Australian Mining September 2011

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SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

VOLUME 103/9 – SEPTEMBER 2011

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AM.SEP11.PG003.pdf

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SERVING THE MINING INDUSTRY SINCE 1908

VOLUME 103/9 – SEPTEMBER 2011

Print Post Approved PP255003/00535

www.miningaustralia.com.au

NO.1 FOR MINING TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT

The backbone of the nation Driving Australia’s economy

continuous automatic lubrication • less downtime • better productivity

www.greasemax.com.au

Pilbara Spotlight

The mining hotspot Iron ore in focus

P.16

Drill & Blast

Better blasting Exploration and fume events P.48

Safety

8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards co-hosted by AIMEX

Protection Safety on and off site

P.56

AD_AMSCAAUG_11.pdf

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AM.SEP11.PG005.pdf

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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 – Jessica Burke Tel: (02) 9422 2909 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

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Living in interesting times As AIMEX kicks off, we look back at the ups, and many downs, the industry has gone through since the last event.

T

here’s an old curse that goes: may you live in interesting times.

Judging by what has happened since the last AIMEX event four years ago, the mining industry has been living in very interesting times.

In 2007, the Australian mining industry was flying high and the future looked brighter than at any point before.

Really, the only way was up and things only got better in 2008.

The boom never grew so large so quickly.

It seemed as if the industry couldn’t put a foot wrong.

Halcyon days indeed.

But what goes up must always come down, and it came down hard.

The global financial crisis hit and devastated the world’s market.

Suddenly the money mining generated dried up and disappeared, exploration ceased and early stage projects either shut up shop or simply withered and died.

These were the dark days, and it was set to get darker.

As the industry struggled to get back on its face; and drag Australia out of this global economic crisis that is still strangling many countries and ruined nations such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland; it managed to do what no other industry did.

It actually prospered, despite

Comment Cole Latimer ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au the downturn. The industry which could, did, and brought the rest of the nation along with it.

So how was the mining industry recognised for the vital role it played in keeping Australia afloat?

It was lumped with the proposed Resource Super Profits Tax by the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

This led to a massive battle against the tax which planned to take nearly half of profits generated, on top of state mining royalties.

Many in mining were aghast at the way the proposed tax was brought forth with essen-

tially no consultation with the industry, and the way in which the resources sector was demonised by the government, regardless of the role it played in keeping the nation buoyant while others sank during the global financial crisis.

A massive fight ensued between the government and industry, which in turn led to the ousting of a Prime Minister and a Federal election.

As Julia Gillard narrowly won to become the nation’s first female head, she brought in a revised mining tax – the Mineral Resources Rent Tax. Known as the MRRT, this still did not suit the industry,

which was affronted with the proposed introduction of what was a watered down version of Rudd’s Resource Super Profits Tax. However, things were about to get worse yet again.

Gillard’s government soon devised a tax that has high ideals, but appeared to many as a cash grab.

The Carbon Pricing Scheme and its small print which aims to reduce the diesel fuel rebate scheme levels.

While the aim of the tax makes sense, to reduce carbon emissions and change the behaviour of emitters the way the government has gone about it, by providing cash to the public and the ability to buy so many offsets, is not congruent with what they say is the point of the tax.

The last four years have been a rollercoaster ride.

Interesting times indeed.

FRONT COVER ON the front cover we’ve featured an autonomous truck from Rio Tinto’s iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

The project, dubbed the Mine of the Future, sees trucks programmed to operate without any drivers and are monitored thousands of kilometres away.

It is part of a push to remove miners from all potentially dangerous situations.

Image courtesy of Christian Sprogoe.

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Contents Mining; Recruitment, on the up

September 2011 issue POWER GENERATION AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Driving critical power Installing substations on site ........................ p70 Green power Biofuel transformers .................................... p72 Powering away on site Uninterruptable power supplies ................... p76 Power in the Pilbara GE installs dual fuel turbines in the Solomon Hub ......................................... p78-79 MATERIALS HANDLING Spying a solution Quicker conveyor belt inspections ............... p80 PUMPS Under the pump Not all pumps are created equal ............. p82-83 DUST, VENTILATION AND FIRE SUPPRESSION Less water, more results Dry fogs at transfer points ........................... p84 Pike River investigation continues The latest from the New Zealand inquiry .... p86 Hitting the dusty trail Reducing dust on site ................................... p88

An insight into the Hays Salary Survey….p32-34

Features CARBON TAX Is this tax just a load of hot air?

The carbon tax drawn such anger........... p10-14

The man from OZ The life and times of OZ Minerals’ Terry Burgess .......................................... p46-47

PILBARA SPOTLIGHT An appealing decision A Federal Court decision may see a return to industrial action in the Pilbara ................. p16 Finding the iron in iron ore Knowing the quality, not just the quantity of your product............................................ p18 Rio Tinto’s drive to the future An insight into the Mine of the Future.... p20-22 Owner to operator BHP’s acquires a contract miner................... p24 Tax anger sparks WA secession push Western Australia is a state apart ............ p26-30

DRILL AND BLAST Information at blasters’ fingertips Smart phone apps for blasters ...................... p49 Inside Orica’s diversity The company’s secret to success ................... p49 Exploring new opportunities Refurbishing exploration drill rigs ............... p50 Australian mining first Intelligent drills ............................................ p54 Reach for the sky Australia’s tallest high reach drills ................ p55

PERSONNEL Hays 2011 Salary Guide ......................... p36-37 No need to risk it all Identifying high risk individuals ................... p38 A serious question Has Australia relinquished its hard working ethos ............................................................ p40 Challenges of the Boom Mining creates more jobs, and less people to fill them .............................................. p42-43 The forgotten side of safety Mental health on site ................................... p44 4 September 2011

AustralianMining

SAFETY Breaking new ground Underground seismic monitoring ............ p56-57 Safety across the board Calls for national OH&S harmonisation in mining ................................................ p58-60 Reaching new heights in safety Shining lights in safe mining......................... p62 Handy protection Heavy duty gloves........................................ p64 Making a choice on site The drug testing debate ................................ p66 Safety doesn’t have to stop on site Funds to ensure safety in all aspects of life ... p68

AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS Australian Mine of the Year ......................... p92 Hard Rock Mine of the Year........................ p94 Coal Mine of the Year.................................. p96 Minerals Processing Plant of the Year .......... p98 Explorer of the Year................................... p100 Contribution to Mining ............................. p102 Mine Manager of the Year ......................... p104 Employer of Choice ................................... p106 Mining’s Woman of the Year...................... p108 Young Achiever of the Year........................ p110 The Community Interaction Award ........... p112 Contract Miner of the Year........................ p114 Innovative Mining Solutions ...................... p116 Excellence in Mine OH&S......................... p118 Excellence in Environmental Management .............................................. p120 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Contents

September 2011 issue

Addressing a Noxious issue

Selling the nation to the world

Research is moving forward in addressing blast fume events....p52-53

Austrade’s recent European mining missions have been selling Australian skills….p138-140

AIMEX PREVIEW A last minute round up of THE mining event................................................... p124-126

FILM REVIEW More than just another Dog Movie A review of Red Dog ................................. p144

CRANES AND LIFTING Lifting the standard Heavy duty, heavy lift cranes ..................... p122

ARCTIC On thin ice New mining potential in the Arctic and Antarctic...................................... p146-148

EXHIBITION WRAP Diggers and Dealers wrap A round up of the event ............................. p142

GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION Geothermal seismic sondes Monitoring geothermal drilling.................. p149

Regulars INDUSTRY COMMENT .................................. p6

www.miningaustralia.com.au

NEWS ............................................................ p8 PRODUCT SHOWCASE...................... p150-151 JOBS ......................................................... p152 EVENTS..................................................... p154

AustralianMining

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INDUSTRY COMMENT

Stating THE FACTS on the carbon tax NSW Minerals Council CEO Nikki Williams takes the tax to task.

J

ust like flogging a dead horse, if you’re doing something that’s getting you nowhere, you have to ask whether there’s a better way.

It’s a question that the Federal Government could do well in asking itself on the carbon tax. The carbon tax will cost the coal industry – Australia’s biggest export – $18 billion to 2020, putting thousands of current and future industry jobs at risk, forcing the premature closure of many mines and a huge loss of revenue to governments.

The Prime Minister told the media recently “don’t write crap” about climate change and carbon pricing. On behalf of the NSW mining industry, let me take up the Prime Minister’s invitation to cut through all the commentary and offer up some facts.

While it is convenient for the Federal Government to quote average figures about the impact of the carbon tax, the reality is that there is no such thing as an average mine.

Every mine has different operating conditions, geology, cost structures and margins.

They supply different domestic and international markets with different prod-

6 September 2011

ucts for different uses at very different price points.

Therefore, claims that the carbon tax will cost less than $2 per tonne of coal mined are factually wrong. The carbon tax effects will be hugely differentiated: up to 25 times higher for some mines. That’s why it is meaningless to use averages.

Some Australian coal assets have effectively been de-valued by the carbon tax. The potential change in ownership of Macarthur Coal is proof of nothing except that some mines will continue operating under the carbon tax. The offer made for the company was less than a pre-carbon tax offer. Analysts have also downgraded the value of an Illawarra miner by almost 50%.

Sadly, the carbon tax is not just risking employment growth (projected to be 37% less under the carbon tax); it’s also risking current jobs as well. Using actual data from 82 operating coal mines, ACIL Tasman found that 25 mines are unprofitable under the carbon tax and face premature closure. Those mines employ 4,700 people – 3,000 of those in NSW – and these jobs are at risk in the first 3 years of the tax.

AustralianMining

Julia Gillard’s carbon tax is predicted to hurt more than just the carbon emitters.

No other country taxes emissions from the mining of coal. Whilst the carbon tax will cut growth in the Australian coal industry, and make us far less competitive, the global demand for coal will not decline. Countries which compete for Australia’s share of the international coal market, like Colombia, Indonesia and Canada, will leap at the opportunity to take our place. So instead of exporting coal, we will be export-

ing our jobs, our economic growth and our emissions.

It is sad to consider that our potential growth will be shackled by a tax that will make no difference to the environment. Slowing economic growth in Australia shouldn’t be a carbon tax footnote that’s simply overlooked. As we’re seeing in the economic fortunes of many other countries, growth is rare.

It should be valued, not willingly lost.

There is certainly a way to move to a low emissions future without harming this country’s prosperity and the way of life that we have all worked hard to achieve. We believe in taking action on climate change, but a price on carbon must be phased in at the same time as our international competitors, to ensure a level playing field. There is a lot for Australia to lose from a carbon tax and very little to gain.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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HEADLINES

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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.

Fortescue native title decision The Federal Court has dismissed the appeal by the Yindjibarndi native title claim group.

The court unanimously dismissed the group’s appeal against the previous grant of mining leases to Fortescue for its Solomon Hub operation. The appeal is part of along running saga between Fortescue and the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation, which lodged the claim.

Rio iron ore miner killed

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A miner has reportedly died at Rio Tinto’s Brockman 2 operations. Rio Tinto has confirmed that a 27 year old miner was fatally injured at the iron ore mine. The man was charging an hydraulic cylinder on a front end loader at the time of the accident. Police, the Department of Mines and Petroleum, and other relevant authorities have been notified.

Pike River survivor escapes death again Pike River disaster survivor Daniel Rockhouse has again escaped death underground following a mine cave in.

Rockhouse was reportedly working in Peabody Energy’s North Goonyella coal mine when he was nearly crushed by a roof fall, according to Radio New Zealand. The miner said he began driving up to the portal as soon as he heard the roof start to crack.“I got the hell out of there, and I drove up the main drive towards the portal and got about 300-400 metres away and the whole bloody roof caved in. So yeah, I'm very lucky," he told the station. He said that he would have been “dead for sure” if he hadn’t escaped as quickly as he did, after finding out the roof collapsed in the exact place where he was working.

QRC slams QLD mining ban

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An area larger than Wales is now deemed off limits to mining activity, the Queensland Resources Council claim.

This comes off the back of the Bligh Government’s decision yesterday to ban mining within two kilometers of any town that has a population of 1000 or more, outside of south east Queensland.

However, natural resources minister Rachel Nolan has not yet ruled out whether this could be expanded to include smaller communities, stating that the 1000 minimum was chosen as it is a definition of an urban area.

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.

QRC acting chief Greg Lane said based on the information released by the state government this would make about 10% of the state’s existing exploration permits null and void.

Carbon tax to hit only 400 companies, Gov says Despite initial concerns that the carbon tax will affect 1000 companies, the Government has now downgraded the hit list again to only 400 companies. When Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the carbon price of $23 per tonne, she cut the number of affected companies in half to 500, and has now reduced the figure again. “Under the previous (Kevin Rudd carbon pollution reduction scheme) package the number that we thought was going to be in the system was more in the order of 700," climate change department secretary Blair Comley said.

"The number of emitters that we think will be covered is [now] more in the order of more like 400," Comley added.

He made the statements in front of a parliamentary inquiry into the proposed carbon tax. This reduction is due to the treatment of liquid fuels and synthetic gases under the pricing scheme. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.SEP11.PG012.pdf

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CARBON TAX

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t seems you would be hard pressed to find many, if any, supporters of the Gillard government’s proposed carbon tax.

Since the announcement of the $23 per tonne tax in July, Australians have been out in force to fight against the tax that will see a third of New South Wales’ coal mines shut within three years.

While the government has offered some assistance and compensation for the smaller mines that will be damaged by the tax, it appears it will not be enough to keep the industry going at the high levels at which it performs.

Speak to anyone in the resources industry and they will tell you the single biggest problem with the current tax modelling: that there is no such thing as the “average mine” which the Gillard government continually refers to in its campaign for the price on carbon.

Chief executive of the NSW Minerals Council, Nikki Williams told Australian Mining that the suggestions from some government departments and supporters of the tax that the mining industry is over dramatisContinued on page 12

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10 September 2011

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CARBON TAX

The proposed carbon price of $23 per tonne will hit heavy polluters such as coal fired power generators, forcing the closure of some plants.

Continued from page 10

Currently Australia is experiencing its most successful mining boom ing the impact of the tax are wrong. in years, which was also the primary “I’ve been very distressed to hear saviour from the global financial the Federal government suggest that crisis (GFC) that is still plaguing so our industry, if we take the coal many other nations. industry in New South Wales and Professor Peter Lilly, executive Queensland, is involved in some kind director of minerals and energy stratof scare campaign,” she said. egy at Curtin University told the Williams said 82 coal mines Mining & Engineering WA conferopened their books to allow a $20 ence in May that we should not think per tonne carbon tax to be modelled the sector is so productive simply prior to the cost announcement, because we have the minerals. representing 85 per “My honest belief cent of core produc- “It will cost our is that we don’t have tion in the country. industry $18 billion, a great resources sector “What that because we have reshowed was that 18 and compensation sources,” he said. mines became unprof- is only $1.7 billion.”

Lilly says the credit itable in the first three for the strong sector years following the introduction of goes to mining management, the the carbon tax. companies, and good resources as “Now, the modelling did not well as good research and developinclude any compensation, because ment (R&D). we did not know what the compen“Lots of countries would love to sation package was going to be. have this story,” he said.

“But the fact is, the compensaBut unfortunately for producers tion that has been offered represents and essentially, all Australians, there just six per cent of the cost impost. is now no guarantee the prince will “So it’ll cost our industry $18 ride in on his white horse to save billion, and the government is talking the day and this will conclude with about $1.7 billion, that’s total compen- a happy ending. sation and that is targeted excluContinued on page 14 sively at gassy mines.”

12 September 2011

AustralianMining

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CARBON TAX

Continued from page 12 Rather, the overwhelming consensus seems to be that the fairytale might take a turn and become a horror story, and not just for coal miners themselves.

“Those 18 mines that become unprofitable, those mines employ 4700 people, and 300 of them are here in New South Wales,” Williams told Australian Mining.

“We have the most gassy mines, and the reality is those mines will not stay open if they are not profitable and those jobs will be lost.

“The worst part about that, apart from the people who work directly in the industry who lose their jobs and how that affects their families, is the tremendous flow on effects throughout the economy.

“So in terms of the employment impacts, it’s four times greater than the individual loss of a job,” she explained.

“All of those communities, many of which rely on mining to survive, they are the ones affected.

“So all of those small businesses, they could be local hairdressers or auto mechanics or whatever they are, that rely on the spend on the miners themselves, but also on the

Some Australians believe that the carbon tax will drive away many companies, sending them offshore.

company that provides for the sites themselves. All of those local purchases which are hugely important, all of

that goes,” Williams explained. The public outcry against the tax has been steadily increasing, as the real-

Those most likely to be affected by the tax are the ordinary miners and the local communities in which they live.

14 September 2011

AustralianMining

isation of the actual impact of a price on carbon sets in.

In July a peaceful protest against the tax was held in Sydney, with about 3000 turning out to voice their opposition.

Bernadette Martin was one of the thousands marching to protest the tax, and she told Australian Mining the huge turnout was indicative of the magnitude of the proposed carbon tax.

“It is a tax on the air we exhale,” she said.

“It will achieve nothing.

“It will destroy our large industries and permeate all areas of our life,” she added.

Martin said she is concerned that like so many large companies heading offshore with their production due to the high cost of operating in Australia, workers will also be lost through the tax.

“The fact is that jobs in the “500” worst offenders will be lost, probably to overseas.

“It is like a domino effect filtering through to many different industries, and job losses will be huge right across the board.”

“The main reason for my opposition is that we, Australia, are made to be one of the first countries to do this without taking it to our democracy and getting full support for all Australians,” Martin said.

“It just makes you wonder about just how democratic we really are.” www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

An appealing

DECISION

A new court decision could see a return of industrial action to Pilbara mine sites.

T

he Pilbara may soon resemble Central Queensland.

Following a Federal Court decision last month, Rio Tinto’s non-union agreements with iron ore miners in the Pilbara have been judged null.

The new ruling stated that an existing non-union collective agreement signed in 2008 for Rio Tinto’s operations was invalid as it violated the Fair Work Act, and will now allow the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) to bargain on pay and conditions with its Pilbara miners.

CFMEU mining division secretary Gary Wood said Rio managed to avoid the provisions of the Federal Government’s Fair Work Act during its original agreement.

He stated that workers will now be able to access these provisions, benefiting them during agreement negotiations.

This has now opened the door for potential industrial action in a similar vein to that carried out at the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) Queensland coal mines.

CFMEU divisional secretary Kevin Reynolds said that any business which failed to bargain with workers would be in trouble.

As long as companies negotiate in good faith, as they are required to under the act, they will not have a problem, he added.

Reynolds went on to claim that the industry is trying to destroy unionised action in the mining sector.

Speaking to The West, he

Unions are threatening potential industrial action over Rio Tinto’s work agreements in the Pilbara.

said it is critical for unions to carry out protected industrial action at mines.

However, Rio Tinto has launched an appeal against the Federal Court decision, amidst industry fears that the resources sector will see a return of the union havoc it saw during the 1970s and 80s.

Rio Tinto Pilbara operations manager Greg Lilleyman has said that the miner’s

lawyers will file applications to have the case heard at the High Court. He went on to say that many employees joined Rio under the 2008 agreement and the court decision would have no effect on their terms and conditions.

“The last thing we want is uncertainty introduced during this period of growth in the Pilbara,” he said.

The move has worried BHP,

which has seen months of industrial action at its joint venture coal mines in Queensland, as it may force a similar action at its Pilbara iron ore mines.

BHP spokesperson Kelly Quirke told The West that the miner is seeking legal advice on the ruling’s impact for the company.

The majority of BHP and Rio Tinto’s workforce sites are non-union.

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AM.SEP11.PG020.pdf

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Finding the iron in iron ore Knowing the quality, not just the quantity is half the issue in shipping iron ore, Tim Treadgold* writes.

S

hipping iron ore is easy. Science enters the business in dard under the ISO system.

Knowing how much iron measuring how much iron is “XRF is a very quick way you have actually shipped being shipped. of measuring ore,” says Sally is another matter – one that The conventional measure- Birch, who is leading the work keeps both the exporters and ment system is a messy, wet for CSIRO ’s Minerals Down the buyers awake at night assay carried out at both the Under Flagship. because it is the iron content, export port and the import port.

“In a matter of minutes not the raw tonnage, that The buyer and seller com- you can make up a sample (in determines the final price. pare assays, haggle and finally the form of a glass-like bead) Tricky as that might sound, agree on a price. Some coun- and get a very accurate XRF it all comes back to the fact tries prefer this tried-and-true analysis report. The problem that every iron ore mine is route, and some accept the is that the iron measure is not different and most mines also assay from the port. regarded as good enough for have different grades of iron Australia has been leading a reference method (in pricing). in the same pit. an effort to modernise the “The problem is caused In one corner the ore might process, opting for an x-ray by iron being the major element grade as high as 60 in iron ore, and iron per cent iron, whereas It is the iron content, not the raw being a heavy abanother part of the sorber of x-rays. It is same orebody might tonnage that determines its price. also highly subject to grade 57 per cent. curvature of the glass This leads to that critical ques- fluorescence (XRF) measur- bead. If the bead is curved in tion: how much iron is actu- ing technique several years the slightest way it massively ally being sold? ago under the system of inter- affects the iron value.”

Welcome to the specialised national standards (ISO 9516), The technique showing world of measuring the iron which rapidly measures twenty the most promise is to add content of iron ore. elements. terbium, a rare earth, to the It is the starting point of It provides great accuracy glass bead as an internal refera process that has been confus- for 19, but not always for the ence to produce a sample that ing outsiders for decades as 20th element, the one that is unaffected by curvature. they attempt to put a value counts most – iron.

The original trials used 11 on a tonne of iron are.

That’s why for more than per cent terbium oxide in the The problem is that iron 20 years researchers at CSIRO sample disk, but that has now ore is traditionally sold in ‘dry have been looking for a better been cut to a two per cent mix, metric tonne units’.

XRF method to accurately which is a major cost saving.

A DMTU is one per cent measure the iron and one that “The next big challenge of the iron contained in a tonne will eventually become a new is to achieve ISO acceptance, of ore, excluding moisture. internationally accepted stan- and that is a process which

18 September 2011

AustralianMining

New measurement techniques are set to get more out of ore.

can take several years,” Birch explained.

“If we can achieve international acceptance we will have made a major improvement in measuring the iron content of iron ore, and will

have improved the process of determining how much iron is actually shipped.” * This article originally appeared in CSIRO’s Process Magazine.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Continued from page 20 The automated haul trucks at West Angelas have moved more than 42 million tonnes of material in approximately 145,000 cycles, travelling more than 450,000km.

“This is more than we had planned for the initial trial,” McGagh told Australian Mining.

Buoyed by the success of trials at West Angelas, Rio Tinto will double its fleet of driverless haul trucks at its iron ore operations in Western Australia and deploy them at Yandicoogina, its largest mine in the Pilbara.

The existing five Komatsu 930E trucks fitted with Komatsu’s ‘Frontrunner’ AHS system, will be moved from West Angelas to the Yandicoogina mine, where they will combine with five new 930E trucks, and operate the JSE pit.

The trucks are expected to be fully deployed by April 2012.

The trucks will dump ore for the first time, marking a major step in the evolution of the project towards full operational deployment. Previously the trucks only dumped waste product.

“It will be the first operational deployment of this technology in Australia, or anywhere on this scale,” McGagh said.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Pilbara operations manager Greg Lilleyman stated that “this is an exciting step in achieving our Mine of the Future vision, and a critical one in our drive for outstanding safety and production efficiency as we grow our business towards a 333 million tonnes per annum capacity”.

The trucks will be used for all haulage requirements in the Junction South East (JSE) pit, moving high grade, low grade and waste material from multiple loading units.

“The trials at West Angelas have demonstrated the value of the autonomous haulage systems and given us a great deal of information about how we can use the system going forward,” McGagh said.

“We will be using our learning from West Angelas as we expand the program and use the trucks for all haulage requirements in the JSE pit at the Yandicoogina mine.

“The intention is then to assess this next stage with the aim of looking at the role autonomous haulage can play as we continue to expand our Pilbara operations towards an annual production level of 333 million tonnes per year.”

Rio Tinto Iron Ore has now assumed the lead for the deploy22 September 2011

AustralianMining

The autonomated haul trucks at West Angelas have moved more than 42Mt of material in approximately 145,000 cycles, travelling more than 450,000km. Photo Courtesy of Christian Sprogoe Photography.

ment of the AHS technology across all of its Australian operations taking captured learning from the trial and embedding them in their operating procedures.

“Rio Tinto innovation continues in a technical support role but, as planned, we have transferred deployment accountability from our central technology division over to production operations,” he said.

Rio Tinto innovation is now translating the outcomes of the trial experience and assessing the suitability of the AHS technology in other product groups.

Although positive about the technology, McGagh said there were some limitations.

“Driverless trucks won’t work for every mine or for every pit, but can add significant value as part of our expansion,” he said.

Rio Tinto is also trialling autonomous drills designed to provide a reliable and repeatable process in blast-hole drilling.

The aim of the integrated system is that automated the drill rigs will precisely position the blast holes, conduct live rock analysis, dictate to the explosives delivery vehicle the correct charge for each hole and provide data supporting three dimensional mapping systems

to allow for detailed imaging of each deposit.

“Autonomous technology requires changes in working practices and may require modifications in mine design and layout if one is to achieve maximum productivity and deliver enhanced safety,” McGagh explained.

Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore mining and infrastructure has been controlled remotely the Operations Centre in Perth for the past 12 months.

The Centre has more than 400 employees overseeing and ensuring the synchronisation of the mine, rail and port systems in the Pilbara region.

However, the AHS and remote operations program is just one aspect of Rio Tinto’s iron ore growth in the Pilbara.

The miner recently announced that it is accelerating its expansion program in the region with US$676 million in funding for early works and procurement.

As a result of this, capacity expansion towards Lilleyman’s forecast 333 million tonnes will now be reached in the first half of 2015, a full six months earlier than planned, Rio Tinto Australia’s head of iron ore, Sam Walsh explained.

The mines of the future are likely to rely on remote monitoring and control, with employees undertaking tasks from cities thousands of kilometres away. Photo Courtesy of Christian Sprogoe Photography. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMFLUSEP_11.pdf

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AM.SEP11.PG026.pdf

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Owner to operator BHP’s acquisition of HWE Mining will change it position in the Pilbara.

I

n one of the largest contractor moves in the region, Leighton Holdings has signed a Heads of Agreement for the sale of its mining services business HWE Iron Ore to BHP Billiton in Western Australia.

David Stewart, Leighton Holdings’ CEO, said BHP Billiton’s intention to move to an owner operator model is well known and the sale of HWE is a positive for both companies.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore president Ian Ashby explained that “while this move to an owner-operator model will remove a layer of complexity and costs from our business, the real focus of this transaction is the workforce.

“Transitioning to owneroperator in this way, rather than by replacing contractors through direct recruitment, is a lower risk strategy as it

The sale of HWE to BHP Billiton is expected to generate around $705 million for Leighton.

would be challenging to replace the highly skilled and long serving HWE employees in the current environment,” Ashby said.

“The Heads of Agreement relates to the mining equip-

ment, people and related assets that service the Area C, Yandi and Orebody 23/25 operations. The three operations collectively account for around 70% of BHP Billiton’s iron ore mining in WA and

> LIFTING AND INSTALLATIONS IN MINING

currently represent around $1.1 billion in revenue and $1.4 billion worth of work in hand for Leighton,” Stewart explained.

He went onto say that this transaction will generate sub-

stantial cash for re-investment in the Leighton group.

The sale is estimated to be around $705 million.

The Leighton cheif said that “one particular focus for us as we work with BHP to finalise the sale is the orderly transition of our 2500 people. We will work actively with BHP to ensure our people are well looked after and informed throughout this process”.

Despite the sale of one of its major mining subsidiaries, Leighton says it is committed to remaining a leader in the contract mining industry.

Following the sale, Leighton is focusing on tendering new mining contracts in Western Australia, Mongolia, Southern Africa and South East Asia.

The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2011.

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PILBARA SPOTLIGHT

Continued from page 26 “We should try and fix the federation, but in the event it can’t be fixed, and I suspect it can’t be, then states like WA should give some thought to going it alone,” he said.

Moore based his argument on the federal government’s creeping influence in Western Australia’s affairs.

“The constitution has changed dramatically to the point where the Federal Government is very much in control of virtually every lever that goes on in the economy in Australia.”

Moore said the fact that Western Australia was being asked to send 70 per cent of its resources royalties to the other states, coupled with the imminent carbon tax and MRRT that would “penalise” the state's industries, was causing Western Australians “a lot of grief”.

“The bottom line is Western Australia is being put in a position where its industries are being penalised because they are successful. When you start doing that people take their successful industries somewhere else and to suggest we are the only place in the world with mineral resources is naïve,” he said.

“My view is we should go back to what the original foundation of the constitution provided for and that the states indeed have some responsibility,” Moore stated.

The mood of the mining sector was clearly on view at a recent presentation by one of WA’s favourite sons, Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest.

Speaking to around 500 small and mid-tier mining representatives at an industry forum in Perth, he began his speech with an anecdote from a recent meeting with Treasurer Wayne Swan over the mining tax.

“In the myopic unreality of ‘Wayne’s World’, the Treasurer suggested to me that Western Australia – if didn't like this tax – should secede,” he said.

Forrest paused for effect, but the calm did not last long.

Almost instantly, the auditorium was pulsating with enthusiastic applause as his 28 September 2011

Western Australia sends around 70% of the proceeds from its mining royalties to other states.

words sunk in. Though he had intended to denigrate the Treasurer, Forrest had somehow put the audience in agreement with Swan.

While Forrest would later clarify his commitment to a strong and united Australia, he had lit a rebellious fuse and the audience were aroused.

When it came time for questions from the floor, an unidentified participant offered the following solution to the mining tax impasse.

“My suggestion is simple: let WA secede. It will solve

AustralianMining

this problem and it will also solve the problems which will come in the future,” which attracted another generous round of applause.

Speaking at the more recent Diggers and Dealers conference in Kalgoorlie, Forrest again slammed the MRRT as anti-competitive, and would only benefit big miners.

“The additional tax will increase the effective marginal tax rate from 29 percent to around 45 percent – becoming the highest in the world,” Andrew Forrest said.

While Forrest said he was not about to start an official campaign against the tax “at this point in time”, he left open the possibility of a constitutional legal challenge against the tax at a later date.

Clive Jones, managing director of Cazaly Resources said any constitutional legal challenge against the tax would have strong support from other WA resources companies, “absolutely – 100 per cent”.

“We are considerably less than happy. However, although the concept of secession is

attractive it is not a realistic option as all States need to agree – which is very unlikely given we’re their breadbasket these days,” he said.

Jones said the Mining Resources Rent Tax would have a major effect on Cazaly Resources’ profitability.

“Our modelling shows our total tax hike will rise from around 37 per cent to 44 to 46 percent. Meaning there will be far less incentive to us to go mining,” Jones told Australian Mining.

Damian Callachor director of the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) said the organisation’s members are extremely angry with Canberra regarding the MRRT and the Carbon tax.

“The continued imposition of new taxes has called into question how the industry funds its projects, and more importantly how it affects our international competitiveness and our ability to secure capital.

“Any time you impose a new tax, it changes the investment profile of an operation,” Callachor said.

However, in terms of secession, Callachor said the mining industry hasn’t considered that as yet.

“But obviously if the government chooses to put that on the agenda, then we will make some comment then.

He said the biggest impact of the MRRT will be on small and mid tier miners.

“The question hanging over them is whether they will fall into MRRT liability and then how much they are going to be paying.

“But that‘s not to say there will be no impact on the larger companies, obviously there will be.

“Any new tax or any new payment that’s outside of their original final investment decision is going to have an impact on their profits and what’s delivered back to their shareholders. This tax will lead to less investment in Australia.

“The industry acknowledges everyone must pay tax.

What we have long been pushing for is tax reform, the streamlining of taxation arrangements, making it a Continued on page 30 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Continued from page 28 more efficient process to encourage investment rather than adding additional layers of tax.

“We would like to see a complete overhaul of the taxation system. The industry was encouraged throughout the Henry tax review process, but at the end of the day, the government only accepted three or four recommendations of the more than 150 from that process.

“The major reforms that the government had talked about will never be realised.

“Industry has long survived on international investment and international banks in particular don’t like to have their investment profiles changed too often.

“Each time a government, of whatever level or persuasion, adds an additional cost impost (such as the mining tax) it just makes it that much harder for the company to provide the return of the investment that they advertised to their shareholders,” Callachor said.

30 September 2011

Fortescue’s Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has put forth the notion of WA secession previously.

Highly respected mining industry commentator, Tim Treadgold, is not surprised there is talk about WA seceding from Australia.

“This arises every time we have mining boom, and we live in boom and bust economy.

Is it serious? No. Is it good political fodder? Yes,” Treadgold told Australian Mining.

AustralianMining

In fact, he argues that a more logical development would be for Australia to divorce Western Australia “because the state is causing Australia immense harm”.

“The money is pouring into WA, and that is causing the Australian dollar to go through the roof, it is also causing extraordinary wage

rates, and keeping our interest rates above the rest of the world.

“The pain of the boom is being felt in the non-mining states, or as I like to call them, the states that have opted not to develop their own mining industries through anti-mining laws. And now they turn around and say ‘gee look, you

have done well with your mining industry, can we have some of that too.

“My response to that is, ‘develop your own mining industry’.

“NSW for example still has a ban on uranium mining, plus it makes coal development hard. Victoria is sitting on one of the world’s largest repositories of gold under Bendigo, but can you go out and mine it no?

Treadgold confirms that WA is hugely upset with Canberra regarding the MRRT. “It’s another example of a government taxing the good bits of the economy in order to prop up the dud bits of the economy.

“At present the tax is on iron ore and coal miners, but I expect gold and uranium to soon follow,” Treadgold said.

But when it comes for secession, he says most people don’t take it seriously.

“Mr Moore was only playing to the local crowd, to the local voters. It’s always important to separate local politics from reality,” Treadgold said.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_MABBJUL_11.pdf

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AM.SEP11.PG034.pdf

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PERSONNEL

Mining; Recruitment, ON

THE UP

The 2011 Hays Salary Survey has shown the mining industry is positive about the future, but faces serious recruitment challenges.

T

he past few years have seen the worse global financial crisis in generations, as billions were wiped instantly from stock markets and companies and countries went spiralling into debt.

Australia was swept up in to this crisis, as every industry in the nation suffered.

Coming off the highs of the mining boom in 2008, it was a sobering assault on the resources industry.

However, while many countries went under, Australia managed to survive as it was buoyed by its rampant mining industry.

The industry was still hit hard though, with tightening credit markets and more importantly tightening skills markets seriously hampering the growth of the sector.

32 September 2011

But Australia, and the industry, has come through to the other side.

Undergoing a new resources and mining boom, the industry is spearheading the nation’s economic growth and recovery.

In a large part this is driven by the insatiable demand for metal and raw materials coming out of developing nations such as India and China, which saw economic growth in the double digits.

Despite a brighter future than the sector has seen in the last few years, there are some factors that are still hampering the industry.

Despite “tighter credit conditions and higher terms of trade, in addition to the short term impact of natural

AustralianMining

The skills shortage will be exacerbated by the ongoing boom in mining.

disasters (such as the devastating floods in Queensland which wiped billions off of coal exports and wreaked havoc on the industry) it has not stopped 74% of organisa-

tions Australia wide indicting they expect business activity to increase over the next twelve months,� Nigel Heap, managing director of Hays Asia Pacific said.

In the mining industry alone, as recently as March 40 per cent of people saw the economy strengthening over Continued on page 34

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Continued from page 32 the next six to 12 months, while half see it at the very least remaining static.

This expectation of a growing economy has driven investment and created an unprecedented demand for skilled labour.

But a serious challenge in the form of a skills shortage with no visible end, has cast a long shadow over the mining industry.

In its latest annual survey, Hays states that “the demand for mining engineering and geology candidates has now reached acute levels across the country”.

Increased exploration and accelerated projects with aggressive hiring activity will seriously reduce Australia’s candidate pool, according to the 2011 Hays Salary Guide.

Over the last 12 months, 44 per cent of companies reported a rise in operational staff levels.

“The expansion of existing mines and a number of new mines saw the requirement climb for experienced mine engineers across the country, both in underground and open pit.”

On top of this, a construction boom is expected to ride on the back of mine infrastructure needs, such as road, rail, ports and buildings, and will also severely diminished the national pool of construction personnel.

The forecast boom in the LNG industry, particularly in Queensland, is also expected to draw heavily upon existing talent.

Even just moves to restart operations that faltered during the global financial crisis and natural disasters have drawn down on numbers.

Each state is seeing its own skills problems.

In Western Australia, there has been an increased demand for environmental specialists and maintenance staff; similarly Victoria is seeing a dearth in the numbers of surveyors, underground miners and geotechnical engineers.

According to the survey, 68 per cent of respondents are aiming to increase their levels of permanent engineering staff.

34 September 2011

There is a dearth of underground mine surveyors in Victoria.

Queensland has an increasing need for miners and maintenance crews as both coal and hard rock mines come back online in response to the unwavering demand for materials.

According to Hays, “in many states, interstate recruitment is now increasingly on the agenda, while companies are becoming more receptive to international applicants, particularly experienced mining engineers, geologists, geotechnical engineers and senior level strategic candidates”.

This interstate recruitment drive saw South Australia extol the virtues of the state and its operations, such as Olympic Dam, at Perth Airport and other regional airports in Western Australia.

The survey goes on to say that in skills short areas, nearly two thirds of respondents would consider employing or sponsoring a qualified overseas candidate.

However, overall a major factor in drawing new recruits or skilled talent is salary.

As shown in the Hays Salary Survey Tables, states such as Queensland and Western Australia have offered extremely highly competitive

AustralianMining

pay incentives to lure potential employees away from other states or countries.

Wages in New South Wales’ coal sector are now starting to compete with those offered in Western Australia, which is adding to the skills crisis in the state.

In South Australia, salary levels are still lagging behind Western Australia and Queensland, but this in turn is offset

by South Australia’s much

lower cost of living, the proximity of work and projects to Adelaide and more attractive fly in fly out arrangements.

The industry itself has provided higher wages than similar industries and despite coming off the back of the GFC still managed to provide an average salary increase of more than three per cent, with one in ten respondents to the Hays Salary Survey saying salaries increased by six per cent or higher.

These high wages in the mining industry have actually skewed the median average wage across Australia.

Next year across the mining and resources sector, around 64 per cent of companies are expected to increase salaries from between three to six per cent.

“Benefits have also increased in response to the skills shortage and more employers are now paying out long service leave in order to secure candidates.”

Another way that companies are attempting to attract recruits is by offering nonfinancial benefits.

Incentives such as flexible working hours (which 83 per cent of companies offer) and compressed working weeks are now common features across the industry.

“Employers are also willing to match past benefits and offer greater flexibility in terms of hours, fly in fly out rosters and commencement date.”

The Hays 2011 survey adds

that almost 90 per cent of companies in the mining industry rate a work/life balance as having a major impact on their company’s brand within the market.

“Candidates are also looking very hard at rosters and the quality of accommodation on offer, and this is a definite factor in their decision making,” the survey states.

The style of accommodation and practices has a massive impact on sites, with recent protests at Anglo American’s Moranbah North coal mine over plans for ‘hot bedding’ demonstrating the demand for, and reaction to, high quality accommodation.

Despite many rival companies attempting to lure and recruit new staff with huge pay packets and incentives, the industry seems to be staying put, with only a third of companies noting an increase in the levels of staff turnover in the last twelve months.

While slightly more than half of the industry registered no rise or fall in staff turnover, 16 per cent actaully recorded a decrease in turnover.

As the mining boom continues to gather steam, it will further fuel the race for talent from an increasingly overdrawn skills market, which is bound to reshape labour in the nation.

However as Nigel Heap states “salary is just one element employers should consider in a comprehensive range of strategies for recruiting success”.

Mining construction projects are predicted to grow exponentially. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2011 HAYS SALARY GUIDE

Metalliferous Geology

Coal – Maintenance Engineering

Coal – Production Management

Metalliferous Mining Engineering

Coal – Trades

Mobile Plant – Underground

Coal – Technical Engineering/Management

36 September 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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2011 HAYS SALARY GUIDE

Mobile Plant – Service Person

Mobile Plant – Surface

Maintenance

Mineral Processing

Industrial Construction

Industrial Design

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

September 2011

37

AM.SEP11.PG040.pdf

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PERSONNEL

No need to risk it all Psychometric testing onsite can identify potentially high risk individuals and increase safety.

N

o matter how many safety measures are put in place, accidents will still occur.

All mining companies see safety as a critical factor and take all opportunities to try and minimise the risk.

However this is mostly done through environmental and work policies such as materials handling, and appropriate measures such as protective equipment.

If this was all that was needed, then all risk would be eliminated.

But it is not.

As always, the variable is always the person on the ground, and despite training and inductions there are still accidents occuring.

Speaking to Onetest’s Sheree Curtis, she told Australian Mining that are some workers who are simply more ‘high risk’ than others, and are more likely to be in an accident.

“One way to identify these people who are potentially high risk is to carry out psychometric testing,” she said.

Curtis explained that the Work Safety Assessment is essentially a diagnostic tool for companies to better target their OH&S training and development initiatives to raise safety levels across the board.

The tool works by looking at an individual’s attitude and beliefs towards work safety across a number of key areas.

The result is a report that provides clear indications about who needs safety development, in what areas they need it, and to what extent (i.e how much or how little additional training they need).

This means that mining companies can now tailor and refine their safety training and development programs depending on the specific needs of its employees, rather than a hit and miss blanket approach.

After recent testing, one of Australia’s largest mining companies demonstrated that employees identified as ‘high 38 September 2011

Individuals identified as ‘high risk’ were five times more likely to have an accident on site, as compared to ‘low risk’ individuals.

risk’ following the ten minute online safety assessment, were nearly five times more likely to be injured at work than ‘low risk’ employees.

In the study, 112 employees took the test and were then categorised into three separate groups: High Risk – With safety scores in the bottom 20th percentile; Average Risk – With scores between the 21st and 79th percentile; and Low Risk – With scores equal to or above the 80th percentile.

The safety records of individuals in these groups were then analysed and it was discovered that compared to ‘low risk’ employees, staff categorised as ‘high risk’ had three

AustralianMining

times as many work accidents (such as falls, spills, and vehicular accidents), four times as many injuries at work that required medical treatment, and five times as many injuries at work that prevented them from working for a complete day or shift.

At Santos’ South Australian operations, two employees were photographed planking on the top of 60 metre high smoke stacks, while wearing their hard hats and high vis work wear, of course.

Curtis stated that by carrying out the testing, compa-

By carrying out testing, companies can identify high risk employees earlier.

Given that an average workplace industry can cost up to $10 000 per individual, this has serious implications for a business.

Identifying high risk employees earlier can aid in avoiding situations such as those found during the planking craze.

nies are able to earlier identify employees that are high risk, while at the same time identifying staff whose attitudes help to set the company’s safety levels.

“By measuring existing employees you can create benchmarks, as well as metrics for what makes a good

employee, and trend future safety levels.

“This way you can set the threshold, while allowing you to target people in the business who are in need of additional training, which aids in raising overall levels of work site safety,” Curtis told Australian Mining.

These benchmark safety levels can also be used during recruitment.

“By first understanding the levels of safety needed for the role, a mining company is then able to add a more positive employee to the mix,” she said.

However, while Curtis said “this is not a silver bullet for accidents on site, it is a step in reducing the number of safety incidents, and aid in future training and induction”. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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telephone health advice calls, providing support around the

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clock, 7 days a week. We also provided health and wellbeing

solutions, whether you’re a Medibank member or not. We deliver

programs and return-to-work programs. To deliver this, we

health services to over 4,000 businesses and government

employ over 1,500 healthcare professionals and deliver services

organisations and last year treated more than 40,000 workplace

over the phone, online and face-to-face in workplaces and in

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160,000 employment-related health assessments and 220,000

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AM.SEP11.PG042.pdf

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PERSONNEL

A serious question Has Australia relinquished its hard working ethos?

T

he Australian workforce is soft.

So said MMG chief executive Andrew Michelmore at a recent Australian-British Chamber of Commerce meeting.

He claimed that the nation is suffering from “rich country’s disease” and would soon degenerate into a welfare state unless workers discovered a hunger for work, otherwise it is just “pissing away” its position of economic strength, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Michelmore said there needs to be an increase in seniors and women in the workforce.

“We need to get the grey hairs back into the industry and working; we need to get more women involved in work.”

The call for increased numbers of senior workers is one the SkillsDMC made last year, when it warned that a large number of older workers are set to soon leave the mining industry, taking with them valuable skills and leaving a massive talent gap that is unlikely to be filled by younger workers any time soon.

40 September 2011

AustralianMining

Andrew Michelmore claims that Australia is ‘pissing away’ its opportunities.

It also identified the training of the next generation as a key focus.

Chair of Skills Australia, Philip Bullock recently stated that the country “faces a looming demographic crunch as the ageing workforce retires and needs to be replaced”. Bullock went on to say that “Australia is poised for

long prosperity through the resources boom but will be held back unless we can meet the requirement for the additional skills our economy demands,” he added.

Michelmore also blamed part of the skills shortage on people’s unwillingness to work in remote areas.

“People can’t be bothered moving 25 kilometres to get a job,” he said.

However, is this the case?

With fly in fly out mining in such high demand, the workforce has shown itself to be available.

Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union national president Tony Maher told the SMH Michelmore’s comment are simply “a Trojan horse for the Chinese labour debate.

“The truth is Australians are on the move for work,” he added.

The Chinese labour debate, and the importation of Chinese miners into Australia, has drawn ire throughout the industry.

At Clive Palmer’s operations in Queensland, he announced that he would source 10% of the workforce for his Galilee Basin coal project from China.

This new fly in fly out force could be potentially as high as 600 in number, the majority engineers.

Is China threatening jobs or simply filling those Australians are unwilling, or to ‘soft’ to do?

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

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PERSONNEL

Challenges of the Boom As the mining boom creates more jobs, there are fewer skilled people to fill them, Alexandra Tidy* writes.

I

With a tight labour market, skilled miners are in high demand across the country.

ndustry experts predict that in 2011, human resources across the country will be impacted by the increased demand from both the mining and heavy industry sectors.

Planned new projects combined with rebuilding after the recent environmental disasters mean these sectors are facing new, unprecedented challenges in recruiting and retaining staff.

Organisations and industries that are already facing skills and talent shortages will need to be fairly innovative in their strategies to resource, recruit and retain employees in what could be the greatest demand for staff that these businesses have ever seen.

Last year alone, 300,000 jobs were created, which dropped the unemployment rate down to 5 per cent. In turn, these higher levels of

employment requirements are further tightening the candidate market and increasing the skills shortages already felt across the country.

Gulf Group, a division of BIS Industries, provides transport and logistical services to the mining and haulage industries, and is a good example of a company who encountered hiring, and therefore operational, difficulties in a tight market with increasing skills shortages.

“Until recently, the Gulf Group managed the recruitment of new staff through its internal HR team … but attracting and securing skilled individuals in specialist positions was proving to be a protracted process. For instance, the hiring of a Diesel Fitter was taking as long as two months for each placement,” Brian Thompson, group QA manager for Gulf Group said.

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mmg.com/careers 42 September 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, which is in complete contrast to the general spread of the Australian population.

The challenge of recruiting into regional areas is nothing new to the industry, but the environmental disasters in the last 12 months have dampened the attraction for new recruits.

The mining sector in Queensland is starting to recuperate from the losses suffered due to the floods and cyclones which hit late last year, creating a need for additional talent to assist in the recovery process. The same staffing shortage applies to Western

Australia’s ever-growing mining and services industry, with new expansions across the state adding to the high existing demand.

According to the Australian Government Budget 20112012, domestic natural disasters have directly reduced production by $9 billion.

Even with this dampened growth, the continued high levels of mining investment will significantly reduce the overall impact to the economy.

All of these factors have created a highly competitive employment landscape between companies within the sector for attracting talent, resulting in a spike in wages com-

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AustralianMining

September 2011

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

For Gulf Group, and many other businesses within the mining industry, managing their own recruitment has had a major impact on the productivity of their business.

This results from high levels of effort being expended on the recruitment process in addition to having a number of unfilled positions within their operations.

Many of the roles within the sector require highly skilled personnel.

This is a challenge compounded by the often remote locations of mining and resources sites.

More than 75 per cent of the industry is located across

vated and engaged with high levels of productivity.

To remain attractive to new recruits in this competitive industry, organisations need to offer not only excellent induction, training and salary, but consider the benefits of providing access to various courses to upgrade their skills, an Employee Assistance Program, and team-building assessments to encourage working together both comfortably and efficiently.

This will not only keep your staff engaged with their team and the business, but will keep them motivated and productive.

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

Companies should put a strong emphasis on developing and training employees, Tidy says.

pared to the average of all other industries.

In some cases, personnel are earning more than double what they would in other fields.

This is a challenge for both companies in the mining industry who need to ensure they maintain profitability as well as businesses who are competing for the available talent.

In order to be successful, organisations will have to focus not only on finding staff, but create new solutions to engage, retain, and develop their workforce.

The necessity of these new levels of staffing means that businesses must be prepared to take onboard the volume of personnel required in a short span of time.

Companies should also put a strong emphasis on developing and executing an employee retention plan in order to keep their staff moti-

43

AM.SEP11.PG046.pdf

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PERSONNEL

The forgotten side of safety Mental health issues are a silent topic on site.

M

ental health has always been a taboo subject, especially so in the mining industry.

But for many men in the industry, it is an every day part of their lives.

Statistically, men are more likely to suffer from depression and other mental health issues, and this number increases significantly for men working and living in rural and regional areas.

One in three rural and regional workers take at least one day off work every few months because they are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious or depressed, according to recent research commissioned by Medibank Health Solutions.

Just looking at these numbers alone, miners are bound to be at risk due to the very nature of their work, which ticks all the boxes – predominately male; long working hours; and often in rural or regional areas.

The most prevalent mental health conditions are depression, substance

abuse, and work related stress.

It is estimated that each employee with untreated depression will cost their organisation $9660 per year.

Substance abuse has also been previously flagged as a serious issue in the industry, particularly for fly in fly out miners who spend weeks away from their home and families at a time.

Yet no one really talks about the issue of mental health, and this problem has a major impact on site.

According to the Medibank study, nearly 80% believed there is no real support for those with mental health issues in regional and rural Australia.

Medibank group general manager Matthew Cullen said there is not enough being done to address it.

“While a lot of time and money is invested in providing a safe physical work environment, the effect that workplace pressures have on an employee’s mental health is being overlooked at a huge cost to employers.”

“In the world of mining, mental health issues are often stigmatised and not seen as safe,” the ACRRMH’s Jennifer Bowers says.

And mental health has a direct impact on workplace safety.

The Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental health (ACRRMH) agrees that the impact is large.

It recently held a forum on miner’s mental health and suicide prevention.

The Exploration 2 forum looked at workers and the need for special mental health ‘first aid’ programs.

“Mental health should be a big player on the OH&S stage in the mining and resources sector but right now its name doesn’t even appear on the program,” ACRRHM chief executive Jennifer Bowers said.

“In the blokey world of mining and resources, too often mental health is stigmatised and not seen as ‘safe’, one can’t help but wonder if mental health has even emerged as something these companies think about.”

“The fear of colleagues finding out is a big concern for employees as there is still this negative image associated with mental health issues and people think that admitting to suffering from depression or anxiety may harm their chances of career progression,” Cullen added “One of the biggest issues identified [in the recent report] for workers seeking assistance are concerns about confidentiality, with the large majority of people preferring access to an external counselling service.

Speaking to beyondblue, they previously told Australian Mining that “while there has been some work done with mining companies about the issues that arise from depression, there is no thorough research on the condition in the industry that is available at the moment”.

Untreated depression costs a company nearly $10 000 per person annually.

44 September 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMDRASEP_11.pdf

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AM.SEP11.PG048.pdf

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PERSONNEL

The man from OZ In a career beginning as a metallurgist forty years ago, to the head of OZ Minerals today and its flagship Prominent Hill copper-gold mine near Coober Pedy, Terry Burgess has enjoyed a diverse career and has seen changes in the industry for the better. Jamie Wade reports.

S

peaking recently before members and guests of the WA Mining Club, Terry reflected on five key changes he said had defined the industry today: safety, workplace culture, community relationships, technology and the growth of China.

The following is an abridged version of his speech edited by Australian Mining’s WA correspondent Jamie Wade.

Safety The mining industry has been a leader in the area of safety and has assisted in safety improvements across many industries. It’s likely that innovations and practices developed in the mining industry have been responsible for saving lives across many different workplaces.

For example, mining has supported the high visibility clothing that’s seen throughout the community.

Another example is from the medical industry where mining industry practices such as an active reporting culture has often been cited as a valuable learning tool to improve patient safety.

For our industry, safety continues to be our major challenge. In our own company I still feel that we have a long way to go, and safety statistics indicate that there’s still work to do, but overall as an industry we really do care about safety.

Workplace culture The second area which I think has improved significantly in our business is the workplace culture.

The focus has now shifted to include more people in the decision-making.

Another big change in the workplace culture has come from women moving into the industry which has been very positive.

46 September 2011

Terry Burgess has been a part of the Australian mining industry for four decades.

Women have brought new ways of thinking and problem solving to the business which has benefited from it. Women represent about 20 per cent of the OZ Minerals workforce which is above average – especially for a fly-in flyout operation.

Relationships with communities When I started in the industry communities were the people you tended to keep away from your operation with fences and guards.

As we all know, companies now require a social licence to operate and the way to get

AustralianMining

that is to be a wanted guest in the host community.

In 2010 over 20 local businesses were employed at Prominent Hill and we give preferential treatment to purchase goods and services locally wherever feasible.

Our operation has made significant contributions to local and regional economies through payments to suppliers and contractors during 2010 with over $12 million spent locally, $7.5 million spent regionally and approximately $80 million spent within South Australia.

Now 82 per cent of our workforce at Prominent Hill

is from South Australia and we spend $30 million on salary in South Australia – not including our contractors – and last year we paid $16 million in State Government royalties.

The other thing that’s changed dramatically is our relationship with Indigenous communities.

We’re working at Prominent Hill to increase the number of Indigenous employees, which is currently about 60 in total, for OZ Minerals and its contractors.

One of our targets now is to increase the number of Indigenous people we have at the supervisory level.

We have a pre-employment training program which enables local and Indigenous people with no previous mining experience to gain the skills required to get a job at Prominent Hill. This is something we’re proud of and we continue to invest in.

The program in short is a 60-day program which includes three weeks of work experience onsite at the Prominent Hill mine and after that if they’re successful they will be offered permanent employment at our operations Since the program was launched in 2006 we’ve had six groups of trainees including 51 successful graduates that have taken up roles at Prominent Hill.

One of the key success factors in making this work has been to create a culture where the Indigenous people enjoy the work; where their colleagues are understanding and supportive; where there is mentoring by other Indigenous people; and where specific attention is paid to training and to safety.

The success of the program to date has been largely because of the accepting nature of the existing workforce at Prominent Hill who help people who’ve been long term unemployed and not use to the challenges and responsibilities of working on a mine.

Technology The other area that I see the major change in is changes of technology and these have been staggering.

At Prominent Hill today we actually have an expert system for the flotation circuit which uses multi-variable speed forward control to reduce disturbances to the plant along with concentrate flow optimisation to maximise the recovery of the metal.

We’ve also installed some flow force mechanisms to all www.miningaustralia.com.au

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About OZ Minerals

OZ Minerals Prominent Hill copper mine is one of Australia’s most recognisable operations.

our flotation cells in the rougher circuit, and also some flow boosters which promotes maximum contact between the valuable metals and the reagent which has also added between one and two per cent recovery. Two per cent recovery is significant; this high tech tweaking has delivered extra revenues of about $10 million per year for each per cent gained.

An area that has benefited hugely from the advances in computing power in the last 30 years or so is geophysics.

intensive sectors such as power, infrastructure and construction. The major downstream uses for copper are power generation and transmission, electrical appliances, building construction and vehicle

production and these are all required in the country’s urbanising populations.

The proportion of urban to rural populations in China is currently 47 to 53 per cent.

There has been a big shift that

the urbanisation is far from over. By 2015, China will have 106 cities with more than one million people compared with only 35 cities which have more than one million people in Europe today.

OZ minerals is an Australianbased mining company with a focus on copper.

Its primary asset is the Prominent Hill copper gold Mine in northern South Australia.

OZ Minerals recently finalised the purchase of the Carrapateena copper gold project, and an advanced project also in South Australia about 250km south of Olympic Dam. Prominent Hill is a fly-in flyout operation with a workforce of about 900 people including contractors.

It is an open cut mine with a new underground mine currently in development.

According to OZ minerals managing director Terry Burgess, Prominent Hill has a plant consistently performing at 20 to 25 per cent above its nameplate capacity.

Guidance production for 2011 is 100,000 to 110,000 tonnes of copper and more than 185,000 ounces of gold.

China Perhaps the most fundamental change of all to our industry has come from the economic development of China in recent years.

Thirty years ago China was not an important copper importer. Today it’s the biggest importer in the world, counting for 40 per cent of consumption and demand in China continues to grow.

In 2011 refined copper demand from China is expected to grow to about six per cent year on year.

China’s demand has been due to its rapidly urbanising population which requires heavy investment in copper www.miningaustralia.com.au

More than 80% of the Prominent Hill mine’s workforce comes from South Australia.

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Australian Mining reports on

Drill and Blast Up to date blasting information when it matters, at your finger tips.

Orica’s Blasters’ Handbook App will revolutionise the way you access blasting information. www.oricaminingservices.com/mobile Sponsored by Orica Mining Services and Australian Mining

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Drill and Blast Information at

BLASTERS’ fingertips

A new is providing access to blast calculations, conversions, product information and tools for managing blasting operations on mobile devices.

C

onverting Orica’s printed Blasters Handbook into a mobile application has been an exciting step forward for blast engineers and a first for the industry.

Developed in partnership with a team of technology experts, the application’s builtin blasting calculators perform complex calculations and conversions. This tool will enable engineers to work more simply and efficiently in the field – no pen or paper required.

The app contains information and calculations to assist blasting engineers identify rock properties, optimise blast performance and carry out ‘Take 5’ safe work procedures.

The app will function online or offline, making it practical to use in all locations, including where internet services may not be available. This ensures engineers are always working with accurate data, with the app automatically downloading the latest blasting information and data when the device is connected to the internet.

Orica’s mobile Blasters’ Handbook application: • performs advanced blasting calculators • delivers up-to-date product information and technical specifications • features a full product catalogue and item comparisons • provides access to data in the field, whilst online or offline • is available on Apple iOS, BlackBerr y and Google Android devices.

Recognising that many mining professionals now carry smartphones or ruggedised handheld devices onsite, The Blasters’ Handbook app is

available for Apple iOS (iPad, iPod and iPhone), BlackBerry and Google Android devices.

It incorporates Touch Tables technology, making it easy to

view large tables of data on small mobile device screens.

The Blasters’ Handbook app also provides details of Orica’s full product range,

including images and item comparisons. The app includes region-specific product information for Asia, Australia and North America, with a Frenchlanguage version available.

Orica will include additional regions and languages in future releases. It also plans to include more detailed product information, MSDS/TDS technical documentation, case studies, videos and images in the future.

Inside Orica’s diversity ATTRACTING and retaining more women in field operations roles, is a key human resource strategy for Orica Mining Services.

Orica’s ‘Women in Field Operations’ project, is part of Orica’s Workforce Diversity Program, which was formally established in 2009. The objective of the program is to embrace and draw on a pool of talent across its global business.

The ‘Women in Field Operations’ project will be showcased on Stand 2016 during AIMEX, Asia Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition 2011.

With 14,000 employees spread across more than 50 countries and servicing a further 50 companies, diversity is essential to Orica’s future success. Orica offers a dynamic, diverse and progressive work environment, with a strong focus www.miningaustralia.com.au

on career development. A diverse workforce provides the essential skills, insight and knowledge needed to deliver innovative solutions to Customers.

Kylie Newman, Human Resources Manager, Orica Mining Services Australia/Asia, says that diversity at Orica means being open to views, ideas and solutions that come from people of different backgrounds, perspectives and cultural experiences.

“We must embrace diversity if we want to reach our goal of being a truly global business. By harnessing the experiences from a wider pool of people, we have the potential to generate more ideas for our business, which will ultimately lead to better decisions,” she said.

The Women in Field Operations’ project has successfully increased the number of women in field operations roles.

Meg Burrage, a Mobile Manufacturing Unit (MMU) operator with Orica Mining Services, based at Newmont’s Boddington Gold Mine in Western Australia has been working with Orica Mining Services for over 12 months.

Burrage said she chose to leave the travel industry to work in mining, because it was financially beneficial and she also wanted a career challenge. The main tasks undertaken by Burrage involve loading the MMU, delivering bulk explosives to the pit, as required by the Customer and some basic truck maintenance.

Despite not having a mining or mechanical background, Burrage said Orica have provided her with extensive training.

“They are very supportive, considering my lack of mechanical knowledge and

have always been prepared to spend extra time with me in areas I where I needed it. If I could sum up my time with Orica in two words I would say the work is varied and challenging,” she added.

Newman says that Burrage’s career progression is a great example of Orica’s commitment to diversity. “The importance of attracting and retaining talented people, from all cultures and backgrounds is critical to Orica Mining Services’ future growth.”

Newman went on to say that as a multinational employer, Orica Mining Services has an obligation to value diversity and build local talent. “Diversity means that we value the experience, ideas and contributions of people from a broader range of backgrounds, cultivating the wealth of talent we have.”

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Drill and Blast Exploring new opportunities The development of a large drill refurbishment site is aiding the boom in exploration drilling.

W

ith the industry booming, the demand for new mineral deposits to keep it turning over has never been greater.

Because of this, the need for drill rigs which are capable of carrying out exploration drilling is high.

This in turn is creating a market for the refurbishment of old rigs to get them back into working order and on site as soon possible.

Boart Longyear has now increased its presence in this space following the first drill rig refurbishment at its new Adelaide facility.

The drill rig company’s new Asia-Pacific headquarters at Burbridge Business Park, Adelaide Airport, is now fully operational, with giant drill rigs for exploration being overhauled and rebuilt at the new facility.

The first reconditioned

50 September 2011

The refurbished UDR 1000 en-route to BHP’s Nickel West site in WA.

rig, a UDR 1000, has left the facility’s workshop en-route to BHP Billiton’s Nickel West exploration drilling site in Leinster, Western Australia.

The new facility is focused on large surface and underground drill rig design and development and is home to

AustralianMining

more than 40 engineers, an increase of 25 since 2009.

A Deep-hole Exploration Technology Cooperative Research Centre will also be located on the site, which includes a 5351 square metre workshop.

Boart Longyear’s vice president for Asia-Pacific, Kent

Hoots, stated that the new airport facility consolidates the company’s two previous Adelaide locations at Mitchell Park and Lonsdale.

“Our new regional headquarters includes a workshop facility which will serve as a main overhaul/repair centre for Boart Longyear’s Asia

Pacific rig fleet,” he said.

“The new facility features a prototype Engineering and R&D centre for large surface and underground exploration drill rigs.

“The Adelaide airport site includes an overhaul and refurbishment service centre for third party clients as well as a stateof-the-art testing facility for both surface and underground drill rigs. It will be home to more than 170 staff,“ he added.

He went on to say that the airport location was chosen because of its central position as “most of our staff live south of the Adelaide CBD and the airport location was a good compromise for all.

“Also, the airport provides access to major highways and access to the port,” he said.

“We believe this new facility will allow us to conduct several complementary functions under one roof.”

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Drill and Blast Addressing a Noxious issue New leaps forward will soon be made in blasting technology, Cole Latimer writes.

I

n March this year, a number of Queensland coal miners were hospitalised following exposure to nitrogen dioxide after blasting went wrong on site.

Soon after this, more open cut miners were exposed to the deadly fumes after blasting.

These two similar incidents back to back caused a shake up of the Queensland mining industry and brought about the introduction of new blasting guidelines to minimise the dangers of nitrogen dioxide, known as NO 2 or NOx, forming after blasting.

This gas, often created during shot firing, can turn into nitric acid in a person’s lungs once inhaled.

While steps are taken to avoid post blast fume events, the formation of this potentially deadly gas is always a possibility.

So what exactly causes this, and what is being done to prevent it?

Almost without exception, blasting in Australia uses a mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil or ANFO.

52 September 2011

AustralianMining

The typical orange post blast fumes rising into the air following shot firing.

However the blasting of ANFO explosives can cause those familiar

orange post-blast clouds of nitrogen a number of solutions have been dioxide that rise into the air. implemented for open cut blasting, These clouds of NOx can creep they do not really address the issue across the mine’s boundaries into of why NOx forms in the first place. the surrounding area, causing serious Most solutions relate to safe blastproblems for local residents near the ing radii, measuring the range of mines, particularly in regions such exposure, and a number of retroacas the Bowen Basin or Hunter Valley tive measures such as monitoring where mines are located close to levels of the gas following blasting. communities.

Current World Health OrganiRealising this ongoing problem sation guides lines for NOx are a is a serious burden on a mining indus- one hour level of 200µg m3 (approxitry which has failed to address the mately 200 parts per billion), and root problem of post blast fumes, an annual average of 40µg m3. explosives manufacturer Dyno Nobel However, typical concentrations approached investigators and the of NOx in post blast clouds can University of Newcasmeasure anywhere tle to examine how The research will between 5.6 to 580 blasting can be better. parts per million, investigate why NOx They focused on exceeding the safe the effect of chemi- forms during blasting. limits by around 30 cal factors and the to 3000 times. mechanisms of how different addiThis is clearly far too high. tives control nitrogen dioxide creation Dlugogorski said their research during blasting. over the next three years is trying to The group’s aim is to develop a understand what works, why, and new generation of low fume prod- what is the range of these potential ucts for the industry. solutions in the long term.

Speaking to Newcastle Univer“Our objective is to find practisity professor Bogdan Dlugogorski, cal solutions to decrease the frequency he told Australian Mining they are and magnitude of the formation of investigating the “fundamentals of blast NOx during firing, leading to the NOx problem in blasting. the development of new products “We are asking why nitrogen and new blasting guidelines.” dioxide is produced in open cut blastHe said the group at Newcastle ing,” he said.

University has previously carried out Dlugogriski explained that while research on the same NOx problem www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Drill and Blast in underground blasting, and is planning to approach fume events in open cut mines in the same way.

“We started by understanding how it formed and the mechanisms that caused it, developed different gassing chemistry so that the explosives operated at lower temperatures and created chemical traps to remove the nitrogen dioxide,” Dlugoroski told Australian Mining.

The group has a number of main aims; firstly to gain an insight into the formation of nitrogen oxide in situ blasting (i.e. in a borehole) as a consequence of low blasting temperatures, or fuel lean or oxidiser rich conditions, where the objective is test the theory that it forms either under low temperature or fuel deficient conditions.

After this it will investigate the reduction of nitrogen oxide in situ due to extra fuel in the explosives or higher temperatures.

From this, the research group will then use modelling to determine exactly how NOx forms under different field conditions, after which it will look at ways to mitigate the emissions by either changing the product or completely changing the way blasting it carried out.

This modelling is a major part of development, as although the

adelaide e brisbane perth auckland www.miningaustralia.com.au

Prof. Bogdan Dlugogorski is leading research to make blasting safer on site.

factors which affect post blast nitrogen oxide formation are known, the effects have never really been quantified before.

It is this gap in knowledge that has stymied the ability to predict nitrogen oxide, and subsequent NOx formation, from the surrounding

rocks and explosives mixture. According to Dlugogorski, the theoretical, practical and quantative knowledge created by the project’s findings will be published openly, for overall progress in the field.

While this project is still in its infancy, it has received a major boost.

The University of Newcastle has been granted funding to develop this new mining technology.

The Linkage Program grant from the Australian Research Council will provide half a million dollars for research and development.

Acting deputy vice-chancellor of the University, professor Scott Homes, said these projects will build on the University’s track record of research.

“These latest projects will ensure that we remain at the forefront of research and development of technology that addresses the needs of industry and boosts sustainability and efficiency,” Holmes said.

This funding follows the creation of the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER), which brings together the University’s energy and resources researchers.

Dlugogorski hopes the research uncovers a number of practical solutions for NOx and moves the blasting industry forwards.

08 8177 0333 33 07 3350 4594 08 9209 3895 09 550 6020 AustralianMining

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Drill and Blast Australian mining first The use of a new intelligent drill at Higginsville is an industry first.

W

est Australian drilling contractor, Xcel Drilling and Blasting, has taken delivery of the first Sandvik DP1100i intelligent drill to be used in the mining industry in Australia.

The crawler-based top hammer drill has been deployed to Alacer Gold’s Higginsville mine in the state’s Eastern Goldfields region, where it is being used for production drilling and sampling.

Following commissioning, the new drill rig has been in use for more than three months and, according to Xcel managing director, Russell Hughes, is performing well ahead of expectations, prompting the company to order a second unit for delivery before the end of the year.

“When we compare this rig with the seven earlier DP1100s in our fleet, the standout features are increased power and improved fuel efficiency,” Hughes said.

“I’m confident this rig is easily the most powerful in its class. The high frequency drifter is enabling us

This is the first time the rig has been used within the Australian mining industry.

to comfortably exceed 300 metres day in, day out, drilling accurate 102mm holes – the industry standard in the region – to ensure a level blast. We’re achieving this in challenging ground conditions, and we got 9,000 metres

out of the first shank, where our other rigs have been averaging down around 4,000 metres.

“Productivity is the main attraction with the DP1100i, and fuel economy is a major bottom line bonus.

Where the earlier rigs are burning 35 litres an hour, the DP1100i is down around 26 litres. On a 20-hour, seven day basis, that’s a saving of over 60,000

litres a year, which is significant in anyone’s language,” he said.

Hughes said Xcel were very bullish about the new rig, and were looking forward to having a second on site before the end of the year. Longer term, he said, the DP1100i would form the mainstay of the Xcel fleet, which operates from depots in Kalgoorlie and Perth.

“We believe, from our experience with the 1100s, that we can expect a fairly long and trouble-free life from this drill rig. Our first new 1100, purchased four years ago, has been running pretty well non-stop except for routine maintenance, with no major component failures, while an older rig that we bought second-hand has logged 20,000 hours without a rebuild,” he added.

Hughes said his operators had adapted to the new rig very quickly, and its innovations like the facility to preset drilling parameters – feed pressure, percussion pressure and rotation speed – within the cabin.

“Operators can store up to 10 sets of parameters to suit different mines, or even different areas within one mine, enabling them to ‘hit the ground running’ every time,” he said.

The DP1100i uses significantly less fuel during operations.

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Drill and Blast

The high reach drill rig in action in a open cut pit.

ROCK drilling the wall from barges at Mt Gibson’s Koolan Island project.

Reach for the sky ROCK Australia has developed the nation’s tallest high reach drill.

D

rilling, blasting and ground support specialists, ROCK Australia, have developed what is believed to be Australia’s tallest high reach drill for use on a ground support contract at the KCGM Superpit on the outskirts of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

Developed by ROCK’s inhouse engineering team to meet specific criteria defined

by KCGM, the rig has a vertical reach of 21 metres, including the capacity to drill vertically at this height.

The need for the rig’s massive reach was dictated by the unusually high batters adopted at the Superpit to speed the mining process.

The ROCK-designed rig is used to drill 89mm holes

www.miningaustralia.com.au

to accommodate 15 metre cable bolts.

The vertical capability is required where vertical pins need to be inserted in the benches.

The rig is based on a four wheel drive drill carrier selected for its manouevrability and its superior ground speed when compared to a tracked vehicle.

This carries a 21m boom on which is mounted a modified Atlas Copco feed rail.

The drill rig is operated from an ergonomicallydesigned cab.

All functions are electronically controlled via a CAN system, which includes an onboard camera to monitor the rod handling.

Drill range is 45mm to

102mm, to a depth of up to 28 metres.

ROCK’s executive general manager, Roy Coates, said the giant rig was comfortably meeting KCGM’s requirement of up to 100 metres a day for ground support work.

The drill rig has a vertical reach of 21 metres.

“It’s also proving very reliable – we’re getting better than 85% usage from the rig.

It’s easy to service and the CAN system ensures that any problems in the drilling system can be diagnosed quickly and accurately,” he said.

“We’re confident that it’s the tallest rig operating in Australia, and we are not

aware of anything with a higher reach anywhere in the world,” Coates said.

ROCK Australia is currently a finalist in the Australian Mining Prospect Awards for its work at Mt Gibson Iron’s Koolan Island mine.

The contractor had to rehabilitate the existing footwall (continuous dip slope) using ground control and support methods, in what has been described by those at Mt Gibson as “probably the most complex mining geotechnical projects ever undertaken”.

It had to remediate a 1500 metre run of 100 metre high footwalls that had been submerged – and unseen – since 1993. The miner developed a plan, and the technology,

to float drills out on barges to the wall and keep them there while drilling.

It also made the operation remotely controlled to protector drillers from potential rock falls.

The use of barge-mounted drill in a mining context was a world first.

However, it wasn’t the only first.

ROCK also created the longest debris flow barrier in the world for the Koolan Island iron ore project, as well as the first use of 18 metre sacrificial anchor bolts, which required the contractor to design and build a special rod handler.

It was also the first Australian mining project carried out in shark-infested waters.

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SAFETY

BREAKING new ground A new development in seismic monitoring will make underground mining safer.

56 September 2011

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A

s New Zealand continues its Inquiry into the Pike River Coal disaster, the same question keeps coming up – could this tragedy have been avoided.

Could the changes underground, and the leaking of gas have been monitored and prevented?

History has shown that finding trapped miners is almost like finding a needle in a haystack, especially in the case of the trapped Chilean miners.

These miners have now taken it upon themselves to sue the Government of Chile for not ensuring high mining standards and safer mines.

A new development in seismic detection is paving the way for significantly enhanced mine safety standards throughout the world.

Dubbed the SP2, it is a sophisticated seismic monitor with multiple applications including identifying potentially dangerous changes in underground structures, detecting trapped miners at depths of more than 300 metres, as well as locating deep deposits of flowing oil and water.

The SP2 detects micro seismic signals generated in underground strata that would normally be masked by major mining activities.

Weaknesses forming around underground shafts as well as open pit faces can now be identified – potentially preventing collapses or wall slippages.

Its unique ability to ‘see through’ noise means it is able to filter out extraneous signals produced by everyday

mining activities, and therefore be used during normal mining operations.

At a mine in Derbyshire, UK, an earlier version of the SP2 successfully predicted a rock outburst occurring over four months before the event itself.

Independently verified by the University of Liverpool, the device was set up and data monitored over several months.

At 22 weeks before the event it accurately identified a cluster of increased micro-seismic activities, and at 18 weeks had pinpointed where the collapse was likely to take place.

Preferring to believe their existing monitoring devices, which did not pick up these signals, the mine owners chose to ignore these warnings and the subsequent collapse, exactly as predicted, caused the closure of the mine and financial losses of more than £1 million.

Fortunately, unlike mine collapses in Chile, New Zealand, and frequently China, no-one was trapped or injured in the accident.

Another major strength of the SP2 is its ability to locate deposits of flowing liquids deep in the underground strata that are generating seismic energy.

Movements can be monitored, thereby not only aiding excavation activities, but also indicating where breaches might occur.

Water underground is a serious hazard, as recent events in some of Queensland’s underground coal mines show.

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At Anglo American’s Grasstree coal mine, three miners had to quickly climb onto heavy equipment after an on-site storage dam broke its banks, sending 36 mega litres of water gushing into the underground tunnels.

Tests performed in deep mines recently have highlighted the speed at which the new technology identifies and locates all seismic activity.

Features found included moving water which, when plotted in 3D, indicated a waterfall as well as seismic stress releases due to mining operations.

This kind of knowledge allows mine owners to take action to re-plan their mining activities and reduce the likelihood of an accident.

Philip Shaw of SureWave Technology, who has spent the last decade developing the SP2, realised the science behind strata monitoring and signal detection could hold the key to locating personnel underground.

With the string of recent mining disasters around the world it is clear that rescue teams have no easy way to detect trapped miners.

In the case of Chile's mine collapse in October 2010 it took 17 days for the miners to be located.

It also required a multi-national effort, with many experts from across the globe flooding to the Chilean underground gold mine.

The SP2 could hold the key to locating personnel trapped underground.

In New Zealand, the rescuers are still yet to fully enter the mine, and it took many days for robots to locate the bodies of the 29 miners.

No technology has been sophisticated enough to accurately locate anyone trapped underground – that is, until now.

A demonstration at Patriot's Federal #2 Mine in West Virginia, USA earlier this year proved the SP2 was able to

TRIDENT

accurately locate simulated trapped miners at a depth of 316m.

The ‘trapped’ miners tapped the shaft wall with a commonly-used wooden crib block and immediately their location was picked up in real time.

The demonstration was documented by Dr Keith Heasley, Mining Professor at the West Virginia University, who confirmed the successful test. “I was pleased to clearly see the signal

TRIDENT

TRIDENT

from the miners pounding on the roof from that depth. This system performed much better than other systems I have seen,” Heasley said.

Shaw added that “we are confident our technology would be able to locate miners to a depth of up to 600m”.

Weighing in at less than 60 kilograms, the portable device can be set up and running within a matter of hours, saving vital time for emergency rescue teams.

As the New Zealand Inquiry into Pike River has stated, the time between the incident and eventual arrival and preparation of the rescue teams was crucial, with response times lacking.

Multiple sensors mean that an area of more than one kilometre can now be covered, providing significant ‘visibility’ for rescue efforts.

No other technology is known to produce such advanced data of this kind, making it a unique safety device in accident prevention as well as a powerful rescue tool.

Not only can it potentially save many lives, but mining companies are set to save millions in lost time.

By being able to identify these underground weaknesses, planned activities can be adjusted to reduce or prevent downtime and lost production, as well as aid the planning of future activities.

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SAFETY

Safety across the board OH&S harmonisation across Australia would raise safety standards.

T

he Federal Government has decided that Australia needs to work together under the same umbrella on occupational health and safety (OHS) to create safer workplaces; everywhere except mining, that is.

The resources sector has been left out of the changes to the new OHS laws, which has left many baffled about why the industry with one of the highest numbers of interstate workers would be excluded from the reforms.

Nikki Williams, chief executive of the NSW Minerals Council told Australian Mining at the state’s largest mining safety conference in the Hunter Valley in July that the new legislative framework is “fantastic, and very, very important,” but comes with some issues.

“Because with a population of 22 million operating in eight jurisdictions, take our industry which has a lot of hazards and risks that have to be identified and managed, if you are facing the same hazard in New South Wales as you might face in Queensland or WA – and people are moving between those states – then you should be able to deal with that, know what your obligations are, know

NEW

OH&S harmonisation across Australia would shift the focus to safety, rather than the state’s compliance regime, Williams said.

what the procedures and processes are,” she explained.

“That should be common, so that harmonisation is very important, because it actually shifts the focus to the safety outcome rather than the compliance regime.

“The problem is, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, the regulators in those three states, have said that they believe there needs to be mining specific regulation,” Williams said, adding that when the indus-

try is left out of the new legislation, to be introduced in January next year, it would return safety levels back to where it was before.

“We agree that there needs to be OH&S egulation specific to mining, there are specific

hazards,” Williams told Australian Mining.

“They are simply proposing to implement the three different state legislative forms and make a triple decker sandContinued on page 60

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Continued from page 58 wich so that we now have to comply with three different [sets of rules] sitting under one umbrella of what’s called non-core mining regulations; and this is what we have a huge problem with.

“It is completely counter to the thrust of the simplification and standardisation of obligations and hazard identification, and all of those matters, and it’s just introducing a level of complexity because regulators are too conservative, too wedded to their way, and too reluctant to embrace the change that the federal government outlined which the entire business community has said has been so long overdue.”

The decision by the government not to include the resources sector in the national OHS harmonisation is a disappointing blow for the industry, where safety protocols and hazard response are constantly moving forwards.

Centennial Coal chief operating officer Steve Bracken told Australian Mining at the July conference that the company is always working towards increased safety and even has its own internal innovation conference.

“Your license to operate is at risk if you don’t manage the industry and the risk associated with the industry.”

“It is an area we’re always focused on.”

“You can never sit back and rest on your laurels, it’s something we always have a great focus on.”

Bracken said the goal of zero harm throughout the industry is achievable if it is

60 September 2011

“The zero harm philosophy throughout the industry is achievable if it is continually worked on,” Centennial Coal’s COO Steve Bracken explained.

continually worked on. “The industry has it’s inherit risks, but we put a lot of effort into developing good management plans for identifying those risks and managing them effectively,” he said.

“Zero harm doesn’t mean just safety, it’s about the environmental impact as well.”

Bracken told Australian Mining he has been in the mining industry for about forty years and in that time he has seen the attitude towards safety undergo major transformations.

“It really has changed dramatically.

“During the seventies, there were periods of time there where the fatality rate was a lot higher, as well as the injury rate, the lost time injury rate. Now, every company is completely focused

AustralianMining

on the absolute obligation not to have an industry that accepts this kind of thing.

“We’re a much more mature and sophisticated industry in terms of risk management on site.”

He said the mining industry is under more pressure, as the attitude towards coal mining from society continues to change .

“The communities where we operate were traditionally mining communities.

“And a lot of the things that go on were just part of the community.

“These days I think we’re under much more scrutiny.”

“Expectations have certainly increased.

"I think they’re increasing all the time and it’s putting a lot of pressure on mining companies.”

“Some elements of society are against mining regardless and don’t understand why we do things, but it’s just something we have to continually work on, educating communities so they understand what we’re really all about.”

Williams agreed that the industry has seen a “huge change” in the attitude to safety and she believes it is only through the commitment of all people in the industry that the rate of injuries and accidents has decreased.

“I think when the industry itself committed to zero harm it said that it’s not only necessary, but also possible to aim for that,” she said.

“When the industry was nervous of the notion of zero harm because they thought it was unachievable, that was a self-reinforcing prophecy.

“So that change, and the way that safety is embedded – and I don’t just mean processes and personal protection and all of those obvious safety things – but safety thinking, safety culture, has evolved.

“And that can only be done from the top, it has to be driven from the top, it has to be demonstrated. It is about leadership, it requires leadership, but people on the shop floor, they feel that leadership and they have embraced these,” Williams explained.

Seamus Devlin from the New South Wales Mines Rescue Service was one of the first on the ground after the Pike River disaster in New Zealand, and he believes that while safety in mining has mostly changed for the better, there is still an old wives tale many hold on to, particularly in times of tragedy.

“I hate the ‘window of opportunity’ phrase,” he told Australian Mining.

“You hear that come up, and if anyone can show me how big the window is and how far it’s open then I’ll listen to them, but you just can’t.

“After an explosion underground, (such as the one at Pike River last year) there are two things you know.

“There’s enough fuel underground for an explosion, and something’s lit it.

“I can prove there is a window of opportunity.

“What I can’t prove is how wide it’s open,” Devlin said.

“It may be two minutes, to two weeks but I could not say to you “oh, I’m pretty sure you’d be right.”

“We just can’t take the risk. Simple as that.”

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMSANSEP_11.pdf

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AM.SEP11.PG064.pdf

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62

17/8/11,

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SAFETY

Reaching new heights in safety Improved contractor management, a unique escape ladderway and a clever solution to working at height have been recognised for creativity and ingenuity. Jamie Wade reports.

R

io Tinto Argyle Diamonds, underground safety solutions provider Safescape and Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) were just a few of the shining lights at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia’s (CME) seventh annual Safety and Health Innovation Awards.

Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond operation earned recognition for two separate initiatives including improvements to a contractor management system and a program to assess health and wellness.

The mine took honours in the Systems category for improvements to a Contractor Management System (CMS) that saw the contractor All Injury Frequency Rate (AIFR) fall to zero for the first time.

Over 25 years of surface mining operation, Argyle Diamonds’ contractor AIFR exceeded that of employees. Worldwide, Rio Tinto has seen significantly higher rates of fatality, serious injury and significant injury cases among contractors than its full time employees.

In response, Argyle Diamonds established a dedicated team to revise and improve the CMS. Based on the team’s findings, in 2009 Argyle Diamonds implemented a range of improvements. These included company representatives for training and audits, quarterly contractor meetings, principal meetings, comprehensive monthly reporting on contract company KPIs, and consolidation of its pre-qualification process.

Contractors were also included in all Health Safety & Environment (HSE) initiatives including wellness assessments, hydration testing and HSE awards.

Argyle Diamonds is setting the challenge to its employee workforce to achieve the same results.

Better ladderway Safety solutions provider Safescape took honours in the Engineering category in the CME’s Innovation Awards for a safer and more flexible emergency escape ladderway system for underground operations.

Traditional escape ladderways have been manufactured from wood or galvanised materials with wire cages to provide protection against large rock fall. However, they are exposed to finer materials. In addition, ladders 62 September 2011

AustralianMining

Safety solutions provider Safescape took honours in the Engineering category in the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia’s (CME) seventh annual Safety and Health Innovation Awards.

are subject to constant water and often salt exposure, leaving them slippery, scaled and susceptible to corrosion The Safescape ‘Laddertube’ comprises ladder sections that can be joined to provide a straight line of ladderway at any practical length.

Manufactured from resilient plastics, the Laddertube is lighter than traditional galvanised options, flexible and non-corrosive.

Rest platforms are installed at 6m intervals. A static line has also been included allowing people to attach a harness and rope shunt that locks in the case of a fall.

Although the Laddertube can be manufactured in any colour, the standard offering is safety yellow, providing an easily visible entry to ladderways. As an enclosed structure, users are protected from falling debris in the event of emergencies that require evacuation.

Ventilation is also made simpler and more cost effective, as a vent curtain can be fitted at the bottom of the ladderway. Being enclosed, the need to install multiple ventilation

walls and the risk of lost ventilation is significantly reduced.

Other advantages include less maintenance due to the ladderway being enclosed, no risk from many corrosive materials, and greater ease of installation.

Managing director Steve Durkin developed the Laddertube while working as an underground mining engineer in Kalgoorlie.

After researching the cost and installation techniques of the various options on the market, he believed that the industry was paying too much for a product which was not optimally designed for underground mining, both in terms of durability and the safety of users.

New heights in safety SKM took honours in the Engineering category in the CME’s Innovation Awards for a collaborative approach to safely and efficiently repairing beams on the Sinter Fines building at Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert facility.

The facility houses surge bins for the storage of fines iron ore.

These bins are fed by a tripper conveyer, which runs on trusses supported by transverse beams across the top of the bins.

During a structural integrity inspection undertaken by SKM engineers, five of these beams were found to be damaged due to corrosion and in need of urgent replacement.

Traditional repair methods of installing compensation plates on the existing beams could only occur during planned shutdown periods to limit the impact on the critical nature of the fines iron ore operations. This was not an option, so contract repairer Monadelphous proposed to insert the beams with the use of a cantilever lifting apparatus through holes cut in the bin walls.

Through a collaborative approach involving SKM, Rio Tinto and Monadelphous, the entire repair process was completed within three weeks.

As the bulk of work was conducted from the ground, safety risks were significantly reduced and the work was completed without interruption to the fines operations. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMLMPSEP_11.pdf

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1

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AM.SEP11.PG066.pdf

Page

64

22/8/11,

7:46

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SAFETY

Handy protection Increasing hand protection on-site.

P

ersonal protection is paramount. For many mining contractors and service companies, cuts, punctures, pinches, and abrasion injuries can account for around half of all injuries in the workplace.

Whether a miner is wrenching away on a valve head or just hauling tools, they face unpredictable conditions in the workplace every day, they are often exposed to a variety of cut and puncture hazards.

A miner’s main tools are their hands, and if their tools are damaged then they can’t do their job effectively.

So making sure that they have a good glove which ensures protection is crucial.

While many glove manufacturers have addressed smash and contusion issues, they have not been able to address the ongoing cut and puncture injuries on sites. After six years of research and ploughing

The gloves provide smash and contusion protection.

All of the gloves come with enhanced grip.

more than US$20 million into development, Hexarmor has developed a range of high performance protective gloves for the resources industry.

The manufacturer is known for its range of protective gloves, arm guards, and aprons.

For the resources industry, the company focused on designs that provided cut and puncture resistance, smash

Its GGT5 4020 Gator Grip and GGT5 4021 Mud Gloves are recommended for maintenance and drill rig operations.

The GGT5 4020 is applicable in high viscosity solutions (such as LGC’s and friction reducers) while the 4-021 is recommended for medium to light viscosity solutions (such as oil based muds). Hexarmor new range of gloves provide

protection, as well as ensuring grip, using unique materials and application specific safeguards.

According to Hexarmor, their latest glove – the GGT5 Series – is “the most complete glove for the resources industry, combining performance levels in cut and puncture resistance, smash protection and grip enhancements”.

cut resistance that exceeds ANSI and CE level 5; puncture protection from various hazards such as burrs and cable wires; smash protection (which is provided by a back of the hand thermoplastic rubber); and grip solutions for high viscosity friction reducers. The protective gloves are distributed by Diplomat Blades in Australia.

macnaught flow measurement

fuel and oil meters

solvent flow meters

corrosive chemical meters

m-series industrial meters

Macnaught has now introduced 4 new product lines that are optimised for dispensing and batching of Fuels and Lubricating Oils, Corrosive Chemicals, Solvents, and Industrial Process Fluids.

The product lines include a broad selection of flow ranges, optimised materials of construction, and a full range of accessories that make Macnaught Flow Measurement products easy to select, easy to install, and easy to maintain.

For more information call (02) 9567 0401 or visit macnaught.com.au 64 September 2011

AustralianMining

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMBONSEP_11.pdf

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1

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AM.SEP11.PG068.pdf

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66

19/8/11,

7:54

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SAFETY

Making a choice on site A number of things should be considered when choosing drug testing equipment.

T

he resources sector is one of the most heavily monitored and thorough industries when it comes to drug and alcohol screening at work.

Because you can not have people essentially mentally incapacitated while they operate multi-million dollar heavy equipment.

But the industry is finding it difficult to operate when it comes face to face with substances that can not be detected with most drug testing paraphernalia.

While the majority of miners are unlikely to take drugs before work, substances such as Kronic have made testing on sites difficult for the minority who do.

On top of this is the debate between urine and oral workplace drug testing.

According to Medvet Laboratories, which supplies drug screening programs, “this decision is a difficult one of the Australian mining industry�. While testing is mandatory at all sites, companies need to

be aware of their many options as “there is no one size fits all solution to workplace drug testing programs,�

Medvet national operations and technical operations manager Steve Korkoneas explained. “The success of a drug testing program often depends on selecting the most appropriates method of test for the organisation. “While both urine and oral fluid tests will detect cannabis, cocaine, opiates and amphetamines, there are advantages and limitations to each method,� he said.

Korkoneas said businesses should consider the pros and cons of both.

Currently urine testing is the most accurate and popular method for drug testing and is used by around three quarters of all Australian workplaces.

Urine testing is more cost effective than oral fluid tests and can trace drugs that have been ingested more than 24 hours prior to testing. “Results can be determined onsite in five to ten minutes with 98% accu-

racy,� Korkoneas said.

However, some organisations may find urine testing much too invasive.

In these cases, there is also oral or breath testing, which involves taking a mouth swab or breathing into an analyser and is considered less instrusive. “Just like urine tests, onsite results can be obtained in five to ten minutes.�

However, these tests have a much shorter window of drug detection than urine testing. “It can only test for cannabis used in the last four hours,�

Korkoneas added.

A company’s drug and alcohol policy, and the testing equipment used, should be specific to the workplace and its different job requirements. “For example, does it cover pre-employment, random, postincidence or ‘for cause’ test?�

Tests should be tailored to the Breathalysers, such Aust Dynatech’s, are less invasive than urine testing. company, he added.

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

Nepean-Mining-Ad-07[ALMU5E].pdf

Page

1

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Your partner for high value, innovative and sustainable mining solutions NEPEAN Longwall, NEPEAN Conveyors and NEPEAN Power provide an extensive portfolio of mining products and services.

Each can independently deliver unique, high quality results, or as one company, we offer a one stop mining solution.

Visit us on Stands #920 and #3416 at AIMEX 6-9 September 2011 Sydney Showgrounds inside Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush.

Supplying the Australian mining industry with INBYE速 longwall coal clearance systems and related underground mining services.

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Complete conveying system solutions and support services for surface mining, underground coal, hard rock mining, port facilities and process plants.

Manufacturing, supplying and overhauling custom mining and industrial electrical equipment for surface and underground mining.

AM.SEP11.PG070.pdf

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68

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SAFETY

Safety doesn’t have to stop on site The mining industry has created a number of grants to fund safety innovations in the wider community.

T

he Australian mining industry is recognised around the world for its high safety benchmarks and constant innovation.

It is the envy of many other countries resources industries, such as the US, for even its minimum safety standards.

And now this industry is aiming to transfer this focus on safety to its supporting communities.

Grants of $13 000 from the mining industry will support the development of health and safety innovations across the NSW Central West region.

Dubbed the Mudgee Community Health and Safety Grants Program, it is helping to bring to life technology such as digital apps to record and share examples of health and safety practices, as well as thermal imaging cameras to help fight bushfires. The NSW Mine Safety Advisory

NSW Minerals Council CEO Nikki Williams says the grants will aid the development of technology.

Council (MASC) awarded the grants to ten school and community projects at a ceremony in Mudgee.

NSW Minerals Council CEO Nikki Williams stated

that the industry is working towards bringing its OH&S culture closer to the community.

“There’s no reason why a responsible attitude to health and safety should be restricted

to mine sites. We hope that this direct investment in ideas from the community will help to bridge the gap between home and the workplace and encourage people to be healthy

and safe in their daily lives.”

Williams explained that all mining companies have extensive systems and plans in place to responsibly manage employee fatigue onsite, but that safety doesn’t have to stop at the workplace.

“That’s why we’re encouraging everyone that gets behind the wheel to think about their own plan to stay alert and get themselves and their passengers safely from A to B. It can be as simple as stopping to rest after every two hours on the road.

“The diversity of ideas for improving local health and safety, which we’re recognising, show Mudgee residents understand these messages and are thinking ‘outside the square’ for safety.”

The NSW Minerals Council works through MASC with regulators and unions to develop a better health and safety culture for the industry.

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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.

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AM.SEP11.PG072.pdf

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POWER GENERATION & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Driving A

record mining boom is currently fuelling billions of dollars into the Australian economy. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed that locally, miners are planning to increase spending by 86% to $92 billion in 2011-2012.

Yet recent analysis from CommSec, shows that Australian mining has become less – not more – efficient over the past five years. Mining has been given a wake-up call and senior management is now focused on how to optimise this investment, boost productivity and ensure the mine site operates efficiently round the clock.

With industry accounting for 33% of energy consumption in Australia, consistent, high quality energy is a must - if the power goes out the whole plant can come to a standstill. A reliable power supply is crucial to productivity, profits and project delivery and mines are now looking at new technologies to safeguard and protect their power supplies.

Schneider Electric recently acquired Areva Distribution and is a well-established name in the design and manufacture of substations and mobile substations. These substations house all the power needs of the mine site including main switchboards, medium voltage switchgear, AC & DC auxiliary supply systems, SCADA, RTU and PLC systems.

Fixed site substations, often referred to as “Powerhouses” or “E houses,” are prefabricated and transported to site. However, more recently attention has turned to transportable substations, which are prefabricated to order, fully equipped at the factory and delivered to the site, ready to ‘plug and play’.

CRITICAL POWER With the remoteness of many of Australia’s mines, substations are crucial.

So a prefabricated solution reduces the work that has to be done by the client’s own staff or contractors in terms of fabrication, testing and commissioning. This saves time and money and gives them peace of mind knowing their product is ready to go.”

Mobile substations are always made to order to meet the variable demands of the development and environmental conditions. Rigorous testing prior to departure means only minor work is required on delivery.

To install on site, mining companies simply prep the ground and connect the metal stump foundation.

A prefabricated solution takes away the on-site work, and decreases the

number of contractors required to wire the installation, reducing complexity from a project building schedule.

“We will send a crew to the site to commission the substation. We’ll secure it, install the isolators, and transformers,” Utteridge said.

“Medium to complex projects may require up to three weeks to make the mobile substation fully operational before handover to our customer.

This includes all stress testing on-site.”

Stand alone Emergency Mobile Substations are permanently mounted on a semi-trailer. These are ideal for delivering substations within the shortest times and providing maintenance without power interruption or even

Driving critical power on site Substations are vital to the operation of any mine site. The substations are used to provide power for conveyors, fans and ventilation, pumps, extraction, processing equipment and other system components. In addition it supplies power for the heating, cooling and lighting requirements for administration and living quarters.

“There is a trend for mining industry clients to ask for prefabricated solutions,” Warren Utteridge, Schneider Electric’s operations manager – primary substations said.

“Some of the sites we go to are literally in the middle of nowhere.

70 September 2011

AustralianMining

Prefabricated substations can quickly be assembled on site.

restoring power after damage in emergency situations.

Procurement decisions One of the biggest tasks of any manufacturing plant expansion is the design, plan and build of a brick or concrete substation. Common complaints from project managers include high costs of labour and material, occupational risks and the long completion time.

A pre-built, fully tested power house solution needs only to be bolted down and cable connected. It can be put into service within weeks.

Schneider Electric works closely with mining companies and understands their critical power needs.

Utteridge stated that “MEPS (Minimum energy performance) requirements are mandatory. We ensure compliance in the design of the substation.

“Some of our mining clients are situated in remote areas with hot, dry and dusty climates, so our substations are designed to withstand harsh environments.

“For example, LNG projects off the coast of Australia required a fully welded construction to protect against Zone 2 hazardous locations and cyclonic ratings, as the substations are exposed to tropical conditions.

“Other clients include ore extractors, where the hot environmental conditions mean substations need to be resistant to corrosion and high surface temperatures.”

A prefabricated solution also represents a fast and convenient way to upgrade an installation. www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMGRUSEP_11.pdf

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Your perfect partner in mining

With years of experience in water process, Grundfos can provide you with a wide range of quality, value for money pumping solutions for mining applications.

One of the most important goals of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern mining industry is to minimise the impact of their operation on the local environment. To achieve this, mines aim to maximise the use of recycled process water and reduce fresh water consumption and treated water discharge. Grundfos can offer an extensive range of CR vertical multistage pump solutions, which can efficiently and reliably recirculate large amounts of water from the processing plant.

Backed by a National Service Support Network, Grundfos is your perfect partner in mining.

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AM.SEP11.PG074.pdf

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POWER GENERATION & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Green power The development of biofuel transformers is giving the mining industry a greener edge.

A

BB have released new eco-friendly transformers for the Australian mining and resources market.

The power and automation group have officially launched the BIOTEMP filled power and distribution transformers as part of its ‘ABB Green Transformers for a better world 2011’ campaign.

BIOTEMP is a biodegradable, dielectric, insulating fluid that is also fire resistant.

According to ABB, it is a natural ester-based fluid made from renewable vegetablebased oil that provides greater environmental benefits, as well as improved transformer performance compared to the more traditional mineral oil dielectric fluids.

It also provides increased overload capabilities without compromising insulation lifespan under normal

loading conditions. Additionally, ABB say improvements in fire safety performance have seen the fluid establish a firepoint of more than 300° Celsius.

BIOTEMP is also listed as a “less flammable” dielectric fluid by Factory Mutual (FM Global), and is classified as a “less hazardous” dielectric medium in respect to fire hazards, by Underwriters Laboratories.

The power company says that transformers filled with BIOTEMP can be used in environmentally sensitive areas and confined spaces on site without additional fire safety requirements.

Releasing the natural fluid filled transformers is part of ABB’s wider ‘green transformer’ program in Australia.

ABB says this program is focused on reducing energy

losses, improve efficiencies, minimising environmental impacts and increasing overload ability.

The fluid was developed as a stable, natural vegetable based oil with appropriate electrical properties.

It is made from high-oleic oils such as sunflower and safflower.

It also provides increased oxidation stability, increasing transformer life when compared to other natural ester fluids.

According to ABB, its ongoing research and development efforts on this technology have also enabled the use of ester fluids to be safely expanded from distribution and small power transformers into the larger high voltage power transformer range, where significantly different design criteria are needed.

Increased fire safety compared to other biofuel transformers.

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72 September 2011

AustralianMining

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMMSASEP_11.pdf

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N

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MSA Instinct i-wear Z4 - Polarised Lens

On the field I rely on my instinct, at work, you can rely on instinct. - Jamie Soward

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DEALER SUPPORT

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Introducing the broadest product line in the mining industry—and the infrastructure and support network to serve every mining region in the world.

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© 2011 Caterpillar All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” and the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission. Cat and Caterpillar are registered trademarks of Caterpillar Inc., 100 N.E. Adams, Peoria IL 61629.

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AD_AMCAT1SEP_11.pdf

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DRAGLINE

TRACK-TYPE TRACTOR HIGHWALL MINER

LOCOMOTIVE & RAIL SERVICES

SCRAPER

UTILITY TRUCK

WHEEL LOADER

SURFACE MINING: COAL

ROOM & PILLAR FEEDER BREAKER

ROOF BOLTER

UTILITY LOADER

FACE HAULAGE

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ROOF SUPPORT

AFC SYSTEM

LONGWALL BELT SYSTEM

ROOF SUPPORT CARRIER

PLOW

ROOF SUPPORT

LONGWALL

AFC SYSTEM

WHEREVER THERE’S MINING , WE’RE THERE.

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AM.SEP11.PG078.pdf

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POWER GENERATION & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Powering away on site Rockwell has unveiled its latest uninterruptable power supplies.

R

ockwell has launched its Bulletin 1609 range of Uninterruptable Power Supplies, which are designed specifically for the industrial market.

The range includes three distinct series for application requirements up to 10kVA. According to the company, with the most comprehensive set of industrial features for single-phase applications up to 500VA, the Bulletin 1609U and S industrial series were designed for industrial environment control panels.

The U and S series provide surge and filter functions in addition to bridging dips, sags, and brief power losses.

Rockwell also has AllenBradley UPSs to assist in preventing data loss, extended unscheduled downtimes and damage to equipment.

These UPSs have DIN rail and panel mount capabilities,

Designed for industrial environments.

an optional 50째C battery as well as hardwired input/output connections.

The U and P units include network management and advanced communications capabilities such as Ethernet and RS232 to monitor and control a wide range of devices.

Devices can also be controlled

via optional dry contact I/O communication cables.

These units can communicate battery status to PLCs via integrated dry contacts.

The Bulletin 1609-U Commercial range is designed to increase protection and reduce downtime of critical process applications by sup-

plying consistent power. The units come in traditional tower frame form factor and are available in 750, 1000, and 1500 VA models.

High wattage, pure sine wave output, 16 segment LED visual display, and intelligent battery management make the UPSs above average.

Additional features include automatic voltage regulation; network management; USB connectivity; front access servicing and predictive failure notification.

The Bulletin 1609-P series feature high density double conversion on-line UPSs for the industrial work environment.

The range includes 310kVA power outputs for applications requiring 208/230V. The 3kVA is also available with 120V output.

These units are typically assembled in a tower configuration and installed outside of a control panel.

Key features of these UPSs are their hot swappable battery packs, extended runtimes, double conversion online topology, and rack convertible and network management capabilities.

Trio Reliable long range Ethernet Data Radios Versatile Ethernet and Serial data connectivity Optmized over-the-air with smart data transport Secure and reliable wireless communication with AES encryption Cost effective licenced and licence free solutions Common power supply through wide operating voltage (10-30v DC) Advanced commissioning and diagnostics tools Designed and made in Australia for Australian conditions

J-Series Licence Free Ethernet & Serial Data Radio

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Phone: or visit our website:

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76 September 2011

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

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POWER GENERATION & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Power in the Pilbara Innovative GE turbines are allowing for the fast tracking of Fortescue’s Solomon Hub, Australian Mining reports.

R

The dual fuel turbines can run on diesel and gas.

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emote mine sites are often like cities in the desert. With so many operations going on at once, and everything constantly moving, they need heavy duty, reliable and efficient sources of power to make sure everything doesn’t suddenly grind to a halt.

Previously, mines could simply use a number of diesel power generators to keep everything running, but with the carbon tax looming and its reduction of the diesel fuel rebate scheme, this is set to cost mining companies more than ever before.

So mines are now looking to a number of fairly innovative approaches for how they keep their sites operating as they become more aware of the

ways in which they can actively reduce their carbon foot print, and reduce their pain under the carbon tax.

Some companies, such as Galaxy Resources, have turned to solar power to supply some of its demands.

Others like Fortescue are using an innovative hybrid approach.

As part of its massive fast track initiative, the miner has just signed a deal with GE Energy for dual fuel aeroderivative gas turbine packages for its US$ 8.4 billion Solomon Hub operations.

According to Fortescue Metals’ director of development, Peter Meurs, the miner needed “to rapidly develop our Solomon Hub and enable secure, low-cost production of iron ore for years to come, so we required a reliable and efficient power plant, GE was able to develop a fast track solution which met these demanding requirements for the hub”.

Speaking to GE Energy’s sales director for power generation, Steve Graham, he told Australian Mining that it will supply two LM6000-PF

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.SEP11.PG082.pdf

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MATERIALS HANDLING

Spying a

SOLUTION

Conveyor operators are now able to inspect their belts quicker, safer and in real time.

I

f a mining operation were a human body, then conveyor belts would be the veins.

They carry all the important material to where it is needed in the quickest and most efficient way possible, but what happens when they stop?

A belt breakage instantly stops operations and results in businesses hemorrhaging lost revenues.

Mines typically inspect belt conditions by walking along the belt, but this is a hazardous and time consuming jobs as belt length can be ten kilometers long, and some parts may not be accessible at all.

Miners often outsource belt inspection to specialised companies, with inspection periods varying from a week to even a month.

This approach is expensive and can be unreliable due to the limitations of manual inspection.

Australian company BeltSpy has developed an inspection system that utilises machine vision technology to monitor and maintain conveyor belts in underground mines.

It is designed for use during production hours under full conveyor load conditions.

Beltspy’s inspection system is comprised of a high speed digital camera for every belt (with two cameras for double sided installation), a dedicated underground server for each belt, a single workstation, and associated components.

80 September 2011

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The system can monitor and record belt damage in real time during full usage.

The system uses an image processing algorithm to automatically detect and flag clip joins; splice joins; damaged belt surfaces; and damaged edges, which collectively come under a Points of Interest (POI) umbrella.

The system maintains these precise belt metrics relative to a reference location (RL).

The locations of the POI’s distance from the RL are compiled by the system, providing instant access to the POI images.

It also allows for sequential and random belt image browsing.

The single workstation located on the surface allows an operator to inspect the carry and back sides of all belts in the mine by analysing high resolution images anywhere along the belt, and access to images

of any flagged locations. The operator’s workstation uses a two-monitor configuration for both carry side belt inspection or a three-monitor configuration if both sides of the belt need to be inspected.

The first monitor is used to control system activity and depicts the graphical representation of the conveyor with all the POI placed on it, while the last two monitors focus on rendering belt fragments (around one metre in length) for carry and back sides, with both images synchronised.

Flagging can be carried out manually or automatically.

An analysis tool allows the potential damage to be flagged during full production periods, allowing for conveyor downtimes to be fully focused on maintenance activities.

It also allows for online monitoring of damage, providing predictive maintenance capabilities.

Operators can also visually compare two images of the same location taken at two different times, so that the user can analyse historical changes in the belt’s condition.

The operator can take full belt images at any time and the system can be scheduled to take belt images automatically at pre-defined times every day.

There is no limit of the number of belt condition images that can be stored, with images uploaded in approximately 100 milliseconds.

The BeltSpy system also allows for the monitoring of the development of failing belts in real time until downtimes can be scheduled.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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1

1 - Rockfall barriers Our flexible rockfall barriers are designed for impact energies ranging from 100 to 5’000 kJ. They are successfully tested in a 1:1 field test and approved in accordance with the Swiss and European Guidelines ETAG 27 for rockfall barriers.

Protection from hazards in mining operations 2 - Rock slope stabilisation and protection The TECCO® mesh stabilises steep, unconsolidated soil and rock slopes. The robust SPIDER® spiral rope net prevents block break-outs on rock slopes.

2

3 - Rockfall drape / Rockfall netting The TECCO® mesh, SPIDER® spiral rope net and DELTAX® G80/2 can also be used as a drapery system to control the bounce height of falling rocks.

4 - Ground support The MESHA® installation handler provides a fast, safe and fully mechanised installation of TECCO® and DELTAX® mesh for ground support in underground mining and tunnelling.

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PUMPS

As hose pumps have no seals, valve, diaphragms, stators, glands or other accessories to replace, it means that the pumps can be easily maintained in place without the need to remove and then transport the pump to a workshop.

Only the hose itself requires occasional replacement, which is a simple task that can be carried out in less than an hour.

Other innovations built into the hose pumps include a leak zone, which has been created between the pump head bearings and the gearbox bearing, which provides protection as well as an early warning indicator in the

unlikely event of a lubricant seal failure.

Additionally, a transparent inspection window gives the operator easy access for set up and maintenance, halving the time it takes to carry out these jobs on similar pumps.

A solid issue Ultimately, Bredel state that these peristaltic hose pumps provide contamination free metering and pumping, and have proven particularly successful in mining applications.

The pumps provide performance rates of up to 80 cubic metres per hour and pressures of 16 bar.

Minerals processing places a heavy toll on centrifugal pumps.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AustralianMining

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AM.SEP11.PG086.pdf

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DUST, VENTILATION & FIRE SUPPRESSION

Less water, MORE RESULTS Using dry fogs to control dust is cutting water use on site.

R

oad and stockpile dust has always been a headache to suppress in the mining industry.

However, while it is a constant problem it has typically required a fairly straight forward approach.

While roads and open areas will always generate the highest dust lift off, handling materials through transfer points still kicks high measures of dust into the air.

Fugitive dust is displaced at crushers, transfer points, and stackers, and using mists is common practice.

All ore types require a Dust Extinction Moisture (DEM) level that will control the fugitive dust at this transfer stage.

But some products simply don’t like water, and must be transferred at lower moisture levels than the product’s natural DEM levels.

This is where PDX comes into play as it lowers the DEM without adding more moisture.

High pressure, low water volume fog systems, know as “Dry Fog” have been used in iron ore mines to overcome this fugitive dust problem.

Dry fog is designed to match the airborne fugitive dust particle size with a water molecule, pairing the water

84 September 2011

Matching the ‘dry fog’ nozzle to the ore’s particular DEM level at transfer points is key.

with the dust and dropping it from the air.

Matching the nozzle size to fit each ore’s dust properties is a key element in the efficiency of the dry fog systems.

Over wetting of product at the transfer points can lead to blockages and belt slip.

Rainstorm were asked by Port Adelaide to build a solution to prevent dust escaping

AustralianMining

from ship’s holds during the proposed loading of iron ore from IMX Resources.

Using a “rotary tipper” attached to a container crane, the ore is discharged in the lower level of the hold.

The license requirement demanded no visible dust.

Rainstorm’s idea was to mist “dry fog” down into the hold driven using its Portable

Fog System (PFS). The Portable Fog System is custom-built to match into the loading plans and ship types.

It commissioned the system earlier in the year, with several ships now successfully loaded without dust events.

The fog is created just inside the hatch where it drifts down towards the tipper, and is drawn into the dust parti-

cles as the tipper rises out.

The unit is run only when the tipper is inside the ship hold and in short bursts, and can be operated by handheld remote or incorporated into the tipping crane’s controls.

The success of the first PFS provided learning opportunities and improvements which spawned several other projects for ship loading fog systems plus a modular mini portable fog system used on mobile crusher plants.

A new PFS for a ship loading system in Darwin is near completion and will be operational later in the year.

The PFS have “plug and play” fog capabilities, from single phase, and use minimal amounts of water.

They are packed with four outlet lines providing between 8 litres and 16 litres of water per minute under high pressure. Nozzles are interchangeable with variable pressure to tune the dry fog to dust particle size. After being mounted upon the crusher rig with clamps, the spray nozzles can then be set towards the dust generation spots.

Using low volume water under pressure this way removes complications caused by ore being over wet.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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We’re behind you when you need us If you’re responsible for protecting your people and property from the threat of fire, it’s nice to know you’re not alone.

It is estimated that 60% of businesses that suffer a serious fire fail to recover*. So even when lives are saved, jobs are lost. Reduce the likelihood of this by being prepared.

Wormald, one of the leading fire protection companies in Australasia, can design and implement fire protection systems customisable to suit a range of situations – whether you operate inside an office, classroom, healthcare facility, warehouse, mine or even a marine environment – our products and services are fully compliant with Australian industry standards. We make fire protection simple and reliable.

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PM

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DUST, VENTILATION & FIRE SUPPRESSION

Hitting the dusty trail Reducing dust onsite is increasing worker health.

D

ust is an inevitable part of the Australian mining and quarrying industry.

Unless you’re digging in the mud, it is unavoidable.

It is also a serious health and environmental hazard and causes a number of headaches on site.

Especially in the case of silica or coal dust – which caused approximately 2700 deaths from the Black Lung in China alone.

Silicosis is also a re-emerging problem in Western Australia, according to the Australian Workers Union.

Research has shown that current standards for dust protection are not being met in some Australian mines.

It also showed that many mine workers have a misunderstanding as to what is and is not a potentially hazardous dusty environment.

While the onus is on mine managers to reduce dust exposure through dust suppression measures such as wetting and proper mine ventilation, even simple things such as winding up a window when working in air condi-

Dust is an unavoidable aspect of mining in Australia.

tioned cabs can severely reduce exposure to inhalable dust.

Donaldson Australasia is now solving this potential problem by creating tailored dust extraction and reclaiming systems for the mining

industry as well as plant and fleet filtration systems, to keep vehicles, and their drives, running in the dusty environment.

According to the company, the application of their tailored dust

collection systems reduce dust emissions to levels that meet, or even exceed, stringent health, safety, and environmental legislation.

“The tailored solutions reclaim fine crusher dust for re-seal to provide a return on investment and in most cases can even supersede water usage as well as costly dust suppressing agents such as citrus foam,” the company stated.

“This is made possible due to Donaldson’s range of dust controlling and suppressing dalmatic insertible, dalamatic cased, powercore cartridge collectors, and siloair models.”

This technology is also available for heavy duty mobile equipment such as air intake products, engine liquid filters, and heavy duty exhaust systems such as filters, cleaner housings and output products such as mufflers.

Engine liquid filters include lube, fuel, engine coolant and hydraulic fuels as well.

It also provides onsite system audits and analysis of air quality, volume and energy efficiency.

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88 September 2011

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AustralianMining

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AM.SEP11.PG092.pdf

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

The 8th Australian Mining PROSPECT AWARDS We take a look at the best the mining industry has to offer at this year’s Prospect Mining Awards.

I

t’s that time of year again.

When the Australian mining industry comes together for one night to recognise, reward, and celebrate its greatest and brightest.

Co-hosted by AIMEX, and with more categories and entrants than ever before, the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards will be huge.

Looking at the list of finalists over the next few pages, it really is an innovative group of people and products.

Last year saw nearly one hundred entrants across twelve categories.

This year we had nearly double that number of entrants across sixteen categories.

While some would recognise many of the categories,

we added a few new ones such as Young Achiever, Mining’s Woman of the Year, and Community Interaction of the Year to try and encompass all facets of the industry.

We’ve also added a Miner of the Year award, where Drake International and Australian Mining look at those who have really excelled in the industry.

At the awards celebration next week, you’ll see exciting new discoveries and exploration, mining technology that was recently highlighted on the ABC’s New Inventors program, and miners that are making a name for themselves both in Australia and internationally. There has also been a huge focus on safety and

Centennial Coal’s Bob Cameron won Contribution to Mining.

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innovation. Australian Mining had its most difficult year to date when it had pick the very best of the best for the Innovative Mining Award, which had close to forty entries.

Not too far behind this for the sheer size of response were entries for the Excellence in OH&S category, which doubled from last year.

The Prospect Award’s new categories – Mining’s Woman of the Year and Community Interaction Award – also filled quickly, as we were swarmed with entries.

One of the categories has also been updated.

Formerly known as the Metaliferrous Mine of the Year Award, it has now been changed to Hard Rock Mine of the Year.

This award has seen operations from coast to coast enter in hopes of winning.

However, it is not just the entries into the awards which have grown in size.

We’ve also grown our group of independent judges.

In addition to Colin Donegan, Rod Elvish, Brian White, and Eric Garner, the former head of the CSIRO’s Minerals Down Under Flagships (and one time keynote speaker at the awards) – Peter Lily, and former Tasmanian Miner-

als Council chief Bob Calvert, have also joined our esteemed judging panel.

Head of Xstrata Coal’s Australian operations and chairman of the NSW Minerals Council – Mick Buffier – will also make an appearance as our keynote speaker, and will be joined by another surprise speaker on the night.

But you don’t have to be a finalist to enjoy the night.

Come see our stand at AIMEX, and join us and AIMEX in celebrating mining’s best and brightest.

A look back As we look forward to these awards and the part it plays in the massive AIMEX show, we should take a brief look

back at the event last year and those who made a real impact.

Last year’s event saw Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek mine sweep the awards, winning both Metaliferrous Mine of the Year and the award for the Australian Mine of the Year.

Unsurprisingly, the junior miner that was on everyone’s lips – Sandfire Resources – took out the Explorer of the Year Award.

Play your part These are just two of the big names which were recognised at last year’s event.

So who will win this year?

And who has been voted the Australian Mine of the Year?

Attend the night, be part of it and find out!

Vince Sorrenti welcomes Rio Tinto on to the stage. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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The 8th annual

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

AUSTRALIAN MINE OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by MMD Atlas Iron – Wodinga Iron Ore Project Atlas Iron joins the finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Wodinga Iron Ore Project.

The deposits which underpin Wodgina were discovered in late 2008, just 18 months later the project was in production, resulting in a six-fold increase in Atlas’ total production rate to six million tonnes last year.

Wodgina was developed for less than $20 million, and today it is generating about $30 million a month in free cash flow, according to Atlas.

Part of this extraordinary success is due to the groundbreaking deal Atlas struck with a fellow miner, Global Advanced Metals, which operates a tantalum mining and processing operation on the same tenements that host the Wodgina Iron Ore deposits.

It gave Atlas access to the mining and accommodation infrastructure at Wodgina, meaning it could minimise its upfront costs and also accelerate development.

It has helped drive down Atlas’ costs to $40 to $43 a tonne, compared with current prices of iron ore delivered to China.

92 September 2011

MMG Century Mine MMG Century is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its safety, training and improvements at its MMG Century Mine.

MMG Century is reportedly Australia’s largest zinc mine, producing approximately 500,000 tonnes of contained zinc concentrate annually.

The mine’s indigenous employment and training programs are recognised industry-wide for its success, and today, about 25 per cent of the operation’s workforce identities are from local indigenous communities.

This is one of the highest rates of indigenous employment at any Australian mine, according to MMG. The mine has also made significant improvements to its safety and health performance over the last year two years.

Since mid-2009, its Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) has fallen from about 12 to 6.8 in June 2011.

This improvement has been driven by focus on creating a culture of safety leadership.

AustralianMining

OM Manganese – Bootu Creek Mine OM Manganese joins the finalists in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its achievements at the Bootu Creek Mine.

OM (Manganese) (OMM) is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASX listed OM Holdings (OMH), an international diversified minerals group with its foundations in metals trading.

It owns and operates the Bootu Creek Manganese project located north of Tenant Creek, Northern Territory.

The Bootu Creek Manganese project has reportedly established itself as one of the major manganese mines in the world, with the capacity to produce on million tonnes of manganese annually.

In 2010 a full year production of 836,361 tonnes at a grade of 36.7 per cent was recorded, and the company is focused to achieve a full year annual production rate and export of one million tonnes.

Bootu Creek’s manganese product has been exclusively marketed by the OMH Group’s own trading division, and also through its Singapore based trading activities.

Xstrata Zinc – Mt Isa Operations

Xstrata Coal QLD – Oaky Creek North Mine

Xstrata Zinc is putting forth its Mount Isa Mines zinc operations for the Australian Mine of the Year.

Prior to Xstrata’s acquisition of Mount Isa Mines in 2003, the zinc lead operation had been in decline.

Under Xstrata Zinc’s leadership, the operations have now become the largest producer of zinc concentrate within the group, which represents one of the world’s largest producers of zinc.

The increase in production has been significant, with current levels two and a half times greater than in previous years.

While investments into the expansion of its facilities have been a key driver of this growth in capacity, it was achieved while also improving the safety performance, operational efficiency and environmental standards of the operation.

Around 85 per cent of the zinc in concentrate is exported to Asia and Xstrata zinc smelters in Europe.

Xstrata Coal Queensland is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Oaky Creek North Mine.

In 2010 a range of initiatives and innovations clicked together, and Oaky Creek North reportedly became one of the world’s highest producing coal mines, at the same time as it became one of the safest, with industry-leading production and safety numbers.

The workforce was engaged under a new Mine Operating System, in which big advances were made in development of the workforce, and technical problems that had held up full operating capacity were eventually resolved.

Equipment redesign, along with workforce changes both within and from outside the core, Oaky Creek workforce have been bedded down and now the operation boasts a skilled and committed team, that are achieving significant production and safety figures.

Oaky’s coal output is reportedly up by 7.6 per cent on 2009 figures, and with 56.9 per cent since 2007. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Innovation

through proven experience

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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.

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

HARD ROCK MINE OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Atlas Copco Atlas Iron – Wodinga mine West Australian miner Atlas Iron has put forth its Wodinga iron ore mine for Hard Rock Mine of the Year. The Wodinga Iron Ore Project has been at the heart of the immense success enjoyed by its owner Atlas Iron in the past two years.

The iron ore deposits which underpin Wodinga were discovered in late 2008.

Just 18 months later the project was in production, resulting in a six-fold increase in Atlas’ total production rate to six million tonnes a year in 2010.

Wodinga was developed for less than $20 million and today it is generating about $30 million a month in free cash flow.

Part of this extraordinary success is due to the groundbreaking deal Atlas struck with a fellow miner, Global Advanced Metals, which operates a tantalum mining and processing operation on the same tenements that host the Wodinga Iron Ore deposits.

The deal gave Atlas access to the mining and accommodation infrastructure at Wodinga, meaning it could minimise its upfront costs and accelerate development.

94 September 2011

Kagara Ltd – Zinc and Copper mines Kagara has nominated its zinc and copper operations, in particular Balcooma, for Hard Rock Mine of the Year.

At its Mt Garnet, Balcooma and Mungana underground operations, Kagara posted a 121% increase in production for the June quarter, reflecting strong improvements at its operations and highlighting the potential for increased future growth.

It is currently focused on improving these current operating margins and extracting even greater value from its zinc and copper operations.

For its zinc business, Kagara is aiming to double production levels from around 40 000 tonnes per annum to more than 120 000 tonnes per annum within the next two to three years.

The company posted zinc production of 15,709 tonnes for the June Quarter at a reduced cash cost of US$0.74/lb, equating to an annualised production run rate of around 60,000 tonnes for the year.

AustralianMining

MMG – MMG Century mine MMG is nominating its Century Zinc mine for Hard Rock Mine of the Year for a number of reasons.

The miner has highlighted its slashing of the total recordable injury frequency rate, which has dropped from approximately 12 in mid 2009 to 6.8 in mid 2011, due to a range of new safety initiatives, training programs, and holding annual health challenges.

The MMG Century mine also draws nearly a quarter of its workforce from local indigenous groups, and holds PreApprenticeship courses to help prepare young indigenous people to complete a traineeship or apprenticeship at the mine.

Importantly, the Century mine has also just recorded its best ever quarter of zinc production.

In the December quarter of last year, it produced 135 356 tonnes of contained zinc concentrate, a 9% increase from the December quarter of 2008.

For the year, it managed to generate 510 590 tonnes of zinc concentrate.

This was above production guidance, and despite the difficult 2009/10 wet season which caused shipping delays at the Karumba Port operation.

OM Manganese – Bootu Creek

Xstrata Zinc – Mount Isa Mines zinc operations

OM Manganese has put forward its Bootu Creek operation for Hard Rock Mine of the Year.

The Bootu Creek manganese mine has established itself as one of the major manganese mines in the world, with the capacity to produce a million tonnes of iron ore annually.

In 2010, a full year production of 836 361 tonnes at a grade of 36.7% was recorded.

The miner is currently focused on achieving a full year annual production rate and export of one million tonnes, despite facing setbacks due to the heavy wet season which flooded its open pits at the start of the year.

OM Manganese has also taken significant steps towards site rehabilitation, and has established around 200 hectares of rehabilitated landform, with aims to increase this total to 300 hectares in 2011.

It is also focused on actively engaging with the community.

Xstrata Zinc is putting forth its Mount Isa Mines zinc operations for Hard Rock Mine of the Year.

Prior to Xstrata’s acquisition of Mount Isa Mines in 2003, the zinc lead operation had been in decline.

Under Xstrata Zinc’s leadership, the operations have now become the largest producer of zinc concentrate within the group, which represents one of the world’s largest producers of zinc.

The increase in production has been significant, with current levels two and a half times greater than in 2003.

While investments into the expansion of its facilities have been a key driver of this growth in capacity, it was achieved while also improving the safety performance, operational efficiency and environmental standards of the operation.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

COAL MINE OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by SEW Eurodrive Coal & Allied Industries – Hunter Valley Operations Coal & Allied Industries Hunter Valley Operations joins the finalists in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect awards, for its economic contribution and commitment to invest in long term programmes for communities.

The mine has invested more than two million in 2010, and has supported over 175 projects. These projects were partnerships, generating greater benefits from the work being done by a wide range of groups in the Upper Hunter Valley. Which include; Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids and the 100% Knights which the Coal & Allied look forward to continuing in the future.

The Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids project was launched in 2010, in partnership with Hunter Medical Research Institute, the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and the community. It was designed to tackle obesity by helping fathers to lose weight for their children.

The 100% Knights launched in February 2011, in partnership with the Newcastle Knights, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and the National Rugby League.

According to Coal & Allied, with this programme, it will contribute $225,000 over the course of the three-year programme, which is designed to create pathways towards successful careers for Aboriginal students in years 10, 11 and 12 from eight schools in the Upper Hunter Valley.

96 September 2011

AustralianMining

Xstrata Coal QLD – Oaky Creek North Xstrata Coal Queensland’s Oaky Creek North has earned a spot amongst the finalists in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its safest and most productive year in 2010.

Last year a range of initiatives and innovations clicked together and Oaky Creek North reportedly became one of the world’s highest producing coal mines, in addition to one of the safest, with industryleading production and safety numbers.

The workforce was engaged under a new Mine Operating System, where big advances were made in development of the workforce, and technical problems that had held up full operating capacity were resolved.

The mine’s coal output was up by 7.6 per cent on 2009 figures and 56.9 per cent since 2007.

According to Oaky Creek, the ROM output for 2010 was 8,736,000 tonnes and in September 2010 alone was 1.12 million tonnes.

The mine’s workforce numbers have reportedly increased by 25 per cent in 2010 over 2009.

The Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) was down by 66 per cent, to just one per million hours worked in 2010. This represents an average reduction from 2007 onwards of 47.2 per cent, year-on-year despite the increase in inexperienced miners in the Oaky Creek North workforce, according to Oaky Creek.

Centennial Coal – Myuna Colliery Centennial Coal’s Myuna Colliery is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect awards, for its safe, productive coal mine that attracts and retains quality experienced employees.

The mine does this by actively valuing the health and safety of the employees, encouraging a positive workforce that efficiently and effectively produces coal.

It has in place a program that emphasises a ‘Safe Behaviour’ culture. The latest program was initiated in 2009 which involves training and lectures by both Centennial personnel and invited speakers. The mine has reportedly reduced its Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIFR) from over 30 four years ago, down to a LTIFR of two.

According to Myuna, the mine not only has an excellent safety record, but also has an injury management that was rated highly within the NSW Coal Mining Industry; which was identified in a recent benchmarking audit.

Myuna is located on the shores of Lake Macquarie, Australia’s largest salt water lake, located less than 30 minutes from many surf beaches, sporting grounds, shopping centres, schools, universities and hospitals.

Over the last three years the mine’s employee retention rate is 100 per cent and over the last four years, only one employees has left the mine to work at another mine. That employee has since returned to the company, according to Myuna.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

MINERALS PROCESSING PLANT OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Schenck Process Sinclair Nickel Processing Plant Xstrata Nickel has put forward its Sinclair nickel mine’s process plant for Minerals Processing Plant of the Year.

Located near Leonora, in Western Australia, the mine has a state of the art nickel process plant which includes a single stage jaw crusher (spillage free); one sag mill and re-grind ball mill; flotation circuit with a concentrate thickener; tailings thickener, and a state of the art filtration circuit as well as a concentrate storage facility with a truck weigh bridge.

The plant produces high grade nickel concentrate, which is generated from the underground mine at the site.

98 September 2011

Outotec Mining – Tiwest Plant

Bulga Coal Handling and Preparation Plant

Xstrata Copper ESP Dust Recovery

Outotec has nominated Tiwest’s minerals processing plant for its application of the Vane Feedwell thickener.

The Vane Feedwell works on a dual zone design, where the upper zone dissipates most of the momentum and creates turbulence for mixing.

Holding the feed stream in a swirling pattern in the top of the feedwell results in good flow symmetry to the lower zone where the gentler shear rates promote improved aggregate growth.

Tiwest undertook a thickener upgrade at their North Mine in May 2008 to coincide with an extended plant shut down.

In addition to the new Vane Feedwell, the flocculant addition arrangement upgraded together with enhanced instrumentation and new rake pickets to improve underflow densities.

Tiwest has greatly improved its thickener performance particularly in the key areas of its Flocculent dose and underflow density.

It also greatly reduced the number of thickener issues Tiwest previously had.

After sweeping in to win the Minerals Processing Plant of Year at the 2010 Prospect Awards, Xstrata’s Bulga Coal CHPP has achieved another first in coal mining.

The Coal Handling and Preparation Plant in the New South Wales Hunter Valley has achieved an innovative coal tailings management for tailings storage facilities, showing that they have specifically improved environmental standards by introducing innovative processes and techniques.

The team came up with the idea of combining the proven concept of the Secondary Flocculation process with a discharge tower in the centre of the tailings storage facility (TSF).

To ensure this method would firstly work and secondly be of benefit to the surrounding environment in 2010 and into the future, Bulga built a prototype in 2009.

Successfully operating the prototype over three months, gave the Bulga team the confidence that they could implement this method in the TSF.

Xstrata Copper has nominated its ESP Dust Recovery Plant for Minerals Processing Plant of the Year.

The Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) dust recovery plant was invented to eliminate the copper smelter by-product while also providing a mechanism to unlock the value of an otherwise unattainable smelter gold and copper by-product stream.

A pregnant leach solution or PLS is used to recover these value add base metals, while at the same time causing the other non-desired solids and materials to be present in a form that allows for its separation and safe disposal.

Since commissioning of the ESP leach and Agi-truck processes, up to 98% of copper recovery has been achieved.

Xstrata Copper says this project is an example of the miner’s sustainable environmental performance, and healthy and safe working environments.

The project also won PACE magazine’s Zenith Awards’ Metals Products and Manufacturing category.

AustralianMining

Xstrata Zinc Processing Plant Xstrata Zinc has put forth its Mount Isa Mines zinc processing operations for Minerals Processing Plant of the Year.

Prior to Xstrata's acquisition of Mount Isa Mines in 2003, the zinc lead operation had been in decline.

Under Xstrata Zinc’s leadership, the processing operations have now become the largest producer of zinc concentrate within the group, which represents one of the world's largest producers of zinc.

The increase in production has been significant, with current levels two and a half times greater than in 2003.

While investments into the expansion of its minerals processing facilities have been a key driver of this growth in capacity, it was achieved while also improving the safety performance, operational efficiency and environmental standards of the operation, according to Xstrata. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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AM.SEP11.PG102.pdf

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

EXPLORER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by QMW Industries Royal Resources Limited Royal Resources’ Razorback Iron Ore Project is potentially a very large magnetite deposit that has access to existing open-access rail and port infrastructure, and part of its nomination for Explorer of the Year.

The Razorback Ridge deposit was investigated by the South Australian Government in the late 1960s. Geological mapping, surface sampling, drilling, adit development, and metallurgical testing at that time identified outcropping magnetite mineralisation over a strike length of 4.5 kilometres and extending a further 10 kilometres to the east.

The Razorback area has the advantages of being close to existing and available rail and port infrastructure, hosting readily beneficiable mineralisation resulting in low contaminant magnetite concentrate, is likely to be low cost compared to its peers due to very low stripping ratio, easy grinding, and high yield, and is located in a resource-supportive regulatory jurisdiction with reduced Native Title, environmental, and social risks.

Royal is targeting 500 to 1,000 million tonnes of magnetite mineralisation at grades of 25% to 65% Fe at, or along strike of, the Razorback Ridge area.

On the 25th August, 2010 Royal announced a JORC compliant maiden Inferred Resource of 277Mt at 25.9% Fe. Royal intends to fast track the deposit to feasibility study and production.

100 September 2011

AustralianMining

Ausgold Limited Ausgold Limited is primarily focused on the exploration of the Katanning Gold Discovery, located within the Southwest Yilgarn, southeast of Newmont’s 26 Million Ounce Boddington Gold Mine in WA. Ausgold has identified two mineralised corridors over an 18km strike length, each host to multiple gold-intersecting prospects.

Results released in May 2011 confirmed that mineralisation is similar in ore genesis and style to Newmont’s Boddington.

On the back of such positive results, Ausgold completed a $25 million capital raising with major international institutions, $20 million of which will be allocated to the ongoing delineation of the Katanning Gold Discovery and exploration of the greater Boddington South Exploration Project.

It also recently announced the discovery of a third orebody within the prospect.

Integra Mining Integra Mining has put forth their Majestic Prospect, which is part of the wider Randalls Gold Project and the Monger Joint Venture between Integra and Newcrest, as part of its nomination for Explorer of the Year.

In February 2010, Integra carried out a Rotary Air Blast drilling program, which demonstrated shallow gold anomalism over a large area. Subsequent drilling confirmed the existence of a significant mineralised system with high potential for open pit extraction.

Recent RC drilling has shown the extend of the known mineralisation to exceed 160 metre, with high grade results at Majestic showing 21 metres at 3.88g/t gold including 3 metres at 11.05g/t; and 22 metres at 3.58 g/t including 2 metres at 14.15g/t of gold.

Given its strategic location 22 kilometres north of Integra’s existing Salt Creek gold deposit, where construction of a gold processing facility is nearing completion, Majestic is emerging as a potential future source of open pit material for the Randalls Gold Project.

Radar Iron Limited Radar Iron is nominating itself for Explorer of the Year for its work on the Johnston Range/Copper Bore tenements.

Located about 30 kilometres north of Cliff Resources’ Windarling operations, the project tenements cover the central portion of the Mada-Diemals greenstone belt, and have extensive areas of BIF identifiable on images of aeromagnetic data. Almost all the BIF has only been cursorily explored and have no native title claims over the area.

Previous drilling confirmed the presence of hematite-goethite mineralisation to relatively shallow depths.

Best intervals returned include 10m at 57.8% Fe and 15m at 55.0% Fe. A recent independent geophysical review o the magnetite potential on the tenements produced an exploration target of 4 billiton tonnes to 6.7 billion tonnes at a 20-45% Fe. Further Drilling commenced in February, aimed at full evaluation of the hematite and magnetite mineralisation on the Johnston Range tenements.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

CONTRIBUTION TO MINING

Sponsored by Siemens Jock Cunningham Part of the mining industry since 1976, Jock Cunningham has been a major instigator of the development of automation in the resources sector.

Following a brief stint with QLD Cement and Lime, he spent two decades with Mount Isa Mines, initially focused on process control, instrumentation and automation for minerals processing.

This focus soon changed to underground mining and automation.

Ultimately he spent several years managing the Engineering Research Department which comprised a multidisciplinary team covering energy management, non-destructive testing (NATA approved), equipment condition monitoring/failure analysis, mining and smelting automation.

Jock Cunningham later joined the CSIRO Exploration and Mining team in 1997, leading the Mining Automation group for several years.

During this time he set up an initiative called CSIRO Mining Automation to coordinate and market the CSIRO’s mining automation capability.

In his career Jock has developed specialised instruments; a robotic multielemental drill core analyser for lead ore; and the ROES mining system while also leading the development of remote control systems for underground loaders and establishing automated loader technology at the CSIRO.

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AustralianMining

Kelvin Brown Kelvin Brown has been a stalwart in the drilling industry for many years.

However, he made his name internationally during the Chile underground mine rescue.

Brown, an expert in down-the-hole drilling and surveying equipment, worked as part of a rescue team who made first contact with the trapped miners on 22 August, 2010.

Brown’s directional drilling skills were utilised for the planning stages of the drill hole’s design that lead to the successful interception of the trapped miners’ refuge.

Finding the miners was compared to looking for a needle in a haystack.

He acted as a consultant during this stage and applied his wealth of knowledge providing advice on how to effectively intercept the miners.

Kelvin Brown is currently the global product manger of Reflex Instruments, a subsidiary of Imdex Ltd.

Kurt Davies Kurt Davies is a member of Macmahon Contractors Mining Business Unit, and worked within the HSEQ Surface Mining team to make an outstanding contribution to the health, wellness and injury management of its employees.

Working as a rehabilitation co-ordinator in Western Australia, his role is focused on injury prevention, promoting health awareness, injury management and return to work programs.

He has helped to prevent a number of work related and non-work related injuries from becoming exacerbated.

His care and compassion has helped him to maintain open, honest and clear communication with Macmahon employees (close to 400), their families and the Macmahon management teams – resulting in successful injury management and an eventual return to work.

His contribution and commitment to the company has had long term positive benefits throughout the mining industry.

Renee Donovan Swick Mining Services has nominated Renee Donovan for the Contribution to Mining Award Donovan was put forward due to the ongoing positive impact she has had, and continues to have, in preventing fatalities and permanent disabling injures in the mining and associated industries.

Renee is a pillar of the industry and serves and excellent role model for women in the mining industry and safety professionals in general.

She is a member of Swick Mining Services, a contract drilling company with more than 500 staff across the nation.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Siemens. Your innovative technology partner in mining.

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AM.SEP11.PG106.pdf

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

MINE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Caltex Tim Fuller Tim Fuller is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, in the Mine manager of the Year category, at Macmahon Contractors Orebody 18.

Fuller is the site Registered Manager at Macmahon Contractors, he joined Macmahon as the quarry manager at Orebody 18, and then went on to become registered manager.

Fuller has an effectiveness at driving safe and a reliable productivity in an enthusiastic and passionate manner.

According to Macmahon, he has been instrumental in building morale on site and providing an environment that fosters confidence and accountability within the lead management team.

He has a structured approach and backs his people instinctively by placing people into positions that he believes will complement their ability to perform.

Fuller is well known on site by the workforce and clients due to his leadership style, and is a well-liked and respected leader with an very approachable manner.

Rising to the challenge with skill as a passionate leader, he has steered his team through the complexities of being a major contractor, operating a client mine site, in a challenging location and within a complex client and regulatory regime.

His work and enthusiasm for production and safety, has seen the site introduce new ways of working, improvements.

104 September 2011

AustralianMining

Roger Davis Roger Davis is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, as Mine manager of the Year for his work at Myuna Colliery. Major improvements to Myuna Colliery have been due to Davis’s direct input, with his ‘hands on’ approach manner, according to Myuna.

His management style has directly been responsible for improving safety, production and various employee health programs. Davis actively encourages his employees to further their professional development. This benefits both the mine and the employees. Once trained, employees are encouraged to apply for position advancement within the mine. Since Davis has been at the mine, the mine’s future has become secure due to higher production levels and a safer work environment for all employees, according to Myuna.

The mine has in place a program that emphasises a ‘Safe Behaviour’ culture, the latest program was initiated in 2009 and has been ongoing from then.

The mine has reduced its Lost Time Injury Rate from over 30 four years ago, down to a LTIFR of only two.

Julie Shuttleworth Julie Shuttleworth is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards as Mine manager of the year at Barrick Gold’s Granny Smith mine. Shuttleworth has proven excellence as a professional and manager in the gold mining industry, and has successfully worked her way up from a graduate metallurgist, to a general manager by the age of 35.

Having worked in remote and challenging locations in Western Australia and around the world, she is a positive role model for all women that she meets during the course of her work, particularly young professionals. She uses her positive outlook and high level of professionalism to be proactive about the attraction and retention of women to the industry, according to Barrick Gold.

Many women consider Shuttleworth as their mentor, and she is available to assist their career development or provide guidance when needed. She enjoys being a spokeswoman and an example for all young people deciding on their career path, and encourages all students and young professionals to strive to achieve their goals.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

Sponsored by Prospect Consulting Group Centennial Coal – Myuna Colliery Centennial Coal’s Myuna Colliery has been nominated for the Prospect Awards’ Employer of the Year.

The miner has been put forward for its focus on safety and a family friendly workplace.

Since 2009, the mine has had in place a program that emphasises a culture of safe behaviour, which involves training and lectures both by Centennial personnel and guest speakers.

This workplace culture change has seen Myuna dramatically slash its Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR) from more than thirty, four years ago down to a rate of only just two now.

Myuna’s injury management is also highly rated, and was recently identified as such in a NSW Coal Mining Industry benchmarking audit.

Over the last three years the coal mine’s employee retention rate has been a remarkable 100%, and over the last four years only one employee has ever left the mine to work at another operation.

That employee has reportedly since returned to Centennial.

The mine is also implementing improvements to its structured training program.

It is currently introducing an ‘e-learning system’, which allows employees and contractors to train and learn at their own pace.

The Myuna coal mine also runs programs that aid the employees with a healthy lifestyle after work, to ensure that the focus remains on safety.

These programs include ‘Healthy Eating’ and ‘Fatigue Management along with on-site PSA testing and flu vaccine injections for employees that wish to participate.

The mine also offers access to physiotherapists, chiropractors and podiatrists.

106 September 2011

AustralianMining

Mastermyne – Myne Start Mastermyne has nominated its Myne Start Underground Training Complex for the Employer of Choice award.

The company set up the underground coal mining training complex in Mackay, Queensland, to provide the industry with a unique training solution designed to reduce some of the impact of the skills shortage.

Employing around 800 staff, the company has built its complex to provide inexperience miners (cleanskins) the opportunity to complete in-depth training in a unique ‘hands on’ simulated training facility.

Its trainees undergo both classroom and situational learning in the company’s underground and surface mine facilities.

Training participants carry out four weeks of specialised underground training in situations that have been set up to replicate underground working conditions.

According to Mastermyne, all Myne Start participants that successfully complete the course commence work with Mastermyne within several days of finishing.

Macmahon – Surface Mining Division Contract services company Macmahon has put forward its Surface Mining Division as the Employer of Choice.

With almost half a century of experience in the Australian mining industry, the division provides open cut mining services such as drilling, blasting, crushing and screening, and train loading.

The contractor has focused heavily on safety, and aims to be known as the safest company for which to work.

It says that it has developed a safety philosophy whereby safety is a way of life.

According to Macmahon, this means it requires a dedicated commitment from all its employees to embrace the company’s fundamental beliefs which underpin the healthy and safe approach.

At the division and project level, both operational and safety improvement plans are developed and monitored on a regular basis.

The strategic plan defines a range of initiatives and critical success factors in achieving safety targets, which include developing a responsible safety culture that promotes visible leadership commitment; a risk based approach to the proactive identification of hazards and risks within the workplace; a behavioural based approach to safety management at all levels; discipline and compliance to minimum standards of safety; training Macmahon personnel in the application of new safety systems and tools; and measuring and monitoring performance including high potential incident reporting as part of safety data capture.

Safety programs – including quarterly risk reviews, hazard and near miss reporting, and the company’s safety logo ‘Macman’ – have all driven safety improvements.

This has resulted in a massive drop in the total reportable injury frequency rate from 14.96 in 2008. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Prospect Consulting provides outstanding Recruitment and Management Consulting services to the resources and energy sectors nationally. Our experience gives us knowledge of the real issues facing organisations, allowing us to focus on developing solutions that are relevant, pragmatic and cost-effective.

Whether it has been providing Recruitment Process Outsourcing services to meet bulk recruitment needs, delivering tailored safety programs or implementing a global management operating system on behalf of a client, we are a trusted partner to leading industry players through all phases of the boom and bust cycle.

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

MINING’S WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Alex Atkins Alex is a Perth local, a geologist, mining engineer and geotechnical engineer with First Class Mine Manager’s Certificates in WA and Qld. Alex’s career spans more than twenty years mostly in underground hard rock mining in WA, Queensland, Tasmania and Papua New Guinea.

Alex has shown persistence and resilience in managing to maintain her career in the mining industry at the operational level, even after having a family – and doing it as a 40something single mother.

Alex is available through the DMP as a mines inspector and through the AusIMM WIMNET, IEAust WIE & DMP WCG Groups to provide support & encouragement to other women in the mining and engineering professions and to provide a role model.

Julie Shuttleworth

Sponsored by Orica Mining Services Carolina Pinto Carolina is a project manager at BHP Billiton’s nickel west operations Despite being only in early thirties, she has demonstrated an outstanding commitment and high performance working in mining in Chile and Australia.

Carolina later moved to Western Australia in 2007, working in mining to gain international experience, improve her English, and undertake a masters degree, which she completed last year.

An active promoter and chair of charity activities, Carolina says these activities inspire her as much as her professional work.

Maryann Wipaki Maryann Wipaki is Xstrata Copper North Queensland’s operations safety and health manager whose key role is advising Xstrata Copper’s management on health and safety matters whilst contributing to consistent yearly safety improvements.

Due to the complexities of her role, she has a team of 24 staff and 60 contractors which she manages directly, as well as another 50 across North Queensland she manages indirectly.

Maryann is responsible for integrating a zero harm safety philosophy into all of the copper miner’s policies, procedures, strategies and systems.

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Michaela Pike Michaela is a highly regarded member of the Macmahon Surface Mining team, having worked within the business for more than seven years. Currently holding the position of HSEC Manager for Macmahon’s Orebody 18 and Wheelarra iron ore operations in the Pilbara, her enthusiasm and passion for HSEC and the mining industry in general makes her a very worthy candidate for the Mining Woman of the Year award. Throughout her time in the industry Michaela has balanced the needs of team building and morale, with HSEC improvements and initiatives.

Michelle Iles Michelle Iles is currently the manager of the water and earth sciences team at Energy Resources of Australia’s (ERA) Ranger uranium mine.

Michelle and her team provide ERA’s operational teams with research, analysis and predictive water modelling services. She has made a name for herself in the international nuclear energy industry, most recently representing Rio Tinto and ERA at the joint World Nuclear Association and International Atomic Energy Agency’s 2009 technical meeting in Vienna, where she presented at conferences.

Renée Donovan Renée Donovan, a senior safety and training advisor at Swick Mining Services is nominated for the award of Mining’s Woman of the Year due to the positive impact she has had, and continues to have in preventing fatalities and permanent disabling injuries in the mining and associated industries.

Renée serves as an excellent role model for women in the mining industry and for safety professionals in general.

Renée started at Swick in 2007, coming to mining after an extensive career in the agricultural industry.

Alicia Ranford and Lainie Anderson This joint nomination comes for the development of the Mining Family Matters support service.

Alicia and Lainie started Mining Family Matters (www.MiningFM.com) as an online support service for mining families.

In particular, it focuses on creating a support network for families dealing with FIFO parents being away for weeks at a time.

This online mining community provides a free resource for miners and their families. There is access to a Psychiatrist, a Social worker, and other mining partners.

Julie has proven excellence as a professional and manager in the gold mining industry, working her way up from a graduate metallurgist to a general manager by 35.

Having worked in many remote and challenging locations in Western Australia and around the world, she is currently the general manager at Barrick Gold’s Granny Smith mine.

Julie is a positive role model for all women that she meets during the course of her work, particularly young professionals. Julie demonstrates what can be achieved by setting goals and striving for them. She uses her positive outlook and high level of professionalism to be proactive about the attraction and retention of women to the industry.

Paula West Paula West counts one of the highlights of her career so far working as the construction of HIsmelt following the completion of her degree. Paula’s role was to develop the lubrication schedule for the entire plant ready for start up which was vital to the future reliability of the plant. Paula’s first real engineering role was as the Port Engineer at Dampier. As well as working with a multi-million dollar maintenance budget, she was also lucky enough to work on the construction of the Bulk Liquids Berth Jetty, an $80M project. 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.

Orica offers a dynamic, diverse and progressive work environment and we are proud to sponsor Mining’s Female of the Year Award at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards for 2011. We thank all participants for their time and effort in submitting their entries and look forward to meeting the finalists.

OR3271_AM_0911_FPA_AW.indd 2

www.oricaminingservices.com

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Bradken Mark Robert Cosgrove Mark Robert Cosgrove is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, in the Young Achiever of the Year award for his work at Centennial Coal.

In less than two years, Cosgrove has gone from university graduate, to participant in Centennial Coal’s graduate program, and at the present the ventilation coordinator at Centennial’s largest mine – Mandalong.

With over 300 people working at Centennial’s Mandalong Mine, Cosgrove’s role of ventilation coordinator is a critical function of the mine’s underground operation.

In the face of recent global gas and ventilation related mining disasters, the role of ventilation coordinator demands leadership, initiative and drive.

According to Centennial, possessing these qualities, Cosgrove has shown significant promise since his early years both academically and technically, allowing him to reach his first career goal.

He also displays the ability to work effectively with people at all levels of the organisation.

110 September 2011

Daniel Hill Daniel Hill is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards in the Young Achiever of the Year category, for his work at Energy Resources of Australia (ERA).

From uranium circuit troubleshooting to x-ray diamond sorting, to chemical engineering graduate, Hill is currently a process metallurgist with Northern Territory uranium miner, ERA. Hill is gaining first hand experience with some of the top end’s most valuable and complex minerals processing technologies, and has recently returned from a temporary secondment to Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine.

Graduating from the University of Melbourne, with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering in 2008, he then went to work at Ranger uranium mine under the Rio Tinto’s graduate placement programme in 2009.

Hill completed short work stints at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara Iron Ore operation.

Hill ERA’s first indigenous chemical engineering graduate, according to ERA.

AustralianMining

Paula West Paula West joins the finalists in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, in the Young Achiever of the Year award, for her achievements at Alcoa Kwinana Refinery.

West is Alcoa’s area mechanical engineer for the Calcination and Shipping (Port), at Alcoa’s Kwinana Refinery.

Whilst studying at university West’s leadership potential and community work was recognised with a place on the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), an intense week long live in development camp designed to take participants out of their comfort zone to help them realise their full potential.

She enjoys working for Alcoa as the role she has is challenging, and because of the supportive structure of the company for their female employees, according to Alcoa.

In addition to West’s main role she’s also volunteers as the Kwinana Refinery site representative on the Australian Alcoa Women’s Network (AWN), which was established to help develop and promote women leaders within Alcoa.

Nicholas Hinton Nicholas Hinton is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards in the Young Achiever of the Year award, for his contribution at Centennial Coal mine.

Nicholas Hinton, 23, an undergraduate electrical engineer working at the Centennial Coal’s Myuna Colliery undertook a project in February 2010.

The objective of the project was to upgrade Centennial Coal’s Myuna Colliery capacitor bank power factor correction control unit.

It required the installation of Programmable Logic Control (PLC) controllers, and metering equipment.

This equipment will be integrated into the site wide Citect SCADA monitoring network and a touch screen interface at the plant.

The PLC will monitor surrounding protection equipment and contactor operation providing the user with fault information.

Hinton assisted in the project, aiming to bring more functionality to the user.

Kieran Punch Kieran Punch joins the finalists in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for the Young Achiever of the Year award, for his contribution at Xstrata Mount Isa Mines.

After finishing a school-based trainee at the Xstrata Skills Centre, whilst also completing year 12 schooling in 2010, Kieran Punch is now a first year apprentice at the Xstrata Mount Isa Mines.

Punch has been selected to be a leader for his colleagues.

Carolina Pinto Carolina is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, in the Young Achiever of the Year category for her achievements at BHP Billiton’s Nickel West.

At 30-years-old, Carolina has demonstrated an outstanding commitment and high performance working in mining in Chile and Australia, and is now a project manager at BHP Billiton’s Nickel west She also has gained a number of academics merits. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

COMMUNITY INTERACTION

Sponsored by Xstrata Coal QLD Coal & Allied Industries

ASHOIL ASHOIL is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its discovery of biofuel, which provides training and employment opportunities for its local communities.

ASHOIL is based in Tom Price, created in 2010 as a subsidiary of Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation (ACC).

It manages and delivers government funded programs.

Producing biofuel was ACC’s solution to reduce costs.

Shenhua Watermark Coal Shenhua Watermark Coal is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Shenhua Watermark Community Fund.

The community fund as part of the Exploration Licence granted by the Department of Primary Industry committing one million per annum.

The purpose of the fund is to support the development of the region’s economy, enhance and maintain the environment and improve local facilities.

112 September 2011

Coal & Allied Industries has joined the finalists in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its contribution in building long term community partnerships.

Last year it reportedly made an economic contribution of more than $1.3 billion in payments to suppliers, salaries and benefits, and taxes and royalties paid to state government.

It employs more than 2000 employees, and more than 1300 contractors across its three operations in the Hunter Valley area.

Coal & Allied is committed to a long term programme of investment and partnerships, to help build diverse and sustainable communities around its operations.

Investing over two million in projects, its program Health Dads, Healthy kids is designed to tackle obesity by helping fathers lose weight with their children.

Another initiative, the 100% Knights, was launched this year, contributing $225,000 to create pathways for Aboriginal students.

AustralianMining

Mining Family Matters Mining Family Matters is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for helping families to survive the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) rosters online and abroad.

Mining Family Matters (MiningFM) is committed to helping families survive and thrive despite the pressures of fly-in, fly-out rosters and living in isolated areas.

It provides free access to a psychologist and social worker, and an online chat forum.

OM Manganese – Bootu Creek Mine OM Manganese’s Bootu Creek Mine is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards for its commitment to fostering enduring relationships with its neighbours and friends.

According to OM, by training and employing local indigenous persons directly in its operations, or through its contractors is one way OM enhances the local community.

The mine also host a variety of community events.

Kagara Ltd Kagara is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its interactive relationship with the regional community.

The range of community interaction initiatives fostered

by Kagara includes; sporting, cultural, family and employment programs, aimed at improving the lives of the indigenous communities from Chillagoe to Townsville and surrounding regions.

In Charters Towers, Kagara supports the ‘Circle of Respect’ program, which provides up to 30 indigenous school children with afternoon tea, and other resources in the afternoons during the school term.

Kagara’s engagement with local youths also extends to its support of the Gugu Badhun Youth Cultural Revival Camp at Reedy Brook station, near its Surveyor Mine. The camp attracts over 40 young people from the Gugu Badhan group of traditional owners, and provides for them to stay on their traditional cultural land for a period during the September School Holidays.

Xstrata Zinc – Macarthur River Mine Xstrata Zinc’s Macarthur River Mine is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for increasing indigenous workforce participation in the community.

The mine has had a positive change in a remote region of the Northern Territory, by creating new enterprises and job opportunities within the local community.

Since 2006, Indigenous workforce has increased to nine per cent to 21 per cent in 2011.

Xstrata Mount Isa Mines Xstrata Mount Isa Mines has won a spot as a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Xstrata Healthy Kids program.

The mines commitment to sustainable and economic development of communities surrounding its operations is crucial to maintaining its social license to operate.

Xstrata Healthy Kids represents community engagement, aimed at improving community health and wellbeing. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Us& Our communities A proud member of the Queensland community, Xstrata Coal is committing more than $10 million in 2011 to partner with over 20 organisations across the areas of health, education, community, arts, culture and the environment.

Xstrata Coal Investing in our communities | www.xstratacoal.com

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

CONTRACT MINER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Atlas Copco Buildcorp Asset Solutions Buildcorp Asset Solutions is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Clean Coal Silo Repairs project.

The clean coal silos at the Mt Thorley Warkworth mine in the Hunter Valley were built in 1984, and store coal delivered straight from the washery building, until the rail transport is ready for filling for shipment to the wharf in Newcastle, New South Wales.

As such, the silos are critical infrastructure, it provides a vital link in the transportation chain, according to Buildcorp Asset Solutions.

The silos are of reinforced concrete construction, which measure around 31.5m tall x 15.5m diameter, with 250mm thick walls, and have a capacity of 3000 tonnes of coal each.

Less than 12 months after their construction, cracks were noticed on the external faces of the silos and post tensioned steel cables were installed to prevent further cracking, and to provide additional restraint to the walls of the silos from the coal loading within.

Buildcorp provided a serviceable strengthening solution of carbon fibre laminates (CFL), which was externally applied (vertically and horizontally), while the cables were removed in a staged fashion to maintain operations.

The silos are now running at 100 per cent and have a life of the 15 years.

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Machmahon Contractors Machmahon Contractors joins the finalists in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Macmahon’s surface mining division.

This division has almost 50 years’ experience in bulk and in selective mining operations.

These include experience mining in many commodities such as; coal, iron ore, diamonds, gold, copper, nickel, manganese, limestone and phosphates.

According to Machmahon, the division provides customers with a range of open cut services including drilling, blasting, mining, crushing, screening services and train loading utilising a large range of mining equipment.

These services have been performed under a variety of contract styles from schedule of rates, to a variety of alliance arrangements.

Core capabilities include: drilling; blasting; mining (bulk and selective); crushing and screening; plant hire; plant maintenance; mine management; and tailings dam construction.

According to Macmahon, it aims to be known as the safest company to work for, and for the company culture to have an important ingredient – a safety philosophy whereby safety is a way of life.

This ensures Macmahon is free of disabling injuries and fatalities across mine sites, according to Macmahon.

Rock Australia Rock Australia is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its contract to create Mt Gibson Iron’s (MGI) Koolan Island into a safe working environment.

BHP Billiton commenced mining at Koolan Island in 1959, but closed operations in 1993. As part of their rehabilitation plan, it involved breaching sea wall and flooding Main Pit to a depth of 100 metres.

The 10 billion litres of seawater that flowed into the pit contained a wide variety of marine life; in 2000 Aztec Resources acquired Rock Australia to resurrect the Main Pit. The objective was to create a safe working environment for open cut mining that would commence 85m below sea level, overlooked by towering 100m footwalls that had been submerged for 14 years.

According to Rock Australia, it developed a plan that satisfied the requirements of the client and Mines Department, and mobilised on site in March 2008.

Described by the project manager as the most complex mining geotechnical project ever undertaken, it is reportedly the world’s largest application of a protective mesh drape system in a mining context.

Developing the remediation plan for Main Pit took Rock 18 months of detailed planning.

Mastermyne Mastermyne is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its set up of an underground coal mining training complex Myne Start Underground Training Complex.

Located in Mackay Queensland, Mynestart was intended to provide the underground mining industry with a unique training solution which focuses on reducing impact of skill shortage.

It was built specifically to provide inexperienced underground miners (clearskins) with the opportunity to complete in-depth training in a unique ‘hands on’ simulated training facility.

According to Mastermyne, the training complex will expedite the skills development of cleanskins to underground miners, and is Mastermyne’s response to the increasing demand on labour force.

In addition, it allows Mackay locals to get involved in underground mining, to see it as a career opportunity.

Training participants reportedly undergo four weeks of specialised underground training, in situations that have been set up to replicate underground working conditions.

All Myne Start participants commence working with Mastermyne within seven days of finishing.

Graduates from the program reportedly have a greater appreciation safety. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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The power of innovative mining

Innovative mining requires innovative thinking. The power of Atlas Copcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s solutions comes from almost 140 years of experience in developing groundbreaking technology â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in close cooperation with our customers. This is what we call sustainable productivity.

Atlas Copco Construction and Mining Australia Freecall 1300 366 880, www.atlascopco.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

INNOVATIVE MINING SOLUTIONS Sponsored by BASF Manitou Australia – Cylinder Handler Manitou Australia joins the finalists in 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its innovative Manitou MHT Range Cylinder Handler.

Since Manitou first developed the hydraulic excavator cylinder handler in South Africa in 2001, the challenge to continually improve on this innovation has led to the introduction of the latest Manitou Cylinder Handler the CH10.

According to Manitou, the Manitou CH10 saves mining companies thousands of dollars though the efficiency gains of the CH10, however the real gains are the safety benefits afforded by the Manitou CH10.

The Manitou Cylinder’s safety benefits involve grabbing the cylinder, so that the load is no longer a freely suspended load with operators use.

MMG Century – Fluid Injection Sleeve MMG Century is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards for its Fluid Injection Protection Sleeve.

MMG Century developed a process of fitting a Fluid Injection Protection Sleeve, to twin-line high pressure hoses.

This innovation substantially reduces the risk of injury to operators of high-pressure hoses, which are commonly used in workshops and emergency situations.

The fluid injection injuries are reportedly extremely dangerous, and can often lead to death.

Building on this innovation, Century has also developed a process to prevent the protective cover on single-line hoses from sliding down onto the hose.

Both innovations have been successfully trialed at Century, and can be applied accordingly.

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AMMESA – Rotainer AMMESA is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards for its Rotainer container, which is a solution for delivering of direct shipping ores.

The Rotainer works on the same principle as traditional ISO container spreaders, with the ability to rotate the container 360 degrees, according to AMMESA. The company claims the container can also transport free flowing bulk materils such as concentrates, coal and grains.

According to AMMESA, various models are available to suit specific materials, unloading devices and in various applications.

It comes in single lift 20ft, twin lift 20ft, single lift 40ft and single lift 50ft cc.

Xstrata Coal – Base Lift Hose Xstrata Coal Queensland (XCQ) is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, its Newlands Northern Underground Base Lift Hose.

In order to advance a pan line, relay bars that give it reinforcement are required to be changed out.

Risk assessment of the change-out process identified that a particular step spelt danger for the workforce.

The step involved reversing the direction of travel to the base lift cylinder, and that action exposed workers to serious risks.

A project was initiated to eliminate the risk, engineered by the team involved the design of a Direction Reversal Assembly, to eliminate the need to remove base lift hoses during maintenance.

AustralianMining

Xstrata Coal – Carbon Fibre Vent Tubes Xstrata Coal QLD (XCQ) is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Carbon Fibre Vent Tubes.

Analysis showed that the establishment and maintenance of its ventilation ducting was a major contributor to various injury types and their severity.

Additionally, the fibreglass tubes in use were limited in their life expectancy, and had structural issues that could cause them to fail in certain applications and hold up production.

A project was initiated by XCQ to address these issues, it identified carbon fibre as a suitable replacement material, and after a period of testing the new vent tubes have been installed across the mine site.

The risk of injury from handling vent tubes has decreased.

Xstrata Coal – Conveyor Idler Replacement Tool Xstrata Coal Queensland (XCQ) has landed a spot as a finalist in the Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Abbot Point Conveyor Idler Replacement Tool.

According to XCQ, as part of the X50 coal terminal expansion, Xstrata Coal Abbot Point Bulkcoal was determined to resolve safety issues in relation to maintenance on the conveyor idlers on offshore conveyors, in particular trestle conveyors.

The processes involved in Maintaining Conveyor Idlers presented particular risks of injuries and costs.

The problem was resolved by two Abbot Point team, implementing each conveyor Idler Replacement Toolkit which consists of just a hand pump, idler lift tool, a handle, locking pin and two hoses.

Outotec Australia – Vane Feedwell Outotec Australia is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Vane Feedwell.

Most current feedwell designs yield variable results; depending on the feed material properties, flow rate and feedwell size.

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

According to Outotec Australia, holding the feed stream in a swirling pattern in the top of the feedwell results in good flow symmetry to the lower zone, where the gentler shear rates promote good aggregate growth.

It incorporates seven global patents into its unique design.

GroundProbe – Work Area Monitor GroundProbe is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Work Area Monitor.

In January 2011, GroundProbe launched its innovative solution the Work Area Monitor (WAM), to continue momentum in improving management of risk in opencut mining.

WAM was developed specifically to be operated by mine production crew.

The system compromises of sensitive, fast-scanning radar which is coupled with a highresolution camera - all built into a mine-standard vehicle, according to GroundProbe.

The WAM reportedly provides mine crews with a tool that can be deployed in minutes, and let them know if the slope they are working under has moved.

Rock Australia – Rock Mesha Rock Australia is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards for Rock Mesha, an innovative, merchandised chain link mesh handler, for use in underground support applications.

Designed in conjunction with Swiss mesh manufacturers Geobrugg, the system offers substantial benefits over traditional welded mesh and shotcrete solutions.

According to ROCK Australia, the benefits include operator safety, speed of operation and overall costs.

The system eliminates manual handling of mesh, and operator time spent working on unsupported ground.

In a trial, Mesha showed a time savings of 30 to 50 per cent, over standard welded mesh and 50 to 70 per cent shortcrete.

Bradken – Harmonise Dragline Rigging Bradken has won a spot as a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Harmonise Dragline Rigging Products.

Bradken has developed a new range of innovative upper hoist dragline rigging products, which provide mine sites with a number of significant improvements over existing rigging systems.

Harmonise is a new range of products which provides customers patent pending upper hoist rigging components, that reduces the conventional upper hoist rigging assembly by five components.

Whilst also providing mass and height reductions and reducing required inventory levels.

According to Bradken, this in turn allows for a lighter rigging package and increased bucket capacity. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

EXCELLENCE IN MINE OH&S

Sponsored by Boom Logistics Macmahon – Surface Mining Division Macmahon has focused heavily on safety, and aims to be known as the safest company for which to work. It says that it has developed a safety philosophy whereby safety is a way of life.

This means it requires a dedicated commitment from all its employees to embrace the company’s fundamental beliefs which underpin the healthy and safe approach. The strategic plan defines a range of initiatives and critical success factors in achieving safety targets, which include developing a responsible safety culture that promotes visible leadership commitment; a risk based approach to the proactive identification of hazards and risks within the workplace; a behavioural based approach to safety management at all levels; discipline and compliance to minimum standards of safety; training Macmahon personnel in the application of new safety systems and tools; and measuring and monitoring performance including high potential incident reporting as part of safety data capture.

118 September 2011

Inventis – WiLAS Network Inventis has nominated its wireless emergency alert network.

Created by Emergency Alert Systems, a division of Inventis, the WiLAS is a wirelessly network and activated alert siren system designed for single or multi-building sites.

It has been designed for mine sites, where the ability to raise loud and easily distinguished siren alerts quickly is imperative for improved safety.

A typical system is comprised of several self-contained wirelessly networked Siren Stations.

Each station has dual siren horns attached or flashing strobe beacons, and is either 240VAC powered, or powered via an optional solar charging module.

Each station also has a backup battery so it will remain operational even in a power blackout. Once installed, the Siren Station becomes part of a secure wireless network, in the event of an emergency an authorised user anywhere on the site can activate the network using a security coded remote control.

AustralianMining

Bradken – T-Rex GET Tool Bradken has developed a reusable hammerless GET removal tool, dubbed the T-Rex (Tooth Removal Express).

The tool was designed to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries to mine site personnel as they perform the common task of changing out GET, which become compacted due to dust fines getting caught in the teeth.

Using the tool reduces the likelihood of on-site injuries and removes the necessity of using potentially unsafe GET removal.

Crushing Equipment – Mangasafe A new jaw and cone crusher liner lifting tool called Mangasafe has been designed for lifting manganese liners and replaces the need to weld lifting lugs.

The system is reportedly a safe and efficient liner replacement, which works by being inserted into jaw crusher liner’s pre-cast holes, after which a stabiliser bar is fitted and the lifting chains attached.

It is said to be a safe and replacements can be done in less than a minute.

Safescape – Laddertube

DuPont – Intelligent Dust Management Systems

Safescape’s Laddertube is a safe secondary means of egress for underground mines.

Developed by an underground miner, the product is essentially a series of ladder sections joined to provide a straight line of ladder of any practical length, to be used in mines as escapeway ladders and stope access ladderways.

It is designed to replace the currently used galvanised steel mesh caged ladders.

The ladder is sealed to protect users from falling rocks and water, is half the weight of competitors, will not rust as it is made from plastic, and requires fewer personnel to install and maintain as it can be installed with two workers and a light vehicle with a tray mounted crane. According to Mincor Operations OH&S manager Rodney Goldsworth, “if the safescape laddertube system was installed in the escapeway system, this may have prevented the underground mining fatality occurring in WA, when a person fell down an emergency escapeway rise while inspecting the ladders”.

DuPont have developed an intelligent dust management system for coal shipping terminals.

Installed at Port Waratah Coal Service’s Carrington terminal, the system controls the levels of fugitive dust emissions from the coal loading site.

The key component is the predictive, proactive and reactive system that is tailored for Carrington and automatically measures real time dust levels and weather conditions, and then responds accordingly.

Tamec Services – DunnEasy Idlers Dubbed the ‘safety products of the future’ for belt conveyors, the products are retro-fittable to any conveyor system and eliminate common idler maintenance issues. The standard OneFits Rolls are equivalent to Weigh Scale rolls. The roll design has a life span that exceeds 100,000 hours with just one complex bearing system for 3" to >12" roll diameters. These are smaller in bulk and use only one reduced friction sealing on the open stubshaft mount. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Lifting solutions for Australia Safety. Service. Experience.

BOOM is the crane logistics company of choice for Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blue-chip resource companies on demanding large-scale projects.

With a focus on exceptional safety standards and service, our expert team supports you in all aspects of lifting - from engineering to execution.

Take the risk out of lifting.

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1300 36 2666 www.boomlogistics.com.au

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8TH ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN MINING PROSPECT AWARDS FINALISTS

EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Sponsored by Orica Mining Services Xstrata Technology – X3 Particle Technology

Xstrata Copper – ESP Dust Recovery

Xstrata Technology is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its X3 Particle technology for minesite remediation.

The X3 particle remediation technology promises to be an ideal solution for the rehabilitation of metalcontaminated mine sites.

This innovative technology was developed through a multidisciplinary research program at the University of Queensland, and is reportedly highly differentiated from existing technologies in soil remediation.

It has the potential to be significantly less expensive, and more environmentally friendly than current solutions, delivering significant benefit to several mining companies, according to Xstrata.

The 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.

When X3 particles are added to the soil, it will reduce the concentration of the toxic soluble metals.

Xstrata Copper is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its ESP Dust Recovery Plant.

The Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) Dust Recovery Plant was invented as a means to eliminate the copper smelter by-product.

ESP dust is formed as a byproduct of the copper smelting process, it is then collected from the smelter gas stream in an Electrostatic Precipitator, where process water is added, and the dust is either processed through the newly commissioned ESP Acid Leach Plant, or it is diverted to stockpile.

The ESP dust reportedly contains valuable copper and gold, and the recovery of these base metals represents a previously unattainable revenue stream.

The ESP Dust Recovery Plant safely and efficiently recovers the value add elements of copper and gold, whilst also stabilising and disposing of the non-value add materials. It provides an environmentallysound, hygienic solution to recover ESP dust.

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Xstrata Coal – Bulga Coal Tailings Xstrata Coal’s Bulga Coal is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Innovative Coal Tailings Management for Tailings Storage Facilities.

Xstrata’s Bulga Coal Mine, in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, has achieved innovative coal tailings management for tailings storage facilities, improving environmental standards by introducing innovative processes and techniques.

Bruel & Kjaer – Noise Sentinel Bruel & Kjaer is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Noise Sentinel Mining.

According to Bruel & Kjaer, managing environmental impact is one of the mining industry's key concerns.

Noise Sentinel Mining gathers reliable and detailed data, and shares it with communities allowing stakeholders’ concerns to be addressed, and can also prevent problems for operators across mine sites.

Testo – Emission Analyser Testo has earned a spot as a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Testo 350 Emission Analyser.

Measurement technology specialist Testo AG, developed a new portable flue gas analyser, by using instrument pre-settings, to guide the user safely through a professional analysis.

The Testo 350 is used in applications such as the commissioning, maintenance and operative measurements on industrial burners, industrial engines, gas turbines or flue gas scrubber systems, as well as in the measurement of gas atmosphere in furnace rooms or kilns.

“It also supports the control and monitoring of officially prescribed emission limit values in flue gas, and in function tests on stationary emission-measuring instruments,” said Testo.

Depending on the requirement, the Testo 350 consists of a control unit, an analyser box and a gas sampling probe.

DuPont Australia – Coal Dust Management DuPont Australia is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its Intelligent Dust Management System for Coal Shipping Terminals at Carrington Coal Terminal (CCT).

Fugitive dust emission from the mining industry is one of the most visible and more contentious issues.

The Intelligent Dust Management System has made a significant reduction in the dust emissions from CCT.

Rock Australia – Mt Gibson’s Koolan Island Rock Australia is a finalist in the 8th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards, for its involvement at the Mt Gibson Iron’s Koolan Island project.

Rock Australia was acquired by Aztec Resources to resurrect Main Pit. The project involved creating a safe working environment for open cut mining, that would commence 85m below sea level, overlooked by towering 100m footwalls that had been submerged for 14 years. www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Includes copyrighted material of DigitalGlobe, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

The Excellence in Environmental Management Award

For great strides in sustainable mining

Orica Mining Services is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

We are proud to sponsor the Excellence in Environmental Management Award at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards for 2011. We thank all participants for their time and effort in submitting their entries and look forward to meeting the finalists.

www.oricaminingservices.com

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Tough enough?

Hyster Big Trucks bring any job down to size. These work horses thrive in the most demanding conditions and tackle the most monumental loads. With a broad capacity range from 8-48 tonne, finding a Hyster Big Truck to suit your needs is easy, making today’s tough challenges yesterday’s problems.

facebook.com/aalhyster

twitter.com/aalhyster

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info.aalhyster.com.au/blog

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DON’T miss out W

hile AIMEX will not doubt draw the crowds for its massive cross section of the mining industry, that’s not all it has in store.

On top of the wide array of equipment and technological innovations that will be showcased at AIMEX, the exhibition will also highlight the issues affecting the industry during its series of talks and conferences held in conjunction with the event.

Each day of the exhibition will also have its own theme, incorporating information and demonstration sessions, along with special networking events. The four theme days are: • Safety Day (Tuesday September 6) • Women in Mining Day (Wednesday September 7) • Careers and Training Day (Thursday September 8) • Innovation in Mining Day

124 September 2011

(Friday September 9) In addition to this, throughout the four days of the show there will be a “Frontliners” focus – aimed at mining industry frontline personnel, including operators, fitters, foremen, supervisors and the like.

This will include a networking and social event every day, to which Frontliners will be invited, with day an opportunity to win an Apple iPad 2 each day.

“At this year’s AIMEX, initiatives such as our themed days and Frontliner focus are designed to open up the exhibition to new classes of visitors involved in the mining industry, and encourage them to come along to the show,” Paul Baker, exhibition director at Reed Mining Events said.

This show is also set to be the largest, as the show has been repeatedly forced expand the event to accommodate all its participants.

AustralianMining

“This year’s exhibition will have more than 550 exhibiting companies, covering more than 45,000 sq m, making it nearly 20% larger

than the previous edition of AIMEX in 2007,” he said.

“It will be unique gathering in a single location of mining products and services

from around Australia and throughout the world – and the largest-ever trade exhibition, for any industry sector – ever held in Australia.”

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Come see whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new at AllightSykes

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E M I A

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To experience our full range of products such as Allight Lighting Towers, Sykes Pumps, Perkins Engines, FG Wilson Generators and Rotair Compressors, visit us at AIMEX 2011, Sydney 6th - 9th September.

LIGHT

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WATER POWER

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A COMMITMENT TO BEST PRACTICE AND DELIVERY OF VALUE

Barminco is an international leader in hard rock underground mining, delivering world best standards and productivities.

We underpin our performance with:

22 years of experience and knowledge Leading edge production information systems Robust services in maintenance and support Safety records that exceed global benchmarks Service excellence and flexibility supported by a progressive culture The largest single company owned fleet of underground mechanised equipment in the world.

We recognise that our success is built on the success of our clients and the value we deliver.

+61 (0)8 9416 1000 | 390 Stirling Crescent Hazelmere WA Australia 6055

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Classification and screening LUDOWICI will showcase a significant range of new minerals processing equipment at AIMEX. Spearheading the display will be its patented RC2020 Reflux Classifier for cleaning fine coal Minerals processing tanks. and minerals and which, according to Ludowici, is set to revolutionise the global mining industry.

The classifier, which can separate particles by either density or size, was developed through a joint venture between Ludowici and the University of Newcastle. It combines three technologies: a Lamella settler, an autogenous dense medium separator and a fluidised bed separator.

The RC2020 is said to be an ideal alternative to spiral technology – but with a footprint up to six times smaller than spiral systems. It is also estimated to provide a 10% increase in raw material recovery and was recognised by the IChemE2010 Awards in the UK, winning the Core Chemical Engineering category for maximising resource efficiency. Rojan ceramic hydrocyclone components will also be featured on Ludowici’s AIMEX stand. The advanced ceramic metals used in Rojan Hydrocyclone components are proven to provide superior wear performance, improving processing efficiencies and reducing operating maintenance costs. Ludowici will also use AIMEX to present its latest screening solutions. The products will include a versatile range of advanced screening media including engineered screen deck systems and polyurethane products. Sealing solutions will be another feature of Stand 2011, with Ludowici having been involved in the sealing market since it began operations in 1858 as a leather tanner. In April this year, the company acquired Amseal.

• Ludowici Australia 07 3121 2900 enquiry@ludowici.com.au www.ludowici.com.au

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Coal mining machinery THE Kopex Group will feature underground coal mining machines, including a KTW-200 Roadheader and a KFB2012 Feeder Breaker, on Stand SL109 during AIMEX. A flameproof transformer, a 2012SC Shuttle Car, latest generation interactive parts manuals and a hydraulic system simulator for technical trade training will be among other highlights on the Kopex stand. While the KTW-200 Roadheader is relatively new and modern, it has already been proven in four Polish underground coalmines, operating at a depth of 700 metres and with compressive strengths up to 120 mPa, the company says.

The KFB2012 Feeder Breaker had been created with the user in mind and had drawn on years of experience, along with a new concept to develop a light weight and reliable machine, Kopex sales manager, Craig Melville, said.

• Kopex Group Craig Melville 02 4902 5034

Mining engines MTU Detroit Diesel Australia will showcase engines from 30 kW to 3000 kW for mining applications. The company’s 60-year history in providing power solutions has included supplying, servicing and supporting engines for dump trucks, excavators and drilling equipment. “MTU Detroit Diesel Australia’s comprehensive range of products for mining applications will be exhibited, and visitors can learn about our complete power solutions for mine sites, from design to installation, as well as the supply, service and support of engines for all diesel drives and on-site equipment,” MTU Detorit Diesel Australia’s mining market development manager, Scott Wright, said.

• MTU Detroit Diesel Australia Lirije Memishi 03 9243 9248 lirije.memishi@mtudda.com.au www.mtudda.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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UL131 Conversion kit® for Caterpillar® R1700G, R2900G Underground Loaders.

THE NEXT GENERATION UNDERGROUND ADVANCED EQUIPMENT SIMULATORS

Designed for Underground Mining

Unique 360° Visual Display

Accurate Motion Platform

The UG360 Advanced Equipment Simulator has been specifically designed for Underground Mining and delivers cutting-edge technology not previously seen in the mining industry. This ensures our customers’ receive the world’s leading simulation solution to drive operator optimisation and business improvement.

Recognising the distinct operating conditions of the underground mining environment, the UG360 has been developed with an entirely new display system allowing the trainee to see in all directions, including the high viewing angles necessary to learn key underground equipment operating techniques. This advanced display system sets a new standard in underground simulators, delivering a higher level of training engagement and learning retention.

With the very latest in motion platform technology, the UG360 delivers the optimum level of feedback required to accurately simulate the operation of all underground mining equipment.

Contact Immersive Technologies today for more information on the UG360.

From rapid jolts, feelings of acceleration or the fine-tuned sensitivity necessary for LHD operation, the UG360 delivers unrivalled tactile feedback to the trainee.

Enquiries@ImmersiveTechnologies.com | Tel. (08) 9347 9000

www.ImmersiveTechnologies.com/NextGeneration

SEE US AT AIMEX | 6-9 SEPTEMBER 2011 | HALL 3, BOOTH 3120

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Generator and welders REDSTAR Equipment will display a 150 kVA generator that meets mine specifications on Stand SL100 during AIMEX – Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition 2011. Welders that also meet mine specifications will be another highlight of the stand. The company is the exclusive Australian supplier for Denyo generators. Redstar stocks complete lines of industrial standby, mobile and prime fixed generators ranging from 5 kVA to more than 3250 kVA. Redstar also supplies industrial single and dual operator diesel welders from 30 amp to 500 amp, mobile compressors up to 1850 cubic feet per minute, lighting towers from 4 to 6 heads, and fuel tanks from 450 litres to 110,000 litres.

• Redstar Equipment Amelia Cunningham 07 3339 8517 amelia.cunningham@redstarequipment.com.au www.redstarequipment.com.au

Underground prototypes RUS Mining Services will unveil a new range of underground equipment on Stand R117 during AIMEX. The new range, which signals a new direction for the company, will see Underground mining equipment. three prototype machines on display; the RUS man transporter, featuring an innovative new design and the latest Tier 3 electronic state-of-the-art engine package; the RUS Trak - an air/hydraulic crawler drill rig fitted with a cable bolt insertion system; and the SC15/111 shuttle car, which is being developed in conjunction with SANY Heavy Equipment Co Ltd. Headquartered in the Hunter Valley, RUS Mining Services was established last year following the change of ownership and corporate restructure of underground mining services company, ResCo Underground Services.

RUS Mining was now equipped with a strengthened management and ownership team and had expanded beyond its traditional contracting role in a new direction with a new range of underground equipment and services, RUS Mining spokesman Ryan Walters said.

• RUS Mining Services Ryan Walters 02 4975 4788 ryanw@rusmining.com.au www.rusmining.com.au

Laser liner scanning SCANALYSE will promote CrusherMapper, the latest addition to its award-winning 3D laser scanning technology for managing gyratory crusher liners and mill liners during AIMEX. CrusherMapper enables relining schedules to be extended and optimises crusher operating parameters by providing high-density quantitative measurements for determining mantle and concave wear.

CrusherMapper can be used in conjunction with Scanalyse’s MillMapper technology to enable mineral processing operations to achieve reliable and accurate forecasting of liner wear; optimise grinding mill and crusher performance by delivering the most comprehensive, timely and accurate technical reports; lower operating costs by reducing the downtime associated with maintenance and inspections and extending the life cycle of major wearing parts; increase production revenue through productivity improvements; enhance safety by removing the need for personnel to enter an unsafe environment.

MillMapper generates a 3D wear liner thickness model which produces accurate, reliable and complete wear information on all internal mill components.

• Scanalyse Pty Ltd Holly Halim 08 9355 4422 holly.halim@scanalyse.com www.scanalyse.com.au

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Longwall mine replication

PROFIBUS

REFINE THE PROCESS

AMPCONTROL will replicate a working longwall mine, fitted out with its specialist electrical and electronics mining technology.

Ampcontrol specialises in the design and Total longwall mine packages. manufacture of total longwall packages incorporating power distribution, monitoring and control, communications, electrical systems and lighting.

Headlining the company’s AIMEX stand will be its award-winning (Institution of Engineers Australia’s National Engineering Excellence Award) monitoring and control system, iMAC. This uses patented communication protocols with highly engineered fault-finding mechanisms to reduce downtime and has been used in conveyor belts more than 50 km long. Ampcontrol’s IS LED longwall lighting system, which can be configured to suit the unique requirements of individual longwalls, will be another highlight of the stand. “This system is installed in many Australian longwall mines and features a modular, low-profile design and magnet mounting for quick and flexible placement,” Ampcontrol Chief Operating Officer, Rod Henderson said. Ampcontrol’s longwall replica will also feature the company’s Gasguard range of gas sensing equipment. Gasguard has proven extremely reliable in monitoring the presence of methane, oxygen, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide,” Henderson said.

Designed to tolerate the arduous conditions synonymous with mining environments, Gasguard has been supplied to all major Australian mining regions as well as mines in China and South Africa.

• Ampcontrol Kerryn Campbell 02 4961 9000 kerryn.campbell@ampcontrolgroup.com www.ampcontrolgroup.com

PROFIBUS International Competence Centre AIMEX STAND # S152

At Tyco Flow Control we’re supporting the world’s most successful fieldbus protocol here in Australia

Certified Profibus Training

On-site Technical Support

Proudly Australian Owned & Operated

System Design & Troubleshooting

NATIONAL AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR OF BRELKO TRANSFER POINT SPILLAGE CONTROL PRODUCTS

Contact the PICC for PROFIBUS Technical Support.

Installation, Certification, Commissioning and Certified PROFIBUS Training available Australia wide.

www.profibuscentre.com.au Introducing ENCAPLOCK the latest Innovation in Dust Sealing

PROFIBUS International Competence Centre

1 Percival Road, Smithfield NSW 2164

Tyco Flow Control Pacific Pty Ltd

Phone: 1300 742 228

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MINSPEC WA DISTRIUBTOR OF DAEYANG ROLLERS AND FRAMES

Western Australia Phone: +61-8-9355 2822 Fax: +61-8-9355 2833 Email: melk@minspec.com.au johnb@minspec.com.au chrisc@minspec.com.au Website: www.minspec.com.au Head Office & Factory: 99 Kew Street, Welshpool WA 6106 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Training that makes a difference UNE Partnerships’ training programs are designed to enhance organisational capability and effectiveness.

Our practical customised approach ensures learning is transferred to workplace behaviours and performance. Our tailored programs offer companies an effective skills development tool that impacts positively on retention and productivity.

programs • Frontline Management • Training & Assessment • Management and Leadership • Logistics & Transport • Project Management • Community Engagement Find out how UNE Partnerships can make a difference, visit us at AIMEX 2011 – Stand H1035

UNE Partnerships Pty Ltd - The Education & Training Company of the University of New England

ABN: 74 003 099 125

1800 066 128 www.unep.edu.au

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Mine management

Improved tyre safety

LEICA Geosystems will launch the second generation of its Jigsaw mine management system in Hall 2 on Stand 1307 during AIMEX â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Asia-Pacificâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Jigsaw developments.

International Mining Exhibition 2011, to be held at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush, from September 6-9. AIMEX visitors will be among the first in the world to see the new Jigsaw developments with an interactive machine and systems simulation on the Leica stand. Leica says the 2nd generation Jigsaw technology represents the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first fully integrated hardware and software platform which seamlessly links three key levels of mining operations: fleet management, product optimisation and high-precision guidance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t build trucks. We build technology solutions that allow mines to maximise every aspect of their operations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; solutions that integrate information and control across all equipment no matter what type or which manufacturer,â&#x20AC;? the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief executive officer, Haydn Roberts, said. Leica Geosystemsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; technology is used at more than 100 mine sites in 16 countries, with more than 50 of these implemented after the launch of the first generation Jigsaw platform at AIMEX in 2001, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited to launch our second-generation Jigsaw platform at AIMEX 2011,â&#x20AC;? Roberts said. â&#x20AC;˘ Leica Geosystems Mining Stefana Vella 07 3117 8977 stefana.vella@leica-geosystems.com www.leica-geosystems.com/mining

MARATHON Tyres will promote a reusable flat proofing rubber liner â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Marathon RL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; designed to improve performance and safety associated with the use of rubber tyres on underground and industrial machines. The company says that once fitted, the Marathon RL prevents punctures and is especially suited to situations where punctures or other damage to tyres impacts on equipment downtime. It also reduces the risks associated with pneumatic tyres, including tyre explosions, and the dangers to personnel changing a flat tyre in an underground mine. The Marathon RL provides a pneumatic-type ride, is reusable once a tyre wears smooth, and reduces the chances of a cracked locking ring or rim components flying off if damaged. â&#x20AC;˘ Marathon Tyres Mike Marshall 07 3879 3211 m.marshall@marathontyres.com.au www.marathonrl.com

Dragline ropes BRIDON will display a new dragline rope for the mining industry on Stand B1047 during AIMEX. The company says the Tiger Big T Bristar will deliver an overall cost reduction for users by providing a longer service life and, as a result, fewer change outs. A special feature of the rope is that its independent wire rope core is covered with a fluted polypropylene material with helical grooves around its outer surface. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This fluted shape core was formed by a special extrusion process,â&#x20AC;? said Bridonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technical director, Johannes Verwaayen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The internal contour of the fluted profile matches the internal contours of the outer Dyform compacted strands, and the pitch of the helical grooves is controlled to closely match the lay of the rope.â&#x20AC;? Six or eight compacted outer strands surrounded the independent wire rope core, giving it several competitive advantages, he said. â&#x20AC;˘ Bridon Bristar Terry Newsome 0429 999 756 www.bridon.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;PROMISED DELIVERY OF TESTED AND CERTIFIED SAFETY PRODUCTSâ&#x20AC;?

EXCAVATOR ROPS/FOPS/OPG PS/OPG QMW Industries is Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading manufacturer of tested and

! " #

$ $ %&' # (

)* + , " $Â&#x2021; 'HVLJQHG DQG 'HVWUXFWLYHO\ 7HVWHG WR ,62 ,62 Â&#x2021; 4XDOLW\ DVVXUHG FRPSDQ\ Â&#x2021; 2YHU \HDUV H[SHULHQFH LQ WKH GHVLJQ DQG WHVWLQJ RI FHUWLÂżHG 5236 V\VWHP Â&#x2021; *XDUDQWHHG GHOLYHU\ WLPHV Â&#x2021; 'HVLJQV WR VXLW QHZ DQG XVHG PDFKLQHV QLD (BRISBANE) PHONE: (+61 7) 3275 2544 EMAIL: sales@qmw.com.au

QLD (ROCKAMPTON) PHONE: (+61 7) 4936 2908 EMAIL:salesrc@qmw.com.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIA PHONE: (+61 8) 9358 3511 EMAIL: saleswa@qmw.com.au

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Protect Your Belt Conveyors with Voith Turbo Fluid Couplings They have been in service for decades under toughest conditions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and have proven themselves worldwide. Voith fluid couplings protect belt conveyors against wear and damage and allow smooth but fast start-ups in any situation. The soft force transmission leads to reduced belt tensioning.

In multi-motor drives they ensure natural load distribution. Result: fewer downtimes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the service life of the belt and the drive components is increased. www.voithturbo.com / startup-components vtausydney@voith.com www.australia.voithturbo.com

Visit us: AIMEX 2011, Sydney Hall 03, Booth 3411.06

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Bolting systems

Filtration and separation

HILTI Australia will launch a new range of screw anchors and a new cable bolt system.

The Hilti Mining Screw (HMS) anchors are available in lengths from 155 mm to 920 mm and various diameters with undercut-forming threads to suit different types of rock.

“These anchors are easy-to-use and extremely Mining screw anchors. versatile,” Hilti spokesman Peter Jones said.

“Simply drill the hole and drive in the anchor – that’s all it takes to achieve outstanding load values of up to 20 tonnes,” Jones explained.

The HMS screw anchors can be used for a wide range of underground applications including fastening machinery, ventilation systems, water pipes or hoses, and cables.

• Hilti Australia Peter Jones 131 292 peterjones@hilti.com www.hilti.com.au

PALL Australia will present its latest filtration and separation equipment for the mining industry on Stand R115 during AIMEX – Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition 2011, to be held at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush, from September 6-9. Among these will be the Ultipleat Stress Resistant Technology (SRT) hydraulic and lube filters which are said to provide superior contamination control; and the PCM400 portable cleanliness monitors for diagnosing cleanliness. Pall will also show three new sensors, the WS08, WS09 and WS10, for measuring dissolved water content in hydraulic, lubricating and insulating fluids.

All models feature a sensing probe that monitors dissolved water content and temperature when immersed in water and designed for predictive maintenance of plant and machinery.

• Pall Corporation www.pall.com

Tyre handlers HEDWELD will release a new tyre handler, designed as a maintenance tool for the safe and efficient removal or installation of tyres from a range of earthmoving and plant equipment. The Trilift TH15000 Workshop Tyre Handler is a self-contained diesel/hydraulic-powered, remote-controlled unit designed for the safe removal and installation of tyres and rims up to 15,000 kg Safe rim removal.

(33,000 lb) safe working load. This tool has been developed for use in a workshop environment and its compact design provides minimal impact on the normal operations of a mining workshop. Hedweld’s stand will also feature the Trilift TH2000 Tyre Handler for underground mining vehicles, a self-propelled, three-wheeled main frame carrier designed to assist with the removal and replacement of the tyres and wheels of underground vehicles.

• Hedweld Group of Companies Mark Grant 02 6574 0049 mark.grant@hedweld.com.au www.hedweld.com.au

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Advanced training simulators THOROUGHTEC Simulation will offer hands-on experience of its new CYBERMINE4 mining and construction training simulation technology. The new simulators, which the company describes as incorporating its fourth generation technological advances, uniquely enables both surface and underground mining machines on the one simulator. ThoroughTec produces surface mining simulators for haul trucks, dump trucks, ADTs, drill rigs, excavators, shovels, bulldozers, loaders, draglines and graders. Drill rigs, roof bolters, load/haul/dumps, haulers, XLP (extra low profile) dozers, locomotives and scalers are among its underground simulators.

• ThoroughTec Simulation 08 9387 5117 www.thoroughtec.com

Safety innovations STRATA Products Worldwide will unveil its newest emergency systems for underground coal mines on Stand 6111 during AIMEX. Details about a recent successful 96-hour underground test involving 16 coal miners and a Strata Safety Inflatable Fresh Air Bay will be a prominent feature. The test, said to be the largest of its kind in the world at the time, was conducted at an active Chinese mine in May by Strata Products Worldwide and the China Coal Comprehensive Utilization Group.

• Strata Products Worldwide Australia: Tony Farrugia 0439855805 tfarrugia@strataproducts.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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Come visit us at AIMEX 2011, Sydney Showgrounds at stand SL 104, Sept 6-9, 2011

// Tough, portable air solutions

SULLAIR LISTENED AND THEN DELIVERED. That’s what our customers tell us – we listened and delivered the right air compressor solution for their mine site.

Whether it’s portable, skid mounted or a fully customised air compressor system, Sullair has a solution for you including: • highway towable diesel portables in single, dual and tri-axle steerables • skid mounted electric compressors from 11 kW to containerised 250 kW • Australian-based custom engineering delivering multi-million dollar projects to your exact specifications.

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EUROPEAN MISSION

Selling the NATION Recent Austrade missions to Eastern Europe have been selling Australia’s high levels skills, Australian Mining writes.

T

he workers have arrived at the mine, getting out of their cars they slowly trudge across to the site office, a light frost crunching underfoot, before making their way underground.

It could be any site in the world, anywhere from the Hunter Valley to Siberia.

The difference?

The difference is which operation is providing higher safety levels as standard, more innovative technology, and is always willing to try something left of field.

Australian mining operations are.

The Australian mining industry has a reputation around the world as one of the safest and most innovative.

And this reputation is hardly undeserved.

From underground to the pit, Australian training, techniques and technology has made work a little easier and a lot more efficient both on and off site.

With its unique position as a serious multi-commodity player, with a long history in both black coal and lignite, as well as metals such as gold, nickel, iron ore, lead and copper, through to precious minerals such as diamonds and opals, the skills set within

the country is quite broad to say the least.

This is without even touching on the growing uranium sector, or Australia’s burgeoning oil and gas industry.

It could sell its skills and expertise to the world.

As a matter of fact, Austrade is doing just this.

Selling the nation The government department has held now held two missions to emerging European countries, focusing on opening up the region to business for Australian mining companies.

With the proposed date for the mining and carbon taxes looming ever closer, many mining contract and services companies have seen this as an opportunity to get a foot in the door overseas and lessen the impact of these new imposts.

Speaking to Austrade delegates Paul Sanda in Warsaw, Poland, and Geoffrey Rea in Istanbul, Turkey, they told Australian Mining that these missions have been successful, drawing serious attention.

“There is a lot of interest in what we are doing here in Australia and what we can deliver around the globe,” Sanda said.

Following the inaugural Coal Mining Mission to Russia,

Poland has massive brown coal deposits.

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While mining in Europe seems a world away, the skills developed in Australia are in serious demand throughout the continent. Photo Courtesy of Andrew Butko.

Poland, and the Ukraine last year, the latest Emerging Europe Coal Mission looked at expanding upon the first mission’s aims.

This mission looked at introducing Australian mining businesses to the eastern European market, in particular Poland, Russia and Turkey, which all have strong histories in coal mining.

In particular, the focus was on Australian mining businesses in coal seam gas; directional drilling; mine safety and rescue; mine management; underground communications systems, and mobile transport for underground mining.

However there are always difficulties when entering a new country, and apart essentially having to restart your business in some cases, finding the ‘right’ people to talk to

who can aid your business is always a challenge.

Sanda said “the basis of these trips is to look at ways to facilitate a more convenient entry for Australian mining players into Europe”.

Why Australia?

Rea explained that a major point in the missions is first finding the companies which provide a proper representation of the multi-faceted skills set as “you have to present the right companies to these frontier markets.

“Both missions had really good outcomes, and the Australian companies were able to get fairly quick entry into these markets, they met with the relevant government department and ministers, local companies that are active in the mining space, and were

able to actually visit the mines,” Sanda told Australian Mining.

“We’ve also found that the countries themselves are really receptive to what these companies have to present.

“Australia is well known for the size of its mining industry, its exceptional safety record and investment in safety, so the reception for these companies wasn’t surprising,” Rea added.

He went on to say that one thing the industry is known for is credibility.

“As a whole, the mining industry in Australia has credibility overseas, and it’s unlikely we would have been able to interest these other countries in opening up to the coal companies unless we had that credibility to begin with. It’s Continued on page 140 www.miningaustralia.com.au

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EXHIBITION WRAP

DIGGERS AND DEALERS wrap up An insight into the conference that has everyone talking.

T

he annual Diggers and Dealers Conference in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, always brings to the fore contentious issues that are affecting the mining industry.

And this year was no different.

Understandably, the focus was on the ever present mining tax, the newly announced Carbon Tax, as well as its kicker, the cutting of the diesel fuel rebate scheme.

Iron ore and gold miners united at the conference to throw their weight behind a campaign to derail the tax, saying that they no longer have any confidence in the current Australian Government.

Former Fortescue CEO Andrew Forrest labelled it an “undetected cancer” on the mining industry.

Robert Friedland stated, along with other gold miners, that he no longer had any trust in the Gillard Government.

A large part of this was due to the introduction of the carbon pricing scheme, and fears that the government may broaden the Mineral

142 September 2011

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The annual event in Kalgoorlie gathers together the big name in the industry.

Resources Rent Tax to include not just iron ore and coal, but minerals such as gold and uranium as well.

Silver Lake Resources managing director Les Davis said “twelve months ago we weren’t directly affected by the MRRT and we are certainly not affected today, but twelve months ago

I didn’t think I would have a carbon tax and lose six cents a litre in diesel fuel rebates.

“Can we trust the Prime Minister,” he asked “Absolutely not.”

Miners also took the opportunity to make accusations at one another.

Alacer chief executive Ed Dowling criticised his joint venture partner for the Frog’s Leg gold mine, La Mancha Resources, and its safety on site.

He claimed that development was running too far ahead of actual mining, and was creating ground stresses.

“I don’t want to start a fist fight, but [La Mancha] are getting a little too far ahead of themselves.”

However, La Mancha hit back, stating that Dowling’s claims are baseless and welcomed mine safety inspectors to the site to “confirm what we already known, that the mine is safe.”

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

George Jones was awarded the G.J. Stokes Memorial Award for his long career and contribution to mining.

The Tropicana gold deposit was also singled out for the annual Digger Award.

Dealer of the Year went to Ivanhoe Capital Corporation, with junior miner Gold Road Resources taking out the Best Emerging Company Award for its exciting tenements in the Yamarna Greenstone belt.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMWIRAUG_10.pdf

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AM.SEP11.PG146.pdf

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RED DOG REVIEW

More than just another

DOG MOVIE Laura Tumelty gives a wrap of Red Dog – a movie about a mining legend.

B

ased on the Louis De Bernieres novel, Red Dog is the semi-fictional tale of the Red Cloud Kelpie who turned up in the small mining town of Dampier one day and became an Australian legend due to the incredible distances he covered across Western Australia, earning the title ‘The Pilbara Wanderer’.

The film’s structure takes a flashback approach, where a weary truck driver, Luke Ford, turns up at the Mermaid Bar to find a dog being held down by some distressed men and about to be shot in an act of mercy; however, as the bar man tells us, this is no ordinary dog. The story unfolds as several different

characters regale Luke with tales of Red Dog’s adventures, death-defying feats and, eventually, the reason he became an Australian icon- his indefatigable wanderlust, in search of his true master.

It becomes obvious; from the moment the first stories are lovingly retold by each character, that Red Dog is different to the average doggy movie. In actual fact, rather than following the well-worn format, the film highlights themes that are a lot more personal to Australia and, in particular, Western Australia’s mining heritage.

For a film that was financially and logistically supported

by Rio Tinto, Woodside and

The film is based on Louis De Bernieres semi-fictional novel Red Dog.

WestTrac, it’s unsurprising that every opportunity is taken to showcase industry in the region; beauty shots of the red Pilbara landscape and cutaways of miners drinking King Brown stubbies against stunning sunset backdrops feature heavily throughout the movie.

There’s a strong emphasis on the tensions that often exist between miners and the non-mining community (a

subject which is still as contentious today as it was 40 years ago) the different national/ethnic groups that have come to Dampier in search of fortune and how these men have been united by hard work, heat, beer and Red Dog. Oddly, some critics have suggested that bringing in an American (Josh Lucas) to play the lead role was inappropri-

ate for a film about hard working Australians; but this rather misses the point. While we can guess that Red Dog’s real master wasn’t American and, let’s face it, Lucas will make the film more marketable to US audiences, half the miners in the story aren’t born and bred Aussies; yet every single one of them is an example of what made Australia and its mining industry great.

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144 September 2011

AustralianMining

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AD_AMVERAPR_11.pdf

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ARCTIC

On

THIN ice

Global warming is heating up the race for minerals locked under the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets, Rita Mu writes.

T

he wild frozen landscape of Antarctica, adorned by giant icebergs carved by the wind and sea, with a thick blanket of snow and ice up to four kilometres thick, stretches across more than 13 million square kilometres – an area almost twice that of Australia.

With temperatures reaching below -60°C and as little as 50 millimetres of precipitation a year, the continent is the coldest and driest on Earth.

But, while it appears barren on the surface, below it stores an abundance of highly sought resources, including coal, iron ore, manganese, copper, lead, uranium and billions of barrels of oil reserves.

The resources are plentiful but they have been largely

untouched as a result of an international peacekeeping agreement – the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS).

Established in 1961, the Treaty includes 12 original signatories, consisting of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, France, Norway, South Africa, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, plus 28 other states that have ‘consultative party’ status, which allows them to vote on decisions concerning Antarctic administration.

Australia claims the majority of Antarctica, with the Australian Antarctic Territory covering 42 per cent of the continent.

In 1991, nations of the Treaty agreed to ban the

While mining in sub zero regions is not new, its potential is growing as never before.

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146 September 2011

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www.miningaustralia.com.au

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ARCTIC

exploitation of minerals by signing a comprehensive Protocol on Environmental Protection (the Madrid Protocol).

Heating up Recently, it appears the interests of nations are changing.

According to national security policy advisor to the Prime Minister, Ellie Fogarty, major powers such as China and Russia have voiced their interest in the continent’s resource potential, suggesting for the current prohibition of mining in Antarctica to be revisited in 2048.

Fogarty writes in her report entitled Antarctica: assessing and protecting Australia’s national interests, published by independent policy think tank the Lowy Institute, that in order to remain influential in international discussions on Antarctica’s administration, Australia needs to strengthen its current position and operations within the continent.

“The Treaty was drafted to allow the original signatories to protect their immediate interests,” Fogarty writes.

“State interests change over time, however; in the future, states may feel that their best interest will be served by with-

drawing from the ATS. “In the 21st century, the most likely catalyst for withdrawal [from the ATS] will be the search for resource security,” Fogarty states.

In July, China received approval by the United Nations’ Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority (ISA), which regulates mineral exploration in international waters, to explore for polymetallic sulphide deposits in the Southwest Indian Ridge, between Africa and Antarctica.

China will be allowed to explore the area for 15 years, covering about 10,000-squarekilometres.

In early August, Russia received approval by the ISA to begin prospecting in the mid-Atlantic.

Under a 15-year agreement to be signed later this year, Russia will have rights to explore a 10,000-squarekilometre area midway between Africa and South America, according to The Moscow Times.

The area of interest is estimated to contain 50 to 70 million tonnes of gold and copper ore.

According to Fogarty, China and Russia are ahead of the game in terms of invest-

Miners at Baffin Island’s Mary River project face unique challenges. www.miningaustralia.com.au

The Arctic Circle and Antarctica are believed to have massive untapped deposits.

ing and making a presence in Antarctica, with both planning to purchase new icebreaker vessels and skiequipped planes.

A race against nature With recent scientific evidence revealing warmer tempera-

tures and rising sea levels, the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly prominent issues for nations across the globe.

According to the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report, sea level rise from thermal expansion of the ocean, melt of small glaciers and ice caps, and from Greenland and Antarctica is projected to reach up to 0.59 metres by 2090–2100.

The Australian Antarctic Division reports the total annual loss from Antarctica since 1993 is about 100 billion tonnes of ice per year – an amount that contributes to about 0.25 millimetres per year of global sea level rise.

In Greenland, the average ice mass loss since 1993 has been about 120 billion tonnes of ice per year – an amount that contributes to about 0.35 millimetres per year to sea level rise across the globe.

There is also evidence that the rate of mass loss may be increasing, with recent values as high as 0.5 millimetres per year of sea level rise.

The most noticeable effects of climate change in recent years has coincided with an increase in interest in resource exploration in some of the

world’s resource-rich and most vulnerable regions such as the Arctic Circle.

Australian-based Greenland Minerals and Energy has been developing its Kvanefjeld project, a multi-element deposit consisting of rare earth metals, uranium, and zinc, which located near the southwest tip of Greenland in the Arctic Circle.

Greenland Minerals and Energy released an interim pre-feasibility report at the beginning of last year that demonstrated the potential for the Kvanefjeld project to be developed as one of the world’s largest rare earth producing mines.

According to Greenland Minerals and Energy, Kvanefjeld is estimated to contain 619 million tonnes of mineral resources and could potentially supply more than 20 per cent of global RRE demand at a low cost owing to revenues from uranium and zinc.

Other recent moves by the mining industry in the Arctic include Baffinland Iron Mines’ proposed Mary River project, located in the northern region of Baffin Island in Canada.

The project, which consists of nine high-grade iron ore Continued on page 148

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ARCTIC

Continued from page 147 deposits, is currently undergoing an environmental impact assessment.

If approved, mine construction could begin as soon as 2013, Baffinland Iron says.

“The Mary River project is a very important iron ore mining project for the ArcelorMittal Group due to the size of its deposit and the high quality of the iron ore,” a company spokesperson said.

The project is expected to create about 4500 jobs during the construction phase and 1400 jobs once the project is in operation.

“Our first aim will be to recruit from the local communities near our mine and port,” the spokesperson said. “To support this we are already working with stakeholders to identify the skills required for the construction and operations phase to identify how we can start training within local communities to ensure that once positions are available that they can be filled as much as possible by local qualified persons.”

148 September 2011

Seasonal changes at the Mary River project have a major effect on mining.

Earlier this year, Canadian-based miner, Alexco Resources, began operation of its Bellekeno silver mine, located near Mayo in the far

AustralianMining

north Yukon Territories. The mine is reportedly the country’s only operating primary silver mine, with a production grade of up to 1000 grams per tonne.

The company is aiming to produce between seven million to ten million ounces of silver annually within the next decade.

According to Alexco Resources chief executive officer, Clynt Nauman, the company reached its production milestone of one million ounces of silver generated since commissioning the Bellekeno mine in late 2010.

With mining activities in the Arctic well on their way to exploiting its mineral potential as the land becomes more avilable, it is perhaps only a matter of time for companies to break the ice in Antarctica.

According to Fogarty, if Australia is to remain influential in international discussions on Antarctica’s future administration and be prepared for the matter of extracting resources being revisited in 2048, policy changes and new investment in the region will be critical.

“With international attention towards Antarctica and its resources growing, it is timely for Australia to evaluate its current Antarctic policy and capabilities to ensure they are resilient enough to protect our interests in an increasingly competitive international environment,” she stated.

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION

GEOTHERMAL

seismic sondes

New equipment is making geothermal development safer.

U

The sondes detect any seismic movement around geothermal drilling projects.

nique seismic sondes made

by DJB Instruments are being put to work at The Eden Project’s deep geo thermal development.

The development being undertaken by EGS Energy Limited involves building one of the UK’s first geothermal power plants, producing heat and generating electricity.

The highly sensitive array of seismic sondes will be deployed to monitor any seismic activity, whether natural or induced, during the opening up of the natural fractures in the rock, which is done by injecting water.

The seismic sondes, designed and built by DJB instruments, can be deployed to a depth of 400 metres, do not need a clamping mechanism, and the small diameter of the sondes makes then ideal for deploying small diameter boreholes.

Importantly, the large accelerometers and low noise amplifiers provide a very high output and make them able to detect very small seismic signals. This gives

very high levels of accuracy without any deterioration of signal quality over time.

The seismic sounds are triangulated to find out exactly where and when natural fractures are opening and then slip, by using a shear mechanism.

This gives detailed information about what is happening at great depth, and an image is then produced to show the areas where water has migrated.

The location of the second borehole that is drilled is chosen according to the image produced by the seismic locations.

The Technical Director of EGS Energy, Roy Baria, said that “these highly sensitive accelerometer based seismic sondes are a product of over 30 years of development with DJB Instruments (UK) Ltd which started at the UK EGS project at the Rosemanowes site in 1980s and continued at the European site in Soultz in France until recently”.

• DJB Instruments www.djbinstruments.com

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September 2011

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Emergency lamps

Bucket edge systems

NARVA has launched its latest High Output L.E.D Strobe/Rotator emergency warning lamp. The lights feature just two flash patterns making it ideally suited to Features two flash settings. applications requiring either a strobe or a rotator flash pattern. The new technically advanced Pulse Strobe/Rotator’s 360º pattern provides the performance of a revolving beacon with all the benefits of L.E.D technology delivering up to 100,000 hours of life. The lamp is constructed from materials including a polycarbonate lens, die-cast powder coated aluminium base that seals with an ‘O’-ring, an internal heat sink and solid state L.E.D circuitry. These combine to make it resistant to severe shock and vibration in extreme working conditions and ideal for applications such as mining, earth moving, and contracting.Twelve supplementary L.E.Ds built into the top of the strobe provide total lens illumination.Tested and approved to the universal benchmark US Class 1 High Output Rating for strobe light brilliance, the new Narva ‘Pulse’ Strobe comes complete with a 5 year warranty.

These dual 12/24 voltage lamps are available with Amber, Red or Blue lens with either a flange base or alternatively a magnetic base complete with a cigarette lighter plug and on/off switch. Adding further convenience when selecting an appropriate warning signal in the field, either the strobe or rotator flash pattern can be changed with the touch and hold of a hand on the top of the lens for five seconds.

Flange base units can be operated independently or synchronised with as many lamps as the application requires.

• Narva www.narva.com.au

KEECH Australia has released its multifunctional bucket which can be fitted to both underground and surface loaders.

Wearpact will attach to buckets between Has a wearaway weight of 70%.

5m3 and 30m3 with up to a 15-blade bucket edge system. Wearpact has a Brinell Scale hardness in excess of 500. According to Keech Australia, it is one of only a handful of foundries in the world that is capable of producing such a tough wear and impact resistant steel.

• Keech Australia 02 9648 3100 reverett@keech.com.au www.keech.com.au

150 September 2011

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Barrier tape FLOORSAFE International has extended its range of tapes to include Barrier/warning tapes. The tapes are printed on both sides and available in 75mm x 100 metre rolls and manufactured in 90 microns thickness. Other safety tapes are always in stock and ready for immediate overnight delivery. Anti-slip self adhesive tapes will reduce slip & fall accidents on steps & stairways especially when the surface becomes wet. A full range of colours and width sizes are always available.

• Floorsafe International 1300 717 769 info@floorsafe.com.au www.floorsafe.com.au

www.miningaustralia.com.au

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Safety goggles HONEYWELL has released safety goggles with Industrial goggle lens coatings.

Durastreme coating technology – guaranteeing increased eye protection in a variety of workplaces. The Durastreme coating combines the benefits of industrial anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings onto a single lens. The Anti Fog layer on the inside prevents lens fogging, allowing workers to see clearly at all times in humid and other difficult work environments, while the durable anti scratch coating on the outside protects against harsh elements.

Based on independent comparative life testing using the Bayer Abrasion Test Method, Durastreme reportedly extends the life of the lens by up to three times longer than that of competitive anti fog lenses. Durastreme’s Anti Fog coating absorbs and releases moisture at the same time as repelling it, allowing workers increased visibility even when temperature and humidity levels peak. At the same time, the coating is permanently bonded to the lens and won’t rub or wear off. The SP1000 sealed eyewear (coming soon) also features the Durastreme coating, making it an option for jobs such as mining, where workers can be exposed to high particulate environments.

• Honeywell 1300 139 166 www.honeywellsafety.com

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WAM Australia has upgraded its Silotop dust collectors.

Designed for bin or silo venting, the cylindrically shaped dust collectors contain vertically mounted Polypleat filter elements.

The air jet cleaning system is integrated into the hinged weather protection cover. It can be used for any dust generating material, as long as it is dry and does not pack under pressure. Dust separated from the air flow by the filter elements drops back into the silo after an integrated automatic reverse air jet cleaning system inside the weather protection cover has removed it from the filter elements.The filters are 800mm in diameter, and have a 24.5m2 filter surface.

• WAM Australia 03 9737 4700 wamaust@wamaust.com.au www.wamaus.com.au

Screw compressors BOGE has announced the launch of their second generation SO series oil free screw compressors.

Produces oil free compressed air.

The second generation models provide a 110 to 255 kW performance. The cooling air flow of the SO -2 models has been substantially optimised. The minimisation of internal pressure losses has led to greater efficiency. The compressors also have a condensate separator in the intercooler between the first and second stage airends. This separation means safe operation for the second stage in applications where there are low ambient temperatures or in situations where there is high humidity. Improved access to the more intensive maintenance components has also been an important part of the SO enhancement; with the oil cooler has been relocated from under the airend and is now located in the area beneath the intercooler and after-cooler.

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AustralianMining

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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 MINE GEOLOGIST LOCATION – WA COMPANY – CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES Description: CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES is an international mining and natural resources company, headquartered in Cleveland. We are the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America, a major supplier of direct-shipping lump and fines iron ore out of Australia and a significant producer of metallurgical coal. Working in partnership with others, we are committed to improving our economic, social and environmental performance over time. Our position in the world market as a strong niche player has been won through actively executing a strategy designed to achieve scale in the mining industry, strong marketing skills and management culture.

Our West Australian mining operations include the Koolyanobbing Project located in the heart of the Goldfields providing lump and fine products to the international market, exported from our Port Operations in Esperance and the Cockatoo Island Project, a Joint Venture in the Kimberley. Our strength as an organisation starts with selecting the right individuals. This is why we are committed to finding the best and brightest workforce.

We are seeking a strong, experienced leader to join the Cliffs team within the capacity of Senior Mine Geologist.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Andrew Pickering 0448 818 045. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs MINE GEOLOGIST LOCATION –WA COMPANY – CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES Description: CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES is an international mining and natural resources company, headquartered in Cleveland.

We are the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America, a major supplier of direct-shipping lump and fines iron ore out of Australia and a significant producer of metallurgical coal. Working in partnership with others, we are committed to improving our economic, social and environmental performance over time. Our position in the world market as a strong niche player has been won through actively executing a strategy designed to achieve scale in the mining industry, strong marketing skills and management culture.

Our West Australian mining operations include the Koolyanobbing Project located in the heart of the Goldfields providing lump and fine products to the international market, exported from our Port Operations in Esperance and the Cockatoo Island Project, a Joint Venture in the Kimberley. Our strength as an organisation starts with selecting the right individuals. This is why we are committed to finding the best and brightest workforce.

The position of Mine Geologist will be responsible for, as well as supervise all aspects of the grade control function within the geology team and to work to maximise the profitable extraction of the resources in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Andrew Pickering 0448 818 045. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR LOCATION – WA COMPANY – CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES Description: CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES is an international mining and natural resources company, headquartered in Cleveland. We are the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America, a major supplier of direct-shipping lump and fines iron ore out of Australia and a significant producer of metallurgical coal. Working in partnership with others, we are committed to improving our economic, social and environmental performance over time. Our position in the world market as a strong niche player has been won through actively executing a strategy designed to achieve scale in the mining industry, strong marketing skills and management culture.

Our West Australian mining operations include the Koolyanobbing Project in the Goldfields and the Cockatoo Island Project, a Joint Venture in the Kimberley's. Our strength as an organisation starts with selecting the right individuals; this is why we are committed to finding the best and brightest workforce.

The successful applicant will be based at the Windarling mine site, part of the Koolyanobbing operations. As Environmental Advisor you will report directly to the Environmental Superintendent and be responsible for providing environmental advice to site personnel, as well as carrying out a variety of environmental activities.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Andrew Pickering 0448 818 045. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs SUPERVISING GEOLOGIST LOCATION –WA COMPANY – CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES Description: CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES is an international mining and natural resources company, headquartered in Cleveland.

We are the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America, a major supplier of direct-shipping lump and fines iron ore out of Australia and a significant producer of metallurgical coal. Working in partnership with others, we are committed to improving our economic, social and environmental performance over time. Our position in the world market as a strong niche player has been won through actively executing a strategy designed to achieve scale in the mining industry, strong marketing skills and management culture.

Our West Australian mining operations include the Koolyanobbing Project located in the heart of the Goldfields providing lump and fine

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products to the international market, exported from our Port Operations in Esperance and the Cockatoo Island Project, a Joint Venture in the Kimberley. Our strength as an organisation starts with selecting the right individuals. This is why we are committed to finding the best and brightest workforce.

The role of Supervising Geologist is responsible for supervising all aspects of the grade control function within the geology team and works to maximise the profitable extraction of the resources in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner.

This role provides support, mentoring and development for the immediate team and takes on duties of the Senior Geologist in their absence. The Supervising Geologist role is a development position between Mine Geologist and Senior Geologist.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Andrew Pickering 0448 818 045. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs PRINCIPAL GEOLOGIST LOCATION – PERTH COMPANY – SALVA RESOURCES Description: Salva Resources is a leading provider of Exploration, Safety, Procurement and Management (ESPM) services as well as technical and commercial consultancy services to the global mining industry. Salva Resources is head quartered in Brisbane, Australia with offices in India, Indonesia and London. Our belief in providing an exceptional service to our clients has resulted in rapid growth since our inception in 2007.

We offer our clients a competent team of industry professionals, combined with a network of leading affiliated consultants and are currently servicing some of the world's largest mining projects. We are continually searching for great people to join Salva Resources to meet our goal of becoming the best ESPM service provider in the world.

A vacancy now exists for a Principal Geologist to head up Salva’s Europe, Middle East & African Operations from a base in London.

This exciting opportunity is a result of Salva’s strong growth into a truly international consultancy based upon a solid reputation and large portfolio of services along with proven success on some of the world’s largest projects and premier global clients.

As Principal Geologist you will report directly to the General Manager and will grow and lead an international team to provide technical consulting services to multiple clients across a number of regions and commodities.

If you require further information, or for a role description, please contact Rhiannon Luvis on 07 3211 9911. To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs COAL EXPLORATION MANAGER LOCATION – BRISBANE COMPANY – SALVA RESOURCES Description: Due to ongoing growth within the Exploration team, Salva Resources are currently seeking an experienced Coal Exploration Manager to assist in the development of multiple new and existing coal exploration projects across Queensland and New South Wales. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a large team of geologists with a great reputation within the industry for providing full turn-key exploration management services.

In return for the above, you will be rewarded with a an attractive remuneration package in line with your experience. Additionally, Salva’s culture, open door mentality, and business improvement ideas are a refreshing change from what you may find elsewhere in the industry. Salva lacks the ‘red-tape’ of some of the larger organisations which means that if you have an idea which looks like it will work, it can be implemented and trialled quickly rather than waiting for all of the sign-offs!

Salva Resources is a global provider of key technical and commercial services for exploration, mining and investment companies. These services extend across the entire project development timeline. We aim to provide opportunities for our personnel to reach their potential while ensuring that our clients achieve theirs. As we continue to seek new business opportunities, our personnel are offered the prospect of a diversified and rewarding work environment.

If this role interests you and you have the experience and qualities we are looking for, we look forward to seeing a brief cover letter addressing your relevant experience, along with your CV soon!

To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs SENIOR COAL GEOLOGIST – BRISBANE OFFICE LOCATION – BRISBANE COMPANY – SALVA RESOURCES Description: Salva Resources is a leading provider of Exploration, Safety, Procurement and Management (ESPM) services as well as technical and commercial consultancy services to the global mining industry. Head quartered in Brisbane, Australia with offices in India, Indonesia and London, delivering an exceptional level of service to our client’s has resulted in rapid growth since our inception in 2007. We are continually searching for great people to join Salva Resources to meet our goal of becoming the best ESPM service provider in the world.

Salva resources are currently seeking a Brisbane Head Office based Senior Coal Geologist to join our Exploration Department.

This is an exciting opportunity to become an integral member of a well-renowned team with great reputation within the industry for providing full turn-key exploration services. In order offer our clients the highest level of project management service, for this role you will require a strong coal exploration background with a minimum of 5 years experience in the field.

To apply for this role, please visit www.miningaustralia.com.au/jobs

www.miningaustralia.com.au

AD_AMKOCSEP_11.pdf

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160m3 EMULSION MOBILE SILO Roll over protection to vents and access manhole

Loading and unloading twin pumps

With a Kockums mobile silo you can relocate your emulsion to anywhere you need it. Fast. And there is no need for a concrete pad, so when your plans change a Kockums emulsion silo is ready to go - plus an onboard mining specification

Top access ladder and guard rails to AS1657 (Detachable ladder and guard rail) Fully enclosed air compressor powered by 4 cylinder diesel engine with spark arrestor and emergency stop at operators control station.

Kockums Industries (Aust) Ltd 188 Northbourne Road Campbellfield, Victoria 3061, Australia sales@kockumsindustries.com.au www.kockumsindustries.com.au

compressor and air powered pumps means you are totally self-contained.

You need flexibility, build quality, long service life and total reliability. You need and Australian built Kockums tanker. For more information call 03 9305 4001

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EVENTS

Conferences, seminars & workshops Event submissions can be emailed to ozmining@reedbusiness.com.au 2011 Queensland Supply Chain & Logistics Conference 1-2 September Sofitel Hotel, Brisbane The Queensland Supply Chain & Logistics Conference is the largest event of its kind in the state and is ideally suited for Supply Chain, Logistics, Transport and Procurement professionals and practitioners.

A uniquely-styled educational event, the conference is designed for both professional and personal development in a most-relaxed environment. With a theme of 'Solving the Supply Chain Puzzle', the 2011 Queensland Supply Chain & Logistics Conference is an event not-to-be-missed.

• QLD SCC Nerida Kelton 07 3278 6461 nerida@qldscc.com www.qldscc.com

AIMEX 6-9 September Homebush, Sydney Held once every four years and firmly established on the international mining calendar, AIMEX is the flagship event within the portfolio of established industrial trade fairs staged by Reed Exhibitions. AIMEX is where Australian and international suppliers of mining technology, equipment and services come together with mining industry buyers and specifiers from throughout the Asia-Pacific region to network and explore business opportunities, and exchange technical information.

• Reed Exhibitions Peter Thompson 02 9422 2472

continuous automatic lubrication • less downtime • better productivity

www.greasemax.com.au

154 September 2011

peter.thompson@reedexhibitions. com.au www.aimex.com.au

New South Wales Mine Rescue Challenge 9-11 September Ward Oval, Cobar, NSW The NSW Mines Rescue Challenge is an opportunity for all Mines to send members of their mines rescue teams to participate in team scenarios, designed to test the knowledge, skills, leadership and teamwork ability of the teams' members.

During a rescue scenario on a mine site, teams may be called from many areas – meaning that squad members must all work as a team for the one common purpose.

Opening as a “Challenge” also allows for greater flexibility in the scenarios; more opportunities for teamwork; mines to send "rookie" teams to the event; increased opportunity for learning and sharing of knowledge and experience between rescue teams.

The NSW Mines Rescue Challenge is unique in this respect – in no other Australian Mines Rescue event are teams from different sites encouraged to coach and assist each other to successfully complete

AustralianMining

scenarios. The NSW Mines Rescue challenge was the first of its kind in Australia with the committee being the founder of this type of challenge, where teams act as they would in a true Mines Rescue situation, sharing equipment, experience, and providing support for each other.

The Challenge is unique in Australian Mine’s Rescue events in that the most highly valued achievement is the “esprit de corps”, or the “Spirit” of the team during the Challenge.

As a privately run event, the Rescue Challenge is fully funded by sponsorship. With organisations support, we provide an event which is unique, accessible, and fun.

Organisational support provides valuable resources for the running of the Challenge, and offers great opportunities for organisations to raise awareness of their brands, values and ideals to the NSW Mines Rescue community – volunteers who have taken up the spirit of the Mines Rescue Challenge to provide a service to the mining community.

• NSW Mines Rescue Pat Willcocks 02 6836 9408 willcocksp@endavor.com.au www.nswmr.com.au

4th International Contaminated Site Remediation Conference 11-15 September Hilton Hotel, Adelaide It is expected that more than 500 scientists, engineers, regulators and other environmental professionals representing universities, government (site management and regulatory agencies) and R&D and manufacturing firms from more than 20 countries will gather in Adelaide for this event.

The contaminated site remediation conference will build on the highly successful contamination CleanUp07 and CleanUp09 conferences.

Pre-conference short courses and workshops will again be held on the Sunday prior to the commencement of the technical conference program.

The 2011 technical conference program has been extended to four days and will again cover themes relating to the assessment and remediation of contaminants.

Themes include innovative site characterisation, assessment and monitoring; minimising uncertainty in risk management; best practice policy: putting guidance in place; cleaning up: making remediation effective; waste management: adding

value to waste, value out of waste.

There will be an emphasis on current and emerging environmental issues facing the Asia-Pacific region.

The diverse program will feature 200 speakers and 50 poster presentations, an INdustry Summit, trade exhibition, poster sessions and field tours.

The conference is run by CRC CARE and the Australian Remediation Industry Cluster (ARIC).

• Clean Up Conference www.cleanupconference.com.au

DrillFest 2011 28-29 September Rockhampton, QLD DrillFest 2011 will provide an opportuntiy for suppliers to showcase the latest products and services, and the opporuntity to learn from leading specialists on a wide range of both technical and business issues.

This year's theme is "Valuing Our Resources", and focuses on the need for all sectors to afford better protection for all the resources they may encounter during drilling.

• The Australian Drilling Industry Association Malcolm Minnis 07 3358 6832 mimassessor@bigpond.com www.miningaustralia.com.au

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UNM12187_AustMining.pdf

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If what you do depends on Lime, talk to us.

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Whether it’s Quicklime, Hydrated Lime or one of many other limestone products you may require, Limil is a brand synonymous with quality. Choose Limil from one of the seven Sibelco plants around Australia and you can look forward to 135 years of Lime manufacturing expertise, the security of long-term supplies and a level of quality and consistency that our ISO9001:2008 Quality Program delivers.

To find out more about Limil, Sibelco and our industry-leading products, visit www.sibelco.com.au

UNM12187