in the case of India, which has a major energy crisis on its hands.

So what is the mining equipment industry doing to take advantage of this insatiable demand for coal?

Whatever they can.

Two companies that have already began providing unique services to this sector are Manitou and drilling and boring company Mancala.

92 October 2011

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Both have adapted equipment that is typically used in surface mining, to provide new applications underground – a fireproof telescopic handler and a fire proof power pack, which is designed for another completely new mining technology, underground raise bore drills.

Speaking to Manitou’s Francois Piffard at AIMEX, he told Australian Mining “the development of this explosion proof telescopic handler is an Australian first, and may even be a world first”.

Piffard explained that there “has not been an explosion proof handler before as most

underground operations have used LHD vehicles for everything, but now people are seeing more usages for these handlers as they have greater capabilities, and it is a more compact vehicle”.

The underground utility machines have been dubbed the MT732 explosion protected handler, and have a seven metre lift height and a 3200 kilogram lift capacity while being a compact two metres in height.

One stark difference to these vehicles is the enlarged engine bay.

It is built larger to house the explosion protected engine as well as a larger radiator.

The MT732 also comes with extra protection around the cab.

It also features a fail safe break system, steel fuel tanks, engine flame proofing with a built in electronic shutdown system, an air start system, protection sleeves, as well as fire resistant and anti-static materials for its hoses, all of which are explosion protected and have intrinsically safe electrical wiring and components.

The utility vehicles will be available next year.

At AIMEX, Mancala also took the opportunity to launch itself further into the underground coal mine space.

The underground telehandlers are possibly a world first, Manitou claim.

It released a number of new products, such as a vertical miner, and an explosion proof power pack designed for raise bore drilling in underground coal mines.

Raise bore drilling has never been exactly prolific within the coal space, however Mancala’s CEO Martin Kyne told Australian Mining “we saw an opportunity, there’s a real need for raise bore drilling in coal, particularly for ventilation, and it wasn’t being addressed”.

The company was initially approached by Vale in the Hunter Valley to help it with this issue. But Mancala faced a problem – how exactly do you carry out raise bore drilling in a coal mine? And how do you power these drills?

It engaged UGM to assist in building self contained, flame proof power packs to drive these drills as none had ever been built before.

“We had to start from scratch as there wasn’t a high need before, but mostly it’s because no one else had the balls to commit to it and count the money. The reaction to it has been huge.”

With the ability to carry out raise bore drilling underground “it will make mines safer with increased ventilation and production”. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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“Rock Solid” Froth Pump KSB / GIW’s new froth pump provides continuous operation without shutdown or operator intervention. The new hydraulic design actually removes air from the impeller eye while the pump is running – just to keep your process moving. The HVF pump can be retrofitted to any existing froth application. Fewer pumps are required for less capital expense and, again, for less power / water usage. The patented vented impeller and air lock system helps to eliminate sump overflow, reduce downtime and water usage. KSB / GIW froth pump is environmentally friendly and cost effective for your mining needs.

KSB Australia Pty Ltd • VIC 03 9314 0611 • SA 08 8234 0066 • NSW 02 9584 2099 WA 08 9412 0100 • Kalgoorlie 08 9412 0100 • QLD 07 3436 8600 Townsville 07 4774 9200 • NT 08 8947 4941 • NZ +64 9476 4047 • www.ksb.com.au

HVF

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Safety walkways NATIONAL Plastics and Rubber have unveiled slip resistant step nosing for mine vehicles. Their slip resistant step nosing is designed to suit the standard walkways fitted to Cat 793, 797 and dozer vehicles. They also have the capabilities to manufacture customer sized nosing to suit particular machines or applications. All nosings have a 50mm tread, 20mm rise and come pre drilled with fasteners and made using 1.6mm galvanised steel. National Plastics manufacture polyurethane, rubber, and industrial plastic products.

• National Plastics and Rubber 07 3279 3066 info@nationalplastics.net.au www.nationalplastics.net.au

Vehicle walkway nosings.

Rigid cases SAMUELSON Cases have released customised rigid welded cases for critical mining equipment. Designed and manufactured in Australia, Samuelson Cases are made from high-durability 5005 Grade aluminium, with the panels of each case, and its shock-absorbing, high-density foam inserts cut to size using millimetre-perfect, state-ofthe-art CNC technology. According to Samuelson, they are only Australian manufacturer to produce rigidised, welded cases of this type.Tough and light-weight, Samuelson Cases are a superior choice for the highly valuable and

sensitive equipment used in the mining industry. The custom-built cases are specifically made to protect equipment in harsh environments where dust, corrosive chemicals, vibration, and even the day-to-day knocks encountered during off-road transportation are commonplace. Samuelson Cases’ 5005 Grade aluminium construction provides the cases with a high strength-toweight ratio.

• Samuelson Cases www.samuelsoncases.com.au

Heavy duty.

Dozers CATERPILLAR has released the new D11T and D11T CD dozers on to the scene. These latest dozers include enhanced auto shift, dynamic inclination monitors, automatic climate control, and available automated ripper control. The D11T and D11T CD (Carrydozer) come with a 634kW Cat C32 engine and blades ranging in capacity up to 43.6m3. Both dozers have operating Features an EAS system. weights up to 112 698 kilograms. The C32 engine meets Tier 4 emissions standards for high emissions controls, and features the Cat NOx Reduction System, as well as new cooling packages which use a two part radiator with aluminium bar-plate cores that aid durability and wear/corrosion resistance.

An additional oil to air hydraulic oil cooler also aids in fuel reduction.

The dozers’ drivetrain features an enhanced auto shift (EAS) system.

• Caterpillar www.mining.cat.com

Tough mining pumps ALLIGHTSYKES have launched a new mining pump designed to last longer in Australian mines. Launched at AIMEX, the Sykes MH300i is the first product in a new medium-head pump range developed to operate in harsh mining, construction and sewerage by-pass environments which feature both high water flow and long pipe runs. The switch from standard cast iron components to 316 stainless steel front and rear wear plates and impeller – plus a new bearing bracket set-up featuring damping properties, increases pumping efficiency to 77% for the first time, as Sykes Engineering and Pump Training Manager Gert Inja explained.

“Our analysis of exhaustive field trials told us that the standard cast iron impeller and plates corroded before they wore out, and so left room for improvement in terms of longevity and performance in harsh Australian mining conditions – widely believed to be among the most abrasive in the world,” he said.

“As well as the switch to 316 stainless steel as standard and the introduction of the new bearing bracket, we’ve selected a drive coupling to cover power requirements and resonance conditions (i.e. torsional vibration) to suit any pump and engine combination.” Additional features of the MH300i includes a flooded, oil-lubricated pump bearing set-up and leak-free pump bearing isolator instead of a grease lubrication system. This allows it to avoid the issue of pump failure due to lubrication problems, or contamination.

• AllightSykes www.allightsykes.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

Pallet storage cubes POLYWORLD have debuted the pallet storage cubes Harry and Phil. The cubes are designed to overcome the problems faced when transporting pallets of materials. Fitting an entire pallet inside the robust weather proof container; users can simply close the latches and move the cube by forklift. According to Polyworld, using Harry and Phil is a safer way to transport goods on pallets or as loose cargo. It not only protects your goods during storage or transit, it also prevents damage from the tension straps.

They also reduce unnecessary packaging.

The cubes can act as both a temporary or long term storage container, and are weather proof and dust proof, lightweight, and lockable.

• Polyworld 1300 888 654 www.polyworld.com.au

What would a diesel business know about mining?

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Jaw crushers

The software is fully scalable and built for mining.

Second gen mining software LEICA Geosystems Mining has unveiled the second generation of its Jigsaw product suite.

This newest release operates on a unified hardware and software platform which integrates all aspects of mining operations, ranging from guidance systems on draglines through to fleet management.

The suite is completely OEM independent, fully scalable, and importantly it is also backwards compatible with the first generation Jigsaw programs.

Leica say the key to the hardware is its Unified Hardware Platform, or UHP. The UHP can be swapped between any machines in its operating class, and features colour coding – to reflect functionality levels; integration inclinometers – for improved cycle detection; internal WiFi radio and support; OEM independent I/O support; loading and unloading detection; an IP67 shock and vibration rating – designed for external installation; and has an industrial temperature range and is EMC certified.

According to Leica, the scalability of the Jigsaw UHP ensures lower spares inventory, quicker training, and importantly – easier maintenance.

Its unified software platform, Jmineops, links all three products: Jfleet (fleet management), J2guidance (high precision GPS guidance systems for dozers, drills, shovels and draglines), and J3autonomous (remote and semi- autonomous mine machinery control).

The entire suite will be available next year.

• Leica Geosystems Mining www.mining.leica-geosystems.com

METSO has debuted its new C120 Jaw Crusher.

The 13th member of its C-series range of crushers, the C120 has focused on reliability and crushing.

It has several new design elements, such as a long and aggressively directed stroke, and a fixed jaw die longer than previously seen in this crusher size class.

The C120 has a large feed opening of 1200 by 870mm and an ‘aggressive’ cavity cross section for a high performance and reduction ratio.

In terms of cavity volume and crusher weight, the C120 fits between the existing Metso C116 and C125 jaw crusher models.

Has an aggressive cavity section.

Due to its compact design it is easy to install, and comes with an optional integrated motor and bed and guards.

It also has rubber mounting pads underneath the crusher mounting brackets.

No separate horizontal supports are needed.

The crusher itself can be mounted in multiple ways to ensure an easy fit onto an existing or new steel structure.

For easy adjustments, it is possible to select either a mechanical or hydraulic setting adjustment system.

In the case of jaw dies, several cavity options are available, and depending on the customer’s preference it is possible to use either single- or two-piece jaw dies.

• Metso Ilkka Somero ilkka.somero@metso.com www.metso.com

Production management software GEMCOM has updated its mine management software – Insite.

This latest version of Insite, released in August, adds a new shift management module, which provides greater transparency into shift planning and operations.

It allows users to execute and manage tasks against a plan, within a shift, allowing shift time to be used more efficiently while also highlighting and eliminating any conflicts or operational bottlenecks.

Gemcom has also included a central monitoring module which provides a real time graphical display of an entire operation, with visual representations of current tasks.

It allows operators to visually monitor shift data and changing conditions.

“InSite helps with cost control and operational productivity in several areas. One way it does this is by identifying issues quickly. Traditional mine production management systems generally find issues after the fact. Say for example, a loader has a breakdown. It may be out for some time before downtime is recorded. With InSite’s real time monitoring, alerts are immediate, allowing operators to react to the downtime and keep in line with production targets,” Charlie Forrest, Gemcom’s product manager for the software, explained.

• Gemcom 08 9420 1333 www.gemcom.com

Eye protection Coal mining software PARKER Hannifan have unveiled MinePHorm, software which has been designed for longwall coal mining hose and fittings selection.

Available ‘free to industry’, the software is built for engineering and procurement maintenance teams.

Described as fast and easy to use intuitive software, it offers a number of features that allow users to create of Bill of Materials and product data sheets, reduce quote lead times as well as search by application, pressure & size.

• Parker Hannifan www.minephorm.com.au

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HONEYWELL Safety Products’s new Durastreme coating works to increase eye protection in the workplace.

Anti-fog and anti-scratch in one lens.

The coating combines the benefits of industrial anti-fog and antiscratch coatings onto a single lens.

The anti-fog layer on the inside prevents lens fogging, allowing workers to see in humid and difficult work environments.

The anti-scratch coating on the outside protects against harsh elements.

Based on the independent Bayer Abrasion Test Method, Durastreme extends the life of the lens by up to three times longer than that of other anti-fog lenses.

The DuraMaxx safety goggle features the Durastreme coating and is the first panoramic modern goggle to provide comfort, anti-fog capabilities, ease of use, and durability.

The SP1000 sealed eyewear also features Durastreme coating, making it well suited to demanding industries such as construction, oil and gas, mining, and steel and metals work.

• Honeywell Safety Products 1300 139 166 sperianmelbourne@sperian.com www.honeywellsafety.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Quite a lot as it happens.

Because every mining challenge is unique, Central Diesel specialise in the custom design and building of power generators, pumps and hydraulic packs. Plus, as an industry DESIGN GN SO GN SOLU LU UTIONS

24/7 24 24/ 7S SERV ER ERV R ICE CE C E CUS STOM TOM TO M BU BUILD UILD DING

leader, Central Diesel provide the assurance of on-site servicing, seven days a week.

Call 1300 654 547 or visit centraldiesel.com.au

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Skid steer loaders BOBCAT’S new S770 skid steer loader is designed to make lifting and loading easier and quicker.

The S770 is the latest addition to the Bobcat M-Series loader line, and delivers 3352.8 mm of vertical lift height with 138 lpm standard hydraulic flow.

This combines with an operating weight of 4161 kg and a rated operating capacity of 1529 kg, driven by a 68.6 kw turbo-diesel engine.

The hydraulic systems on M-Series loaders have been engineered for higher standard flow and pressure to give attachments more power and speed.

An optional 5-inch colour screen LCD monitors key loader functions, and has easy-to-read virtual sweep gauges that allow the operator to quickly read and understand the machine’s performance.

The loaders are designed to work long hours on demanding sites, with several measures in place to minimise time spent on routine maintenance.

The auxiliary hydraulic quick couplers are mounted directly to the front plate of the boom to provide a solid mounting, and hoses are routed through the loader arms for better protection.

Designed for working long hours on demanding mine sites.

The cooling system has also been redesigned to make it easier to clean out.

The design features an oil cooler that swings up, allowing the operator to clean the area between the oil cooler and the radiator.

The S770 features a cab-forward design that moves the operator closer to the attachment and provides greater visibility.

The cab door threshold has been lowered and the overall surface of the door has increased to provide improved visibility and make it easier for operators to enter and exit the cab.

Windows on the sides and rear of the cab have also been increased to provide more visibility to the tires and to the rear. The larger top window also makes it easier and more comfortable for the operator to see the attachment with the lift arms raised, a particular advantage when loading trucks.

To create a better working environment the S770 allows operators to set personal preferences.

Bobcat has also increased the size of the cab by ten per cent and improved the pressurisation.

The M-Series cabs have a new one-piece seal that goes all the way around the door and fits into a special curved pocket.

The seal works to minimise the amount of dirt and dust entering the cab.

New engine mounts to improve isolation and decrease vibration have reduced the sound level of M-Series loaders by around 60 per cent.

The control levers on the optional Selectable Joystick Controls move up and down in conjunction with the seat to reduce operator arm movement and fatigue.

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

IDEAL CARGO CRANE,TADANO ZE The ZE features all the Tadano Cargo Crane technology that is recognised the world over. The key development concepts remain: Excellent Quality, Easy Operation and Easy Maintenance.

The ZE500 with the maximum lifting capacity of 3.13 tons has a choice of 4 different lengths of the boom, to meet your lifting solutions.

•New “Hook-in” System •Radio Controller with Liquid-crystal Display •Boom Height Limit Function •Full Circle, Continuous Swing •AML •Jack Interlock

1300 551 075 VICTORIA 5 Mosrael Place, Rowville Melbourne VIC 3178 ph: +61 (03) 9764 1233 fax: +61 (03) 9764 1433 email: headoffice@600cranes.com.au

98 October 2011

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NEW SOUTH WALES 5 Muir Place Wetherill Park Sydney NSW 2164 ph: +61 (02) 9604 6001 fax: +61 (02) 9604 8831 email: sydney@600cranes.com.au

QUEENSLAND 20 Aldinga St Brendale Brisbane QLD 4500 ph: +61 (07) 3881 2544 fax: +61 (07) 3881 3244 email: brisbane@600cranes.com.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Ahrns Handling Equipment 76 Woomera Avenue Edinburgh Parks SA 5111 ph: +61 (08) 8250 1511 fax: +61 (08) 8250 1577 email: ahrns@bigpond.com

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Crane Works Australasia 16 Dobra Road Yangebup WA 6164 ph: +61 (08) 9494 2921 fax: +61 (08) 9494 2428 email: sales@craneworks.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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when experience counts choose mancala as your mining partner

with over 20 years experience, mancala have the necessary skills to apply specific solutions to all of your mining needs specialities: • • • • • • • •

underground development & production open cut mining shaft sinking, stripping & lining raise drilling emergency escape systems equipment hire, sales & maintenance project management technical & operating labour hire www.mancala.com.au

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REVIEW

One for the

RECORD BOOKS

Australian Mining looks back at the nation’s largest ever mining exhibition – AIMEX.

A

behemoth. It really is the only way to describe the largest mining exhibition ever held in Australia.

Held only once every four years, this event has set itself as the must attend exhibition.

Sprawling across Sydney Olympic Park, it hosted more than 600 exhibitors and covered 50 000 square meters,

making some very sore feet for many visitors as they tried to fit it all in.

AIMEX is hosted at Olympic Park as “no other venue in Australia could really house a show this size,” Australian Mining was told.

Unsurprisingly, despite comparing itself against the last event in 2007, which was

More than 17 000 visitors streamed through the doors.

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AustralianMining

held during unprecedented growth in the mining sector and before the words Global Financial Crisis were uttered, this year’s event managed to nearly double attendance, pulling more than 17 000 visitors during its four days.

Reed Mining Events exhibition director, Paul Baker, told Australian Mining that

just over three quarters of the visitors were from NSW, “with substantial increases in visitors from interstate, which were up nearly 60 per cent, with visitors from Queensland jumping 33 per cent, to 1164 people.

“AIMEX also attracted a number of international visitors, totaling 1288 from 49

countries, a 40 per cent increase on our 2007 numbers.”

A large part of the show was about attracting the ‘frontliners’, those who actually work on site, and senior management.

“Through our AIMEX Frontliner program – aimed Continued on page 102

Heavy machinery was a draw card for the show. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMGATOCT_11.pdf Page 1 19/09/11, MegaSys Bend Ad_MD_Layout 1 14/09/11 1:03 PM Page 1

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BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO SAVE YOU MONEY 速

Reduce Hose Costs up to 64% with Gates New MegaSys Products

Gates MegaSys hoses bend and bend and bend some more. Our re-engineered line of extremely flexible MegaSys hoses now bend up to one-third the SAE bend radius specification. This means you save by using shorter hose lengths. And plumbing is easier and faster too. Combined with constant pressure ratings through all sizes, new colour coding for easy ID, leak-free couplings for wire-braid and spiral-wire hoses, tough covers, corrosion-resistant plating and more, the MegaSys line adds up to faster hose selection, easier installation, reduced inventory, superior reliability and lower hose cost. For more information, visit gates.com/megasys Next Generation Hydraulic SavingsSM Scan with your smart phone to learn more from Gates.

Download the app at getscanlife.com

www.gatesaustralia.com.au

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REVIEW

The Women in Mining theme day attracted many people.

Continued from page 100 at mine equipment operators, fitters, tradespeople, supervisors and pit managers – we attracted significant additional attendance,” Baker said.

Speaking to a number of visitors and exhibitors, Australian Mining was repeatedly told that while they may not go to the other local shows, their company made sure to pull out all the stops for AIMEX, which was used by many firms as an opportunity to launch new equipment or highlight their latest offerings.

And it showed.

From the moment visitors walked through the doors they came face to face with P&H MinePro and Joy Machinery’s latest offerings and developments (where our potential careers as shuttle car drivers were vetoed after trying out

their simulator) as well as Xstrata Coal took the throughout the event, and Ellton Conveyors underground opportunity to host a careers garnered a healthy response equipment, with a LeTourneau room at AIMEX, where visi- to both its Women in Mining truck peeking out from the tors could learn about getting day and the Recruitment and background. a job in the mines.

Training day.

According to Baker, this “It is about recruitment Baker said “there was really truck had to be built on the for our upcoming develop- positive feedback to these dock, and was driven into the ments such as the whole new theme days. show on metal plates as it was underground expansion the “It seemed as though we too heavy for the venue. really hit the nail on the Caterpillar and “There were a number of pieces head with some of these Atlas Copco had also particularly the at the show weighing over 100 days, managed to bring in the Women in Mining day big machinery, with roof tonnes,” Baker said. and the careers and skills supports right next to theme day,” he said. massive Atlas drill rigs.

Oaky Creek North coal mine,” During the Women in Hyundai also used the Australian Mining was told. Mining day, AIMEX also raised event to announce its move “Overall the response has substantial amounts of money into the mining space with the been great, as people come in for the McGrath Foundation unveiling of new excavators. to see what opportunities there by selling pink lanyards.

Baker told Australian are. We’ve been seeing people Conferences were also held Mining that “unsurprisingly, from all levels as well, from to align with the theme days. logistically this is a massive entry level and graduates to “There were full houses show, with a number of pieces mine managers and others at most of the conferences,” well over 100 tonnes”. who have been in the indus- he said.

But it wasn’t just equip- try for years.”

AIMEX also hosted ment on show.

Reed also held ‘theme days’ another unique event – meet

Brand new equipment was assembled for the show.

102 October 2011

The latest mining technology was on show during AIMEX.

AustralianMining

the buyer. This event connected mining companies with the manufacturers or distributors of equipment.

“The surprising thing was a lot of the miners were after the smaller, more niche technology companies rather than the bigger players,” Baker explained.

He went on to say that it had garnered a positive response, and would be something that Reed will look at doing it again at its upcoming QME show in Mackay next year. Baker also took the opportunity to thank the exhibitors, visitors, and partners for making the show a success. As the industry winds down from the enormous show, and prepares in earnest for the ‘taxing’ year ahead, it begins preparing for an even larger AIMEX four years down the track.

Peter Beattie used the show to call for increased local content on mines. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Designed, engineered and built tougher for way out here.

Unless you’ve travelled the vast road networks within Australia’s outback, no way could you understand the harsh conditions that need to be overcome! Potholes big enough to swallow a 4WD, let alone destroy its suspension. So when it comes to buses that need to get your crew out to a work site they’d better be on a bus built for the job.

We couldn’t find a bus chassis tough enough for our diverse conditions so we took on the challenge to designed and build our own. We went marine grade 304 stainless steel because of its strength, and corrosion resistance. It also allowed us to build lighter, more fuel efficient buses. We didn’t stop there.

We added a heavy duty suspension package to ensure that our buses could take anything that our great southern land could throw at it... day after day, month after month. Now we have a bus that’s Aussie built and backed.

One look at the interior finishes will give you a sound appreciation of the high level of build quality we insist upon. It is a quality that permeates all we do, from service

XDi 12 12.5m 5m

and spare parts support right through to our ongoing customer relationships.

Bustech Chassis & Body

We’ve built a better bus for Australia ... for your business.

For more information please contact Marc Cleave 0407 809 237 or Grahame Holz 0428 860 675

bustech.net.au

Just the ticket for Australia

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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.

SENIOR MINING ENGINEER Location – WA Company – EMS Pty Ltd Description: Here's the opportunity you've been waiting for – UG, OP & Start Up Exposure!

This is a small scale mining house who are shooting for the stars so why don't come along for the ride? Its predominately UG but there is OP too and to top that a couple of mines in development phases – so you get to have it all!

Get to utilize your skills and your opinions will be appreciated – its with a great team who value everybody's input.

You will be responsible for supporting the Mining Team with: Its a pivotal role within the organization and will have you working on short term to LOM schedules, and plans. Assisting budget process and resource/reserve reports. It is imperative that you lead the way in relation to safe working practices and take an active role in ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.

A degree in Mining Engineering with at least 6+ years experience in underground, exposure to the open pit will be useful. Good sound knowledge of mine planning computer packages and EPS. You will need to be passionate and enthusiastic about what you do.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build on your exposure and experience to take your career to the next level.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Diane on 08 9443 0400. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email diane@emsjobs.com.au

throughout WA. Extensive prior experience within a similar role would be viewed favourably.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Ashley on 1300 791 790. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email jobs@maniacmining.com

UNDERGROUND MANAGER Location – WA Company – EMS Pty Ltd Description: Some Companies just make you smile & it makes you realise there are still a few gems out there worthy of your exceptional talent in this Underground Mine Managers role.

We are looking for a highly motivated Underground Manager with the initiative and drive to lead this operation push through boundaries and hold the reigns.

It’s a FIFO role with an employer of choice, they are big players in the market, who have a proven record for rewarding hard work and a work ethic that fits the sites profile.

Whilst this role is autonomous you will be surrounded by the best in the business to give you the support when you need it.

As the Underground Manager the principal function of the role is operational Leadership to the underground mine by ensuring that the Mining team meet production targets on time and in budget while adhering to safety guidelines.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Diane on 08 9443 0400. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email diane@emsjobs.com.au

MINE PLANNING ENGINEER Location – Hunter Valley, NSW Company – Peabody Energy Description: Wambo Coal Pty Ltd is an established and highly successful mining operation located near Singleton in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Our mining lease includes both an Open Cut Truck and Shovel and Underground Longwall operation. Peabody is an International Mining Company with over 125 years in the Coal Industry and 9 mine sites in Australia.

Based at our Wambo site, we require a Mine Planning Engineer.

Reporting to the site Technical Services Manager, and dotted line to the national Manager Mine Planning, you will be responsible for the long term mine performance reporting and mine planning for the Peabody Energy Australia coal mining operations.

To be successful in this role, you would possess tertiary qualifications in Engineering (or similar technical discipline) with experience in the mining industry. Truck & shovel, and/or drilling & blast optimisation experience is desirable. Knowledge of XPAC, Vulcan and TALPAC software is an advantage.

To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email jpritchard@peabodyenergy.com

GENERAL MANAGER EXPLORATION Location – WA Company – Rio Tinto Description: The mandate of Rio Tinto Exploration (RTX) is to grow the value of Rio Tinto by discovering or acquiring world class resources. RTX operates as a global, integrated business comprising regional exploration teams, a Project Generation Group and global support teams. The work environment covers the full spectrum of geographic areas and time zones. It comprises a wide variety of countries, cultures, language groups, environments and jurisdictions and requires operation in colocated and virtual teams, in field and city locations, supported by effective collaboration, relationships and engagement. An outstanding opportunity exists for you to join the Group as the General Manager Exploration reporting to the Exploration Director for Australasia.

The primary purpose of this role is to lead an Australasia regional team to explore and discover world class ore-bodies. Reporting directly to the Australasian Exploration Director, you will be accountable for delivery of discovery by maximising exploration effectiveness and efficiency for multiple commodities in various countries.

With a current team of 25 and planned expansion activities that will see this team more than double in the coming 18 months, this provides an excellent opportunity to be part of an exciting time in Rio Tinto Exploration and the chance to extend our already highly capable team.

Role responsibilities include managing the commercial, legal and statutory obligations across several commodity programs over a range of regional, state or country jurisdictions and ensuring that Rio Tinto compliance obligations are met across the board.

As an experienced and effective leader, you will be leading a group of talented multidisplinary teams with exposure to various commodities in multiple jurisdictions though all phases of the exploration process. As an excellent communicator and negotiator, you will be creating and maintaining solid relationships with external and internal stakeholders such as government bodies, regional/local communities, research agencies, competitors and internal Rio Tinto stakeholders.

Degree qualified in Geoscience or in a related field, you will have a demonstrated track record performing senior level roles in exploration with broad multi commodity experience. To be considered for this role, you will have previous experience working in several countries, multiple commodities and exposure to multi-disciplines.

This position will suit those who are both personally adventurous and commercially savvy and who thrive on innovation and entrepreneurial approaches to work. This role will be based in Brisbane. International travel will be required.

To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

COAL QUALITY ADVISOR Location – Mudgee Company – Peabody Energy Description: Peabody Energy are seeking a Coal Quality Advisor to join our on-site team and take primary responsibility for the overall quality of coal from pit to port, as well as liaising with our onsite contractors for best possible outcome on coal quality.

Wilpinjong mine is located 10 kilometers south-east of Ulan mine and 40 kilometers north-east of Mudgee. Mining commenced in late 2006 and annual production is expected to ramp up to eight million tonnes (8.8 million tons) in 2009. The open-cut mine is operated under contract by Thiess using a truck and shovel fleet. It has an average strip ration of less than 2.5 to 1 bank cubic meters per run-of-mine tonne.

The position will report to the General Manager at Wilpinjong with a functional responsibility to the Manager Coal Technology and will be involved in assisting in the: The successful candidate will ideally possess the following: background in geology or open cut mining operations, hands-on experience in wash plant operation, experiences in dealing with contractors on all levels and coal quality experience in a mining environment.

Peabody Australia provides competitive remuneration and benefits and offers significant career opportunities within its organization.

To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email jpritchard@peabodyenergy.com

WA SALES MANAGER Location – WA Company – Maniac Mining Description: Our client, a leading service provider to the mining and quarry industries through the sale, hire and service of crushing and screening equipment throughout Australia, is currently seeking to appoint a WA Sales Manager for their Perth office, with exclusive responsibility for the WA sales territory.

Reporting directly to the Brisbane-based Managing Director, the successful candidate will ideally possess a strong background within the mining and resources sector; preferably with previous demonstrated sales experience with heavy equipment. A strong technical background would also be advantageous. Applicants with a hands-on trade background are strongly encouraged to apply.

On offer is a long term career opportunity, along with a great remuneration package including generous base salary, great commission, and fully maintained vehicle, mobile phone and laptop. Flexibility with working hours will be required as regular travel will be part of the position (up to 2-3 weeks at a time).

This opportunity is for an ongoing permanent role, and is Perth-based with regular travel

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MAINTENANCE PLANNER Location – WA Company – Maniac Mining Description: Our client, one of Australia's leading providers of stevedoring, bulk logistics and port management services, are currently seeking to recruit an experienced Maintenance Planner for their Port Hedland operations. This fulltime permanent role will be residential in Port Hedland (not FIFO), with the ability to maintain excellent work/life balance and take advantage of the Pilbara coast with no weekend work required.

Working closely with the Operations Manager, Maintenance Superintendent, Supervisors and the management team, the successful candidate will be required to: This opportunity is for a permanent ongoing role (following satisfactory completion of an initial probation period), and includes a highly competitive remuneration package for the right applicant (comprising salary, superannuation, vehicle, mobile phone, family friendly accommodation and relocation assistance). Applicants from interstate are encouraged to apply.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Ashley on 1300 791 790. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email jobs@maniacmining.com

MINING ACCOUNT SALES MANAGER Location – Australia Wide Company – Bel-Ray Company, Inc. Bel-Ray Company, Inc. is an international, US based specialty lubricant manufacturing company providing lubricants for the food and general manufacturing industries, the mining industry and the consumer motorcycle market.

We are seeking a Mining Account Sales Manager for Australian Territories. Primary functions include: A thorough background check at company’s expense will be performed. E-mail employment@belray.com with Salary requirements or visit our website at www.belray.com To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs STUDY MANAGER Location – Perth Company – STELLAR Recruitment Description: Our client is synonymous with mining around the globe and has an impressive portfolio of operating mines and upcoming projects. They are in a well placed position to take full advantage of the current industry climate and are looking for a Study Manager to join their senior panel. Working alongside a team of industry leaders, this role is a serious opportunity for a Mining Study Manager, looking for their next opportunity.

As the Study Manager, reporting directly to the Technical Manager, Executive, your responsibility will encompass: To be successful in this role our client is looking for an industry professional with the following attributes: In return you will receive an industry competitive package + bonus + other incentives.

All applications are treated with the strictest of confidence and are not forwarded without candidate consent.

To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email abbi@stellarrecruitment.com.au MINE ENGINEER Location – Brisbane Company – EMS Pty Ltd Perth based with occasional visits up to site

Description: This role is sure to tick all the boxes, providing you with fantastic professional opportunities as well a challenging role that will keep you engaged and loving what you do.

Our client is in need of a driven and dynamic Mining Engineer looking to consolidate their planning experience and establish themselves as part a top notch engineering team.

This Mining House invests in their people and ensures long term loyalty and growth and they are on the lookout for people with a vision for the future that loves thinking out of the box and as result achieve the impossible.

This position will focus on pit design work and scheduling type work to be the main role of this position to start with.

To be considered for the position you will be Degree Qualified Mining Engineer with a couple of years planning experience, as you will need to hit the ground running with exposure to Vulcan preferably.

You must be known for sound interpersonal skills and exhibit the ability to work within a tight knit team with an unfailing commitment to safety.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Diane on 08 9443 0400. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email diane@emsjobs.com.au SENIOR PRODUCTION ENGINEER Location – Gold Coast Company – EMS Pty Ltd Description: Work on a challenging exciting site with a great team and then get to play in the SUN, SURF & SAND on your R&R...why not live the dream?

This is a Mining House who is just growing from strength to strength, always on the acquisition trail and because of their hard work and very astute strategies have become a mining house with a great reputation and that you'll want to be part of. Its a challenging deposit (we know you all love a challenge) and an operation that is expanding.

Reporting through to the Mine Manager – this role requires a well developed leader that can mentor and manage the mining team, driving production forwards and interfacing between production, planning and operations. Your focus will be on supervising the drill & blast and other critical production activities. It is imperative that you lead the way in relation to safe working practices and take an active role in ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.

You will ideally bring a solid background within an underground production environment that includes all aspects of scheduling, short-term planning, drill & blast and mine development.

You will also hold a First Class Mine Managers Certificate, or progressing towards one – with a desire to use this in an Alternate capacity. Given the leadership focus, you will be expected to bring exceptional communication skills If you are passionate about what you do and have strong interpersonal and communication skills, we would like to hear from you.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Diane on 08 9443 0400. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email diane@emsjobs.com.au MINE PLANNING ENGINEER – OPEN PIT Location – WA Company – EMS Pty Ltd Description: Jump on board with a company that is committed to the longevity of their staff’s careers and be involved in a large iron ore operation in WA .FIFO on a great family friendly 8/6 roster.

Key responsibilities will be optimisation work , planning, scheduling, mine design, and assisting in developing budgets and forecasts for the mining team to meet site strategic objectives.

You will need to have very good computer skills, your qualifications should include a degree in Mine Engineering with at least 3-5 years experience, with the last few years spent in planning.

You will need to be motivated, and analytical, have strong technical ability and possess troubleshooting skills. Strong interpersonal skills would definitely be to your advantage.

You will have the opportunity to grow within the organisation and will be working with a some of the best professionals in the industry.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Diane on 08 9443 0400. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs or email diane@emsjobs.com.au HEALTH & SAFETY SYSTEMS & RISK SPECIALIST Location – WA Company – Rio Tinto Description: As a world leader in finding, mining and processing the earth's mineral resources, Rio Tinto delivers minerals and metals that meet global needs and contribute to improving our living standards. Our success depends not only on the quality and diversity of the Group's assets, but also on the talent, skills and safety of our people. We seek to contribute to sustainable development and share a commitment to be a dependable global partner and a good local neighbour.

As the second largest supplier to global iron ore trade, we provide unrivalled flexibility through our world-class network of 14 mines, three port terminals and 1,400 kilometre rail system in Western Australia's Pilbara region. We're about to undertake the largest mining project in Australia to expand our annual capacity to 283 million tonnes per annum, on a pathway to 333 million tonnes. Along with our innovative Mine of the Future™ programme, we're producing more tonnes, more efficiently. As a valued team member, we will offer you commitment to a safe working environment, a highly competitive salary package and the chance to develop your career at the forefront of mining.

Through effective management practices, Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) aims to ensure the health and safety of our employees, prevent or minimise any adverse impacts our activities may have on the environment, be cognitive of our customers' needs and make a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate.

Reporting to the Health & Safety Superintendent – Port Operations, this role will deliver governance and implement initiatives on behalf of the Resource Development division in order to continuously improve Safety & Health performance particularly with a focus on risk management and reporting systems.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an excellent understanding of HSE management systems, risk management, and previous experience in the resources/construction industries is desirable. Prior experience in the implementation of integrated management systems and data analysis is advantageous. You will also demonstrate strong communication skills, enabling you to liaise at all levels and lead a team. A tertiary qualification in Health & Safety is preferred, though candidates qualified to diploma level with the right experience will be considered.

To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au opponents of mining all mean that companies can no longer afford to take for granted their ‘social licence to operate’. Leading mining companies have responded to these challenges by embracing the language of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development and by reengineering internal management systems in an effort to improve social performance ‘on the ground’.

The Seminar will explore diverse and innovative ways to put research and policies into action. By bringing researchers and practitioners together, the Seminar will provide a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange and the building of a professional practice network in this critically important area.

Themes include social responsibility standards, corporate governance and management systems; human rights in the context of mining; fair labour and operating practices; transparent engagement with communities and other stakeholders; community empowerment and capacity building; the interface between community and environmental issues; social investments and community development; dealing with community conflicts and grievances; indigenous peoples, Indigenous rights and mining; gender and mining; artisanal and small-scale mining; supply chain management; measuring, monitoring and reporting social performance; and building social capacity within the mining sector.

• SRMining srm@srmining.com www.srmining.com

2011 QUEENSLAND ROAD SAFETY AWARDS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOP 14 October Brisbane People working with the area of road safety and injury prevention are invited to attend the 2011 Queensland Road Safety Awards Community Engagement Workshop.

This free event, produced and managed by CARRS-Q, will involve representatives from government, industry and the general community.

It follows the successful inaugural workshop in 2010 and answers the call made by community groups, industry and businesses for useful, relevant and worthwhile information which can be used by them, both independently and with assistance from CARRS-Q and industry representatives, to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of their road safety programs.

This event will also educate and inform key representatives responsible for community road safety activities and through this, information presented at the event could be embedded into future programs, policies and projects.

• Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland Clare Murray 07 3138 4568 clare.murray@qut.edu.au www.qut.edu.au

5TH ANNUAL PERMIT AND PROJECT APPROVALS 17-19 October Medina Grand Hotel, Perth

DRILL & BLAST HARD ROCK 2011

Balancing the many approval processes that exist for mining and petroleum companies can be difficult.

Tonkin’s 5th Annual Permit and Project Approvals conference will provide delegates with everything you need to know about effectively navigating your next project approval.

Extensive research has been conducted into the market, to ensure the most popular and topical areas are covered.

With subjects ranging from understanding new mine closure planning standards, complying with changes to Part IV of the EPA and how to get successful outcomes from an agreement, this event will eliminate any ambiguity to Permit and Project Approvals specialists.

• Tonkin Corporation 02 9224 6060 eureka@tonkincorporation.com www.tonkincorporation.com

31 October-2 November Duxton Hotel, Perth

MINERAL PROCESSING PLANTS DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION 2011 18-19 October Holiday Inn, Brisbane 106 October 2011

AustralianMining

Are you under pressure to develop and deliver best practice mineral processing plant projects, to tight timeframes? Worried about delivering on the most effective design model for your plant? How are you implementing your process analysis, simulation, optimisation and control?

Mineral Processing Plant Design and Construction will address the above key challenges: overcoming individual project challenges during the planning and design process; undergoing the transition from D&C to operations; executing metallurgical test work for best process design, and equipment and material selection; and understanding design and process specifications for effective contractor management

• IQPC Megan Edwards 02 9229 1000 registration@iqpc.com.au www.mineralprocessingplant.com.au

FIRST INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN MINING – SRMINING 2011 19-27 October Santiago, Chile Environmental concerns, conflicts over land and water use, low levels of trust in companies and political institutions, heightened awareness of the rights of indigenous communities, increased scrutiny by civil society and international organisations, and greater connectedness between the

Drill & Blast Hard Rock 2011 will be held in Perth and has been specifically designed for drill and blast specialists working in hard rock mine sites. This event will provide you with hard rock mine case studies, presentations on new drilling and blasting technologies, as well as interactive sessions that allow you to voice your own challenges and ideas. Furthermore our workshops will provide you with a more challenging learning environment where your active involvement is required.

Four reasons why you need to attend Mining IQ's Drill & Blast Hard Rock 2011: Improve drilling and blasting techniques; achieve optimum fragmentation; reduce costs; and to comply with safety standards and legislation The Drill and Blast Hard Rock event will feature a line up of 14+ expert speakers, don't miss the opportunity to hear and learn from them.

• IQPC 02 9229 1000 enquire@iqpc.com.au www.drillandblastevent.com.au www.miningaustralia.com.au

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REDA

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